WE THOUGHT WE WERE INVINCIBLE

In the summer of 1970, I had the privilege of joining Detachment One of the United

States Navy Sea Wolves (HAL)-3 in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam. At that

time Dr. Art Schmitt was the commanding officer and was known as CDR. Art

Schmitt (or Uncle Art). Little did I know how fortunate I would e to serve under his

leadership in this truly unique fighting force of sailors.

All established methods of command had to be rewritten in order to earn the respect

of these seasoned combat veterans. Cdr. Schmitt led by example, always there at the

front, allowing his men to do their jobs to the best of their ability by giving them the

same respect as everyone else in our team. On every mission the possibility of

disaster lurked.

The mental strain on us was tremendous, yet there was never the slightest problem

manning those gunships, no matter how great the odds were against us. I flew 853

combat missions and Cdr. Schmitt is, without a doubt, the best officer I ever served

under. His experiences and other Invincible Warriors are well documented in this

book. “We Thought We Were Invincible, The True Stories of invincible Warriors”.

----Michael W. Dobson

Aviation Electricians Mate 2^nd Class (AE2)

Dr. Art Schmitt was born in Brooklyn, NY. During the Vietnam War he served with Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three.  He was Officer in Charge (OINC) of a Seawolf Detachment at Sea Float/Solid Anchor on the Cau Mau Peninsula in 1970.  Art served his country as a Naval Aviator for 22 years during which time he received The Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star, 21 Air Medals, 2 single action air medals, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and a Vietnamese air medal. He flew 808 Combat mission. Three Tours in Vietnam. Flew off of the USS Yorktown  in 1965 flying Search and Rescue missions into Vietnam.  500 Carrier landings, Total Flight time 7400 hours.

Art received his Ph.D. from U.S.I.U. in San Diego, CA in 1976. He was a registered psychologist in California and Florida and licensed Marriage Family Therapist in Georgia, Kentucky and Oregon .  Art is a certified flight instructor to the NASA Space Program.  He is also certified to teach courses in counseling psychology, organizational development, military science, health and physical care services.  Art is a psychologist, lecturer, teacher, author, consultant, and has a commercial pilot's license.  He has worked in the corporate environment as a Vice President of Human Resources.  In 1988 he established his own business, Business Team Builders, a Human Resources Management Consulting firm.  One of his current contracts is with the Social Security Disability Administration where he acts as an Expert Witness.  Art is married and he and his wife Marilyn currently reside in Charleston, SC.

Also published,"A War With No Name, PTSD a Survivors Story, Dr. Art Schmitt and "The Man I Didn't know, The Stories of Wives and Families of Veterans Who suffer from PTSD, Dr. Art Schmitt, Co-Author, Marie LeDuc