Scope and Contents

Less than one linear foot of slides and photographs document Thomas Ellis' service in Vietnam as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, first with C Troop 1/9 Cavalry, March-May 1967, and then with the 228th Aviation Battalion (Assault Support Helicopter) in 1969-1970.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Ellis was born in Buckhorn, Kentucky in 1940. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1959 and served for 21 years and 8 months. During the Vietnam War Ellis served as a helicopter pilot, first with C Troop 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry from March 1967 to May 1967, and second with A Company 228th Aviation Battalion (Assault Support Helicopter) from February 1969 to February 1970. In Vietnam he was stationed at Bong Son, LZ Two Bits and Bear Cat, and held the ranks of CW01, CW02, and 1st Lieutenant. He was involved in the An Lo Valley Campaign, Happy Valley, Crows Foot, and Crescent. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, and two Purple Hearts.

Ellis retired from the U.S. Army in 1979 at the rank of Major 0-4. He currently belongs to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association, the 1st/9th Association, and the 1st Cavalry Association. After his Army career Ellis flew helicopters for PHI, Inc. and The United Coal Company, and then worked for the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement.