Ohio National Guard News

By Sgt. Shannon Massie, unit public affairs officer

GREEN, Ohio - Soldiers of Detachment 2, Company B, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, celebrated family day July 12 with family and friends at the City of Green Community Park. During family day, Soldiers welcomed Pvt. Jacob Chevraux and Sgt. Frank Basham to the unit and also celebrated the retirement of Sgt. 1st Class David Pickens after 30 years of service.

Pickens’ military career began when he enlisted into the Army in February 1969. After graduating from Hower High School in Akron, Ohio, he was sent to Fort Campbell, Ky. for basic training and then to Fort Rucker, Ala. for advanced individual training. The day after enlisting into the Army, Pickens received his draft notice.

After graduating advanced individual training in November 1969, Pickens was sent to Vietnam. Three months into his deployment, Pickens decided that he wanted to fly, so he became a door gunner and a crew chief on the Huey Helicopter at Camp Holloway attached to the “Ghostriders” of the 189th Assault Helicopter Company.

On March 24, 1970 the helicopter Pickens was flying, along with a crew of five, was shot down. All five crew members took cover in the same fox hole and were rescued shortly after being shot down. Pickens said there was a total of 11 aircraft shot down on the same day.

On April 3, 1970 during a mission three kilometers southeast of the besieged Dak Seang Camp, Pickens’ helicopter and others came under a barrage of enemy automatic weapons, hand and rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms fire. Undaunted, they continued their approach and landed, allowing the troops on the aircraft to join the battle. Pickens said they landed in the area again and again, completing the mission, while taking intense enemy fire.

In November 1970, Pickens returned to the United States where he was awarded numerous medals including a Bronze Star with a “V” Device (for valor), and two Air Medals with a “V” Device.

After serving one year, eight months and 21 days in the Army, Pickens left the Army with a hardship discharge to tend for his mother.

During this time, Pickens met his wife Darlene and married on March 11, 1972. After being married for 10 years and having two children, Pickens returned to the Army by enlisting in the Ohio Army National Guard, where he completed his career by serving 28 years.

Pickens’ wife Darlene said she has been asked many times how she deals with having her husband serving in the Army and both children serving in the Air Force.

Her reply is simple, “My deep faith in God, my family and my church.”

Darlene said she also found that participation in the family readiness group and playing an active role as the group secretary has proven to be very rewarding and comforting.

Pickens said he plans on spending his retirement years by continuing his wood working hobby and spending time with his family, friends and granddaughter Myra. He said he will continue to attend a Vietnam reunion every two years, which he said provides an opportunity to keep in touch with the friends he made and served his country with.

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