| 2007 Sep-Oct |
MEDEVAC
15th MED\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
13010 N Lakeforest Drive
Sun City, AZ 85351-3250
(623)972-4395
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
Web site: http://15thmedassociation.com
Forum:
http://communities.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATION/_whats new.msnw
A correction to the last Saber column is that the captions
for the photos should have been reversed. The SSG with red
hair-hard to tell in black and white print-is the
unidentified member. The dark haired trooper is "Bud" DAVIS.
This caused some confusion for Randy CAVANAUGH who sent a
photo of someone who looks like the photo of "Bud" DAVIS, but
is not. Now, we have a new unidentified trooper whom Randy
says was in C 15th MED '67-'68.
Dominick L. MAURO <dommom007@sbcglobal.net> of Bridgeport,
CT, signed the Guestbook and says that he, "Served as MEDIC
with A Co., 15th. MED, Feb. '67 to '68."
Benjamin MITCHELL <photoneeds@yahoo.com> from Suitland, MD,
notes, "Served with Co. C, 15 MED Bn., when it was 11th Air
Assault Div. and as 1st Cav Div. Sailed to Vietnam on USNS
UPSHUR 11 as part of the division. Remained with Co. C until
my discharge from USA, June '66."
The TR0GD0N family <l.allred@netzero.net> in Asheboro, NC,
writes, "Our brother, Ronnie TROGDON, was a crew chief on a
MEDEVAC helicopter, (We think it was named 'Old Reliable').
Over forty years ago, one of Ronnie's friends came by to see
our family and gave us the original sketch that was on the
front of the helicopter. It was signed by 'Hatch.' Ronnie
served with the 1st Air Cav., 15th MED Bn., and was killed
June 19, 1967. Does anyone remember serving with our
brother?"
David FLOYD <webmaster@alpha2-7cav.com> from Minnesota,
comments, "This is a wonderful site. I have always been in
awe of the care the MEDICS gave the troops of the 1st Cavalry
Division. They were the only person that stood between life
and death in the field, keeping us alive. These fine young
men, the MEDEVAC birds, the hospital, doctors, nurses and
staff, all enabled so many troopers to return to the states,
alive! It would be an honor to list all the MEDICS who served
with Alpha Company on the A 2-7 Cavalry Web site."
Tom LYONS, M.D. <tomalyons3rd@aol.com> from Neenah, WI,
says, "I was a physician with HSC in Phuoc Vinh from March to
October 1970, along with Sid BOAZ, Frank TYCAST, incredibly
funny dentist, Jake JACKSON; the Division Surgeon was Joe
MCNANEY. Some of the MEDEVAC pilots I remember well were Ray
'The Hat' ZEPP, Simon MOJICA, Tommy TRIFIRO, Mike HAGERTY.
I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember the names of the
three MEDICS that accompanied me to Bu Dop during the May '70
Cambodian invasion. Perhaps this will jar a memory or two.
Would like to hear from anyone whose path I may have
crossed."
Webmaster Murray GIBBS informs us that, "The dates of the
2008 Reunion have been set for April 3-6, 2008. We are still
working on a location and hotel. There is a major
international airport used by Biloxi and Gulf Port cities.
The temperature for Biloxi during that time will be a
pleasant spring. Hurricane season can start as early as July.
In May, the humidity begins to rise, and in June the heat
index can be a lot higher than the temperature. April keeps
us out of those items, and from the feedback I have been
getting, a lot of members will be attending that never
attended a Reunion before."
Bob REYNOLDS <robertreynolds6248@sbcglobal.net> in
San Diego, CA, signs he was a, "Crew chief, '67-'68 with HHC
15th MED." MEDEVAC, the Air Ambulance Platoon, was officially
a part of HSC, 15th MED.
Captain Hook forwarded the Taji Times which contained the
follow story of MEDEVAC today: "'Flying heroes bear red
cross. Medical evacuation crews work long hours to airlift
wounded combat troops.' By Spc. Nathan HOSKINS 1st Air
Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office
CAMP TAJI, Iraq.
