15th MED\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
307B N Main
Copperas Cove, TX 76522 1704
254-542-1961
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
http://ascca.ecorp.net
A correction to the last column is that the captions for both
photos should have been under the photo on the left side with
everyone seated at the table. The photo on the right should
have noted that the figure standing was "Doc" MCNANEY who was
the M.C. of the 54th Annual 1st Cav Assn. Reunion Vietnam
Veterans' Luncheon.
Terry HEININGER <FLAMINGOBOOKS@BLAZENT.NET>from PA comments:
"To The Current Members Of The First Cavalry Division: War
with the terrorists that committed the cowardly atrocities
against our citizens inside our very borders in New York
City, Washington, and Pennsylvania this week looks like it
will become a reality. The 1st Cav Division, being one of the
premier and elite units of the U.S. Army will probably be
called to active duty sometime in the very near future.
Please remember who you are, where you're from and our
division's glorious past when you go forward to seek
retribution from these cowardly killers and renegades.
You're fighting an enemy who has brought death and
destruction to our very doorstep. Gary Owen....Kick Some
Butt! Terry HEININGER..Former medic and member of HQ/HHC,
15th Medical Battalion and 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, RVN
'69."
I cannot say that I agree with that common assessment that
the terrorists who did that were cowardly, so I will mention
it for the others who are somewhat in awe of those
terrorists' cunning perseverance. One has to be a brave idiot
to commit that kind of suicidal plan, or really duped to
think that they will profit from it in some next life.
Samuel H. ARMES <ARMES71@AOL.COM>from Clinton, TN,
also wrote in the 1st Cav. Assn. Guestbook: "I'm glad I found
this site, I think it's great. Keep up the good work. I
served with the First Cav Division from May '63-June '64.
I was assigned to Co. C, 15th MED Bn. I had been in the
company about two months when they formed D Company and I was
transferred to that company as Motor Sgt. until Sgt. Napier
arrived. I would like to locate a James (Jim) ADAMS from PA.
We were good friends. My tour of duty in Korea with the First
Cav Div. wasn't an easy one, I didn't really have a decent
meal till cold weather set in, GET IT? Korea was truly a
Hardship Tour of duty. We were always on alert, never a
peaceful day, always something going on.
"I was on guard duty the day President KENNEDY, was shot. I
was commander of the relief and I was checking the guards on
the walking post when the MPs at the gate alerted me. It was
appox: 0450 hrs. At that time I alerted the men to the fact
and told them to keep on their toes. It was really a sad
thing to get such bad news and be so far from home. I will
never forget that day, it seems like only yesterday. Hope I
haven't bored anyone with my little story."
I found the following post on the 11th A.C.R. Web site
Guestbook:
<HTTP: wgb
/wgbview.dbm?own er=acvvc> that I pasted onto the 1st Cav
Assn. Guestbook for those readers to see. For all who missed
it, here it is again, foreign spelling and all:
"Friday 09/14/2001 8:09:22pm Name: Mats ARHOV E-Mail:
<MATSARHOV@SWIPNET.SE>Location: Sweden Comments: I regret
that I have to write to you in a time like this. No
acctually I don't regret it at all, because when should I
not? I can say that, I have never been pro US in my life,
because I have seen the damage The War machine have caused in
other places and in an other time. As an old warrior myself I
have no words for this massmurder. I've seen people die and
I've seen people come through. This is not a fight, this
is not even the keeni meeni stuff I'm done in the past. This
is massmurder never than less. For what it's for you, today
I'm American and all for it, as well. If anyone need me to
hunt the bastards down, give me a ring and I be there. I know
that nothing can compensate you for your loss but know this;
for three minutes today, Sweden stood still. It was a strange
feeling, of loss or anger of sadnes and most of all of
sorrow. For an old warhorse like me it was terrible. I've
seen a few of my friends go down and I've burried some of
them. The City stod still. People stopt walking and talking.
They where there for a minute or three. A powerful moment.
You have my heart and my respect in this troubled time of
yours. If I, an old hunter/destroy unit commander can do
anything to help you in any way, please let me know. My
depest thougts and my heart for your people that died
and for the ones who have to live, I think of you tonight.
