More detail on this person: The following was
written by Malvin Lynn Handy.
Born in Tulsa Oklahoma 1940, was raised there and
married (Becky) my childhood sweetheart.
Graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1963 and
enlisted in the Army to avoid the draft. Attended
the Artillery OCS and graduated as a artillery
officer in 1964.
Assigned to a artillery battalion at Ft. Carson,
Colorado and did all the things a young artillery
officer should do. Went to flight school in 1966
and attended fixed wing and the rotary wing
transitions. 1967 assigned to Vietnam in 1st Cav
Division, 2/20th aerial rocket artillery battalion
(gunships) as a platoon commander. 1968
Assigned to Ft. Rucker as an Artillery instructor
and in 1969 attended the Artillery Officers
Advance course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Stayed
there after graduation and commanded a field
artillery battery.
In 1971 was reassigned to VN in the 11th Avn Bn
as the S-3. In September 1971 took command of
the 128th assault helicopter company. Assigned to
Ft. Rucker in 1972 as the branch commander of the
IP qualification branch where we taught officers
to become IP's in the UH-1, OH-6, CH-47 and
OH-58. In 1973 attended the Command and
General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth Kansas.
1974 assigned to Germany as a field artillery
battalion XO, and then as a field artillery
brigade S-3. In 1976 took command of the 71st
assault helicopter company and commanded that
unit till 1978 when I was assigned to the
Pentagon. In the Pentagon I worked in the
National Military Command Center of the JCS. In
1980 was assigned to the 101st Air Assault
Division as the commander of the 229th Attack
helicopter battalion.
1983 was assigned to Ft. Rucker as a division
chief in the Department of Tactics and helped
establish the Aviation Branch. In 1984 attended
the Army War College and in 1985 was assigned to
Ft. Leavenworth Kansas to head up and organize a
new outfit called the National Training Center
Lessions Division.
In 1986 took command of the Apache Training
Brigade at Ft. Hood, TX and trained the first 8
apache battalions for the Army. In 1988 proceeded
back to Ft. Rucker and served as the Deputy
Assistant Commandant and Chief of staff. In 1991
was reassigned to FT. Hood as member of the
Corps staff and retired after 31 years service in
1994.
Military education: Artillery OCS; Fixed Wing QC;
Rotary wing QC; Artillery Officers Advanced
Course; UH-1 IP course; Command and General
Officers Staff College; AH-1 AQC; Army War
College and the Apache AQC.
Awards and decorations: Authorized to wear the
Master Army Aviation Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Badge, Presidential Unit Citation and the
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm. Awarded
various service ribbons; 5 awards of the Army
Commendation Medal; 3 awards of the Army
Meritorious Service Medal; the Defense Meritorious
Service Medal; 2 awards of the Bronze Star; 31
awards of the Air Medal; 3 awards of the Legion of
Merit; the Distinguished Flying Cross and the
Silver Star.
Lynn Handy wrote 5/2/2005: After the 128th, I went
to Rucker and commanded the IP branch then went
to CGSC, then to Germany where I commanded the
71st Assault Helicopter company among other
things. Spent a stint in the pentagon then
commanded the 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion
in the 101st (cobras). Then to Rucker where I
played a part in setting up the Aviation branch,
then to the War College. Then to Ft. Hood and
commanded the Apache Training Brigade and
fielded the first 8 battalions of apache's. Back
to Rucker as the Deputy Assistant Commandant
and Chief of staff. Came back to Ft. Hood and
retired after 3 years on the Corps staff here.
Still in Ft. Hood area and hunt and fish my ass
off. Good to hear from you, and tell Art hi.
PS: Yes, I was the last combat commander of the
128th. Sent all memorabilia to Korea where the
company was re-established. Some ass hole stole
the brass battle ax and Indian head dress while it
was in Korea.
Lynn Handy wrote 5/3/05: morale seemed to be
high all during the last days I had the command.
But, I must tell you that when we got the stand
down order in December of 71 it (morale) did go
down due to all the uncertainties. Some of us got
drops and got to come home, but others who had
not been in country so long got infused in other
units. I remember clearly in those last days
standing on the flight line loading my guys onto
CH-47s and sending them to God knows where. I
can tell you that I do not shed a tear often but
on those days I damn near cried. However, on the
bright side the company accomplished the stand
down in record time and received all kinds of
accolades because of it.
I must tell you that I took over the company under
a dark cloud. The guy who had it before me was
about to get relieved and would have had it not
been for the fact that he was going home anyway.
When I took over there seemed to be a definite
discipline problem and the Battalion Commander
sent me there to get it squared away. The fact
was, all that was needed was some concerned
leadership because (as in most units) there was a
bunch of really good folks who only needed some
mature direction. I found the 128th to be an
excellent unit with a terrific attitude and we did
a great deal in the short time I was there.
PS: Don't know if the 128th was the best in VN but
I can tell you it was the best in the 11th AVN
Battalion, if not in 12th Group. When I was there
the "LTC" who was commanding the 187th got
relieved--note he was a Lieutenant Colonel. I
know the details but in short he really stepped on
his crank.
Lynn Handy wrote 5/3/05:
1. I had no nick name. My friends call me
Lynn.
2. I took command of the 128th on the 16th of
September 1971 and left the day of complete stand
down, 20 January 72.
3. I commanded the company as a promotable
Captain and retired after 31 years service as a
Colonel.
4. My Call sign was Tomahawk 6.
Lynn Handy wrote 5/5/05: Barnes was the next to
last XO, and he did go to battalion. Campbell was
the last XO and stayed on in VN in some capacity
after the stand down. I later served with
Campbell in Germany in 1976.
This information was last updated 01/24/2017
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Date posted on this site: 07/12/2025
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