| 2000 Sep-Oct |
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
"Good morning Mike," writes Jim BRODIE <JBR8519738@AOL.COM>.
"I was given your name by Art JUNOT. Perhaps, you could help
me locate an old friend. His name is Carl N. RAY, SFC 67N40.
We were stationed in Germany, Fort BENNING and Vietnam at the
same times.
"We were the first few in 11th MED Bn. Evac. with 11 Air
Aslt., then went to Nam with HHC 15th MED Bn. MEDEVAC 'Sept.
'65/ Sept. '66. He was the Maint. Sgt. and I was the TI.
Haven't seen him since. It would be nice to know how he is
doing. Any advice or help is appreciated. Thanks."
Jim's second e-mail to me was, "Hi, Jim BRODIE again. I found
my friend Carl RAY. Something made me start looking for him.
I talked to his wife and he is dying due to agent orange. My
friend Bonin last year and now Carl. I almost wish I didn't
know. Thanks again for your time. Jim BRODIE."
I know how Jim feels. I just had a C 2\7 Cav buddy, Bob
HACKNEY, die on Aug 22 of the same Vietnam waste. I had seen
so many guys die in Vietnam and I would always numb to it the
way that the U.S. Army trained me, to get the job done and
move on. But the war is over and it is especially hard when
you have broken (Audie) MURPHY's LAW, and gotten so close to
someone. Perhaps in the future dubious wars like Vietnam will
not happen if we have better diplomacy. Study hard diplomats!
Bruce A. DAVIS <BADDAVE@LIGHTSPEED.NET>writes, "Mike, Do you
have anything on a couple of guys who went to Korea with the
15th MED Bn in June '50 by the names of Wm 'Bill' CAVANAUGH
and 'James?' PIKE? Also an SFC in the 15th who had his
widowed, dependent, mother at Camp DRAKE (Momote Village)
with him. They were both former Sfc's, who made WOJG in 1950
as we left Camp DRAKE. I knew many of the older 15th MED guys
at Camp DRAKE at that time as my wife, Lee, and I spent a lot
of time in their NCO club. We were assigned temporary
quarters next door to that club. We lived in a converted
officers (BOQ) Quonset hut. We were there 1948-49. Also knew
1sgt SHAHADY (B troop?) who went ZI a few months before we
went to Korea. I was the Chief Clerk of the Div AG Sec at
that time. Many of we NCO's & spouses played poker every week
at each other's quarters. Would appreciate getting their
names and addresses or N&A for others there during that time
that may have N&A's on folks of the 15th." If anyone can,
please help Bruce out; that was before my time.
Gordon RUSSELL writes in again but now has e-mail:
<GDRNRUSSELL @aol.com>, and still snail mail: 25ll Blan St.
Columbus GA 3l903. Gordon reminds us, "Mike I was with
MEDEVAC Dec '68 to Dec '69 as MEDEVAC PSG." Now it is easier
for everyone who served with Gordon as PSG to drop him a
line. You know that he would like to get some e-mail from
you.
James L. "Jimmy" MINISH <JLMINISH@BELLSOUTH.NET>from
Greensboro, NC, MEDEVAC crew chief in '69 writes, "I got in
late on the conversation of 'no show MEDEVACs.' It hit a
nerve with me also. Was in DC and a comment was made about a
'no pick up.' I chalked it up as a smart comment but maybe
there was something to it. I read the Saber today, sounds
like things may have been different in the early stages. I
know, like you, that we never let anyone down. I remember
besides the hot missions (got shot up a few times and went
down once-really a quick emergency landing) that we took over
some of DUSTOFFs missions because they were making the grunts
go to a better location-we told them to stop and we would
pick them up where they were. We did have an advantage-60's
on our sides where DUSTOFF didn't. Got to go will talk
later."
That is correct, if everyone remembers, with MEDEVAC it was,
"If you got hot action, pick up the phone!" Rest easy MEDEVAC
brothers, you did good-all of the time! SO THAT OTHERS MAY
LIVE!
I have researched more history and I will mention that.
First, though, I must say, that MEDEVAC was more than just a
ride to the hospital. MEDEVAC was vital stabilization and
life sustaining. The Medic on board made all of the
difference to an urgent casualty.
