240th AHC Flight Operations

Bio For Dick Beaulier, $ Another Original 240th AHC Member

240th AHC Flight Operations is proud to add another original 240th member to the websites. These are the men that set the standard of excellence for our company that was passed down to the rest of us while the 240th was in Vietnam. Dick Beaulier is one of the original members of the famous Greyhounds, Mad Dogs and Kennel Keepers and the following is a short biography of his time in the army and the best chopper unit in Vietnam, the 240th AHC. Dick Beaulier received his draft notice on June 9, 1966 out of Bangor, Maine. Uncle Sam then sent Dick to Fort Dix, New Jersey for the beginning of his stint in the military, basic training. When he successfully completed his 8 weeks of learning the basics of being a soldier, he was on his way to report to Fort Belvoir, Virginia for eleven weeks of "portable power plant training." Dick went back to Maine for that wonderful two week leave before shipping out to Fort Hood, Texas. He reported to Gray Army Airfield as a power plant operator for the newly formed 240th Assault Helicopter and 619th Transportation Company. Dick recalls there wasn't much of a need for the skills of a man operating a power plant generator and he performed a lot of ammo details. Dick and the rest of the 240th AHC went across the "big pond" in the spring of 1967 and he remained with the outfit until September or October of that same year. Dick Beaulier was then transferred to the 187th AHC, Crusaders and Blackhawks, in Tay Nihn and departed Vietnam in May of 1968. Upon returning to the States he received an early out and his Army career was over. Dick stated he reunited with Mike Barnhill last summer and that Mike had been looking for him for 35 years! Mike was also an original member of the 240th AHC. Thanks, Dick, for sharing your story and pictures.