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Rustic Hoppy
Rustic Hoppy Hopkins and his wife Karin have
hopped to a new home location still in Buckeye. Congratulations to them and you can get
their new address on the Contact Info page tab above.
- webmaster
Rustic 34 Relocation
Mike “Chunk” Thrower kicking back near his new digs
paddling along on some South Carolina waterway. Not sure who his new “kayak gang” is that
is backing him up, but they look pretty incognito and tough, haha.
Night Rustic Challenge Coin
Damon “Rustic Go-Go” Gonzalez approached Zeke a
few years ago with the idea of designing a custom Night Rustic Challenge
Coin, but somehow the idea got lost.
He recently tried again and this time the two of them sprang into
action and they are in the process of minting and distributing same. They have canvassed the full Night Rustic
Roster twice via email for those interested in purchasing coins. The overall order is about to be placed for
nearly 170 coins! To all those who
ordered, “Thanks!” for making this effort a huge success.
-- “Go-Go”, R-46 & “Zeke”, R-32
Mrs. Margaret Sovich
“Maggi” Sovich was recently laid to rest a little over a year
from her passing into her final resting spot at NAS Pensacola, home of the
Blue Angels. Thank you everyone for
your thoughts and prayers over this past year. By the way, the old man cleans up pretty
good.
- Daughter Julie
Frank, Rustic 36, with his
children in Pensacola
“I am America”
Our
nation is alive and speaks up in this excellent Memorial Day narrative
authored by a man in Florida. Click here
to read it.
DD-214’s Available Online
The
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website
for veterans to gain access to their DD-214 online: http://vetrecs.us/
The
NPRC, however, will still take several weeks to months to process your
DD-214. If you require your DD-214
promptly, you’ll need to hire a private research company with researchers
located at the various facilities where your DD-214 may be located. This will
cut the waiting time veterans have had in the past to obtain copies of their
DD 214’s and will be particularly helpful when they need a copy of their
DD-214 for employment purposes.
One
of these companies is Touchstone Research Group. You can find a description
of their DD-214 Express Service at http://dd214express.com/info/.
Redeye Roadtrip
Bob Harris and his wife Cheryl made a sizeable
roadtrip to visit several of our group at their homes. Here is one of the photos showing their
visit with Wayne Baker and his wife Leslie.
More pics and a narrative may follow.
Redeye
R-33, Cheryl, Stump R-22, Leslie
Hero
Shot Now Posted
I received a great photo
of the late Lt.Col Jerry Auth by his steed from his wife Gloria.
Jerry was tapped to be the very first pilot to fly
our top secret Rustic mission during the initial ground invasion into enemy
sanctuaries just inside Cambodia.
Rustic Wild Bill Goes Off-Grid
Wild Bill Healy has apparently
decided enough is enough in Texas, and for that matter, maybe any highly
populated area.
The view from our deck
“We are now
residents of Lake City, CO as of May 16th 2016. Much more to do,
but the worst is over.” - Bill
Bill Carruthers
To my
fellow Rustic buddies,
I have been
pretty quiet these last few years, but I came across this news about Google
Earth and Angkor Wat. Some of our gang
have been there. Those who have not
(including me), can get a real nice "virtual" tour. I have wanted to go there for a long time,
probably highschool days. I had
relatives living in China during the 1930s, and other times. They had told me about Angkor Wat back
then. My great-grand uncle (something
like that) was president of the Chinese division of the American Tobacco Co.,
so they travelled a lot. Here is the link
http://googleasiapacific.blogspot.tw/2014/04/wander-through-angkors-thousand-year.html
I have
flown over the complex when I was returning from a couple of days
off in Ubon, back to Ban Me Thout. I
may post a map latter, but obviously, Angkor Wat is a long way from the route
back to BMT!
I would
like to say to everyone that being a Night Rustic was a great way to start on
my tour in Vietnam. (except, I still stay up late at night)! A great group of
guys.
Take
care,
Bill
Carruthers, Rustic 34
Rustic “Over” Participated
In Retirement Ceremony
Don Mercer, Rustic 41, who was responsible for submitting at
least 30 awards being belatedly approved for individual Rustics by the Air
Force's Board of Review, attended the retirement ceremony of USAF Colonel Joe
Lineberger in Washington DC, during January of 2012. Don participated in the ceremony and
presented the Col. with a personalized copy of the newest book version, The
Rustics. Over worked with Col.
