Helicopter crash survivor tells his story

On July 7, 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico, an object from space crashed to the ground. Many thought it was extraterrestrial debris, but the US military maintains it was debris from an experimental high-altitude surveillance balloon belonging to a classified program. The event ranks as one of the most publicized and controversial alleged UFO incidents.

Whichever it was, Ron Huston told the East Side Business members at their Jan. 5 meeting, that day was historical because it was the day he was born. Little did he know 19 years later he too would also come crashing to the ground in an Army helicopter in nearby Texas.

Huston was born in Cadillac, graduated from Clio High School and joined the Army after two years of college.

"There's a war going on and I don't want to miss it," he said when he was 19.

"The army was in need of helicopter pilots so they reduced the requirements allowing me —  with only two years of college — to be eligible," Huston explained.

He packed his bags and arrived at Ft. Wolter's military base in Texas for training. During a training session another trainee flew his copter into Huston's flight path. Huston's instructor grabbed the controls.

"He knew we were going to crash — I didn't. We had about a 100-foot free fall."

On impact, Huston's helmet flew off the front of his head into a nearby field 40 yards away. The crash forced aviation fuel to spill over onto the motor, but miraculously no fire ignited. It took 35 minutes for medics to arrive. Both men were taken to the hospital. His instructor was paralyzed and Huston's vertebrae were crushed.

An Army hospital chaplain visited Huston and was surprised at his survival. There should have been a fire. He should have had a broken neck. But somehow Huston escaped with his life.  Not many have survived a crash at the speed of his copter's free fall. Huston spent three months in a hospital and another three months in a body cast.

"Others serving in Vietnam weren't so lucky," Huston said. "Over 58,000 men were killed in Vietnam — 1,276 were helicopter pilots.

Returning home to Flint in uniform while the war raged on, Huston was confronted by three teens as he entered a fast food restaurant. After some disparaging remarks, one of the teens knocked off Huston's military hat. Huston's Green Beret friend came to his rescue and the teens scattered.

Today, Huston said, he makes a point of welcoming each military person he meets and thanks them for their service.

The Vietnam War was the most unpopular war in American history. Yet today, 91 percent of Vietnam vets say they are glad they served, Huston explained. Vietnam veterans are less likely to be in prison — only one-half of one percent have ever been jailed for crimes, said Huston. About 97 percent were discharged under honorable conditions and 85 percent of those vets made a successful transition to civilian life.

After his presentation, staff members of the Brown Funeral Home where Huston is employed presented him an American flag signed by the late Robert G. Heft who designed the 50-star flag.

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