| 2000 May-Jun |
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
Initially I need to correct an omission from the last Saber
of one of my contacts. If you thought that you were losing
your marbles you were not. We just had lost a paragraph
somewhere between a Pentium III 450, and the printer. It
should have read to include the follow up which is always
worth rereading:
Robert Thomas CAMPBELL <RRCOLL2@ADAMS.NET>from Golden, IL
wrote, "This is the first time into our Web site and need
some time to look around. I did make the first 2 reunions and
it was great seeing everyone and meeting their wives. Hope to
make San Antonio but not sure at this time......Robert."
It was good to hear from Tom as I knew him as he was a famous
MEDEVAC Medic when I was there-re: THE FIRST TEAM magazine
Volume 2 Number 3 from the Fall of 1969 and the article on
pages 17 to 24 entitled: "MEDEVAC: They will be remembered."
They highlight, "There's something about saving a life-and
the way MEDEVAC does it, defying the odds-that makes it
appealing." And, "It's like a brotherhood." They quote:
"...Nor shall I deny any man's call, whether for hazard of
health or inconvenience or danger, but go to him."-
Hippocrates 425 B.C. And finalize: "They will be remembered
as long as men fly and the hurt cry out for help." Tom flew
buku.
MEDEVAC door gunner Dave PARKS '69-'70 writes: "Due to a mail
server change, we now have a new address and any mail that
you have sent late Jan 31 thru Feb 03 was not received. If
you really want us to have it please resend it to the new
address: <WILDPARK@W-IDAHO.NET>Thank you, Dave & Connie
PARKS." Knowing Dave, if you try to contact him where he is
not then you will not find him.
"Hey Mike!!!!!," writes MEDEVAC gunner Mike SMITH, "I have
been enjoying your articles in the SABER. They have been very
good and bring back a lot of memories!! ...Also if I am
remembering right I am pretty sure we voted for Vietnam era
vets of the 15th MED. That is the only ones we have been
searching for. Don't get me wrong but any 15th MEDer is
welcome to join in just don't have time to extend the search
back another 10-15 years. Mike "tater" SMITH Door Gunner '69-
'70 MEDEVAC 1st Cav 20181 Top Rd.
Greenleaf, ID 83626 PHONE: 1-208-459-9592 <MVANDCO@AOL.COM>
<HTTP: Medevac-
Nam.html>."
Mike also adds that he just talked to Leroy CAUBARREAUX,
MEDEVAC 3, one of our pilots in 1970 phone: (318)253-8754. He
thinks he may be able to make the reunion. For any of you who
flew with him, he would love to hear from you. I think that I
did, but not so often that I knew him so well as some of the
other pilots. Notwithstanding, it is good to have MEDEVAC 3
back in contact with us all.
Bruce D. PLUMB <PLUMBCRAZY2@GATECOM.COM>from Michigan
signed into the 1st Cav Assn. Web site Guestbook on 04-23 -
2000 and said that he was in-country with MEDEVAC '68-'69 as
a crewchief. He goes on to say, "I also served with the 9th
Cav at Fort Hood '71 to '74." I passed Bruce's name along to
Mike SMITH who said that he e-mailed notice of the reunion to
him and notified Denny CHERRY who is maintaining the
MEDEVAC\15th MED data base. Also notifying Bruce of SNORE's
Web site, he signed in with his crewmates there as well.
Just before going to press with this, Mike SMITH put out
notice of a book called: MEDEVAC by Hugh M.MCCLURE. Although
fiction it probably could be Hugh's autobiography. From what
I see, the book is least expensive if you order it directly
from the publisher, AmErica House, for $12.71 + S&H:
<HTTP: mcclure fiction browsebuy www.ericahouse.com />
or call 1-877-33ERICA toll free. The publisher lists Hugh
MCCLURE as being an Air Traffic Control Specialist in
Leesburg, VA and having multiple awards of: the Distinguished
Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army
Commendation Medal and numerous campaign medals and foreign
decorations. Thanks again Mike for your dedicated research.
