Phil Marshall began compiling mission stories of soldiers in his Vietnam medevac unit years ago, but didn’t publish any of it until this year.

“It was not so much a book, but a way of recording our stories,” Marshall said of what became the book, “DMZ Dustoff Vietnam.”

The nearly 400-page collection details 23 missions by the members of the 237th Medical Detachment Helicopter Ambulance. Some stories are funny and some harrowing. They all honor those members no longer alive.

Marshall, who said he serves by default as the unit historian, includes his story detailing his injury as a Huey pilot in Vietnam in 1969. Over four years, the unit lost 15 men – seven pilots and eight crew chiefs and medics – and twice that many were wounded.

A native of Beavercreek, where his family owned the Beaver Grill, Marshall had a couple of years of college behind him when he decided to join the military before being drafted. The first stop at the Army recruiter ended his search when he was told he could attend helicopter flight school.

Marshall said he’s proud of what Medevac crews did. He often asks people if they know what percentage of wounded soldiers who were breathing when picked up by crews survived the war. The answer: 98 percent.

After the war, Marshall returned to Ohio, starting and operating American Suzuki and Honda of Troy for about 20 years. He sold the business and then managed businesses for others until retiring. He lived east of Troy for several years and now lives near Laura in the western Miami County. His wife, Teresa, is a director of nursing at The Sanctuary in Dayton. They each have three children.

Over the years, Marshall kept in touch with a couple of his crew members but it was not until 2004 when the unit began having reunions. Around 100 people attended the first in Las Vegas with subsequent gatherings in Atlanta and Indianapolis.

Marshall also has become involved with an Indiana group working to restore and share the history of the Huey helicopters. Two have been restored with work under way on a third.

Members of American Huey 369 take the Hueys to air shows and to visits of the traveling Vietnam Wall. Marshall usually stands by the Huey, providing information and answering questions.

“We want the helicopters to be living, breathing pieces of history. It means so much more,” Marshall said. “It has been incredible for me, it has been healing for me.”

Marshall also makes presentations to military groups and school classes.

More information on American Huey 369 is available at www.americanhuey369.com. Marshall’s book is available from amazon.com.