Catalog Number: VIS 201.0757
We welcome your comments on this interview at VeteransHistoryProject@AtlantaHistoryCenter.com
In this interview, Rick Marotte shares his experiences in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot. He describes his upbringing in Denver, Colorado, joining the ROTC, and his father's military history. He recalls his flight training, his nerve wracking first solo helicopter flight, and becoming a part of the Medical Service Corps. He remembers the flight to Vietnam, his first impressions of the country, and quickly learning combat flying. He discusses his missions, being shot down in Laos, evacuating dead and wounded soldiers from both sides, and losing his roommate in a separate crash. He tells about his participation in Operation Lam Son 719, his experiences with Vietnamese villagers, and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He recalls his duties, crew specifications, daily life, and time off during the war. He details his experience coming home post-war, becoming an environmental engineer, and starting a family.