The Christy Collection
Military Stories and Articles
I’d been assigned to West Point for over a year when I met my future husband, SP4 Rodney Helmers, in early 1978. That summer, Rod had a vehicle accident determined to have been caused by a seizure while driving. It seemed like a one-off, and I was not overly concerned. We married at West Point in December 1978 and were awarded government quarters on-post shortly thereafter. In April 1979, we were joyous to learn I was pregnant.
On December 6, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq which was then one of the most volatile cities in the world Major Megan Malia McClung was killed in action when an IED struck her Humvee during a mission escorting journalists embedded with Marine forces. She was 34. What made her presence on that convoy so powerful was this: she didn t have to be there. She was the senior public affairs officer in the region she could have delegated the mission. But Megan believed leaders share risk, not avoid it. She believed in showing the world what our Marines were doing and standing beside them while they did it.
While serving as a Radioman with the Mobile Riverine Force (Task Force 117), my T-152-1 boat and T-152-10 were “Chopped” from the main squadron to work with PBRs from Task Force 116. We were located at the small South Vietnamese Naval Base at Rach Soi. Our two Armored Troop Carriers were tasked with night missions with the PBRs. My boat would go out one night and T-10 the next. We would depart the small base before dark and return in the early morning hours. This lasted for roughly 10 weeks. The purpose was to interdict North Vietnamese Army soldiers and supplies coming into South Vietnam from Cambodia. It was part of Operation SEALORDS. We also encountered local Viet Cong guerillas.
Where Was Your Favorite Place Visited, Either Through Deployment or R&R, From Your Time in the Service? Can You Recall Any Memories of This Place You Found Particularly Impressive or Enjoyable?:
December 2002 and my wife, JO1 Teresa Frith, is assigned to Naval Media Center Detachment Keflavik, Iceland. It was known as AFRTS Keflavik when I was stationed there from 1974-1976. I am now a dependent and retired journalist chief petty officer working at A.T. Mahan Elementary School. It s Christmas Eve. Teresa and I are on Armed Forces Radio-Keflavik in Studio-A doing our weekly two-hour oldies show, Yesterday Once More . The base C.O., Captain Dean Kiyohara, joins us with “Santa” (a.k.a. Command Master Chief James Newton) taking phone calls during the first hour.
Where Was Your Favorite Place Visited, Either Through Deployment or R&R, From Your Time in the Service? Can You Recall Any Memories of This Place You Found Particularly Impressive or Enjoyable?:
Deployment to Iraq in 2004-2005 was a time filled with tension, danger, and unpredictability. As a member of the Tennessee National Guard, I found myself attached to a Military Police (MP) unit out of Maine. Our missions often took us along hazardous routes, transporting individuals we referred to as “People of Questionable Actions” (POQA) from our base, Camp Caldwell, to a holding facility in Baghdad. The road was always a risk, a constant game of cat and mouse with insurgents waiting for the right moment to strike. But amidst the tension, there were fleeting moments of unexpected relief.
Did Any of Your Parents or Grandparents Serve? What Facts or Stories Do You Remember About Their Service?:
My father, 1st Lieutenant Omar Nunn, flew the C-47 Transport Plane in the Pacific off Saipan during WWII. On Oct 12, 1944, he landed on Peleliu while the battle still raged and was confronted by a platoon of ragged Marines. Although they were filthy, dirty, skinny from starvation and dehydration, with clothes torn to tatters, they had an air of excitement and anticipation about them.
Did Any of Your Parents or Grandparents Serve? What Facts or Stories Do You Remember About Their Service?:
My dad was a Navy veteran in World War II. He started out as an Aviation Cadet and transferred to the Amphibs because his math skills weren’t up to par. He was a crew member on the USS LCI (L) 537, which saw service on D-Day at Omaha Beach. After D-Day, he was part of the commissioning crew on the USS Troilus (AKA-46), which was slated for service as part of the invasion of Japan. After the surrender, Dad spent New Year’s Day 1946 in Tokyo and helped with Operation Magic Carpet. He always said that after D-Day, he was living on borrowed time.
Did Any of Your Parents or Grandparents Serve? What Facts or Stories Do You Remember About Their Service?:
My Dad served in the Marine Corps from 1962 to 1966. Went to Vietnam. Never really said much about it but did share two funny stories with me: Supplies were coming in, and a couple of extra hands were needed for transport. Dad was told to drive trk# xyz and said that they picked up 10 truckloads of frozen steaks and beer. He was driving a beer truck. Says that on the way back to their camp, someone had the bright idea of diverting a few trucks to their own camp, so when they reached the ‘fork in the road’ leading to their camp, every other truck peeled out of the convoy and to the fork in the road. Turned out that of the three trucks, one was loaded with steak; the other two were loaded with beer. (Even back then, Marines had their priorities, lol) said they ate really well that night and had enough beer to last them a couple of days….
What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:
Picture it, Atsugi Japan, 2003. I’m a ‘lowly’ E-5 aircraft electrician in VR-46 out of Marietta, GA, hand-picked for what’s known as a “Khaki Det (Detachment)”. The maintenance crew was all lower enlisted, chosen as the best mechanics and aircraft handlers in the command to accompany senior enlisted and officer maintenance administration and flight crew. I was one of 4 lower enlisted members of our 19 person crew.
What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:
ARMY COMMISSIONING On a beautiful summer weekend in 1968, I graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), located in Massachusetts. College graduation for the Class of 1968 was scheduled for two days. An ROTC Commissioning Ceremony was held on Saturday, June 8. On Sunday, we went through the formal college graduation ceremony and got our diplomas. Before the Commissioning Ceremony on Saturday, our Army Green ROTC attire was transformed into Class “A” Army uniforms. Stripes were sewn on the legs of our trousers and the sleeves of our blouses. We replaced all our school emblems and badges with brass appropriate for Active Duty U.S. Army uniforms. We each wore Officer’s insignia and a Gold Band on our caps. We were to make sure our uniforms and haircuts were of the highest caliber. Missing, however, was any rank on our shoulder epaulets! Our gold Second Lieutenant rank would be pinned on after the ceremony.
What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:
Originally sent in an E-mail on September 24, 2003 at 10:23 AM to a friend. Two months ago, I made a special trip to San Antonio with my First Sergeant to welcome home a team of my 307th RED HORSE troops coming back from Baghdad. They had been in southwestern Asia supporting the war effort for 5 months. Just as they were about to be rotated home, another mission was tasked. The Senior Officer of the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group asked them if they would volunteer to extend. These guys, after spending 5 months in the sand, were asked if they would volunteer to go to Baghdad International Airport and repair all the runway and taxiway craters we had blown in our bombing campaign. These repairs were necessary so that medicine, food and other civilian aid could begin to be air lifted directly to Baghdad International Airport.
What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:
When I was a freshly minted 1LT in the JAG Corps in 1986, we were taken to the range to familiarize on the M-16. I had never fired a weapon in my life, so I listened closely to the instructions. I hit the target every time. When I later went to actually qualify with my first unit (1st Infantry Division – Ft. Riley garrison company), I shot expert. I remember being in the foxhole and hearing people asking who was in lane 4 as all the farthest targets were being hit. (That was me and I think, but can’t swear, the farthest targets were 300 meters). After everyone finished, it was announced that the new female JAG had the top score. I remember the gasps from the other officers in the room. I will never forget how proud I felt. I later won an Excellence in Competition badge for the 45 pistol in 1991, but nothing compared to seeing the shock on the faces of my fellow officers (some of whom were infantry) on that first expert qualification. How I wish I still had a picture of that scorecard!
