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
Kenneth W. SIERS, Civ AFRL/VSOSR
<KENNETH.SIERS@HANSCOM.AF.MIL>e-mailed: "Hi Mike, Read your
article in the Saber regarding the MEDEVAC crash on 5 Jan
1970. I was a squad leader with D 2-5. On that day, as a
matter of fact, I was about 20 feet away from the crash.
"I remember a couple of door gunners hopping out to see if
they could help with the wounded. Never got to know their
names, but I think they came from Quan Loi because this crash
happened about 1 click from LZ Ike....I knew Doc MOORE, but
not real well....hope this information helped, Ken SIERS,
Chelmsford, MA."
Guy C. LAMUNYON <HTTP: airassault.bizhosting.com>
<GLAMUNYON@AOL.COM>Vietnam '71 comments: "PRESS RELEASE: For
immediate publication in newsletters and online postings:
letter writing campaign for retroactive Air Assault Badge.
The Air Assault Parity Coalition has begun a letter writing
campaign requesting the new Secretary of the Army make the
current Air Assault Badge retroactive to the Vietnam war for
former airmobile and air cavalry combat veterans. The Army
previously considered and rejected the retroactive award of
the current Air Assault Badge to former members of the air
assault units.
"The Air Assault Parity Coalition is also seeking a
congressional sponsor for a Retroactive Air Assault Badge
Bill. For more information and sample letters, visit the Air
Assault Parity Coalition website at:
<HTTP: airassault.bizhosting.com>.
"Please help obtain this long overdue recognition for the
pioneers of the current Air Assault technology (Put The Air
in Air Assault). Submitted by Guy C. LAMUNYON, Coordinator,
Air Assault Parity Coalition (Glamunyon@aol.com)"
Bob Richards <PAWBER@AOL.COM>of Woodbridge, VA. 22192
notifies: "I was a MEDEVAC pilot from Jul '66-Jul '67, Mercy
35; and served with a great bunch of pilots, Medics, crew
chiefs, and gunners during that year."
James Clay KEYS Jr. <JKEYS3@WOH.RR.COM>Dayton, OH, writes:
"I am looking for Monty HALCOMB. I have met him, and I think,
his wife. On a movie I took at LZ Mace I have found some that
are in the movie, but am still looking for others."
I noticed a Guestbook sign-in by one of the best MEDEVAC
Medics that I knew of, Bill KELLER <WMKELLER1@NETZERO.COM>
now living in Bozeman, MT. He signed: "Medic...MEDEVAC, 1969-
'70. Flew with Mr.ZEPP, Mr. TANNER, Mr. RICHARDS,
door gunner PARKS, mainly out of Tay Ninh. Stationed with Doc
Dew, Gus and TRUCKS. Anyone know any of these guys?"
Having known that Dave PARKS had mentioned that Bill KELLER
was the Medic on the MEDEVAC that he had crashed with on Jan.
05, '70, I contacted Bill. He replied:
"Tuesday Evening, Good Evening Mike. Yes, that was me. I've
lived in absolute fear and dread to hear/see the words that
we killed not just one grunt, but in fact two, or so you say,
on that unforgettable day. God, how sorry I am to hear this.
I just can't express the way I feel, have felt, for the past
35 years. I don't know what to say so I'll try to tell you
what I remember.
"Dave PARKS was the best gunner there was. He helped me a lot
when I first came into the unit to be a good Medic. The peter
pilot was a Capt. (a fat little FNG that I had never flown
with) and a wenney. He had a little shrapnel in his back and
the back of his head. Nothing big but he cried the whole way
out to the LZ that night. A real wenney.
"After quite a bit small arms fire we made our second
approach and I was operating the hoist when everything became
very quiet, as in not a sound could be heard. There was a
brilliant orange light and smoke all around me and I think I
was outside the aircraft (but I did not go far because for
the first time I was wearing my monkey vest tethered to the
floor of the aircraft).
"I remember thinking that I did not know what was going on
but that I knew that something was very, very wrong. Then I
realized that I was in mid air and that this was really going
to heart when I hit the ground. I was telling myself to
remember to unhook the monkey vest before I tried to get out
of the aircraft.
"Once outside I started yelling at Mr. LEONARD as to why he
did not 'pull max collect' to brake our fall. He just looked
at me and pointed to the lack of rotor blades (cut off by the
trees as we fell). I then went and started doing my Medic
thing. First wrapping up the crew chief's ribs and dealing
with the peter pilot, then tending to some of the grunts.
