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Ron Botz - Vietnam War
Ron Botz grew up the son of a WW II combat pilot and career officer. He knew from an early age he wanted to fly, and he got his opportunity by flying helicopters for the U.S. Army. He arrived in South Vietnam in February of 1968, and flew scores of combat missions in UH-1 Hueys with the 4th Aviation Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. Botz also discusses his career following his tour in Vietnam, first as a civilian, followed by service in the IL Army National Guard beginning in 1973, and ending as a Brigadier General in 2005.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Flying Coke Can
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Army Aviator flight training & arrival in Vietnam
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Combat as an aviator in Vietnam in 1968-1969
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Life after Vietnam, & career in the IL Army National Guard
Photos
Caption
Warrant Officer 1 Ron Botz while he attended flight school in Fort Worth Texas, circa 1967.
Where:
Fort Worth Texas
When:
Circa 1967
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron Botz holding Dogus, one of the B Company pets, at their base at Cap Enari, located in the II Corps sector of South Vietnam in 1968.
Where:
Cap Enari, South Vietnam
When:
Circa,1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron is standing by the “Gambler Guns” of B Company, 4th Aviation Battalion, 4th Infantry Division at during his combat tour in 1968.
Where:
Dak To, South Vietnam
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Botz and his fellow aviators lived on the edge when on missions, and played hard at the end of the day. Time for some relaxation with his buddies back at the base camp.
Where:
base camp
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Playtime! Botz is posing with some of the Vietnamese children at a village near Dak To, South Vietnam.
Where:
a village near Dak To, South Vietnam
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Botz relaxing between flights. He stayed ready to go at a moments notice.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Warrant Officer 1 Botz preparing for a flight while at Camp Enari, near Pleiku, South Vietnam in 1968.
Where:
Camp Enari, near Pleiku, South Vietnam
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu visiting with the troops at the Phi Truong Phuong Duc Airport in South Vietnam in 1968.
Where:
Phi Truong Phuong Duc Airport in South Vietnam
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron checks the door gun on a UH-1 Huey, the type of aircraft he flew. He’s standing in the door gunners’ position.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron takes some time to himself in the company area at Camp Enari, South Vietnam.
Where:
Camp Enari, South Vietnam
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Three of Botz’s crew chiefs standing by one of the unit’s command and control aircraft.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A little R&R to improve the hooch at Camp Enari!
Where:
Camp Enari, South Vietnam
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron recovers at Camp Enari after returning from a night gun mission sometime in 1968.
Where:
Camp Enari
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The remains of a crashed UH-1 Huey in which the entire crew survived.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The view from the Huey’s cockpit during a flight in the monsoon season in central South Vietnam, in 1968.
Where:
central South Vietnam
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Soldiers at Camp Enari, South Vietnam are watching a burning gunship that was caused by an accidental rocket discharge.
Where:
Camp Enari, South Vietnam
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Botz and a crew member ‘putting the bird to bed’ at Camp Enari at the end of a days’ missions, sometime in 1968.
Where:
Camp Enari, South Vietnam
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Major General Charles P. Stone, 4th Infantry Division commander, and Brigadier General Albert R. Brownfield, the Assistant Division Commander, visit with the troops at Camp Enari in 1968.
Where:
Camp Enari, South Vietnam
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
The crew of ‘Lizard 7’ and BG Brownfield pose before one of the unit’s gunships. Botz is third from the left.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron Botz being promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 by Brigadier General Albyn Irzyk in February, 1969.
Where:
Unknown
When:
February, 1969
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Brigadier General Albert Brownfield congratulating CW2 Botz at an award ceremony, where Botz received an Air Medal-V (valor) in 1968.
Where:
award ceremony
When:
Circa 1968
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
CWO Botz relaxes outside at Camp Enari after the awards presentation.
Where:
Camp Enari, South Vietnam
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Colonel W.G Botz, Ron’s father, visited Ron while he served with the Illinois Army National Guard sometime in the 1980s. Colonel Botz wore his son’s uniform for the helicopter flight.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1980s
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo