| 2000 Jan-Feb |
MEDEVAC
15th Med\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
307B N Main
Copperas Cove, TX 76522 1704
254-542-1961
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
http://www.vabch.com/mssb/snore/map15th.htm
I received the following e-mail from: Derrill M. DOTY
<DSTER1@ACCESS1.NET>and Mike SMITH <MVANDCO.AOL.COM>
and I thought that it would be of great interest to the 1st
Cav Association membership. I thought that it would be twice
as appropriate after reading in the last Saber the more than
sobering 1-9 CAV POW story of and by Dr. Hal KUSHNER:
"I, too, remember Hanoi Jane...please pass this on, it's not
a hoax or a Web-joke, it's all too true; Derrill.
Hanoi Jane
Looks like Hanoi Jane may be honored as one of the "100 Women
of the Century." JANE FONDA remembered? Unfortunately many
have forgotten and still countless others have never known
how Ms. Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our 'country' but
the men who served and sacrificed during Vietnam.
There are few things I have strong visceral reactions to, but
Jane Fonda's participation in what I believe to be blatant
treason, is one of them. Part of my conviction comes from
exposure to those who suffered her attentions. The first part
of this is from an F-4E pilot. The pilot's name is Jerry
DRISCOLL, a River Rat. In 1978, the Commandant of the USAF
Survival School was a former POW in Ho Lo Prison-the "Hanoi
Hilton."
Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell, cleaned, fed, and
dressed in clean PJs, he was ordered to describe for a
visiting American "Peace Activist" the "lenient and humane
treatment" he'd received. He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed,
and dragged away. During the subsequent beating, he fell
forward upon the camp Commandant's feet, accidentally pulling
the man's shoe off-which sent that officer berserk. In '78,
the AF COL still suffered from double vision (which
permanently ended his flying days) from the Vietnamese COL's
frenzied application of a wooden baton.
From 1983-85, COL Larry CARRIGAN was the 347FW/DO (F-4Es).
He spent 6 years in the "Hilton"-the first three of which he
was "missing in action." His wife lived on faith that he was
still alive. His group, too, got the cleaned/fed/clothed
routine in preparation for a "peace delegation" visit.
They, however, had time and devised a plan to get word to the
world that they still survived. Each man secreted a tiny
piece of paper, with his SSN on it, in the palm of his hand.
When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the
line, shaking each man's hand and asking little encouraging
snippets like: "Aren't you sorry you bombed babies?" and "Are
you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent
captors?"
Believing this HAD to be an act, they each palmed her their
sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a beat.
At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling,
to the shocked disbelief of the POWs, she turned to the
officer in charge...and handed him the little pile.
Three men died from the subsequent beatings. COL CARRIGAN was
almost number four. For years after their release, a group of
determined former POWs Including COL Carrigan, tried to bring
Ms. Fonda and others up on charges of treason.
I don't know that they used it, but the charge of "Negligent
Homicide due to Depraved Indifference" would also seem
appropriate. Her obvious "granting of aid and comfort to the
enemy", alone, should've been sufficient for the treason
count. However, to date, Jane Fonda has never been formally
charged with anything and continues to enjoy the privileged
life of the rich and famous.
I, personally, think that this is shame on us, the American
Citizenry. Part of our shortfall is ignorance: most don't
know such actions ever took place. Thought you might
appreciate the knowledge. Most of you've probably already
seen this by now, only addition I might add to these
sentiments is to remember the satisfaction of relieving
myself into the urinal at some airbase or another where
"zaps" of Hanoi Jane's face had been applied.
To whom it may concern: I was a civilian economic development
advisor in Vietnam, and was captured by the North Vietnamese
Communists in South Vietnam in 1968, and held for over 5
years. I spent 27 months in solitary confinement, one year in
a cage in Cambodia, and one year in a "black box" in Hanoi.
My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and
murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a
leprosarium in Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in
the jungle near the Cambodian border. At one time, I was
weighing approximately 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs.)
We were Jane Fonda's "war criminals." When Jane Fonda was in
Hanoi, I was asked by the camp Communist political officer if
I would be willing to meet with Jane Fonda. I said yes, for I
would like to tell her about the real treatment we POWs were
receiving, which was far different from the treatment
purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by Jane
Fonda, as "humane and lenient." Because of this, I spent
three days on a rocky floor on my knees with outstretched
arms with a piece of steel placed on my hands, and beaten
with a bamboo cane every time my arms dipped.
I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda for a couple of
hours after I was released. I asked her if she would be
willing to debate me on TV. She did not answer me; her former
husband, Tom Hayden, answered for her. She was mind
controlled by her husband. This does not exemplify someone
who should be honored as "100 Years of Great Women."
After I was released, I was asked what I thought of Jane
Fonda and the anti-war movement. I said that I held Joan
Baez's husband in very high regard, for he thought the war
was wrong, burned his draft card and went to prison in
protest. If the other anti-war protesters took this same
route, it would have brought our judicial system to a halt
and ended the war much earlier, and there wouldn't be as many
on that somber black granite wall called the Vietnam
Memorial. This is a democracy. This is the American way.
Jane Fonda, on the other hand, chose to be a traitor, and
went to Hanoi, wore their uniform, propagandized for the
Communists, and urged American soldiers to desert. As we were
being tortured, and some of the POWs murdered, she called us
liars. After her heroes-the North Vietnamese Communists-took
over South Vietnam, they systematically murdered 80,000
South Vietnamese political prisoners. May their souls rest on
her head forever. Shame! Shame! (History is a heavy sword in
the hands of those who refuse to forget it. Think of this the
next time you see Ms. Fonda-Turner at a Braves game).