Jim BRIGHAM <JBRIGH6566@JUNO.COM>HHC 2\7 CAV-Search Team
Leader-Vietnam '65-'66 e-mailed to say "many thanks" for the
plug for <HTTP: 7thcav presents www.naples.net>. Jim says
that he cannot take the credit in any way for the naples.net
site, this is all the work of a very dedicated trooper named
Jim SAVAGE, D Troop 3\7 Cav '67-'69; he is the Webmaster
responsible for all that is up and running. Jim, BRIGHAM that
is, does say, "I guess I can take some credit in finally
putting the site where it will bring attention to the fact
that it is long overdue in being part of the 7th Cav Assn."
Speaking of the 7th Cav which was the subject of much of
MEDEVAC's and 15th MED's time in Vietnam I just finished '65-
'66 XO of A 2\7 Cav Larry GWIN's book: Baptism which I got
the Copperas Cove Public Library to buy for other readers
there to know that it exists. It is an informative book with
a different perspective, and I have read most of the books
written about the Vietnam War, not to mention all wars.
After reading Larry's book you are left with the impression
that war ain't heck, that there are better things to do in
life. War is a necessary evil to fight evil, and anyone who
likes it has to be a madman.
On the cover Lt. Gen. (USA ret.) Harold G. MOORE adds a liner
note that Larry's book is: "Forcefully written, engrossing
narrative, and heartfelt description of some of the bloodiest
battles of the war." I wondered what would constitute
"forcefully written" and after reading Baptism I almost think
that "forcefully" is a phonetic euphemism for the "f" word
which Larry uses like a trooper, or at least as much as I use
when I talk to myself. I do not think that Hal MOORE used the
"f" word one time in his book: We Were Soldiers Once...and
Young, yet I thought that it too was forcefully written.
I just read an article in the on-line New York Times called:
"A Case Study in Disaster for Tomorrow's Generals," that
mentions that Lt. Gen. (ret.) MOORE was just at his alma
mater speaking to a packed auditorium and signing his popular
book for long lines in the book store. I can e-mail a copy of
that article to anyone who requests it from me.
I should mention that it has been noted that someone whom I
and many others knew, lied his way into the pages of "We Were
Soldiers Once...and Young" who was never at LZ XRAY nor even
in the 7th Cav but was written up in that book as having been
wounded fighting next to the brave men who were. I think that
means that one should rethink-as well as I should rethink-the
accuracy of the stories in that book. Like S.L.A. MARSHALL's
books which I have discovered from talking to veterans that
he wrote about, accuracy may be sacrificed by interviewing
participants of combat actions and the author not knowing the
real truth one way or the other. Knowing Lt. General (USA
ret.) MOORE as well as I do, I know that his general
intentions and sincerity are solid.
I thought that I would scan through Hal MOORE's book to see
if he did in fact use the "f" word somewhere, even at least
to quote someone who was in the heat of combat. I know that
he is a refined and disciplined graduate of West Point ('45)
and that they do not use the "f" word, except when they have
to. I was not about to reread the book even though I would
like to but I have too many new books to read for, their shot
at glory. I read "We Were Soldiers..." in 1993 after it first
came out and although I read it thoroughly then, there are
always details that I forget and need to compare after
reading other books and accounts.
So, I started to flip through the pages, of which I have a
personalized autographed copy-an advantage of being in the
1st Cav Assn., and low and behold I found someone using the
"f" word. The following is full of irony, an important figure
of speech. It is also a coincidence that the person whom I
first found using the "f" word in "We Were Soldiers...," just
flipping the pages, was someone whom Larry GWIN mentions in
his book.
It is ironic that the person, Cyril R. "Rick" RESCORLA, who
is always noted as the bravest of the brave, and the most
aggressive, was on a CA bird going into LZ ALBANY with B 2\7
Cav to reinforce the rest of 2\7 Cav when the descending
helicopters not quite near the ground started taking fire.
The book says that Rick withdrew somewhat and saw that one
pilot was hit and had sprung a leak which may have caused the
ship to drop slightly in altitude but Rick hesitated on his
exit whereupon the pilot yelled at the door gunner and he in
turn yelled, "Get the "f" out!" Rick then went airborne with
Class-4s but after regaining his integrity he proceeded to
kill some N.V.A. in the immediate woodline.
