{"id":2092,"date":"2020-06-23T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=2092"},"modified":"2021-03-03T10:42:26","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T15:42:26","slug":"36-gone-in-an-instant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/36-gone-in-an-instant\/","title":{"rendered":"#36 – Gone in an Instant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trigger warning <\/strong><\/em>\u2013 this <\/em>blog post describes the death of a shipmate on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. It doesn\u2019t contain specific details, but it may trigger flashbacks for some\u2014I hope not. My intent is to share with you an experience that I hope no one will ever have to face. But for those of us who served in the military, it happens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Who said, \u201cThe main thing is to keep \u2018the main thing\u2019 the main thing.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  2. In what movie (and who said) the following, \u201cSay hello to my little friend.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  3. What song (and who sang it) do we find the following lyrics?
    So I went to the corner<\/em>
    Just to ease my pains<\/em>
    Yeah, just to ease my pains<\/em>
    I got troubles, whoa-oh<\/em>
    I got worries, whoa-oh<\/em>
    I came home again<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    This has been a difficult post to write. To tell you the truth, I started to write it several times over the past few months, but backed off for various reasons. One of which is our current COVID-19 crisis. My intent of \u201cA Veteran\u2019s Journey<\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u201d blog is to always keep a positive outlook on life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But, I needed to finish this one. Something recently happened that brought this subject closer to home. Life is precious. You just never know\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most of us have experienced death at one time or another during our lives. It may have been a loved one or it may have been a close friend. For us veterans, we may have experienced death during our tour of duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I don\u2019t think we get to choose when or where\u2014that\u2019s left to a higher authority. But after losing someone close, we must<\/em> find a way to keep moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Most Dangerous Job?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a>
    USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), Westpac ’75 A-7 Corsair Launch<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s been said that \u201cworking on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the most dangerous job in the world<\/em>.\u201d That may<\/em> be true, but I think it depends on your personal perspective. I\u2019d venture to guess that soldiers facing an enemy on the battlefield, shooting at you with an intent to kill, or hunkering down in a foxhole, trying to avoid an artillery barrage, may beg to differ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s an old adage, \u201cWhether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve, a Veteran is someone who at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount of up to, and including, their life.\u201d<\/em> To me, THAT.IS.HONOR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, in my humble opinion, it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard. When you sign on that dotted line, you join an elite brotherhood, knowing that your life may <\/em>be on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Westpac \u201875<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    My second duty station was USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63<\/em><\/strong> (my first was NAS Agana, Guam<\/em><\/strong>). I was a third-class petty officer assigned to the V-1 Division<\/em><\/strong> and worked on the flight deck in Crash & Salvage<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. During Westpac \u201975<\/em><\/strong>, we lost three sailors. I don\u2019t know the specifics of two, but let me tell you about the one that happened on the flight deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our overseas home port was PI (Philippine Islands). We were in and out of PI seven times in 1975. The Vietnam War has \u201cofficially\u201d ended a few months earlier, but we were still on alert during our deployment. On this particular trip, Kitty Hawk<\/em> headed out to sea for a two week exercise\u2014standard at sea<\/em> time for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    HS-8 Helicopter Squadron
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The first aircraft off the deck for flight ops was the \u201cplane guard\u201d helicopter from the HS-8 (\u201cEightballers\u201d) squadron<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. We had a 2-man Crash tractor manned on the flight deck, which was required for pre-launch. The rest of the Crash crew were in the Crash compartment on the starboard side of the island or standing outside shooting the breeze, waiting for flight ops to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Crash to the Flight Deck!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Suddenly, the Air Boss<\/strong> announced over the 5MC<\/strong> (flight deck PA system), \u201cCrash to the flight deck! Crash to the flight deck!<\/em>\u201d We all hauled butt out onto the deck; all we could see was a helicopter trying to take off. It took a couple of seconds to realize what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The starboard landing gear had collapsed and one of the helo ground crew was dangling from the wheel well. The main wheel tie-down chains had been removed, but the helo was still attached to the deck by the tail wheel tie-down. The pilot was hovering over the deck at about six inches. The Plane Captain was directing the pilot to keep steady, but it was tough since the helo was still chained to the deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My pal, Buddy Laney,<\/em><\/strong> was suited up on the back of the Crash tractor and witnessed it all. He told me later that it was one of the most harrowing experiences in his life, being so close to a killer helo and not being able to do anything about it. He said his training kicked in and they were preparing for the worst\u2014a crash on the flight deck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Several of us grabbed a rescue stretcher and dunked down, inching closer to the helo. About that time, the helo dropped the ground crew member. We grabbed his legs and pulled him out of range of those dangerous rotors. Yes, we were under the spinning rotors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The flight deck medic was right there with us trying to save him, but this shipmate was long gone. We put him into the stretcher and carried him over to the #2 elevator where he was lowered down to the hangar deck and rushed to Sickbay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Meanwhile, the helo was still hovering just a few inches off the ground. I heard that our Crash LPO Jeff Atteberry<\/em><\/strong> was on his stomach crawling toward the helo. The only way this thing could end safely was to release the chain. When Jeff reached the tie-down, the Plane Captain saw what he was doing and helped the pilot keep the helo steady. Once released, the pilot flew off and everyone on the flight deck breathed a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Recovery & Salvage<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    We weren\u2019t done yet\u2014the second part of our name was \u201cSalvage.<\/strong>\u201d We had to figure out how to get the helo and its crew safely back on board. Fortunately, part of our Crash arsenal included a \u201ccrash dolly,\u201d a heavy metal dolly about three feet by four feet with four heavy rubber wheels. Several mattresses were brought up from below decks and tied to the crash dolly. We then anchored it to the flight deck in the recovery area using a half dozen tie-down chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In order to get the helo safely back onto the flight deck, a squadron Plane Captain served as the director\u2014standard operating procedure. We parked a tow tractor in front of him so that if something happened, he could at least duck down behind the tractor. We moved all nearby aircraft to the aft part of the flight deck\u2014no need destroying or damaging aircraft if it could be helped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    MB-5 Crash Firetruck
