1st MED SQDN.
15th MED\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
11357 W Amber Trail
Surprise, AZ 85374-9322
(623)933-0028
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
Web site: http://15thmedassociation.org
Forum:
http://communities.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATION/_whatsnew.msnw
I was contacted on the telephone by Frederick F. OSMUN, of
Clio, MI, who was in L Company 3-5 Cav. He is looking for a
Medic who did some combat work with him in Sept. '50. All
knowledgeable please respond. The 1st Cav Assn. has his
updated phone number and address; contact them.
A correction to the last column is: Combat Infantrymen's
Badge should always be Combat Infantryman Badge.
15th MED Assn. President Murray GIBBS recalls some harrowing
moments flying as a MEDEVAC door gunner: "The day before, I
believe 22 March, 1968, is when I replaced Henry LAND's door
gunner for that one hoist mission. We flew over an NVA camp,
from what I could make out, looking straight down. That day I
surely thought I was going to die and accepted it. Henry got
shot in the hand and we barely missed hitting the tall trees.
We made it back at high speed, and just missed the artillery,
as we came in for a landing at the 15th MED pad, The main
rotor froze on landing.
"Would you believe that I was on my MEDEVAC 447 going back
out there again to do a hoist mission? You won't believe
this, but the rest of my crew didn't know that where we went
back to was where 449 got all shot up. I didn't say a word
until we got back. I must have had big ball back then.
"When I told AC BADERSCHNEIDER about it, he ripped me up one
side and down the other. If you see the point I am trying to
make, you will see I will defend MEDEVAC to the fullest and
at that time it would have been with my life. Yes, SO THAT
OTHERS MAY LIVE.
"I always felt that when we did a mission it was life or
death, so we as members of MEDEVAC and 15th MED Bn. took it
very seriously. I don't know if you had heard much talk about
the Battle of Hue, Khe Sanh, or Ashau Valley. If we set some
standards, as 'Shootdown' would say, we did it not knowingly.
"Each of us can relate to the time period we were there, and
I can only relate to when I was there, during July '67 to
June '68. There is so much history to tell, so many battles
to talk about, and so many brave and daring missions to
relate to from when the 15th MED Bn. arrived until it left.
"It is really an untold story that would pop out many eyes.
Just the stories that a MEDEVAC Medic could tell would fill a
book and more. I think the Medics really took the brunt of
MEDEVAC. That is what we were there for, those Medics to do
their job once we picked up the wounded. He had the hardest
job in my eyes, and for him to trust the crew chief and
gunner was of the highest virtues a soldier could have.
"Here is what I sent DUSTOFF'S John TRAVERS: 'Hi John, You
have done great work getting the bills into congress. I have
read the letter on your presentation to the Senate about the
Combat Medical Badge. I feel that we as crew members during
Vietnam, or other combat conflicts periods, are deserving of
some type of aeromedical evacuation badge. I support the
bills and have recommend to my association to do likewise.
'I send out a newsletter about once a month and have
mentioned about the Combat Medevac Badge, or HR 2587, and S.
1487. In the last newsletter, and in other updates, I have
mentioned about the Combat Medical Badge and Combat Medevac
Badge. They will both mean CMB. I flew with MEDEVAC with 15th
MED Bn., 1st Air Cav, '67-'68. I know that all other U.S.
Army aeromedical evacuation was called DUSTOFF while I was
there. We were the only ones called MEDEVAC.
'Those of us who serve Medevac would like very much to see
the bill pass. Calling it the Combat Medevac Badge takes away
the intent of CMB to Combat Medical Badge, which was
established March 1945 and retroactive to Dec 7, 1941. This
Combat Medevac Badge would sound EXCLUSIVE to MEDEVAC of the
1st Air Cav. It should have a name that would be INCLUSIVE to
all military branches. I recommend it be called the COMBAT
AEROMEDICAL BADGE or COMBAT AEROMEDEVAC BADGE. It would have
CAB in short and therefore not take away from the meaning of
CMB.
