In the early fall of 2013, Ed learned that a Vietnam-era Army UH-1H “Huey” helicopter on the east coast of Florida was being retired from service and was about to be scrapped. When Ed heard the last three digits of the helicopter’s serial number were 113, he got excited. He knew a helicopter known as Bandit 113 had been assigned to the 281st Assault Helicopter Company during the war years in Vietnam. Although Bandit 113 arrived in Vietnam after Ed’s last tour of duty, he had seen action as a helicopter pilot in the same unit.
In late 2013, Ed learned his efforts had been rewarded. The helicopter would be donated to the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum and was available for pickup. There was, however, a catch: if it wasn’t picked up in 10 days, the deal was off. Unfortunately, Ed was undergoing cancer treatments and was unable to help. So he called his old friend Lance Ham, who lives in Florida. Lance was gone on a hunting trip, but called some friends he served with in Vietnam. The men borrowed Lance’s trailer and moved the helicopter to his farm, where it sat safely in the middle of a hayfield until March 2014.
Moving the helicopter from Lance’s trailer to Ed’s trailer for transport to Huntsville required a commercial crane. A local crane owner brought his entire crew for the transfer, but when Ed asked him what he owed, he simply shook Ed’s hand, saying, “Thank you for your service.”
During transport from Florida to Huntsville, the aircraft attracted a lot of attention. When Ed stopped for gasoline—choosing stations that would accommodate a 40-foot trailer hauling a helicopter—customers swarmed Ed and Jay. While they drove down the highway, passengers of other vehicles leaned out to snap photos.
“I have literally scrounged parts from coast to coast to put it back together,” Ed says. Most of the parts, he says, were donated. Meanwhile, the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, the unit the helicopter was once assigned to, raised over $5,000 to help defray the costs associated with transporting and restoring the aircraft.
Ed then contacted Bearkat Collision and discussed the project with owners Bobby Beason and Tracy Turner, showing them “then” and “now” photos of the helicopter. “The ‘now’ pictures were pretty rough,” Bobby admits. “We wanted to help out. I thought we could get enough people together where it wouldn’t cost them anything.” Bobby recruited volunteers and also contacted his paint supplier, Tasco Auto Color in Conroe, which donated the many gallons needed to repaint the helicopter.
“Mr. Duke brought it to us in pieces,” Bobby says. “You don’t drop off a whole helicopter and say, ‘We’ll see you in a week.’” The work is nearing completion, however, and Ed is hopeful that Bandit 113’s restoration will be completed before the end of the year. At that time, it will land at the Vietnam Memorial Garden at the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum. For more information visit heartsmuseum.com or call (936) 295-5959.