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
Make right the master of might. Neither service to
treason, dereliction of duty, perjury, adultery, hypocrisy,
lying, deception, nor contempt shall keep the Black Knight
from doing his duty-and picking up his paycheck.
A correction is noted to this column in the previous
Saber issue: "All flights with specified wounded were to the
93rd Evacuation Hospital." Long Binh had two evacuation
hospitals: the 93rd Evac and the 24th Evac. To say the 94th
Evac in the last Saber issue was apparently a mnenomic slip
on my part.
MAIL CALL! Since the last issue gunner Mike SMITH writes
in to remind everyone about the 15th Med Association Reunion,
May 1-2, in Las Vegas. That will be history when you read
this.
I flew in MEDEVAC at the same time as Mike-or tater as he
goes by on screen, being from Idaho-until he went
stateside prematurely due to wounds received when his
helicopter was shot down on 16 May 70. You can view Mike's
Web site: <HTTP: index.htm page2 mvandco members.aol.com>
or send e-mail to him: <MVANDCO@AOL.COM>to find out about
their reunion.
I was contacted by Randy CAVANAUGH who was a medic in C
Co 15th Med in '68 and he wanted information about that same
mentioned reunion so I put him in touch with SNORE. Randy's
address is: P.O. Box 87161, San Diego, CA 92138.
I should mention that I got a letter from Marc "Doc"
LEVY who was 3rd platoon medic for D 1\7 Cav in '70.
He says that he was on LZ COMPTON, GREEN, FRANCIS and UNIS,
briefly on GRANITE, briefly at Bo Dop. In Cambodia he was on
LZ RANCH (overrun) BRONCO and CORRAL. He says he humped
mostly in Song Be Province; An Loc, Loc Ninh, Tay Ninh.
Marc wrote to tell me that he liked my photos that I
have posted on the Internet which can be viewed and start at:
<HTTP: galler12.htm snore mssb www.vabch.com>. Marc then
told this incredible story to me about going back to Vietnam
in '95; he backpacked thru Asia for 6 months.
Marc says that he stayed six weeks in Vietnam. He went
from Hanoi down the coast; in Saigon he took a civilian bus
for 60 cents and was back in An Loc in ninety minutes. He
stayed a week, for $2.50 a night, at the Binh Long Hotel. He
went out to the rubber, slung his GI hammock in it (it was
actually someone else's); he says that he used his original
one to evac Mike WILSON on 16 June 70 from Cambodia.
Marc says that he went to Quan Loi, too: "It's just a
corn field now." He says that he met some peasants there, one
guy told him in pretty good Anglo-Saxon that he had worked
with 2\8 Cav. Marc says, "You know that blew my mind because
he probably wasn't lying." Marc then grabbed another bus (30
cents) and went to Loc Ninh, where the cops threw him out. He
says, "They were very uptight, there hadn't been a tourist
there ever, or a long while."
Marc adds that he didn't know it then but these last two
towns were part of the Easter Offensive of '72, possibly the
biggest battle of the war. There are pockets of An Loc that
are still bombed out. Loc Ninh is a gritty spot on the map.
Marc says that he had many adventures, and one too many
flashbacks. GARRYOWEN, Marc!
H. Taylor BURLESON of Deerborn, MI
<BURLESOH@TACOM.ARMY.MIL>writes that he was at Camp Evans, I
Corps, Jul-Oct '68; also at LZ NANCY during the same period.
He was a clerk for the Air Ambulance Platoon-MEDEVAC, and
Dental Assistant was his M.O.S.
Randall KOINZAN <PANAMA@INETNEBR.COM>writes from
Nebraska, says that he was a MEDEVAC crew chief, bunked
together with fellow "newbee" R. Fortenberry, and "misses
him."
Floyd THOMPSON from Boston, MA <SR71US@AOL.COM>writes
and says, "HEY GUYS! GREAT to see some of us are still alive.
