Take Me Home Huey Lands in St. Louis to Honor Vietnam Veterans

By Mark Nankivil

A special traveling exhibit, Take Me Home Huey, has landed in downtown St. Louis near Soldiers' Memorial to begin a week-long stay in the Gateway City.  It did not actually fly in - it came on a flat bed truck - but it nonetheless made a conspicuous appearance.  What looks to be a complete Bell UH-1H Iroquois (s/n 67-17174), better known as the Vietnam-era helicopter workhorse nicknamed "Huey," is actually a unique piece of art.

 

Officially dubbed a mixed-media sculpture by its creator, Steve Maloney, it is in fact the aircraft mentioned above that was shot down in combat during the Vietnam War with the loss of two crew members while on a medical evacuation mission.  The aircraft was acquired from an Arizona scrap yard by Light Horse Legacy, a non-profit organization that restores helicopters for the combined purposes of educating the public about aviation and assisting veterans of all armed conflicts with recovery from the effects of PTSD.  Take Me Home Huey has been on tour since April, 2015, as a partnership between artist Steve Maloney and Light Horse Legacy, to raise awareness of the need for improved understanding and treatment of PTSD experienced by our veterans. 

The helicopter featured in Take Me Home Huey is painted to illustrate themes of the Vietnam War-era, starting of course with the "Huey" as the iconic symbol of the conflict.  Arranged on the helicopter roof are stuffed duffle bags and psychological operations speakers, while the rest of the fuselage and tail are covered with a wrap containing pop culture images and slogans in graffiti-art style that pervaded the 1960s-70s.  The intricate design must be seen up close to be appreciated, and the public is invited to visit the exhibit while it remains in downtown St. Louis through Sunday, October 9.  Here are some more views of Take Me Home Huey after it arrived yesterday: