With their engines roaring and rotors throwing off wind, six military helicopters landed at the Cortez Municipal Airport on Nov. 18. Three CH-47 Chinooks landed about 3 p.m., and three Blackhawks followed about 3:45 p.m.
Among the fleet’s 24-crew members was Chief Warrant Officer Jimmy Valencia, a former resident of Ignacio and Durango, who now serves as a CH-47 Chinook instructor pilot.
Wearing a dark-green military uniform and a million-dollar smile, the 17-year veteran was greeted by friends and family members, including his grandparents, Benny and Cordy Valencia.
“I’ve been trying for 12 years to get this flight to come through (my grandparents’) hometown, and I just haven’t been able to get it,” said Jimmy Valencia. “Today, it finally happened.”
Jimmy Valencia’s landing came during a flight from Victorville, Calif., to Colorado Springs. Valencia said that the six helicopters were returning from an assignment at the U.S. Army National Training Center. The fleet landed in Cortez to refuel.
“Our job was to leave Colorado Springs, pick up U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, give him a tour of the NTC, and bring him back to Victorville, Calif.,” Valencia said.
In addition to Valencia’s family members, roughly a dozen veterans and a handful of community members flocked to the airport to observe the helicopters and greet crew. Veterans of Foreign Wars members waved flags, and several others held signs.
“We try to help the veterans in any way that was can,” said Mancos Ladies’ Auxiliary member Janet Laboto. “We heard that the helicopters were coming, and we tried to get the word out.”
While some crew visited with veterans, others provided tours of their aircrafts. Veterans and community members climbed aboard the Chinooks and peered into cockpits and walked through rear cargo areas.
A few children, including Brady Cline, tried on oversized helmets and grinned while peering through dark visors.
“It feels heavy,” said Cline.
“You get used to it,” replied one of the pilots.
Relishing the hometown experience, Jimmy Valencia introduced Benny and Cordy Valencia to his fellow crew members, and both grandparents beamed.
“It was very nice to see (Jimmy),” said Cordy Valencia. “They couldn’t stay long, and I wanted to be with my grandson a little longer, You have to be happy with what you get.”
After wishing his family members and friends farewell, Valencia crossed the tarmac, boarded his Chinook and took to the sky, carrying with him memories that will likely last a lifetime.