Please take the time to read and forward to as many people as
you possibly can. It will eventually end up on her computer
and she needs to know that "we will never forget." Lest we
forget..."100 years of great women" Jane Fonda should never
be considered."
E-mail from Jim BRIGHAM 2-7 CAV Search Team Leader-Vietnam
Subject: Time Magazine Person of the Century;
"I normally do not send out things like this, but as of right
now the American GI is in the lead. As well he should be!
Vote early and often. To date 10 million people have voted.
In this Century 600,000 GIs have died, millions more wounded.
All of us have had a dad, mom, sister, brother, friend,
relative or yourself that has served in the military. We are
voting for all of us.
Forward this to all your friends and relatives. Make a
difference and help to influence Time Magazine to name the
real person of the century. Time is of the essence as Dec. 20
is the deadline. Go to the following to cast your
ballot.
<HTTP: century.html poc time100 time www.pathfinder.com>
Type in "American GI" and then submit." This will be after
the fact when this is read in this Saber edition but it is
the thought that counts.
Thanks to the 1st CAV Division Association and our President
Roy C. BLUMENAUER for drafting and printing in the last Saber
the statement in response to the Associated Press and their
story of the Korean War incidents concerning 1st CAV
troopers. It is good to see some firmness in a position taken
against criticism of what had to be done in good conscience
so that our soliders could fight those who would deprive us
of that free press.
Also in the last Saber I noticed in the SILVER WINGS of the
CAV column a story about an impromptu medical evacuation
by means other than MEDEVAC and what seemed to be a reference
to probably myself, being the writer-and herald-of this 15th
MED\MEDEVAC column. If that reference was to me, I must say
that I do not speak for any veteran of these units.
I am very privileged to be able to return the favor
of the brave deeds that were rendered to my 1st CAV and U.S.
Army buddies, before, during, and after-my own time served in
MEDEVAC-by many who were the best of the best, i.e. 1st CAV
and U.S. Army Aviation pilots and crewmen. Most, if not all
of those pilots, I could not even speak to outside of the
line of duty because they were so good.
Many of those pilots, as well as crewchiefs, door gunners,
and medics came to MEDEVAC from other units, where they had
already more than proved themselves, because of a sense
altruism that I have mentioned before. I sure the heck did
not want ANY of those MEDEVAC pilots digging into my s___
telling me that I could not do my job which I always made a
point of doing, more because I personally was doing it for my
grunt buddies than for any other reason. But, those MEDEVAC
crewmembers that I have witten about and that I have yet to
write about were also doing it for the same reasons, trained
me to function in their capacity, and could only be as
fervant as I, not more so-yet many, many, have the wounds to
prove different.
Many of our pilots were MSC-Medical Service Corps-Officers
and many if not more were the best of the best Warrant
Officers. Many of them would tell us that as pilots they had
a choice of what type of unit they wanted to fly in, so to
choose medical evacuation, and MEDEVAC, shows their sense of
altruism. One of our pilots when I flew, LT George SCHNEIDER,
had an Armor U.S. Army Branch of Service which for a combat
arms officer is living proof of that commitment to his fellow
G.I.'s. (LT SCHNEIDER use to tell us that if we ever served
in Europe and wanted a good time to go to Amsterdam, which
indicated to me his love for life.) We also had many, many
crewmen with C.I.B.s; you guys know who you are, and why!
For anyone to bring or to imply any discredit to this unit,
I say that you should speak to all of the veterans of MEDEVAC
individually, not bring it up to me, as I was only a very,
very small part of it all. I am supplying the names and
addresses of those brave, and worthy MEDEVAC veterans, so
please, talk to them about your concerns if you have any.
Also, contact the men whose names I have had printed who
wrote to say "thanks" for saving their lives.
When a word like "gospel" is used to describe an inferred
discrediting story, I am even more suspicious. The dictionary
says that "gospel" comes from the Middle Anglish word
"godspell" derived from the Old Anglish "godspel"-which
sounds like superstition-but it meant "good news." Being an
American and not "respecting an establishment of religion" I
use the lower case for the words "gospel" and "god" in
"godspell." But, if it is "good news" that an honorable unit
like MEDEVAC was found or thought that they "could not" nor
"would not" do their job then I would think that there is
some kind of rivalry to discredit.
I know that it is always possible that any discrediting
incident can happen in any unit and I know that with a long
war like Vietnam it did happen to most units and probably
could have happened to MEDEVAC as well. My own infantry field
unit, 2-7 CAV, which has two Presidential Unit Citations from
the Vietnam War was accused of discrediting mistakes in the
Ia Drang Campaign. Perhaps some commanders could have
committed citable errors, but should the unit be discredited?
I have spoken to many Ia Drang Campaign veterans about their
time and someone said that they were "green," but who is not
during their first experience in combat.
I had spoken to LTG (ret.) Hal MOORE when his book: We Were
Soldiers Once...and Young, first came out and there was
mention of the use of the brave "slick" pilots to extract the
wounded as well as resupply. There was some mention that
MEDEVAC could not nor would not go into LZ XRAY and received
the evacuated wounded farther out. He told me his
perspective. Any commander in combat wants what he wants when
he wants it, and when he does not get it then he would be mad
about that. As far as the true facts go, again, one needs to
research through those involved and existing documents.
I had spoken to Bud DAVIS and Mel ALLEN at one of the 1st CAV
Reunions about those early Vietnam MEDEVAC days because they
were original MEDEVAC doorgunners and they told me, like the
other Ia Drang Campaign veterans, that those were developing
days. But, the rest of MEDEVAC's history finds few if any
less than desirable incidents. Again, talk to the many
individuals veterans if you have any doubts. I sat with John
CRESPI at the Vietnam Veterans' Luncheon at the last Reunion
and listened to his interesting stories as an E-6 MEDEVAC
medic about one particular "career" pilot who ironically
critically risked all "just" for the highest medal, and got
it.
