Paul Kearns has a book available on Amazon about his tour with B/227 in 1968-1969.
He has graciously agreed to allow us to publish the story on our 227th website

365 Days with Letters Home

At our business meeting during our 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion 2023 reunion a committee was formed to look into funding a memorial plaque to be installed at the National Museum of the United States Army, Fort Belvoir, VA.

From 1965 to 1972, aircraft and crews of the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion served proudly in the sky over Vietnam. When the unit came home, the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion continued to serve our nation and does so even to this day as descendant Regiments within the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood.

Our committee is working to establish a unit tribute plaque at the National Museum of the United States Army for the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion.
 
The plaque will be positioned along the Path of Remembrance and is 12″x18″ in size. It is to be engraved in polished Mesabi Black granite. Members are currently working on the final design within the parameters set by the National Museum. This will be an excellent way for those of us that came home from deployments and served in the unit to establish a notable remembrance of the unit’s history.  

We need everyone’s help to do it. Including you. The cost for the plaque is $5,000 and that is our goal. To achieve this, we need your help. Your contribution will take us one step closer to making this endeavor a reality.

Make a donation there through paypal or venmo. Continue reading

This spring Nick Johnson was inducted into the DUSTOFF Hall of Fame. Nick flew with A/227 in 1968-1969 as platoon leader/flight leader, was in command of the aviation assets from A/227 that were TDY with the Special Forces at Dong Xoai. Later Battalion S3 at Phouc Vinh.

This year’s recipient of our 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion Honor Sword was not able to attend our reunion this year. We were able to travel to New York to present the sword to Chris Lockwood and have a short two part video of the presentation below.

Our website is beginning the process to shut down over the next few years.
Please use the following link to view this video which is now hosted on our 227th AHB Video Archive on Archive-It.org
2022 Honor Sword Presentation to Chris Lockwood

and the presentation of the Spurs to Linda Lockwood
2022 Honor Sword Presentation – presenting the Spurs
Video by Hannah Bell

After each of the archived Video page completes loading – In the yellow banner at the top of the page – click the small blue play button at the end of the line of text. After clicking that blue play button all the video controls on this video page will work in normal fashion.

We have had contact from Richard Gadigian about the dedication of a flagpole at Brand Memorial Park in Allen Park, MI. to honor SP4 Dennis Durand.

SP4 Durand joined A/227th in 1970 and stayed with the unit as it was transferred to the 1st Aviation Brigade when the 1st Cavalry Division left Vietnam in the spring of 1971. SP4 Durand was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 25 May 1971 while serving as Door Gunner on the flight to rescue crew members from Firebase 6. A/227th Assault Helicopter Company lost four members that day, including the Company Commander, Major William E. Adams (MOH), Executive Officer, Captain John Curran, Crew Chief, SP4 Melvin Robinson and Door Gunner, SP4 Dennis Durand.

Photo below from the Allen Park Today magazine (2022),which is published quarterly.

Several flagpoles are now installed on the site for the dedication planned for later this spring.
(photo below shows the developer concept)

Contractors are now being approached to complete the site development.
Fundraising is being spearheaded by the Director of Parks and Recreation, Pat Hawkins.

December 2022 Update
Allen Park Today magazine
December 19,2022

Brand Memorial Park

John Brennan, the author of a series of books on the nose art and helicopter names from Vietnam, has provided his research on the unique “Chickenman” nose art.

There are photos in our A/227 photo album of a lot of this nose art. Check out our photo album and use the search option for “nose art”.

A number of our members have been holding Zoom meetings over the past few months. These meetings have been hosted by Dr. J.P. (Pat) Edwards, A/227, (1967-1968), and during these meetings there have been a lot of stories about Vietnam. It was decided recently to record these Zoom meetings and post them to our website for everyone to see for historical reference. The first recorded session was on March 15th and is in two parts below. The basic topic for this session was “first impressions” of Vietnam and of joining A/227th. We will soon be creating a new section of our website in the future to display all recorded sessions available – as well as other videos of our members sharing their stories from Vietnam. Future Zoom topics might include:

* First mission
* Weirdest mission
* Leadership styles
* Where were you when
* Orientation
* War stories

Check in with Pat Edwards if you are interested in participating

Our website is beginning the process to shut down over the next few years.
Please use the following link to view this video which is now hosted on our 227th AHB Video Archive on Archive-It.org

PART ONE
Participants: Joe Zigler, Chuck Bell, Jim Gray, Jay Durenberger, Pat Edwards & John Pennypacker
227th Memories – First Mission – Part 1

PART TWO
Participants: Herschel Ryan, Pat Edwards
227th Memories – First Mission Part 2

After our archived Video page completes loading – In the yellow banner at the top of the page – click the small blue play button at the end of the line of text. After clicking that blue play button all the video controls on this video page will work in normal fashion.