CHECK OUT Torque’s visit to HAI HELI-EXPO 2024!
One time we flew with a 9-year-old boy
who wanted to know why his father serv- ing overseas loved flying helicopters so much. I could see him starting to get scared as we took off. I crawled up on the bench and put my head in his lap. He wrapped his arms around my neck and when our crew chief turned around to check on him, the boy gave the thumbs-up signal and said, “If Torque can do this, so can I!”
One of the reasons I fly in this Huey is to honor the service and sacrifice of more than 4,000 loyal US War Dogs who served as patrol and detection dogs during the Vietnam War. Those brave canines were credited with saving an estimated 10,000 American lives, yet their contributions have been largely forgotten.
What’s your favorite part of flying? Sticking my head out the open door of the helicopter! It’s like a giant car window. The wind rushing through my fur, all the smells, it’s exhilarating! You haven’t lived until you’ve swallowed a bug from the open door of a Huey going 110 mph!
What are your most memorable experiences?
HAI HELI-EXPO 2024, for one! It was such an honor to attend. I met so many interesting people and learned a lot about different types of helicopters. I wanted to fly in every one of them! Another time, when we flew to a Memorial Day event, a man wearing a Vietnam veteran hat approached me. When we made eye contact, he fell to his
knees and started to cry. I went to him to offer comfort and he pulled a photo from his hat. It showed him with his war dog in Vietnam—the dog he had to leave behind. With tears in his eyes, he said, “Thank you for remembering our dogs.” I will never forget him. I was also humbled to hear about a life-
size sculpture of me that honors my ser- vice. Sculptor James Mellick designed it with a unique component—the body of a Huey helicopter in my torso. The sculpture will be on display at the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog in New York City from September through December 2024.
Editor’s note: Learn more about Torque and fol- low her adventures on Instagram at
www.Instagram.com/k9_torque.
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