I personally know that in combat if there were wounded, and
if there was a helicopter on station and could be spared,
then they would evacuate those wounded, in a FIRST TEAM
manner. Not, that MEDEVAC necessarily "could not."
My company, C 2-7 CAV, was involved in a helicopter combat
assault or "Charlie Alpha" on 18 June 69. From the Daily
Staff Journal of that day that I received from Peter COLE, D
2-7 CAV '69-'70, who got those from the Nation Archives, it
shows that "Charlie" Company was at map coordiantes XT415801.
That was very close to the Cambodian border.
My platoon was on the first lift and we landed in a long
field surrounded by tall trees. I noticed when I was leaving
the lift ships and heading to the woodline that there were
explosions walking down the field towards us. I thought that
maybe it was still the artillery prep going on but it turned
out to be incoming NVA 120mm mortars. I heard cracking rounds
in the trees by where my platoon had entered the woodline and
then I heard voices yelling the "M" word so that was my cue.
When I got over to where I was called to I found one of our
best 11Bravos who had become one of our RTOs, Joel SMITH,
doubled up on his knees with his PRC-25 on his back. I did a
quick inspection of him and found a moist, dark buldge in his
O.D. T-shirt which I lifted up. Apparently he had caught a
shard of one of the 120mm rounds that exploded in the trees
and it had cleanly cut across his abdomen because I found his
spleen had popped out.
I did what I had to wrap it in place with the largest size
field dressing and our Senior Medic, Doc DIAMOND, came over
to help me. Just then also, the 2-7 CAV Battalion Surgeon who
apparently was on the "Charlie-Charlie" bird got off and took
over from me, us. He approved a shot of morphine when I asked
him and became quite startled by the gun fire on the other
side of our perimeter. I remember one of our machine gunners
Tom VINCIGUERRA yelling, "The stupid NVA are shooting at the
Cobras!"
But, just as soon as the next lift came in we put Joel onto
my portable litter that I was humping and carried him to an
awaiting "slick" and sent him out with the Battalion Surgeon.
The Daily Journal confirms that at 12:15 "MEDEVAC reguested
at 1130H for 01 litter patient with frag wounds in chest
[sic]. Patient was Line #122. MEDEVAC #07 conducted the
medevac. Skids up 1155H, down 1212H. LZ-LZ JAMIE (Returned to
LZ JAMIE by C\A Bird), mission complete at 1215H. Ground
contact was JAMIE control. Patient was medevaced to Tay
Ninh." So, should I say that MEDEVAC "could not" get our
wounded out? At least, I supplied the evidence.
Joel told me years later when I received a letter from him
that he was addicted to morphine after years of operations in
the V.A. and that he "rarely had a good day." He also told me
that he had named his first son after me which was quite an
honor, but I lost contact with him after that. If you are
reading this Joel, we all would like to think that you are
feeling better.
Of course, as I mean to say here, many military veterans like
to maintain rivalries. Another personal experience of that
was when I went on R&R at the end of the eleventh month on my
first tour of duty. Thinking that I had to go, off to Sydney
I went. With a young nineteen year old's naive pride-albeit
a recent hardcore combat veteran-I wore my Khaki uniform with
my CAV patch on the pocket. When we got to customs in Sydney
I watched as all the other American Vietnam veterans in their
civilian clothes ran through the checkpoint while the
Austrailian customs agent held me up and thoroughly searched
everything that I had. While taking my transistor radio apart
this Aussie proeeded to chastise me about when: "The First
CAV pulled out on us [his unit] in Korea." Tell me, would
anyone in the FIRST TEAM think that could happen?
In addendum: After that R&R nonsense and with no real
thoughts of the rewards of female splendor nor anything else
when I went, only concerns for my buddies to keep their heads
down that I had left breaking bush in Nam-two of whom did not
keep their heads down good enough and caught "stray" rounds
in the head and their names are now on the "Wall," I did not
even bother with R&R when I was on a six month extention with
MEDEVAC. I was happy to be with and do all that I could with
and for my buddies and let others worry about rivalries. For
all of the above, this defense rests-until the next time.
Hamilton C. SMYTH <HCSMYTH@EARTHLINK.NET>Newhall, CA wrote
and says, "I served with the Hq & Hq Co, 15th Med Bn in 1954-
55-56, at the time I was a Sgt. E-5. I would like to contact
others that served with the Bn. during that period."
From Oklahoma, David NOE <CAV2@KIWASH.NET>writes and says,
"Just saying hi to some more brothers. I served with the
Jumping Mustangs of the First CAV D Co 2/8 Honor & Courage."
Bob KON <KON@MSU.EDU>whose Website: LZ Rally; A Directory
for 1/7 Cav Vietnam Veterans:
<HTTP: Page_1x.html web kon o k user www.msu.edu>
and from Michigan comments: "If any of you wonderful medics
served with B, 1/7th Cav, you have another home on the Web at
LZ Rally. Come over and sign in."
Bruce GRANZOW from Hobart, IN <TIRESMOKE@WEBTV.NET>also has
a Website: BRUISER'S WORLD
<HTTP: BRUISERSWORLD TIRESMOKE community-1.webtv.net />
and writes to say, "I have been checking out Web sites listed
in the Saber and dropped in [to SNORE's site] for a visit. I
like what you have done with your site. I served with the 1st
Cav. as a medic with Co. C 8th Engr. Bn. from Nov 66-Nov 67."
