“The memories are as intense today as they were some 40 years ago.” (Video interview 43:47)

Joseph Horace McHenry

Joseph McHenry [detail from video] War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Unit: Company A, 82nd Aviation Brigade; 173rd Airborne Brigade Service Location: Fort Ord, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Fort Wolters, Texas; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Bien Hoa, Vietnam; Nuremberg, Germany Rank: Chief Warrant Officer Place of Birth: AZ

As a kid growing up near the airport in Arizona, Chief Warrant Officer Joseph McHenry marveled at planes flying overhead. His dream of becoming a pilot was realized when he enlisted in the Army and received orders for flight school. The reality of piloting a helicopter in Vietnam, which put him in the center of action, was a rude awakening. In one instance, he attempted a landing on a “hot” LZ; he was shot down and found himself in the middle of an intense firefight with the enemy. In his interview, he describes the confidence and swagger of pilots—and their dependence on the constant rush of adrenaline that comes with flying. As an adrenaline junkie, he was even more prone to developing post-traumatic stress disorder after leaving the service.