| 2011 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
Don CLAWSON <DClawson@wesbury.com> MEDEVAC 1, Jan 7, '69 -
Dec 27, '69, then captain, now USAMSC major retired, called
to inquire if the recent column write up about '70 MEDEVAC
pilot Henry "Okie" TUELL was for an obituary.
I told him, "No." And, I updated him on everything. Don
mentioned the many in MEDEVAC he knew at the time, and that
he was good friends with then, LTC MCNANEY.
James BREEN <reconbreen@gmail.com> e-mailed, "Dear Brother
Mike, Howdy........Greetings from the Pocono Mountains of
Pennsylvania! I always read your column with great interest
since you and your brothers saved my tail way back on Feb.
11, 1967, during the commie's violation of the TET Cease fire
of that Chinese Lunar New Year's Truce. With the recent shoot
down of that Chinook in the Afghanistan mountains I felt it
proper to share my feelings with you dear brother. This
August issue of 'Military' features an article from a Vietnam
hero.....a chopper MEDEVAC pilot flying for the 173rd Light
Infantry Brigade in 1969. Captain Robert B. ROBESON, from
Lincoln, Nebraska is this hero. He submitted a story called:
'A Dust Off Pilot Remembers.' Check it out online if you do
not receive 'Military' magazine. Anyway Mike........with this
recent shoot down of one of our gorgeous Chinook carrying
thirty Navy Seals.......and eight locals.....my heart and
soul goes out to their families.....and this incredible loss
for all of America. But the short story by Captain ROBESON
haunted me. Well written, sincere, patriotic.....and so on.
But......one thing....no sir....two things were missing from
his dramatic war story. Door gunners. Yes sir, door gunners.
This guy's story involved him dropping down into hell
itself......with no door gunners. The gooks had a field day
just shooting the crap out of him....and his aircraft.
Lord.....Have Mercy!. I am proud....that I served during a
time....that the First Air Cavalry Division saw the need to
have each and every MEDEVAC....armed to the teeth with
two....count em....two serious warriors manning their M-60
light machine guns. 7.62 mm tools of death as they shot out
of the sides of each chopper.
"And, also...during my tour with the First Air Cavalry
Division........it was almost.....almost unheard of to air
assault a hot lima zulu......without a huge chopper gun ship
prepping onto the landing zone prior to our assault. No way
without it. When....this did on occasion happen? Disaster.
Pure disaster. Okay, Mike......just thought I 'd tell you
boys that I am grateful....and appreciative for your intense
service in our behalf. God bless you fanatics! You guys
rocked! James Francis BREEN, gunner, D 2/12th Cav, First Air
Cavalry Division, RVN, 1966-'67.
Murray GIBBS <gunnermadmur@neo.rr.com> e-mailed, "FYI,
15th MED Assn. President David HUSER sent me an e-mail
regarding a belt buckle that members of the Association
can buy. Click on link below to view e-mail and belt buckle
<http://www.15thmedassociation.com/
smf/index.php?topic=797.msg 2181>
Also forwarded is his letter: "Murray- I want you to send
this e-mail to our officers and past presidents. We can get
the buckles for $179.95 if we order twenty buckles. The
buckles will be 3 inches round, made of German silver. The
crest will be the color of the coin, and the lettering around
the buckle will have black inlay. The picture is black and
white and the four triangles on the outside of the drawing
are not part of the buckle. If we want to order twenty
buckles, I think we need a commitment of eight people
that will buy them at Nashville. Please e-mail me with your
yes or no on the buckle. I will buy one to get the ball
rolling. It will take four months to make the buckles so get
back to me ASAP. David HUSER"
Tom (Heidi) HEIDENREICH <heidenreich.t@comcast.net> of
Melrose Park, IL, signed the Guestbook: "C Co. 15th MED
05/1969 to 12/1969. I was a good friend of Mike WICK,
KIA rocket attack, A Co. 1/12 Cav 01/1969 to 05/1969.
