| 2008 Mar-Apr |
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://groups.msn.com/15thmedassociation
Vincente "Ben" TAINATONGO <Vtainaton@aol.com>, a supply
sergeant in C 15th MED '69-'70, called to find out about the
upcoming 15th MED Reunion. For that latest information,
everyone should check the forum Website listed above. For
those still not on computers, it says: at the Super 8 Motel
in Biloxi, MS, April 03 to 06. Ben mentioned he was infantry
in 1-12 Cav in '65, and was wounded.
Don HOWELL <howelldw@bellsouth.net> of Columbia, TN, signed
the Guestbook and comments: "C Co., 15th MED Bn.,
Nov. '65-Oct. '66."
Webmaster/dBase Operator 15th MED Association, Murray
GIBBS, MEDEVAC '67-'68 <gunnermadmur@neo.rr.com>, whose
recent inactivity has been noticed writes: "Hello Members,
Well, it has been a good while since I sent the last
newsletter. It is long overdue due to my move in December. I
was getting errors trying to transfer my e-mail address book
over to my computer. I had to give up to continue moving. One
does not realize how much stuff they have until they move. It
is hard to believe that I had a confirmed buyer in two weeks
of posting a for sale sign. I held my price and got it in a
lousy market for real estate. Next was getting a new ISP to
get back onto the Internet once I had moved to my new
location. I now have Road Runner at seven megabytes. I had to
recreate the e-mail address book which was almost three
hundred e-mails. I just recently finish my distributions
lists.
"For the 2008 Reunion, we are starting to get more members
sending in their Registration Forms. It is now up to twenty-
four members. Now of these twenty-four members, there are a
few who said they are coming, but they have not yet sent in
their Registration Forms. I am one of them. So, I will soon
be sending mine in to our Treasurer. He can have a more
accurate count of who is attending and how many buffet
dinners to plan for. March 17th will be the cutoff date for,
I believe, the motel reservation and buffet dinners. If you
plan to attend the Reunion, please send your Registration
Form in to our Treasurer. A Registration Form is attached to
this newsletter. You can also print one from our MSN Website
at: <http://groups.msn.com/15thmedassociation/files.msnw>. It
is in the Document section of the Website if you happen to
log on and not use the link above.
"Since I have been offline for a long time I have lost
contact with the membership. I recently posted my e-mail by
chance on the MSN Website. I have gotten a few replies. It is
great to hear from those who have replied. I hope everything
is going well with all the members. I miss some the joke
e-mails I use to get. I did get flooded with so many that I
could not reply or forward them. I am always open for e-mails
and any inquires into the Association.
"It looks like Jerry DICK will not be able to make it to the
2008 Reunion. He has been at the last four Reunions. It was
made possible by his brother Wayne, and Wayne's wife Cheryl.
Jerry was wounded on a MEDEVAC mission. Jerry was always in
good spirits at every Reunion. He will be missed at the 2008
Reunion. Here is an e-mail that his brother Wayne DICK sent
to me: 'I just wanted to let you all know that we finally had
to give up on keeping Jerry at home. It was a hard decision
to make, but we feel that the decision is for the best.
Although Jerry would rather be home, he is not unhappy where
he is at. He is at a VA nursing home where they treat him
very well and care is good. He likes being with other vets,
and they say he interacts well with them. I am quite sure I
will not be able to get him to the Reunion, but I am not
writing it off just yet. After twelve years out of trucking,
I bought another rig and I am going back to doing what I like
best. If Jerry is able, and I can get the time, I will try to
get him there, but I doubt it will happen. All of you have
been so good for Jerry at past Reunions, and have made Cheryl
and I feel so welcome. We thank you for that, it has been our
pleasure. I can't get the contacts we have had on the
computer to him now, but I am sure he would like any cards
and letters anyone would like to send. His new address is:
Jerry DICK, c/o Nursing Unit VA Medical Center, 1898 Fort
Rd., Sheridan, WY 82801. Thanks again for the support you all
have given us and Jerry and it has been a pleasure to have
known such fine people. Please get Jerry's address out to any
you think might want it, and please keep us in your prayers
as this is a rather tough change in our lives. Later Gator,
Wayne.' If any of you can reply to Wayne DICK, here is his
e-mail address: <crosseagle@wyoming.com>.
"Now that I am back online I will be more active. My move is
a temporary one. The wife and I plan to buy a couple of acres
and build a new home. The twelve acres I used to have took a
lot of my time keeping it in great shape. That is what sold
it. Everything was neat and in place. I know many of you were
inquiring what has happened with me. I am okay and doing
well. The living arrangement is not the best to be expected
even though this apartment is in a private community. I went
from a house with about thirty-four hundred square feet,
including basement, to an apartment with only nine hundred
and sixty square feet. This was a change that we are still
trying to get used to. Well, take care. I will be back again
sending out newsletters on a regular basis."
Murray forwarded the following from Robert "Warren" CAMPBELL
<disasterone@comcast.net> from Westminster, MD, who was a 2nd
Lieutenant promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 15th MED, Co. B '72
to '74, and adds: "I was an Ambulance Platoon Leader and
Motor Pool Officer for the first year and a half. Then,
General SHOEMAKER was so displeased with the appearance,
behavior, and performance of the First Cavalry Division Band
that he started using the 2nd AD band! How embarrassing is
that? He had the Division G-1 search all officer records for
anyone with a background in music to take control of the band
while they found a Warrant Officer Band Commander
replacement. Since I had a degree in Music Ed. (thought I
wanted to be a high school band director at one time) I
got tapped for the job.
"General SHOEMAKER required me to sit in his office for
fifteen minutes each week to brief him one-on-one about the
progress of the band. Pretty scary for a 'butter bar'! I
asked the General to relieve the band of all commitments for
six weeks and let me whip them into shape. The General said
the band is the most visible unit in the division and that
every soldier in the band must be the model soldier in
appearance, behavior, and demeanor for every soldier to
emulate. I spent every duty day for six weeks conducting
inspections, marching, drill and ceremonies, and rehearsals.
I fired many soldiers and sent them back to their units for
non-performance. You see, divisional bands are made up of
about half MOS musicians (which I could not fire) and half
are soldiers of every kind of MOS from units across the
division that are talented enough and whose commanders allow
them to be assigned for a one year term.
"After six weeks, I briefed General SHOEMAKER that his band
was ready. We began performing and marching in a formal
retreat ceremony every Friday with a different divisional
unit each week. My troops were indeed the model Cav
trooper from their Stetsons to their spurs! The General was
once again proud. He then allowed us to perform off post,
which he had previously forbidden because of their appearance
and behavior. I was most proud when we went to Corpus
Christi, TX, to march in their annual Buccaneer Day parade.
When we finished the parade, we got back on the bus and left.
We discovered the next day that the parade organizers were
looking for us to give us the 1st Place trophy for military
units! We won first place over the Air Force Band of the
West and the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.....and we didn't
even know we were in a contest!
"The First Cavalry Division Band also has a combat mission
that most are not aware off. The TOE mission of the band is
to defend the Division TOC in the field. We did that as well
on FTXs. I remember one ARTEPP exercise where we airlifted
out in Chinooks, defended the TOC against an aggressor force
all night and then road marched on foot from the field all
the way back to main post.
"Many are not aware that the most decorated in the division
was the band! How could that be? Think about it. In war zones
throughout the division's history, the band moved from one
combat area to another all over the theater to 'entertain'
the troops in the field, and raise their morale. During WWII,
Korea, and in Vietnam they were there, from firebase to
firebase, they were all over the map. It was nothing for them
to drop their instruments and grab their weapons to defend
the firebase. I guess 'Charlie' didn't like the music?
Anyway, they saw more combat than the average Joe because of
their mission.
"Sorry for the long e-mail, but the story is not well known
and needless to say, I am proud of what I did in those early
days of my career. I hold the distinction of being the only
Medical Service Corps Officer in Army history to lead a
divisional band! I still have my spurs and my saber proudly
displayed over my fireplace."
Bobby W. BROOKS "old_salt42" <old_salt42@hotmail.com> says,
"My name is B.W. BROOKS and I was in An Khe, Vietnam, from
1965-'66. I was a Medic with the 15th MED Bn. I can be
reached at this number: 931-787-8685. You may call any time,
this is my cell phone."
There has been recent discussion about the main 15th MED
Website being down. Murray GIBBS said that Larry ASH, who
started and maintained this site, is ill. Murray has most
recently said that one of the members has donated the money
for a year's rent on a new provider for the site. The 15th
MED Assn. was going to pay for it from the treasury.
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://groups.msn.com/15thmedassociation
Vincente "Ben" TAINATONGO <Vtainaton@aol.com>, a supply
sergeant in C 15th MED '69-'70, called to find out about the
upcoming 15th MED Reunion. For that latest information,
everyone should check the forum Website listed above. For
those still not on computers, it says: at the Super 8 Motel
in Biloxi, MS, April 03 to 06. Ben mentioned he was infantry
in 1-12 Cav in '65, and was wounded.
Don HOWELL <howelldw@bellsouth.net> of Columbia, TN, signed
the Guestbook and comments: "C Co., 15th MED Bn.,
Nov. '65-Oct. '66."
Webmaster/dBase Operator 15th MED Association, Murray
GIBBS, MEDEVAC '67-'68 <gunnermadmur@neo.rr.com>, whose
recent inactivity has been noticed writes: "Hello Members,
Well, it has been a good while since I sent the last
newsletter. It is long overdue due to my move in December. I
was getting errors trying to transfer my e-mail address book
over to my computer. I had to give up to continue moving. One
does not realize how much stuff they have until they move. It
is hard to believe that I had a confirmed buyer in two weeks
of posting a for sale sign. I held my price and got it in a
lousy market for real estate. Next was getting a new ISP to
get back onto the Internet once I had moved to my new
location. I now have Road Runner at seven megabytes. I had to
recreate the e-mail address book which was almost three
hundred e-mails. I just recently finish my distributions
lists.
"For the 2008 Reunion, we are starting to get more members
sending in their Registration Forms. It is now up to twenty-
four members. Now of these twenty-four members, there are a
few who said they are coming, but they have not yet sent in
their Registration Forms. I am one of them. So, I will soon
be sending mine in to our Treasurer. He can have a more
accurate count of who is attending and how many buffet
dinners to plan for. March 17th will be the cutoff date for,
I believe, the motel reservation and buffet dinners. If you
plan to attend the Reunion, please send your Registration
Form in to our Treasurer. A Registration Form is attached to
this newsletter. You can also print one from our MSN Website
at: <http://groups.msn.com/15thmedassociation/files.msnw>. It
is in the Document section of the Website if you happen to
log on and not use the link above.
"Since I have been offline for a long time I have lost
contact with the membership. I recently posted my e-mail by
chance on the MSN Website. I have gotten a few replies. It is
great to hear from those who have replied. I hope everything
is going well with all the members. I miss some the joke
e-mails I use to get. I did get flooded with so many that I
could not reply or forward them. I am always open for e-mails
and any inquires into the Association.
"It looks like Jerry DICK will not be able to make it to the
2008 Reunion. He has been at the last four Reunions. It was
made possible by his brother Wayne, and Wayne's wife Cheryl.
Jerry was wounded on a MEDEVAC mission. Jerry was always in
good spirits at every Reunion. He will be missed at the 2008
Reunion. Here is an e-mail that his brother Wayne DICK sent
to me: 'I just wanted to let you all know that we finally had
to give up on keeping Jerry at home. It was a hard decision
to make, but we feel that the decision is for the best.
Although Jerry would rather be home, he is not unhappy where
he is at. He is at a VA nursing home where they treat him
very well and care is good. He likes being with other vets,
and they say he interacts well with them. I am quite sure I
will not be able to get him to the Reunion, but I am not
writing it off just yet. After twelve years out of trucking,
I bought another rig and I am going back to doing what I like
best. If Jerry is able, and I can get the time, I will try to
get him there, but I doubt it will happen. All of you have
been so good for Jerry at past Reunions, and have made Cheryl
and I feel so welcome. We thank you for that, it has been our
pleasure. I can't get the contacts we have had on the
computer to him now, but I am sure he would like any cards
and letters anyone would like to send. His new address is:
Jerry DICK, c/o Nursing Unit VA Medical Center, 1898 Fort
Rd., Sheridan, WY 82801. Thanks again for the support you all
have given us and Jerry and it has been a pleasure to have
known such fine people. Please get Jerry's address out to any
you think might want it, and please keep us in your prayers
as this is a rather tough change in our lives. Later Gator,
Wayne.' If any of you can reply to Wayne DICK, here is his
e-mail address: <crosseagle@wyoming.com>.
