Muleskinners Looking For a Home
Hello, please allow me to introduce myself. I
have no name, and I am currently homeless. Would you take a moment, and let me
tell you my story? I am the symbolic mule residing in the hearts and minds of
the indomitable “Muleskinners.” The Muleskinners were a great bunch of officer
and enlisted aviation soldiers of the U.S. Army who were brought together at
Fort Benning, Georgia, in October of 1966. They chose me to be the symbol of
the company’s radio callsign, “Muleskinner.” They chose this callsign, I
believe, because it reflected the unit’s historical lineage and contemporary
mission. You see, the unit, although reorganized and redesignated numerous
times, has always been a transporter of Army people and equipment. One of its
earliest manifestations was as the 724th Quartermaster Truck Platoon
(Aviation), in July, 1942. The unit in its various forms served in both World
War II and the Vietnam war, earning 15 campaign participation credits and four
unit citations. In my last home, the 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company
(ASHC), we were in the Republic of Vietnam. For a little more than four years,
we flew day and night and in anything the enemy or weather threw at us, to
support the 25th Infantry Division, from August, 1967 to October, 1971. We flew
the Boeing CH-47A Chinook helicopter, and once again were transporting soldiers
and their equipment into combat for our country. During this time, sadly, 12 of
my soldiers died and I still grieve their loss. I have not seen nor heard, a
history that properly honors their sacrifice.
Well,
now sadly, I find myself without a home. You see, at the end of the Vietnam
War, I was ordered to Alaska with the 242nd ASHC to replace the 236th ASHC
“Sugar Bears.” At this point, I had served my nation, Army, and unit for
approximately five years, four of those years in combat. I was tired and
scarred but still very young and proud, as were my soldiers. To my surprise and
utter disparagement, these new soldiers decided to put me out to pasture. I was
angry and very disappointed, but being a good Army mule, I obeyed my orders and
went sadly to that symbolic green pasture. I never knew at the time, and only
guess, but I suppose this course of action was chosen because the 236th had
just adopted “Sugar Bear” as their name (callsign). The 236th had formed in
Alaska during April, 1971, and had acquired the Sugar Bear name before the
242nd arrived in November. They had even involved corporate America by getting
permission to use the logo of “Sugar Bear,” the symbolic seller of Post Sugar
Crisp cereal, from General Foods Corporation. I apparently had no champion to
speak on my behalf, and if I did, they were swept aside as were our Muleskinner
callsign and my combat record. It seems remarkable to me that the Sugar Bear
name was just seven months old when compared to my five years and more notably
four years in combat. The unit who dismissed me and permanently adopted Sugar
Bear as it’s callsign has evolved into Bravo Company, 4th Battalion,
123rd Aviation Regiment at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. They, (B-4-123 Avn.) have expressed no interest in ever changing
this decision, and are not disposed to even discuss it. This is the home I would choose if ever I
was given a choice. They still fly my
beloved Chinook and serve the soldiers I love.
They are the direct descendants of my tried and true combat friends, the
Muleskinners.
Now
I have no complaint with a bear as a symbol for a military unit; they are a
brave and noble critter, and like myself, if necessary, will put up a great fight. I believe, however, that a number of beasts
could be considered. As well, there are
several manmade icons to consider. All
of these I feel, should revolve around a theme of logistical support for our
ground soldiers. No military thrust, no
ground captured, has ever endured without logistical support, and today that
support is provided by my Chinook friends. Historically, logistic support has
been provided by numerous beasts of burden, and in more recent times, by
manmade means. The list is considerable
with animals like elephants, camels, oxen, horses, and mules to name a
few. Then there are manmade means like
carts, wagons, trains, trucks, and variations on those themes. Examples like: Pack Mule, Mule Train, Mule
Team, Wagon Masters, Freight Trains, and Box Cars come to mind. I would of course, like to promote the
historic Military Mule. The noble mule
has served armies all over the world, and has a great and historic military
heritage. The tradition of the U.S.
Army mule goes back more than two hundred years and notably, a Muleskinner, is
the historic and traditional American name given to a driver of mules in the
U.S. Army.
I
can see from this pasture that there are still “Hill Climbers,” “Black Cats,”
“Pachyderms,” and “Freight Trains” to name a few, who are still flying the Chinook
and supporting our great Army. These units were my friends and neighbors in
Vietnam. I’m just asking to once again fly with my Chinook friends and be a
Muleskinner. Would someone who flies the great Chinook, please get me out of
this pasture and put me to work again? Notice the empty white arc at the top of
my patch? Would you adopt me and put your numbers in that empty place? Would
you give me life again, and let me serve in the War on Terrorism? I and my
former Muleskinner friends, want you to know that I am available to serve you.
I would be glad to work for the National Guard or Army Reserve as well. You
could certainly change or update my patch as that seems reasonable, but myself
(the Mule) and the Muleskinner name should stay together. My image has been
illustrated many different ways over the years, but I have always represented
the best in cargo helicopter soldiers – the Muleskinners.
In
2004 there was a first reunion of the Muleskinners, the veterans of the 242nd
ASHC of the Vietnam War. We met for the first time since 1971, at the Adams
Mark Airport Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, for three beautiful June days. We
gathered as a unit member of the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Members Association.
At this reunion we discussed our history and agreed to have it collected and
written. We also agreed to actively
search for a home in the Chinook community, for our esteemed name to reside
in. We know, that there will be as many
in opposition, as in support of this effort. We know, how hard a name change can be and have felt the
disappointment. We understand, the reluctance within the current Chinook
community; However, we Muleskinners will be as stubborn as any team of Army Mules,
as we struggle to regain our place in history. We will no longer go quietly
into the night. We will not continue laying around this pasture. If you have a
home for me, or want to join us as fellow “Hookers” at our reunions, you would
be very welcomed. If you have some compromise to put forward, that could be
discussed. My needs and those of my Muleskinners are simple; honor our legacy
and sacrifice, then, let us serve Army Aviation again. This is our earnest
desire; LET THE MULESKINNERS FLY!
The author of this article and point of contact for the name (callsign) project is Roger Montgomery, a retired First Sergeant of the US Army. He served in the 242nd ASHC, Muleskinners, from June, 1967 at Fort Benning, Georgia, to August, 1968 at Cu Chi, in the ‘Iron Triangle’ of the Republic of Vietnam. Roger coordinated the first reunion of the Muleskinners in Indianapolis, in June, 2004. For a discussion of the unit’s history or adopting the unit name, please contact him at: RogerRamjet242@aol.com or 4511 Pineville Lane, Spring, Texas 77388, 281-288-4152.