Vietnam Voices: 'You realize, 'Man, this is a war zone, isn't it?' It settles in after awhile'

Vietnam War veteran Tom Helwick talks about his experiences. Helwick served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot. He had originally planned to be a physical education teacher.

[@britgerus1956Glenn]

Darrell As ever if you're still around, greatly appreciated. Cheers Glenn

[@davidwatson2399]

This is a brilliant series. Thank you from Australia.👍

[@mudripper2367]

Quality interview!I know its 6 years old but this gentleman is fit!Vivid memories

[@jeffrobdine]

Welcome home Tom, best interview I've seen so far. You were lucky but made the most of it, thank you for your service !

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

What do people mean with thank you for the service? Over 3 million vietnamese died for a war started on a lie ab out the Gulf Of Tonkin incident

[@RResidentAlienNN]

@Jacob what it means is just that. Thanking vets for their service to this country. They didn't start the war. They didn't chose war. The government chose them period. They had to go. You're issue isnt with regular Joe vets. Its with the government and shill politicians like biden who look for reasons to pick a war instead of addressing the issues here like the Trump administration was doing. I dont believe you're comment was in sarcasm and I believe we you were generally just asking. There is you're proper answer.

[@RResidentAlienNN]

For someone who wants to appear as you know what you're talking about in regards to the gulf incident, you should know better then to ask that kind of question. You dont throw the baby out with the bath water. A large majority were drafted. They didnt start any war. You know that. So the question is not applicable to thanking veterans. I dont get why so many people ask that question. Thats like me calling you horrible for being abducted and forced to fight for something you wanted no part of. It's basic.

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

@@RResidentAlienNN being told to kill people and doing it does not absolve you of the crime

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

@@TheEdawg77 Vietnam is not a place America has any business intervening . The American arrogance is legendary

[@LKtube1]

I retired at Scott AFB .. still here running a contract. I knew right away when Tom said his squadron name it was the old Nightingales.

[@alexmynch1918]

Hey man that's awesome! I'm right by Scott! Thank you for your service Sir!

[@777poco]

listened to many of these interviews the interviewer does a great job

[@INNO222]

Excellent questions!

[@leonbass1575]

Great story, I was in the 362nd TEWS at Plieku A.B. from 68-69 , aircraft mec.

[@larrylarry5300]

Thank you for your service.

[@rubycollins3492]

Thank you for your service Great interview Welcome Home 🇱🇷🇱🇷

[@annecampbell7671]

💪🏼🔥🎖❤🇺🇸 God bless you.🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@nurlatifahmohdnor8939]

well = pe-ri-gi = te-la-ga Page 93 Hellespont = Dardanelles, opposite the ruined town of Sestos

[@techlife9853]

58,000 American lives lost .... but u never count the 100s of thousands of Vietnamese lives lost ....dont they count ? literally ...dont they count ?

[@robertwebb2646]

No!

[@techlife9853]

@@robertwebb2646 No wonder the world hates u Americans ....

[@oxymoronic12]

39:45 - 40:10 You have got to be shittin' me!

[@dougdownunder5622]

Watch some Battle of Britain documentaries. Pilots living in town fighting incoming German fighters every day for weeks.

[@braininavatnow9197]

I was a usmc grunterd pilott in east nam during the war. I flew f 35 and b93 turbo fighter and wasted hundreds of glookies along the ho chow maine trail. I was first in my class and war hero. After killing every glooky in a village igot gold air star. I luved my buddies poopy shoot while showering neked man on man but ream. We pilots smoked the green dopey weed and shoot big h before every flight. I kill with 55 cal pregnant glookies on the ground. Joykill joykill joykill. I get purple lung medal for severe clap. Sumter fiy fellow jar neck grunterd.

[@AmericanPatriot-bp7cu]

5th year of college to be a physical education teacher and still wasn't there? Sorry, sounds like the youth these days.

[@historybuff2329]

I can think of a dozen reasons why it took him 5 plus years to complete college. None of which are any of your business.

[@rontravels2404]

it's called 4 years for a BA and 1 for your TC

[@johnalves3583]

Hey Duane, maybe he liked to party.

[@danielebrparish4271]

The majority of students change their majors three times before their jr. year. Also until 67 or so you couldn't be drafted as long as you're in college. Lots of males were taking classes for many years.

