For half a century the Boeing Vertol UH-46D Sea Knight served the U.S. Armed Forces as a dependable, rugged workhorse. The first Sea Knight was delivered to the Marines in 1964 and shortly after began its military service during the Vietnam War. This assault transport helicopter would deliver troops, supplies, and equipment regardless of the time of day, weather conditions, or type of danger it would be flying into. During the Vietnam War, the UH-46's were used to carry troops and cargo to and from Navy ships that were in the China Sea. By 1968 the “Phrog”, as it was affectionately known, had flown 75,000 hours on 180,000 missions, and had carried half a million troops. 8,700 of those missions included rescuing wounded service members. Called the “mailman, supplier and guardian angel to the Navy fleet”, UH-46's were used for sea and ground rescues, vertical replenishment, mail delivery, transporting personnel, and many other duties. The Sea Knight was used in every major Marine conflict from Vietnam until its retirement in 2015.