Rattler/Firebird Home Page
Welcome to the snakepit! This is the home page of the Rattlers and Firebirds of Company A/501st Aviation Battalion, 71st Assault Helicopter Company, 151st Transportation Detachment, and the 94th Signal Detachment. We served in Vietnam from 1964 until 1971, moving from our original base at Bien Hoa to Chu Lai in 1967.
Firebirds attacking
Rattler & Firebird Names
The radio call signs “Rattler” and “Firebird” were used by our aircraft during our service in Vietnam. “Rattler” was used by our UH-1D & H helicopters that carried troops, supplies, ammunition, performed command and control, combat assault, medical evacuation and insertion/extraction missions, as well as many others. The call sign “Firebird” was used by our UH-1B, C & M gunships, some of the most feared gunships in all of Vietnam. You can find more about the call signs and where they came from on our history page.
The Association
The Rattler/Firebird Association has no political agenda. We simply provide a means to stay in touch with those who share our experiences. If you served with us, or with anyone else during the Vietnam conflict and nobody has told you this already, we'd like take this opportunity to say, “Welcome Home!”
What's New?
Here are the most recent changes to our site:
- Added Name to Taps Page
- Added Stephen J. Siffel to the list of Men Who Have Died Since Serving With Us
- Added Name to Taps Page
- Added Richard Banaszak to the list of Men Who Have Died Since Serving With Us
- Added Newsletter
- Added the November Newsletter to the Newsletter Section
- Added Name to Taps Page
- Added Shelton Foles to the list of Men Who Have Died Since Serving With Us
- Updated 2012 Reunion Information
- Updated information about the 2012 Rattler/Firebird Reunion
- Updated VA Compensation Rates
- Updated the VA Compensation Rates to those effective 12/01/2011.
- Added Reunion Information
- Added a link to the Hilton New Orleans Airport hotel's room reservation page for our reunion to the 2012 Reunion Page.
- Added Name to Taps Page
- Added Larry L. Butler to the list of Men Who Have Died Since Serving With Us
Director's CornerDecember 27, 2011-RATTLERS and FIREBIRDS - Our November newsletter was mailed on Friday, December 23rd. IMPORTANT: The reunion reservation form in the newsletter has the banquet meals listed at $45 each. This is incorrect. Mark through it and change it to $36 each. Gary White will be posting the corrected newsletter on this site. Reservations may now be made for our reunion next June. The dates are Wednesday, June 20th to Sunday, June 24th at the Hilton New Orleans Airport hotel. For reservations call 1-800-445-8667. Our code is RFR (for Rattler Firebird Reunion). Room rate is $99 plus tax. We have received confirmation that Medal of Honor awardee LTC Bruce Crandall will be the featured banquet speaker at our reunion next year. Joe Galloway is revisiting us at New Orleans also. Joe and Bruce are good friends.
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