Jetter, Arthur, Jr., CPT

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
I was drafted June 1968 and attended Basic Training at Fort Lewis Washington. That was followed by Infantry Advanced Individual Training, also at Fort Lewis.

It was obvious to me that I would soon be headed to Vietnam. So, while I was in training at Fort Lewis, I quickly concluded that my survival depended upon my commitment to training. I threw myself into training and won their "Top Trainee" award for skills in hand-to-hand combat, use of the bayonet, drill, first-aid, squad tactics and written examinations.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
While in Infantry AIT at Fort Lewis, I was offered Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning Georgia. While in OCS at Fort Benning, I was offered an opportunity to attend Officers Rotary Wing Aviator Course (ORWAC). I accepted.

My first duty assignment, as a Second Lieutenant, following OCS was as an Executive Officer / Training Officer at the Basic Training Facility at Fort Bragg North Carolina. I had that assignment from the end of May 1969 to December 1969.

My ORWAC flight school class started January 7, 1970 at Fort Wolters, Texas. Our class trained in the OH-23 Raven helicopter. Four months later I started the second phase at Fort Rucker Alabama, where we were qualified to fly the Huey UH-1. I was promoted to 1LT at Rucker. At the conclusion of the Fort Rucker phase, a representative from the Cobra AH-1G gunship school in Savannah Georgia recruited a few of us. I transitioned to Cobras at Fort Hunter - Stuart in November 1970 and then shipped to Vietnam.

On my way to Vietnam, I requested to be assigned to the Second Battalion 20th Aerial Rocket Artillery of the First Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam. This was a renowned unit called Blue Max. I was with Blue Max from late November 1970 through November 1971. I was promoted to Captain while there. At the most, we had 32 pilots. Most of us have remained lifetime friends. I flew 1,032 combat missions. Our missions included escorting Hueys inserting or extracting troops from LZs, Medivac security, close air support for troops in contact, and artillery. Valor awards included DFC, Air Medal, ARCOM.

Following my tour in Vietnam, I was assigned to Fort Riley Kansas. There I was honorably discharged in April 1972.

In 1978, I joined the 24th Medical Air Ambulance Company of the Nebraska Army National Guard. Our mission was mostly rural Nebraska neonatal air ambulance. I belonged to that unit for about four years. I started my insurance agency near the end of those four years. The combined demands of my agency and the 24th Med made it impossible to do both.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
My time with Blue Max in Vietnam was a non-stop exceptional experience. Combat was intense. We flew at altitudes of either about 1,500 feet or below fifty feet. The idea was low and fast is hard to hit and above 1,500 feet was high enough to be out of effective rifle range. We were effective in ground support because we were low enough to see the battlefield develop, to see the friendlies and the enemy. Or, at least we could tell where the enemy should be, separate from friendlies.

Blue Max taught me how to protect my fellow pilots and gave me the solid faith and reliance that they would protect me. I learned to participate in conversation over three radios at the same time. I learned to make quick combat decisions based on the intense training and experience given me.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
I thought our helicopter was on fire after taking a hit. Helicopters burn quickly.

In October 1971 an enemy 23 mm anti-aircraft cannon shot through the weapons turret under the nose of my Cobra. My copilot spotted the gun. I dove on it but none of my rockets, mini-gun or 40 mm would fire. I radioed my wing ship who destroyed the anti-aircraft emplacement. My cockpit filled with smoke. I headed for Tay Ninh airport. I found the highway and flew the Cobra as fast as it would go about a foot off the road all the way to the airport.

After we arrived, the smoke cleared. It turned out a tracer round started the weapons control wire insulation on fire. The helicopter itself wasn't on fire.

We had the occasional bullet strike. I often saw the enemy shooting at me. Fortunately, my body was never hit.

My memories are of the pilots I served with and the heroic and amazing things they did.

That year, 1971, our Blue Max unit (now designated F Battery, 79th Aerial Artillery) was selected Army Aviation Unit of the Year.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I enjoyed all of my assignments. Each gave me opportunity to learn.

However, easily my most memorable was my time in Vietnam with the incredible officers and men of Blue Max.

My least favorite was still a positive experience. That was my time at Fort Riley waiting to discharge. I was assigned to the Cowboys Assault Helicopter Company. At that time, they had no helicopters in the unit. I spent my time as the Fort Reilly Assistant Post Fire Marshall. As such I investigated a fire and assigned financial liability to the person who caused the fire.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I finished college and entered the insurance business. I'm still in the insurance business after all these years.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
The Aerial Rocket Artillery Association has members that I either knew in Vietnam or we shared the same mission experiences. The Vietnam Helicopter pilots Association helped me find some old friends. The First Cavalry Association because that's where I belonged. The American Legion because my father was a member at Post 1.

I want to support the organizations that support Vietnam Veterans.

1st Cavalry Division Association
Aerial Rocket Artillery Association
American Legion, Post 1
American Veterans (AMVETS)
Army Together We Served
Combat Helicopter Pilots Association
Distinguished Flying Cross Society
Heli-Vets
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Vietnam Helicopter Crew Members Association
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Vietnam Veterans of America

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Keep a daily diary. Take lots of pictures. Remember you assignments in writing. Make the most of the opportunities the military affords you.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
Together We Served provides me with an opportunity to record my military service for my children and grandchildren. I was also able to record my father's Air Force service as a World War II B-17 pilot.