VIETNAM WAR Lordstown man to host helicopter-unit veterans

Some veterans of the 281st AHC will gather at a mini-reunion in Lordstown.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Jay Hays always thought he had a normal life.
Married to the same woman for more than 30 years and the father of five children, the Vietnam veteran had come back to Ohio and eventually started a successful company, Hays Enterprises.
But for decades, he could never bring himself to talk about his experiences in the war.
A pilot with the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, Hays found out only a few years ago he was not alone.
After attending a reunion of the 281st AHC a few years ago, Hays met with many of the 1,200 men who were part of the Special Operations Aviation unit. Like Hays, most never shared their experiences with friends and family, but once they were gathered with their comrades, they were able to share their stories.
"I was fortunate enough to be attached to a part of the military that featured the best of the best," Hays said. "We are credited as being pioneers."
The 281st AHC "Intruders" were commissioned in 1965 and stationed at Nha Trang, Vietnam, through 1970. Originally attached to the 5th Special Forces Group, Project Delta, the 281st conducted covert operations before there was such a designation, Hays said.
Recollections
These days, Hays is a little more comfortable talking about spending 18 hours in the air on his 21st birthday, recalling how members of the 281st would fly missions while wearing civilian clothes but not carrying dog tags or any identification behind enemy lines and remembering how Paul J. Swol, a Bandit door gunner with the company, received his Air Medal the day before his death in May 2002.
"I was a young, stupid kid," Hays said. "We all were. We didn't know what we were doing. We were just doing what we were told."
Hays does not consider himself a hero -- "Far from it," he says -- though he does feel that way about his fellow soldiers. It's part of the reason he will host a mini-reunion of 281st veterans at his Lordstown home this weekend.
Beginning at noon Saturday, roughly 40 veterans and their families from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Missouri and elsewhere will gather at 7517 Highland Ave. to view slides, tell stories and remember their fallen brothers.
Sharing experiences
Though the 281st AHC Association Inc. -- a nonprofit veterans group consisting of former members of the 281st -- routinely holds reunions, not everyone is able to attend, Hays said. Mini-reunions are held throughout the country to allow smaller groups of the men to gather, and talk with one another.
"We found out a lot of us suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder," Hays said. "It really helps just to be able to get together and talk. We've solved a lot of problems together."
The men will also be presented a letter from Gov. Bob Taft recognizing their service, and Lordstown Mayor Michael Chaffee will read a proclamation designating Saturday as 281st Assault Helicopter Company Day in the village.
Hays laughs now about articles and Web sites and historical documents that refer to the members of the 281st as "God's Own Lunatics."
"To me, these are just some great people," he says.
For information on the 281st AHC, check the Web site at www.281stahc-assn.org.
slshaulis@vindy.com