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
Don CLAWSON <DClawson@wesbury.com> MEDEVAC 1, Jan 7, '69 -
Dec 27, '69, then captain, now USAMSC major retired, called
to inquire if the recent column write up about '70 MEDEVAC
pilot Henry "Okie" TUELL was for an obituary.
I told him, "No." And, I updated him on everything. Don
mentioned the many in MEDEVAC he knew at the time, and that
he was good friends with then, LTC MCNANEY.
James BREEN <reconbreen@gmail.com> e-mailed, "Dear Brother
Mike, Howdy........Greetings from the Pocono Mountains of
Pennsylvania! I always read your column with great interest
since you and your brothers saved my tail way back on Feb.
11, 1967, during the commie's violation of the TET Cease fire
of that Chinese Lunar New Year's Truce. With the recent shoot
down of that Chinook in the Afghanistan mountains I felt it
proper to share my feelings with you dear brother. This
August issue of 'Military' features an article from a Vietnam
hero.....a chopper MEDEVAC pilot flying for the 173rd Light
Infantry Brigade in 1969. Captain Robert B. ROBESON, from
Lincoln, Nebraska is this hero. He submitted a story called:
'A Dust Off Pilot Remembers.' Check it out online if you do
not receive 'Military' magazine. Anyway Mike........with this
recent shoot down of one of our gorgeous Chinook carrying
thirty Navy Seals.......and eight locals.....my heart and
soul goes out to their families.....and this incredible loss
for all of America. But the short story by Captain ROBESON
haunted me. Well written, sincere, patriotic.....and so on.
But......one thing....no sir....two things were missing from
his dramatic war story. Door gunners. Yes sir, door gunners.
This guy's story involved him dropping down into hell
itself......with no door gunners. The gooks had a field day
just shooting the crap out of him....and his aircraft.
Lord.....Have Mercy!. I am proud....that I served during a
time....that the First Air Cavalry Division saw the need to
have each and every MEDEVAC....armed to the teeth with
two....count em....two serious warriors manning their M-60
light machine guns. 7.62 mm tools of death as they shot out
of the sides of each chopper.
"And, also...during my tour with the First Air Cavalry
Division........it was almost.....almost unheard of to air
assault a hot lima zulu......without a huge chopper gun ship
prepping onto the landing zone prior to our assault. No way
without it. When....this did on occasion happen? Disaster.
Pure disaster. Okay, Mike......just thought I 'd tell you
boys that I am grateful....and appreciative for your intense
service in our behalf. God bless you fanatics! You guys
rocked! James Francis BREEN, gunner, D 2/12th Cav, First Air
Cavalry Division, RVN, 1966-'67.
Murray GIBBS <gunnermadmur@neo.rr.com> e-mailed, "FYI,
15th MED Assn. President David HUSER sent me an e-mail
regarding a belt buckle that members of the Association
can buy. Click on link below to view e-mail and belt buckle
<http://www.15thmedassociation.com/
smf/index.php?topic=797.msg 2181>
Also forwarded is his letter: "Murray- I want you to send
this e-mail to our officers and past presidents. We can get
the buckles for $179.95 if we order twenty buckles. The
buckles will be 3 inches round, made of German silver. The
crest will be the color of the coin, and the lettering around
the buckle will have black inlay. The picture is black and
white and the four triangles on the outside of the drawing
are not part of the buckle. If we want to order twenty
buckles, I think we need a commitment of eight people
that will buy them at Nashville. Please e-mail me with your
yes or no on the buckle. I will buy one to get the ball
rolling. It will take four months to make the buckles so get
back to me ASAP. David HUSER"
Tom (Heidi) HEIDENREICH <heidenreich.t@comcast.net> of
Melrose Park, IL, signed the Guestbook: "C Co. 15th MED
05/1969 to 12/1969. I was a good friend of Mike WICK,
KIA rocket attack, A Co. 1/12 Cav 01/1969 to 05/1969.
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