Lineberger for over 10 years, but had never met him until being invited to
attend his ceremony. Ed. note:
This invitation speaks highly for Don’s professionalism and tactful
persistence with the Board (AFBCMR) by being honored to participate. He must have
made quite the impression in Washington….
Nicely done, Over!!!
Rustic Zeke Rides Again!
Las Vegas, NV.-- Nellis Air Force Base hosts
an open house every year for the public called Aviation Nation, which
culminates each day with the Thunderbirds flying their aerial show. This event was held November 12th
through the 14th, 2010 and purports to be the world’s largest and
best military airshow by showcasing many additional aerial demonstrations and
performances in all types of aircraft, not to mention numerous static
displays of planes. Over the past
several years, Commodore Aerospace Corporation which owns, sells and flies
vintage Cessna O-2A Forward Air Control aircraft from the Vietnam War era,
was again invited to Aviation Nation to display their aircraft type. In addition, they were also asked this year
to participate in a daily airshow performance by flying one of their O-2A’s
in a reenactment of a Forward Air Controller (FAC) mission entailing the
rescuing of a downed F-4 fighter pilot.
As an ex-USAF Rustic FAC pilot from that era, Mr. David DeKoker, a
native of Morocco, IN now residing in Largo, FL was invited by Commodore
owner Mr. Don Nieser, to fly in the daily simulated aerial rescue performance
for the crowd. During the performance,
all the radio transmissions between Rustic 32 and other aircraft were heard
over the crowd’s PA system. Other aircraft
participating in this rescue were: an F-4 Phantom; two A-1E Skyraiders; and a
UH-1 Huey helicopter. This was Zeke’s
first aerial performance in an airshow and his emotions ranged from nervous
to anxious, to emotional, to proud, to “absolutely awesome!” He says he will always remain very grateful
for the honor and opportunity of participating. Following Aviation Nation, he helped fly
the three O-2’s in formation back to Oklahoma City where they are based.
The black bird was used for the
performance.
Over the Rockies heading home
VFR to OKC.
– Webmaster Zeke
Ever
Wonder how our O-2s got to SEA?
Click
here
to read this amusing account as
written by Colonel Wood.
R-30
Requests Rejoin!
A
previous O-2A driver has recently contacted us and has rejoined the
formation! Some may remember Tom
(Jammer) Jamrosy from the later months of the Bien Hoa operation. Rustic 30 was his call sign and he served
in our mission from April thru July of 1971.
You can find his contact
information here on the site.
Night Rustic Website Activated Since
Oct. 4th, 2003
YOUR INPUT IS ALWAYS REQUESTED!
Please send all news items of significant events in
your life if you would like them posted here.
This
site is hosted through contributions from the Night Rustic FACs and designed
by webmaster Dave (Zeke) DeKoker Digital Images!
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Larry Landtroop Has
Departed the Fix
Rustic
43, a renowned member of this elite and unique group has passed away. Larry went on from us to eventually retire
as a Full Colonel. Funeral
arrangements have been texted to each of us if we have your cell number. If you are in the Irving, TX area, please
try to attend.
Mrs. Cheryl Harris
Wife and
best friend of Bob “Redeye” Harris, Rustic 33, passed on to be with our Maker
June 21st, 2023 after her courageous battle with cancer. She will be interred at the Dallas-Fort
Worth National Cemetery. Read her full obituary here.
We will
all miss our vibrant friend Cheryl as our group slowly gets smaller and
smaller.
Rustic
41 Completes Huge Life Goal
During the past 9
years, our roving photographer, “Over”, has finally visited every U.S.
National Park. As of late, some photos
have been from underwater like this one.
CONGRATULATIONS
for this monumental feat!
Don
holding his last park banner on the ocean floor
2021
50th Anniversary Night Rustic Reunion
Due to
the COVID Pandemic of 2020, we were unable to hold our usual biennial reunion
that year. So we are holding it this
year, which also falls within the 50yr envelope for the Rustic Mission
(1970-1971). This year the venue is
St. Pete Beach, FL at the Sirata Beach Resort November 10th to the
14th. We will have a good
turnout for this event. Those planning to attend are listed on the Events page. You
can also see the Schedule of Events planned there as well.
Major-Major
Roberds Flies West…
Our unit commander (ALO) during the Vietnam War,
Rustic 21, Colonel Richard M. Roberds, Ret., will be laid to rest Saturday,
Sep 19th, 2020 in Tullahoma, Tennessee. You may view his obituary here.