In those several minutes from the pickup site to 15th MED,
the flight Medic-I speak from experience-performed all of the
vital sign checks and maintained the life supports of the
wounded. They would take over from the field Medic, if there
was one at the casualty site, and sometimes even performed
the, first, aid.
Doc MCNANEY told me that his policy as Division Surgeon in
'69-'70 was that NO casualties were to be evacuated on
slicks; unless of course he did not know about it. That to me
would be sound policy because if casualties were urgent then
it would be better for them to remain with a Medic in the
field, or forward battalion aid station, who could stabilize
those wounded.
If a Medic had to go in with the urgent casualty on a slick
then that would take him from his unit which needed him. To
just throw casualties on slicks to get them out of there and
a ride to the hospital was reckless and a panic situation. It
might easily end up being a ride to the morgue. It was always
better to wait for the MEDEVAC to get in.
One of the most important things on the MEDEVAC was the
starting of blood replacement. MEDEVAC always carried many
bottles of Ringer's Lactate. We had bottles of it hanging all
over the helicopters. My first PSG, SFC L. Don BARTON, who
had inherited the 1st Cav's Air Ambulance Platoon from PSG
RUSSELL, introduced me to a better way to administer the
Ringer's IVs.
On MEDEVAC we used a long catheter out of its sterile package
which threaded through the injected needle up the casualty's
vein which was much better than just the needle alone. With
all of the casualty movement in the helicopter; from it, and
to the first surgeon at 15th MED, the IV connection was much
more secure that way.
Maintaining blood pressure with blood replacement fluid ASAP
was the most important thing, after stopping the bleeding, to
prevent deadly shock. Any auto mechanic out there knows how
important it is to keep oil pressure up to critical levels in
a vehicle any way acceptably possible in an emergency. You
know what will happen if you do not. That is the same thing
that will happen to a human-kaput!
Ringer's Lactate was such a simple yet important tool that I
even carried it in the field in 1st Platoon C 2\7 Cav. I once
ordered from supply on log day an empty U.S. Army gas mask
cover that is worn on the outside of the left thigh. In that
gas mask cover instead of a gas mask I carried a bottle of
Ringer's Lactate with IV works. That was my idea. I wore that
everywhere I went; on patrol, on goat ambushes, everywhere
that I might have needed it for the worst case.
At the June 1986 Chicago Vietnam Veteran's Parade I got
together with my buddy and main MEDEVAC door gunner Ricky
GOODSON. We stayed at the house of MEDEVAC Medic Bill WALSH;
with Bill, his wife Fran, and two young girls: Melissa and
Meggins. Bill at that time was a Chicago policeman, born and
raised in Chicago. Bill had the unique distinction of
following my tracks in Vietnam. He was a replacement Medic in
C 2\7 Cav right after I had left in Dec. of '69, and then he
also put in for MEDEVAC. Bill was introduced to me as a
fellow C 2\7 Cav Medic the day that he came in to be
interviewed by Cpt. HAGERTY for the job of MEDEVAC Medic.
Bill again took over where I had left off in MEDEVAC after I
was gone by Jul '70 and he also flew a lot with Ricky
GOODSON. They became very close.
So at the Chicago Parade reunion Ricky told me that he was so
inspired by watching me shooting IVs to all of the wounded
guys on MEDEVAC in flight that he switched places with Bill.
Ricky played-for real-MEDEVAC Medic and Bill WALSH flew as
the door gunner. Ricky is a big guy so he would be hard to
argue with. Ricky then did all of the shooting up of IVs with
the important yet simple Ringer's Lactate.
You can read about Ringer's on the Internet by running an
engine search. Once it does its job of replacing blood volume
it is less harmful than drinking a beer. If I am wrong on any
of this I will be corrected by one of the doctors, but that
is the way that we were instructed with it and it worked.
Ricky GOODSON used his self taught MEDEVAC Medic skills after
he got out of the Army. He was driving a truck for a living
and his wife, the love of his life, Ann, told him that he was
going back to school. So she paid the bills while Ricky
studied and became a lab tech which he was doing in the
hospital where they live in Ashdown, AR, where he was also a
city councilman, the last time that I checked.
