Vietnam from a Door Gun

Door gunners were volunteers but to be one you had to have the stuff. A medical followed by the ability to shoot, not get airsick as the AC did gun runs, banked, pulled up, rolled in and you had to be able to let go of the tendency to worry that they guy at the collective and cyclic wasn't going to auger in. If you could keep your cool and give charles a bad day you earned a seat. Typically you were a Spec4 or Spec5. 

Crew Chiefs who lovingly took car of the ships they flew in also manned a door gunner position. They got double duty. Some even got stick time so if the AC or Peter Pilot got hit they could hit the quick release on the pilots seat, pull the man out and take over. More often than not they would take care of the pilot. 

Each were as dedicated as those who flew the helicopter. They were a breed above the rest. 

When it got hairy they did their jobs. More often than not they spent a lot of time ass out in the wind watching the countryside roll by. 

If you ever wondered what looking at The Nam was like from a door gunners position maybe these images will shed some light.

All copyright belongs to the ass kickers who took these. 

Going into a hot LZ.

Flying Trail. The South China Sea.

After working out with the Guns the floor became a busy place

Now that's close air support

Did I mention these guys were crazier than three eyebrows? That takes some balls!

C-Rat cans allowed for a smooth feed of the Pig.

The business end of things.

Hamburger Hill when there was still a lot of green on top

You had to trust the pilots. They were good. Damn good considering most just had a Tac Ticket.

This is a sight I miss. When I was a little boonie rat they would fly over our base housing in Trail. At dusk it was sight I'll never forget and a sound I really miss.

The smoke ships would go in first on an insertion and make it harder for Mr. Charles to sight in.

Hamburger Hill after the battle. A whole lot less greener than it was.

Tender loving care of the M21 systems. Weapons maintenance meant the system wouldnt let you down.

A door gunner on an M60D working out

Many of the them paid the price providing covering fire for their ships, covering an insertion or an extraction. They were dedicated sitting out there on a troop seat with nothing between them and the free air.