Many in our tight-knit unit were very close to Dick and thought very
highly of him as a fellow FAC pilot and distinguished officer. His memory
will long live on and he will be missed by all those who knew him!
- Rustic 32 “Zeke”
Night
Rustic Hat Survives!
On
the 25th of February, I flew King Air 350, 615CL, for the last time ‘cause on
3 March, at 12:30 AM , John Tune Airport got hit by a tornado. I accidentally left my rustic cap on the
airplane when I last locked her up and left her to drive home. The hat survived. It was rescued today.
-
Rustic34, Chunk Thrower
The Night Rustic Patch Flies Again
On
April 14th, I and Cheryl joined up with Doug Aitken, Claude Newland,
Lendy Edwards and Tom Capps for a briefing on the Rustic call sign
history. Last year (2016), Captain Charles Cole of the 74th Fighter
Squadron (Flying Tigers) had asked his Squadron CO if a history wall for
their Rustic call sign could be displayed in their Squadron HQ
building. Permission was granted and Capt. Cole started doing some
research. He located the Rustic.Org website and contacted Doug
Aitken. The 74th FS is part of the Air Combat Command, 23rd Wing based
at Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA. Their squadron history goes all the way
back to the legendary "Flying Tigers" which is now using the Rustic
call sign, so we are now a part of the Flying Tigers history. The
74th is flying the A-10.
We
all met at Moody late on April 13th and prepared to give a briefing on
our history flying combat over Cambodia,1970-1973. The
14th schedule included a morning breakfast, midday hour long briefing to
the 74th, tour of their operations, sim flight in the A-10 and some war story
time at the bar. Each of us gave a brief description of our top secret
mission using the OV-10 and O-2. At the end of the briefing a copy of
our book was presented to the 74th.
My
part included what night operations were like compared to the day
timers. I basically said that it was pretty much the same except we did
it in the dark with no guns, no armor, no lights, bad weather and high pucker
factors. I also told them how the O-2 was ferried to SEA. I
saved the rest for the bar.
Highlight
of the day was seeing the Rustic Patch being worn by the new warriors of our
time. I thought about Go-Go Gonzales and how proud he will be when he
finds out that his drawing is still in the air. And, being worn proudly
by the new Rustic pilots. I think Cheryl's highlight was hearing the
stories around the bar and being around a lot of real stud muffins. Click on the photos to view larger
image. – Redeye Click here for large pics.
Sleepytime Forerunner Photo
Jerry
Auth’s wife, Gloria, sent in a group photo of the Sleepytime pilots of our
unit just before we received the Rustic mission. Jerry was apparently absent the day this
was taken –probably sleeping as all should have been. Check out the photo to see
who you may recognize.
Thanks
to all of you who helped provide the names of these men. We are still missing a couple actual names,
so please help out if you can.
- webmaster
BNA to HYK !
RUSTICS ARE ALWAYS WITH ME
Taken
on one of my CIRRUS SR-22 trips from Nashville to Hickory, NC. I am
blessed to still do it. (Ed. Note: Yes you are, Mike!)
- Chunk Thrower, R-34
Still Looking - Still Looking, Calling Night
Rustics!! We need your Tour photos
Photographs
taken during your SEA tour are needed for posting in the Photo Gallery on
this website. If you have a scanner,
please scan your photos singly or in gang sheets. Save your prints into a .jpg or .bmp format
and send as an email attachment to webmaster.
Letter from
John Litton
Rustic
“Wait-a-Minute” (R-42)
Dave,
You are always sending out good stuff and I enjoy
it. Sometimes I think back to what we
all did and what it took in our day to earn one Air Medal. As I recall, it was twenty combat missions
120nm or more from “home”, with a 1-50,000 map, at night with an antiquated
Starlight Scope or a $15,000 "Coffee Can", where, at times, the
only thing lighting the pitch black Cambodian night was the sparkle of small
arms or the red/orange tracks of tracers. I'd say we earned every one. But over the years, I've noticed the Air
Medal, typically associated with combat, has lost that luster and
significance. The overuse of this
award in peace time has diluted the value and meaning it was supposed to
represent.
I was cleaning out the garage today and came across
a paper I thought you'd be interested in.
