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98-year-old Pilot Sees Skyraider Legacy Live on in AFSOC’s OA-1K Skyraider II

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —  

At 98 years old, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bill Buice never imagined he’d see another Skyraider take flight.

Looking ahead, he smiled as the hum of the aircraft’s turboprop engine deepened as it drew closer.

Joined by his family and members of Air Force Special Operations Command, Buice watched as the first missionized OA-1K Skyraider II arrived at Hurlburt Field, Florida, April 3, 2025.

As the OA-1K Skyraider II taxied, Buice said the moment brought back a wave of memories. To him, this was more than a new aircraft—it was a tribute to the original A-1 Skyraider, the plane he piloted during the Vietnam War until the day he was shot down nearly 60 years ago.

***

Rolling in for a pass to inspect the area below, Buice heard a sudden explosion.

It was July 9, 1968, and Buice, call sign “Firefly 16,” and his wingman, “Firefly 17,” were providing cover for a formation of American helicopters flying in northern Laos, near the Vietnam border.

Looking through the canopy of his A-1 Skyraider, he spotted a fire on the left wing of his aircraft.

Buice dumped the hydraulic system pressure to extinguish the flames. It worked, but the wing had a gaping hole, and the magnesium casting continued to burn.

He pulled the aircraft into a climbing turn, looking for a place to land. His teammates warned him over the radio.

“Not in the valley, whatever you do,” they urged, warning the enemy could be there.

Knowing he would soon lose complete control of the aircraft, he reversed his rudder controls, forcing the A-1 into a faster roll. Inverting the plane, he pulled the ejection handle as soon as he could see the sky through the canopy.

“The canopy disappeared with a bang,” Buice recalled. “Then nothing.”

He saw the jungle rushing up. His airspeed increased and altitude dropped. He pulled the handle again.

The rocket fired, pulling him from the cockpit. His parachute deployed, slowing his descent. He crashed through the jungle, hitting a tree and injuring his shoulder and quickly realized he couldn’t move his right arm.

Hearing noise nearby, he used his left hand to reach for his pistol and call for help with his radio.

Moments later, an Air America helicopter arrived. Owned and operated by the CIA, Air America was a cargo and passenger airline that provided air support for the U.S. and its allies during the Vietnam War.

A pilot came down to help Buice onto the lift, but as they ascended, the weight was too much.

“I insisted that he join me for the trip up, but it was too heavy,” Buice recalled. “So I gave him my radio and pistol, and he stayed behind, hoping another chopper would get to him before the bad guys did.”

Buice was airlifted to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand for urgent medical treatment. Ultimately, his shoulder injury would end his 20-year Air Force career.

For decades, Buice often thought about the man who had rescued him, wondering if he made it out alive.

***

Sitting beside Buice at the OA-1K delivery ceremony was Phillip Jennings, a retired Air America helicopter pilot—the very man who had saved him that day. Over the years, the two had reunited only a handful of times, making this moment even more special, Jennings noted.

“I knew from the moment I watched him get shot down that we would have to go get him,” Jennings said. “I’m elated to be able to be here to see him be recognized and honored. He was the real hero that day, saving the Air America helicopters from landing in the deadly gunfire that shot his A-1 down.”

Though the crash ended his flying career, Buice said he has always felt a connection to the A-1 Skyraider.

As a pilot, Buice liked the A-1 for it’s ability to fly for an extended period while also being able to carry a large payload of ammunition.

The OA-1K Skyraider II now carries on that role, equipped with advanced weapons systems for light attack and reconnaissance missions for AFSOC.

Taking a moment to look at the new aircraft, Buice reflected on what it meant for the next generation of Skyraider pilots.

“I hope they embrace the challenges, the accomplishments—even the fear and the adrenaline,” he said. “There will be a day when they can no longer do this. Today is not that day.”

Today, Buice lives at the Hawthorne House, an assisted living neighborhood in the Air Force Enlisted Village in nearby Shalimar, Florida. The Air Force Enlisted Village is a community for retired enlisted military members and their surviving spouses.

By SSgt Natalie Fiorilli, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

WWII Veterans Return to Pacific Battlefields for 80th Anniversary and Historic U.S.-Japan “Reunion of Honor” Ceremony

Sunday, March 23rd, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 21, 2025 — In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Eagle Society is honored to support the Iwo Jima Association of America in escorting seven World War II veterans back to the Pacific battlefields. The veterans will travel to Iwo To (formerly Iwo Jima), where they will participate in the Reunion of Honor Ceremony, and continue to Okinawa, Japan, to commemorate with Walter LaSota, a Battle of Okinawa veteran.

