MEDEVAC
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
Http://communities.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATION/_whatsnew.msnw
the new site: http://15thmedassociation.org
Duffie E. COLE, Jr. <ODUFFIE@BELLSOUTH.NET>of Bartlett, TN,
writes, "Mike, I hope this note finds you and your family in
good health. I am writing you today with great concern, I
read a news article today by the Washington Post titled: 'At
[the] Vietnam Wall, many soldiers left in the dark.' If you
have not read the article I would be glad to e-mail a copy to
you.
"Basically it was about the problems the park had in
maintaining the lighting for the Wall and what their future
plans were in correcting the problem. My problem is this: NO
EXCUSES. Every name on the wall should be visible 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If the park can't
accomplish the task, then I am convinced the Vietnam vets
would be proud to stand in for them, to ensure our brothers'
and sisters' spirit lingers in darkness not for one minute.
Even though I live hundreds of miles from the wall I would
gladly travel twice the distance to pull a tour of duty
lighting the way with a heart busting with pride.
"I pulled two tours in Nam and 27 years in the Army. I have
many great memories, many are similar to the ones that are
written about in your 15th MED Bn. news articles. I also have
memories of the names listed on the Wall, of the small 18
year old soldier I had met at our battalion aid station that
was so excited because he came through his first fire
fight. A small caliber round had found its way through his
flak jacket. I was with him when he went into shock and died
that night. There would be many after that. These memories
were much harder on me until the Wall was built, it was like
our brothers were not in the dark any longer, that they
were home and resting in peace. There should never be
darkness on any name on the Wall, ever. NO EXCUSES!
"How proud I am to have had the honor to serve with the 1st
Cav Div. ODUFFIE, HHC, 15th MED Bn. 1966-1967."
Dave PARKS <SHOOTDOWN@YAHOO.COM>MEDEVAC door gunner
'69-'70
contacted me to tell me that MEDEVAC crew chief Danny
"Diamond" SMITH was living in TX and wanted me to call him,
but all phone numbers given were no longer in service. Dave-
in his own words and spellings-said upon "rumor" that Danny
had moved to Mexico, "I would emagine that the cost of living
might have something to do with it. Also, his wife is from
there, so? I also think he just needs to get away, some place
he can shoot all his bullet launchers, and lots of takillya
to drink.
"Hows life with you? I just work all the time no play just
work. Even at home work, work, work. What a waste of fishing
time!!!! They are never forgotten, but sorely missed, Dave."
A true story about MEDEVAC crew chief Danny SMITH is as
follows: Danny always took pride in the fact that he could
"soup up" his assigned aircraft, which he did and dubbed
"SuperKing." On one particular occasion that I was flying
with Danny we went in to pick up for some ARVNs. They had
quite a few wounded and when we landed it seemed that they
all climbed aboard; at least everyone that there was room for
and even the ones that there was not room for. We counted
eighteen ARVNs.
A MEDEVAC Huey could hold at full capacity four litters;
three hanging-or one below the two hanging above-and another
one on the floor, as well as one "walking wounded" in each
"hell hole" with the gunners; which equals six, plus five
crewmembers. They probably could have taken more, if there
was not the maximum on litters. I forget how many fully
loaded Grunts crammed onto the AHB slicks for the many
"Charlie Alphas" that I was on but I doubt if it was more
then ten. So, eighteen of anybody, even pint sized ARVNs was
pushing it.
The pilots said, "NO WAY!" But, Danny, from the "hell hole"
sitting on his M-60 yelled, "We can do it! This is
SuperKing!" So, the pilots said, "OK, we'll give it a try!"
They pulled pitch, you could hear the engine strain and
whine, and then with a burst of power we took flight and
cleared the trees, with eighteen ARVNs! It had to be a
record. Danny, if not everyone else, was cheering!
I had no place to move because the floor was literally wall
to wall ARVNs. I could stand only in one place and push
against the ceiling to support myself. Fortunately there was
no one seriously wounded, they all just had "teetee," or
minor frag wounds. But, they ALL felt that they had to get
out of there, A.S.A.P.
That is how Danny SMITH probably got the title, "Diamond;"
always trying to excel. I never knew that he was referred to
that way until I saw it on SNORE's Web site. Though, I can
understand why.
I had flown with Danny probably more than any other
crewchief. He had picked me and door gunner Ricky GOODSON as
his "team" because he liked the way that we worked together.