Fred MYERS <FREDM@MYMAIL.EMCYBER.COM>writes from
Tunkhannock, PA, "No words can express the feelings of seeing
some of where I was also. I was in the First Cav. 8th
Engineers. My name was Sargent Mick while I was there. I may
have seen you in passing from time to time but I know you.
Some of the pic's are of places I been and seen. I can't get
my mind to remember names and it feels so empty. I worked
with explosivies and opened and closed firebases. Booby traps
were my specialties. Now I can't remember things. Bless
and thank you for a walk back in time. If you find time one
day, maybe you can write a note to say hello. I am a
Skybeaver too. Worked with First Brg., Second Brg., and
Headquarters Third Brd. from 69-70."
I noticed in the previous Saber that Mike SMITH a.k.a. tater
(small "t") <MVANDCO@AOL.COM>as previously mentioned from
Idaho-where else with that screen name-finally just rejoined
his bros in the 1st CAV Association. Way to go Mike! He also
writes: "I just talked to a MEDEVAC door gunner by the name
of Jerry DICK. He was with MEDEVAC when he was shot in the
head July 24, 1968. He has been 100% disabled since then. He
was excited to hear from someone from MEDEVAC even though he
has never met me! If someone from 1968 remembers him I am
sure he would love to hear from you. 1-307-856-2829 tater."
Larry JACKSON <JACKSONS3@NETSCAPE.NET>from, Portland, OR
writes to say, "Please put me on the found list too. I served
from March 69 until Feb 70, as a Door-gunner. I was SGT
Lawrence BRAINARD then, but changed my name to honor my
adoptive parents to Jackson. I was nick named "Smokey the
Bear" from dropping a smoke grenade into the doorway of the
MP Station on a fly over at Quon Loi. I had come over from
the 545 MP Company and had been stationed there for a short
time. I happened on SNORE's site on a link from the Fort Hood
U.S. Army Web page and some help from Dan BRADY. Someone at
the college where I worked had commented the choppers I flew
on were like MASH. I was looking for an H-Model to show them.
I still have my "SO OTHERS MAY LIVE" patch, but mine says
Door Gunner on it. It was nice to see the names of people I
flew with and I am happy to know that they survived to
come home. I don't have many memories of that time, but only
recall flying 36 hours straight on August 11, 1969. I was in
Tay Ninh at the time and all hell broke loose all over
country. I do remember Gene WHEELER's chili pepper\C-Ration
stew and Ray ZEPP collection he used to hang on the back of
his seat everytime he stayed over in Saigon. You have a nice
Web page and wonderful to see the old pictures. Do you have
records of the class of 1969. Also, did crazy "3 tour" SSG
HALL survive? My Best Wishes for all Larry JACKSON."
Larry BIRD <DCSTRNG@EXCITE.COM>writes, "Happy Holidays all!!
Just popped back for my weekly visit -- Hope Santa is good to
all Troopers everywhere. Larry -- Medic 70-71."
Ron FINDLAY <KAWA@PORTUP.COM>from Marenisco, MI writes,
"I was with Alpha Co 15th Med from 66-67. I have been in
contact with David LANE and others. Spec.5 FINDLAY."
Ft. Hood's local PBS's The Army News Watch had a story about
SP/4 Ryan CLARK who was awarded the Civilian Medal of Valor
by the National Association of Police Organizations when they
made him a "Top Cop" for "going above and beyond the call of
duty" in Los Angeles and rescuing a downed fellow police officer
when he also was one in 1997. SP/4 CLARK said,"I found out that
a lot of people on the civilian side of things do not
understand what values are. They claim to be public servants
maybe being police officers but they have no conception of
what actual public service is. Whereas, in the Military, and
especially the Army, I think there is no greater public
service then that, then as a solider."
When asked about if he felt odd and out of place being the
only person there, and even at the White House for the same
ceremony, in Army "Dress Blues," he said that everyone else
there should feel out of place because they are not wearing
the Army uniform. I will leave it to the reader to deduce
what this story says about civilian civil service in
comparison. I noticed that SP/4 CLARK, a former Infantryman,
now wears the Medic's caduceus which indicated his present
M.O.S.
As I mentioned in the last Saber the use of the Julian
calendar, which was suggested for use to Julius Caesar as an
improvement for the then Roman calendar by the astronomer
Sosigenes 2045 years ago, and that was slightly improved upon
by the Gregorian calendar some 1,627 years later developed by
the astronomer Christopher Clavius, and which calendar we use
today, i.e. the New Style calendar, this is a slight
improvement on that information. I mention this so that you,
my fellow veterans, are more informed than those who do not
serve, as I know you do not necessarily have the time to
research these things, especially when you may not even know
about them.
Contrary to what I had implied, the Julian calendar also used
a leap year but was found still to be slightly longer than
the tropical solar year with the result that the solstices
and equinoxes drifted from their calendar dates. This created
discrepancies in the Catholic Church's holy days such as
their Easter so eleven days were added to restore the actual
vernal equinox to March 21 and to reposition ecclesiastical
holidays.
Even with that slight improvement the Gregorian mean year is
eleven minutes and fourteen seconds longer that the mean
solar year. To equal the tropical year it retains the Julian
calendar leap year but deletes the leap year at the end of
the century, unless the year is exactly divisible by 400.
A U.S. Army style synopsis would be: a tropical or mean solar
year is 365.2422 days; the Julian or Old Style calendar is
365 days and six hours; and the Gregorian or New Style
calendar is 365.2425 days. Thus the need for leap years to
equalize the tropical solar mean year.
Always remembering our 1st Cav troops on duty around the
world; over and out.
FIRST TEAM!