'We may find fault with the way awards are presented. The
important thing is to recognize those who flew aeromedical
evacuation and get a just award for that. I know I feel very
slighted in not getting deserving awards. At the last reunion
I was asked why I didn't get a D.F.C. for what our MEDEVAC
did in the Ashau Valley. I was told I would get several types
of awards ranging from the B.S.to D.F.C. Never saw them. We
had a LTC who was very selfish and wanted awards for himself.
The letters I have in my possession will attest to that.
'My last mission was a hoist mission somewhere between Khe
Sanh and Ashau Valley. We encountered contact with about a
company size NVA group. It was on my side of the MEDEVAC.
'We were flying very slow after dropping the ridged litter
down thru the trees. When we flew over the ridge there they
were. It was like OK Corral. I was manned behind my M-60.
Although I did silence many of them, we got the hell shot out
of us. I got shot 9 times in the right arm and left leg. My
armor stopped more rounds and I just kept shooting until the
ammo belt was shot in half. I reloaded quickly but we were
out of harms way by then.
'The fuel cell below me was shot out and we were loosing fuel
rapidly. The Medic and the pilot on the right side received
very minor wounds compared to me. My dedication was so great
that I even thought the wounds were minor and I would be back
up in the air in a week. My platoon leader, Maj. GOODMAN,
said that I was finished, and going back to the states. He
told me he was putting me in for a B.S. Well, would you
believe I never saw that. I had about 5 weeks to go to finish
my tour. This Combat Aeromedical Badge would make up for what
I should have gotten.
'I hope I have not unloaded on you but want to let you know
we support this badge. Hopeful the members of my association
will do what I have asked by contacting their Congressman and
Senators. President 15th MED Association, Murray GIBBS,
MEDEVAC '67-'68 330-547-2579 SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.'"
A reply from John TRAVERS <TRAVERSJT@NETZERO.COM>was,
"Murray, Thanks for the kind words, this a team effort and we
are getting there. We have writers for the Army Times and the
DAV magizine now on board as well as some folks working the
White House side. Thanks for your support and I will add you
to the list that I send updates to. As to the name of the
badge, we will work that out once the Army has been forced by
congress to develop. Welcome to the fight, we will get this
done as it is the right thing to do. JT"
SFC (ret.) Garroll L. AAMODT Sr. <GARROLL_AAMODTSR@YAHOO.COM>
of Colorado Springs, CO wrote, "Served with C 15th MED Bn.
'66-'67. Then again with HHC 2-8 Cav Sep '71-'72, then 345th
MED Det. Can To, Vietnam. Love to hear from anyone."
Writer unknown, whose nickname is "motherteacher"
<EHINES@EARTHLINK.NET>sends, "Sp6 Roy HANES RA15225088 was
my father, and he served in Vietnam from Sept '65, until Apr
'66. He was a Medic with the 15th MED Bn., 1st Cav Division
(Airmobile). My father died of prostate cancer in Nov '90. I
would very much like to know more about what he did, where he
was, and who he knew while serving in Vietnam."
"Hey Mike, This member sent me this e-mail regarding hospital
pods. I put an e-mail to the whole membership concerning it.
I got a lot of responses. I will send you all the response
and maybe you could use it in the Saber down the road.
Murray" Those responses are:
"<RA9895A@AOL.COM> Good morning, Just have a question. I was
in the air amb. maint. plt. '65/'67 and have a film of a
flying crane helicopter with a pod attached. The pod had been
made into a surgical portable operating room. Was it ever
actually used? You guys are doing a great job. Thanks, Jim"
Charles LOCKIE <SPOCK@CY-NET.NET>responded, "I was in the
1st Cav in '67 in Vietnam and there were cranes and one had a
surgical unit. I walked through one. Don't know if it was
used in combat. Chaplain Clarles LOCKIE."
'69 MEDEVAC PSG Gordon RUSSELL <GRDNRUSSELL@AOL.COM>
contributed, "Yes, that pod was used as an aid station,
transported by a CH-54 crane. Col. Jueri SVAGENTSIVE,
the 15th MED Bn. CO at that time, had it fixed for a flying
aid station. When we were on the FTX in SC 1964 this pod was
mentioned that it would make a nice aid station, mobile,
move, etc. The guy that mentioned that was me. My first sgt.
and the bn. commander were looking it over. After we arrived
in Vietnam in '65, I saw the pod with the red cross, painted
white inside. How often it was used, I don't know."
