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
Cary SACCENTE <CARYTS@ATT.NET>of West New York, NJ, wants to
know, "Anybody from 15th MED Bien Hoa '70-'71??" Let him
know.
'70 MEDEVAC crew chief Damien VIERRA responded to my request
of who may have been on the MEDEVAC that went down on 05 Jan
'70, picking up for D 2-5 Cav. Damien suggest that door
gunner Dave PARKS may have been on that flight. Ironically,
and very eerily, I just happened to e-mail Dave and he
responded with an affirmative, on 05 Jan 05, which was
thirty-five years to the day of that incident.
In his own words, Dave remembers: "North out of Tay Ninh, way
past Grant or Ike. Picked out their smoke. Went in the first
time. Kicked out the rigid litters and went back up. Also
about 10 other gunships doing a daisy chain trying to cover
things. Went back and just got to a hover, the cable part way
out. Had the pilot move the tail to the right, as we were
getting way too much fire from that side. Cable about 50'
down and then we beat it down. RPG up and behind the crew
chief. Was surprised we didn't land on more guys than the two
we hit. One fellow was right under the ship, the other had a
skid across his chest. Helped the grunts use a tree limb to
lift the ship up so they could pull him out. By that time
both had expired! Pulled the pin on my gun and set up next
some grunts. They just laughed. Seems they didn't think my
gun would work on the ground. WAS kind of hard to shoot it
off the bipods but it sure did work. Guess I set up the gun
first, then helped with the two under the ship. Then went
over and turned off the ignition to the turbine. Motor was
still running. Wasn't too long before another of our ships
showed up. Told Mr. LEONARD that they should get out of
there, was too hot. Was Mr. ALBRIGHT, AC, and SPARKMAN was
gunner. Not sure who else was on the ship. They also took way
too much fire and crash landed in a clearing a short distance
away. Another of our birds picked them up pretty quickly.
Dropped them off at C Company. Another bird tried to hover,
but Mr. LEONARD said no, still too hot. Was bullets flying
all over the place. Sure you know how that is? Was dark by
the time things calmed down any. The grunts sent out some
guys to find a clearing a short distance away, so we could
stroll over there and get a ride. Got off the trail right
away cuz of the dark. Had two guys in rigid litters so we
could carry them. Ended up having to drag them most of the
way. Couldn't stand up, was easier to crawl. Actually, we got
lost. So Mr. LEONARD shot one of them little pocket flares
into the air, and one of our birds told us which way to go.
We all thought them little flare guns were dumb but they did
the job that night. Was not my idea of a good walk in the
country side!! Not sure just how many of our birds were
involved but there were at least three!
By the way, Mr. LEONARD was AC, can't remember the peter
pilot's name, know he was a Capt. Medic was Bill KELLER,
Crew chief was Rodney WILEY. Rod was out of maintenance.
Pissed someone off there and they made him go fly for his
last two weeks in country. Rod was blown out of the ship, the
pp was trapped inside the ship. Mr. LEONARD was hit between
the helmet and the back of the seat with a bunch of frag, all
in the back of his neck. Lucky it didn't mess him up
more. Then me and Keller just hurt from the crash, bouncing
around inside, ya know. If you want more let me know running
out of paper on this one. Later, Mike. 'they are never
forgotten, but sorely missed' Dave <SHOOTDOWN@YAHOO.COM>."
We have to thank Dave for that reminisce and his courage,
throughout. That cannot be easy to have to remember after all
these years and under those conditions. If anyone else has
more to add to this story please semd e-mail or snail mail to
me.
'69 MEDEVAC PSG Gordon RUSSELL <GRDNRUSSELL@AOL.COM>wrote:
"Hi. Mike, If you watched the inaugural today, you did see
our own Bill PICKLE escorting the president. He was on the
left as they came forward, his name was mention on the PA
system. Bill, as you know, was a door gunner, MEDEVAC '69."
To reiterate, Bill PICKLE is presently the U.S. Senate's
Sergeant at Arms. He was also an 11B in 2-8 Cav.