I was medic, Jan '68-July '69. Flew with gunners Rick
FREEMAN, Bob HATCHER.. pilots Danny TOOTHMAN, Bill MAGIN. I'd
fly to hell and back with any of you guys..Love you all. I
miss my friend Jim MCGEEHEE..: (Remember his calling the pigs
for the pig farm he was inheriting from his uncle if he
stayed in the Army for 13 years? Also Looking for Tom DI
BASIO from Providence, RI area. Bless you all. You've been
there.) A bientot Floyd."
Word from Tim HAVERLY from Hawaii <TIMHAV@GTE.NET>is
that he was with 1st Air Cav, MEDEVAC, from '67 to '68, based
in An Khe, and operated out of Phan Thiet, Bong Son, Pleiku,
and surrounding area.
An interesting letter comes from J.W. MORAN
<JWMORAN@NET1PLUS.COM>of Ashburnham, MA: "Former BLUE MAX
pilot covered MEDEVAC out of Quan Loi, Song Be, LZ MACE. Was
friends with Oakie, Monty, TT... Huge set of brass ones on
every one of those guys. Many memories of flying low and slow
watching you guys work. Also remember a few of the
characters...One guy liked to wear cut-off fatigues, a white
scarf, and a beret! There was also a crazy S.O.B. who liked
to take off backwards at MACE. Can't recall his name, but I
used to get a giggle out of that move. I could spend a year
telling MEDEVAC stories. You guys were the best."
Donald W. FREDERICK from Ganzales, LA
<SPARKGAP@QUIK.COM>sends his address for his ARMED FALCONS
1ST CAV PAGE:
<HTTP: Pentagon www.geocities.com 4169 Quarters>
and says that he is still looking for whoever flew the
MEDEVAC on August 08, 1966, in the Ia Drang Valley who picked
him up and dropped him off at the Plieku air strip where he
went back to An Khe on a Caribou to the 2nd Surgical
Hospital.
Dennis MABEE from Oskaloosa, Iowa <MABEE@KDSI.NET>
says that he was with A Co 15th Med. July '68-July '69. He
says that he is looking for others in that same company.
Robert T. WILKINS, Jr. writes from Vaughn, WA and can be
e-mailed at <BEEDUB@AOL.COM>. Robert says that he was with
Headquarters Company in Quang Tri during Tet '68. He was with
15th Med from May '67 to May '68.
A letter comes from Jim SCHLAAK of Camarillo, CA.
<JIMSDOC@AOL.COM>. Jim says that he was with B Co, 15th Med
Bn at LZ ENGLISH on June 6th, 1967. "Anyone remember
that day?"
Wayne NUTSCH in Virginia <NUTSCH@DC.NET>
has a Web site: <HTTP: nutsch www.dc.net>
and is looking for anybody that knew or now knows anything
about CW-2 Jay D. HUBBARD-or "Pappy" HUBBARD. Wayne says:
"Jay flew for the 15th Med at An Khe, say from March 1966
thru March 1967-all over II Corps. He was a graduate of Army
rotary wing flight school class 66-2. I suspect he died after
tour some place and nobody can find him. I'd like someone to
confirm it one way or the other. Thanks, Wayne, C\229, 1 Cav
-same class/time."
One of our female soldiers, Gail MONCIVAIS, in Clark
Summit, PA <GMM347@AOL.COM>, writes that she joined 15th Med
Bn at the end of her tour of duty and was discharged from
there after the birth of her oldest son. She would appreciate
it if anyone who was assigned at the same time and knows her
would give her a call at (570)587-5336 or use her e-mail.
You should check with Gail about her specific dates of duty.
My time in the Army, 1968-1971, had no women soldiers
other than WACs, off in the distance, and officer nurses, off
in the distance, so I am not use to the thought of service
alongside women. It was just not so during my time of
service. At least, no one that I served with gave childbirth.
If they did, they would have probably gotten an Article 15
for screwing around!
