The newspaper of the 1st Cavalry Division Association published during each even numbered month at
302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703.  Phone: (254) 547-6537
Deadline for publication is the 1st of each odd numbered month.
e-mail: firstcav@1cda.org
Home Page: http://www.1cda.org
EDITOR: Lorinda Davison
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Martha E. Fisher
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Dennis E. Webster

Subscriptions are available to all Life and Associate members of the 1st Cavalry Division Association and are provided to all new Life members of the Association during the first year of their membership.  Regular columns include, President's Corner, 1st SIG/13th SIG, 5th CAV, 7th CAV, 8th CAV, 9th CAV, 12th CAV, 15th MED, 20th ARA, 27th MNT/ORD, 30th FA, 61st FA, 77th FA, 82nd FA, 99th FA, 545th MP, LRRP/Rangers, Silver Wings, Division Doings, Horse Detachment, Historian, TAPS, WANTED, It's the Law, Letters to the Editor, New Member Listing, and information on Reunions.  Additional articles on subjects generally associated with the Division and its history are also included as space permits.  Subscriptions are $10 per year.

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The following articles have been extracted from current and past issues of SABER and are submitted here for your information and enjoyment.

The Association Board of Governors, Trustees of the Foundation and the Museum Foundation all met at Fort Hood on February 23, 2008. I am happy to report that the Association is healthy in all respects. During the Board of Governors meeting the current Division Commander, BG Vincent Brooks, presented an in depth briefing of the division’s mission and activities while in Iraq. He explained the problems the division encountered and actions they took to overcome them. He was very candid about the problems that remain to be overcome. CSM Philip Johndrow addressed the state of the Troopers. Every time I have had the opportunity to hear the Sergeant Major speak he reinforces the deep respect I have for him. He spoke of the great comradeship and high morale that is found in all of the division troopers. Their desire to successfully complete their mission. The great heroics and total disregard for their own lives when it came to protecting or saving their fellow troopers. He described in detail two troopers who gave their lives to save the lives of other troopers. Anyone of us who has seen the elephant up close and personal cannot help having a deep feeling of pride in our returning troopers. The division will rededicate the Division Memorial on 16 May for the 469 Troopers that died during the latest deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The names are now being placed on the memorial panels. The force structure in the army is changing so rapidly that it is hard keep up with the changes. Changes in the division units are too numerous to cover here. I recommend you go to our website and look at the link www.1cda.org/division_organization_and_history.htm.

Randy George, an association member now working with NASA, presented a 1st CAV patch that was carried on a shuttle flight to BG Brooks.

We need a few good men to serve on the Board of Governors or one of our Foundations. Please give this some serious thought, then communicate with me or the Executive Director, Dennis Webster.

A big thanks to Tom Hartin who has served the Association and Foundation for 25 years and is stepping down after the reunion meeting of the Foundation. During our meeting he announced that he and his wife are donating $25,000.00 to the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association.

During our stay, we were in the new Shilo Hotel it will be our main hotel for the 2009 Reunion. I guarantee that you will like it. It is right next to the Convention Center very similar to Riverside, California. Claire and I were fortunate to see recently returned 1st CAV groups on Friday night in 5 or 6 of the hotel party rooms. I never had the experience of coming back home from combat with my unit therefore I envied them as I watched their genuine comradeship and happiness to be together with their friends and loved ones. Every one of them that I had the opportunity to speak with was very proud of the part they played in accomplishing their mission in Iraq. It was a great feeling watching them.

We spent time at the stables talking to members of the Horse Cavalry Detachment. Once again their pride in the division is unmistakable. They are in constant motion taking care of 36 horses, 6 mules and one dog. It was very interesting to hear and see how they operate. A great deal of training and hard work goes in to making the detachment one of the Army’s great showpieces. One of the troopers we spoke to was SGT Kurt Bailey who sat with Claire and I at the banquet in Riverside. An outstanding young NCO who I am sad to hear is going to be medically discharged or retired. We all wish him the best in his civilian endeavors.

Congratulations to COL Larry Phelps on his assignment as commander of the 15th Sustainment Brigade. COL Phelps did a superb job as the Rear Detachment Commander and this is a well-deserved assignment. Unfortunately the 15th Sustainment Brigade is no longer a part of our great division.

Once again I want to express how great it is to have our young troopers back home.

It’s a great team! It’s our team! It’s the FIRST TEAM!

