Jeffrey T. "Bic" Bickerton's interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center
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- Опубліковано 6 гру 2019
- Catalog Number: VIS 201.0552
In this interview, Jeffery T. “Bic” Bickerton recalls his time as a U-1A Otter crew chief and co-pilot in Vietnam. He remembers his childhood, accompanying his father to work at the company business in Manhattan. His mother had polio when she was pregnant with his younger brother, so the other children were sent to live with friends and relatives. He lived with his grandmother and then with a family friend who was in the Air Force in Alabama. He discusses the influence this family had on him, especially his desire to fly. He describes being drafted and how he got into Army aviation. He recalls his training and entry into Vietnam; his brother returned from Vietnam the day he left the United States. He describes conditions in Vietnam and his duties. He tells stories of missions and how he was sent home when his father died. He explains his philosophy on the war in Vietnam and describes how his brother never recovered from his experiences in Vietnam. He details his post-war career and family.
Welcome Home! Thank you for your service! 🇺🇲
Love this and love you! Thank you for your service!! Proud to call you my Dad!!!
Thanks you Son. I am proud of you and your family more then you will never know how much. Maybe your great, grand-children will be able to know me a little.
M
You should be proud. Seems like a great man.
Thank you and your family for their sacrifice.
A late view, but what a great family you must be!
An incredible story.
Thank you
God bless you for sharing
Thank you Manfred ~ Much appreciated 'Bic' 08-26-2023
Sitting in a Water treatment control container for a tunnel project, on nightshift in Brisbane, Australia. Have been listening to the Vietnam Atlanta history series for a while.
Geez "Bic", you had a tough start with your early life with your Mum's polio situation, sounds like you had a great family with all that support.
Hats off to you Bic and all the other Vietnam Veterans.... I've heard some amazing stories of Mateship and survival.....thanks Bic and your fellow servicemen for sharing these stories and also Atlanta history organisation for making possible.
Thank you Chip. And 'Hat's off to you too Mate' for the kind words and wishes. All the best, 'Bic' 08-2022
Thank you Chip. I appreciate your your comments. All the best to you Mate. God bless. 'Bic'
Thank you for sharing..... RVN 1968
Welcome Home Dennis. Glad we both made it back. At 21 it was an intense time in my life. Now it has made me stronger. I wish you health and good time my Brother, 'Bic' 08-222
Thank you for your service
Rich ~ Thank you for your note and acknowledgement. Proud to have service in US Army Aviation in Vietnam. Still doing well and hope to continue. You do the same my friend. 'Bic' 08-2022
Good story, nice guy, tough life and made a good life. Great attitude.
Thank you Joe. Life is good and I am glad I am living it. Many didn't. All the best to you, 'Bic'
Thank you for the interview and stories. It was uplifting and fun to listen to. I'm glad you had a positive tour and made it back in one piece. I was sorry to hear about your parents and brother. Happy to hear that you stay connected with your buddies.
Regards!
Thank you Bick!
Thanks Jimmy & Kathy. Appreciate you more then you know. 'Bic' Bickerton 3/25/2021 now near ATL
Sad hearing about his mother. My mother survived TB , just pulled through.
Thank You for Your service
Ruby ~ After coming home in '69 to a hostel, so called 'peace' movement, your comment is very much appreciated. God bless, 'Bic' Bickerton 3/25/2021
I knew a Vietnam Veteran years ago whose father was a WWII marine died on his second tour in Vietnam so he had to go home for the funeral and return to Vietnam. Tough deal. 😢
Great interview
BB ~ I wish I knew it was to be put on UA-cam, I would have made up some better war stories. Thank you Bob. 'Bic' 08-2022
God Bless You Abundantly Thank You for Your Service Amen
HE has in many ways. Thank you for your nice comment and wishes Samuel. 'Bic' Bickerton 3/25/2021
Excellent!
Dear DW Ohio ~ Thank you DW for the 'Excellent'. Much appreciate! Still trying to stay excellent, 'Bic' - 08-2022
I was very intrigued by your life story. I was hooked when you accounted for DH Beavers and Otters, which every day flew over where I grew up. (My bucket list still includes a flight in a Wright powered beaver.) I have listened to many of these accounts, and I am very glad that I did not miss yours. Live long and healthy!