Garryowen,
Mike Bodnar C 2\7 Cav 1969
MEDEVAC 1-7\1970
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE
15th Med\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
307B N Main
Copperas Cove, TX 76522 1704
254-542-1961
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
http://www.vabch.com/mssb/snore/map15th.htm
I received the following e-mail from: Derrill M. DOTY
<DSTER1@ACCESS1.NET>and Mike SMITH <MVANDCO.AOL.COM>
and I thought that it would be of great interest to the 1st
Cav Association membership. I thought that it would be twice
as appropriate after reading in the last Saber the more than
sobering 1-9 CAV POW story of and by Dr. Hal KUSHNER:
"I, too, remember Hanoi Jane...please pass this on, it's not
a hoax or a Web-joke, it's all too true; Derrill.
Hanoi Jane
Looks like Hanoi Jane may be honored as one of the "100 Women
of the Century." JANE FONDA remembered? Unfortunately many
have forgotten and still countless others have never known
how Ms. Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our 'country' but
the men who served and sacrificed during Vietnam.
There are few things I have strong visceral reactions to, but
Jane Fonda's participation in what I believe to be blatant
treason, is one of them. Part of my conviction comes from
exposure to those who suffered her attentions. The first part
of this is from an F-4E pilot. The pilot's name is Jerry
DRISCOLL, a River Rat. In 1978, the Commandant of the USAF
Survival School was a former POW in Ho Lo Prison-the "Hanoi
Hilton."
Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell, cleaned, fed, and
dressed in clean PJs, he was ordered to describe for a
visiting American "Peace Activist" the "lenient and humane
treatment" he'd received. He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed,
and dragged away. During the subsequent beating, he fell
forward upon the camp Commandant's feet, accidentally pulling
the man's shoe off-which sent that officer berserk. In '78,
the AF COL still suffered from double vision (which
permanently ended his flying days) from the Vietnamese COL's
frenzied application of a wooden baton.
From 1983-85, COL Larry CARRIGAN was the 347FW/DO (F-4Es).
He spent 6 years in the "Hilton"-the first three of which he
was "missing in action." His wife lived on faith that he was
still alive. His group, too, got the cleaned/fed/clothed
routine in preparation for a "peace delegation" visit.
They, however, had time and devised a plan to get word to the
world that they still survived. Each man secreted a tiny
piece of paper, with his SSN on it, in the palm of his hand.
When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the
line, shaking each man's hand and asking little encouraging
snippets like: "Aren't you sorry you bombed babies?" and "Are
you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent
captors?"
Believing this HAD to be an act, they each palmed her their
sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a beat.
At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling,
to the shocked disbelief of the POWs, she turned to the
officer in charge...and handed him the little pile.
Three men died from the subsequent beatings. COL CARRIGAN was
almost number four. For years after their release, a group of
determined former POWs Including COL Carrigan, tried to bring
Ms. Fonda and others up on charges of treason.
I don't know that they used it, but the charge of "Negligent
Homicide due to Depraved Indifference" would also seem
appropriate. Her obvious "granting of aid and comfort to the
enemy", alone, should've been sufficient for the treason
count. However, to date, Jane Fonda has never been formally
charged with anything and continues to enjoy the privileged
life of the rich and famous.
I, personally, think that this is shame on us, the American
Citizenry. Part of our shortfall is ignorance: most don't
know such actions ever took place. Thought you might
appreciate the knowledge. Most of you've probably already
seen this by now, only addition I might add to these
sentiments is to remember the satisfaction of relieving
myself into the urinal at some airbase or another where
"zaps" of Hanoi Jane's face had been applied.
To whom it may concern: I was a civilian economic development
advisor in Vietnam, and was captured by the North Vietnamese
Communists in South Vietnam in 1968, and held for over 5
years. I spent 27 months in solitary confinement, one year in
a cage in Cambodia, and one year in a "black box" in Hanoi.
My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and
murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a
leprosarium in Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in
the jungle near the Cambodian border. At one time, I was
weighing approximately 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs.)
We were Jane Fonda's "war criminals." When Jane Fonda was in
Hanoi, I was asked by the camp Communist political officer if
I would be willing to meet with Jane Fonda. I said yes, for I
would like to tell her about the real treatment we POWs were
receiving, which was far different from the treatment
purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by Jane
Fonda, as "humane and lenient." Because of this, I spent
three days on a rocky floor on my knees with outstretched
arms with a piece of steel placed on my hands, and beaten
with a bamboo cane every time my arms dipped.
I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda for a couple of
hours after I was released. I asked her if she would be
willing to debate me on TV. She did not answer me; her former
husband, Tom Hayden, answered for her. She was mind
controlled by her husband. This does not exemplify someone
who should be honored as "100 Years of Great Women."
After I was released, I was asked what I thought of Jane
Fonda and the anti-war movement. I said that I held Joan
Baez's husband in very high regard, for he thought the war
was wrong, burned his draft card and went to prison in
protest. If the other anti-war protesters took this same
route, it would have brought our judicial system to a halt
and ended the war much earlier, and there wouldn't be as many
on that somber black granite wall called the Vietnam
Memorial. This is a democracy. This is the American way.
Jane Fonda, on the other hand, chose to be a traitor, and
went to Hanoi, wore their uniform, propagandized for the
Communists, and urged American soldiers to desert. As we were
being tortured, and some of the POWs murdered, she called us
liars. After her heroes-the North Vietnamese Communists-took
over South Vietnam, they systematically murdered 80,000
South Vietnamese political prisoners. May their souls rest on
her head forever. Shame! Shame! (History is a heavy sword in
the hands of those who refuse to forget it. Think of this the
next time you see Ms. Fonda-Turner at a Braves game).