"It doesn't matter that the weather conditions have grounded
every other aircraft around Baghdad. It doesn't matter that
there are hostile forces near the landing zone. The 1st Air
Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division's medical evacuation
crews take off in their helicopters because they have a
mission: to save a life.
"The Soldiers of Company C, 2nd 'Lobo' Battalion, 227th
Aviation Regiment, feel that their job is worth the
extra risks and worth the extra effort to get up in the air,
said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy TURNER, a MEDEVAC
pilot for Co. C, who hails from Rockwell, N.C.
"It wasn't a particularly busy day on the airfield due to the
weather when Co. C got a call recently. There were two
soldiers from 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, a task force
attached to the 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, who needed
to be evacuated due to serious injuries sustained in an
improvised explosive device attack, he said.
"Just three days prior, the MEDEVAC team suffered the
tremendous loss of one of their comrades. Sgt. William
BROWN, a MEDEVAC crew chief, was killed during an indirect
fire attack. BROWN was tending to an aircraft when enemy
fires came in, killing him instantly. With the loss of their
friend still weighing heavy on their hearts, the pilots and
crew chiefs of Co. C still had a job to do.
"'The job has to get done. (Sgt.) BROWN is missed every day,
but there are many more men and women out there like him that
expect us to be there,' said TURNER. Still, even with this
tenacity to fly into the unknown and save soldiers, there are
some conditions that are just too dangerous to fly into, and
this was one of those days...or was it?
"A minimum distance of three miles of visibility is what is
necessary for other pilots to take off, but this day there
was only about a half-mile visibility due to a dense dust
storm, grounding all MEDEVAC birds from Balad to Kuwait, said
TURNER.
"Although the dangers were a reality, there were still
soldiers in the field at risk of dying without their aid, so
TURNER and his chain of command discussed it, he said.
"With permission all the way from the brigade commander, the
mission was green-lighted, said TURNER.
"'When poor weather and very limited visibility grounds the
Air Force and brings all other aircraft back to base...the
only aircraft (crew) that will risk themselves day or night,
in combat, boils down to the MEDEVAC team,' said Reno, NV,
native Lt. Col. Christopher JOSLIN, the 'Lobo' commander.
"Flying in miserable weather and in hostile skies is normal
for the MEDEVAC teams, said TURNER.
"'That's where soldiers usually get hurt. It's never on a
sunny day, right by the beach. They're out there doing the
fighting, we're there to try and make sure they make it back
in from the fight, if we're called,' he said.
"Within mere minutes after getting the go ahead from their
command, TURNER and his crew were up and on their way to the
scene, said TURNER.
"One of the super-human traits of a MEDEVAC team is being
able to run up their aircraft and be in the air in 10 minutes
or less, said JOSLIN.
"'Most aviators that fly UH-60 (Black Hawks) outside of the
MEDEVAC community doubt that (timeframe) is really
possible,' said Joslin. 'The only crews I have ever seen do
that are MEDEVAC crews and the chase crews that have been
trained by MEDEVAC crews.'
"Ten minutes later, the Black Hawk was landing at its
destination to pick up the wounded soldiers. Less than 10
minutes after that, they were landing at the local Combat
Support Hospital, said TURNER.
"One of the two soldiers delivered to the hospital, required
extensive surgery to address his wounds. The pair survived
the hazards of war because of the MEDEVAC's timely response
and selfless service, said Capt. Jared PURCELL, the public
affairs officer for Task Force 1-26.
"'During combat operations over the last year, Air MEDEVAC
units have risked their lives to save the lives of TF 1-26
soldiers,' he said. 'They move to the sound of the guns, and
do what it takes to get to the patient.'