I managed to find the out of print Government Printing Office
book that I mentioned before, online, complete and free for
the taking. You can read for yourself the history of the
subject. The book, whose correct title is: DUST OFF:
ARMY AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION IN VIETNAM, by Peter DORLAND and
James NANNEY, can be found at:
<HTTP: vietnam
/dustoff> I suggest not only bookmarking it but also saving
it to text and/or html file, as well as printing it out
because you can never tell when it will disappear from the
Internet.
The first author, Peter DORLAND, flew as a pilot for "Eagle
Dust Off" of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) from '71
to '72. The book has a good bibliography so you can always
read further if you have any questions about their
interpretations of events.
The book mentions that "Dust Off" was the original call sign
of the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance), "The
Original Dust Off." They took that in 1963 from the then in
country available call signs, one that did not have a combat
connotation, but did have helicopter references. That call
sign stuck with all other aeromedical evacuation units in
Vietnam from then on except the 1st Cavalry Division's
Air Ambulance Platoon whose call sign was MEDEVAC. The 1st
Cav's MEDEVAC was also the only aeromedical evacuation unit
in Vietnam to have mounted M-60 machine gun armament.
This book has its own version of the first MEDEVAC K.I.A.,
Cpt. Charles F. KANE. This book also gives credit for the
improvement of the 1st Cav's aeromedical evacuation system in
Vietnam-to add to his contributions to improvements in 1st
Cav and U.S. Army combat tactics there-to then LTC Harold G.
MOORE. From the book:
"In his after-action report, Colonel MOORE described another
problem he had met in his medical evacuation: the heavy enemy
fire and the dense 100-foot high trees had prevented the
platoon from evacuating men from the spot where they were
wounded. The ground troops had had to move many of the
wounded to a single secure landing zone. MOORE reported: 'I
lost many leaders killed and wounded while recovering
casualties. Wounded must be pulled back to some type of
covered position and then treated. Troops must not get so
concerned with casualties that they forget the enemy and
their mission. Attempting to carry a man requires up to four
men as bearers which can hurt a unit at a critical time.'"
The book continues: "The solution, which came later, involved
a technical innovation rather than restraining the soldier's
natural concern for his wounded comrades." That was as it
should be, the wounded were the Medics' job: TO PRESERVE THE
FIGHTING STRENGTH; not the distracting concern of the combat
arms.
That was also my thinking right along, that some commander
had to have used the chain of command and his reports to make
improvements. As well as the after action reports of all of
the field commanders in the process, who better to give
credit to than LTC MOORE with his well applied West Point
trained mind, which we all know and love him for.
As they say in the Army, there is a right way to do things, a
wrong way, and the Army way. I am not quite sure how that
works but the use of LTC MOORE's and others' reports were the
right way and the Army way.
This book mentions that the Air Ambulance Platoon was working
under strength during 1965, as were most of the units, e.g.
1\7 Cav at LZ XRAY was an under strength battalion; re:
PLEIKU by J.D. COLEMAN, page 186.
More from the book: "At the start of the Ia Drang campaign
the Air Ambulance Platoon operated twelve aircraft. One was
destroyed on 10 October 1965, four were usually down for
maintenance, two were required for division base coverage at
An Khe, and two supported the operations of the Republic of
Korea (ROK) forces east of An Khe. To support the nearly
three thousand men of a reinforced brigade, which was the
average strength committed at any one time to the Ia Drang,
the 15th Medical Battalion now had only three aircraft to
site forward. The casualties varied, but averaged 70 to 80 a
day, with 280 on the worst day. Fortunately the troop ships
carried the less critically injured men from the landing
zones, easing the platoon's load."
"By mid-November the 15th Medical Battalion and its Air
Ambulance Platoon were short five pilots and fifty-six
enlisted men. Of the twelve Medical Service Corps pilots
authorized the platoon, one was dead, one was injured, and
the battalion commander had placed two on his staff and had
reassigned another who had only four months remaining in his
tour of duty. The commander asked for replacements, but none
could be found because all units were short of men."
Also mentioned is the next MEDEVAC K.I.A., WO1 George W.
RICE, on 18Dec65 in an unescorted and unarmed MEDEVAC. That
is when I started to become skeptical of this book.
When I joined MEDEVAC in 1970 I was told that MG Kinnard said
that he was not going to have any of his helicopters flying
around without machine guns, so that is when M-60s went on,
and stayed on. Although that may have been a legend, it could
have been said in Jan of '66 when, as Mel ALLEN confirmed to
me, he and Bud DAVIS went to MEDEVAC from the 8th Engineers
to become two of the first door gunners, because M-60s were
added then.