Please take the time to read and forward to as many people as
you possibly can. It will eventually end up on her computer
and she needs to know that "we will never forget." Lest we
forget..."100 years of great women" Jane Fonda should never
be considered."
E-mail from Jim BRIGHAM 2-7 CAV Search Team Leader-Vietnam
Subject: Time Magazine Person of the Century;
"I normally do not send out things like this, but as of right
now the American GI is in the lead. As well he should be!
Vote early and often. To date 10 million people have voted.
In this Century 600,000 GIs have died, millions more wounded.
All of us have had a dad, mom, sister, brother, friend,
relative or yourself that has served in the military. We are
voting for all of us.
Forward this to all your friends and relatives. Make a
difference and help to influence Time Magazine to name the
real person of the century. Time is of the essence as Dec. 20
is the deadline. Go to the following to cast your
ballot.
<HTTP: century.html poc time100 time www.pathfinder.com>
Type in "American GI" and then submit." This will be after
the fact when this is read in this Saber edition but it is
the thought that counts.
Thanks to the 1st CAV Division Association and our President
Roy C. BLUMENAUER for drafting and printing in the last Saber
the statement in response to the Associated Press and their
story of the Korean War incidents concerning 1st CAV
troopers. It is good to see some firmness in a position taken
against criticism of what had to be done in good conscience
so that our soliders could fight those who would deprive us
of that free press.
Also in the last Saber I noticed in the SILVER WINGS of the
CAV column a story about an impromptu medical evacuation
by means other than MEDEVAC and what seemed to be a reference
to probably myself, being the writer-and herald-of this 15th
MED\MEDEVAC column. If that reference was to me, I must say
that I do not speak for any veteran of these units.
I am very privileged to be able to return the favor
of the brave deeds that were rendered to my 1st CAV and U.S.
Army buddies, before, during, and after-my own time served in
MEDEVAC-by many who were the best of the best, i.e. 1st CAV
and U.S. Army Aviation pilots and crewmen. Most, if not all
of those pilots, I could not even speak to outside of the
line of duty because they were so good.
Many of those pilots, as well as crewchiefs, door gunners,
and medics came to MEDEVAC from other units, where they had
already more than proved themselves, because of a sense
altruism that I have mentioned before. I sure the heck did
not want ANY of those MEDEVAC pilots digging into my s___
telling me that I could not do my job which I always made a
point of doing, more because I personally was doing it for my
grunt buddies than for any other reason. But, those MEDEVAC
crewmembers that I have witten about and that I have yet to
write about were also doing it for the same reasons, trained
me to function in their capacity, and could only be as
fervant as I, not more so-yet many, many, have the wounds to
prove different.
Many of our pilots were MSC-Medical Service Corps-Officers
and many if not more were the best of the best Warrant
Officers. Many of them would tell us that as pilots they had
a choice of what type of unit they wanted to fly in, so to
choose medical evacuation, and MEDEVAC, shows their sense of
altruism. One of our pilots when I flew, LT George SCHNEIDER,
had an Armor U.S. Army Branch of Service which for a combat
arms officer is living proof of that commitment to his fellow
G.I.'s. (LT SCHNEIDER use to tell us that if we ever served
in Europe and wanted a good time to go to Amsterdam, which
indicated to me his love for life.) We also had many, many
crewmen with C.I.B.s; you guys know who you are, and why!
For anyone to bring or to imply any discredit to this unit,
I say that you should speak to all of the veterans of MEDEVAC
individually, not bring it up to me, as I was only a very,
very small part of it all. I am supplying the names and
addresses of those brave, and worthy MEDEVAC veterans, so
please, talk to them about your concerns if you have any.
Also, contact the men whose names I have had printed who
wrote to say "thanks" for saving their lives.
When a word like "gospel" is used to describe an inferred
discrediting story, I am even more suspicious. The dictionary
says that "gospel" comes from the Middle Anglish word
"godspell" derived from the Old Anglish "godspel"-which
sounds like superstition-but it meant "good news." Being an
American and not "respecting an establishment of religion" I
use the lower case for the words "gospel" and "god" in
"godspell." But, if it is "good news" that an honorable unit
like MEDEVAC was found or thought that they "could not" nor
"would not" do their job then I would think that there is
some kind of rivalry to discredit.
I know that it is always possible that any discrediting
incident can happen in any unit and I know that with a long
war like Vietnam it did happen to most units and probably
could have happened to MEDEVAC as well. My own infantry field
unit, 2-7 CAV, which has two Presidential Unit Citations from
the Vietnam War was accused of discrediting mistakes in the
Ia Drang Campaign. Perhaps some commanders could have
committed citable errors, but should the unit be discredited?
I have spoken to many Ia Drang Campaign veterans about their
time and someone said that they were "green," but who is not
during their first experience in combat.
I had spoken to LTG (ret.) Hal MOORE when his book: We Were
Soldiers Once...and Young, first came out and there was
mention of the use of the brave "slick" pilots to extract the
wounded as well as resupply. There was some mention that
MEDEVAC could not nor would not go into LZ XRAY and received
the evacuated wounded farther out. He told me his
perspective. Any commander in combat wants what he wants when
he wants it, and when he does not get it then he would be mad
about that. As far as the true facts go, again, one needs to
research through those involved and existing documents.
I had spoken to Bud DAVIS and Mel ALLEN at one of the 1st CAV
Reunions about those early Vietnam MEDEVAC days because they
were original MEDEVAC doorgunners and they told me, like the
other Ia Drang Campaign veterans, that those were developing
days. But, the rest of MEDEVAC's history finds few if any
less than desirable incidents. Again, talk to the many
individuals veterans if you have any doubts. I sat with John
CRESPI at the Vietnam Veterans' Luncheon at the last Reunion
and listened to his interesting stories as an E-6 MEDEVAC
medic about one particular "career" pilot who ironically
critically risked all "just" for the highest medal, and got
it.
