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What can I say about Ed, my Huey helicopter crew chief in Vietnam over 50 years ago?  Well, it's all good and nothing bad.

As a new pilot, I flew my very first combat mission in 1969 in aircraft 66-16597, and when I was later promoted to Aircraft Commander, I was assigned the same helicopter.  What I didn't appreciate at the time is that a young kid named Ed Skaggs was 597's crew chief and considered that ship his -- not mine.  I outranked him, but when I saw his devotion to the ship I was more than happy to look upon 597 as his.  I never disputed his "ownership" of 597, and I never regretted it.  Never -- not once -- did I worry about 597's readiness for a mission.  Ed was an outstanding crew chief, and everyone in D Troop knew it.

But Ed was not just a good soldier and crew chief; he was a good man and a natural leader, too.  He was promoted to platoon sergeant in our "slick" platoon, mainly due to the respect that he enjoyed from the others in the platoon, including the officers.  As platoon sergeant Ed was modest but no shrinking violet.  He didn't seem to crave authority, but he handled it quietly and deftly.  

Sandy knows the story of what Ed did in the dark, wee hours of 6 November 1969, something that saved my life and two other lives besides his own.  The story is too long to repeat here, but Ed's actions earned him the coveted Soldiers Medal, the only one awarded to anyone in our unit as far as I know.  So Ed was not just a friend, crew chief, and soldier; to me he was a hero, too.  I will never forget him; I couldn't even if I wanted to.  

Ed leaves behind a loving family, and he also leaves behind a loving group of colleagues who were all young once, and who remember him for the outstanding young man he was so many years ago.  That is how I remember him, and how I wish to remember him.  May he rest in peace now and breathe easy.  We will follow him soon enough, and I look forward to saluting him and shaking his hand once again.

Sandy my heart aches for you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  Paul and Sandy

When I think of you Eddie, I think of the word "Perfection".  Whether it was with family, work, play, or just life in general, everything that you took on was done with the attention to the little details that each endeavor demanded! I will always have a special place in my heart for you brother!      Love You!

My sincere condolences to you, Sandy, Ed's children and family.  Ed was a great man, with a good heart.  

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Edward Stanton Skaggs

March 16, 1951 – March 22, 2021

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