Veteran Salute: Seeing the world working on one helicopter at a time

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Being a helicopter mechanic can get you many places, and for 41 years Topeka native, Clinton Goheen got that opportunity. 

Getting the opportunity work on many helicopters across the world from the blackhawks, skycranes and the historic Huey. Clinton Goheen was drafted into the army in 1969 when he just was 19 years old. After just five days of being a draftee he enlisted in to becoming a helicopter mechanic. 

"After basic I went to Fort Rucker, Alabama through my AIT and then straight over to Vietnam," Goheen said. "I stayed over there for 18 months. We were in a dust off unit station on arm bend in Vietnam." 

In 1999, while serving in the National Guard, Goheen traveled to Hawaii to honor Kansas veterans of Pearl Harbor. Goheen’s father was invited to take part, allowing them to share a special moment during the ceremony.

"We flew over in a KC 135 or ceremonial platoon with governor graves at the time and some other dignitaries," Goheen said. "My wife, my sister and brother, mom and dad flew over there and best honor I've ever had doing the color guard at Pearl Harbor. And then we went out on the Arizona, and my father and I laid a wreath on the Arizona together." 

Goheen also got the experience of a lifetime when the historic Huey made its appearance in the capital city September 2025. Getting to ride in one of the main helicopters he got to work on was quite the full circle moment. 

"That was an awesome trip. The Huey came to town. I crewed Hueys for many years," Goheen said. "The gal that was the crew chief was from England. She had the accent. She was awesome. I signaled to her, I went like this which is drop the collective and do an auto rotation. And she just. And I knew they weren't going to do it anyway." 

One of the sky cranes Goheen worked on is now housed at the Civil Air Museum at Forbes field. He retired as a Sergeant first class from the National Kansas Army Guard in August 2010. He now enjoys his retirement life back in the capital city with his wife, Mary. 

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