Bill McPherson:
CLASS OF 1952
Leuzinger High SchoolClass of 1952
Lawndale, CA
Bill's Story
Entered the US Army after High School.Served in Korea as and Infantryman. Received a Battlefield Commission and then went to Flight School and became a Helicopter Gunship Pilot. Served in Vietnam for 3 years during the war as an Infantry Officer and Helicopter Gunship Pilot flying Huey and Cobra Gunships. Flew 3500 flight hours and 197 Combat Missions. Was shot down 3 times and wounded 4 times. Shot down the last time and crashed on June 24, 1966. Unable to continue flying I continued my military career as an Infantry Officer. Commanding Companies, Battalions and a Regiment. Served in several staff positions and completed 30 years of service, retiring as a Colonel.
I then entered the corporate world and as Vice President/ General Manager, I operated 3 multi-million dollar corporations, 1 in Colorado, 1 in North Carolina and 1 in Georgia. Left the corporate world and started a construction business in North Carolina. After building 250 homes I sold the business and entered County Government..Fiinally deciding to really retire I bought a small ranch 10,000 ft up in the Colorado Rockies near the gold mining town of Cripple Creek. Then served as City Manager of Cripple Creek for a few years before saying "enough"..
I still stay active with the military and serve as Honorary Commander of an Air Force Squadron at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs.
At the ranch I live in a log cabin and have a horse, donkey, helicopter, jeep, 2 pick-up trucks, a tractor and a faithful dog. My wife Judith and I have 6 grown children, 7 grand children and 3 great grandchildren
I continued my education during and after the military service. Received an AS Degree in Manufacturing Technology from University of Colorado, a BS in Business Management from Arizona State, a MS in Corporate Administration from University of Omaha and a PhD in Philosophy from University of North Carolina. Attended the Army, Command and Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
I am a Life Member, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Life Member, National Rifle Association, Life Member, Disabled American Veterans, Life Member, 1st Cavalry Division Association, Life Member, American Legion.
Currently serve as Past Commander, Post 171, American Legion and Chairman, Board of Directors at the Local Hospital. My health is excellent, and my life is good.
My wife, Judith, is the owner, publisher and editor of the local newspaper. She publishes 3000 copies a week. In addition, she is the Marketing Director for ...Expand for more
the local Hospital.
At age 85, I am no longer flying Helicopters. I have a UH-1 (M) Army Helicopter Gunship (Huey), like the one's I flew in Vietnam. I have recently mounted the Gunship on a trailer. The unit is a complete Army Helicopter Gunship, with all of the Machine Guns, door guns and rocket pods. The unit is 48' long, 15' high and 10' wide. I take it all around the State of Colorado too Military and Civilian events, parades, schools, etc.. I have a crew of 4 other Vietnam Veterans that travel with me. The Helicopter Gunship draws very large crowds wherever it is displayed. We teach and talk about the "Helicopter War in Vietnam" and do this to perpetuate the memory of the 58,268 men and women that never returned from that horrific War. The display attracts many Vietnam Veterans who are suffering from PTSD. As a result, we now have 2 VA Counselors that travel with us and talk with these Veterans. During the last 10 years, we have participated in 152 events and parades. Well over 500,000 people visited our mobile Helicopter Gunship Display. Because of the impact the display has on many people, especially Vietnam Veterans, an Air Force Flight Surgeon, dubbed our display "The Gunship Ministry". I plan on continuing the "Ministry" as long as I am capable. We have received a Non-profit, 501 (c) (3) designation from the IRS.
In the summer of 2011, I returned to Vietnam and spent 18 days touring the country. I traveled the entire country from the Mekong Delta in the south to Hanoi in the north. I visited many of the towns and cities that I had been stationed in or near and many of the sites that I had attacked during the war. The highlight and reason for my return was to visit the location of Plei Mrong Special Forces Camp. To reach the location of the Camp, I had to travel 23 Kilometers through the jungle.That is where I was shot down, seriously wounded and crashed, while supporting the Camp that was under attack and being overrun. My Co-Pilot, John Grow was killed in the crash. So, 45 years, 2 months and 3 days after being shot down, I returned to the crash site to pay tribute to John and place a Memorial to him. May he Rest in Peace with the LORD. MAY GOD BLESS THE USA!
Update: On November 11, 2017, (Veterans Day) I donated my UH-1 Huey Helicopter to Wings Over The Rockies Air And Space Museum in Denver, Colorado. The Museum is building a Vietnam diorama around this combat veteran Helicopter and she will be viewed by 300,000 visitors a year.
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