| 2004 May-Jun |
MEDEVAC
15th MED\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
11357 W Amber Trail
Surprise, AZ 85374-9322
(623)933-0028
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
Web site: http://15thmedassociation.org
Forum:
http://communities.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATION/_whatsnew.msnw
Chuck LAWHORN, '71 MEDEVAC door gunner and 1-9 Cav, died on
Monday, 3-29-04. His family address is 175 Fiord Drive,
Eaton, OH 45320-2754, if you want to send your condolences.
R.I.P. Chuck.
I received a response to the last column and Perry M. LUSBY's
inquiry about CPT Madison A. FURRH. Another 1st MED Sqdn.
veteran, Tom B. LEWIS, of Odessa, TX, wrote that CPT FURRH
was in HQ Troop, while Tom was in B Troop. Tom was in 1st MED
Sqdn. from June '40 to July '45, discharging on points. He
says that he enjoys reading about the old squadron, and to
him, "...it's still, the First Medical." He also said that
Perry M. LUSBY's-who is a retired colonel-e-mail address
came back NG.
Richard LEHMAN, a MEDEVAC 3, and "latemedevac"
<LEHMANR3@COMCAST.NET>Olympia, WA says that some in 15th MED
were awarded the CMB just as the Cav finally stood down in
'72.
Again, I thought that this may have been an error because no
15th MED personnel should have received the Combat Medical
Badge CMB, but '70 MEDEVAC PSG James MCDONALD "FLTPLTSGT"
authorizes, "BE IT KNOWN: c. Specific eligibility
requirements: (1) The following medical personnel, assigned
or attached by appropriate orders to an infantry unit of
brigade, regimental, or smaller size, or to a medical unit of
company or smaller size, organic to an infantry unit of
brigade or smaller size, during any period the infantry unit
is engaged in actual ground combat, are eligible for award of
the CMB, provided they are personally present and under fire
during such ground combat.
"NOTE: After the Div Main left 26 March '71, it officially
marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the majority of the
1st Cavalry Division. MEDEVAC Platoon stayed with the 3rd
Bde.(All personnel of the MEDEVAC Platoon of the Medical
Company assigned to the 215th CS Bn,.3rd Brigade (Separate),
1st Cav Div), were they not assigned on orders, organic, to
the BDE, there during the period of engagement, were present,
and under fire (Small Arms & Rocket) during the ground attack
of the Base at Bien Hoa, by the enemy.
"On 30 June '71, the 215th Composite Service Battalion
(Support) was constituted in the Regular Army and assigned to
the 3rd Brigade (Separate), 1st Cavalry Division and
activated in the Republic of Vietnam, in support: (the 2nd
Battalion of the 5th Regiment, 1st Battalion of the 7th
Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Regiment and 1st Battalion
of the 12th Regiment along with specialized support units as
"F" Troop, 9th Cavalry and Delta Company, 229th Assault
Helicopter Battalion and "C" Company, 8th Engineer Battalion
helped establish the 3rd Brigade headquarters at Bien Hoa).
The 215th participated in four campaigns, including Counter
Offensive Phase VII, Consolidation I and II and Cease Fire.
In addition the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Citation and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. There were
awards of the CMB. They were legal, justifiable, met specific
eligibility requirements, and accepted by proud medical
personnel. Wear them with pride, you know if you earned them.
Platoon Sgt Mac"
As far as I'm concerned, if your company commander was not
infantry branch of service, you shouldn't get the CMB.
Brigade is too big, and too rear echelon, in comparison to
the actual grunt medics slogging it out in hell in a platoon.
But, that's the way that the A.R. is written.
Not even the other combat arms, i.e. armor and artillery, get
a combat badge, only infantry. Recent changing of the A.R. to
include combat Medics in armor and armored cavalry units are
probably because those units have mechanized infantry
personnel, and armored cavalry have some 11C mortarmen.
