Take Me Home Huey (2017)

The Take Me Home Huey film documents a story of recovery and healing. During the transformation of a Vietnam-era Medevac Huey Helicopter from a wounded war bird, shot down in combat in 1969, into a colorful sculpture we see a mission to help veterans recover from Post-Traumatic Stress. The Partnership of Light Horse Legacy and Artist Steve Maloney formed in 2013 to this end. Like all veterans of war, Huey #67-17174 has a story to tell. Rescued from an Arizona boneyard by Dave Barron, Co-founder of Light Horse Legacy, a Peoria Az. based non-profit PTSD outreach, the wrecked fuselage of 174 is restored by dedicated volunteers from a complete wreck to a Huey that looks flyable again. Then Artist Steve Maloney incorporates his vivid artwork to the outside of the ship. During restoration, Dave uncovers the history of Huey 174, and learns the names of surviving crew and two young soldiers killed during the shoot-down. As the battered helicopter becomes whole, stories of Vietnam veterans and their families parallel the healing journey of Huey 174, and viewers begin to understand what veterans must face to find relief from trauma sustained during war. When the surviving crew of 174 and the sisters of those killed are reunited in front of 174's vivid artwork, their Huey is no longer a combat gunship or air ambulance, but has taken on a new life as an ambassador of healing, encouraging dialogue between surviving soldiers and their families working to heal old war wounds. Take Me Home Huey is dedicated to the memory of Gary Dubach and Steve Schumacher who were lost on that Valentine's Day 1969.