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Robert E. “Butch” Woods, WO1, Helicopter Pilot, KIA 12/26/67. 'Firefly' missions involved a UH-1 equipped with an infrared visible searchlight. The missions, obviously flown at night, usually included a command helo, a gunship, and the Firefly aircraft. The Firefly aircraft moved along at low altitude, using the IR searchlight to locate targets. When the gunship gained position, the Firefly crew would turn on the visible light and literally light up the target to be attacked. The primary drawback to Firefly was the need to operate at low altitudes and speeds at night, something which leaves very little room for error. On 26 Dec 1967 a Firefly UH-1D (tail number 65-09948) from the 334TH AHC departed Bien Hoa Airbase on a mission somewhere in Bien Hoa Province. While the specific location is not known, what happened is: the Huey's engine failed at low altitude, the aircraft crashed and exploded, and five men died: Aircrew, 334TH AHC CW2 Joseph Thaxter Clark, aircraft commander WO1 Robert Edwin Woods, co-pilot SP4 Raymond Spencer Adams, gunner SP4 Gerald Loyd Rowen II, crew chief Observer, 525th MI Group MAJ Willie T. Brickhouse, Eastville, VA
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Troy Nicks
VIETNAM - 1967
During our school days, it seemed that Butch was always smiling. He was laid-back and easy going. Just a cool guy.
In February 1967, Butch began a tour in Vietnam as an Army Warrant Officer pilot, flying Huey helicopters. He was killed during a combat mission the day after Christmas that same year, within a few months of the end of his tour. He was 23 years old.
Of those in our class who served in Vietnam, Butch appears to be the only one who didn't return.
Butch, good buddy, in our hearts you're forever young.
Geoff Hughes
Troy, Thanks for your post about Butch. I didn't know him well, but have one lasting impression of him. Yes, easy-going, but full of energy. I remember how he walked on the balls of his feet. I remember him in Keds or Converse sneakers, if those existed then; and he virtually bounced when he walked - a dynamo.
Mike Coates
Traveled to our baseball games with Butch in his 409 Chevy; outran almost everything on the road.
Not only did he bounce when he walked, he bounced when he ran, and he was fast.
His laugh was infectious, and he was just fun to be around. Taken from all of us way too soon.
Kathy Smith (Adams)
Wow ! Thanks, Troy, for the memory !! Butch was my first friend when my family moved to Treasure Island. He had a go cart (that had 2 seats) and a dog named Yogi. We were good buddies just starting the 7th grade I think. His Mom always had peanut butter sandwiches for us when we got off the school bus and then he'd "drive" me home in his little go cart. What a supreme sacrifice and thanks to you all who served in Viet Nam back then. And a horricfic loss to his parents - he was an only child - and they were dear, kind people.
Can you all believe it will be 60 years next year since our class graduated ? Kathy Smith Adams
Cynthia Lankford (Wilson)
Troy, While I was not close to Butch, I suely remember the smiles. I am sorry Vietnam took him - as it surely did sooo many. We have a neighbor down the road from us and he was a sort of Specil Ops before it was ever a war there. He and a buddy and 9 other pairs of guys went in on "reconissance." It was more a suicide mission from the stories he tells. Sometimes when he comes for coffee or a beer on our porch, he is disquieted and he will telll a story from that time. They were told they would not be recognized by the US if they were captured nor would they be recovered. Somehow the two of them as the only survivors got out and his buddy lived to his late 60s and saw his children grow up and he enjoyed his grandchildren. Our neighbor is a good man and is a kind and helpful friend. When I hear the stories, as a woman who is not terribly courageous, I can only imagine my heart beating out of my body in fear. After he came home, he lived in New Mexico and he began to work with the goverment filming the nuclear trial blasts in the desert there. Some of his pics are in the Smithsonian. Soooo, some of us lead normal, quiet lives and are never touched by such things. Other are right there in the midst of all the action and we owe them great honor and respect for all they have done, many giving the ultimate sacrifice.In a world that has gone so "off the rails," it is nice to remember the good people we knew along the way and to praise their memories as they were among us. Angels are there and we sometimes do not recognize them!.
Troy Nicks
Butch's profile link on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC. Thanks to John Redding for info about this site.
http://www.virtualwall.org/dw/WoodsRE02a.htm
Gail Danzig (Fore)
Thank you Troy, for these details. My memories of Butch are totally sweet; I saw him as. handsome, with a great car and I was thrilled we got to go dancing together!. Incredibly sad that he was killed so young, so brave, so patriotic. We never no why, but for me, he will always be remembered fondly.
Joan Woodworth
I remember all the years we were in the same homeroom, and Butch was, as you noted, smiling and easy to get to know. Like so many other young men (and women) he was lost to a difficult and challenging conflict.
I hope his memory will remind us of the costs of war. Thanks for entering this memory, Troy.
Joan Woodworth
Mada Kay Morehead
So moving, both the story and all of the comments by friends. I am brought to tears. Thank you for sharing each of you and especially Troy and John.
John Charles "Jack" Withrow
Butch and I were in 1st grade together at Gulf Beaches Elementary. I moved over to St John's in 2nd grade and didn't see Butch again until Little League. We played together for Egan's little league and PONY league teams. And, Mike is right Butch didn't walked he bounced. He ran way up on his toes and he could fly. When Jim Collings came in 7th Grade we were inseparable and we became the 3 Musketeers, not very original. When Sam Wilkes came in 10th grade we became the 4 Musketeers. Butch was a superb athlete and saved many a baseball game from center field when the opposition hit long bombs off my pitching. It's still difficult remembering my three best friends gone.
Troy, thank you so much for posting this information. Janet and I have become really good friends with a guy who was in Butch's squadron. He married Franny Bean from our '62 class. Troy, you should look him up. He piloted "Gangbuster 44" and is highly decorated. However, he always said Butch was the most talented pilot they had.
Mike, thankyou for reminding me the way Butch bounced! He, Jim Collings and Bill Simpson were our fastest baseball players. Jim always said he was the fastest but I believe Butch probably was. I miss these guys.
When I took over as coach of the Bogie Baseball team I started the "Butch Woods Memorial Award." It is still given out as the oldest memorial trophy awarded in Pinellas County sports for a military veteran. In 2020 it was my honor to give out the 50th.
Thanks all of you for your comments. He truly was one of a kind.
Jackie