Scope and Contents

Approximately one linear foot of materials documenting Thomas Beckton Gipson's U.S. Army service as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. The materials include correspondence (including transcriptions), helicopter manuals, and electronic media. The materials are dated 1967-1969.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Beckton Gipson was born June 17th, 1945, in Brady, Mcculloch County, Tx. He volunteered for the United States Army in 1967. Gipson served for 35 years including one year in Vietnam from 1968-1969 in the 4th Aviation Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. In Vietnam he served as a Chief Warrant Officer One and Two, Helicopter Pilot, Aircraft Commander, and Air Mission Commander at Camp Enari and Ban Me Thout. During his time in Vietnam, Gipson was involved in major engagements at Duc Lap in Ban Me Thout and Chapa Mountain at Plei Me. He received multiple awards including 26 air medals, a bronze star, and a national defense service medal. Gipson was an instructor pilot from 1969-1970 at Fort Wolters, Tx. In 1970 Gipson was discharged and entered the reserves.

Gipson is a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. After his service, he returned to Texas Tech University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics in May 1973. For three years he worked as a commodity broker in Chicago and Dallas. For six years Gipson worked as an official appraiser in Kerrville, Tx. From 1979 to the present, he works as an independent real estate appraiser in Kerrville, Tx.