'70-'71 MEDEVAC PSG James MCDONALD <CSMRET@TDN.COM>thinks,
instead of a new combat badge for combat aeromedical
evacuation crewmembers, and certainly not the CMB: "1. To
honor all Army flight personnel regardless of rank, DMOS, MOS
or branch: A. Authorize all Army flight personnel's
qualification wings to be silver (REAL SILVER).
"B. Authorize all Army Combat flight pilots and crewmembers
to wear gold (REAL GOLD) wings. 2. This would recognize all
who flew in harms way, regardless of their sky duties. 3.
Special announcement would determine combat dates and zones.
4. Other specific feats or accomplishments can be addressed
under Awards and Decorations Regulations (i.e. DFC, AM,).
Think about that one; Clear Right Mac"
We are still working on a combat badge for combat aeromedical
evacuation crewmembers. Possibly called the Combat
Aeromedical Evacuation Badge, or C.A.E.B.
Jim CALIBRO, '67-'68 MEDEVAC door gunner "DrillE7"
<MEDEVACCHOPPER@AOL.COM>inquires, "Hey guys can someone
explain to me the difference in the MOS for Medics. Some are
91A, B or C etc. Also did the Army establish an MOS for door
gunners? During my day door gunners had a variety of MOS's. I
think back then they grabbed whomever they could get and made
them a door gunner, regardless of their MOS. Later I heard
that they had a door gunner school. Think it was at Ft.
Benning, I may be wrong on that one..."
Dennis CASEY "Lxuplift672" <CWOCASEY@AOL.COM> responds, "Hey
drill, short version. MOS 91A10=basic Medic 10 weeks at Ft.
Sam E-3; 91B20=Advanced Medic, no more school, needed to make
E-4; 91B30=same but E-5; 91B40=same maybe bloc but E-5; each
of last two numbers meant increase in rank and duties so a
91B60 would be an E-7; 91C20 licensed practical nurse,
additional one year school. E-6 30 would be E-7 etc.
Difference was 91Bs were NCO hard rank like Sgt. E-5 91B30.
91Cs were all specialist from SP-4 top SP-9, only met one of
those.
"Conflicts were when a 91B would challenge a 91C on medical
decisions. While the 'B' technically was considered an NCO,
the 91C was final authority on medical decisions, and if you
were a good 91C E-6, no E-5 almost never pulled rank. Now
everyone is a 91W and I don't want to get into that-lol, hope
this helps.
"All door gunners I knew had a combat MOS like 11 bang-bang.
No Medics should have been a door gunner as this would have
violated Geneva Convention rules that Medics are considered
non combatants, that's why we carried a Geneva Convention
Card with Red Cross on it..[We did?].
"Basically that meant if you got KIA you were supposed to be
put in a different pile! When the 's' hit the fan we all
were soldiers, and then the MOS kicked in! Hope this helps,
I'm not an expert. I'm sure CSM Ret will have the correct and
final answers. Best and regards, doc"
Crew chief Pat MARTIN <MEDEVAC121@HOTMAIL.COM>recalls, "I
remember flying 3 or 4 back to back missions one night in
April '70 out of Quan Loi to a FSB that was being overrun.
We'd go in and land, loading patients, till "Chuck" got his
bead on us with his mortars, then we'd pull pitch and head
back to Quan Loi, drop patients, turn around, and do it
again.
"In fact when this was all over with, we had flown over 17
hours. I pulled a running intermediate (that we got special
permission to do) during this time, and even changed a search
light out, laying in the pentaprime, in the middle of the
night (mixed with Quan Loi's red dirt, what a mess).
"What a day, but that was just a typical day in the life of a
MEDEVAC crew. By the way, I know Iceman, he was in my PTSD
clinic."
Don TATE "dtate313" <DON.TATE@US.ARMY.MIL>ALCON: posted, "My
name is MSG Don TATE. I'm currently attending the Sergeants
Major Academy at Fort Bliss, and I'm writing a paper on the
Battle at FSB Illingworth on 1 April '70, specifically
reference Medal of Honor winner Peter C. LEMON. If any of you
were flying wounded out from that battle and/or have insight,
photos, etc., you'd be willing to share, I'd really
appreciate it. In any case, thanks for your time. Sincerely,
Don TATE."
Mark "Duck" DRAKE <WWIFUP@YAHOO.COM>responded, "Sarg, Sorry
I missed your call. The only details I can give you are the
ones from my memory of treating the wounded and KIA's. I
believe these fire bases were placed in these positions as
the brigade commander knew where the VC were and wanted
contact. As you probably know the headquarters for the VC and
NVA was located in Tay Ninh Providence and was the greatest
concentration of agent orange in Vietnam.
"FSB Jay was overrun just a couple of days before
FSB Illingworth. [FSB Illingworth was named for one of the
casualties of 2-8 Cav from previous fighting, John
ILLINGWORTH]. It has been many years ago but I believe Jay
had 19 KIA and Illingworth 28 KIA, on the FSB; it may be the
other way around. My understanding that FSB Illingworth had
about 410 men and all but a handful (10 or 12) were not
wounded or KIA.
"Another point of interest about the massive overflow of
casualties was we started receiving wounded about 2 AM and
were still treating patients for the next couple of days.
I also remember one morning in formation the C.O., a doctor
in our company, came and passed out Valium to all the
personnel in the company, and said if any one needed
additional medication to see any of the Medics, and they
would be given additional medication.
"He, to the Medics, 'You know where the meds are and take
them yourself as you need to.' I believe this was after Jay
and just before Illingworth. Do you have a body count for the
VC/NVA? Because, if you do, it is probably very inflated.
As you know the commanders were looking for recognition and
promotions and many did it at the cost of American lives.
"Regarding Pete's lieutenant, he has Bangs Disease and is
very debilitated, if he is still living. Bangs is a very
severe form of Parkinsons. I no longer have his address nor
phone number. Faithfully yours, Mark."
For those who don't know, the best, if not only, book on this
subject of what was going on at that time in Vietnam III
Corps '68-'70; the Dog's Head, FSBs Illingworth, Jay, &
Hannis '70, is by J.D. COLEMAN:
Incursion: From America's Chokehold on the NVA Lifelines to
the Sacking of the Cambodian Sanctuaries.
Also, for those who do not know, J.D. COLEMAN was in the 1st
Cav for two tours in Vietnam, as a public information
officer, and earned a Silver Star as a company commander with
B 2-8 Cav '66. He had also written the book: Pleiku, the Dawn
of Helicopter Warfare in Vietnam.
J.D. is very professional and thorough in his research, and
quite objective. These books are for the most part out of
print, but many used copies are available online through:
Barnes and Noble.com, Half.com, or Amazon.com.
Ty CHAMBERLAIN MEDEVAC 25 '69 <TYC@POWERCOMPANY.ORG>wrote,
"Here is the story [his] on the [MEDEVAC] patch. I got
in country in the spring of '68. We (4-6) came in at An Khe
and then moved down to Phouc Vinh so that is the appox. time
[of the MEDEVAC patch creation].
"A group of us were in somebody's tent and we designed the
patch. The only difference from the current patch was that
the "MEDEVAC" was replaced with our call sign (MEDEVAC 25 in
my case). It was a group effort but I believe I came up with
the motto.
"When we were done, we went into town and had the first ones
made while we waited. Originally, they were a Cav patch,
cloth red cross, and then the letters and wings were
embroidered as we watched. Quite impressive.
"It was a bunch of guys, a fair amount of warm beer, and much
discussion. I do think that the original motto was 'So Others
May Live' and the 'That' got added later. Time line was Nov-
Dec '68.
"As far as it becoming 'official,' I did not know that until
I saw it available at the Cav museum. It was satisfying to
see that something I had a part designing was part of todays
tradition. Part of the team is the important part.