Arthur MARTIN <AJVALKYRIE@AOL.COM>wrote, "Murray: As far as
I know, there were three different kinds of pods designed for
the CH-54 Flying Cranes: 1) Medical 2) Supplies/cargo (empty)
3) C & C. You may want to go to <WWW.VHPA.ORG>and get hold
of a Crane pilot to get better data.
"To the best of my memory, the 1st Cav did not use them as
the Ch-54's rotor wash blew so much dust. But I think they
were used in the highlands."
Jim SCHLAAK, XO B Company 15th MED '66-'67 <JIMSDOC@AOL.COM>
sent, "Hi Murray-yes the surgical pod was used until June
6th, 1967, when it was destroyed in a mortar attack,
explosion and fire at LZ English, Bong Son, RVN, as part of B
Company 15th Med. The pod was air transportable with the
flying crane."
Kyle L. WORRELL <KYLELWORRELL@AOL.COM>remembers, "I believe
we used it in A Co (Airborne) in Nov or Dec '65 and flew it
from An Khe to Plieku. My memory is vague on the operation we
supported, but remember being in it."
<MEDEVAC454@AOL.COM>said, "Murray, FTI we had surgical pods
at LZ English, LZ Baldy; one didn't notice them because they
had canvas over the top to keep out the dust and rain. Tail
clear left"
<ISTEWARD@AOL.COM>"We used the surgical pod a number of
times on missions to different fronts with A Co. Airborne
15th MED Phu My in '65 and Ia Drang '65, I remember for sure.
I believe it was used in Kon Tum as well but not sure."
Kenneth WOLLARD <KENWOLLARD2001@YAHOO.COM>"Hi, I haven't
written to you before. I was in C Co. 15th Med in '67-'68.
I saw the pod at 15th MED HQ. The order for the pod came from
Col. DAVIS. It was fully equipped when I first saw it. It
proved to be impractical for several reasons:
"1. It was so height limited inside that even the short of
stature doctors couldn't stand and do surgery in it. 2. It
took so long to get a crane scheduled to move it. The Idea
was to be able to take it out to a mass casualty situation
and have it there for four to six hours and then go home. It
just didn't work out to be able to get it out fast enough to
do a job. 3. It was so hot inside it, even with the back
opened up, you couldn't work for more than about ten minutes
at a time and all the treatment team were dripping
perspiration on the patient.
"It was an idea that just didn't work out. As I remember,
after Col. DAVIS left and the next CO took over (some time in
mid '67) all the equipment was taken out and the pod was kept
for a while as a storage for non-perishable medical supplies.
"That's about all I remember about it. And I have been known
to be wrong. Hope this helps. I was in the como shack as RTO
when Mr. JACOBS got shot down and also when a door gunner by
the name of Dick was shot in the head. Also, when Mr HUSTON's
bird took rounds and lost power about half way back to Evans.
He did an auto-rotation, landed safely, and waited to get
picked up. All crew and pts. were safe. 'Weird'."
Pilot Henry LAND <CAPTHOOK1STCAV@NETSCAPE.NET>included,
"Murray: One of Col DAVIS' fiascos. It was to have been a
forward bn. aid station close to the fighting to shorten evac
time to treatment. But, they did not want to take the crane
into a hot area and the pod had to be on level ground, so
they had to take a hook in with a small dozier to level the
ground for the pod. By that time we were already making field
pickups and getting them treated before the pod ever got
ready. Pod was also to carry a front line ambulance. Like
DAVIS, the whole thing was a big cluster 'f'. Henry clear"
Gunner Dave PARKS <SHOOTDOWN@YAHOO.COM>inquired, "BRAINARD?
Anyone remember him? Went back to the world just after the
jeep was shot up. (you all remember the guys from 1st Av.
don't ya?) Don't remember what he did. Think he was an E-5
though."
Gunner Mike SMITH, "tater1" <MVANDCO@MSN.COM>, who lives next
door, replied, "Dave, We may have BRAINARD in the list but he
(if I remember right) changed his last name to honor his step
father. I think he was a gunner."