For even more coincidence and irony, just a page over from
this last account I found something that I had been looking
for which I did not find when I wrote about it previously,
but then I had only used the index to find the subject
matter. It was mentioned that during the fight at LZ ALBANY
that the 2\7 Bn Surgeon Captain William "Doc" SHUCART was
dismayed with MEDEVAC whom he said would not come in because
the ground units were taking fire and that is precisely when
they should come in, which he then had to rely on a couple of
Huey slick ships for his needs. Doc SHUCART is quoted as
saying, "I don't know where those [MEDEVAC] guys got their
reputations. The Huey slick crews were terrific."
I do not know what actually happened there, and if it did
happen as Doc SHUCART says I would also be greatly
disappointed. I DO know where MEDEVAC got their reputations
from because I saw it happen and I could say that I was a
part of it. There were pilots at my time in MEDEVAC alone who
had numerous helicopters shot out from under them and that
was not some kind of Ninetendo game, not everyone survived to
fly again with those pilots.
At the very early days in the Vietnam War S.O.P or personal
courage might not have been what it developed into, MEDEVAC
taking on many of those volunteer slick pilots who wanted to
put their daring do to better full time use. The exploits of
a unit often evolved and were inherited by its successors. If
you the readers would like to see a list of MEDEVAC K.I.A.s
for the 1st Cav in Vietnam you can find them at:
<HTTP: SNORE www.vabch.com Web7.htm mssb>
Scroll down past the "Members Found" to see all who gave
their lives, SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.
If Doctor SHUCART was quoted as having said what he did at
the time of LZ ALBANY in Nov '65 then MEDEVAC may not have
had any reputation to speak of; that only stands to reason.
If he was only just recently quoted when that book was
written then, as I have mentioned to others, human life was
important enough to me to make a major complaint at the time
of combat to prevent further callous disregard for the
wounded and dying.
If I would have been high ranking and something like that
happened I would have made sure that the highest brass
brought smoke and that heels would have been locked, and that
commands would have been relieved if necessary; not, years
later, just make some derogatory statement, if that is all
that ever happened. Someone who did only that would have been
a part of the problem. FIRST TEAM!
When U.S. Senator J. Robert KERREY recently announced his
plan to retire from political life he was interviewed and
asked about his courage when he earned the C.M.O.H. Senator
KERREY said that night that he earned that medal he just
happened to be brave, and that there were plenty of times
when he was not so brave.
I just read a comment that those helicopters that we flew on
in Nam had about as much ability to stop a bullet as a beer
can. That also brings to mind one time when I was flying on
MEDEVAC out of Song Be in III Corps in 1970. I and some of
the other crew, the pilots, were in the 15th MED emergency
room to check on one of the wounded that we had just brought
in which we did not always have time to do and rarely did.
For some reason, we did. One doctor in there came up to us
and said something like, "What you guys do is nothing, let me
go out with you sometime and I will prove it to you."
So, on one of our next missions we took the doctor with us
and it just happened to be a hoist mission, which most of
them were out there. I was suited up in my flight armor and
tethered in and I was letting down the hoist cable to bring
up the wounded grunt. While doing that I just happened to
look over to see this brave doctor, who thought that it was
nothing to be doing what we did, low crawling on the floor of
the helicopter to take a peek over the side to see what was
happening. He looked like he was about as low as he could
possibly get, what with his buttons in the way, on the floor
of that beer can. I do not recall ever hearing from that
doctor again, shooting his mouth off, after that.
Larry's GWIN's book reminded me a lot of when I was in 2\7
Cav especially at the very end of Baptism when he described
the aftermath of a firefight just before he left Vietnam
after his year's tour of duty. His vivid description of the
desperation of trying to keep the wounded alive after violent
contact with the enemy also reminded me of just how important
the damn Medic is in that situation. What a flashback! As
well, his description also confirmed my realization of how
reassuring it was to know that MEDEVAC was inbound so that
when you told the wounded guys that they were "going to make
it" then you were not lying.
Thanks Larry for your reminisces; FIRST TEAM! GARRYOWEN!
And, thanks MEDEVAC, you, the pilots and crewmembers, SO THAT
OTHERS MAY LIVE!
Nick DOHERTY <D1611@HOTMAIL.COM>wrote in to say that he was
in-country '67-'68 as a cook. I assume somewhere in 15th MED.
Ashby ALLEN <ALLEN@LCSHERIFF.COM>comments: "My friend Jim
TILLEMA was a 91-C with 15th MED, Bien Hoa. We went to 91-C
school together at Ft. BRAGG '69-'70 and on to RVN '70-'71.
