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2. Phyllis: One of the most rewarding and beneficial contributions to humanity is working with the youth of our society. You have shared with me that you are a Vigil Honor Member of the Order of The Arrow with the Boy Scouts of America, and a resource for the local youth ceremony teams. Could you tell us more about that? That is quite an accomplishment and honor. It must have taken a lot of work and dedication to reach that status.
Brad: After induction into the Order of The Arrow (OA), a member dedicates himself/herself to the principles of Scouting, chiefly, outdoor experiences to build confidence and spiritual awareness and service to others. Fulfilling these charges are as easy as giving back to those in the unit that selected you to "Scouting's Honor Society", and being visible in the community. I learned as a military officer that setting the example and performing alongside others in executing distasteful tasks goes a long way in influencing and inspiring others.
The Vigil Honor is not earned like a badge or a rank -- it is bestowed upon the recipient for excelling above and beyond what is expected by an Arrowman (OA member), and, most importantly, what can be expected from them in the future. Talk about a superb return in investment. Honor a youth with the Vigil Honor membership and they keep coming back to guide/mentor the younger Scouts and Arrowmen.
I did not attain the Vigil Honor as a youth, but my involvement during those years as a ceremonialist and dance team member solidified my understanding of the OA purpose that is presented in the varied ceremonies and events. It was five years after I returned to the OA after the military sabbatical from Scouting. I got back in Scouting as an adult leader when my son joined Cub Scouts at his earliest opportunity, first grade, and I had just retired from the Navy, taking a job in the Washington, DC area. I rekindled my OA roots as my son approached Boy Scout age.
3. Phyllis: You once told me that your name in The Order of The Arrow is 'Nuwingi Achowalogen Weuchsowagan'. Can you tell us what that name means and why you were given it?
Brad: In the language of the Delaware (Leni Lenape), that translates into "Willing Worker who has Knowledge". The names are recommended by those that nominate you for consideration of the Vigil Honor. The youth selection committee (OA is youth run, youth led) must have felt that my mentoring had basis in knowing the OA and Scouting programs and traditions, not to mention a six digit IQ! (Yes, there's a decimal point involved).
I am a member of the local Adult Leader Training Team and have attended a good majority of the training events available for Adult Scouters and Arrowmen. I have the Woodbadge (most advanced training available for Adult Scout Leaders w/3 beads due to staffing) Powderhorn (exposure to activities and resources necessary to operate a successful older Scout program), and many positional training awards.
4. Phyllis: Semper Fidelis and thank you -- I say this because I know you served our country admirably in the Marines and also as a Naval Aviator. Tell us a little more about that, please.
Brad: Some was covered earlier in our interview. After the 6-month Basic Marine Officer training following graduation/commissioning, I awaited my Pensacola flight school quota by being temporarily assigned to HMX-1, the Presidential Helicopter Squadron. This was rewarding as I had just swapped my flying preferences from jets to helicopters. The squadron life and discussions with the pilots solidified my desire to be a "rotorhead". I was never thrown into a known hostile situation or offensive stance, but knew that my training and what I passed on to my successors was preserving the Constitution and all we stand for. Consider me a 'Cold War Warrior'.
When the first offensive in the Gulf erupted back in 1991, I had orders to be an instructor pilot for the new pilots out of flight school. Navy believed I was needed there with my Marine attack helicopter background in a position to educate more than a small cadre on deployment. I've been close to international historic events: Philippine elections of 1986, failed coup attempt in Manila 1989 (at the same time as US involvement in Panama with Operation Just Cause), Kuwati Tanker escort in the Straits of Hormuz, and the implementation of the Panama Canal Treaty giving control of the canal to the Panamanian Government. I had three deployments to the Pacific, over 2,600 flight hours, visited many countries in an official military capacity via liberty while on deployment or program meetings (Japan, So. Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Kenya, Canada, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, England, and Spain).
My awards upon retirement include the
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd Award), Navy Battle "E" Award (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Overseas Deployment Ribbon (3rd Award), Overseas Ribbon (2nd Award), Rifle Expert Medal, Pistol Expert Medal. (note: Brad's awards and beadwork pictured here)
During the time of my interservice transfer process, I was retained in the Cobra Squadron to assist in the transition to the newer airframe (the Super Cobra AH-1W, or commonly called 'Whiskey'), while the older aircraft were still being deployed. I stayed with the older model as a weapons/tactics instructor (the avatar picture taken at 29 Palms Marine Base at this time)
and post maintenance check pilot. During a maintenance test on 13 March 1987 (a Friday, check it out), a fuel line fitting leaked inside the airframe and ignited. The ensuing fire suffocated both engines. I had a Check Pilot in training as my co-pilot, so we were very knowledgeable of the systems and very capable to aviate. Being at only 1000 feet over the California beach-line and Interstate 5, between Los Angeles and San Diego, we had little options than to perform an autorotation, in laymen terms: this is a landing performed by gliding an inoperative engine helicopter. Upon touchdown, the crosstubes that secure the skids fractured, causing the helicopter to tip, but the main rotor impacted the ground and restricted from fully falling over.
That was the direction for me to egress (exit) the cockpit and I wasn't pinned in! The landing wasn't considered that hard by either of our experiences and we noted no drift upon touchdown. Mishap Investigation and the legal inquiry exonerated both of us from any wrongdoings or failures, in fact we were "recommended" for the Air Medal, but that's a different story, summed up by someone in an upper echelon who made a comment about "hard landing" and that's all she wrote -- recommendation denied.
I attribute my survival of the situation as my efforts of months earlier. While assisting on another accident investigation, in which during the autorotation, the pilots weren't as successful and were killed upon impact with a wooded hill. It has been an ordeal to live with the fact that I live because of someone else's bloodshed. The airframe I crashed was my favorite of the squadron, had been on both of the WestPacs I did, and the call numbers were "124" -- my birthday is the 24th of October.
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All images © Copyright Brad Bailey 2011. All Rights Reserved.
Content copyright © 2011 by Phyllis Doyle Burns. All rights reserved.
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Read more about Brad Bailey at the related link below.
