The Best Little HI Bowie This Side of The World

Bookie

Bookie

Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Messages
2,010
As you can sorta tell from my avatar, I was a helicopter pilot during the late hostilities in Southeast Asia. Give or take a country or two. During my last tour of duty, I flew gunships for the Razorbacks Armed Helicopters Platoon, the original armed helicopter gunship team and my call sign was Razorback 33. (Pronounced three-three in military lingo.) My common I.D. was "Tooth" because there was a stainless steel tooth in the front of my mouth.....fast forward to this morning's mail. Upon opening a mysterious Priority Mail box, all kinds of green bubble wrap fell out and bundled up inside it was, well a picture is worth a thousand words. I am so excited!
Amigo1.jpg
[/URL][/IMG] Holy mackerel! And in a pair of Pugs Pants, too!
Amigo2.jpg
[/URL][/IMG] Has a hog inlayed into the tiger striped maple handle and an H model Huey to boot!
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[/URL][/IMG] A little close up of the handle. The design is really near and dear to my heart. The one the wife says I don't have.
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[/URL][/IMG] Perhaps Shavru can confirm the engraving on the spine means "Shree three three Bookie"
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[/URL][/IMG] You always get to see the front of a Pugs' Pants, well, here's the back side for once. Quality all around, don't you agree? Words can not convey the utter amazement of such an august gift being bestowed on me by a secret/clandestine/nefarious anonymous HI khukuri aficionado group and marching band. Thank you very much from the bottom of me heart.
P.S., Here's my H model in Vietnam. I flew at night with all lights turned on bright. 40 to 100 feet above the ground. 40 knots airspeed and the search light searching. I was the "guinea pig" trying to draw enemy fire so two blacked out helicopters above could neutralize the aggression.v
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[/URL][/IMG] Old 437.
 
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Beautiful, simply beautiful.

And thank you for your service to your country. Being willing to draw fire like that so others could attack takes incredible courage and nerves.
 
Wow Bookie! That is definitely a heirloom piece anyone would be proud of.

That early night vision is a kick to look at. It's amazing how today's NV can fit into the palm of your hand. The old starlight scopes they put on the M14's looked like a moon telescope. Thanks for the pics you wirly bird badass!
 
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Pugs did his usually superb work on them pants. I love the color of that one and I think it fits you perfectly?

I've often wondered how you can tell the difference between the different models of Hueys. Is it size or shape or number of cup holders?

I just now finished watching Shadows of Men starring YOU as YOU. Gosh durned if you ain't a fine looking fella, not in any mano mano way ya understand. It was a good movie, even had a speaking part.
I'll need to watch it again, I was multi tasking, checkering and watching, I'll need to focus to get more of the talking part.

Excellent.

Thanks for the pics. I'm really happy for you.
 
Thanks Bookie for your service. What an amazing piece for an amazing guy Im sure. You deserve that bowie and much much more my friend. Be good, be safe, and thanks for being an inspiration and a hero. Ted
 
Gurkha, we had no NV. Just 7 DC3 landing lights making up the search light unit and a minigun to get us out of a jam.
Bawanna, This H model is the one in the book.
 
Bookie said:
Gurkha, we had no NV. Just 7 DC3 landing lights making up the search light unit and a minigun to get us out of a jam.
Bawanna, This H model is the one in the book.
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Yup, I noticed no rockets, or any of the other cool toys on the one without all the lights.

Like to get me some of the rocket pods on the roof of my van for the morning commute. Be right handy.
 
Amazing bookie. Heirloom piece for sure.

Is there a movie deal coming with that story? That's something I'd go watch lol
 
Movies already done. Called Shadows of Men. I watched it this morning. His truly is in it both being talked to and some shots of him being down right nasty to the enemy too.

He'll have to tell which parts were his flying but I know they are in there a couple times.

Rumor has it he cozy's up with all the big stars (mostly female) in Hollywood.
 
I am so glad it got to you safely, And it was my pleasure to be part of this amazing top secret mission. Very deserved. Some incredible guts it took to do what you did over there man, my hats off to you sir.
 
Amazing job! Well deserved amigo! The color of the sheath is awesome pugs! And of course everything else about it. Bawanna did ya get a bit nervous engraving that spine? Man id have probably misspelled tooth or something in fear i would screw it up! That maple with the inlays:thumbup: I cant believe how well that turned out!
 
ndoghouse said:
Amazing job! Well deserved amigo! The color of the sheath is awesome pugs! And of course everything else about it. Bawanna did ya get a bit nervous engraving that spine? Man id have probably misspelled tooth or something in fear i would screw it up! That maple with the inlays:thumbup: I cant believe how well that turned out!
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Oh yeah baby. I wrote everything down and checked off each letter and number as I went. The whole time whispering to myself, don't screw up, don't screw up, don't screw up......Checked and rechecked research, I was so afraid we'd find out it was really 3-1 or 3-5.

My initial research tripped me up some, the 33 (thirty three) really should be 3 - 3. I never got into the military or I probably would have known that. I should have put a dash.

A dash and a pig facing the other way on one side and my dress would be fluttering around over my head completely blowed up and yall would be staring at my uncovered long johns. Another missed opportunity indeed.
 
pugs75 said:
I am so glad it got to you safely, And it was my pleasure to be part of this amazing top secret mission. Very deserved. Some incredible guts it took to do what you did over there man, my hats off to you sir.
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I'll double down on this post too. Perfectly said. I enjoyed every second of it and I couldn't wait for this day for the unveiling.
 
Bookie said:
Gurkha, we had no NV. Just 7 DC3 landing lights making up the search light unit and a minigun to get us out of a jam.
Bawanna, This H model is the one in the book.
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Ohhh... I thought that was a inferred light array, didnt realize they were just spotters. That's even crazier, you guys had some big ole nuts back then. Did they armor plate the underside of the pilot compartment or would it of been to heavy for a chopper? Helicopter pilots always reminded me of cowboys, balls of steel at low altitude!
 
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