Reunions: I want to start this issue’s column by reminding you of several reunions coming up in the next month or two. If you are reading this article and you have never been to a reunion let me explain why you should change your attitude about reunions. For one thing it could save your life. I know that sounds a little drastic but let’s say you’ve never been checked into the VA medical system and you never knew about the cancer growing in your body caused by chemicals and/or the parasites you were exposed to in the service. That’s right, it could be a reunion that you learn enough about your health issues to act on them and get the help and benefits you earned. It may take just one blood test to determine you have something you don’t want. It could mean the difference by being detected early and not. If you are already covered medically and that is not a reason for you now, it could be after you retire or if you lose your job related insurance. When you attend a reunion you are going to be around a lot of Vets who are getting their VA benefits and are always willing to explain what you have to do to get your benefits. If the health issues and benefits don’t interest you, then think about those friends you made in the service. They haven’t changed and neither have you. Oh, well physically we may have changed a little bit (I think the biggest selling shirt at the reunions is an XLarge) but voice and personality stay the same. You won’t regret going.

Here is what’s coming up.

8th Cavalry Association: May 15-18 at the Branson Towers Hotel, Branson, Missouri. The deadline for this reunion is April 2nd so by the time you read this it may be to late to get registered however if you would still like to go call DeeTours to Branson at (800) 800-1882 and ask for Curtis or Denise. You may still be able to get in on some or all of the events or there may be a cancellation that you can fill. This is an election year so it’s very important for you association members to get there.

D 2-8 Cav (Angry Skipper): May 15-18 at the Country Inn & Suites in Columbus, Georgia (Fort Benning). There is no deadline for this reunion however they will go with the head count as of April 15th. When I started writing this article there were only 20 rooms left of the 58 they have in the main hotel but if we sell out you will get the same rate at the hotel down the street which is taking our overflow. For reservations call the Country Inn & Suites at (706) 256-6390 and tell them you are with the Angry Skipper group. Although the reunion is primarily D 2-8 Vietnam Veterans, all 2-8 Cav Vets are welcome to join us. Photo of Karl Derums, former D 2-8 XO in 1968-69 who will be one of this year’s reunion hosts.

1st Cavalry Division Association: All of the information for the Division reunion is in this issue. This years reunion is in Jacksonville, Florida June 18-22. This is the big one. A fantastic mix of 1st Cav Vets from WWII to Iraqi War and present day Veterans. I’m hoping we have a good turnout of Iraq Vets from the 8th Cav Regiment. You are almost certain to run into someone you served with but regardless, you will be with a fun bunch of people. The Division always has interesting tours, great banquets and draws hundreds of former troopers and their families too.

If there are any other 8th Cavalry units having reunions, I will always be happy to publish the information in the Saber if I receive it before my deadline.

I received another letter from Steve BOSMA who informs me that the 10th I.D., 8th Cavalry Regiment will be having a 55th anniversary reunion in Branson, Missouri, September 5-7, 2008 and that those interested can contact him at, 7109 Via Portada, San Jose, CA 95135, (408) 270-1319. He said that his photo in the November-December issue sparked interest in the reunion. The reunion includes those who served in the Fort Riley Basic training Companies, HHC 1-85th Infantry Regiment and Item Company, 87th Infantry Regiment December, 1953 to January, 1954. George Company, 86th Infantry Regiment February to April, 1954 and the 8th Cavalry Regiment, May, 1954 to November, 1956, Camp Crawford and Camp Whttington, Japan. Good luck guys, have a great reunion. By the way Steve, call me when you get to Reno and I’ll meet you for that "drinkie-poo".

Trooper Support Program: I received an e-mail from 8th Cavalry Association President Karl SHARPLES informing me that as of now the TSP has been ended. The association sent hundreds of phone cards to our 8th Cav troopers in Iraq during the past 18 months. The phone cards for the 6th Squadron, 8th Cav, 3rd Infantry Division. were sent out this week. 350 cards with 42000 minutes total will give each Trooper 58 minutes of calling time. Thanks to everyone, association members and non-members, who sent in donations to this worthy cause and to the officers and directors of the 8th Cavalry Association for the fine job they did.

It was at the Division reunion in Louisville, Kentucky in 2006 that I really got to know a lot of the Korean Veterans who served in the 8th Cavalry. In Vietnam, we often heard stories about the 8th Cav in Korea in a very negative way. The facts are quite different from the rumors we heard in Vietnam. As usual the high command does not accept responsibility for badly assuming the Chinese would not intervene in the war. The 8th Cavalry suffered the consequences of that miscalculation. In several of the issues over the last two years I’ve reported remains of 8th Cav Troopers found in North Korea and returned to families here in the states for burial. Most of these 8th Cav troopers were killed near Unsan, North Korea between November, 1950 and January, 1951. To honor those who served in the 8th Cav during this period I decided to do a short two part story of what happened at Unsan and in the POW camps. Sandwiched between the immensity of World War II and the controversial mass media coverage of the Vietnam War, many Korean War Veterans have felt unappreciated and forgotten. Some media still refer to it as the Korean Conflict. It was in reality the first war between the Communists and the free world.

