The UH-1 helicopter symbolized the war in Vietnam, and the sound of a Huey could make Vietnam veterans look skyward and think back in time. The first production model Huey was put into service in 1859 and was built by Bell Helicopter. Thousands of Hueys were sent to South Vietnam, where they were used for command and control, artillery spotting, spraying defoliants, dropping flames at night for illumination, delivering hot meals and mail, and inserting and extracting troops in combat assaults and special operations. When equipped as gunships they provided very close and intense fire support, but their greatest value was perhaps in medical evacuation, with more than 372,000 recorded medical evacuations made by helicopter in Vietnam. The Army purchased this helicopter in December 1965. Originally a D Model, it was sent to Vietnam and assigned to the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company, and it currently carries the markings of the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, Chu Lai, South Vietnam.