"In the Shadow of the Blade" www.intheshadowoftheblade.com

     LZ Pensacola.  The restored, Vietnam veteran UH-1H helicopter landed at the Wall South on Bayfront Parkway on October 2.  It was fitting that this first leg of their nationwide flight plan was dedicated to the heroes of the Vietnam War.  This is a story about dignity, honor, and tribute to all those who served.  Medal of Honor recipient, CW4 (Ret) Mike Novosel, was at the controls on the flight to honor those many other heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.  The Wall South is a permanent tribute to over 59,000 of our finest citizens who lost their lives in Vietnam.

     Member Jim Curtis volunteered to drive Mike back to Ft. Rucker after the flight.  Jim said the chance to just sit down and listen to one of our nation's greatest heroes for a few hours was an unforgettable experience.

     The photos and captions below are provided by the Gosport, Pensacola's military newspaper.

     Pensacola area residents joined Vietnam veterans at Memorial Park October 2, to welcome a Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey helicopter to Wall South.

     Vietnam veterans, many of whom owe their very life to the UH-1 Huey helicopters and the crews who flew them, crowd around the Arrowhead Film & Video Huey after it landed at Wall South in the shadow of the World War II Memorial, under construction in the background. Many of the veterans said this was their first opportunity for an “up-close” visit with the Huey since the Vietnam War. 

     With cameras rolling, Wall South founders, Lenny Collins and Nelson Wellborn recite their wartime experiences and tell how the idea for Wall South came about. Collins and Wellborn are but two of many area Vietnam veterans expected to appear in the feature-length documentary “In The Shadow of the Blade.” Pensacola, designated as LZ (landing zone) Pensacola, was the first of more than 30 LZs the Huey will stop at on its “In The Shadow of the Blade” flight.

     After completing filming in the Cradle of Naval Aviation, the workhorse of the Vietnam War lifted off for its second Florida LZ at Eglin Air Force Base.