[@AmericanPatriot-bp7cu]

@@historybuff2329 A dozen? Let's hear them to show the world how invalid your point is. I'd say your point is on top of your head, clyde.

[@wheelz23]

So glad to be able to have heard these soldiers. One of the best series. I'm the son of a Vietnam veteran. My father unfortunately passed back in 00' at 46 from dealing w/ Multiple Sclerosis since diagnosed at 18 in Germany. He was a chopper mechanic sp4. Salute soldiers. Thank you all for your service and sacrifice.

[@KoolT]

Hugs. My dad GUADALCANAL MARINE, SOLOMON ISLAND'S. Passed 2004, overcame PTSD. TOOK him a while.

[@michaelwalker-es6we]

May your father have been called for something men of this caliber request for need of! Nam vets are and SHOULD never have been treated as the youth of that generation of all religions but the worst part of all religions working as one ☝️ and then USA 🇺🇸 not a ok! Then watergate Nixon days! Clinton bush x2 x2 lol 😂 all puppets since Eisenhower! Historian research 🧐 of 30+ yrs bc of family history of warfare defiance and then leadership! I’m flat footed! Autistic savant duel IQ empath ami dexterity sniper qualified! But non combat! Confused 😕 lol 😂 I’m not done ✅ the whole book 📚 series, yet! Fleming 2.0! Harry Potters 0013!!! 😉

[@jameswierman2829]

12:36 😊

[@jameswierman2829]

😊😊

[@wheelz23]

​@@jameswierman2829 ?

[@laurence1643]

I was in the USAF 66-70. I talked with a pilot who flew an AC-47 in Vietnam. He said he had flown that exact C-47 in the Berlin Airlift after WW II. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@yuvegotmale]

In the 60s my dad had a Taylorcraft bc12d....I flew quite a bit with him. The first time he slipped the plane on a landing aproach I thought we were going to die...after a while i got used to it. This video is so good I have watched it twice. I was at Naval Support Activites 69 -70. Welcome home.

[@albertawildcat3164]

Loved hearing about his trouble with the turn and bank indicator, My instructor's favourite critique was always "STEP ON THE BALL"

[@freddobbs9435]

This is a very well done series, and should be watched by every american...all of these men are, of course UNSUNG HEROS>>>you can see where their war really started when they came home...

[@faniesmith]

Loved this story. If there is not oil running down the wing the engine does not have any oil.

[@jameswells4696]

Welcome home, Tom! I was commissioned at OTS about two years before you. Non-rated. Transportation Officer. I was at Pleiku and Da Nang about the same time as you. Then Phu Cat. Then by only the hand of God plucked out of the combat zone and sent to Bangkok to run the biggest air passenger terminal in Thailand. Like you, I just went where I was ordered and did my job to the best of my ability. Congrats for telling your story so well. Feel like I know you after listening.

[@rmiller2179]

Thank you , Sir! My Uncle flew transports in India/Burma/China in WWII- the HUMP. He loved those birds. In his later career he drove B36, 47, 52s in the cold war years flying live nukes over the pole into near-Russian airspace. Later as LT Colonel in SAC. Till his last days even tho he had Alzheimers, he could describe the minutest details of those aircraft, but he loved the old transport ships. A few times he dropped pigs by parachute into Burma on "food" drops--he told of a chute not opening on one unlucky porker, the result was sausage for chinese new year celebration instead of spare ribs!

[@michael-cy9qt]

i just want to humbly say i love this vietnam voices...now on a personal level my dad was a F4 pilot stationed at ubon in 1967..and on a deeper personal level i was born in 1971 with cerebral palsy at malstrom AFB in great falls montana and i was born early and i was immediately medvaced to fitzsimmons army hospital because it was the only NICU hospital in the western states...and tom mentions his instensive care nurse wife...and i just want to say military intensive care nurses are the best people on the planet..on a tangent i had to laugh a little my dad loved neil diamond lol

[@braininavatnow9197]

Yea they were always good for a bj

[@promeitheus]

The symbiotic relationship between the pilots and the ground forces, in the midst of battle, is a beautiful thing.

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

All part of a days work when over 3 million Vietnamese civilians dies

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

@A Duh how many names of young men are on that wall that died for nothing? Really tough to die for nothing

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

@A Duh how many names of young men are on that wall that died for nothing? Really tough to die for nothing

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@jacobjorgenson9285 We all eventually die for nothing.

