Not So Far From Home (Dec 14)

Today was interesting for me, not just because I flew for nearly 3 hours with the Captain searching for schools of tuna, but because we found ourselves in the presence of an American Tuna boat. When I flew over it I thought it must certainly be Japanese because the all white paint job was something

The Best Place in the World (Dec 13)

There is a place I like to go to at the end of the day after the observation tower is closed and the helicopter is washed and tied down for the night. Most people have a place in this world that they think of as a “happy place” and I’ve certainly found mine.

The Art of Flying…is lost on my Koreans (Dec 12)

At least, fishermen. I think they think that this thing works like a boat. And probably think anyone could hop in and do it. I’m not expecting accolades or a celebration every-time we come back and land, I would however appreciate just a little bit of understanding on their part. I’ve flown almost 5 hours

Open For Business (Dec 11)

My alarm cut through the black cabin like a klaxon jarring me awake, and all too suddenly for my liking as I was in the middle of a particularly good dream. I glanced up to the beeping and flashing alarm clock that I had mounted sideways and on the wall using Velcro so that I

First Day on the Job (Dec 10)

It feels like today is my first real day on the job since this is the first day I’m the only pilot on this boat, the only one that will be flying this helicopter, doing these missions. We trained mostly on landings, and a bit on operations, but a lot I will have to learn

Tarawa (Dec 4 – 9)

So I posted a lot while I was in Tarawa, a lot of stuff from when I was on my first trip on the boats. On ,y second trip I tried to ummarize what all I did in Tarawa. I’ve also got a bit of a visitors guide for the Island coming together I’ll post

The Purge (Dec 4)

Today is our last day at sea before arriving in Tarawa and I now get why everyone has been in such a good mood today. Just like when flying into another country you aren’t allowed to bring in most fruits and vegetables and meat products, definitely not meat products. So began the purge, and it

The Officers Club (Dec 3)

I have been thinking of a way to describe the way things work on this boat that would make sense to people I know back home because just saying that the flight crew isn’t part of the crew-crew, and only answers to the Captain seems a bit simplified. So, falling back on my military experience

Make it or Break it (Dec 2)

Make it or Break it I’ve been training on the Hughes 500c ever since we left port in Suva, Fiji on the 15th, while now here we are 17 days later, and I’ve logged a few hours between the missions and I can say that without a doubt – this is not the way to

Vivid Food Dreams and the Politics of South Vietnam (Dec 1)

One thing that has been interesting out here is that I’ve noticed my dreams are far more vivid and detailed, the memory of thiem lasts far longer than when I was home. Perhaps it’s my mind trying to cope with the perpetual ground hogs day that I’m living out here, giving me an escape to