More detail on this person: My name is Stuart Whitehurst and I write to you today about my
favorite uncle, Henry "Mickey" Dirska of the 1st Air Cavalry. Uncle Mickey was a fine soldier and a
warm wonderful man. My memories of him when I was 8-10 years old were seeing him at Christmas
time, in his dress greens and that wonderful yellow patch on his shoulder. He was incredibly proud
to serve, and we at home were incredibly proud of him. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site:
08/31/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
My memories are vague, as I am a 51 year old man now....but the story I remember was that my Uncle
Mickey was nicknamed that because there were three other Henrys and he had ears that stuck out like
Mickey Mouse when he was a youngster. I was told that my uncle enlisted, and went to Vietnam.
After making Sergeant, he scored well on some technical exams and was asked if he wanted to learn to
fly fixed wing aircraft (0-1 Bird dogs). Never one to turn down a challenge, he accepted. After many
missions in the fixed wing aircraft, WO1 Dirska was asked if he would like to learn to fly
helicopters. Again, he volunteered and went on to become a Medivac Pilot (although I can not
remember his specific unit). I recall him showing pictures of a Huey with a red cross on the side.
My recollection is that he flew missions for 2 tours in hostile airspace.
The remainder of his military history is not known to me, not the least of which is his unit,
theaters of operation and exact years of service. I do know that he was stateside and attached to
the Letterkenny Army Depot (now a Capt.)when he was killed while attempting a landing at a refueling
stop in OK (Gage airport) in rainy weather on 11 December, 1975. He was 33 years of age and survived
by his wife Connie and 3 children. Here is a link to the news article
http://www.armyaircrews.com/fixed.html
Henry "Mickey" Dirska was my uncle (brother to my great aunt Elsie Dirska (married name Loisage) so
perhaps he was my great uncle(cousin?)? He seemed much too young to be called that...as he was
just 18 years my senior. In the Dirska family (also spelled Dirschka by some members) there were 3
Henry's and 3 Freds....nicknames were common and it took years for me to figure out what some of
their "real" names were. Also, I believe that his widow Connie is still living in Chambersburg MD.
though I have not been able to reach her.
From: Stuart Whitehurst