Mel also confirmed that his first MEDEVAC night pickup was in
Feb of '66. Larry GWIN mentions in his book: BAPTISM, on page
258, that MEDEVAC made a night pickup for A 2\7 Cav in April
of '65 when they had an ambush accident with C 2\7 Cav. Some
have said that night MEDEVAC pickups did not happen in the
first year. Also with the addition of M-60s in Jan '66 much
bolder responses were possible not that all attempts were not
made previously.
"The [Air Ambulance] platoon commander Maj. Carl J. BOBAY,
wrote: 'Within three months of operations in Vietnam, two
pilots have been killed, one enlisted man wounded, and nine
helicopters shot up, all due to enemy action. Believe me ...
we are not proud of these statistics. What the next eight
months may hold in store for us is too much to even
consider.'"
While recently speaking to some associates I got the
impression that there was some misunderstanding about
something that I had written. LTG (ret.) Harold G. MOORE has
been a personal friend of mine for years and like a father to
us all who have come in contact with him at the reunions. He
waited up for me. Anyone who thinks that I would say anything
negative about a friend like that is nuts!
You can view my exclusive photos of the 1st Annual Ia Drang
Association Reunion at: <HTTP:
~mbodnar27/1stAnnualIaDrangReunion1.html>. Special thanks to
HarryB for LZ security. Sometime I will have to tell you
about when LTG (ret.) John TOLSON had me pinned against the
wall after I told him that I had his book and I was telling
him what other books that I had in my library, at the Ft.
HOOD Reunion just before he died in '91.
The nominee for the new U.S. Army Surgeon General,
MG James B. PEAKE, has covered both sides of the coin and
wears a C.I.B. to the left of his caducei on his lapels. He
is a former infantry officer and graduate of the U.S.
Military Academy. MG PEAKE, up for promotion to LTG with the
job, has also earned a Combat Medic Badge with numerous other
of the highest medals for valor. Following service in Vietnam
he entered medical school at Cornell University in New York.
He was awarded a medical doctorate in 1972.
<HTTP: www.armymedicine.army.mil default2.htm armymed>
That news also brought to my mind one of our own 1st Cav
veterans whom I had met through a buddy, Jon WALLENIUS, who
had told me about a '65-'66 B 2\7 Cav 11Charlie foxhole buddy
of his and who was a company commander in 2\7 Cav in '69 when
I was there in C 2\7 Cav, Sprague TAVEAU.
I did not know it when I met him but I later saw on the
network evening news Bob DOLE as Senator from KS introducing
Dr. Sprague TAVEAU on the job when he was living and working
in KS some years ago. To confirm that I just e-mailed Sprague
<GLORYSIX@AOL.COM>and he blew my mind!
Sprague told me that his first tour was with B 2\7 from
11-'65 thru 2-'67. He was a SSG (E-6) with the Mortar
Platoon. He received a "battlefield commission" in Dec '66
and then in Feb '67 went to Fort BENNING where he commanded a
basic training company. In Aug of '68 Sprague returned to 2\7
Cav as the 3rd platoon leader in B 2\7. He spent one month as
a platoon leader and became the Bn Adjutant, where he
remained until Jay MARTINDELL, CO A 2\7 Cav, got wounded in
late December of '68. Sprague assumed command of A 2\7 Cav at
that time-BENGALED GLORY-SIX-and commanded through the end of
July of '69.
Sprague finished up his degree after Vietnam and started
Medical School in August of '73. He went back on active duty
after graduation and served as Division Surgeon for both the
2nd ID in Korea and then the 9th ID at Fort LEWIS. (Where
Barry MCCAFFERY, B 2\7 Cav '68, was his Chief of Staff).
Sprague is currently interviewing for a position as the Vice
Chair of the Department of Family Practice at N TX U Health
Sciences Center, College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Chair
is COL (ret.) Tim COLERIDGE and the University President is
LTG (ret.) Ron BLANCK (a battalion surgeon with the 9th ID
during Vietnam and the most recent Army Surgeon General
-whom MG PREAKE would supersede if confirmed).
With veterans like these our country is in good hands.
