Casper aviation platoon Casper Platoon Story

Jay-Bo Willie Casper

Was the Casper who served the longest "Tour of Duty" In Vietnam

This site was last updated: 2/15/15

What Ever Happened To Jay-Bo?

This question comes up every so often and here is what we know about our Casper Mascot.

Jay-Bo Willie Casper was born in 1966 in Bien Hoa. He immediately became a Casper and was known by most everyone of us. Jay-Bo traveled with the platoon everywhere from Bien Hoa to Bong Son.

Although this dog was everyone's friend, he eventually became more attached to Rick Canning who was later KIA on October 4, 1969.

According to Gary Irwin and Terry Hanks, the members of Casper all chipped in to get Jay-Bo to the states. Just before Casper left Vietnam in the summer of 1971, arrangements were finally made to smuggle our loyal friend on an airplane headed back to the world. The plan was for Jay-Bo to live with Bob Wooldridge in Oklahoma.

Jay-Bo got to the Wooldridge's home before Bob and Terry. We are told that when the guys arrived later, Bob's dad was a bit mad at our dog. It seems that Jay-Bo chewed the couch, chairs and tore the house into shreds... "O'well, dogs will be dogs." Jay-Bo Willie Casper lived there happily ever after.