The U.S. and Republic of Korea Armies had fought a seesaw battle with the North Korean Peoples Army until GEN MacARTHUR’s plan to land the Marines and the 7th ID and elements of the ROK Army at Inchon and cut off the enemies supply routes. This enabled the 8th Army to break through the perimeter at Pusan near the southern tip of Korea. After that the allies headed north across the 38th parallel and the war seemed all but over. U.S. and ROK forces had pushed the NKPA all the way up the peninsula to Unsan and were in the process of hunting down scattered NKPA units that were fighting as guerrilla forces after being split up by the American offensive. Seoul was declared liberated on 29 September, 1950, things looked good for the allied forces. GEN MacARTHUR discounted the risk of Chinese intervention thinking to himself that they had passed the time in which their involvement would have changed the war. The Chinese had repeatedly warned the U.S. about crossing the 38th parallel but it had been two months and they had not attacked. MacARTHUR assumed wrong and this left the Regiment closest to the Chinese the most vulnerable and outnumbered. Such was the 8th Cavalry Regiment at dusk on 1 November, 1950 near Unsan, North Korea. It was the first time the U.S. Troopers had seen a mass human wave assault, one after another, of thousands of Chinese Infantrymen blowing bugles and throwing hand grenades and firing their "Burp" guns as they charged at the 8th Cavalry and nearby ROK units overrunning many of their positions. When the ROK 15th Regiment collapsed on the 8th Cav right flank, the troopers of the 1st and 2nd Battalion’s of the 8th Cav had to abandon their artillery and fall back into the city of Unsan. The Chinese used this opportunity to seal off their escape route. The Chinese hit again the next day, this time concentrating on the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cav positions. More human wave assaults broke up remaining defensive positions and after an unsuccessful relief attempt by the 5th and 7th Cavalry Regiments, the troopers of the 8th Cavalry were ordered to get out of the trap any way they could. They broke up in smaller groups to try to escape. Many of our 8th Cavalry troopers were killed or captured in this short but fierce battle. Outnumbered and cut-off very few men of the 8th Cavalry made it back to tell their stories. (To be Continued)

In the May-June issue I will write about life in the Chinese POW camps. I’m hoping some of you Korean War POWS will help me out by sending me your stories. I’m told the best book to read about the war is The Coldest Winter so I intend to pick up a copy and read it before the next issue as well. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from some of you. 8th Cav Korean Vets, I salute you all.

I do not do book reviews however two former 1st Cav troopers have sent me a copy of their books to read and comment on. I just finished reading a book by former trooper Joe SANCHEZ (Mo Dhania, co-author) Latin Blue which is a fiction based on Joe’s time with the NYPD. If you like police stories, you’ll like this book. 8th Cav Vietnam Veteran David NICHOLSON sent me a copy of his new book, Tales from the Nam. I’m just getting started on David’s book. Looks like I have a lot of reading to do in the next 8 weeks.

Have a great Easter Holiday! Honor and Courage!

0015 I am writing in the heart of December, 2007 so be aware that Christmas and New Year still lie ahead, the month of January and maybe a couple of weeks in February also, before you read me. Some of our fellow 12th and 1st Cav troopers may have made the flights home before Christmas, they are expected throughout the rest of this year, and until 6 PM January 11, 2008, (actual date/time may vary). A hearty welcome home and a job well performed in the traditional manner of the Cavalry to all deployed, rear area, and family personnel. To us left behind the wait was daunting and sometimes it seemed deployment would last forever. Finally and at long last, a semblance of order and right may exist in our lives. We missed you!

0026 Using my super powers to the max, I can get this close, and do apologize for any misstatements: The 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas, will be re-designated as the ‘new’ 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 3-67th Armor will become the ’new’ 2-12th Cavalry. That re-designation will take place sometime in March, 2008. The Brigade Combat Team (BCT) consists of approximately 3500 personnel and will deploy to Iraq as a replacement unit in the summer of 2008 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

0027 The existing 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Bliss, Texas is currently re-deploying stateside. After its return to home station, it will re-designate to become part of 1st Armored Division, and the ‘current’ 2-12th will be re-flagged as the 1-77th Cavalry of the 1st Armored Division. The three BCTs of the 1st Cavalry Division assigned to Fort Hood will remain, as is. With this change, when they return again, 4th BCT will be stationed at Fort Hood, uniting the entire Division at one base again. The 1-12th Cav will remain in the 3rd BCT. Confused yet?

