Thousands of Kansas Citians served their country during the Vietnam War.
This Veteran’s Day, those who made it back home are remembering the lives of those lost through unimaginable stories and the machines they trusted their lives to.
One of those machines is the Bell UH1 Huey helicopter.
Will Shaw The helicopter welcomed families and veterans inside its aluminum walls at the World War I Memorial in Kansas City over the weekend. But 50 years ago, it held countless troops during 3,500 hours of active combat. It was shot down four times while in Vietnam.
The president of the Vietnam Veteran’s of America chapter 243 is the chopper’s storyteller, explaining how each of the bullet holes got there from 1967 to 1971.
“It’s seen a lot in the four years that it was there,” James McGirr said. “You enjoy the people that come through to see the helicopter. You get a thank you, which none of the Vietnam vets got when they came home.”
Will Shaw McGirr is also an advocate for his fellow veterans still fighting an internal battle.