Tom GROVE "PlaneTom1" <EPARK8@YAHOO.COM>joined, "Hi fellow
15th MED members! I'm very pleased to have found this great
organization of many old friends. My e-mail address on the
found members list is wrong (obsolete). It should read
[as above]. Hope to see many of you in Portland! MEDEVAC 25
(One very lucky pilot)"
Walter J. KLINE <RISINGSTOCKS@YAHOO.COM>e-mailed, "I just
read your column in the Saber. It seems that you are more
aviation oriented than medical, but I have some medical input
for you.
"I was in the 8th Engineers in the Korean War. I came down
with 'epidemic hemmorhagic fever' and was hospitalized
for three months.
"Since you are in Arizona, you probably remember that
mystery disease that started on the Indian Reservations
caused by frat urine. It sounded familiar, and I found out it
is the same as my hemmorhagic fever. Then, they put a name to
it. It is now called Hantavirus.
"To some, that might sound like an unusual name.
However, there was a Hantan River that flowed through
our sector and I was submerged in that river more than
once on bridge projects. The current disease was
named for the river in Korea where it was first found
by US forces.
"When I was evacuated, I went through the M.A.S.H., just
like the one on TV. In fact, the commander of that
unit was the author of the book that kicked it all
off. Real number was '8055', not '4077'."
Donald (Sandy) MACDONALD "mac22769" <MAC22769@HOTMAIL.COM>
questioned, "I am trying to find documentation of my flight
time. I was in country Nov '68 and evaced to Camp Drake,
Japan, Mar 11, '69. I have contacted the archives but they
said that all the log books were taken by the AC's when they
left country, at least that is the story. If any one knows a
way to track any of the logs please let me know. thanks"
"GunnerGibbs" <GUNNERMADMUR@AOL.COM>replied, "Hey Mac22769,
These are the Web sites to use to contact your US Congressman
and US Senator.
US Congressman - <HTTP: wrep_findrep htbin www.house.gov>
US Senator -
<HTTP:
general/contact_information/senators_cf m.cfm>
Henry LAND, <CAPTHOOK1STCAV@NETSCAPE.NET>says, "From 23 Feb
'04 thru at least 18 Mar '04. I'll be having a redo up hip
replacement surgery at the VA hospital in Gainesville, FL on
the 25th of Feb. After about 5 days they will send me to a
nursing home for rehab, but I don't know where. Please hold
e-mails 'til after 18 Mar, then hopefully I'll be back on
line."
'69 MEDEVAC PSG Gordon RUSSELL tried to point out to me
at the last Presidential State of the Union Address on TV,
one of his door gunners, William H. "Bill" PICKLE who is now
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper in the U.S. Senate
<HTTP:
sergeant_at_arms.htm>. Bill was one of MEDEVAC's 11 Bravo
door gunners with a CIB. I'll try to find his field unit.
Perry M. LUSBY <POML@SBCGLOBAL.NET>wrote, "Hi Mike;
Just a question or two. I was in the lst MED Sqdn. from Jan
'41 till fall of '42. Did the sqdn. eventually evolve
into the 15th MED Bn. or what? Did you ever hear of, or know
Capt. Madison A. FURRH, who was cmdr of Hq Troop during that
time?
"I have attended a few of the lst Div reunions but no one
ever shows up from the lst MED Sqdn. so I just quit going.
Would appreciate any info you might have for that time
period. Thanks"
The 1st Cav Assn. has no record of Cpt. FURRH. Anyone else
know him? This battalion's history is as follows: Constituted
on March 23rd, 1925, as the 1st Medical Squadron, the
battalion was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division and has
supported it ever since. The distinctive insignia, coat-of-
arms, with the colors of the cavalry guidon, and blue bonnet,
which is the TX state flower for where the inception was, at
Ft. Bliss,
and motto "Standing By" were adopted in July of 1928. On
March 25th, 1949, the unit was redesignated as the 15th
Medical Battalion. With the reorganization of the Army's
logistic support structure, the battalion was redesignated as
the 15th Forward Support Battalion on May 1st, 1987, to
incorporate the new support doctrine of "Fuel, Arm and Fix
Forward," with its official Home page:
<HTTP: 1CD_15thFSB pao.hood.army.mil />
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
