The Pucker Factor Was Extremely High!

His eyes got big, he radioed the team leader I was wounded, he notified base camp we were coming in, and he kicked that helicopter into high gear. In fact, he had that helicopter going at such a high speed, it was vibrating and shaking. I kept telling him my wound did not feel very serious. He could slow down so the helicopter would not shake to pieces. That is the fastest I ever flew in a Scout LOACH in all the times I flew in one. Shamrock 17 (the pilot) landed in front of the Medical Aid Station, where the medical personnel were. I jumped out of the chopper and immediately dropped my pants shooting all of Vietnam a moon (we did not wear underwear because the heat caused severe rashes) trying to see where I was hit. Shamrock 17 told me later he wished he had not witnessed that. Every time he thinks about this incident, my moon comes to his mind.

Randy Tompkins served as a decorated Crew Chief/Gunner on a Scout LOACH (Light Observation Aerial Combat Helicopter) during the Vietnam War from July 5, 1970 to November 27, 1971. He now resides in Zanesville, Ohio with his wife Sally. They have two grown children and a grown granddaughter who is a nurse.