In early January of 1969, Army Warrant Officer Roger Stickney was one of several helicopter pilots reassigned, from another unit, to the 191st Assault Helicopter Company. The 191st AHC operated across much of the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam. Captain John Falcon had become the Executive Officer of the 191st AHC by the time WO Stickney arrived. As with most new guys, Stickney began flying combat assaults (infantry troop insertions and extractions) in Hueys,
almost daily for the bulk of his tour. As was customary, when pilots gained sufficient experience, with peer and unit leadership confidence, they would be checked-out as Aircraft Commander and given increased responsibilities. Mostly in that capacity – serving as a ‘slick’ (doorguns only) pilot in Vietnam, WO Stickney served the 191st AHC and accumulated over a thousand hours of combat flying.

Well over two decades ago, a few former members of the 191st AHC initiated biennial unit get- togethers for any of us who could make it. The idea gathered lots of welcome steam and it was at one of these that Major (Ret) John Falcon volunteered to capture the extraordinary stories of the
191st AHC in a book. The Freedom Shield is that book. Chief Warrant Officer Five (Ret) Roger Stickney reconnected with Falcon at that same meeting and through the renewed friendship, he was later asked to help with initial editing of the manuscript. Falcon regrets that he cannot be available for this event.