The OV-1 Mohawk Association 20th Reunion Begins!

Well, I’m on my way to Nashville for the 20th Anniversary Reunion of the OV-1 Mohawk Association! Got up at zero-dark-thirty to catch the Metro bus from my house to downtown Seattle, and then get on our new Link Light Rail directly to Sea-Tac Airport. We left for DFW on a jet plane (hum the John Denver song now!) where I’ll connect a flight to Nashville. I’m somewhere over Oregon now; I’ll continue journal a little later in the flight.

I’m somewhere between DFW and Nashville at 29,000 feet now, and I’m thinking about what our reunion will be like this year. In Portland last year there were guys I had not seen in several, indeed many, years. Bill Page I saw last in 1999 in Minneapolis. Steve Hammons and George Baena I had not seen in a few years. The last time I saw Dugan Lawrence was in the summer of 1970 after he had DEROSed and I had gotten out of the Army. I am so glad that Dugan was there! Alex Berkeley, Loren Schrock and Danny Talbot were there too. I had not seen George Burns since Phu Hiep!

We’ve landed in Nashville now. Everything is a beautiful green, the thermometer is hovering in the low 80s, and the humidity is even higher. By chance, Dave Olney (the Association XO) and his wife, Kathy, are waiting for the hotel shuttle as I walk out of the terminal, so we’re on our way to the hotel together.

After a light snack and a glass of vino for dinner, I’m off to publish this blog entry and then hit the hay. I am anxious for our first full day tomorrow here in the Volunteer State, to renew friendships, and make new ones, with brothers with whom I shared a common experience. I’ll update with photos tomorrow…

Just In Case You Need A Laugh…

Terry Carlson sent me this one that h as been making its rounds on the internet:

Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those of us who fly routinely in our jobs. After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS ' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

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P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

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P: Something loose in cockpit

S: Something tightened in cockpit

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P: Dead bugs on windshield.

S: Live bugs on back-order.

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P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.

S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

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P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

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P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume set to more believable level.

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P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That's what friction locks are for.

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P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

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P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you're right.

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P: Number 3 engine missing..

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search

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P: Aircraft handles funny.

(I love this one!)

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.

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P: Target radar hums.

S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

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P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

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And the best one for last...

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P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

Reunion Roster Update

Here’s the latest update on Who’s Coming to the Reunion as of August 10^th…

Joe Beckham, Don Bernstein, Tony Chapa, Adrian Coty, Gordy Darragh, John Ferguson, Joe Floyd, John Gardosik Steve Hammons, Joel Haugen, Bob Heckendorn, Johnny Martin, D. Bill Miller, Bill Page, Ben Perez, Ronald Peterson, Bob Riha, Steve Sachs, Ernie Serna, and Danny Talbott

As soon as a new list is published, I’ll put those from the 225th who are registered on this blog. The entire roster is located at the Association website, click on Reunions.

Does Anyone Know J.Y. Hammack?

Dave Olney, the Executive Director of the OV-1 Mohawk Association, received the following email from the son of a former Mohawk driver. I told Dave that I would post it to see if any of you might know this man's father, J. Y. Hammack.

On 07/29/09 10:04 AM, Steve Hammack wrote:
--------------------
Dave, You do not know me but you may know my father J Y Hammack in your role of Executive Director for the OV-1 Mohawk Association. My dad flew them way back when. He is getting on in years but I thought it would be nice to see if your group has any records on him or needed information from him.
Have a great day.
Steve [Hammack]
UH1/OH58/UH60 LTC(R)

Please let me know if you know Mr. Hammack and I'll be sure to pass the info along. Thanks!

NASHVILLE IS ONLY 6 WEEKS AWAY!!

This is a reminder that the 20^th Anniversary Reunion of the OV-1 Mohawk Association is now only a little over 6 weeks away, and only 16 Blackhawks/Phantomhawks have sent their registrations in as of the 1^st of August. They are Joe Beckham, Tony Chapa, Adrian Coty, John Ferguson, John Gardosik, Steve Hammons, Joel Haugen, Bob Heckendorn, D. Bill Miller, Bill Page, Ben Perez, Ronald Peterson, Bob Riha, Steve Sachs, Danny Talbot and myself.

The following is from the Reunion Registration Info Form:

You are responsible for making your own room reservations at the Sheraton Music City Hotel @ 1-888-627-7060 -or- http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/mohawk09.

The block of rooms will be held until August 15, 2009 or until they are all gone. We needed to have our room reservations made NLT July 15, 2009, in order to accurately predict our contract obligations to the hotel.

Please have your completed registrations in to Chris by August 1, 2009. (This was a week ago!) Please note that a $20 late fee will apply this year for those received after August 15, 2009.

Chris Walker, our Reunion Director said to call him on his cell phone with any questions/problems: 660/351-2132 ~or~ email him: bcwalker01@earthlink.net.

MG Bill Page (USA Retired), and former XO and CO of the 225^th, is our main speaker this year (please see an earlier article on this blog). I have been working with him in the preparation of it, and it will be really fun to hear about his eight years as a Mohawk pilot and company exec and CO. We are planning an informal reception one night (probably Thursday) so we all have chance to see each other.

So get your registrations in ASAP! We all gather in Nashville a little over 6 weeks! We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Mohawk Videos on the Web

Larry Conway sent the following note to us Army Aviation types:

"Howdy, Troops!

"I have long been disappointed in the paucity of videos of OV-1s in flight. Well, here they are - a bunch of them. Some good soul(s) took the time & trouble to put them on YouTube. Enjoy."

Click on the link to see some footage that may bring back some memories...http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=VqP&q=grumman%20ov%201%20mohawk&revid=1585004651&ei=bPxpSrDMJ4PksQPwnMCWBQ&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

Nashville - 60 Days Away and Counting!

Can you believe it? In about 60 days I’ll be leavin’ on a jet plane for Nashville and the OV-1 Mohawk Association’s 20th Annual Reunion and Reminiscing-Fest!

Chris Walker, the Association’s Reunion Director, has arranged for great activities for all us Mohawkers and our significant others. For example, if you always wanted to know how whiskey is made (and haven’t seen it on the Food Channel), we will be going to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg on Thursday the 24th of September. On Saturday, during the Business Meeting, all of our better halves and guests will be going on an historic tour of the Belle Meade Plantation and the Hermitage, General (and President) Andrew Jackson’s home.

Saturday night we will dine in fine style at our annual Banquet and hear MG Bill Page share about the history of the OV-1 Mohawk and his eight years as a Mohawk driver. I’ve been working with him on his presentation, and believe me you do not want to miss it!

We’re staying at the Sheraton Music City Hotel and the rates are very reasonable, but they will not apply much longer. I’m personally looking forward to sitting around some table and listening to more true stories of all of our adventures when we were 20+ years old, and serving our country as Mohawkers. I learn something new each time we get together!

I looked at who’s coming from the ranks of the Blackhawks and Phantomhawks, and I count only eight as of the posting of the list on July 2nd. I see Steve Hammons and Joe Beckham were about first in line, Adrian Coty and Steve Sachs will be there too. (I’m looking forward to flying with you again Steve!) Where are you Alex Berkeley, Loren Schrock and Danny Talbot! Don’t make Joe and me consume all that beer again this year!

To make it easy for you to register, here’s the link to the Association website: http://www.ov-1mohawkassociation.org/reunions.html, so there can’t be any whiney excuses like “I didn’t know how to register” or “I didn’t know how much it cost”.

Seriously though, time’s gettin’ short (not to be confused with a short-timer), so send in your registration today! I’ll see you in Nashville!