Scott FENWICK of Pacific Grove, CA
<BLUEMAX@REDSHIFT.COM>says, "I was a Cobra pilot with D
229th and C 2\20th in '70-'71. The most rewarding mission we
had was covering the MEDEVAC crews of the 1st CAV. You guys
did a great job! D 229th call sign: "WOODSTOCK;" C 2\20th
call sign: "BLUE MAX 11."
Speaking of BLUE MAX, I remember one hot hoist that I
was pulling and there were two BLUE MAX Cobras on station
discharging their ordnance in a confused manner. I was
thinking to myself while I was letting down the hoist cable,
"Why don't you guys co-ordinate that stuff?"
The next thing I immediately observed was those two BLUE
MAX Cobras in perfect tandem like precise clockwork, rolling
in, expending their bursts; one first, and then he would roll
around while the second one dove and expended, before the
first one followed the second one again, and so on until we
were finished with our job and we left. I felt more
comfortable knowing that they were giving an organized, cover
attack against our potential hostile, enemy fire.
That was not the first time that someone seemed to have
read my mind in combat, and improved their covering
procedure. Common sense must be cosmic.
In response to the last Saber's mention of Clifford
DAVIS and his gruesome task of identifying casualties after a
fight with the enemy by 2\5 Cav, information came in from
Putnam P. BREED, M.D., who gives his location in Hampton
Falls, NH <PBREED@MASSMED.ORG>and was a doctor with HHC 15TH
Med at An Khe, Aug '66-Aug '67, with time with C Co at Phan
Thiet and A Co at LZ ENGLISH.
Putnam says that the incident reported by DAVIS may be
one that he was associated with, if it ended at An Khe at HHC
off in a little clear area where a Huey could land and unload
away from common view. There, he says, they had to identify
and tag too many KIA from one platoon. "I well remember the
Lt. with only a single frag wound in his chest, and others.
That detail (job) was one event never to be forgotten."
Putnam goes on to say that there were a lot of good times
with the guys of 15th Med. "DAVIS may have mentioned that we
had twelve 1st Cav Hueys that would go where DUSTOFF would
not go; but never seemed to have all in flyable condition.
The side door gunners helped get in and out of hot LZs. Those
crews did a great job."
Putnam also says that they sponsored a Clinic in downtown
An Khe, where civilians and people from sin-city could get
medical care. "My best time was in Phan Thiet where we could
sit on the bluff at night and look out over the ocean and
listen to songs of GARRYOWEN. We could volunteer at the
Provincial Hospital downtown, where a Chinese medical team
was working with the local doctors and nurses. The nuoc mam
factories downtown added a flavor/smell not to be forgotten.
Keep up the 15th Med Column!"
Of further interest, I find, is this extended resume:
Putnam P. BREED, Capt., MC, HHC, 15th Med Bn, 21 Highland
Ave, Newburyport, MA 01950. "I was a D3150 (partially trained
surgeon) in RVN. Now a general surgeon at Anna Jaques
Hospital in Newburyport, MA."
Just to make him feel as though I knew a little something
about where he was from I mentioned to Putnam that, although
I was born out by Buffalo, NY, I was a graduate of high
school in Northampton, MA, and then, off to Vietnam in 1968.
I admitted that the eastern and western ends of that state
are worlds apart.
I did mention associates whom I know who are proudly from
up by him though. They being notably, a good buddy, Jon
WALLENIUS B 2\7 Cav '65-'66 from Gloucester, MA, his wife
Nancy-well known by most everyone in the Ia Drang
Association-from Reading, MA, and Larry GWIN A 2\7 Cav '65-
'66 who has written articles in the Saber, whom I have only
spoken to briefly on occasion, and presently lives in S
Hamilton, MA. I figured that information was a good ice
breaker.
Putnam replied that he went to Amherst College from Lynn
English High School, Class of '60 at Amherst. That surprised
me and indicated that he well knew the western end of MA.
