The UH-1 Iroquois Huey helicopter was a lifeline for troops serving in Vietnam and several conflicts and wars after it. 

The helicopter gunship was first introduced in the early 1960s. It was used to transport troops to and from missions, to bring supplies into soldiers at fire bases and to pickup wounded soldiers from the battlefield to fly them to an aid station.

The number of lives that were saved due the Huey helicopters cannot be determined, but the number has to be very high. 

The Huey helicopter proved those who doubted its effectiveness wrong in November 1965 during the Battle in the Ia Drang Valley, when American forces were severely outnumbered by three North Vietnamese battalions. With the wounded and dead mounting from fierce fighting, some of which was hand-to-hand, the Huey gunships continued to come into the landing zones, providing gunfire, much-needed supplies and picking up the wounded and the dead.

The Americans won the battle of Ia Drang Valley, thanks not only to the brave men on the ground who gave their all, but also because of the Huey helicopter. 

The Huey proved an invaluable machine and it has a place in Bowling Green history because of a very heroic pilot who flew it. The late Ray Nutter was a major and a platoon leader of an armed helicopter team supporting combat operations near Vi Trahn in October 1966. While two other helicopters were forced to abandon attempts to reach a ground unit under intense fire, Nutter, who retired as a colonel, decided to fly in to extract the team losing his pilot and his Huey in the process. Wounded, he escaped with his two door gunners and evaded the enemy forces overnight before meeting up with a friendly South Vietnamese unit. While trying to find friendly units, Nutter killed two Viet Cong with his survival knife, saving himself and his men.

For heroic actions in Vietnam, Nutter, who passed away in 2006, earned numerous citations for valor and the Distinguished Service Cross.

This is a true American hero whose actions and service to our country must be remembered.

That is why we are so proud that members of the Aviation Heritage Park board are honoring his memory by finding a Huey like the one Nutter flew and displaying it at the park where other planes with local connections are located. 

Board members have found a similar Huey and they are hoping to bring it to the park for the public to view in the near future. The Huey, which is currently at the Davis-Monthan Air Force “Boneyard” in Tuscon, Ariz., now has to be demilitarized before it can be brought back here to restore it to its original condition. 

Those on the board are hoping to have it at the next Hanger Party next summer. We hope that they can get it done in time because not only for Nutter, but other Vietnam veterans in Bowling Green who flew on the Hueys during their time of service.

The AHP board has done a wonderful job through the years finding these planes, restoring them and putting them on display to the public. They also deserve credit for finding this Huey.

Bringing a UH-1 Iroquois Huey to the AHP is going to be very exciting for thousands of residents and visitors to see, especially given Nutter’s long connection to Bowling Green.