“Sir, I’ll Go, I Know Exactly What The LZ Looks Like”: A Medevac Pilot Rescuing Wounded Under Fire In Vietnam

Art Jacobs was born in 1946 and grew up in New England. His dad drove a truck for a bread company and worked for a gas company, while his mother was a homemaker, raising two boys and two girls. Art enjoyed scouts, sports, and swimming as a boy. He attended Springfield Tech, a college prep high school focused heavily on math and science. Joining the Army was natural for him because he wanted to serve and his family did not have much money for college. He recalls visiting the Army recruiter in the Post Office and being attracted by the recruiter’s approach, “Hey kid, you want to fly helicopters?” He enlisted as a forward observer, and his company commander recommended he pursue OCS (Officer Candidate School). He attended basic training at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, and AIT at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He remembers the advice, “Never volunteer for anything,” but got out of the distasteful aspects of KP by volunteering for DRO (Dining Room Orderly). After training, he sailed aboard USNS Barret, taking 28 days to cross the Pacific to Korea, where he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea along the DMZ as a forward observer in 1-9 Cavalry. He was fascinated by the math required to adjust the guns and completed the school for fire direction control. He then transferred to 5th Battalion, 38th Field Artillery, where his company commander recommended that he apply to West Point. His Platoon Sergeant recommended reenlisting for a bonus and trying to get assigned to Ft. Devens, which was close to home. Art reenlisted and was selected for flight school and the Warrant Officer program, commissioning and receiving his wings on the same day. He started out flying the OH-23, the H-13, and finally the UH-1 Huey in various models. When he graduated, there was a need for Medevac pilots and he volunteered, reporting to Ft. Sam Houston after flight school. He describes that as fascinating, and he learned medical procedures, how to do triage, and how to use different evacuation devices like the hoist. He was following the news of the war in Vietnam and arrived in country in time for Tet. Arriving in Vietnam, he felt he was as well trained as he could have been for what he was about to experience. He recalls quickly learning the difference between a “by the books” approach and a combat approach. He was assigned to the 15th Medical Battalion, flying for the 1st Cavalry Division starting in January 1968. His medevac helicopters were armed with M-60s, and the 1st Cav medevac pilots believed in “preventive medicine,” firing if fired upon. He describes the procedures for medevac crews waiting to be called for missions. “You try to relax,” but two crews of five have to be ready within three minutes to fly. During the Tet Offensive, it was routine to fly seven or eight hours a day, which really exacted a physical and mental toll on the pilots and crew. He recalls specific missions, like April 7, 1968, his first day as an Aircraft Commander, when he was shot in the foot, and a night mission in May 1968, his first mission back after being wounded in April. During his tour in Vietnam, he flew missions into both Laos and Cambodia. In another instance, he describes trying to get into an LZ to evacuate wounded Soldiers. After having several helicopters and crews shot up, an order was given to halt the medevac missions. Art remembers the Battalion Commander for 2-8 Cavalry asking for help; “My wounded Soldiers will die.” Art volunteered, having flown into that LZ a few times earlier in the day, and requested to pick his crew. He managed to get into the LZ, got the wounded, but was shot up badly enough that his helicopter crashed. Once the helicopter went down, he became “an infantry guy,” but fortunately, a sister ship managed to rescue them. Art was wounded and evacuated to the 18th Surgical Hospital at Quang Tri, where an AK-47 bullet and shrapnel were pulled from him. Eventually, he was evacuated to Camp Zama, Japan. He was evacuated all the way to Ft. Devens, where he was assigned to 10th Special Forces, promoted from Warrant Officer 2 to First Lieutenant, and eventually to Captain in December 1970. After two years in 10th Group, he attended the Field Artillery Basic Course and returned to Vietnam to fly Cobras in the 238th Aerial Weapons Company, in the 68th Aviation Battalion, in 1st Aviation Brigade. He recalls that flying Medevac was satisfying, but flying Cobras was fun. By that time, American involvement in Vietnam was winding down. When he returned from overseas, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management and Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical, where his fraternity consisted mostly of combat-veteran pilots from Vietnam. Next, he earned an MBA in Marketing Management and Organizational Psychology from the University of Florida on the GI Bill. He started college in May 1972, and by August 1975, he had two degrees. He then entered the business world, starting in computers. He notes that business was fun and exciting, and he benefited from applying leadership lessons from the military. In 1990, he started Valkyrie Consulting, providing international sales management training. He remains involved with Army Aviation. He has served on the Executive Council (2015-2022) and as President (2019-2021) of the 14,000 member Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and is currently the Legacy Chairman. He has been recognized with the Order of St. Michael from the Army Aviation Association of America, and is a life member of the Special Forces Association. His sons and his granddaughter are continuing his legacy of service, and Art volunteers at the Nashville Airport USO. He is very proud of his service to the country.