WWII Veterans and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to attend Iwo Jima 80th anniversary Reunion of Honor ceremony

Next week’s ceremony brings together former enemies who are now the strongest of allies. More than 18,500 Japanese and 6,800 American lives were lost in the Battle of Iwo Jima, with the ceremony a solemn reminder of the enormous sacrifices. Okinawa, the final and bloodiest battle of the war, saw more than 12,000 American and 100,000 Japanese and Okinawan lives lost. For many veterans, returning to these sites offers a powerful opportunity for reflection, healing, and closure.

World War II veterans making this journey include CSM Delmar D. Beard (US Army) from Glendale, AZ; Joe Caminiti (USMC) from Bristol, CT; Capt. Ed Cavallini (USMC) from Seaside, CA; Charles Cram (US Navy) from San Diego, CA; Nils Mockler (USMC) from Putnam Valley, NY; Frank Wright (USMC) from Lodi, CA; Lt. j.g. Patrick Zilliacus (USNR) from Playa Del Rey, CA; and Walter LaSota (USMC – Okinawa Veteran) from Reading, PA.

The trip begins by visiting the Battle of Guam site where U.S. forces liberated the island in 1944. Travel continues to Iwo To for the 80th anniversary commemoration and Reunion of Honor Ceremony, attended by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Their journey concludes in Okinawa, visiting the USMC base.

Eagle Society’s founder, Michael Davidson, is known for honoring and supporting veterans. He organizes trips to educate today’s leaders on American history, heroes, and heritage. Davidson has taken veterans to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, but this is the first journey of this scale in the Pacific. Given the advanced age of many veterans, he explains the trip’s importance:

“We’re losing our WWII veterans daily, and with them, I fear we’re also losing the hard-earned lessons they fought valiantly to teach us. Our Pacific War veterans, in particular, remind us that duty, honor, and country are not just words – they’re a call to action, especially amid rising geopolitical conflict and clashing worldviews. This journey offers a profound opportunity to reflect, honor their sacrifices, and recommit to being better citizens. The Eagle Society is dedicated to preserving these heroes’ stories, so future generations not only remember but apply their lessons to today’s challenges.”

About Eagle Society:

Eagle Society is a 501(c)(3) impact accelerator that leverages networks and transformative leadership experiences inspired by America’s founding vision to foster a renewed commitment to civic life.

The Army at 250: Did you Know the Army Invented This?

Wednesday, March 12th, 2025

You might be surprised by the number of things you use or rely on in work and play can be traced back to Army ingenuity or investment.

Check out this list to discover some of the many things created for or by the Army.

Food preservation – The Army is renowned for food preparation research. The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center in Massachusetts specializes in, among other things, sustaining the military’s food.

Anastacia Marx de Salcedo, author of “Combat-Ready Kitchen: How the U.S. Military Shapes the Way We Eat,” says much of the processed food we eat today originated through experiments in an Army laboratory.

The Army’s Quartermaster Corps funded research at the USDA early in World War II to resolve a problem that had stymied Army food scientists – they couldn’t dehydrate cheese to feed soldiers.

USDA scientist George Sanders came up with the solution, and after the war his method of powdered cheese was used to flavor Cheetos.

The Army also expanded research into high-pressure processing, which de Salcedo says is the application of high pressure to eliminate bacteria in food. Once the food industry adopted the Army’s techniques, it began using them on foods that are produced for public consumption.

One popular product that relies on the pressure process is ready-to-eat guacamole.

In a 2015 interview with National Public Radio, de Salcedo said she realized “that everything in my kids’ lunchboxes had military origins or influence – the bread, the sandwich meat, juice pouches, cheesy crackers, Goldfish Crackers and energy bars,” she said. “In a large sense, l estimate that 50 percent of items in today’s markets were influenced by the military.”

Pringles – The USDA and the Army Quartermaster Corps worked to develop dehydrated potato flakes, which led directly to the production of Pringles potato crisps.

Super Glue – Cyanoacrylate adhesives were initially discovered during World War Il by a scientist at Eastman Kodak Company when the Army was urging American industry to make things to help win the war.

Dr. Harry Coover initially created the new compound in 1942, while striving to create a clear plastic gun sight for Soldiers.