He got 15th MED, I got 1st Bn 12th Cav 1st Cav. I saw him a
number of times during our time but never new if he made it
all the way. Does anyone remember him? I was also wondering
about if anyone knew about an incident that happened in Phouc
Vinh in Fall of '70 when a blade from a taxiing slick hit
another parked slick at 15th MED's pad and a guy was killed
who was working on top of the parked bird. I ran over there
but there was nothing anyone could do. I think about that guy
and wish I knew his name. Thanks and Best to all 'Doc'
Allen."
Another ALLEN whom I heard from was John ALLEN whom I got a
call from on April 20th, at going on 7 PM. John lives at 8706
3rd Ave in Brooklyn, NY 11209 phone: (718)238-2890. John was
in 15th MED '65-'66 and says that he had something to do with
the 7th Cav. You will have to ask him about that. He says
that he became a R.N. and worked in the V.A. John says that
he is trying to get out of the city and back up to the
country where living is easy.
I mentioned to John knowing some 1st Cav people from N.Y.C.
and one in particular who was a real New Yorker whom he could
not have missed but who just died a few years ago. I
mentioned that this associate had risen to the top of the
ranks in the 1st Cav Assn. but was discovered to be not what
he had said in the 1st Cav. John said that he did not know
him. John did mention a "heavy set guy" who said that he had
promised to get John a XRAY\ALBANY 1st Cav patch. I said that
sounds like him! I also said that with that type of person
you have to remember, "caveat emptor."
John said that he was looking for information about the
DUSTOFF Association whom he had given money to but has never
heard from since. If anyone has any information let John
know, would you? I just said, "more caveat emptor." I am just
starting to read the book: Stolen Valor, which well
illustrates the kind of fraud that is perpetrated around the
veteran community.
In closing, if that is possible, I wanted to comment on a
letter that was sent to the Saber, because I thought that it
was important to remember our own who served with us. My last
Saber column was too long and I wanted to avoid the
controversy which ended up being so by other letters to the
Saber in response. Something else happened the other day
which prompted me to respond.
The original letter was from William M. HELTON, TDOC # 79751,
BMCX, P.O. Box 2000, Wartburg, TN 37887 who wanted to not be
forgotten, while he is incarcerated, by those whom he had
served with honorably. Then, the last Saber had wait-a-minute
letters from writers who cited emotional responses to a
convicted criminal and flaws in statistics.
Having been burned by the criminal justice system myself
while, in my case, defending myself from a criminal as well
as not doing something that I was accused of, and knowing
that others in the 1st Cav Assn. had also been unjustly
treated, whom I spoke to about that, plus having learned the
hard way that people in law enforcement do make mistakes, if
they are not just more concerned with personal gain, I
originally wanted to say, do not forget. If you know of an
incarcerated fellow trooper then drop them a letter of
encouragement; that it could just as easily be YOU in some
jail, justly or unjustly.
I am no bleeding heart and nobody could hate crime more that
I do having been victimized as much as I have been having
lived in Los Angeles. You can see what goes on there by
recent coverage in the news. Everybody can be wrongly
convicted even the good police. I do not think that it is a
black and white issue but a gray scale human situation. The
point of the law can be a thin line. I just wanted to say do
not just let our fellow once honorable servicemen rot in jail
and be forgotten as well as all Americans who may be unjustly
accused; never give up in finding the truth.
As another example of that I was going to mention an incident
that breaking news has prompted me to not avoid commenting
on all of this. Although I did not know him in Vietnam, the
9th Cav Saber columnists have written about to remember as
one of their own: a.k.a. Elmer "Geronimo" PRATT, who now uses
the name of Geronimo ji JAGA and who had spent twenty-five
years rotting in prison for something that he did not do.
But, because of new evidence found by those who would not
forget and not give up, and also because of conscientious
former jurors speaking out, a new trial was won and he was
released from prison.
The Los Angeles D.A. finally agreed to drop the case and it
was just announced that Geronimo ji JAGA was awarded a 4.5
million dollar lawsuit which he is planning to use in his
hometown in Louisiana for a youth center. If anyone would
like a copy of the article I can e-mail them one like the
other mentioned above, on request to me.
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
Initially I need to correct an omission from the last Saber
of one of my contacts. If you thought that you were losing
your marbles you were not. We just had lost a paragraph
somewhere between a Pentium III 450, and the printer. It
should have read to include the follow up which is always
worth rereading:
Robert Thomas CAMPBELL <RRCOLL2@ADAMS.NET>from Golden, IL
wrote, "This is the first time into our Web site and need
some time to look around. I did make the first 2 reunions and
it was great seeing everyone and meeting their wives. Hope to
make San Antonio but not sure at this time......Robert."
It was good to hear from Tom as I knew him as he was a famous
MEDEVAC Medic when I was there-re: THE FIRST TEAM magazine
Volume 2 Number 3 from the Fall of 1969 and the article on
pages 17 to 24 entitled: "MEDEVAC: They will be remembered."
They highlight, "There's something about saving a life-and
the way MEDEVAC does it, defying the odds-that makes it
appealing." And, "It's like a brotherhood." They quote:
"...Nor shall I deny any man's call, whether for hazard of
health or inconvenience or danger, but go to him."-
Hippocrates 425 B.C. And finalize: "They will be remembered
as long as men fly and the hurt cry out for help." Tom flew
buku.
MEDEVAC door gunner Dave PARKS '69-'70 writes: "Due to a mail
server change, we now have a new address and any mail that
you have sent late Jan 31 thru Feb 03 was not received. If
you really want us to have it please resend it to the new
address: <WILDPARK@W-IDAHO.NET>Thank you, Dave & Connie
PARKS." Knowing Dave, if you try to contact him where he is
not then you will not find him.
"Hey Mike!!!!!," writes MEDEVAC gunner Mike SMITH, "I have
been enjoying your articles in the SABER. They have been very
good and bring back a lot of memories!! ...Also if I am
remembering right I am pretty sure we voted for Vietnam era
vets of the 15th MED. That is the only ones we have been
searching for. Don't get me wrong but any 15th MEDer is
welcome to join in just don't have time to extend the search
back another 10-15 years. Mike "tater" SMITH Door Gunner '69-
'70 MEDEVAC 1st Cav 20181 Top Rd.
Greenleaf, ID 83626 PHONE: 1-208-459-9592 <MVANDCO@AOL.COM>
<HTTP: Medevac-
Nam.html>."
Mike also adds that he just talked to Leroy CAUBARREAUX,
MEDEVAC 3, one of our pilots in 1970 phone: (318)253-8754. He
thinks he may be able to make the reunion. For any of you who
flew with him, he would love to hear from you. I think that I
did, but not so often that I knew him so well as some of the
other pilots. Notwithstanding, it is good to have MEDEVAC 3
back in contact with us all.
Bruce D. PLUMB <PLUMBCRAZY2@GATECOM.COM>from Michigan
signed into the 1st Cav Assn. Web site Guestbook on 04-23 -
2000 and said that he was in-country with MEDEVAC '68-'69 as
a crewchief. He goes on to say, "I also served with the 9th
Cav at Fort Hood '71 to '74." I passed Bruce's name along to
Mike SMITH who said that he e-mailed notice of the reunion to
him and notified Denny CHERRY who is maintaining the
MEDEVAC\15th MED data base. Also notifying Bruce of SNORE's
Web site, he signed in with his crewmates there as well.
Just before going to press with this, Mike SMITH put out
notice of a book called: MEDEVAC by Hugh M.MCCLURE. Although
fiction it probably could be Hugh's autobiography. From what
I see, the book is least expensive if you order it directly
from the publisher, AmErica House, for $12.71 + S&H:
<HTTP: mcclure fiction browsebuy www.ericahouse.com />
or call 1-877-33ERICA toll free. The publisher lists Hugh
MCCLURE as being an Air Traffic Control Specialist in
Leesburg, VA and having multiple awards of: the Distinguished
Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army
Commendation Medal and numerous campaign medals and foreign
decorations. Thanks again Mike for your dedicated research.