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

@@tuckerbugeater yes, but i do not intent to kill someone who has never harmed me or anyone i know

[@Stormin13]

Cool interview - welcome home Tom

[@markgreen8752]

Thank you Mr. Helwick

[@josephliptak]

Thank you for your service.

[@mnpd3]

Ditto here on Mom sic'ing the Red Cross on me for not writing her. It didn't get you in trouble, but it was embarrassing to have the commander hand you blank paper and say "get busy." Today calling home from anywhere is simple and cheap. Back then a two-minute phone call meant waiting in line forever and paying a fortune.

[@mohawkdriver2504]

I flew the same type of Electronic recon missions during the period 1968 thru 1972 as an army fixed wing aviator and experienced a lot of scenarios similar to his. The difference was that we worked at a much lower altitude. Side note, I saw a C47 gunship shot down during an attack at the Pleiku airbase.

[@Brokk7777]

To bad the leaders back then didn't value these young men's lives more. The young men that lived through this have my outmost respect.

[@williameudy633]

I really enjoyed this one.

[@jeffkerr4249]

THANK YOU TOM !

[@mebeasensei]

I wonder how many tigers were left in the jungle after all the bombing, napalm, bulldozers, bullets, soldiers and agent orange? ..and yes, humble and smart guy.

[@hinesfigher6093]

Thank you for your service Sir. And your humility for not being one of the "guys on the ground". I am certain what you did in your missions was for those men.

[@gunwrites6222]

Uncle Sam is an odd fellow. My Father had qualified solo at Gallatin Field(Bozeman) in 1940. Pearl Harbor happened, two days later he joined the Navy. Well aware of his qualifications, he was sent to, and graduated from, OCS, but flat out was never considered to fly. His only theory was the CO was very biased toward 'country bumpkins', possibily taking bribes to send men to flight school which kept them on the mainland, away from the front lines of either theatre, for several, actually many, more months. He spent four years as an officer first aboard a destroyer in the Atlantic escorting convoys & hunting U-Boats, then to the Pacific as Senior Officer on the PG-69 Fury(PG=Patrolled Gunner, sister to the famous PT boats). DQed, unable to myself enlist due to a childhood injury, my hat is off, my hand across my heart, to EVERY Veteran.** ** - Hunter Biden, washed out to to repeated failed drug tests[cocaine], being one of the few exceptions.

[@mongolike513]

What a terrific insight you have broadcast. 5 stars for interviewer and 10 stars for his subject. Thank you.

[@jordanleng204]

Thank you for your service. I hope to follow in your footsteps. - C/2d Lt Leng, USAF Auxiliary

[@swartznoone]

Tks for ur service sir. And go Ohio Cambridge here

[@sevysnape]

Awesome story, thanks for sharing it Tom.

[@dorismahoney1440]

Thank you Tom for sharing your story.

[@fasted5822]

Gooney Bird! Thanks for your service Tom.

[@markmidwest7092]

Thank you for your service, Mr. Helwick.

[@colincrisp1592]

wars a racket golf of Tonkin

[@colincrisp1592]

DAVE GO TO FN WAR THEN BE FN SMART I SPIT ON YOU C

[@vityazsix]

I feel like they give up too much info in these

[@karen5022]

INTERVIEWER GREAT GUY, THANKS TO ALL MEN WHO SHARED YOUR STORIES WE ALL AS CITIZEN OF USA WONDERED FOR YEARS WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE IN A WAR THAT LASTED FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.ADVICE WAS IT OK NOW FOR THESE MEN

[@charlotteskiftun753]

These testimonials should be required listening for every kid 7th grade up boys n girls.

[@masongreen7640]

He sounds like the radio guy from joe dirt

[@tntkitty3595]

I am curious why Vietnam women veterans are not on here with their stories

[@braininavatnow9197]

It was a mans war. Woman had only one use in nam....and the locals were used for that...once stretched out they were killed.

[@wayneedwards5158]

Welcome Home, Tom! 🇺🇲

[@grantquinones]

smart guy

[@angelluisdevildog5926]

Thank you for your service

[@bjornnilsson7982]

Cool man

[@pappypinel7484]

This man is one smart cookie. God bless him.

[@southerncross3638]

We were all on like that, before America was dumbed down.

[@KoolT]

Remind each of these next year by liking posts. 2022 FEBRUARY.

