McAnally, Loren, MAJ

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
My father was a career (WWII and Korea) and retired as an MSG. I was ROTC in high school. I always wanted to fly and heard on a radio announcement that the Army would let you be a pilot without a college degree. So I went straight to the recruiter to sign up. I was only 17 and he sent me home with parental permission papers.

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?
I enlisted went to basic then flight school as a WOC. RVN as pilot Feb '67-68 (19 years old), Ft Hood as Bde Avn officer for 2nd Bde 2AD. Back to RVN as a Hook pilot Jan 69-70. Direct commission 1LT in Inf.

Ft Rucker trained as Air Traffic Cont and commanded ATC Det there until unit (72nd ATC) was relocated to Ft. Bragg. I was moved to XVIII Abn Corp staff.
I was medically grounded from the flight.

Attended Inf Advance Course at Benning then sent to Ft Hood where I served as S2, Maint off and CO Cmd in 1/5th Cav (Mech). Sent to Degree Completion program then to Benning as S4 of the 197th Inf Bde(Sep)

Branch transfer to QM and then 2 yrs in the Philippines as Cdr Defense Property Disposal.

St Louis as Cdr Composite Services, Readiness Group.
Retired effective Jan1, 1986

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?
Yes.

I flew Huey gunships (UH1B & C) for short time then slicks (UH1D&H) in B Troop 1/9th Cav, 1st CD. We flew numerous missions mostly combat insertions and extractions of our Blues.

The 2nd tour I flew Chinooks (CH47) in the 180th ASH (Big Windy) of which most were logistics/resupply missions.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I have to say that first time in combat when someone actually shoots at you is pretty memorial. I do however have great memories of the time I was at Ft. Hood, TX with the 1/5th Cav (Mech Inf). One of my jobs during my 3 years with the unit was as the Battalion Maintenance Officer. We were training to deploy to Wildflecken, Germany as part of Brigade 75 and had put together a BN that was over 100% strength so we could deploy with 100%. The people in the unit and particularly the Maint section were great. The people were all very professional. We played worked and played hard. I saw many of the men go from Pvt to Sgt. We later formed a test unit where we became Maintenance Company, 1/5th Cav. I still have the guidon that was hand made by one of the wives because our official one didn't arrive in time for the ceremony.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Silver Star - May 27, 1967, Troop B 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry my unit was given the mission of inserting our Blues (Infantry Plt) to try and determine the location of suspected NVA Regimental HQ. They were there.

We had 1 Blue killed and several more wounded as the NVA ambushed our Plt. The Blue Lift (slicks) of which I was a member, was tasked with going in with reinforcements and picking up our wounded and dead. The area was extremely hot with grenades being tossed and heavy fire coming from all around the Blues.

We went in one ship at a time and I was the 3rd ship in. We received heavy fire as we slowed down to land and at about 25 feet up we received rounds into the cockpit. I was knocked back into my seat and my helmet visor cracked. It felt as if someone hit me in the shoulder with a baseball bat. I was the Aircraft Commander (AC) and was flying the approach at the time. I immediately told the pilot that I was hit and he replied that he was also. I regained control of the aircraft and tried to fly it out of the immediate area but it looked to me as if every warning and caution light in the cockpit was lit up and/or flashing.

We started losing power and I looked for a place to land. I set down in a rice paddy that had a small burial mound in it, as was typical, and almost hit the mound. As we touched down I was yelling for the Infantry squad on board to get off and away from the aircraft as we were now a big bullet magnet. After touching down I yelled for everyone to get off and began to pull circuit breakers and shut down the aircraft.

We were receiving some small arms fire but there was a shallow ditch that ran around the rice paddy and everyone headed for that. As I jumped in I looked back and saw a man laying on the ground next to the aircraft apparently injured. I looked around and ask if we had a medic. A man identified himself and said he would go with me to get the injured man.

We ran to the man and examed him for wounds. He was shot in the chest and after we took his pack off saw that the round has exited the back. We put a sucking chest wound bandage in place using his kid and supplies from the medic. I heard an aircraft approaching as if landing and looked up to see one of our gunships (UH1C) landing. I asked the wounded man if he could help us get him up as he was a large man and me at the time weight 145 lbs. To my surprise, he jumped up and ran to the aircraft.

The gunner helped him in and we tossed in his weapon and pack. The pilot was our troop commander and asked if I knew that I was hit in the face and shoulder as I was bleeding pretty good. I replied that I was ok and the copilot was injured in both legs but was ok. He said it may be a while before he could get us out as all the aircraft had received some damage and the enemy contact was very heavy. He said to hunker down and be careful.

It was about an hour later that we were picked up by another unit and taken to the medivac\aid station at Duc Pho. My copilot had been grazed across the top of both legs and was ok. I had an arm, shoulder, and a face full of plexiglass the windshield and pieces of the copper casing from the bullets but nothing bad. I had hit my knee on exiting the aircraft and again when diving into the ditch around the rice paddy. I checked on the infantryman that was shot in the chest and told it was a 'million dollar' wound. It was in and out hitting nothing but would require his evacuation out of the country.

Distinguished Flying Cross - Nov 13, 1967

Distinguished Flying Cross - Feb 2, 1968

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
My valorous awards represent all the many brave men in my unit that did not receive the recognition they should have.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
LTG Mike Spigelmire. He was my Bn Cdr and later Bde Cdr. He told you up front he would use you like an old pickup truck but would take care of you. He let you do your job.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I have the duck story but will tell it later.

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 worked as a manager in a Hardees and then was hired by BellSouth as an accountant. I held various positions in BellSouth, Cingular Wireless and AT&T. My last 7-8 years was as a Labor Relations Manager.

I am currently retired and do volunteer work for the American Village http://www.americanvillage.org/ and our church. I also volunteer for The Combat Helicopter Pilots Association http://www.chpa-us.org.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Vietnam Helicopters Pilots Association, Combat Helicopters Association, Ist Cavalry Association, Military Officers Association of America, The Bullwhip Squadron Association.

These all help me to stay in touch with friends and meet more friends

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
It shaped my outlook in business. Some of my bosses thought I was too laid back but I always asked the question - Was someone going to die or were we going to lose dial tone? If not then it wasn't all that important.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Always stay alert and question everything.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
So far all I've done is look at other members profile and see what they are doing. I've found one of the men I served with through here and that is very rewarding.

KC 3/2/19