Scope and Contents

Approximately 3.5 linear feet of VHPA Aviator newsletters and slides documenting John Shafer's U.S. Army service as a Loach pilot with B Troop, 7th/17th Air Cavalry from October 1970 to October 1971 stationed at Camp Halloway in Pleiku.

Biographical / Historical

John Shafer was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1949. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1969, and served for nearly five years. Shafer served in the 17th Air Cavalry at Camp Holloway, II Corp. Central Highlands, Pleiku, Vietnam, from October 17, 1970 to October 16, 1971. During this time, Shafer served in a variety of positions, most notably on the Hunter Killer Teams and flying Hueys as an Aircraft Commander under Major Robert C. Cassity. Shafer flew a total of 709 hours of combat time while in Vietnam. He then returned to the United States and served with the HHC 145th Aviation battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia from November 16, 1971 to April 30, 1974. Shafer received an Honorable Discharge on April 30, 1974 as a Chief Warrant Officer 2. After completing his service, Shafer graduated from Seattle University in June 1976 and began working in his mother's public accounting firm; Shafer is now the owner of the practice and has been in public accounting for over forty-three years. John Shafer has been on the Executive Council of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association since 2012 and has been the Washington State Chapter VHPA Treasurer since 2010.