But, here I felt like an uninvited guest with these guys,
knowing that I had just f'ed up big time.
"I went back to the chopper but the second bird came over
head and dropped a hoist line. I looked at the grunt I was
with and we both took off running like hell with true fear in
our eyes knowing full well neither of us wanted to be under
the chopper when this one came down too. We made O.J. SIMPSON
look slow that day.
"I have not been to a 1st Cav reunion nor called Dave PARKS
back when he once called me several years ago. The memories
of that pile of trees under our chopper and the two grunts
trying to pull their comrades free is just more that I think
I can deal with at this time (ever?). Sorry. Say hi to Dave
and Mr. LEONARD if your ever hear from them. To this day I
truly love, remember, and respect the people I met in the Cav
and MEDEVAC. We did not lose the war in our AO. Bill KELLER."
I told Bill that the only ones to blame for that incident
were the NVA. How anyone could feel different is beyond me,
but that is the way conscientious people are.
I had seen Bill's name on a '70's MEDEVAC roster posted on
SNORE's old Web site, which I have saved. It shows that Bill
KELLER had received a Silver Star, amongst other decorations,
so I asked Bill about that, and some other things compared to
Dave PARKS' recollections.
Bill said, "24 March 05, Good Morning Mike. As far as I
remember Mr. LEONARD was fine and not injured at all. In
fact, he and I were pushing each other late that night as we
boarded the last MEDEVAC out of the LZ to see which one of us
would be the last to leave that god forsaken place; he won
and was the last to board.
Capt. Winnie was hit in the back and neck and we carried him
out on a stretcher, he just whined too much. We did NOT lift
one WIA, but on the second approach we were at a hover just
starting to hoist up the first WIA when we rotated the tail
due to too much small arms fire, and opened up our side to
the B-40 coming right over the crew chief's head. The blast
went at about a 33 degree angle hitting the peter pilot in
the head and me in the low back (thank god for chicken
plates), both of us minor.
"I'll have to think about going into more detail as this is
still very painful. Not because of the trauma that we
experienced, but that we didn't get the job done to help the
real heros, the grunts on the ground, but just made things
worse. Yes, I got an SS for this but as I've read other
accounts of SS recipients, this was truly a light weight
action for such an award. Thanks for the picture. Boy, what a
mess. BK"
I remember that Bill KELLER had imparted some wisdom to me
when I had met him when I had first joined MEDEVAC; in
essence, don't cower, don't try to hide behind the hoist, it
doesn't do any good. He was right about that on those
aluminum cans. As well, I learned that courage goes a long
way.
I think that I had read in the past somewhere that Bill
KELLER left Vietnam early on another shootdown, also because
of an RPG. If anyone reading this knows more, let me know.
Steve DIBENEDETTO <STEPHEN.DIBENEDETTO@AMEDD.ARMY.MIL>
Olympia, WA wants to say: "HHC 15th MED Bn. 4-'66/4-'67. Flt
Medic MEDEVAC AC #802 then #856 (after 802 got 'broke'). Is
anyone still out there?"
Terri HASSELL BRYAN <BRYANHORSES@YAHOO.COM>from Andalusia,
AL, writes, "Looking for any info on my dad, Jimmie Joe
HASSELL. Flew 15th MED Battalion 1967-1968.
'70-'71 MEDEVAC PSG James E. MCDONALD, Database Operator
15th MED Bn. Association <CSMRET@TDN.COM>Tel: (503) 743 2692
contacted me:
"Mike, Norm ROBERGE e-mailed me in reference to the miss
spelling of the words 'SARGEANT' (6 Times) on John's
[HOLCOMB] bronze memorial plaque. ROBERGE tried to get them
(officials in Oregon) to change it but they can't find the
MOH insignia that is on the original design. Could you pass
this on to the 2-7th Cav and let them coordinate with ROBERGE
and the MOH Association to resolve this problem. POC:
ROBERGE: <NORMKARENN@AOL.COM>"
This would be in reference to D 2-7 Cav 11B John Noble
HOLCOMB, who was born in Baker City, OR, and joined the Army
in Corvallis, OR. John Noble HOLCOMB was posthumously awarded
the C.M.O.H. for heroism on 03 Dec 68, in War Zone D, RVN, at
LZ Bitch.
"Sargeant" is properly spelled "sergeant." Is it too late
now? The memorial plaque is cast in bronze. The word is now
out to the cavalry. Saddle up! And, get this corrected. Who
has that insignia?
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