I personally know that in combat if there were wounded, and
if there was a helicopter on station and could be spared,
then they would evacuate those wounded, in a FIRST TEAM
manner. Not, that MEDEVAC necessarily "could not."
My company, C 2-7 CAV, was involved in a helicopter combat
assault or "Charlie Alpha" on 18 June 69. From the Daily
Staff Journal of that day that I received from Peter COLE, D
2-7 CAV '69-'70, who got those from the Nation Archives, it
shows that "Charlie" Company was at map coordiantes XT415801.
That was very close to the Cambodian border.
My platoon was on the first lift and we landed in a long
field surrounded by tall trees. I noticed when I was leaving
the lift ships and heading to the woodline that there were
explosions walking down the field towards us. I thought that
maybe it was still the artillery prep going on but it turned
out to be incoming NVA 120mm mortars. I heard cracking rounds
in the trees by where my platoon had entered the woodline and
then I heard voices yelling the "M" word so that was my cue.
When I got over to where I was called to I found one of our
best 11Bravos who had become one of our RTOs, Joel SMITH,
doubled up on his knees with his PRC-25 on his back. I did a
quick inspection of him and found a moist, dark buldge in his
O.D. T-shirt which I lifted up. Apparently he had caught a
shard of one of the 120mm rounds that exploded in the trees
and it had cleanly cut across his abdomen because I found his
spleen had popped out.
I did what I had to wrap it in place with the largest size
field dressing and our Senior Medic, Doc DIAMOND, came over
to help me. Just then also, the 2-7 CAV Battalion Surgeon who
apparently was on the "Charlie-Charlie" bird got off and took
over from me, us. He approved a shot of morphine when I asked
him and became quite startled by the gun fire on the other
side of our perimeter. I remember one of our machine gunners
Tom VINCIGUERRA yelling, "The stupid NVA are shooting at the
Cobras!"
But, just as soon as the next lift came in we put Joel onto
my portable litter that I was humping and carried him to an
awaiting "slick" and sent him out with the Battalion Surgeon.
The Daily Journal confirms that at 12:15 "MEDEVAC reguested
at 1130H for 01 litter patient with frag wounds in chest
[sic]. Patient was Line #122. MEDEVAC #07 conducted the
medevac. Skids up 1155H, down 1212H. LZ-LZ JAMIE (Returned to
LZ JAMIE by C\A Bird), mission complete at 1215H. Ground
contact was JAMIE control. Patient was medevaced to Tay
Ninh." So, should I say that MEDEVAC "could not" get our
wounded out? At least, I supplied the evidence.
Joel told me years later when I received a letter from him
that he was addicted to morphine after years of operations in
the V.A. and that he "rarely had a good day." He also told me
that he had named his first son after me which was quite an
honor, but I lost contact with him after that. If you are
reading this Joel, we all would like to think that you are
feeling better.
Of course, as I mean to say here, many military veterans like
to maintain rivalries. Another personal experience of that
was when I went on R&R at the end of the eleventh month on my
first tour of duty. Thinking that I had to go, off to Sydney
I went. With a young nineteen year old's naive pride-albeit
a recent hardcore combat veteran-I wore my Khaki uniform with
my CAV patch on the pocket. When we got to customs in Sydney
I watched as all the other American Vietnam veterans in their
civilian clothes ran through the checkpoint while the
Austrailian customs agent held me up and thoroughly searched
everything that I had. While taking my transistor radio apart
this Aussie proeeded to chastise me about when: "The First
CAV pulled out on us [his unit] in Korea." Tell me, would
anyone in the FIRST TEAM think that could happen?
In addendum: After that R&R nonsense and with no real
thoughts of the rewards of female splendor nor anything else
when I went, only concerns for my buddies to keep their heads
down that I had left breaking bush in Nam-two of whom did not
keep their heads down good enough and caught "stray" rounds
in the head and their names are now on the "Wall," I did not
even bother with R&R when I was on a six month extention with
MEDEVAC. I was happy to be with and do all that I could with
and for my buddies and let others worry about rivalries. For
all of the above, this defense rests-until the next time.
Hamilton C. SMYTH <HCSMYTH@EARTHLINK.NET>Newhall, CA wrote
and says, "I served with the Hq & Hq Co, 15th Med Bn in 1954-
55-56, at the time I was a Sgt. E-5. I would like to contact
others that served with the Bn. during that period."
From Oklahoma, David NOE <CAV2@KIWASH.NET>writes and says,
"Just saying hi to some more brothers. I served with the
Jumping Mustangs of the First CAV D Co 2/8 Honor & Courage."
Bob KON <KON@MSU.EDU>whose Website: LZ Rally; A Directory
for 1/7 Cav Vietnam Veterans:
<HTTP: Page_1x.html web kon o k user www.msu.edu>
and from Michigan comments: "If any of you wonderful medics
served with B, 1/7th Cav, you have another home on the Web at
LZ Rally. Come over and sign in."
Bruce GRANZOW from Hobart, IN <TIRESMOKE@WEBTV.NET>also has
a Website: BRUISER'S WORLD
<HTTP: BRUISERSWORLD TIRESMOKE community-1.webtv.net />
and writes to say, "I have been checking out Web sites listed
in the Saber and dropped in [to SNORE's site] for a visit. I
like what you have done with your site. I served with the 1st
Cav. as a medic with Co. C 8th Engr. Bn. from Nov 66-Nov 67."
