On June 2, 1969, medic Joseph LaPointe volunteered for a mission near the infamous Hamburger Hill battle site. Shortly after being dropped at the landing zone in a UH-1H Huey, two men in his unit were wounded and demobilized. In the face of heavy enemy fire, SP4 LaPointe risked his own life by crawling to his fallen brothers, shielding them and sustaining his own wounds while offering assistance. Moments later, a grenade killed all three men. LaPointe was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the chopper in which he flew ("17573"), displayed at the Vietnam War Museum in Saigon, is reproduced here with authentic 101st Airborne markings and a metal display stand.

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey") is a utility military helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with two-blade main and tail rotors. The first member of the prolific Huey family, it was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet a United States Army's 1952 requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter, and first flew in 1956. The UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production in 1960 for the United States military, and more than 16,000 have been built since.[1] The Iroquois was originally designated HU-1, hence the Huey nickname, which has remained in common use, despite the official re-designation to UH-1 in 1962.[2] The UH-1 first saw service in combat operations during the Vietnam War, with around 7,000 helicopters deployed. The Bell 204 and 205 are Iroquois versions developed for the civil market.

Info: UH-1H Huey, 175 Aviation Company, "Outlaws", 1967