<HTTP: sergeant_at_arms.htm office reference www.senate.gov>
"Hi Mike: I was curious if I could share my time with the Cav
with you. I was with HHQ Co. at Camp Howze in '60-'61, under
Lt. Col. Spencer REID. Although I worked with Medical Records
as my primary job, I also worked with the Div. Preventive
Medicine Officer. We rode with the MPs ViDokey Posse,
boy could I tell you some wild stories.
"I wish that I could make the reunion this year, but I am on
O2 24/7 and it is difficult to get around, but I would enjoy
hearing from anyone. Please ask the guys and gals to keep in
touch. Joe GUDICE, SSG, 65 Round Hill Road, Washingtonville,
NY 10992 (845)496-0226 <JJG@HVC.RR.COM>."
On Thursday, 02/10/2005 2:44:16 PM, one of our best, MEDEVAC
1 (Okie) '69-'70, Hank TUELL <INSREDLODGE@EARTHLINK.NET>
signed the 15th MED Assn. Guestbook, from Red Lodge, MT.
When I had joined MEDEVAC in Jan. '70, my very first mission
was a standby call out of Phouc Vinh with two "Okies" as
pilots, a Chief Warrant Officer, "Big Okie," and Lt. TUELL,
who simultaneously had to be "Little Okie." From the '70
Roster, that may have been CW2 Phillip GIBBONS, who DEROSed
02-'70, just after I had joined.
I subsequently flew on successful hot missions with Lt.
TUELL in '70, who's nerves of steel were accompanied by a
shotgun and his ubiquitous wad of chewing tobacco. "Okie" had
to always carry a #10 can with him on board because
expectorating out of the window was not possible. If he has
now relocated to Montana then perhaps we should call him,
"Monty." Nevertheless; it's great that he signed in.
Gordon RUSSELL, and then Murray GIBBS, notified me of news
that after sixty years of debate, Army officials have finally
decided to create a badge for non-infantry soldiers that
recognizes their direct participation in ground combat. Army
Chief of Staff Gen. Peter SCHOOMAKER presented the new Close
Combat Badge, or CCB, to a cadre of senior officers recently,
during a regularly scheduled meeting of four-star Army
generals, according to Lt. Col. Bryan HILFERTY, an Army
personnel spokesman.
The new badge will be the equivalent of the Army's Combat
Infantryman Badge, which was created in 1943. The CIB,
in the form of a rifle surrounded by a wreath, is reserved
for infantry and Special Forces soldiers only.
The Close Combat Badge will be awarded to soldiers with
military occupational specialties in armor, the cavalry,
combat engineering, and field artillery. Officers must have a
branch or specialty recognized in Army regulations as having
a high probability to routinely engage in direct combat.
The CCB will be presented only to soldiers who are engaged in
active ground combat, moving to contact and destroy the enemy
with direct fire. All soldiers are allowed to wear their unit
patch on their right shoulder as a combat patch after
spending 30 days in an authorized combat theater. While
prestigious, however, the wearing of this unit patch as a
combat designator does not necessarily indicate that the
wearer was involved in direct ground fighting.
The purpose of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Combat
Medical Badge, which has been reserved for Medics serving
with the infantry, is to indicate that the wearer has come
under direct enemy fire. These were the only two Army symbols
for that, and as a morale incentive since WWII. "The creation
of the new Close Combat Badge closes a debate that soldiers
have been talking about since the 1940s, when the CIB was
established," HILFERTY said in a Monday telephone interview
to news sources.
"Soldiers and their leaders have argued over the years that
the infantry and Special Forces are not the only two branches
of the Army that get into firefights. The Army has
periodically reviewed the criteria for the Combat Infantryman
Badge, but it wasn't until the conventional wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan turned into insurgencies that the non-infantry
soldiers' point of view gained increased momentum. So, at the
request of commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan, last year
SCHOOMAKER approved the creation of a task force to look at
creating a new combat badge to widen the pool of soldiers
recognized for their actions under fire," HILFERTY said.