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
"Good morning Mike," writes Jim BRODIE <JBR8519738@AOL.COM>.
"I was given your name by Art JUNOT. Perhaps, you could help
me locate an old friend. His name is Carl N. RAY, SFC 67N40.
We were stationed in Germany, Fort BENNING and Vietnam at the
same times.
"We were the first few in 11th MED Bn. Evac. with 11 Air
Aslt., then went to Nam with HHC 15th MED Bn. MEDEVAC 'Sept.
'65/ Sept. '66. He was the Maint. Sgt. and I was the TI.
Haven't seen him since. It would be nice to know how he is
doing. Any advice or help is appreciated. Thanks."
Jim's second e-mail to me was, "Hi, Jim BRODIE again. I found
my friend Carl RAY. Something made me start looking for him.
I talked to his wife and he is dying due to agent orange. My
friend Bonin last year and now Carl. I almost wish I didn't
know. Thanks again for your time. Jim BRODIE."
I know how Jim feels. I just had a C 2\7 Cav buddy, Bob
HACKNEY, die on Aug 22 of the same Vietnam waste. I had seen
so many guys die in Vietnam and I would always numb to it the
way that the U.S. Army trained me, to get the job done and
move on. But the war is over and it is especially hard when
you have broken (Audie) MURPHY's LAW, and gotten so close to
someone. Perhaps in the future dubious wars like Vietnam will
not happen if we have better diplomacy. Study hard diplomats!
Bruce A. DAVIS <BADDAVE@LIGHTSPEED.NET>writes, "Mike, Do you
have anything on a couple of guys who went to Korea with the
15th MED Bn in June '50 by the names of Wm 'Bill' CAVANAUGH
and 'James?' PIKE? Also an SFC in the 15th who had his
widowed, dependent, mother at Camp DRAKE (Momote Village)
with him. They were both former Sfc's, who made WOJG in 1950
as we left Camp DRAKE. I knew many of the older 15th MED guys
at Camp DRAKE at that time as my wife, Lee, and I spent a lot
of time in their NCO club. We were assigned temporary
quarters next door to that club. We lived in a converted
officers (BOQ) Quonset hut. We were there 1948-49. Also knew
1sgt SHAHADY (B troop?) who went ZI a few months before we
went to Korea. I was the Chief Clerk of the Div AG Sec at
that time. Many of we NCO's & spouses played poker every week
at each other's quarters. Would appreciate getting their
names and addresses or N&A for others there during that time
that may have N&A's on folks of the 15th." If anyone can,
please help Bruce out; that was before my time.
Gordon RUSSELL writes in again but now has e-mail:
<GDRNRUSSELL @aol.com>, and still snail mail: 25ll Blan St.
Columbus GA 3l903. Gordon reminds us, "Mike I was with
MEDEVAC Dec '68 to Dec '69 as MEDEVAC PSG." Now it is easier
for everyone who served with Gordon as PSG to drop him a
line. You know that he would like to get some e-mail from
you.
James L. "Jimmy" MINISH <JLMINISH@BELLSOUTH.NET>from
Greensboro, NC, MEDEVAC crew chief in '69 writes, "I got in
late on the conversation of 'no show MEDEVACs.' It hit a
nerve with me also. Was in DC and a comment was made about a
'no pick up.' I chalked it up as a smart comment but maybe
there was something to it. I read the Saber today, sounds
like things may have been different in the early stages. I
know, like you, that we never let anyone down. I remember
besides the hot missions (got shot up a few times and went
down once-really a quick emergency landing) that we took over
some of DUSTOFFs missions because they were making the grunts
go to a better location-we told them to stop and we would
pick them up where they were. We did have an advantage-60's
on our sides where DUSTOFF didn't. Got to go will talk
later."
That is correct, if everyone remembers, with MEDEVAC it was,
"If you got hot action, pick up the phone!" Rest easy MEDEVAC
brothers, you did good-all of the time! SO THAT OTHERS MAY
LIVE!
I have researched more history and I will mention that.
First, though, I must say, that MEDEVAC was more than just a
ride to the hospital. MEDEVAC was vital stabilization and
life sustaining. The Medic on board made all of the
difference to an urgent casualty.
