60-year-old returns from Iraq duty

60-year-old returns from Iraq duty

Bill Sweeney says aviation fuel is in his blood. Sweeney, of Boardman, returned last month after 20 months of active duty as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot with the West Virginia Army National Guard.

Twelve of those months were spent in Iraq, doing whatever was asked.

That included transporting infantrymen from one place to another. Helicopter travel is much safer for them than trekking the ground.

“Those kids are the real heroes — the men and women who go back and forth on those roads in the humvees,” Sweeney said.

At 60, he was old enough to be the father of some of those with whom he served, but age becomes irrelevant when you’re all in the same situation.

“For five months, I was the oldest pilot. Then a guy came who was two months older than me,” Sweeney said with a chuckle.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.