Jim BRIGHAM <JBRIGH6566@JUNO.COM>HHC 2\7 CAV-Search Team
Leader-Vietnam '65-'66 e-mailed to say "many thanks" for the
plug for <HTTP: 7thcav presents www.naples.net>. Jim says
that he cannot take the credit in any way for the naples.net
site, this is all the work of a very dedicated trooper named
Jim SAVAGE, D Troop 3\7 Cav '67-'69; he is the Webmaster
responsible for all that is up and running. Jim, BRIGHAM that
is, does say, "I guess I can take some credit in finally
putting the site where it will bring attention to the fact
that it is long overdue in being part of the 7th Cav Assn."
Speaking of the 7th Cav which was the subject of much of
MEDEVAC's and 15th MED's time in Vietnam I just finished '65-
'66 XO of A 2\7 Cav Larry GWIN's book: Baptism which I got
the Copperas Cove Public Library to buy for other readers
there to know that it exists. It is an informative book with
a different perspective, and I have read most of the books
written about the Vietnam War, not to mention all wars.
After reading Larry's book you are left with the impression
that war ain't heck, that there are better things to do in
life. War is a necessary evil to fight evil, and anyone who
likes it has to be a madman.
On the cover Lt. Gen. (USA ret.) Harold G. MOORE adds a liner
note that Larry's book is: "Forcefully written, engrossing
narrative, and heartfelt description of some of the bloodiest
battles of the war." I wondered what would constitute
"forcefully written" and after reading Baptism I almost think
that "forcefully" is a phonetic euphemism for the "f" word
which Larry uses like a trooper, or at least as much as I use
when I talk to myself. I do not think that Hal MOORE used the
"f" word one time in his book: We Were Soldiers Once...and
Young, yet I thought that it too was forcefully written.
I just read an article in the on-line New York Times called:
"A Case Study in Disaster for Tomorrow's Generals," that
mentions that Lt. Gen. (ret.) MOORE was just at his alma
mater speaking to a packed auditorium and signing his popular
book for long lines in the book store. I can e-mail a copy of
that article to anyone who requests it from me.
I should mention that it has been noted that someone whom I
and many others knew, lied his way into the pages of "We Were
Soldiers Once...and Young" who was never at LZ XRAY nor even
in the 7th Cav but was written up in that book as having been
wounded fighting next to the brave men who were. I think that
means that one should rethink-as well as I should rethink-the
accuracy of the stories in that book. Like S.L.A. MARSHALL's
books which I have discovered from talking to veterans that
he wrote about, accuracy may be sacrificed by interviewing
participants of combat actions and the author not knowing the
real truth one way or the other. Knowing Lt. General (USA
ret.) MOORE as well as I do, I know that his general
intentions and sincerity are solid.
I thought that I would scan through Hal MOORE's book to see
if he did in fact use the "f" word somewhere, even at least
to quote someone who was in the heat of combat. I know that
he is a refined and disciplined graduate of West Point ('45)
and that they do not use the "f" word, except when they have
to. I was not about to reread the book even though I would
like to but I have too many new books to read for, their shot
at glory. I read "We Were Soldiers..." in 1993 after it first
came out and although I read it thoroughly then, there are
always details that I forget and need to compare after
reading other books and accounts.
So, I started to flip through the pages, of which I have a
personalized autographed copy-an advantage of being in the
1st Cav Assn., and low and behold I found someone using the
"f" word. The following is full of irony, an important figure
of speech. It is also a coincidence that the person whom I
first found using the "f" word in "We Were Soldiers...," just
flipping the pages, was someone whom Larry GWIN mentions in
his book.
It is ironic that the person, Cyril R. "Rick" RESCORLA, who
is always noted as the bravest of the brave, and the most
aggressive, was on a CA bird going into LZ ALBANY with B 2\7
Cav to reinforce the rest of 2\7 Cav when the descending
helicopters not quite near the ground started taking fire.
The book says that Rick withdrew somewhat and saw that one
pilot was hit and had sprung a leak which may have caused the
ship to drop slightly in altitude but Rick hesitated on his
exit whereupon the pilot yelled at the door gunner and he in
turn yelled, "Get the "f" out!" Rick then went airborne with
Class-4s but after regaining his integrity he proceeded to
kill some N.V.A. in the immediate woodline.