"The Soldiers of Co. C see the bloodiest part of battle
nearly every day - it's their job. Even so, there has to be a
release, a time to put it all away and focus on things a
little less dark, said TURNER, who was a Navy Corpsman
for 11 years before joining the Army and flying MEDEVAC
helicopters.
"'I've, unfortunately, gotten hardened to (the sight of the
injured and dead). It still catches up and hurts every once
in a while, but you just can't dwell (on it),' he said.
"Although this mission had a happy ending - both soldiers
survived - others don't end so well, said TURNER.
"The MEDICS are the ones who are affected the most because
they do all they can to save the patients' lives, but
sometimes it's to no avail, he said.
"'(The MEDEVAC members) won't talk about the impact on
themselves when the injuries are so bad that, despite their
best efforts, they cannot save the patient, or (they) arrive
only to find that the patient has already died,' said JOSLIN.
"Soldiers are not the only ones who benefit from the
expertise of the MEDEVAC teams, said JOSLIN.
"'Hundreds of soldiers, Iraqis, contractors, civilians and
even the enemy, would not be alive today if it were not for
the extraordinary individual and collective feats we ask
these American heroes to do on a daily, routine basis,' he
said.
"The terrorists who fired the mortars that killed BROWN would
get the same treatment as a soldier who was trying to protect
the innocent Iraqis.
"After picking up and dropping off their patients, the
MEDEVAC team will sometimes head on to other missions that
came up while they were out, or they'll just head on home to
wait for the next call.
"In most cases, the crew never knows the eventual outcome of
the patient they dropped off.
"However, if TURNER could say something to one of the
hundreds of lives he has helped save, he said it might go
something like this: 'Good to see you and thank you for
you're sacrifices...can I buy you a beer?'
"JOSLIN refers to his MEDEVAC teams as 'the closest thing to
angels on earth,' but TURNER, like most modest heroes, won't
admit that what he does is special.
"'We're just regular people doing our job - saving soldiers,
Marines, Airmen, and even civilians - is our job,' said
TURNER.'"
This should all sound familiar to MEDEVAC Vietnam. A well
served tradition.
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
13010 N Lakeforest Drive
Sun City, AZ 85351-3250
(623)972-4395
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
Web site: http://15thmedassociation.com
Forum:
http://communities.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATION/_whats new.msnw
A correction to the last Saber column is that the captions
for the photos should have been reversed. The SSG with red
hair-hard to tell in black and white print-is the
unidentified member. The dark haired trooper is "Bud" DAVIS.
This caused some confusion for Randy CAVANAUGH who sent a
photo of someone who looks like the photo of "Bud" DAVIS, but
is not. Now, we have a new unidentified trooper whom Randy
says was in C 15th MED '67-'68.
Dominick L. MAURO <dommom007@sbcglobal.net> of Bridgeport,
CT, signed the Guestbook and says that he, "Served as MEDIC
with A Co., 15th. MED, Feb. '67 to '68."
Benjamin MITCHELL <photoneeds@yahoo.com> from Suitland, MD,
notes, "Served with Co. C, 15 MED Bn., when it was 11th Air
Assault Div. and as 1st Cav Div. Sailed to Vietnam on USNS
UPSHUR 11 as part of the division. Remained with Co. C until
my discharge from USA, June '66."
The TR0GD0N family <l.allred@netzero.net> in Asheboro, NC,
writes, "Our brother, Ronnie TROGDON, was a crew chief on a
MEDEVAC helicopter, (We think it was named 'Old Reliable').
Over forty years ago, one of Ronnie's friends came by to see
our family and gave us the original sketch that was on the
front of the helicopter. It was signed by 'Hatch.' Ronnie
served with the 1st Air Cav., 15th MED Bn., and was killed
June 19, 1967. Does anyone remember serving with our
brother?"
