Ben F Sutton

Our Thoughts and Remembrances 

Image courtesy of Lil Doc's

From Roger (Swede) Olsson:

We finally got our pilots assigned to us, and I was very pleased that I got
Ben Sutton as my pilot. We developed a good relationship that seemed to grow
every day. We had a lot of fun with the PP if we could, like Ben would ask
me very sternly in front of the PP  "Has the copter been checked out
properly?" while checking the logbook.   I gave him a  blank look and said
"well, heck it flew yesterday." It got to the point that I found two PP
snooping around my copter in the middle of the night. Ben told them it was
not healthy to be out there in the dark with a crazy ce around.
An other incident while on ammo, hot food and mail delivery to Airborne.  It
was hot and humid  (really) and of course windy.  The PP is at the controls.
Now this PP  is a real beauty and seems to know everything.

Long before final to Airborne,  Ben talked to the PP about how to get in and
out, and what to watch out for. Well, on very short final Ben called for the
stick and we went around for another approach, and the PP was arguing with
Ben about how he wanted to approach. Ben explained to him that when you fly
with other AC's you do as they tell you and when you're with me you'll pick
up what I have to teach you. After Ben  had taken the stick away for the
third time, he landed himself. PP was not happy. After getting some altitude
Ben asked if I wanted some stick time , and it was always good to practice &
fun too.
Before we got back Ben sort of motioned to me with his eyes to stay put in
the driver's seat. We refueled and got clearance for the Lancer pad. Ben
said, You got it.  Well, my eyes got pretty big, I had never landed this
hunk of metal before and he knew that. (We used to practice hovering by the
beach, and that was hard enough.) Ben said, don't worry about it, I'll talk
you in, and he did. When at a hover I thought he would take over and park
it, but he didn't. He just calmly talked to me and said you're flying it,
relax and park it.  Well, I did it!!!

When looking at  Ben he was sitting there with his arms folded and having
one of those you know what, kind of grins on his face. He was up to
something.  Slowly, he turned to PP and said; See how easy it is when you do
as you are told, and this ce doesn't even know how to fly.

Needless to say this PP never flew with us again. As a matter of fact he
didn't even stay for post flight or wiping down the copter. That was one
thing that Ben was great with, he pulled his shirt off and helped getting
ready for next run, and so did most of our pilots during my time  with
Lancers.

Ben and I went to Eagle Beach together, I even have a picture of us, decked
out to kill  (a few beers). Also a picture  of Ben when stocking up with lrp
ration for the copter.
 I am sure there are many more episodes but  I probably blocked  them out
after hearing about Sutton going down.

Rest in Peace, Ben!

Also sent in by Roger, a couple of pictures of Ben on the Roundtable:

Copy of certificate for Memorial Brick to be installed at the "Pathway of Legends" Walkway at the new Fort Campbell Museum:

From Curtis and Ann Smith

A park in Palmetto, FL honoring Ben Sutton