Fred MYERS <FREDM@MYMAIL.EMCYBER.COM>writes from
Tunkhannock, PA, "No words can express the feelings of seeing
some of where I was also. I was in the First Cav. 8th
Engineers. My name was Sargent Mick while I was there. I may
have seen you in passing from time to time but I know you.
Some of the pic's are of places I been and seen. I can't get
my mind to remember names and it feels so empty. I worked
with explosivies and opened and closed firebases. Booby traps
were my specialties. Now I can't remember things. Bless
and thank you for a walk back in time. If you find time one
day, maybe you can write a note to say hello. I am a
Skybeaver too. Worked with First Brg., Second Brg., and
Headquarters Third Brd. from 69-70."
I noticed in the previous Saber that Mike SMITH a.k.a. tater
(small "t") <MVANDCO@AOL.COM>as previously mentioned from
Idaho-where else with that screen name-finally just rejoined
his bros in the 1st CAV Association. Way to go Mike! He also
writes: "I just talked to a MEDEVAC door gunner by the name
of Jerry DICK. He was with MEDEVAC when he was shot in the
head July 24, 1968. He has been 100% disabled since then. He
was excited to hear from someone from MEDEVAC even though he
has never met me! If someone from 1968 remembers him I am
sure he would love to hear from you. 1-307-856-2829 tater."
Larry JACKSON <JACKSONS3@NETSCAPE.NET>from, Portland, OR
writes to say, "Please put me on the found list too. I served
from March 69 until Feb 70, as a Door-gunner. I was SGT
Lawrence BRAINARD then, but changed my name to honor my
adoptive parents to Jackson. I was nick named "Smokey the
Bear" from dropping a smoke grenade into the doorway of the
MP Station on a fly over at Quon Loi. I had come over from
the 545 MP Company and had been stationed there for a short
time. I happened on SNORE's site on a link from the Fort Hood
U.S. Army Web page and some help from Dan BRADY. Someone at
the college where I worked had commented the choppers I flew
on were like MASH. I was looking for an H-Model to show them.
I still have my "SO OTHERS MAY LIVE" patch, but mine says
Door Gunner on it. It was nice to see the names of people I
flew with and I am happy to know that they survived to
come home. I don't have many memories of that time, but only
recall flying 36 hours straight on August 11, 1969. I was in
Tay Ninh at the time and all hell broke loose all over
country. I do remember Gene WHEELER's chili pepper\C-Ration
stew and Ray ZEPP collection he used to hang on the back of
his seat everytime he stayed over in Saigon. You have a nice
Web page and wonderful to see the old pictures. Do you have
records of the class of 1969. Also, did crazy "3 tour" SSG
HALL survive? My Best Wishes for all Larry JACKSON."
Larry BIRD <DCSTRNG@EXCITE.COM>writes, "Happy Holidays all!!
Just popped back for my weekly visit -- Hope Santa is good to
all Troopers everywhere. Larry -- Medic 70-71."
Ron FINDLAY <KAWA@PORTUP.COM>from Marenisco, MI writes,
"I was with Alpha Co 15th Med from 66-67. I have been in
contact with David LANE and others. Spec.5 FINDLAY."
Ft. Hood's local PBS's The Army News Watch had a story about
SP/4 Ryan CLARK who was awarded the Civilian Medal of Valor
by the National Association of Police Organizations when they
made him a "Top Cop" for "going above and beyond the call of
duty" in Los Angeles and rescuing a downed fellow police officer
when he also was one in 1997. SP/4 CLARK said,"I found out that
a lot of people on the civilian side of things do not
understand what values are. They claim to be public servants
maybe being police officers but they have no conception of
what actual public service is. Whereas, in the Military, and
especially the Army, I think there is no greater public
service then that, then as a solider."
When asked about if he felt odd and out of place being the
only person there, and even at the White House for the same
ceremony, in Army "Dress Blues," he said that everyone else
there should feel out of place because they are not wearing
the Army uniform. I will leave it to the reader to deduce
what this story says about civilian civil service in
comparison. I noticed that SP/4 CLARK, a former Infantryman,
now wears the Medic's caduceus which indicated his present
M.O.S.
As I mentioned in the last Saber the use of the Julian
calendar, which was suggested for use to Julius Caesar as an
improvement for the then Roman calendar by the astronomer
Sosigenes 2045 years ago, and that was slightly improved upon
by the Gregorian calendar some 1,627 years later developed by
the astronomer Christopher Clavius, and which calendar we use
today, i.e. the New Style calendar, this is a slight
improvement on that information. I mention this so that you,
my fellow veterans, are more informed than those who do not
serve, as I know you do not necessarily have the time to
research these things, especially when you may not even know
about them.
Contrary to what I had implied, the Julian calendar also used
a leap year but was found still to be slightly longer than
the tropical solar year with the result that the solstices
and equinoxes drifted from their calendar dates. This created
discrepancies in the Catholic Church's holy days such as
their Easter so eleven days were added to restore the actual
vernal equinox to March 21 and to reposition ecclesiastical
holidays.
Even with that slight improvement the Gregorian mean year is
eleven minutes and fourteen seconds longer that the mean
solar year. To equal the tropical year it retains the Julian
calendar leap year but deletes the leap year at the end of
the century, unless the year is exactly divisible by 400.
A U.S. Army style synopsis would be: a tropical or mean solar
year is 365.2422 days; the Julian or Old Style calendar is
365 days and six hours; and the Gregorian or New Style
calendar is 365.2425 days. Thus the need for leap years to
equalize the tropical solar mean year.
Always remembering our 1st Cav troops on duty around the
world; over and out.
FIRST TEAM!
Garryowen,
Mike Bodnar C 2\7 Cav 1969
MEDEVAC 1-7\1970
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE
