Army aviation heritage preserved, shared

A little boy growing up in McKenzie was fascinated by the helicopters flying over head as he played with toy trucks in his yard.

Nearly seven decades later, the fascination hasn’t diminished, said DeWayne Rudolph with an ear to ear grin as he surveyed the activity in the Friends of Army Aviation hangar in Ozark during a day-long Wiregrass Ride Event June 26.

McKenzie is a town straddling Butler and Conecuh counties with a population of 530 at the 2010 census. “As a little kid, rolling trucks through the sand yard, these helicopters used to fly over and I’d think, ‘I’d like to do that one day,’ and here I am 68 years later still doing it.”

Rudolph, who is retired and living in Huntsville, flew the UH-1 Huey helicopter for seven years and the Blackhawk for 26 years. His fascination with helicopters was passed on to his son, DeWayne Rudolph II, who works at Cairns Army Airfield in Daleville and lives in Enterprise. “This kid right here, when he was knee high to a duck, he sat in the aircraft and has been crazy about them ever since,” said Rudolph Sr.

Both Rudolphs are among the members of the all volunteer, community group dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of Army Aviation. Both were part of the aviation enthusiasts giving rides in the historic UH-1H helicopter and sharing the history of and vital role of Army aviation

The memory flight June 26 was in honor of retired Lt. Col. Jimmy D. Weeks and his son Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jamie D. Weeks, both of Daleville. The elder Weeks was a Vietnam combat veteran who died in 2008. His son was killed in action in Iraq May 14, 2006.

“Absolutely wonderful,” is how Glenda Weeks, a military widow and Gold Star mother, described the event held in honor of her husband and son. “It was amazing and I am so appreciative.”

FOAA Wiregrass Ride Event Coordinator Todd Chambers, a retired Cobra Helicopter pilot with 32 years’ military service—to include Desert Storm—lives in Brundidge. He has been a FOAA volunteer for four years.

“Keeping the memory of those who have served alive is paramount in our mission,” he said. “Our organization is based in Ozark because the facilities are there but we actually travel throughout the United States in our effort to preserve the legacy of Army aviation and to remember the role it has played in armed conflicts by providing troops with the support needed to achieve their mission.”

While visitors to the hangar waited for their pre-flight safety briefings, they browsed authentic historical displays representing those who served in combat operations from Vietnam through Iraq and Afghanistan designed to educate the public about the contribution Army Aviation has provided to the battlefield.

Chambers said that the goal of the memory flights is to highlight local people. “What I try to do is look specifically for aviation related deceased veterans who have served in Vietnam or any subsequent armed conflict,” he explained. “I happened to fly with Jamie Weeks.”

There is no charge to browse the historical displays. There is a charge for the helicopter rides. “Any money generated by the helicopter rides goes towards the helicopters,” Chambers said. “One hundred percent of our organization is volunteer. One hundred percent of the funds generated goes to the lights, the fuel, the insurance, to sustain the operation.”

DeWayne Rudolph Sr. said that the reactions of the veterans to the historical displays and the UH-1H during a recent FOAA trip to a Vietnam Veterans Reunion in Melbourne, Fla., strengthened his commitment to the organization. “Let me tell you it was something to be seen,” he said shaking his head at the reactions. “It makes the volunteering worth it. I hope we can do this forever.”

More information about the Friends of Army Aviation is at [email protected].