We flew together all through the Cambodian Incursion, May and
June of '70. On that above particular, anecdotal occasion,
Ricky was not the door gunner; but it did happen!
Larry L. ASH (LASH) A 2\12 Cav and MEDEVAC door gunner
from GA, mentions on the new MEDEVAC\15th MED Web site
<HTTP: www.15thmedassociation.org>: "I'm Larry ASH, better
known as LASH or DoorGunner2. I have appointed myself
Webmaster By Proxy [of the new 15th MED Web site]. The point
is, we could not let the hard work of Sherman BREEDEN die on
the vine. So, I have endeavored to carry on in SNORE's
spirit.
"We are establishing this Web site to perpetuate the
exploits, memories, pictures, and memorials of our own; 15th
Medical Battalion (Vietnam), home of MEDEVAC. This is our
page so, we will all need to participate in order to build a
history of the best people I have ever known.
"I, also, think it is fitting that we pay special tribute to
Sherman 'SNORE' BREEDEN, who first conceived the concept of
the inception of a Web site dedicated to our brothers.
Unfortunately, Sherm is no longer with us; as he is preparing
a landing zone for the rest of us in the wild blue heavens.
So long as we live, Sherman's memories shall live amongst us.
We still grieve for him and keep his family in our hearts.
"So, you want to be a star? Gather up your RVN pics, dust off
your memory, and write down your exploits. Submit them and we
will consider each for publication on this site. We have
restricted the uploads to certain individuals so that our
site may remain attractive and orderly. Please, understand
our intentions are, only, for the best. THAT'S US! 15th MED
Bn."
Thanks to MEDEVAC pilot Henry LAND (Cpt. Hook) for the
following report on the annual Florida get-together: "Sorry
you missed the Melbourne reunion it was great. I'm not sure
whether or not I have written since it was over but not to be
repetitious I'll tell you that we had a good turn out (over
14,000 for the three day weekend). They flew a snake (Cobra-
for you non lifers) in as well a G-model Huey and a
Blackhawk. They shut them down so the attendees could get up
close and personal with the 'birds.' The living wall (3/4ths
scale) was well attended at the reunion too. Hope you can
make it next year. It will be in May and I'll get the times
out to everyone. I guess I'd better close and take my wife
out to eat so I'll pull a 'Hotel Alpha' (for non lifers
that's a haul ass). Capt Hook OUT Thanks, Henry."
Gordon L. RUSSELL <GRDNRUSSELL@AOL.COM>of Columbus, Georgia
writes, "Hope my friends will e-mail me, like to know what
they have been up to for the past 30 years. I was with
MEDEVAC [PSG] Nov '68-Dec '69 Phouc Vinh, so what are you
waiting on? Gordon"
Bill WALSH <DOC6667@AOL.COM>from Toms River, NJ (not Bill
WALSH in Chicago) comments: "I am looking for any of the guys
with B Co. 10-'66 to 10-'67, LZ ENGLISH 6-6-67."
Gabriel PEREZ <GIPEREZ@EISD.NET>from San Antonio, TX, writes
that he was in 15th MED A Co Ambulance Platoon in '72.
Mike SANDIDGE <MESANDIDGE@AOL.COM>comments: "Bill
SALLENGER
[MEDEVAC pilot] was my uncle..I was four years old when he
died, yet he has been a large presence in my entire family's
life. Does anyone have any pictures of Bill? I would
appreciate them...so would my Mom, and his older sister."
Carol SANDIDGE ROLANDO <CRR20@AOL.COM>, Scottsdale, AZ,
wrote, "My brother found this site [15th MED Assn.] and told
my family about it. My Uncle was Bill SALLENGER, he was my
favorite Uncle when I was growing up. He was a man larger
than life. He will forever be in my heart. Thank you for the
tribute to Uncle Bill. It is great to know that he touched so
many lives. I often wonder what his life would have been like
if it had not been cut so short. He will always be my hero.
Love You Uncle Bill."
Bill "Doc" WALSH C 2/7 Cav & MEDEVAC '70 <CPD9283@AOL.COM>
Chicago, IL reminded us when he signed the Guestbook,
"Memorial Day weekend is here and it's time to bow heads in
respect to those bros who are not with us. They gave it all
they had; way more than they needed to or should ever have.