David FLOYD <webmaster@alpha2-7cav.com> from Minnesota,
comments, "This is a wonderful site. I have always been in
awe of the care the MEDICS gave the troops of the 1st Cavalry
Division. They were the only person that stood between life
and death in the field, keeping us alive. These fine young
men, the MEDEVAC birds, the hospital, doctors, nurses and
staff, all enabled so many troopers to return to the states,
alive! It would be an honor to list all the MEDICS who served
with Alpha Company on the A 2-7 Cavalry Web site."
Tom LYONS, M.D. <tomalyons3rd@aol.com> from Neenah, WI,
says, "I was a physician with HSC in Phuoc Vinh from March to
October 1970, along with Sid BOAZ, Frank TYCAST, incredibly
funny dentist, Jake JACKSON; the Division Surgeon was Joe
MCNANEY. Some of the MEDEVAC pilots I remember well were Ray
'The Hat' ZEPP, Simon MOJICA, Tommy TRIFIRO, Mike HAGERTY.
I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember the names of the
three MEDICS that accompanied me to Bu Dop during the May '70
Cambodian invasion. Perhaps this will jar a memory or two.
Would like to hear from anyone whose path I may have
crossed."
Webmaster Murray GIBBS informs us that, "The dates of the
2008 Reunion have been set for April 3-6, 2008. We are still
working on a location and hotel. There is a major
international airport used by Biloxi and Gulf Port cities.
The temperature for Biloxi during that time will be a
pleasant spring. Hurricane season can start as early as July.
In May, the humidity begins to rise, and in June the heat
index can be a lot higher than the temperature. April keeps
us out of those items, and from the feedback I have been
getting, a lot of members will be attending that never
attended a Reunion before."
Bob REYNOLDS <robertreynolds6248@sbcglobal.net> in
San Diego, CA, signs he was a, "Crew chief, '67-'68 with HHC
15th MED." MEDEVAC, the Air Ambulance Platoon, was officially
a part of HSC, 15th MED.
Captain Hook forwarded the Taji Times which contained the
follow story of MEDEVAC today: "'Flying heroes bear red
cross. Medical evacuation crews work long hours to airlift
wounded combat troops.' By Spc. Nathan HOSKINS 1st Air
Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office
CAMP TAJI, Iraq.
"It doesn't matter that the weather conditions have grounded
every other aircraft around Baghdad. It doesn't matter that
there are hostile forces near the landing zone. The 1st Air
Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division's medical evacuation
crews take off in their helicopters because they have a
mission: to save a life.
"The Soldiers of Company C, 2nd 'Lobo' Battalion, 227th
Aviation Regiment, feel that their job is worth the
extra risks and worth the extra effort to get up in the air,
said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy TURNER, a MEDEVAC
pilot for Co. C, who hails from Rockwell, N.C.
"It wasn't a particularly busy day on the airfield due to the
weather when Co. C got a call recently. There were two
soldiers from 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, a task force
attached to the 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, who needed
to be evacuated due to serious injuries sustained in an
improvised explosive device attack, he said.
"Just three days prior, the MEDEVAC team suffered the
tremendous loss of one of their comrades. Sgt. William
BROWN, a MEDEVAC crew chief, was killed during an indirect
fire attack. BROWN was tending to an aircraft when enemy
fires came in, killing him instantly. With the loss of their
friend still weighing heavy on their hearts, the pilots and
crew chiefs of Co. C still had a job to do.
"'The job has to get done. (Sgt.) BROWN is missed every day,
but there are many more men and women out there like him that
expect us to be there,' said TURNER. Still, even with this
tenacity to fly into the unknown and save soldiers, there are
some conditions that are just too dangerous to fly into, and
this was one of those days...or was it?
"A minimum distance of three miles of visibility is what is
necessary for other pilots to take off, but this day there
was only about a half-mile visibility due to a dense dust
storm, grounding all MEDEVAC birds from Balad to Kuwait, said
TURNER.
"Although the dangers were a reality, there were still
soldiers in the field at risk of dying without their aid, so
TURNER and his chain of command discussed it, he said.
"With permission all the way from the brigade commander, the
mission was green-lighted, said TURNER.
