Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Dennis Eakin

Vietnam | 176th Aviation Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, Americal Division

The Huey was a target for ground fire every time Dennis Eakin took it up. His base was on the coast at Chu Lai but the majority of the missions were in the mountains to the west where flying was tricky. He transported Army troops, Rangers and Special Forces personnel. (3:17)
There were a couple of unforgettable things that happened during Dennis Eakin's first tour of Vietnam. One was the crash landing when his helicopter came falling down through the jungle upside down. The other was the chaos of the Tet Offensive which began for him in a trench with an M-16. (4:45)
The heat and humidity were pretty bad but when the monsoons arrived, the flying conditions got worse. You had to fly low which meant it was easier to shoot at you. Huey pilot Dennis Eakin nearly got shot by his own door gunner but that problem was fixed when new gun mounts were installed. (4:21)
After an R&R trip to Australia, Huey pilot Dennis Eakin loved the place so much that he extended his tour for six months just so he could go back there. He contracted malaria, though, and was sent back to the States to recuperate. After a short stint as an instructor pilot, he volunteered for Chinook school which meant that he would return to Vietnam. (7:45)
His second tour of Vietnam was at the controls of a Chinook. Dennis Eakin got shot at a lot less on this tour, especially after he moved to a maintenance detachment. Shortly after his birthday he got two pieces of really good news. He had a new daughter and he was going home. (6:10)
It's a shame that they did away with the draft. Dennis Eakin flew helicopters in Vietnam and he explains how the draft was a positive thing by forcing young men from different backgrounds to work together as a team. The military is still a good option these days and his suggestion is that you use ROTC as a means to pay for college. (4:27)
Dennis Haines

Vietnam | C Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 199th Light Infantry Brigade

Recruit Dennis Haines wanted to go to airborne school but the Army gave him a choice. He could either go to airborne school or home for Christmas. He took the leave because he was worried he might not ever return. (4:12)
During Advanced Infantry Training, Dennis Haines remembers a problem with the bolt on the M-16 rifle. It would swell and stick. Fortunately, the problem was fixed before the rifles were deployed in the field. (5:27)
Arriving in Vietnam, Dennis Haines got a quick lesson in weapons safety when a soldier dropped a grenade in practice. He also met Jack Kirchner, who was from the same area at home and the two became great friends. (4:37)
In his first taste of action in Vietnam, Dennis Haines participated in the clearing of a large bunker complex. Inside, he spotted a Russian pistol just sitting there, begging to be a souvenir. (7:42)