COULMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina veteran received a Christmas gift money can’t buy.
Frederick McCarthy reunited with the exact helicopter he flew during the Vietnam War.
It has been 53 years since he flew the B model Huey.
After McCarthy’s tour, he came back to the United States, but the helicopter went to Germany.
A friend of his told him the helicopter was at the Fort Jackson Army base in Columbia, so he went to see it.
McCarthy said the helicopter reminds him of his fallen brothers.
“I always thought, you know, if I have to give my life, I’m giving it for a noble 'cause so I feel really strongly about having done that, and it was a game-changer for me,” he said.
According to officials, the helicopter was brought to Fort Jackson in 1977. It’s on display in front of the basic combat training museum.
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