Respectfully Mats ARHOV"
In response to that I received e-mail from Ron STRUB
<KRISTYGIRLS@AOL.COM>who said, "Hi Mike - good article from
the dude in Sweden. I feel like I know you. Keep up the good
work. Ron STRUB - Company C, 15th MED - part of the advance
party with C\15th MED that left Fort Benning in Aug '65 to An
Khe. Hope to meet you some day. Thanks again - Ron"
Bob KON <KON@PILOT.MSU.EDU>e-mailed: "Mike,
B, 1/7 Cav has a roster Web site which I administer
<HTTP: kon user www.msu.edu>and a photo site
<HTTP: www.lzbravo.org>administered by Bob BRANDIN. I have
had only modest luck in finding our medics for the period
'65-'72 and wonder if there is a source somewhere that
details where medics were assigned from the 15th Med. Once we
have names, we can try to locate them. I have forwarded your
URL to a couple of Medics already registered. If you have any
advice to offer, it will be appreciated. As long as it takes"
I had to reiterate to Bob like I have said to others who
think that 15th MED had control of division Medics and
assigned them to line units. The Medics, like any M.O.S.,
were allocated by division from the In Country Training
Center, or intradivision, accordingly.
For example, I was originally put in a rear unit in Long Binh
when I first arrived in Vietnam in Dec '68. I put in a 1049
transfer to the 1st Cav, where the vast majority of the
casualties were coming into the 93rd Evac from that we off
loaded from the aeromedical evacuation helicopters. It took
two months for the transfer to go through, partly because
that unit's first sergeant told me that he had round filed
it because he said, "You don't want to go to the field, it's
bad," so I had to put in another one which took up the second
month.
I then went to An Khe in Feb '69 for the 1st Cav in country
training where that was still being done even though the 1st
Cav had moved to III Corps. They then assigned me to 2\20
A.R.A. in Phouc Vinh which was also a rear job and I
immediately told them that I wanted to go to the field.
After about a month they switched me with a Medic who had
been out in the field six months or so and I went to the
battalion that was in for palace guard which happened to be
2\7 Cav. I never had anything to do with 15th MED until I
extended my tour to fly on MEDEVAC; end of story.
I tried to refer Bob to the National Archives and to Peter
COLE of D 2\7 Cav '69-'70 for his research because Peter has
extensively researched D 2\7 and in the process 2\7 Cav which
passed along valuable information to me and others. Peter
primarily used the National Archives but he also tells me
that for personnel rosters a good place to check is: National
Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records 9700
Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100.
I would think that the 1st Cav's 15th ADMIN made all of the
personnel assignments. There can only be so many places in
this country to check and if you are interested and honestly
exhaust those places then you should find what you are
looking for if it exists. Ask them everything and keep
trying. Don't forget, they are government workers.
Jim BRIGHAM, V.P of the 7th Cav, sent over signs of life for
Bill WALSH, my successor in C 2\7 Cav and MEDEVAC in '69-'70,
who had posted somewhere: "Bill 'Doc Holliday' WALSH C 2\7
and MEDEVAC '218' serving beautiful Song Be and all points
south!" The 1st Cav Assn. office says that he is still
considered an active member but that he does not receive the
Saber so any address for him, except e-mail, that they have,
should be good.
I forgot to mention in the last column that Bill is also one
of the Medics who had earned a Combat Medic's Badge for
humping in the infantry as well as the silver wings of the
Aircraft Crewman's Badge for flying on MEDEVAC-SO THAT OTHERS
MAY LIVE.
Jim also wanted to confirm what unit of the 7th Cav that
MEDEVAC Medic Jim HALL was in whom I had noted as recently
deceased. The 1st Cav Assn. office lists that he gave 1\7 Cav
in '65. If anyone can confirm what unit of the 7th Cav Jim
HALL was in, if he was your "DOC," or served with you in any
unit, please contact me or Jim BRIGHAM <JBRIGH6566@JUNO.COM>.
The more we know the better. If you have anecdotal stories
about Jim HALL you can format it that way and it will get
printed in this column if you send it to me.
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