"Wish I could give more names of the group but I transferred
to 45th DUST OFF and became DUST OFF 25, shortly after doing
the patch. And in the fine tradition of warrant officers, we
created it, wore it and never asked permission."
Ty, also "medevac68_69" <MEDEVAC_25@YAHOO.COM>says,
"Wondering if anyone remembers the pilots that were part of
the group I got in country with. I remember Phil GIBSON,
(maint. school grad), but the others are fuzzy. I do remember
our in country checkout very well. We went out (IP and three
newbies) on a regular training mission. While we were out,
the radio let us know that there was a sucking chest wound
calling, and we were the closest.
"Off we went. We got to the LZ, got the patient, and flew off
to the hospital. On the way, the two in the back (me and one
other) did CPR and kept him alive. I seem to remember Dan
WARDEL as being one of the other pilots but I am not sure. I
do believe we delivered our patient alive, but I am not
positive. Hell of a check ride! Welcome to the Cav."
Ty told me, when I asked why he went to DUST OFF, that he
left for personal reasons. I didn't know you that you could
do that. It had taken me months to transfer to the 1st Cav
for personal reasons. When I asked about flying aeromedical
evacuation without the guns, like on MEDEVAC, he said that he
got shot down more on MEDEVAC with guns, then on DUST OFF
without guns.
I just read in one book called: VIETNAM: THE HELICOPTER WAR,
about a DUST OFF pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael J.
NOVOSEL, who earned the CMOH on 2 October '69. After a long
day of persistent aeromedical evacuation of ARVN's in extreme
conditions, he lost control of his aircraft while taking
enemy fire. His copilot, Tyrone CHAMBERLAIN, regained control
of the aircraft, and flew them in.
Reading some of the other CMOH stories made me think that
MEDEVAC pilots, that I knew, and had heard about, with their
crews, did a lot of that stuff, but apparently the medals
were not forthcoming. They just seemed to do it in stride,
with valor.
I, myself, was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with
a Bronze Star, after being shot down in March of '70, picking
up for ARVNs in contact in Song Be. I was told that because
we were picking up for ARVNs that no U.S. Army medal would be
awarded. A good question then is how can they award a CMOH to
a pilot picking up for ARVNs.
"BonyBard" <CVM7@COX.NET>wrote, "I was a MEDEVAC pilot for
2
months in July and August of '66 before being transferred to
C Troop, 1-9 Cav and do not recall wearing any special
MEDEVAC patch that 'we' could wear. However, I will check my
box of patches, medals, etc., and see if I can find
something! I'm 58 and getting a little forgetful...I do know
there were some harsh discussions if we (as pilots, door
gunners and the crew chiefs) were allowed to wear and have
the MEDEVAC medal back then. We all wore them and I still
have mine...anyone who served with the 15th MED Bn., 1st Air
Cav Div., should be able to wear them! I'll let you know if I
find anything. Crayton MORRIS, Phoenix, AZ"
Michael HERRERA <INTREPIDMIKE_H@HOTMAIL.COM>x, who originally
went over to Vietnam with B Company 326th Medical Battalion,
101st Airborne Division, from Fort Campbell, KY, in December
'67, spent a good deal of time at LZ Sally. After being with
the division for ten months he says he was somehow
transferred to the First Cav and assigned to a rifle company,
that was attached to Division HQ at An Khe, as their Medic,
and spent a few months with them. In April '69 the company
was disbanded and all grunts were reassigned to other line
companies throughout the division. He ended up finishing his
second tour of duty with HSC 15th MED, located at Phuoc Vinh.
He has stories worth reading at <WWW.WAR-STORIES.COM three-
sisters-herrera-1969.htm> and <WWW.WAR-STORIES.COM die-hard-
herrera-1967.htm>. Michael's main concern is the story about
the good we servicemen accomplished "over there," that
rarely received notice from the mainstream media.
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
11357 W Amber Trail
Surprise, AZ 85374-9322
(623)933-0028
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
Web site: http://15thmedassociation.org
Forum:
http://communities.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATION/_whatsnew.msnw
Chuck LAWHORN, '71 MEDEVAC door gunner and 1-9 Cav, died on
Monday, 3-29-04. His family address is 175 Fiord Drive,
Eaton, OH 45320-2754, if you want to send your condolences.
R.I.P. Chuck.
I received a response to the last column and Perry M. LUSBY's
inquiry about CPT Madison A. FURRH. Another 1st MED Sqdn.
veteran, Tom B. LEWIS, of Odessa, TX, wrote that CPT FURRH
was in HQ Troop, while Tom was in B Troop. Tom was in 1st MED
Sqdn. from June '40 to July '45, discharging on points. He
says that he enjoys reading about the old squadron, and to
him, "...it's still, the First Medical." He also said that
Perry M. LUSBY's-who is a retired colonel-e-mail address
came back NG.
Richard LEHMAN, a MEDEVAC 3, and "latemedevac"
<LEHMANR3@COMCAST.NET>Olympia, WA says that some in 15th MED
were awarded the CMB just as the Cav finally stood down in
'72.
Again, I thought that this may have been an error because no
15th MED personnel should have received the Combat Medical
Badge CMB, but '70 MEDEVAC PSG James MCDONALD "FLTPLTSGT"
authorizes, "BE IT KNOWN: c. Specific eligibility
requirements: (1) The following medical personnel, assigned
or attached by appropriate orders to an infantry unit of
brigade, regimental, or smaller size, or to a medical unit of
company or smaller size, organic to an infantry unit of
brigade or smaller size, during any period the infantry unit
is engaged in actual ground combat, are eligible for award of
the CMB, provided they are personally present and under fire
during such ground combat.
"NOTE: After the Div Main left 26 March '71, it officially
marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the majority of the
1st Cavalry Division. MEDEVAC Platoon stayed with the 3rd
Bde.(All personnel of the MEDEVAC Platoon of the Medical
Company assigned to the 215th CS Bn,.3rd Brigade (Separate),
1st Cav Div), were they not assigned on orders, organic, to
the BDE, there during the period of engagement, were present,
and under fire (Small Arms & Rocket) during the ground attack
of the Base at Bien Hoa, by the enemy.
"On 30 June '71, the 215th Composite Service Battalion
(Support) was constituted in the Regular Army and assigned to
the 3rd Brigade (Separate), 1st Cavalry Division and
activated in the Republic of Vietnam, in support: (the 2nd
Battalion of the 5th Regiment, 1st Battalion of the 7th
Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Regiment and 1st Battalion
of the 12th Regiment along with specialized support units as
"F" Troop, 9th Cavalry and Delta Company, 229th Assault
Helicopter Battalion and "C" Company, 8th Engineer Battalion
helped establish the 3rd Brigade headquarters at Bien Hoa).
The 215th participated in four campaigns, including Counter
Offensive Phase VII, Consolidation I and II and Cease Fire.
In addition the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Citation and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. There were
awards of the CMB. They were legal, justifiable, met specific
eligibility requirements, and accepted by proud medical
personnel. Wear them with pride, you know if you earned them.
Platoon Sgt Mac"
As far as I'm concerned, if your company commander was not
infantry branch of service, you shouldn't get the CMB.
Brigade is too big, and too rear echelon, in comparison to
the actual grunt medics slogging it out in hell in a platoon.
But, that's the way that the A.R. is written.
Not even the other combat arms, i.e. armor and artillery, get
a combat badge, only infantry. Recent changing of the A.R. to
include combat Medics in armor and armored cavalry units are
probably because those units have mechanized infantry
personnel, and armored cavalry have some 11C mortarmen.
