Tag Archives: blue india

October 9, 2015 · 12:53 pm

Helicopters in the Vietnam War

The New Cavalry

During the Vietnam War, the United States relied on the helicopter as never before. The helicopter’s role in combat expanded enormously in this conflict as thousands of “choppers” rapidly transported personnel throughout the war zone. Heavily armed helicopters offered a fearsome component to ground operations as close air support.

From March 1970 to April 71, I had the honor of serving with Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam. We were 100% mobile and made up of three platoons, aero scouts (White platoon) aero weapons (Red platoon) and aero rifle (Blue platoon).

My first duty was radio guy (Blue India) in the bush for the Blues…

UH-1 ‘Huey’
Lift platoon

OA-6A ‘Loach’
Scout platoon

AH-1G Huey Cobra ‘Snake’
Aero Weapons platoon

Maintenance hanger and flight line at Phuoc Vinh Airfield

The Maintenance platoon’s main job was to keep Charlie Troop’s aircraft running in tip-top condition, which was critical for the success of our missions.

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Filed under Vietnam War

Tagged as 1st air cav, 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile), 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, Aero Rifle Platoon, blue india, cobra gunship, huey, Huey Cobra (UH-1B) gunships, lift platoon, Light Observation Helicopters (LOH), loach, Phuoc Vinh, phuoc vinh airfield, Vietnam War

August 2, 2009 · 7:11 pm

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Facing Wounds You Can’t See

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The Author: “The Ghost in the Orange Closet” Sgt. Tom Criser (right)

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I never met Tom Criser in Vietnam, he was leaving Country as I entered.
We both carried the radio (Blue India) in the field for the Blues of C Troop 1/9 (probably the same one).

I usually don’t finish a book in one sitting, but this one, I had to…
Great Job!
Rob Struck (Blue India) 1970

Blue India

New Guy got the radio

I was a FNG (f**king new guy) so they put a radio on my back. My call sign was Blue India.

As a RTO (radio telephone operator) I was the only communication between us Blues on the ground and our choppers in the air. It only made sense that the RTO was a prime target in a firefight, so that’s probably why the radio was given to a FNG. I found out a little later that the Blues radio guy (Blue-India) was killed in an ambush in September of 1969.

The most common radio used was the PRC-25. The PRC-25 ran on battery power, and the battery only lasted for one day of continuous use, so I always carried a spare. The PRC-25 had two large knobs, which changed the frequency. The frequency had to be changed often to insure that enemies could not pick up transmissions.

I also carried smoke grenades. The smoke grenade released clouds of colored smoke to help mark location for gun ships and Huey Pilots.

The first time I rappelled from a chopper with a radio on my back, I flipped upside down from being a bit top heavy. After a few more rappelling missions, I finally figured it out…