For even more coincidence and irony, just a page over from
this last account I found something that I had been looking
for which I did not find when I wrote about it previously,
but then I had only used the index to find the subject
matter. It was mentioned that during the fight at LZ ALBANY
that the 2\7 Bn Surgeon Captain William "Doc" SHUCART was
dismayed with MEDEVAC whom he said would not come in because
the ground units were taking fire and that is precisely when
they should come in, which he then had to rely on a couple of
Huey slick ships for his needs. Doc SHUCART is quoted as
saying, "I don't know where those [MEDEVAC] guys got their
reputations. The Huey slick crews were terrific."
I do not know what actually happened there, and if it did
happen as Doc SHUCART says I would also be greatly
disappointed. I DO know where MEDEVAC got their reputations
from because I saw it happen and I could say that I was a
part of it. There were pilots at my time in MEDEVAC alone who
had numerous helicopters shot out from under them and that
was not some kind of Ninetendo game, not everyone survived to
fly again with those pilots.
At the very early days in the Vietnam War S.O.P or personal
courage might not have been what it developed into, MEDEVAC
taking on many of those volunteer slick pilots who wanted to
put their daring do to better full time use. The exploits of
a unit often evolved and were inherited by its successors. If
you the readers would like to see a list of MEDEVAC K.I.A.s
for the 1st Cav in Vietnam you can find them at:
<HTTP: SNORE www.vabch.com Web7.htm mssb>
Scroll down past the "Members Found" to see all who gave
their lives, SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.
If Doctor SHUCART was quoted as having said what he did at
the time of LZ ALBANY in Nov '65 then MEDEVAC may not have
had any reputation to speak of; that only stands to reason.
If he was only just recently quoted when that book was
written then, as I have mentioned to others, human life was
important enough to me to make a major complaint at the time
of combat to prevent further callous disregard for the
wounded and dying.
If I would have been high ranking and something like that
happened I would have made sure that the highest brass
brought smoke and that heels would have been locked, and that
commands would have been relieved if necessary; not, years
later, just make some derogatory statement, if that is all
that ever happened. Someone who did only that would have been
a part of the problem. FIRST TEAM!
When U.S. Senator J. Robert KERREY recently announced his
plan to retire from political life he was interviewed and
asked about his courage when he earned the C.M.O.H. Senator
KERREY said that night that he earned that medal he just
happened to be brave, and that there were plenty of times
when he was not so brave.
I just read a comment that those helicopters that we flew on
in Nam had about as much ability to stop a bullet as a beer
can. That also brings to mind one time when I was flying on
MEDEVAC out of Song Be in III Corps in 1970. I and some of
the other crew, the pilots, were in the 15th MED emergency
room to check on one of the wounded that we had just brought
in which we did not always have time to do and rarely did.
For some reason, we did. One doctor in there came up to us
and said something like, "What you guys do is nothing, let me
go out with you sometime and I will prove it to you."
So, on one of our next missions we took the doctor with us
and it just happened to be a hoist mission, which most of
them were out there. I was suited up in my flight armor and
tethered in and I was letting down the hoist cable to bring
up the wounded grunt. While doing that I just happened to
look over to see this brave doctor, who thought that it was
nothing to be doing what we did, low crawling on the floor of
the helicopter to take a peek over the side to see what was
happening. He looked like he was about as low as he could
possibly get, what with his buttons in the way, on the floor
of that beer can. I do not recall ever hearing from that
doctor again, shooting his mouth off, after that.
Larry's GWIN's book reminded me a lot of when I was in 2\7
Cav especially at the very end of Baptism when he described
the aftermath of a firefight just before he left Vietnam
after his year's tour of duty. His vivid description of the
desperation of trying to keep the wounded alive after violent
contact with the enemy also reminded me of just how important
the damn Medic is in that situation. What a flashback! As
well, his description also confirmed my realization of how
reassuring it was to know that MEDEVAC was inbound so that
when you told the wounded guys that they were "going to make
it" then you were not lying.
Thanks Larry for your reminisces; FIRST TEAM! GARRYOWEN!
And, thanks MEDEVAC, you, the pilots and crewmembers, SO THAT
OTHERS MAY LIVE!
Nick DOHERTY <D1611@HOTMAIL.COM>wrote in to say that he was
in-country '67-'68 as a cook. I assume somewhere in 15th MED.
Ashby ALLEN <ALLEN@LCSHERIFF.COM>comments: "My friend Jim
TILLEMA was a 91-C with 15th MED, Bien Hoa. We went to 91-C
school together at Ft. BRAGG '69-'70 and on to RVN '70-'71.