'70-'71 MEDEVAC PSG James MCDONALD <CSMRET@TDN.COM>thinks,
instead of a new combat badge for combat aeromedical
evacuation crewmembers, and certainly not the CMB: "1. To
honor all Army flight personnel regardless of rank, DMOS, MOS
or branch: A. Authorize all Army flight personnel's
qualification wings to be silver (REAL SILVER).
"B. Authorize all Army Combat flight pilots and crewmembers
to wear gold (REAL GOLD) wings. 2. This would recognize all
who flew in harms way, regardless of their sky duties. 3.
Special announcement would determine combat dates and zones.
4. Other specific feats or accomplishments can be addressed
under Awards and Decorations Regulations (i.e. DFC, AM,).
Think about that one; Clear Right Mac"
We are still working on a combat badge for combat aeromedical
evacuation crewmembers. Possibly called the Combat
Aeromedical Evacuation Badge, or C.A.E.B.
Jim CALIBRO, '67-'68 MEDEVAC door gunner "DrillE7"
<MEDEVACCHOPPER@AOL.COM>inquires, "Hey guys can someone
explain to me the difference in the MOS for Medics. Some are
91A, B or C etc. Also did the Army establish an MOS for door
gunners? During my day door gunners had a variety of MOS's. I
think back then they grabbed whomever they could get and made
them a door gunner, regardless of their MOS. Later I heard
that they had a door gunner school. Think it was at Ft.
Benning, I may be wrong on that one..."
Dennis CASEY "Lxuplift672" <CWOCASEY@AOL.COM> responds, "Hey
drill, short version. MOS 91A10=basic Medic 10 weeks at Ft.
Sam E-3; 91B20=Advanced Medic, no more school, needed to make
E-4; 91B30=same but E-5; 91B40=same maybe bloc but E-5; each
of last two numbers meant increase in rank and duties so a
91B60 would be an E-7; 91C20 licensed practical nurse,
additional one year school. E-6 30 would be E-7 etc.
Difference was 91Bs were NCO hard rank like Sgt. E-5 91B30.
91Cs were all specialist from SP-4 top SP-9, only met one of
those.
"Conflicts were when a 91B would challenge a 91C on medical
decisions. While the 'B' technically was considered an NCO,
the 91C was final authority on medical decisions, and if you
were a good 91C E-6, no E-5 almost never pulled rank. Now
everyone is a 91W and I don't want to get into that-lol, hope
this helps.
"All door gunners I knew had a combat MOS like 11 bang-bang.
No Medics should have been a door gunner as this would have
violated Geneva Convention rules that Medics are considered
non combatants, that's why we carried a Geneva Convention
Card with Red Cross on it..[We did?].
"Basically that meant if you got KIA you were supposed to be
put in a different pile! When the 's' hit the fan we all
were soldiers, and then the MOS kicked in! Hope this helps,
I'm not an expert. I'm sure CSM Ret will have the correct and
final answers. Best and regards, doc"
Crew chief Pat MARTIN <MEDEVAC121@HOTMAIL.COM>recalls, "I
remember flying 3 or 4 back to back missions one night in
April '70 out of Quan Loi to a FSB that was being overrun.
We'd go in and land, loading patients, till "Chuck" got his
bead on us with his mortars, then we'd pull pitch and head
back to Quan Loi, drop patients, turn around, and do it
again.
"In fact when this was all over with, we had flown over 17
hours. I pulled a running intermediate (that we got special
permission to do) during this time, and even changed a search
light out, laying in the pentaprime, in the middle of the
night (mixed with Quan Loi's red dirt, what a mess).
"What a day, but that was just a typical day in the life of a
MEDEVAC crew. By the way, I know Iceman, he was in my PTSD
clinic."