To Carol and Mike SANDIDGE: Mr. SALLENGER was a good man and
a hero; that's all anybody can hope to be remembered. Most of
us will be lucky to be remembered as such. Garryowen!"
Bill later sent the following: "Hey Mike BODNAR! Found
another C 2\7 guy from 2nd platoon-another gunner. Mike
INGRAM dropped me a line. He's living outside Charlotte, N.C.
and is apparently doing well; he mentioned Tom RILEY and Gary
HALFORD. He's wondering like I do where all the C 2\7 Grunts
and Medics are from '69-'71 and what and how they're all
doing. He got a hold of me after reading your column. Sooner
or later all these "Garryowen" guys come home. Keep up the
dynamite work Mike!"
Ralph A. DELORME (SFC Ret) <SARGE@HIGHVISION.NET>from
Vandergrift, PA wrote: "Just wanted to wish all the troopers
a safe and happy Memorial week-end holiday. GARRYOWEN!
I received e-mail from Jackie (KALATA) WHITESIDE USMA '93
<RANGERSCT@AOL.COM>which included the following story:
"The Cavalry's Last Charge?"
"When the Class of 1942 was in its First Class Year, the Army
still had horses, and part of our last summer at West Point
was spent on a cavalry hike. During that cavalry hike, the
Army and the Cavalry may have had its last charge. It
happened this way.
"The Class of 1942 was divided into two troops. The troop in
which I found myself as a platoon leader was led by my
classmate Tom LAUER (killed in action during WWII). We were
on one side of Popolopen Creek, and the other troop opposed
us somewhere on the other side of the creek. Our mission, of
course, was to seek out and destroy the 'enemy.'
"As we approached Popolopen Creek, we observed enemy activity
on the other side of the creek. LAUER gave me the mission of
trying to outflank the enemy's left flank. We did not, of
course, have radios, but we did have a bugler assigned to us.
He was a member of the 10th Cavalry named BENIFIELD, and he
was so huge that he had to be assigned a very special horse
or his feet would have dragged on the ground. BENIFIELD
was a great favorite of the class because, to my knowledge,
he was one of the original 'rappers.' Each morning he would
wake us with a whole series of four-line verses like, 'It's
six o'clock and time to get up...I don't want you but the
captain does.'
"BENIFIELD and the horses were veterans of the cavalry and
were, I guess, looking forward to some kind of lively action.
Meanwhile, LAUER's plan called for my troop to get in
position, and as soon as it had done so, we would attack when
'CHARGE' was sounded by BENIFIELD's bugle.
"The route for the flanking action took my platoon across a
huge field divided into small plots by loosely-made stone
fences. In addition, the field was somewhat muddy and
dangerous. As we made our way across, I sighted a picket from
the enemy troop. I thought it was my classmate Garrard
FOSTER. The minute he saw us, he turned his horse around to
get back to his troop commander and warn him of the impending
attack. As he started to gallop away, I said, to confirm my
estimate, 'Garrard.' That was all that BENIFIELD needed. He
interpreted what I had said as 'CHARGE' and immediately
started to blow his bugle. The horses went wild, galloping
forward at top speed, and because most of us were not really
proficient riders, we became prisoners of a herd of large
beasts who were intent on following the instructions of
BENIFIELD's bugle. We jumped over stone fence after stone
fence and galloped across the creek until we finally came to
a road that ran along the bottom of a small embankment. There
we somehow made a left turn and went down the road at top
speed.
"Suddenly, in the middle of the road, one of the enemy thrust
his horse in front of my horse, and we collided. I was thrown
over the head of my mount but, fortunately, was unhurt.
Meanwhile, the horses to my rear began to run into the enemy
horses and into each other. A tremendous pile-up ensued.
When we sorted it out, it was something like eight horses
and forty men hurt. I never did find out the actual numbers
but believed, at the time, that my military career was over
before it had even begun because I was responsible for a so-
called charge that had injured large numbers of horses and
cadets.
"To my great surprise, after the ambulances had carted away
the wounded horses and cadets, the cavalry officers
supervising us seemed to be pleased. We were assembled for
the after-action critique and the senior officer present,
Captain Peter HANES, announced, that this charge was in the
finest tradition of the cavalry.
"Thus ended what was probably the last cavalry charge at West
Point, and maybe even of the U.S. Cavalry. James H. Hayes '42
<VETERANS@IX.NETCOM.COM>"
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
