[Vhfcn-l] Mel Canon passing

[Julie Kink]

Flight,
(if you see question marks in strange places, I didn't put them there)
I’m so saddened to hear of Mel Canon’s passing. Most of us have our “Mel Canon Stories.” Remember that first VHFCN gathering - Veterans Day, Washington DC, 1996! The BBQs that Mel and Susan hosted. Their wedding, complete with the “Mayberry RFD” police car. Mel’s commitment to keeping VHFCN discourse civil (albeit colorful)  over the years. 
To me, three things will be forever linked: Mel, the Vietnam Helicopter Flight Crew Network, and my wish to learn about my brother. For me, there’s no separating them. I owe a lot to Mel, to VHFCN and to those of you who became my “new big brothers.” 
In July 1997, I was allowed to join VHFCN - at that time, the only female, only non-Vietnam Veteran member of this group of warriors who helped me learn more about my brother David’s service than I ever knew in 26 years. My brother, WO1 David Kink, died of injuries from a LOH crash outside Phuoc Vinh in 1969. He had only been in Vietnam for a month. He was 19 years old and I was 8.
Like so many Gold Star families of the time, we received little information on his crash, erroneous information on his injuries, and had no contact with his unit. Then, the book was closed. After three years of searching for answers, on April 14, 1996 I wrote to Mel Canon whose email address I found in a VHPA newsletter.  Mel forwarded my query to Mike Sloniker.
The Loadhacker responded, that same day, "Not hard. Your brother was in WORWAC 69-11. Warrant Officers Rotary Wing Aviator Course. There will be more information available on him in flight school than in the unit. I will start that way and let's see what we find."
The next day, Jim Schueckler (Polecat) wrote to me that Mike had forwarded my query to him and posted it to the helicopter crew list, "with about 100 active members."
Finding Mel and Mike and Jim, and then others, led me to David’s flight school classmates and fellow C/1/9 Cav troopers, to the pilot who flew high bird on that last mission, the pilot who helped put David on the Medevac bird, and their troop commander. I learned what happened in the crash, and learned the identities of the other two crewmembers who were killed. I also learned that it’s OK to talk about Vietnam.
I grew up not knowing a single other person who had lost someone in the Vietnam War, nor anyone who served. Since 1997 I’ve experienced the reward of helping other families like me learn about their loved ones, through serving on the Family Contacts Committee, with Gary Thewlis still at the helm, and many others. I coordinate the Gold Star Family Breakfast at the VHPA reunions. I am no longer “alone” with Vietnam. It's part of every day of my life - in a good way.
Mel started all this. He felt a deep bond with his fellow aviators, which extended to their families. And he knew that each of you have stories in your heart and soul. He gave you a place and a voice to share them, though some of them will remain there and never be heard. Speaking only for myself, I’ve seen camaraderie demonstrated here in this "place" that I’ll carry with me throughout my life. 
Mel, by letting me into your world, you gave me the greatest gift. I became closer to David through you. I can never be grateful enough.
Little sister,
Julie Kink
sister of WO1 David Kink, C Trp 1/9th Cav June to July 1969 
KIA 8-3-69
member of Family Contacts Committee 
http://www.virtualwall.org/dk/KinkDR01a.htm