Putnam says that he then went to BU Med School in Boston, and
Trained at Boston City Hospital '64-'66 and '68-'71-with
Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet in there somewhere, including
more accurately: in 15th Med '66-'67 and then at Oakland Army
Terminal '67-'68 doing separation physicals-"Were those guys
glad to get home."
Thank you Putnam for STANDING BY; and being there for us
lowly grunts; and brave men who needed you. Sir!
L. Don BARTON <DOCBARTON@AOL.COM>had to have been my
MEDEVAC Platoon Sergeant and now lives in Phoenix, AZ. He was
with 1\5 Cav April-November '69 as a "Grunt Medic" and then
the SFC in MEDEVAC, November '69 to April '70. He retired in
1976. He can also be reached by telephone at (602)956-8787.
I received a letter from Gordon L. RUSSELL, 2511 Blan
Street, Columbus, GA 31903; telephone: (706)699-7038. Gordon
was the MEDEVAC PSG from December '68-'69. Apparently L. Don
BARTON took over as PSG from Gordon. I came into MEDEVAC in
January '70 so I did not know Gordon. Gordon says that he
also joined the unit at Fort Benning when the 11th Air
Assault was training.
Gordon asked for the list of MEDEVAC and 15th Med
members found that was too long to print in the previous
Saber issue. When he gets that he said that he will try to
provide names that are not on there.
For those who are online and if you do not have time to
look around the sitemap, you can go directly to SNORE's page
for the recent updates of those Members Found:
<HTTP: snore mssb www.vabch.com web7.htm>
A year ago in May of '98 I received a letter from James
MCDONALD <JMCDONALD@TDN.COM>2747 Taylor Avenue, Longview, WA
98632; telephone: (360) 577-8471; James took over as MEDEVAC
PSG from probably SFC SCOTT who was MEDEVAC PSG in my later
months in MEDEVAC. I did not know James because I left
MEDEVAC in July of '70, but he sent his lengthy resume to me
of his long and valuable Army career.
1\8 Cav Doc Dan GREENBERG now in Catskill Mountain's
N.Y. State...can be reached by e-mail: <JEAN@PIONEERIS.NET>
His Web site is: SKYDOC;
<HTTP: dan
/danindex.htm>
Dan reiterates, "Once Cav, alway's... Served with 1st
Bgde.(Abn.) 1\8th Cav Charlie Co. 1st Platoon...1965-'66 Ia-
Drang survivor, Gia Duc, Camp Radcliff etc..."
Joseph M. DENNISON was at the 15th Med in late '69 and
'70. From about February '70 thru June or July '70 he was a
medic with MEDEVAC. In '71 he returned to Nam and was wounded
while serving with the 198th L.I.B., Americal Division.
Joe says that he only recently entered the computer world
and has seen my name on one of the sites. Recently, Joe says,
he joined the 1st Cav Association and saw my article in
the March\April issue of Saber. "I have also been in
contact with John DENNISON (no relation) who was in the Cav
at the same time. I even had a copy of the orders which we
both received of our CMB and forwarded a copy to him."
John DENNISON <1st_cav_medic@geocities.com> was in 1\8
Cav in '69 and maintains a very popular Web site called "1st
Cav Medic" at:
<HTTP: 3179 Bunker Pentagon www.geocities.com>
Joe says that he also remembers Mr. LEONARD at least the
name. "It has been a long time since I have heard a lot of
the names from back then."
I flew on MEDEVAC at the same time as Joe and I remember
him quite well. Just to illustrate how busy we were while
flying on MEDEVAC, even though I was there at the same time,
I never remember saying one word to Joe.
I do remember while during the Cambodian Incursion we had
quite a few helicopters get shot up. On one particular
occasion my fellow crew members told me to come and look at
the bullet holes in one of those helicopters.