More details about the new Close Combat Badge, including its
design and the procedure for soldiers to request the award,
will be unveiled after this initial press release. A March
administrative message will follow that formally outlines the
exact rules and regulations, officials said. The new badge
should be available this fall through unit supply and also
for purchase in military clothing sales stores. Effective
date: Sept. 11, 2001 (retroactive) Note: As of Feb. 14, this
criterion was pre-decisional, meaning that it has not yet
been fully approved by Army or Defense Department officials.
As I have mentioned in previous columns, the recent rewording of
the Army Regulation awards the Combat Medical Badge to some combat
Medics not just serving in the infantry under fire. The creation
of the Close Combat Badge for other soldiers under fire justifies
any break with original intention, and recognizes all. Our
next badge of recognition should be the Combat Aeromedical
Badge, CAB, or some version thereof; stay tuned.
'70-'71 MEDEVAC PSG James MCDONALD (CSM ret.) sent out a
photo of the plaque for the MEDEVAC helicopter at the 1st Cav
Museum, quizzing, "What is wrong on this sign?" Many found
errors in the information; bad grammar; bad spelling; etc.
Murray GIBBS was assigned the task by the director to improve
that plaque. The last revision I saw had not been finalized,
but getting there, with feedback from pertinent veterans.
Murray sent out revised versions which you can also get
updated from him: <GUNNERMADMUR@AOL.COM>.
Reasonable facsimiles of the M-23 Armament Subsystem with M-
60 machine guns, including the Huey helicopter machine gun
mount, are also sought. You can also contact Henry LAND
<CAPTHOOK1STCAV@NETSCAPE.NET>about that if you are
creative., and want to contribute. Real ones will get stolen.
In response to a posting by Dennis O'DONNELL "Radar-15th_Med"
<DEVINODONNELL@MSN.COM>, MichaeL AHERN (WO '67) "MikeAhern1"
<AHERN001@COX.NET>wrote, "Hey Dennis, this is Mike AHERN.
Saw your note referencing a lack of 'old' guys ('67). I was
one of those, and know that there are a few still around.
Bumped into a few. Roger BROYER, Bud GREEN, JORGENSEN,
BATERSNIDER. Is interesting to see what the old group is up
to these days. Was wondering if anybody had any knowledge of
the where abouts of one Ken ARCHENBAULT (WO-1 pilot '67).
Would love to visit with you all. Hope I can make it down to
the reunion in Texas this summer."
"medevac68_69" <MEDEVAC_25@YAHOO.COM>sent over: "There is
another list at: <WWW.VIETNAMDUSTOFF.ORG>, complete KIA for
all DUST OFF and MEDEVAC units both by name and date." Where
which, I found a thorough roster for 15th MED but I did
notice some names missing. I did not see gunner TURNER and a
Medic, ARMSTRONG, whom I knew of both in '70. When I
inquired, Database Operator James MCDONALD <CSMRET@TDN.COM>
supplied on Master Find Roster: SP/5 ARMSTRONG, Joseph E.
HSC, 15th MED 1970 MEDIC, and TURNER, Rodger, 15th MED 1970.
Vic ADAMS <VICTORJADAMS@YAHOO.COM>replied, "If this is the
same TURNER you are talking about, I was friends with him
while in Vietnam. I was a Medic with 15th MED at An Loc or
Song Be in '69. This must be the same guy that we are talking
about. Yes, he was with the Big Red One, I still remember
seeing him with the 1st Infantry Patch on his shoulder. He
lived with me in the same hooch that I was in. Between
missions he was always cleaning his M-60. We visited many
hours between his missions and my shifts. If this is the same
guy, here is one piece of information that will prove to be
the test:
"I think it was his uncle back in the states made a deal with
him. That he (TURNER) was to stay in the Army for a 20 year
hitch, then he would get 40,000 dollars. I think that was the
amount that his uncle and he agreed to. I can remember that
he was dreaming when he got out that he would buy a little
farm and have a horse and such in his dreamland farm."
