To: Sgt. Grit
From: Ben Cascio
Subject: Contest for most unique, creative, gung ho, unusual, hard charging, strange, imaginative, and ingenious, use of Sgt Grit product.
For the past few years I have been fortunate enough to be involved in flying two beautifully restored UH-34 helicopters to Marine Bases & Airshows across the country. One of these aircraft, I actually flew in combat in Vietnam 33 years ago. There are few people who can say that they flew the same aircraft in combat 33 years ago & are still flying it today. To say life has been good to me, is an understatement. It doesn't get any better than this. However, while flying one of these aircraft (YL-42, owned by Jim Moriarty) from Houston, TX to one of the Marine Corps Airshows (Destination intentionally omitted for reasons which will become evident later), Gunny Sachs & I were flying IFR (I Follow the Road) at about 500 feet over a major highway. We were experiencing some pretty hefty headwinds, which reduced our ground speed from the usual 90 knots to only about 45 knots. It was getting pretty embarrassing because trailer trucks were passing us – going up hill! Anyhow, we were getting pretty ass-worn & our eyeballs were starting to float. The Sikorsky H-34 we were flying was built in 1961 & was not fitted with a "relief tube." (Which most of the crewchiefs used to turn around anyway, to make it blow back up). As thanks for their anticipated hospitality, I had just purchased a few appropriate gifts for the Base & Squadron CO's, from Sgt. Grit: read more
Tribute to KIAs of Echo Co 2nd Bn 3rd Marines (1965-1969) Semper Fi!