[@shiriese]

When I first glanced at the thumbnail I though they were holding a m4 to him like do this interview now!

[@pietskiet8763]

Surviving T 38 is a major achievement in itself... Scary trainer!

[@philosborn1840]

I would have liked to hear more of the experience of flying the dc9 probably a series 30 🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@jlatour533]

Thanks for Vietnam interviews. Greet from Holland

[@notagrd]

Do some korean war vets! 🇰🇷🇺🇲🍺

[@paulleestewart3147]

True American very brave and compassionate men came back

[@KoolT]

God Bless you. God bless AMERICA.

[@howardsmith8430]

You have your share of ups and downs. Very true.😂

[@derindathrift2757]

Thank you for your service!

[@smallkrmit5717]

Thank you for your service sir

[@colemcclain7319]

Thank you for your service

[@braininavatnow9197]

Your welcome

[@KLeVoyBarnes]

My dad was a B-57 Canberra pilot and he flew the early missions to Vietnam when it was " Advisors " and he made it to Captain and left to concentrate on flying for United Airlines after 8 years of service. He said he was not interested in " flying a desk " I am sure later he regretted not doing his 20 years because United Airlines stabbed its pilots in the back by cutting their retirement pay in half. This " killed " a lot of loyal pilots who gave 30 + years of their lives to United. No one should be that loyal to a corporation as the Corporations don't know the meaning of the word loyalty, honor, and respect. United is one of those airlines that will never get me to fly on that airline ever again even though I did enjoy the DC-8 days of being a passenger and calling the stewardess to ask " why are flames coming out of the engine : - ) ?"

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

My father served in Vietnam, maybe he would want to come on, obviously it’s up to him. What’s your contact info?

[@braininavatnow9197]

These were all actors. No real nam vets were used.

[@aaronbuster7201]

I love this series

[@zaneivy]

...what is that "taking off" at around 4:56/4:57, just to the left of his head from the viewer's perspective?

[@braininavatnow9197]

It's a electric wombat

[@daviswall3319]

Very interesting

[@Thompsdan]

Fascinating.

[@yuvegotmale]

great story.............

[@deefriesen6619]

K

[@defuse56]

I really enjoyed this! Usually in, say, a documentary, you hear or read about helicopter attack or huey pilots. Also "Top Gun" type jet fighters. Rare;y, if ever, do you get to hear the story of the guys who flew transport, electronic warfare, etc. planes like the E-47. A pleasure!

[@utapao74]

The ABCs of Salvation, or how to be right with God, and know you're going to Heaven: A-dmit that you're a sinner, and need a Savior. As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 B-elieve that Jesus Christ died paying the penalty for your sins, and rose from the grave. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross. 1 Peter 2:24 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 C-all on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you, and trust only in Him for your salvation. If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 The moment you "believe," or, put your trust in what Jesus has done for you, God saves you and your eternal destiny in Heaven is assured. You go from spiritual death to eternal life the moment you believe. Jesus said it this way: Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24😀

[@NoLefTurnUnStoned.]

Take a shot for every comment by gullible Americans saying “Thank you for your service”

[@markholbrook3949]

Whoa wait a minute everyone raised their hands for pilot training only 4 slots then as luck would have it I was one of the 4? I wish he continued how they chose the 4!!

[@theseeker1237]

He may never have known. Maybe they flipped a coin. Seriously.

[@steveparker5406]

From my military experience, it’s random…”you, you, and you two….come with me.” Now, for pilots, the officer probably selected the 4 based on an instant assessment of their height/weight and appearance.

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

5yrs in college and couldn't conquer that brutal phys ed major regiment huh? Wow.

[@dougdownunder5622]

Accentuate the positive. Harder, but its a more highly evolved behaviour.

[@michaelhatch3751]

So deep!

[@tedmorgan7002]

Dog panting?

[@braininavatnow9197]

No.... that's his girlfriend.

[@carolynbrowning4426]

The present dorothy aerobically matter because woolen ordinarily unlock beside a imaginary sense. noisy, skinny accountant

[@braininavatnow9197]

Yes but with the weather being human or probably not going out for dinner and then we must be rounded and the same thing that would happen if you have any questions or something like it is going in there and the rest will make it up for work in exchange and the rest will make you happy to know what the hell happened with a new pandemic response to my question of whether you can come up to your office or something else to it but it hyfgfhhh.