Remembering a fellow Polecat

John Steven Anderson

Helicopter Pilot, CW2, US Army

Waterloo, Iowa

February 24, 1950 to November 4, 1969

On the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, panel 16W, line 26

The photograph of John at the helicopter was taken on graduation day
from Army Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Fort Rucker, Alabama
in June of 1969. The other picture was taken a few days later. Within two
weeks John was in Vietnam, piloting a Huey helicopter like the one he stood
next to in the photo.

John flew the UH-1H Huey slick with the 192nd Assault Helicopter
Company, First Aviation Brigade, from Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan Province.
The company radio call sign was Polecat.

John, Captain Al Castro, two crewmen, and three passengers crashed
in bad weather in Zuc Me pass near Da Lat. They were missing
in action until the wreckage was found almost three years later.

Nita Weaver, nita@townsqr.com wore a POW/MIA bracelet with John's name on it for several years.



Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John G. McGee

The data base page for John Anderson.
Vietnam Helicopter Flight Crew Network

This page was made by Jim Schueckler

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