In those several minutes from the pickup site to 15th MED,
the flight Medic-I speak from experience-performed all of the
vital sign checks and maintained the life supports of the
wounded. They would take over from the field Medic, if there
was one at the casualty site, and sometimes even performed
the, first, aid.
Doc MCNANEY told me that his policy as Division Surgeon in
'69-'70 was that NO casualties were to be evacuated on
slicks; unless of course he did not know about it. That to me
would be sound policy because if casualties were urgent then
it would be better for them to remain with a Medic in the
field, or forward battalion aid station, who could stabilize
those wounded.
If a Medic had to go in with the urgent casualty on a slick
then that would take him from his unit which needed him. To
just throw casualties on slicks to get them out of there and
a ride to the hospital was reckless and a panic situation. It
might easily end up being a ride to the morgue. It was always
better to wait for the MEDEVAC to get in.
One of the most important things on the MEDEVAC was the
starting of blood replacement. MEDEVAC always carried many
bottles of Ringer's Lactate. We had bottles of it hanging all
over the helicopters. My first PSG, SFC L. Don BARTON, who
had inherited the 1st Cav's Air Ambulance Platoon from PSG
RUSSELL, introduced me to a better way to administer the
Ringer's IVs.
On MEDEVAC we used a long catheter out of its sterile package
which threaded through the injected needle up the casualty's
vein which was much better than just the needle alone. With
all of the casualty movement in the helicopter; from it, and
to the first surgeon at 15th MED, the IV connection was much
more secure that way.
Maintaining blood pressure with blood replacement fluid ASAP
was the most important thing, after stopping the bleeding, to
prevent deadly shock. Any auto mechanic out there knows how
important it is to keep oil pressure up to critical levels in
a vehicle any way acceptably possible in an emergency. You
know what will happen if you do not. That is the same thing
that will happen to a human-kaput!
Ringer's Lactate was such a simple yet important tool that I
even carried it in the field in 1st Platoon C 2\7 Cav. I once
ordered from supply on log day an empty U.S. Army gas mask
cover that is worn on the outside of the left thigh. In that
gas mask cover instead of a gas mask I carried a bottle of
Ringer's Lactate with IV works. That was my idea. I wore that
everywhere I went; on patrol, on goat ambushes, everywhere
that I might have needed it for the worst case.
At the June 1986 Chicago Vietnam Veteran's Parade I got
together with my buddy and main MEDEVAC door gunner Ricky
GOODSON. We stayed at the house of MEDEVAC Medic Bill WALSH;
with Bill, his wife Fran, and two young girls: Melissa and
Meggins. Bill at that time was a Chicago policeman, born and
raised in Chicago. Bill had the unique distinction of
following my tracks in Vietnam. He was a replacement Medic in
C 2\7 Cav right after I had left in Dec. of '69, and then he
also put in for MEDEVAC. Bill was introduced to me as a
fellow C 2\7 Cav Medic the day that he came in to be
interviewed by Cpt. HAGERTY for the job of MEDEVAC Medic.
Bill again took over where I had left off in MEDEVAC after I
was gone by Jul '70 and he also flew a lot with Ricky
GOODSON. They became very close.
So at the Chicago Parade reunion Ricky told me that he was so
inspired by watching me shooting IVs to all of the wounded
guys on MEDEVAC in flight that he switched places with Bill.
Ricky played-for real-MEDEVAC Medic and Bill WALSH flew as
the door gunner. Ricky is a big guy so he would be hard to
argue with. Ricky then did all of the shooting up of IVs with
the important yet simple Ringer's Lactate.
You can read about Ringer's on the Internet by running an
engine search. Once it does its job of replacing blood volume
it is less harmful than drinking a beer. If I am wrong on any
of this I will be corrected by one of the doctors, but that
is the way that we were instructed with it and it worked.
Ricky GOODSON used his self taught MEDEVAC Medic skills after
he got out of the Army. He was driving a truck for a living
and his wife, the love of his life, Ann, told him that he was
going back to school. So she paid the bills while Ricky
studied and became a lab tech which he was doing in the
hospital where they live in Ashdown, AR, where he was also a
city councilman, the last time that I checked.
