11th Airborne Air-Assault Badge
15th Medical Battalion Becomes a Reality
With The First Cavalry Division - Origins
With The First Cavalry Division - Origins
Firsthand Account By: Gordon Russell
I joined the 11th Medical Battalion when there was only Headquarters Company.
The First Sergeant was 1SG Boyle. Later, A Company was added and I was sent
there to get things going. Again, B Company was added and C Company came in
from the 2nd Infantry Division, almost intact. They added the Air Ambulance
Platoon, later.
I was with the First Air Cavalry Division in 1965, when we sailed into Vietnam. I
was working out of the Support Command with SGM Boyle when the Ia Drang
Battle Started and then I was sent along to Major Haley, at Quin Nuon to make sure
the Cav Division got all the supplies they needed. I worked the nightshift loading
C-130s and Major Haley had the day shift. The reason I was in the Support
Command was because my replacement had arrived for B Company. These were
some trying times and one of the largest battles of the First Cav Div.
I went back to Vietnam in June of 1968 and back to the First Cav, HHC Company,
15th Medical Battalion. Then on to Medevac whre a Major Grider was in charge of
the Air Ambulance Platoon. I had known him at Ft. Benning, when he was a
Second Lieutenant, and he wanted me in his command. Later on, I was with CPT
Woods and CPT Schofield. I was with Scofield when we picked up Medic Garry
Bowder and Doorgunner James Megeehee, as well as others on the downed ship.
An RPG had ripped her open under the seat where Megeehee was sitting. Most of
the crew were badly burned and Megeehee was thrown from the chopper, suffering
from a back wound. Megeehee took some time to get out of my mind, as he was
one of my best friends. He had planned to go to OCS, here at Ft. Benning, and visit
with me. I remember Robert Schomaker, as a very nice guy, too..
The last time I saw Kirk Wooley, he was having problems carrying too many bags
on the chopper on his way back to the world. A Lieutenant was giving him a hard
time so, I stepped in and, after a few words with the LT, Wooley left with all his
bags.
Even though, I was a Platoon Sergeant, I was on Flight Status and a lot of
missions and was in some mighty hot areas with Schofield and Woods. I have seen
quite a few men, in my time in service, both in WW2 as a First Aid Man in Patton's
Third Army, but I was never closer to anyone than the men I served with in
Vietnam.
The First Sergeant was 1SG Boyle. Later, A Company was added and I was sent
there to get things going. Again, B Company was added and C Company came in
from the 2nd Infantry Division, almost intact. They added the Air Ambulance
Platoon, later.
I was with the First Air Cavalry Division in 1965, when we sailed into Vietnam. I
was working out of the Support Command with SGM Boyle when the Ia Drang
Battle Started and then I was sent along to Major Haley, at Quin Nuon to make sure
the Cav Division got all the supplies they needed. I worked the nightshift loading
C-130s and Major Haley had the day shift. The reason I was in the Support
Command was because my replacement had arrived for B Company. These were
some trying times and one of the largest battles of the First Cav Div.
I went back to Vietnam in June of 1968 and back to the First Cav, HHC Company,
15th Medical Battalion. Then on to Medevac whre a Major Grider was in charge of
the Air Ambulance Platoon. I had known him at Ft. Benning, when he was a
Second Lieutenant, and he wanted me in his command. Later on, I was with CPT
Woods and CPT Schofield. I was with Scofield when we picked up Medic Garry
Bowder and Doorgunner James Megeehee, as well as others on the downed ship.
An RPG had ripped her open under the seat where Megeehee was sitting. Most of
the crew were badly burned and Megeehee was thrown from the chopper, suffering
from a back wound. Megeehee took some time to get out of my mind, as he was
one of my best friends. He had planned to go to OCS, here at Ft. Benning, and visit
with me. I remember Robert Schomaker, as a very nice guy, too..
The last time I saw Kirk Wooley, he was having problems carrying too many bags
on the chopper on his way back to the world. A Lieutenant was giving him a hard
time so, I stepped in and, after a few words with the LT, Wooley left with all his
bags.
Even though, I was a Platoon Sergeant, I was on Flight Status and a lot of
missions and was in some mighty hot areas with Schofield and Woods. I have seen
quite a few men, in my time in service, both in WW2 as a First Aid Man in Patton's
Third Army, but I was never closer to anyone than the men I served with in
Vietnam.
We are gratful to Gordon Russel for sharing these memories with
us. Let us hope that he has much more to share. -LASH-
us. Let us hope that he has much more to share. -LASH-
Note: This really did happen, in 1965. As the First Sergeant was giving out details, he
instructed a, new arrived, PFC to go burn the outhouse. Of course, the PFC did just that.
He torched the building, buring it to the ground.The Commanding Officer made it clear,
that when giving orders, to be a bit more specific. -Gordon-
instructed a, new arrived, PFC to go burn the outhouse. Of course, the PFC did just that.
He torched the building, buring it to the ground.The Commanding Officer made it clear,
that when giving orders, to be a bit more specific. -Gordon-
