MEDEVAC
15th MED\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
26748 N 187th Avenue
Wittmann, AZ 85361-9413
(623)388-9150
e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com
Web site: http://15thmedassociation.org
Forum:
http://communities.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATION/_whatsnew.msnw
A correction to the last Saber is that Murray GIBBS was the
sergeant of the MEDEVAC door gunners and not Jerry DICK, whom
Murray remembered. Murray's e-mail phrasing of that had
deceived me.
Murray tells us that the "2005 Reunion will be held at
Killeen, TX (Ft. Hood) June 22-26, 2005. We will be working
with the 1st Cav Div Assn. to set up the reservations. The
Howard Johnson Hotel is the designated hotel for those of the
15th MED Association. What we want to do is get every member,
attending then, in the same hotel; also, have a hospitality
room like we did for the 2004 reunion. We want to have our
meeting at a time and date so it does not conflict with the
1st Cav Div Assn.'s meeting. Plus, we want good room rates so
they won't be hard on the pocketbook. At present there are 50
rooms blocked off for the 15th MED Association. It is
recommended that all reservations be made before Dec 2004 to
get into Howard Johnson's. Address: Howard Johnson Hotel,
803 East Central Texas Expressway, Killeen, TX 76541 Local
Phone: 254-526-4343; Toll Free: 1-800-648-6551; Be sure to
mention you are with the 15th MED Bn. Assn. & 1st Cav Div
Assn. when making the reservation."
Again, now with a contact number, the 2004-2005 15th MED
Assn. Reunion TX Coordinator is: Tim KIRWAN. His phone is:
(817) 465-2886 (Home); (817) 271-1163 (Cell).
President GIBBS also says, "I am working on updating the guys
that don't have phone numbers or in many cases addresses in
our database. I have it down to about 170 members with the
majority missing a phone number. Some are addresses and
others are the Zip Codes. I have put comments by those
address that are P.O. Boxes with their current addresses. I
have found some guys that don't have an address after I have
located them with the correct name and address. They either
have very private phone numbers or don't have a phone and are
using cellulars.
"It will be important for us to start looking for those
individuals who didn't fly MEDEVAC. Remember what COL DOWNEY
said at the 2004 Reunion Meeting; 'We need to start looking
for the other members who did not fly MEDEVAC but are of the
15th MED Bn.' We need many leads to start searches for those
other members. We also need e-mail addresses for those
members who are in our database that don't have them. We may
need to call every member up that we don't have an e-mail
for.
"This time last year we had about 200 found names. In May of
this year we had about 500 names and now we are close to 550
names found. We continue to grow, but thanks to your efforts,
we are also updating or verifying what we have. It is time
consuming and with the help of many of our members our
database will be more complete than when I first started it."
Andrew HUNT <AHUNT@NSD.ORG>wrote: "Hi Mike BODNAR, I am a
teacher at Bothell High School. While searching the Internet
for information on my uncle I came across the Web site
'www.15thmedassociation.org.' My uncle served in the 15th
MED and died in Sept. of '67. I was wondering if you had any
information about my uncle, Roger Clark ROSE? I haven't been
able to get any info from the military about him, except that
he served. I was born about a two weeks after his death and
so my mother named me after him. I'd be curious to have any
information you have. By the way, I teach history and right
now am teaching Vietnam so it was on my mind. Thank You,
Andrew Roger HUNT."
It seems there was talk of a MEDEVAC pilot named ROSE. If
anyone knew Roger Clark ROSE, in any capacity, please contact
Andrew HUNT <AHUNT@NSD.ORG>.
MEDEVAC PSG '70-'71 James MCDONALD (CSM ret.) informs: "For
the Record: There were Two MEDEVAC units when the 15th MED
Bn. departed for Ft Hood, TX. The MEDEVAC Platoon split
(personnel and 6 Aircraft stayed in Vietnam). We used the
Call Sign: MEDEVAC; wore our MEDEVAC patches, and honored our
motto: 'SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.'"
"On 30 June '71, the 215th Composite Service Battalion
(Support) was constituted in the Regular Army and assigned to
the 3rd Brigade (Special), 1st Cavalry Division, and
activated in the Republic of Vietnam. Support included, but
not limited to administrative services, supply distribution,
medical and maintenance support.
"To provide these services, the battalion was comprised of
the following units: Headquarters, Headquarters and Band
Support Command, Administrative Company, Supply and Transport
Company, Medical Company (with MEDEVAC Platoon) and
Headquarters and Maintenance Support Company. The 215th
Composite Service Battalion demonstrated new concepts,
efficiency, and dedication of support to the 3rd Brigade
through the use of personnel contact teams, brigade, aviation
assets and aerial delivery techniques. The 215th participated
in four campaigns, including Counter Offensive Phase VII,
Consolidation I and II and Cease Fire.
"In addition to the support of the brigade, the Medical
Company also participated in a significant civil action
program involving support missions to the civil population of
Vietnam. As a result of the dedication and professionalism of
the troopers assigned to the battalion, the unit was awarded
the Meritorious Unit Citation and the Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry.
"By 31 March 1972, only 96,000 U.S. troops were involved in
the Vietnam combat operations. In less than two months later,
the last of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 3rd Brigade, along
with the 215th Composite Service Battalion, began its 'Stand
Down' in a phased withdrawal and was bought back to the
United States, completing the division recall on 26 June
'72, which had started over a year earlier on 05 May '71.
The 1st Cavalry Division had been the first Army division to
go to Vietnam and the last to leave. On 30 June '72, the
215th Composite Service Battalion was inactivated at Oakland,
CA."
"11th Airborne Air-Assault Badge 15th Medical Battalion
Becomes a Reality With The First Cavalry Division - Origins
Firsthand Account By: Gordon RUSSELL '69 MEDEVAC PSG. 'I
joined the 11th Medical Battalion when there was only
Headquarters Company. The First Sergeant was 1SG BOYLE.
Later, A Company was added and I was sent there to get things
going. Again, B Company was added, and C Company came in from
the 2nd Infantry Division, almost intact. They added the Air
Ambulance Platoon, later.
'I was with the First Air Cavalry Division in 1965, when we
sailed into Vietnam. I was working out of the Support Command
with SGM BOYLE when the Ia Drang Battle started, and then I
was sent along to Major HALEY, at Quin Nhon, to make sure the
Cav Division got all the supplies they needed. I worked the
night shift loading C-130s and Major HALEY had the day shift.
The reason I was in the Support Command was because my
replacement had arrived for B Company. These were some trying
times and one of the largest battles of the First Cav Div.
'I went back to Vietnam in June of 1968 and back to the First
Cav, HHC Company, 15th Medical Battalion. Then on to MEDEVAC
where a Major GRIDER was in charge of the Air Ambulance
Platoon. I had known him at Ft. Benning, when he was a Second
Lieutenant, and he wanted me in his command. Later on, I was
with CPT WOODS and CPT SCHOFIELD. I was with SCHOFIELD
when we picked up Medic Garry BOWDER and door gunner James
MEGEEHEE, as well as others on the downed ship. An RPG had
ripped her open under the seat where MEGEEHEE was sitting.
Most of the crew were badly burned and MEGEEHEE was thrown
from the chopper, suffering from a back wound. MEGEEHEE
took some time to get out of my mind, as he was one of my
best friends. He had planned to go to OCS, here at Ft.
Benning, and visit with me. I remember Robert SCHOMAKER
[could be SHOEMAKER], as a very nice guy, too..
'The last time I saw Kirk WOOLEY he was having problems
carrying too many bags on the chopper on his way back to the
world. A lieutenant was giving him a hard time so, I stepped
in and, after a few words with the LT, WOOLEY left with all
his bags .
'Even though I was a platoon sergeant, I was on flight status
and a lot of missions and was in some mighty hot areas with
SCHOFIELD and WOODS. I have seen quite a few men, in my time
in service, both in WW2 as a First Aid Man in PATTON's Third
Army, but I was never closer to anyone than the men I served
with in Vietnam.' We are grateful to Gordon RUSSELL for
sharing these memories with us. Let us hope that he has much
more to share.-LASH-" Gordon RUSSELL's story was taken from
the 15th MED Assn. Web site for those not online or who have
not vistited it. Please submit any name spelling corrections
if you see one necessary.
Also from Gordon RUSSELL; "Note: This also, really did
happen, in '65. As the First Sergeant was giving out details,
he instructed a, newly arrived, PFC to go burn the outhouse.
Of course, the PFC did just that. He torched the building,
burning it to the ground. The commanding officer made it
clear, that when giving orders, to be a bit more specific.
Gordon-"
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
