As fortune would have it, one of my closest friends oldest son also became a Seahawk pilot and, was assigned to the same squadron I was a plank owner in 30 years ago, HSL-43!
A plank owner is one of the original cadre of folks that are there at the beginning of the Command.
He is deployed now and emailed me that they are seeking out scans of old patches and stuff, "from the day". A lot has changed over the years and they are putting together a 30 Year Celebration. Man, the patches look worn!
So, here is what I sent: