Freedom Fighters: George French - KTRE.com | Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas
Member Center:
By: Joan Hallmark
George French had been trained as an aircraft mechanic, but when he arrived in Vietnam in 1968 he volunteered for helicopter service. French was to spend the next two years in the air as much as ten to twelve hours a day and earn 20 Air Medals with Oak Leaf Clusters before his service was over.
French's Chinook Helicopter was named "The Widow Maker" and its missions were varied and dangerous. It would fly into enemy territory to retrieve downed Hughey Helicopters, carry troops to and from combat, carry in ammunition, move fire bases, and even deliver hot dinners to troops at the front.
Casualties on the missions were frequent but "The Widow Maker" always seemed to make it back to base ... until its last mission. It was a mission that French ordinarily would have been on, but at the last minute had been taken off the flight list. All of the crew died and even today French finds it hard to talk about.
Copyright 2011 KLTV. All rights reserved.
It has been four long years since the sounds of children splashing in the waters of Jones Pool have filled the air.
More >>It has been four long years since the sounds of children splashing in the waters of Jones Pool have filled the air.
More >>East Texas News took a further look into the announcement by Angelina College to vacate the Technical Training Center in Nacogdoches. The announcement came after AC students registered for the summer session as recent as last week.
More >>East Texas News took a further look into the announcement by Angelina College to vacate the Technical Training Center in Nacogdoches. The announcement came after AC students registered for the summer session as recent as last week.
More >>A room packed with government leaders from around East Texas celebrated DETCOG's 50th anniversary Thursday.
More >>A room packed with government leaders from around East Texas celebrated DETCOG's 50th anniversary Thursday.
More >>A Tyler County grand jury has indicted a 47-year-old Bridge City woman and a 36-year-old Orange man who were arrested on first-degree felony murder charges in connection to the death of Joe Kelvin Brown, who was found dead in the rubble of a burned home back in March.
More >>A Tyler County grand jury has indicted a 47-year-old Bridge City woman and a 36-year-old Orange man who were arrested on first-degree felony murder charges in connection to the death of Joe Kelvin Brown, who was found dead in the rubble of a burned home back in March.
More >>Officers with the Crockett Police Department arrested a 26-year-old California man Wednesday after staff members at the town’s public library allegedly caught him looking at child pornography on one of the computers there.
More >>Officers with the Crockett Police Department arrested a 26-year-old California man Wednesday after staff members at the town’s public library allegedly caught him looking at child pornography on one of the computers there.
More >> |  358 TV Road
Pollok, TX 75969 (936) 853-5873
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2017 Raycom Media. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service, and Ad Choices.
|