It was issued by the Headquarters, IX Troop Carrier Command, on 15 November 1944. Here's the meat of what it says -
"Section
II: Awards of the Air Medal
........Headquarters,
United states Strategic Air Forces in Europe, subject: 'Awards and
Decorations', dated 8 Sep 1944, an AIR MEDAL is awarded to the following
named officers, organizations and residences as indicated, for the
meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights during the
period 17 Sep 1944 to 23 Sep 1944. As
Troop Carrier glider pilots, these officers demonstrated exceptional
airmanship and resolution in the execution of missions vital to the vertical
envelopment of enemy positions in Holland.
Piloting their gliders over extended routes in difficult weather, and
braving hails of flak and small-arms fire, they formed part of the vast
glider armada which successfully landed thousands of airborne troops and huge
quantities of combat equipment and supplies at designated objectives behind
enemy lines. Their outstanding achievements in the greatest operation in
military history reflect the highest credit upon the military forces of the
United States."
A single Air Medal, but what it represented was the
heroism and perseverance to preserve the free world. The operation referred to here is
"Market Garden". The first
name on the list, 1Lt. Clyde M. Litton.
Before Market Garden, he was at Normandy and, like
others, went on to volunteer for the Christmas mission to resupply Bastogne,
taking in ammunition and being "snatched" out with wounded onboard.
For all of that, his uniform, neatly pressed and
stored in a steamer trunk, has simply one lonely
ribbon, but what a story it tells.
By the way, he is still around. The stories would
make a great movie.
John Litton - Air Unit Manager/Supervisory Pilot
Lancaster Aviation Unit
Regional Aviation Group
USDA-Forest Service
Thanks for the letter John, and thanks
for allowing it to be published.
your best
stuff, B&W or color
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2021
Reunion Photos Posted
The
photos from the 2021 Reunion in St. Pete Beach at the Sirata Beach Resort
have been posted here for viewing.
Apologies to all those who have been waiting so patiently for me to
get these done. Busyness, back injury
and life somehow got in the way, but that is in the rearview mirror now, I
hope. If anyone else has other photos
they would like to have posted, please email them to me. Visit the Photo
Gallery link to view our reunion.
- webmaster
Tom
“Jammer” Jamrosy Has
Departed
the Fix
Rustic
30, a good friend and member of this elite and unique pilot group passed away
November 30th, 2021 following a long illness. I was just made aware of this news. The Jammer was always a friendly and
outgoing person, an excellent FAC and he will be missed by this team! May God give his family strength and peace
in his passing!
- Rustic 32 “Zeke”
Logos
for Your Use
and they are FREE!
O-2A and new Night Rustic Logos have been submitted
to the site for your personal use on any print or digital items of your
choice. Click here to view and download them. These are made available by the original
artists, daytime Rustic Jim Gabel and our very own Damon R-46 “Go-go”
Gonzalez. Thanks Go-go and Jim!
Present Day Issues Remind Us
Why U.S. Needs to Follow the Law
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1/14/2010 2:25:00 PM
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Immigrants join America
Letter to
the Editor
Frank E. Sovich
Yesterday
my hope and undaunted faith in this country was rekindled as I attended a
"naturalization ceremony" in Kansas City, Kan. It was truly an
inspiration to see folks from Afghanistan, Laos, Vietnam, Turkey, Cambodia,
China, Russia, India, Cameroon, the Philippines, United Kingdom, Brazil,
Mexico and so many other countries; 85 folks in all, stand tall and be
recognized.
For them, it was a birthday, as the judge put it, an awakening of a new
day. After years of painstaking immigration trials, a substantial amount of
personal fortune paid for both the process and lawyers, they had finally
made it to the Promised Land!
As they stood there, their names were read with their country of origin,
and the job they currently held; software engineer, real estate agent,
translator for the United Nations, university professor, internet engineer,
and on and on. And then, boom, it descended upon me like a bolt of
lightning. These men and women are legals! There really truly is a process.
A person from Gambia, Iran, Tibet and any other place on the globe can
actually get here, legally! The government wasn't lying, it can be done!
I guess that is why the question of illegal immigration is such a tenable
subject. That method comes, at a minimum, complete, with the immigrants'
demands shouted via a bullhorn, street demonstrations demanding recognition
of their countries' flag, and compromises scripted by greedy politicians.
Oops, that dark side is trying to sneak out; sorry.
But yesterday, I was truly humbled, and that in itself as those who know me
will attest to is a truly remarkable feat. There were so many in that room
who certainly could have matched my paltry accomplishments without blinking
an eye. I mean, I already knew English, all I had to do was get the degree.