"'When poor weather and very limited visibility grounds the
Air Force and brings all other aircraft back to base...the
only aircraft (crew) that will risk themselves day or night,
in combat, boils down to the MEDEVAC team,' said Reno, NV,
native Lt. Col. Christopher JOSLIN, the 'Lobo' commander.
"Flying in miserable weather and in hostile skies is normal
for the MEDEVAC teams, said TURNER.
"'That's where soldiers usually get hurt. It's never on a
sunny day, right by the beach. They're out there doing the
fighting, we're there to try and make sure they make it back
in from the fight, if we're called,' he said.
"Within mere minutes after getting the go ahead from their
command, TURNER and his crew were up and on their way to the
scene, said TURNER.
"One of the super-human traits of a MEDEVAC team is being
able to run up their aircraft and be in the air in 10 minutes
or less, said JOSLIN.
"'Most aviators that fly UH-60 (Black Hawks) outside of the
MEDEVAC community doubt that (timeframe) is really
possible,' said Joslin. 'The only crews I have ever seen do
that are MEDEVAC crews and the chase crews that have been
trained by MEDEVAC crews.'
"Ten minutes later, the Black Hawk was landing at its
destination to pick up the wounded soldiers. Less than 10
minutes after that, they were landing at the local Combat
Support Hospital, said TURNER.
"One of the two soldiers delivered to the hospital, required
extensive surgery to address his wounds. The pair survived
the hazards of war because of the MEDEVAC's timely response
and selfless service, said Capt. Jared PURCELL, the public
affairs officer for Task Force 1-26.
"'During combat operations over the last year, Air MEDEVAC
units have risked their lives to save the lives of TF 1-26
soldiers,' he said. 'They move to the sound of the guns, and
do what it takes to get to the patient.'
"The Soldiers of Co. C see the bloodiest part of battle
nearly every day - it's their job. Even so, there has to be a
release, a time to put it all away and focus on things a
little less dark, said TURNER, who was a Navy Corpsman
for 11 years before joining the Army and flying MEDEVAC
helicopters.
"'I've, unfortunately, gotten hardened to (the sight of the
injured and dead). It still catches up and hurts every once
in a while, but you just can't dwell (on it),' he said.
"Although this mission had a happy ending - both soldiers
survived - others don't end so well, said TURNER.
"The MEDICS are the ones who are affected the most because
they do all they can to save the patients' lives, but
sometimes it's to no avail, he said.
"'(The MEDEVAC members) won't talk about the impact on
themselves when the injuries are so bad that, despite their
best efforts, they cannot save the patient, or (they) arrive
only to find that the patient has already died,' said JOSLIN.
"Soldiers are not the only ones who benefit from the
expertise of the MEDEVAC teams, said JOSLIN.
"'Hundreds of soldiers, Iraqis, contractors, civilians and
even the enemy, would not be alive today if it were not for
the extraordinary individual and collective feats we ask
these American heroes to do on a daily, routine basis,' he
said.
"The terrorists who fired the mortars that killed BROWN would
get the same treatment as a soldier who was trying to protect
the innocent Iraqis.
"After picking up and dropping off their patients, the
MEDEVAC team will sometimes head on to other missions that
came up while they were out, or they'll just head on home to
wait for the next call.
"In most cases, the crew never knows the eventual outcome of
the patient they dropped off.
"However, if TURNER could say something to one of the
hundreds of lives he has helped save, he said it might go
something like this: 'Good to see you and thank you for
you're sacrifices...can I buy you a beer?'
"JOSLIN refers to his MEDEVAC teams as 'the closest thing to
angels on earth,' but TURNER, like most modest heroes, won't
admit that what he does is special.
"'We're just regular people doing our job - saving soldiers,
Marines, Airmen, and even civilians - is our job,' said
TURNER.'"
This should all sound familiar to MEDEVAC Vietnam. A well
served tradition.
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