I had seen gunner TURNER on a MEDEVAC pickup for C 2-7 Cav in
'69 when we had to extract one of our wounded out of War Zone
C. I later spoke to him in the MEDEVAC hootch in '70 at Phouc
Vinh and he mentioned to me having been in the Ho Bo Woods on
a previous tour. That was a nasty haunt of the Big Red One
before the 1st Cav moved down to III Corps in '68 to screen
to the border regions for '69 Tet, rendering the enemy
infested areas closer to the cities less important. It was
very stressful for 11B and MEDVAC gunner TURNER to speak
about that to me, saying, "It was bad," about which all
accounts I have read, confirm.
Gunner Mike SMITH "tater1" <MVANDCO@MSN.COM>posted, "Roger
TURNER was one of the first to train me. He is the nephew of
General TURNER. He works on Wall Street in stocks. Was about
to retire when I talked to him a few years ago. General
TURNER can get in touch with him. tater"
Dave PARKS adds: "tater is right. Remember TURNER. The medic
is new to me, unless he was the medic that got a field
commission and went on to bigger and better things." Dave
also asks "Anyone remember a medic, Timothy BECKER?"
'70 MEDEVAC PSG L. Don BARTON "Don Bartpm"
<MUDMEDIC70@HOTMAIL.COM>says, "Mike, I was thinking about
the MEDEVAC in Jan. '70..The one Cpt. Michael HAGERTY and
Col. LOWE wanted to go see and pull the radio's..I told Col.
LOWE he was not going to go without me to take care of him.
Anyways, Mike set down and LOWE and I went to the site...
there were some Rvn & SF in the area, that had some security
but not much...LOWE wanted to get inside...as he was walking
up to the craft...I pulled him back...don't go there it may
have a booby-trap...we moved up for a look with SF guys and
yes, there were 2, attached by trip-wire. We both dropped a
load in our shorts...Col LOWE told me that if there was ever
anything he could do for me in the future...just give him a
call...and he was true to his word. He was at DA in '73...& I
needed to get off recruiting duty and they were sending me to
Fort Polk, LA. I did not want to go there at all. I called
Col LOWE from my station in Sheboygan, WI. I said 'Help me if
you can.' All he asked was where do I want to go. I said
Denver Fitzsimmons. Go there, your orders will there when you
arrive...I packed my family and made the trip on his word
only. When I reported in, the Personnel Sgt., ' You made this
trip without orders, are you nuts?' I had him call DA & they
told him the re-assignment had been approved by a higher up,
and orders would be in within a few day's..Col Lowe was a
very good man to know..I don't know where he is now, lost
track of him over the years...but, if you know, e-mail me
back a note. The old DOC, Don, PS remember I was 32 years old
when I was trying to keep up with you kids. LTC LOWE was the
XO of 15th MED!"
Mark "Duck" DRAKE <WWIFUP@YAHOO.COM>writes, "I met a vet who
is a member of the Elks in Colorado. He gave me a pair of
deerskin gloves to use when in my wheelchair, which I was in
at the time. They have a service project which is to give
gloves to veterans that use adaptive equipment such as wheel
chairs, handcycles, and exercise equipment, but they are
mainly designed for wheelchair use. I will be working out the
details with the Elks and will post more information on 15th
MED as I get logistics worked out. I will also post
information on our web site <HTTP: handbikeamerica.com />as
it is available. Take a look at the web site. I actually have
a buddy that is doing all the work on the site, his name is
Denny and also a Viet vet. Duck"
PBS's FRONTLINE just aired a ninety minute program about the
1st Cav in Iraq called: "A Company Of Soldiers." Their
reporters were embedded with the 8th Cav and showed what
daily life and work was like while with them. It can be seen
in it's entirety online at:
<HTTP: company shows frontline pages wgbh www.pbs.org />.
DVDs and VHS tapes can be purchased through them and you can
also download the transcript for free.
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
