Maj. R. H. Nelson and Lt. T. Timmons.

[cnowotny]

I am seeking assistance from Popasmoke.


I see that NELSON ROBERT H, AZ 85269-7041 HMM-164 is a charter member of Popasmoke. I served with Major Nelson in HMM 164 in '67-'68 when he was the X.O. of that squadron under Col. Rick. I would appreciate if you could forward my addresses to him with a request for contact...

Another pilot, Mr. Bob Godwin and I have obtained some of the after actions reports for that period. I would like to contact Major Nelson and discuss some foggy facts concerning our time together on a particular day in January 1968. I erroneously recalled it as Jan 19th; the vague records, such as they are, state the date as the 25th. WE were on a series of recon extractions in YT-6 with YT-1 as our cover. I've posted a series of photos taken on that mission involving a Gunnery Sergeant Hagar who was part of the Recon Team earlier on Popasomke. The flying by Major Bob Nelson the "HAC" was outstanding if not at times amazing and I never had the chance to talk to him or Tim Timmons the Co-pilot about my personal experiences and observations of their outstanding flying skills that entire day.

Tim Timmons gave a sermon at the Phu Bai Chapel that following Sunday morning prior to my launching to Khe Sahn and it had a cathartic effect on my life ever since and I'd appreciate having a chance to finally talk to the former X.O. of HMM 164 who piloted a routine set of missions that were not routine at all to me.


Chuck Nowotny 2149649 a former crew chief of YT-6 HMM 164

Email: cnowotny@msn.com

Huntington Beach, California


I am now retired from Law enforcement after serving with the LAPD and the Huntington Beach Police as a detective and have had three of my four sons enter Law enforcement in my footsteps.

The photo's and the occurrences of that day in January have had a major effect on my life and that of my family A 6 degree of Seperation kind of thing. I feel that I have a bit of unfinished business in that I would like to express in person to those two men. That being my untold appreciation to Mr. Timmons for his amazing words and to Major Nelson for his acumen as a pilot before the opportunity passes forever.

If you can facilitate my request for this reunion and contact, I would be most appreciative.

Y.O.S.

Semper Fidelis

Charle'

[cnowotny]

Bruce,

Thank you for facilitating the contact with Lt. Col Robert 'Bob' Nelson. U.S.M.C. (Ret,) It was very much appreciated and you have my heartfelt thanks.

As always,

Y.O.S.

Semper Fidelis

Chuck Nowotny

[cnowotny]

Ed Egan wrote on 07-13-2003 19:45:
Chuck,
If you found him, is that the R. H. (Bob) Nelson who was my skipper at 365 at New River in late '69 (and the famed pilot who landed his 46 on the roof of the Wing Post Office at DaNang)?

Wife's name Sue.

SF,
Ed Egan


Aye, gracias, He’s one in the same Ed. However, I am remiss to base all of his long standing, dedicated military service and his countless hours of flying on one inveterate recremenititous, prêt-à-porter pishogue of alacrity due to an inadvertent, successful landing albeit on a Post Office. What difference does it make whether it be a hillside, the ocean or a muddy paddy. There is a certain amount of esoteric jocosity in arcane stories like his anyway. Those old birds were always testing the metal and skills of those of us who flew in them. We, Mr. Nelson, Lt. Timmons, Jerry Siudzinski and I shared, if only now a fragment in my memory, an event that was but a daily ephemeron only later revived and memorialized by Lt. Tim Timmons during an innocuous sermon, which led to and accounted for my raison d'être, and for that I am forever thankful.

My special memory of Major now Lt. Col. Bob Nelson (Ret.) was his extraordinary flying ability and patience not his irascibly inhere, or idiosyncratic command methods or on one unscheduled, unannounced and successful delivery on one very small LZ some called a roof. Remember, any landing you can walk away from and talk about 35 + years later was a good one.

He was but a Major when he took command and was the C.O. of HMM 261 at New River North Carolina when it was THE training squadron for the New CH46A helicopter when it started to replace the venerable CH 34 back in 1966.

I can see him now, and, I miss him, [as I do all of you] though I hardly knew him.

Amicalement and thanks for your reply.
.
SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATRES AETERNI

[cnowotny]

Oh! Never mind... [eom]