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    We also had the Crash truck parked on the starboard side with a full crew. Steve Deaver<\/em><\/strong>, a big strong Texan who had recently joined Crash in the Philippines, was fully suited up and standing on the back of the crash truck, ready to roll. I know his heart was pumping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All unnecessary personnel were cleared off the flight deck. V-1 Division and squadron personnel were in the catwalks standing by with fire hoses in the event of an all-out crash and subsequent fire(s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As the helo approached, the Plane Captain directed him slowly over the flight deck. The pilot hovered a few feet over the deck to let the crew and passengers jump down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The pilot knew what needed to be done, but it took him three times to ease down before he could place the crippled starboard wheel safely onto the crash dolly. I can’t say enough about the teamwork between the Plane Captain and the pilot. Both knew what could <\/em>happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We had placed enough mattress pads on the dolly so that when the helo landed, it would be level. Once the full weight of the helo was down, he kept the rotors going until the blue shirts and helo crew could tie the helo down to the flight deck. When that was done, the pilot cut power to the engines. He was safe, we were safe, and there is a God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    R.I.P. We Have the Watch<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    That was one of the scariest and most challenging times in the Navy. But we cannot forget that we lost a shipmate. He was pronounced DOA when he got to Sickbay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    From what we heard, he was removing the landing gear safety pins, something always<\/em> done before a launch. The port side pin came out fine, but the starboard side would not budge. He started banging on the pin. It came out all right, but when it did, the wheel collapsed. He was inside the wheel well, so he was caught by the weight of the helo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the time all this happened, I didn\u2019t feel any emotions, just adrenaline, and my training kicking in. You bet, my heart was racing; I think everyone felt the same. I\u2019ll be honest though, when it was all over, I had to find a quiet place for a bit to decompress. I\u2019m sure I wasn\u2019t the only one that day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve often thought about that airman over the years. The flight deck is a dangerous and sometimes unforgiving place to work. He was just doing his job, like me and all the others on the flight deck. It could\u2019ve been any of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I thank the good Lord for that Plane Captain and the helo pilot that kept the aircraft in the air and steady, so we could do our jobs. We all worked together as a team with men we didn’t know, but trusted. That’s what you do in the military. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I didn\u2019t know AMS3 Andrew J. Wantulok<\/strong>, but his death on September 23, 1975 affected me personally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This event took place almost 45 years ago and the description may be a little fuzzy. But I\u2019m fairly certain it is accurate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gone in an Instant<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    A month ago, my wife\u2019s cousin was killed while riding his bike. He had been an avid cyclist for most of his life and traveled the world over with his wife and family. He easily had 100,000 miles of cycling experience under his belt. He was on an early evening ride, close to his home in Chico, California, when he was hit by an SUV. We don\u2019t know the details, but he was gone in an instant. He and his wife had just visited us in Florida a year earlier on their way to their new home and their new life. Dave had recently retired at age 65.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You never know when your time is up. Death leaves an impression that you carry with you throughout your life. How can it not? I\u2019ve often said that \u201cdeath is part of life\u2019s journey,\u201d and I truly believe that. But still\u2026 sometimes it hits close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes I think about the “what if…” I mean, am I the only that does that? What if<\/em> the helo had hit the deck, crashed, and sent shrapnel flying all around. There’s not a lot of room on the flight deck and plenty of personnel around. Then… I remind myself that it did not happen<\/em>. That keeps me from wandering down a potentially dangerous path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I’ve been married for almost 40 years to the love of my life, with two wonderful kids, and two energetic grandkids. I worry about them more than myself. I think most parents and grandparents do. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I want to live long and prosper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My first two \u201clong life\u201d goals are to live longer than my dad (68) and my mom (72). I think I\u2019ll make it. Both of them died of smoking-related cancers. I don\u2019t smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My next \u201clong life\u201d goal is to live long enough to see my daughter\u2019s third<\/em> grandchild graduate from college. While she\u2019s married to a wonderful man, they don\u2019t have any kids yet. <grin on><\/em>I’ve got my fingers crossed.<grin off><\/em> And before you ask, yes, she’s heard me say that before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lofty goals? Absolutely, but certainly doable. Right now, I\u2019m like most of you\u2014taking necessary precautions to avoid the coronavirus. That\u2019s my day-to-day goal. So far, so good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Stay safe, my friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Until we meet again,<\/em>
    Andy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"NEVER<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (\u201973-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran\u2019s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE<\/strong> copy HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Previous blogs mentioned in this post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n