The United States was in full bloom in that courtroom. It was truly a
beautiful thing to behold. Our strength really does lie in these people.
They ask for nothing, they demand nothing save for getting their shot at
success. They had a dream, they fought like heck to make it happen, no one
handed them anything, and now they stand shoulder to shoulder with us; the
oath of allegiance is complete, the certificate of naturalization is in
their hand. Yes, it can be done.
As we were leaving, I felt obligated to find the three soldiers in uniform
that also went through the process and shake their hands. I was truly
speechless, misty eyed as I held out my hand. Perhaps the glare from the
combat medals had something to do with my emotional state. I mean they were
proud members of the Big Red One; the army division that landed in Normandy
on D-Day, the same division I supported with airstrikes on the Cambodian
border in 1970, and now these young men had certainly proven their meddle
in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I guess that pride is true of our entire
military; young men and women willing to go in harm's way to keep you and
me safe.
God love each and every one of them. After that, there was only one last
thing to do. I had to locate and hug that guy from Turkey. I mean after
all, he was my son-in-law.
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ROADTRIP – August, 2014
91 HOLES OF GOLF
I don’t usually drive 500 miles, one
way, just to play golf. However, when
a dear friend invites you to do anything you go, if at all possible. Of course, I live outside Washington, DC
and Ace lives just a couple of miles outside Burneyville, OK. We met with five others from Texas and
Oklahoma in Highlands, NC to play golf over a three day weekend in mid-August. Ace and Hangar-man flew to Franklin, NC in
Ace’s plane and the others came commercially into Atlanta, GA then drove over
to Highlands in a rental. It took me
considerably longer even though I was much closer. But it was well worth the drive.
Now for you non-golfers, most of the
time you play either 9 or 18 holes at least some multiple of nine. How did we end up playing 91 you might
ask? First of all only I and
Hangar-man actually played 91 holes.
The first day all seven played 36.
The second day three of us (me, Ace and Hangar-man) played 37 and the
others played 36. And the third day
Hangar-man and I played another 18.
Why 37 you might ask? Somehow
we got lost between number 10 and 15.
So we backtracked to number 11 then played 15 a second time. We didn’t do any better the second time so
our score did not improve.
I had never played more than 18 holes
of golf in a day. But this story is
not about the scores but endurance and a miracle payoff. The third day it was just Hangar-man and
me. We decided to play another 18 at
the Franklin Municipal course in Franklin, NC. Here is where the story gets real
interesting, at least for me. The
fifth hole was a par 3. I used my 5
iron since the pin was around 170 yards away from the tee box. I don’t usually hit a 5 longer than about 150,
but I didn’t want to over shoot the green.
That’s assuming I hit it at all. The ball landed about 18 inches in
front of the hole then bounced to about 3 inches on the other side of the
pin. Hangar-man said that it looked
close to the hole. I was shocked that
I even got to the green. After a
closer inspection, we saw a divot the size of the hole and the ball just
inches away from a hole-in-one.
Well I had to take a picture of this
miracle shot. At first I couldn’t get
the cell camera to work. Then I forgot
to even pick up my ball. Hangar-man
said it was close enough for a birdie so I didn’t even hit in the hole. Then even after retrieving my ball I forgot
to repair the divot. Oh well, my
golfing manners could use some work.
Actually I left the divot so that the greens keeper would know where
the hole should have been and for posterity purposes. You can see the picture below.
Was it worth driving 1,000 miles just
to play golf? You bet it was. Met some new friends, saw some old friends
and almost shot a hole-in-one. Not a
bad three day experience.
Written and ‘stroked’ by: Robert
‘Redeye’ Harris
“Over” Completes His Largest Book Project
Don (Over) Mercer, Rustic 41, has informed us that
his latest work, a book on the Night O-2A Rustic mission in Cambodia has been
completed and is in the hands of the publisher at this time. This was quite a large endeavor for Don and
has taken years in traveling for the collection of one-on-one video-taped
interviews, transcription, research, compilation and writing of this
book. We have all been eagerly waiting
for Over to get his “baby” done. The
book is titled Lights Out – Destination Darkness
Check Out Kudos
from Native Cambodian
I received two
unsolicited emails (one forwarded from Claude Newland) from Mr. Chhun and feel his comments are very
worthy of posting on our Kudos page. Please check it out.
Mr. Chhun and wife
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