The 158th Aviation Battalion (Aslt Hel) (Ambl) was activated 25 July 1968 by General Order number 244, dated 25 July 1968 at Fort Carson, Colorado, under the command of Major Maurice Dougherty. Organized from the existing 246th and 247th Aviation Companies at Fort Carson and at Fort Riley, the unit was assigned command and control elements and the needed additional personnel and equipment for its eventual deployment. HHC, A, B and D Companies were stationed at Fort Carson, while C Company remained at Fort Riley. Their training began on 9 September 1968, and they were deployed to Vietnam during February 1969.

The Original Founding Ghost Rider Members
MAJ Maurice Dougherty
Founding CO


Click for Narrative

CPT David Watson
1st Plt Ldr
& XO

Click for Narrative

Miss ???
Founding Go-Go Dancer



Back row, left to right (all WOs unless noted): Greg Martin, Gene Franck, Ron Bird, Russ Brown, D. Scott, Roy Riley, Elton Searcy, Charles McCarty, Mike Myer, John Reasoner, John Newman, Chris Genna (hey that's me) and Steve Pavey.
Middle row: Luis Molinar (in flight jacket), Darrell Kitchens, Ted Gish, Irven Sparky House, Gene Kruger,1LT (or CPT, he was promoted right around this time) Hobart Oney, CPT J. Purcell, MAJ Maurice Dougherty, MAJ James, CPT Dave Watson, Don Hampton, Ted Wix, Charlie Wilks, Jim Watson.
Front row, kneeling: Dave Brown, John Dean, Allen Holzman, Joe Hall, Ron Vinson, LT Tom Cahill, LT Randy Fisk, Dave Humphrey, Bruce Willis, Bob Morris, N. Williams, George Schaeffer.
CPT Purcell and Humphrey did not go with us to Nam; and several were not pictured -- Bill Parsons,
Michael Harding, and Harold Smith for example.

Crew Chiefs Photo
Back Row Standing: Jim Thresher, John Wismen, Robert Woods, JohnButchard, Bob Alaniz (me), Jack Frost,
Ira Galloway, Tom Hacker (KIA), SSG Keys, SSG Gates. Front Row: Gary Lewallen, Steve Sealander,
Jim Messerschmitt, Ed Molsee, John Bowkett (Govener), Bob Davies, John George, Robert Shepard,
SSG Hall, SSG Smith.
 
We all went to Viet Nam together and were split up after Tom Hacker was KIA.

The photos were taken late fall or early winter of 1968 at Butts Army Airfield, Colorado.
&
Provided by Chris "Wop" Genna (with assist from Gene "Spider Man" Franck), and Bob Alaniz for the CE Photo

 


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