"Now that I am back online I will be more active. My move is
a temporary one. The wife and I plan to buy a couple of acres
and build a new home. The twelve acres I used to have took a
lot of my time keeping it in great shape. That is what sold
it. Everything was neat and in place. I know many of you were
inquiring what has happened with me. I am okay and doing
well. The living arrangement is not the best to be expected
even though this apartment is in a private community. I went
from a house with about thirty-four hundred square feet,
including basement, to an apartment with only nine hundred
and sixty square feet. This was a change that we are still
trying to get used to. Well, take care. I will be back again
sending out newsletters on a regular basis."
Murray forwarded the following from Robert "Warren" CAMPBELL
<disasterone@comcast.net> from Westminster, MD, who was a 2nd
Lieutenant promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 15th MED, Co. B '72
to '74, and adds: "I was an Ambulance Platoon Leader and
Motor Pool Officer for the first year and a half. Then,
General SHOEMAKER was so displeased with the appearance,
behavior, and performance of the First Cavalry Division Band
that he started using the 2nd AD band! How embarrassing is
that? He had the Division G-1 search all officer records for
anyone with a background in music to take control of the band
while they found a Warrant Officer Band Commander
replacement. Since I had a degree in Music Ed. (thought I
wanted to be a high school band director at one time) I
got tapped for the job.
"General SHOEMAKER required me to sit in his office for
fifteen minutes each week to brief him one-on-one about the
progress of the band. Pretty scary for a 'butter bar'! I
asked the General to relieve the band of all commitments for
six weeks and let me whip them into shape. The General said
the band is the most visible unit in the division and that
every soldier in the band must be the model soldier in
appearance, behavior, and demeanor for every soldier to
emulate. I spent every duty day for six weeks conducting
inspections, marching, drill and ceremonies, and rehearsals.
I fired many soldiers and sent them back to their units for
non-performance. You see, divisional bands are made up of
about half MOS musicians (which I could not fire) and half
are soldiers of every kind of MOS from units across the
division that are talented enough and whose commanders allow
them to be assigned for a one year term.
"After six weeks, I briefed General SHOEMAKER that his band
was ready. We began performing and marching in a formal
retreat ceremony every Friday with a different divisional
unit each week. My troops were indeed the model Cav
trooper from their Stetsons to their spurs! The General was
once again proud. He then allowed us to perform off post,
which he had previously forbidden because of their appearance
and behavior. I was most proud when we went to Corpus
Christi, TX, to march in their annual Buccaneer Day parade.
When we finished the parade, we got back on the bus and left.
We discovered the next day that the parade organizers were
looking for us to give us the 1st Place trophy for military
units! We won first place over the Air Force Band of the
West and the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.....and we didn't
even know we were in a contest!
"The First Cavalry Division Band also has a combat mission
that most are not aware off. The TOE mission of the band is
to defend the Division TOC in the field. We did that as well
on FTXs. I remember one ARTEPP exercise where we airlifted
out in Chinooks, defended the TOC against an aggressor force
all night and then road marched on foot from the field all
the way back to main post.
"Many are not aware that the most decorated in the division
was the band! How could that be? Think about it. In war zones
throughout the division's history, the band moved from one
combat area to another all over the theater to 'entertain'
the troops in the field, and raise their morale. During WWII,
Korea, and in Vietnam they were there, from firebase to
firebase, they were all over the map. It was nothing for them
to drop their instruments and grab their weapons to defend
the firebase. I guess 'Charlie' didn't like the music?
Anyway, they saw more combat than the average Joe because of
their mission.
"Sorry for the long e-mail, but the story is not well known
and needless to say, I am proud of what I did in those early
days of my career. I hold the distinction of being the only
Medical Service Corps Officer in Army history to lead a
divisional band! I still have my spurs and my saber proudly
displayed over my fireplace."
Bobby W. BROOKS "old_salt42" <old_salt42@hotmail.com> says,
"My name is B.W. BROOKS and I was in An Khe, Vietnam, from
1965-'66. I was a Medic with the 15th MED Bn. I can be
reached at this number: 931-787-8685. You may call any time,
this is my cell phone."
There has been recent discussion about the main 15th MED
Website being down. Murray GIBBS said that Larry ASH, who
started and maintained this site, is ill. Murray has most
recently said that one of the members has donated the money
for a year's rent on a new provider for the site. The 15th
MED Assn. was going to pay for it from the treasury.
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