I looked at where the bullet holes hit and they were in a
ring right around where the medic stood, perfectly outlining
his silhouette! They told me that the medic was DENNISON.
When I reminded him of that Joe responded with, "I
remember the helicopter that got shot up. That was in
Cambodia and I think it was a picking up for the 25th
Infantry. That day was the first and last time I didn't wear
my chicken plate. I remember the pilot got the bird back to
the pad just as we ran out of fuel. I always thought
someone upstairs [Jupiter] was watching out for me. Things
like that happen a lot. Even when I got shot I had just moved
when it happened. If I hadn't I would have taken the burst
full in the back."
That part at the end when Joe says that he got shot was
in the 198th L.I.B. Joe had a paradoxical tour of duty. He
tells me that by just missing going to Artillery O.C.S. right
out of M.T.C., A.I.T., because he was poor in math, he got a
free trip to Vietnam and ended up in D 1\8 Cav.
Joe then re-upped to get out of the field and got a clerk
job in 15th Med. He says that he did not like the rear job so
he volunteered for MEDEVAC-across the street.
If that was not enough, after being reassigned in CONUS
he did not like the stateside duty so he put back in for Nam.
Joe says, when I asked him how he did there, "Actually I
didn't do as well in the 198th. I got hit! I returned to Nam
in early 1971 and went to a line company.
I took a five round burst from an M-60. Yes, I was shot
by our own guys by mistake. Took a round thru my thigh which
broke my femur and hit the sciatic nerve. Three rounds,
including a tracer, went into my buttocks and back and the
last round nicked me in the head. The sciatic nerve got
infected so I ended up wearing a brace and with 3/4 inches
missing from my height. The tracer went into my buttocks and
I lost most of my left side so for a number of years I
could really claim to be a 1/2 ass.
It could have been a lot worse though so I can't really
complain. That round that hit me in the head could have been
a little to the left and I wouldn't be here now. I ended up
with an 80% disability from the VA, but I have been able to
work full time. For the last twenty-five years I've been a
parole officer for the state of Ohio. It's a little amusing
but after all these years they gave me a Purple Heart in
March of this year."
When I asked Joe about doing a second tour, and about the
S.N.A.F.U. when he got wounded, he said, "As far as going
back to Nam the second time, I felt I did more in MEDEVAC
than any other time. That, and I hated the Micky Mouse s___
stateside.
I got wounded when I was shot by a friend. The usual
s___. Our platoon split up for ambushes. The group I was in
stopped for lunch and radioed the other group that we would
stop, then move on to an ambush site.
The Lt. then decided to stay put but didn't radio the
other group. The other group split up and left their radio at
their night location and sent out a patrol. They got to where
we were not suppose to be and when they heard us, so much for
noise discipline, they opened up. They hit me and two others.
The guy who shot us was a friend and I never blamed him.
It was just a series of Army screw ups. By the way, who the
hell does a medic call for when he gets hit? That thought
actually went thru my mind at the time once I realized what
had happen. Silly, I know."
Joe told me, when I inquired who did patch him up, that
they trained certain 11Bs in their platoon to be assistant
medics. So, that was who rendered the life saving first aid
to him.
He also concurred when I said that safety was of prime
importance with my platoon in C 2\7 Cav and I inquired about
his 198th L.I.B. accident: "When I was in the Cav things like
that didn't happen quite that way. There were accidents but
usually air to ground type things. One thing about the Cav,
we were professional! Unfortuantly the 198th was less than
that."
Joe says, "I still have my MEDEVAC patch from the unit
and even have my flight records if you can believe that.
Don't have many pictures, they got stolen by a guy who left
Nam before I did."
Joe DENNISON, D 1\8 Cav '69, MEDEVAC '69\'70 can be
contacted by snail mail at: 439 E. 4th Street, Dover, OH
44622-1821 or email: <DENNISON@TUSCO.NET>. Thanks Joe, for
your HONOR AND COURAGE.
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
