Alexander J. Ortolano

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Email: zooombuggy-dustoff78@yahoo.com

Tel. 404-545-2020

After serving in Vietnam, my life became pretty normal (boring by comparison). I pursued a career that was nowhere near as interesting or exciting as flying the iconic Huey and being a part of an organization whose Sole Mission was Saving Lives. I retired from that career so long ago, I'm not sure what I did for a living but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the automotive industry. Aren't you glad my presentation is going to be about the Interesting and Exciting Part of my life?

The Huey has probably come to best symbolize the heroic service of all our servicemen and women in Vietnam. When we think of Vietnam, we usually picture the Huey somewhere in our thoughts. The Huey could take enormous punishment and still fly. Some have called it the "B-17 of the Vietnam War". Many times a American soldier, lying wounded on the floor of the Vietnam jungle and wondering if he would survive, would feel hope coming back into his body because he would hear that familiar wop wop wop in the distance getting louder by the second and he knew the chances of his surviving had just gone up by a significant number of degrees. 

My presentation will cover such topics as:

• Early days of Vietnam Medical Evacuation
• Zany flying tactics used to stay alive
• Interesting and heroic pilots I served with
• Why a helicopter flies
• Why it is not true, if your engine fails in a helicopter, “the ship will fall like a rock”

Can you remember what you were doing in 1965? I can and I would love to tell you about it.

Run time: 45-50 minutes

God's Own Lunatics spoken by Joe Galloway.

• Microphone
• Podium
• Projection screen with HDMI connection to my laptop

I live in the Atlanta, GA area. Never thought about traveling, but if there is interest, I can do that. (I love doing this presentation.) Yes, would expect transportation & meals but I promise not eat much.