Thanks you Lorne. I didn't know this was on UA-cam until today 03/25/2021. The audio is poor and I left so much out but I am proud to have told a little of my story and proud to have serviced my great country. 'Bic Bickerton near ATL
hikkl. mmmm..mmmmmmmmm
Thank you for your service.
@@jimtrent2125 Hikki - back at you my friend. 'Bic'
@@richardlong8014 ~ Thank you Rich ~ I was proud to have serviced. 'Bic'
I'm sorry to hear about your mother. People need to know about the suffering that polio causes so that we have higher vaccination rates. It's a pleasure to hear you speak, thanks. Jets flying over me as a child gave me the aviation bug, too: B-52s in Dayton, Ohio back in the 70s and 80s. =D
Appreciate your note Joe. Thank you so much ~ Still doin' well, 'Bic' 08-2022
@@jeffbic917 👍🙏
@@RiDankulous Thank Joe, 'Bic'
Total polio cases (combined wild and circulating vaccine-derived) have dropped 97.5% from 35,251 (reported) in 1988 to 894 (confirmed) in 2022. Of the three strains of WPV, the last recorded wild case caused by type 2 (WPV2) was in 1999, and WPV2 was declared eradicated in 2015.
GREAT SORRY SIR THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE
SS Jon ~ Appreciate your reply and acknowledgement. I am still proud to have service in US Army Aviation in Vietnam. Still doing well and hope to continue. You do the same Jon. 'Bic' 08-2022
At 57 I can’t remember much about my work life between 17 and 21. But with all that drama going on, I guess you would remember quite a lot.
I remember a lot too. I was a grunt Vietnam 1971. Most intense time of my life.
Thanks Tommy. appreciate your comment. 'Bic' Bickerton 3/25/2021 now near ATL
@@donaldjones7678 a friend of mine was born ‘52. His mother and him decided that the best strategy was to fast. He lost so much weight he was rejected at medical or whatever it was called when you first showed up for registration. He did later join the Peace Corps. I think the whole experience had an effect on him. He never settled down or was at peace. Finally, got an English teaching job in Japan and found the rhythm of that life a framework to survive.
Enjoyed your IFR experience. I had a similar one in a snow storm doing a cross country.
Yikes. Glad you made it safely down Jess. 'Bic' 3/25/2021
WOW Jess, glad you made it safely down to mother earth. Nothing like learning to fly by almost killing yourself making a poor decision. Thanks for your Reply to my story. Much appreciated, 'Bic' 08-2022
What an amazing man.
Not so Jill, but I was very lucky and I am very proud to have served. God bless and thanks, 'Bic' 08-2022
Much respect.
Thanks 'LB'.....and may you never be Left Behind. Much appreciated, 'Bic' Bickerton 3/25/2021 now 74 living near ATL
could this b any longer?
Why watch?
It is a little long but I enjoyed his story.
Bic Id love to know move about those low flying helicopters
Pinelawn is the name, my father is also buried there.
You got it J Clif. Thanks, 'Bic' 3/15/2021
Why does description say he was a helicopter pilot?
Good catch, Mr. Young--thank you for letting us know.
@@AtlantaHistoryCenter Hey no problem. Wasn’t trying to call you out on it really, but I was waiting for him to tell about how he switched from fixed wing to helicopter pilot at some point, but never did. Lol. Great interview btw. Love these very much. This is about my 3rd or 4th video I’ve watched of yours so far.
@@benyoung552 we are glad you're enjoying them! We are honored to preserve and share them.
Why dont yall scan those pics so we can see them
I was not in control of the agenda at the ATL History Ctr but you can see those and other "Otter' pics I took on our Military Company's website: sites.google.com/view/18-54aviationotternest . Check the PHOTOS Page. Thanks you Harold. I didn't know this was on UA-cam until today 03/25/2021. The audio is poor, sorry. 'Bic Bickerton near ATL
Xz
Audio sucks.
You are so right Martin. I was not in control of the agenda or the audio at the ATL History Ctr but maybe my grand-children & great Grands will one day be glad to hear my voice, even if it's bad quality. Be well and thanks for listening. I didn't even know this was on UA-cam until today. 'Bic' Bickerton 3/25/2021
great interview, but the interviewer interupting all the time was anoying
Thanks you Chris ~ I talked too much and maybe he was trying to get me to the end. But appreciate your watching that long story of a kid just trying to make it though life. So far, so good. All the best, 'Bic' 08-2022