Don TATE "dtate313" <DON.TATE@US.ARMY.MIL>ALCON: posted, "My
name is MSG Don TATE. I'm currently attending the Sergeants
Major Academy at Fort Bliss, and I'm writing a paper on the
Battle at FSB Illingworth on 1 April '70, specifically
reference Medal of Honor winner Peter C. LEMON. If any of you
were flying wounded out from that battle and/or have insight,
photos, etc., you'd be willing to share, I'd really
appreciate it. In any case, thanks for your time. Sincerely,
Don TATE."
Mark "Duck" DRAKE <WWIFUP@YAHOO.COM>responded, "Sarg, Sorry
I missed your call. The only details I can give you are the
ones from my memory of treating the wounded and KIA's. I
believe these fire bases were placed in these positions as
the brigade commander knew where the VC were and wanted
contact. As you probably know the headquarters for the VC and
NVA was located in Tay Ninh Providence and was the greatest
concentration of agent orange in Vietnam.
"FSB Jay was overrun just a couple of days before
FSB Illingworth. [FSB Illingworth was named for one of the
casualties of 2-8 Cav from previous fighting, John
ILLINGWORTH]. It has been many years ago but I believe Jay
had 19 KIA and Illingworth 28 KIA, on the FSB; it may be the
other way around. My understanding that FSB Illingworth had
about 410 men and all but a handful (10 or 12) were not
wounded or KIA.
"Another point of interest about the massive overflow of
casualties was we started receiving wounded about 2 AM and
were still treating patients for the next couple of days.
I also remember one morning in formation the C.O., a doctor
in our company, came and passed out Valium to all the
personnel in the company, and said if any one needed
additional medication to see any of the Medics, and they
would be given additional medication.
"He, to the Medics, 'You know where the meds are and take
them yourself as you need to.' I believe this was after Jay
and just before Illingworth. Do you have a body count for the
VC/NVA? Because, if you do, it is probably very inflated.
As you know the commanders were looking for recognition and
promotions and many did it at the cost of American lives.
"Regarding Pete's lieutenant, he has Bangs Disease and is
very debilitated, if he is still living. Bangs is a very
severe form of Parkinsons. I no longer have his address nor
phone number. Faithfully yours, Mark."
For those who don't know, the best, if not only, book on this
subject of what was going on at that time in Vietnam III
Corps '68-'70; the Dog's Head, FSBs Illingworth, Jay, &
Hannis '70, is by J.D. COLEMAN:
Incursion: From America's Chokehold on the NVA Lifelines to
the Sacking of the Cambodian Sanctuaries.
Also, for those who do not know, J.D. COLEMAN was in the 1st
Cav for two tours in Vietnam, as a public information
officer, and earned a Silver Star as a company commander with
B 2-8 Cav '66. He had also written the book: Pleiku, the Dawn
of Helicopter Warfare in Vietnam.
J.D. is very professional and thorough in his research, and
quite objective. These books are for the most part out of
print, but many used copies are available online through:
Barnes and Noble.com, Half.com, or Amazon.com.
Ty CHAMBERLAIN MEDEVAC 25 '69 <TYC@POWERCOMPANY.ORG>wrote,
"Here is the story [his] on the [MEDEVAC] patch. I got
in country in the spring of '68. We (4-6) came in at An Khe
and then moved down to Phouc Vinh so that is the appox. time
[of the MEDEVAC patch creation].
"A group of us were in somebody's tent and we designed the
patch. The only difference from the current patch was that
the "MEDEVAC" was replaced with our call sign (MEDEVAC 25 in
my case). It was a group effort but I believe I came up with
the motto.
"When we were done, we went into town and had the first ones
made while we waited. Originally, they were a Cav patch,
cloth red cross, and then the letters and wings were
embroidered as we watched. Quite impressive.
"It was a bunch of guys, a fair amount of warm beer, and much
discussion. I do think that the original motto was 'So Others
May Live' and the 'That' got added later. Time line was Nov-
Dec '68.
"As far as it becoming 'official,' I did not know that until
I saw it available at the Cav museum. It was satisfying to
see that something I had a part designing was part of todays
tradition. Part of the team is the important part.