I managed to find the out of print Government Printing Office
book that I mentioned before, online, complete and free for
the taking. You can read for yourself the history of the
subject. The book, whose correct title is: DUST OFF:
ARMY AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION IN VIETNAM, by Peter DORLAND and
James NANNEY, can be found at:
<HTTP: vietnam
/dustoff> I suggest not only bookmarking it but also saving
it to text and/or html file, as well as printing it out
because you can never tell when it will disappear from the
Internet.
The first author, Peter DORLAND, flew as a pilot for "Eagle
Dust Off" of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) from '71
to '72. The book has a good bibliography so you can always
read further if you have any questions about their
interpretations of events.
The book mentions that "Dust Off" was the original call sign
of the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance), "The
Original Dust Off." They took that in 1963 from the then in
country available call signs, one that did not have a combat
connotation, but did have helicopter references. That call
sign stuck with all other aeromedical evacuation units in
Vietnam from then on except the 1st Cavalry Division's
Air Ambulance Platoon whose call sign was MEDEVAC. The 1st
Cav's MEDEVAC was also the only aeromedical evacuation unit
in Vietnam to have mounted M-60 machine gun armament.
This book has its own version of the first MEDEVAC K.I.A.,
Cpt. Charles F. KANE. This book also gives credit for the
improvement of the 1st Cav's aeromedical evacuation system in
Vietnam-to add to his contributions to improvements in 1st
Cav and U.S. Army combat tactics there-to then LTC Harold G.
MOORE. From the book:
"In his after-action report, Colonel MOORE described another
problem he had met in his medical evacuation: the heavy enemy
fire and the dense 100-foot high trees had prevented the
platoon from evacuating men from the spot where they were
wounded. The ground troops had had to move many of the
wounded to a single secure landing zone. MOORE reported: 'I
lost many leaders killed and wounded while recovering
casualties. Wounded must be pulled back to some type of
covered position and then treated. Troops must not get so
concerned with casualties that they forget the enemy and
their mission. Attempting to carry a man requires up to four
men as bearers which can hurt a unit at a critical time.'"
The book continues: "The solution, which came later, involved
a technical innovation rather than restraining the soldier's
natural concern for his wounded comrades." That was as it
should be, the wounded were the Medics' job: TO PRESERVE THE
FIGHTING STRENGTH; not the distracting concern of the combat
arms.
That was also my thinking right along, that some commander
had to have used the chain of command and his reports to make
improvements. As well as the after action reports of all of
the field commanders in the process, who better to give
credit to than LTC MOORE with his well applied West Point
trained mind, which we all know and love him for.
As they say in the Army, there is a right way to do things, a
wrong way, and the Army way. I am not quite sure how that
works but the use of LTC MOORE's and others' reports were the
right way and the Army way.
This book mentions that the Air Ambulance Platoon was working
under strength during 1965, as were most of the units, e.g.
1\7 Cav at LZ XRAY was an under strength battalion; re:
PLEIKU by J.D. COLEMAN, page 186.
More from the book: "At the start of the Ia Drang campaign
the Air Ambulance Platoon operated twelve aircraft. One was
destroyed on 10 October 1965, four were usually down for
maintenance, two were required for division base coverage at
An Khe, and two supported the operations of the Republic of
Korea (ROK) forces east of An Khe. To support the nearly
three thousand men of a reinforced brigade, which was the
average strength committed at any one time to the Ia Drang,
the 15th Medical Battalion now had only three aircraft to
site forward. The casualties varied, but averaged 70 to 80 a
day, with 280 on the worst day. Fortunately the troop ships
carried the less critically injured men from the landing
zones, easing the platoon's load."
"By mid-November the 15th Medical Battalion and its Air
Ambulance Platoon were short five pilots and fifty-six
enlisted men. Of the twelve Medical Service Corps pilots
authorized the platoon, one was dead, one was injured, and
the battalion commander had placed two on his staff and had
reassigned another who had only four months remaining in his
tour of duty. The commander asked for replacements, but none
could be found because all units were short of men."
Also mentioned is the next MEDEVAC K.I.A., WO1 George W.
RICE, on 18Dec65 in an unescorted and unarmed MEDEVAC. That
is when I started to become skeptical of this book.
When I joined MEDEVAC in 1970 I was told that MG Kinnard said
that he was not going to have any of his helicopters flying
around without machine guns, so that is when M-60s went on,
and stayed on. Although that may have been a legend, it could
have been said in Jan of '66 when, as Mel ALLEN confirmed to
me, he and Bud DAVIS went to MEDEVAC from the 8th Engineers
to become two of the first door gunners, because M-60s were
added then.
Mel also confirmed that his first MEDEVAC night pickup was in
Feb of '66. Larry GWIN mentions in his book: BAPTISM, on page
258, that MEDEVAC made a night pickup for A 2\7 Cav in April
of '65 when they had an ambush accident with C 2\7 Cav. Some
have said that night MEDEVAC pickups did not happen in the
first year. Also with the addition of M-60s in Jan '66 much
bolder responses were possible not that all attempts were not
made previously.
"The [Air Ambulance] platoon commander Maj. Carl J. BOBAY,
wrote: 'Within three months of operations in Vietnam, two
pilots have been killed, one enlisted man wounded, and nine
helicopters shot up, all due to enemy action. Believe me ...
we are not proud of these statistics. What the next eight
months may hold in store for us is too much to even
consider.'"
While recently speaking to some associates I got the
impression that there was some misunderstanding about
something that I had written. LTG (ret.) Harold G. MOORE has
been a personal friend of mine for years and like a father to
us all who have come in contact with him at the reunions. He
waited up for me. Anyone who thinks that I would say anything
negative about a friend like that is nuts!
You can view my exclusive photos of the 1st Annual Ia Drang
Association Reunion at: <HTTP:
~mbodnar27/1stAnnualIaDrangReunion1.html>. Special thanks to
HarryB for LZ security. Sometime I will have to tell you
about when LTG (ret.) John TOLSON had me pinned against the
wall after I told him that I had his book and I was telling
him what other books that I had in my library, at the Ft.
HOOD Reunion just before he died in '91.
The nominee for the new U.S. Army Surgeon General,
MG James B. PEAKE, has covered both sides of the coin and
wears a C.I.B. to the left of his caducei on his lapels. He
is a former infantry officer and graduate of the U.S.
Military Academy. MG PEAKE, up for promotion to LTG with the
job, has also earned a Combat Medic Badge with numerous other
of the highest medals for valor. Following service in Vietnam
he entered medical school at Cornell University in New York.
He was awarded a medical doctorate in 1972.
<HTTP: www.armymedicine.army.mil default2.htm armymed>
That news also brought to my mind one of our own 1st Cav
veterans whom I had met through a buddy, Jon WALLENIUS, who
had told me about a '65-'66 B 2\7 Cav 11Charlie foxhole buddy
of his and who was a company commander in 2\7 Cav in '69 when
I was there in C 2\7 Cav, Sprague TAVEAU.
I did not know it when I met him but I later saw on the
network evening news Bob DOLE as Senator from KS introducing
Dr. Sprague TAVEAU on the job when he was living and working
in KS some years ago. To confirm that I just e-mailed Sprague
<GLORYSIX@AOL.COM>and he blew my mind!
Sprague told me that his first tour was with B 2\7 from
11-'65 thru 2-'67. He was a SSG (E-6) with the Mortar
Platoon. He received a "battlefield commission" in Dec '66
and then in Feb '67 went to Fort BENNING where he commanded a
basic training company. In Aug of '68 Sprague returned to 2\7
Cav as the 3rd platoon leader in B 2\7. He spent one month as
a platoon leader and became the Bn Adjutant, where he
remained until Jay MARTINDELL, CO A 2\7 Cav, got wounded in
late December of '68. Sprague assumed command of A 2\7 Cav at
that time-BENGALED GLORY-SIX-and commanded through the end of
July of '69.
Sprague finished up his degree after Vietnam and started
Medical School in August of '73. He went back on active duty
after graduation and served as Division Surgeon for both the
2nd ID in Korea and then the 9th ID at Fort LEWIS. (Where
Barry MCCAFFERY, B 2\7 Cav '68, was his Chief of Staff).
Sprague is currently interviewing for a position as the Vice
Chair of the Department of Family Practice at N TX U Health
Sciences Center, College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Chair
is COL (ret.) Tim COLERIDGE and the University President is
LTG (ret.) Ron BLANCK (a battalion surgeon with the 9th ID
during Vietnam and the most recent Army Surgeon General
-whom MG PREAKE would supersede if confirmed).
With veterans like these our country is in good hands.
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