He got 15th MED, I got 1st Bn 12th Cav 1st Cav. I saw him a
number of times during our time but never new if he made it
all the way. Does anyone remember him? I was also wondering
about if anyone knew about an incident that happened in Phouc
Vinh in Fall of '70 when a blade from a taxiing slick hit
another parked slick at 15th MED's pad and a guy was killed
who was working on top of the parked bird. I ran over there
but there was nothing anyone could do. I think about that guy
and wish I knew his name. Thanks and Best to all 'Doc'
Allen."
Another ALLEN whom I heard from was John ALLEN whom I got a
call from on April 20th, at going on 7 PM. John lives at 8706
3rd Ave in Brooklyn, NY 11209 phone: (718)238-2890. John was
in 15th MED '65-'66 and says that he had something to do with
the 7th Cav. You will have to ask him about that. He says
that he became a R.N. and worked in the V.A. John says that
he is trying to get out of the city and back up to the
country where living is easy.
I mentioned to John knowing some 1st Cav people from N.Y.C.
and one in particular who was a real New Yorker whom he could
not have missed but who just died a few years ago. I
mentioned that this associate had risen to the top of the
ranks in the 1st Cav Assn. but was discovered to be not what
he had said in the 1st Cav. John said that he did not know
him. John did mention a "heavy set guy" who said that he had
promised to get John a XRAY\ALBANY 1st Cav patch. I said that
sounds like him! I also said that with that type of person
you have to remember, "caveat emptor."
John said that he was looking for information about the
DUSTOFF Association whom he had given money to but has never
heard from since. If anyone has any information let John
know, would you? I just said, "more caveat emptor." I am just
starting to read the book: Stolen Valor, which well
illustrates the kind of fraud that is perpetrated around the
veteran community.
In closing, if that is possible, I wanted to comment on a
letter that was sent to the Saber, because I thought that it
was important to remember our own who served with us. My last
Saber column was too long and I wanted to avoid the
controversy which ended up being so by other letters to the
Saber in response. Something else happened the other day
which prompted me to respond.
The original letter was from William M. HELTON, TDOC # 79751,
BMCX, P.O. Box 2000, Wartburg, TN 37887 who wanted to not be
forgotten, while he is incarcerated, by those whom he had
served with honorably. Then, the last Saber had wait-a-minute
letters from writers who cited emotional responses to a
convicted criminal and flaws in statistics.
Having been burned by the criminal justice system myself
while, in my case, defending myself from a criminal as well
as not doing something that I was accused of, and knowing
that others in the 1st Cav Assn. had also been unjustly
treated, whom I spoke to about that, plus having learned the
hard way that people in law enforcement do make mistakes, if
they are not just more concerned with personal gain, I
originally wanted to say, do not forget. If you know of an
incarcerated fellow trooper then drop them a letter of
encouragement; that it could just as easily be YOU in some
jail, justly or unjustly.
I am no bleeding heart and nobody could hate crime more that
I do having been victimized as much as I have been having
lived in Los Angeles. You can see what goes on there by
recent coverage in the news. Everybody can be wrongly
convicted even the good police. I do not think that it is a
black and white issue but a gray scale human situation. The
point of the law can be a thin line. I just wanted to say do
not just let our fellow once honorable servicemen rot in jail
and be forgotten as well as all Americans who may be unjustly
accused; never give up in finding the truth.
As another example of that I was going to mention an incident
that breaking news has prompted me to not avoid commenting
on all of this. Although I did not know him in Vietnam, the
9th Cav Saber columnists have written about to remember as
one of their own: a.k.a. Elmer "Geronimo" PRATT, who now uses
the name of Geronimo ji JAGA and who had spent twenty-five
years rotting in prison for something that he did not do.
But, because of new evidence found by those who would not
forget and not give up, and also because of conscientious
former jurors speaking out, a new trial was won and he was
released from prison.
The Los Angeles D.A. finally agreed to drop the case and it
was just announced that Geronimo ji JAGA was awarded a 4.5
million dollar lawsuit which he is planning to use in his
hometown in Louisiana for a youth center. If anyone would
like a copy of the article I can e-mail them one like the
other mentioned above, on request to me.
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