Believing the substance was too sticky, Coover shelved the idea for a decade, but later revisited it while researching material to make jet canopies. This time he realized he had created a super glue, and he filed for a patent.

During the Vietnam War, medical teams caring for severely injured Soldiers realized the material, marketed as Super Glue, was helpful for sealing bloody wounds and to stop bleeding until the patient could be transported to a medical unit for more advanced treatment. Cooper said he took great pride in the fact that his glue saved the lives of many Soldiers injured in combat.

The computer – The Army funded research by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania into the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. This was the first electronic computer used for general purposes. The Army wanted to calculate artillery firing tables for its Ballistic Research Laboratory. Construction began in 1943. Six women, recruited in 1942 for their math skills, programmed ENIAC.

Electric Razors – A retired Army colonel invented the first electric razor that could be easily manufactured. Jacob Schick patented his invention in 1928.

Duct Tape – In 1943, an Illinois woman with two sons in the military during World War II first visualized how to make a waterproof cloth tape to seal boxes of ammunition.

Vesta Stoudt worked at the Green River Ordinance Plant near Amboy, Illinois. According to Margaret Gurowitz, the chief historian with Johnson & Johnson, workers at the plant saw that the paper tape used to seal boxes of rifle ammo was inferior and hampered how Soldiers in combat opened the boxes, often while under fire.

Stoudt told others how the tape could be improved but didn’t get help from her supervisors. So, she wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, explaining the problem and detailing her idea to solve it with a better tape. According to Johnson & Johnson company history, the president passed her letter on to the War Production Board.

The board approved of the change and asked a Johnson & Johnson operating company to make the product based on its experience in making tape.

The Jeep – The brainstorm for a quarter-ton, four-wheel drive truck designed as a cross-country tactical vehicle originated just before World War II for the infantry. The military considered numerous prototypes from America’s automakers, and during the war, Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Company produced 643,000 Jeeps for Allied forces.

Two-way portable radio – The Army asked Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, (now Motorola) to make a radio that would allow World War II Soldiers on the move to communicate with each other.

The EpiPen – The roots of a self-directed auto injector go back to 1973, when the Army asked a researcher to create an easy-to-use device to treat chemical warfare exposure for troops in the field. Soon after, experts in the medical industry realized that the auto injector device filled with epinephrine could be carried by civilians who suffer severe allergic reactions.

By Jonathan Austin , Army News Service

10th Mountain Soldiers Learn Their History, Join the Legacy

Thursday, March 6th, 2025

VAIL, Colorado — With the fierce and ever-consistent snowfall, the 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers enter the Camp Hale and Vail communities ready to begin the Legacy Days events, with 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Riva Ridge, a turning point in World War II.

Legacy Days is a combination of events that honor the resiliency and commitment of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers who trained at Camp Hale before setting off to fight for their country in the Battle of Riva Ridge in Italy, February 1945.

Camp Hale was built in 1942 at 9,224 feet, making it the highest-altitude permanent military post in World War II. The altitude made training especially difficult, and elevations reached as high as 13,100 feet.

The 10th Mountain Division (LI) was activated and placed at Camp Hale to train in high altitude mountaineering and alpine combat for the sole reason of defeating the Germans that were entrenched high up on ridges, preventing allied forces from advancing into Europe.

Today’s 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers carry on the legacy and respect the history of their predecessors through Legacy Days in Vail, Colorado.

The Soldiers accepted the privilege of participating in Legacy Days and learning more about their division’s heritage with eagerness.

“Just being in the same area that our predecessors, the first 10th Mountain Soldiers, not only trained at but also proved that this is an achievable task that we can overcome and apply in warfighting,” Staff Sgt. George Matthews, weapon squad leader with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade stated. “It’s very exciting for us.”

Upon entering Vail, the community, and more specifically the 10th Mountain Division descendants and veterans, welcomed the Soldiers and immediately began sharing stories of the past. The connection and sense of pride that ran through the community resonated with the Soldiers and made them that much more eager to begin the Hale to Vail Traverse, the first event.

Only a few days before the event began, a snowstorm passed through the area adding nearly 50 inches of fresh powder.

Originally, the Hale to Vail Traverse is a 26-mile cross-country ski trek that starts in Camp Hale, Colorado, and ends at Vail. However, to mitigate the risk of avalanches happening enroute, a different route was selected making it nine miles long with a 2,000-feet increase in elevation.

The Hale to Vail Traverse was no less of a challenge despite the route being changed since the Soldiers had to break trail and carve out their own path in the snow.

The event was more than just a test of endurance, it strengthened unit cohesion while honing the specialized tactics, techniques, and skills their forefathers required to operate in extreme mountain conditions.

This nine-mile cross-country ski trek paid tribute to the division’s World War II legacy, when Soldiers trained in the rugged Rockies to prepare for alpine warfare.

The Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) used this event to enhance their skills and techniques while also gaining practical experience in skiing. This preparation ensured that they were well-equipped, just as their predecessors had been, to face any challenges in mountain warfare.

“It’s super cool to be out here teaching the next generation of Soldiers how to ski, not a lot of people have had the opportunity to gain the experience or skill set,” Spc. Rylan Parsons, a Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI) stated. “Skiing is both personally and tactically relevant.”

The following day, the Ski Cooper Serpentine Ski Parade took place where the Soldiers, descendants, veterans, National Ski Patrol and the community could participate.

The Serpentine Ski Parade included the participants weaving down the slopes with Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division (LI), Command Sgt. Maj. Brett Johnson, senior enlisted advisor of 10th Mountain Division (LI) and flag bearers leading the way.

This event was a part of Legacy Days, and celebrated the storied history of the division, which was formed during World War II from elite skiers, climbers, and alpinists to fight in precipitous, mountainous terrain.

The Serpentine Ski Parade was a celebration of history, whereas the next event was an acknowledgment and note of the intense and grueling training the predecessors of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) not only endured, but triumphed in.

The Ski Trooper Cup was a rigorous competition that tested physical fitness, alpine skills and equipment knowledge. It featured teams of three competing in a series of tasks while racing against the clock and other teams. This event combined elements of strength, endurance, and military-specific challenges, all set in winter warfare and alpine environments. Teams were assessed on a variety of skills, including push-ups, slope climbing, rappelling, skiing through gates, performing pull-ups and glacading.

The 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers who fought in the Battle of Riva Ridge trained fiercely to ensure their victory, this event was a testament to the difficulties and commitment of those Soldiers.

“It encompassed skinning up a section of the mountain, repelling down, boot packing up and then glacading down to the finish,” Capt. Lauren Takayesu, a physical therapist with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) H2F stated. “Then of course it’s the Army, so we had to do push-ups and pull-ups in between, it was incredible.”

Legacy Days is a way of honoring the history and legacy of the 10th Mountain Division predecessors and Soldiers alike, but it’s also a way to keep that connection with their origins, descendants and the community.

“If there was no 10th Mountain Division, there would be no Vail. That’s because about 20 miles behind me is a place called Camp Hale, Colorado, and during WWII, it was at Camp Hale where skiers, climbers and outdoorsmen came to become mountain Soldiers,” stated Naumann.

The 10th Mountain Division lost 1,000 Soldiers in service and had more than 4,000 wounded, however, thanks to their sacrifices the division was able to secure victory in the Battle of Riva Ridge and pave the way to victory during WWII.

“The mountain Soldiers climbed a place that was thought to be unclimbable, and they broke through the defensive line that was thought to be unbreakable, a place held by the Germans and they kept fighting, always forward until the end of the war,” stated Naumann.

By PFC Abigail Stewart, 27th Public Affairs Detachment

A Brief History of M81 Woodland Camouflage

Saturday, February 15th, 2025

aka “God’s Plaid”

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), soldiers started wearing shades of green and brown that would allow them to better blend in with their environment, but World War 1 marked the true beginning of a systematic military camouflage. The French Army created the first dedicated camouflage unit in 1915, called the Section de Camouflage. This unit, comprised largely of artists and designers, developed some of the earliest woodland patterns. The term “camouflage” itself entered the English language during this period, borrowed from the French word camoufler, meaning “to disguise.”

World War II saw an explosion in camouflage development. The U.S. Marine Corps introduced the famous “Frogskin” pattern in 1942, featuring green and brown irregular spots on a light background. The German Wehrmacht developed several innovative patterns, including the Splittertarnmuster (splinter pattern) and its various iterations, which influenced camouflage design for decades to come.

During this period, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) conducted some of the first scientific studies of camouflage effectiveness, leading to the development of the Denison smock pattern used by paratroopers.

Cold War Era and the Birth of M81 Woodland Pattern

The post-war period saw the emergence of what would become one of the most influential and widely-used woodland patterns: the U.S. Military’s M81 Woodland pattern. Introduced in 1981, this pattern combined black, brown, green, and khaki in a distinctive arrangement that proved highly effective in temperate forests. The camouflage mimics the natural interplay of light and shadow found in wooded areas and stands as one of the most iconic and enduring military camouflage patterns ever created. Effective woodland camouflage relies on three key principles: color matching, pattern disruption, and shadow elimination. Colors must accurately reflect the operating environment, while patterns break up the wearer’s outline. The design must also minimize the sharp shadows that human forms typically cast, helping personnel blend seamlessly into forest environments.

What made M81 Woodland particularly remarkable was its versatility and effectiveness across a wide range of environments. The pattern proved surprisingly effective not just in forests, but also in jungle environments and even semi-arid regions with sufficient vegetation. It became the standard issue pattern for all branches of the U.S. military throughout the 1980s and 1990s, seeing extensive use in operations from Grenada to Panama, and during the first Gulf War. It gained the nickname “God’s Plaid” from service members’ recognition of its exceptional effectiveness and reliability in the field.

The influence of M81 Woodland extended far beyond American forces. The pattern was so successful that it was widely copied and adapted by military forces worldwide, with numerous countries either directly adopting the pattern or creating close variants. Even after the U.S. military began transitioning to digital patterns in the 2000s, M81 Woodland remained in use with various units and continues to be used by some U.S. military and law enforcement units today. The pattern’s enduring legacy and effectiveness have made it a benchmark against which newer camouflage patterns are often measured, and its influence can still be seen in modern military and civilian camouflage designs.

Vickers Sling Limited-Edition in Woodland Camo

For a limited time, we’re offering our flagship sling – the Vickers Sling – in the classic Woodland Camo pattern. This limited-edition sling pays homage to the iconic pattern made popular over 40 years ago. Crafted with the same uncompromising quality and attention to detail that defines Blue Force Gear, this sling is built to perform under the toughest conditions.

This limited run celebrates both form and function, offering collectors and operators alike a piece of tactical heritage without compromising performance. Like the other limited runs we release, this sling won’t be available for long so act fast! Don’t miss your chance to own this unique combination of proven design and classic camouflage.

If you’re reading this article and missed the exclusive release, don’t fret! Sign up for our newsletter so you’re the first to know when we have limited edition items.

Presented by our friends at Blue Force Gear.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Renames Fort Liberty to Fort Roland L. Bragg

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

While flying aboard a C-17 from Joint Base Andrews to Stuttgart on February 10, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum renaming Fort Liberty in North Carolina to Fort Roland L. Bragg. The new name pays tribute to PFC Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge. This change underscores the installation’s legacy of recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation.

By John Ullyot, DOD Press Secretary

One More Time…It’s Pogue

Sunday, January 12th, 2025

Can we just cut it with the “POG” usage? The backronym “POG” was created by infantrymen who were Pogues, but didn’t want to be called Pogues anymore. You know it’s true, there are loads of Infantrymen who are Pogues.

This photo was taken during the Vietnam war and it clearly uses the term “Pogue” which dates back to World War I and possibly as far back as the Civil War.

Oddly enough, this “POG” nonsense seems to have started with the Marines during the GWOT which explains quite a bit since they were handing out ASVAB waivers like candy. If “POG” actually stood for “Persons Other Than Grunts” then where is the “T”? Wouldn’t it be “POTG”?

And another thing, who the hell wants to brag about being the “Queen of battle?” I realize it’s a chess reference but nobody plays chess anymore. They do however, know what a drag show is.

Either way my grunt friends, have fun cleaning the barracks while the REMFs do their day-to-day jobs.

The Lowe Alpine Systems Vector 1 Pack

Saturday, January 11th, 2025

Chuck Taylor wrote a lot of great stories for gin magazines in the 70s and 80s. One of my favorites was published in SWAT magazine in 1984 regarding the Lowe Alpine Systems Vector 1 pack which combined a large main pack with an internal frame and a combination waist belt / rappelling harness which could be separated quickly from the pack to create a relatively lightweight pack solution.

The Lowe brothers, Greg and Mike, were members of Reserve Special Forces and used their experience to build packs.

The LOCO, Vector 1, and LCS-84 were all procured by SOF units via local purchase and the LCS-84 design ultimately became the Field Pack, Large Internal Frame of the Individual Integrated Fighting System issued in the early 90s.

This link shows the full catalog from the mid-80s.

Scans by Andy’s Gas Works on Instagram and are intended solely for historical preservation.