Colonel Ben Silver-  1922-2017

    The VHPA reports that Col. Ben Silver (CO of the 16th CAG) passed away back on 26 August of 2017.  He had just turned 95.  I always believed that Ben Silver did more than anyone else in the Army to save the CH-47 in its early days, with the 11th Air Assault Division (test) at Ft. Benning, and prior to taking it to Vietnam in 65.  Being a brand new aircraft, there were many, many problems to resolve, and Ben was in charge of doing just that.  He took the 228th ASHB to Vietnam with the 1st Cav. on his second tour he commanded the 16th CAG, which included the 14th CAB. RIP and God Bless Ben Silver...your beloved Chinook is still flying today, and it will be for many more years to come.

From Bill McRae and Al Romaszewski