"Wish I could give more names of the group but I transferred
to 45th DUST OFF and became DUST OFF 25, shortly after doing
the patch. And in the fine tradition of warrant officers, we
created it, wore it and never asked permission."
Ty, also "medevac68_69" <MEDEVAC_25@YAHOO.COM>says,
"Wondering if anyone remembers the pilots that were part of
the group I got in country with. I remember Phil GIBSON,
(maint. school grad), but the others are fuzzy. I do remember
our in country checkout very well. We went out (IP and three
newbies) on a regular training mission. While we were out,
the radio let us know that there was a sucking chest wound
calling, and we were the closest.
"Off we went. We got to the LZ, got the patient, and flew off
to the hospital. On the way, the two in the back (me and one
other) did CPR and kept him alive. I seem to remember Dan
WARDEL as being one of the other pilots but I am not sure. I
do believe we delivered our patient alive, but I am not
positive. Hell of a check ride! Welcome to the Cav."
Ty told me, when I asked why he went to DUST OFF, that he
left for personal reasons. I didn't know you that you could
do that. It had taken me months to transfer to the 1st Cav
for personal reasons. When I asked about flying aeromedical
evacuation without the guns, like on MEDEVAC, he said that he
got shot down more on MEDEVAC with guns, then on DUST OFF
without guns.
I just read in one book called: VIETNAM: THE HELICOPTER WAR,
about a DUST OFF pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael J.
NOVOSEL, who earned the CMOH on 2 October '69. After a long
day of persistent aeromedical evacuation of ARVN's in extreme
conditions, he lost control of his aircraft while taking
enemy fire. His copilot, Tyrone CHAMBERLAIN, regained control
of the aircraft, and flew them in.
Reading some of the other CMOH stories made me think that
MEDEVAC pilots, that I knew, and had heard about, with their
crews, did a lot of that stuff, but apparently the medals
were not forthcoming. They just seemed to do it in stride,
with valor.
I, myself, was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with
a Bronze Star, after being shot down in March of '70, picking
up for ARVNs in contact in Song Be. I was told that because
we were picking up for ARVNs that no U.S. Army medal would be
awarded. A good question then is how can they award a CMOH to
a pilot picking up for ARVNs.
"BonyBard" <CVM7@COX.NET>wrote, "I was a MEDEVAC pilot for
2
months in July and August of '66 before being transferred to
C Troop, 1-9 Cav and do not recall wearing any special
MEDEVAC patch that 'we' could wear. However, I will check my
box of patches, medals, etc., and see if I can find
something! I'm 58 and getting a little forgetful...I do know
there were some harsh discussions if we (as pilots, door
gunners and the crew chiefs) were allowed to wear and have
the MEDEVAC medal back then. We all wore them and I still
have mine...anyone who served with the 15th MED Bn., 1st Air
Cav Div., should be able to wear them! I'll let you know if I
find anything. Crayton MORRIS, Phoenix, AZ"
Michael HERRERA <INTREPIDMIKE_H@HOTMAIL.COM>x, who originally
went over to Vietnam with B Company 326th Medical Battalion,
101st Airborne Division, from Fort Campbell, KY, in December
'67, spent a good deal of time at LZ Sally. After being with
the division for ten months he says he was somehow
transferred to the First Cav and assigned to a rifle company,
that was attached to Division HQ at An Khe, as their Medic,
and spent a few months with them. In April '69 the company
was disbanded and all grunts were reassigned to other line
companies throughout the division. He ended up finishing his
second tour of duty with HSC 15th MED, located at Phuoc Vinh.
He has stories worth reading at <WWW.WAR-STORIES.COM three-
sisters-herrera-1969.htm> and <WWW.WAR-STORIES.COM die-hard-
herrera-1967.htm>. Michael's main concern is the story about
the good we servicemen accomplished "over there," that
rarely received notice from the mainstream media.
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