0220 For those who have not emailed, called, texted or written; what is your hang-up? I don’t bite, (often) and my answering machine tells me it loves you. The Journal would be better and greater with your benefaction. If you get tired of hearing the same names or people quoted, change it. We all have interesting, funny, or poignant stories to tell, even if we were only PLO - Permanent Latrine Orderly. All columnists of this paper are dependant upon and await your input, we espouse the same mantra and express it bimonthly in our varying ways; these columns’ belong to you and reflect your interests and participation, therefore it is a reflection upon you both individually and collectively. Because we say the same, does not make the statement any less true. We are to be held blameless and above belittling fray. If the column is bad you are to be blamed; if it is good, it is your fault likewise (Meant figuratively, not literally). Therefore I, with them, am hanging around the house awaiting you and the chance to write and profound upon something other than my own devising. This is my story and I am sticking with it.

0303 <www.familycircus.com/art/ww2/hist01.html> - <www.familycircus.com/files/files.htm> - "In Brisbane, Australia, Bil KEANE, who went overseas in 1943 with the 1st Cavalry Division, was assigned duty doing publicity art for the Theater Fiscal Office of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East. He promoted buying War Bonds and National Service Life Insurance to all service personnel in the Southwest Pacific." The even older timers than I may know of this but it was news to me and an added reason to read his drawings online and "the Family Circus" in the papers. The listed sites archive his WW II and other early material along with his Circus strips. We claim Bil KEANE for our own Cav ‘family circus’. <http://news.webshots.com/album/70050769zmyhJI?start=0> – 1st Cavalry Division pictures from Korea service and links to other albums.

0543 Ron had not seen a KAL-55B since the ‘Nam. "Got into a fire fight, heavy fire, only had 20 or so guys in the field. Called the LZ, couldn’t find my Whiz Wheel and didn’t have enough time to pull the crypto radio gear, so I gave the co-ordinates in the clear. Next thing I hear is, "You just gave your co-ordinates in the clear, the g ---s know where you are!" My reply, "You think they don’t know where the hell we’re at?" Next thing I hear is, "FDC, Willie Pete 1,000 up, adjust for fire mission." Somewhere I had lost my Whiz Wheel. After the firefight, called to say I lost it on the crypto and they flew out a new wheel and new codes for our area. (Also flew new codes to all units working the same AO, SNAFU on my part.) Years later I told this story, and someone said, "What did you need that for? The g ---s don’t have arty or air support." I said, "You’re right, but they do know how to set up an ambush." The room went quite. The guy was Navy, never been on the ground and wouldn’t know a Whiz Wheel from his mom’s fresh baked pie." And you thought we only had fun in ‘the good old days’!

0938 <www.capveterans.com/american_patriotism/id16.html> - Check this website for full details and contacts to an Official Welcome Home Event for Vietnam Veterans in Crossville, Tennessee, March 29 & 30, 2008. Also check out how to get the ball rolling in your state. Tennessee is the first state in the union to proclaim March 29th, National Vietnam Veterans Day, Minnesota will be the second. <http://members.aol.com/FLVietVets/reunion.html> - Check this website for full details and contacts about Florida’s 21st Annual Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion, April 24-27, 2008, Melbourne, Florida, (321) 255-4307. <http://grunt.space.swri.edu/visit/maps/maptest.htm> - Gives you a ‘Walking’ map of current Vietnam, Google Earth wise. <www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1V3JW4HeBs> - Official video for "I Wanna Be In The Cavalry" by Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans.

1359 <http://www.pdagold.com/themes/detail.asp?t=14528> - 1st Cav US Army, 280kb of PDA background if you have, need, or are purchasing a PDA. 629 views and 131 downloads this month, (they say). I cannot vouch for this program, as I do not have a PDA. I have neither found 1st Cav cell phone or computer backgrounds, nor ‘Cav’ ringtones> you?

1549 <http://12thcav.us/stories_212_RK_backtoNam.htm> - Roger L. KEHRIER, Company B and D, 2-12th Cavalry, 1967-68, gives a description of activities in the Que Son Valley and the battle of LZ Ross, and of his return to the site in 2007. The picture of the war memorial (to them, not us) references this 12th Cav website entry, for your reading enjoyment. As an extra, added bonus for the first 5,000 visitors, there are loads of stores to read and share. Act now before it is too late. Don’t be left out! Photo: Roger Kehrier, LZ ROSS Vietnamese Memorial - "To the Victory of Que Son"

2200 <http://vietnamresearch.com/> - Nez Perce Warrior’s Reflection: They said I would be changed in my body. I would move through the physical world in a different manner. I would hold myself in a different posture. I would have pain where there was no blood. I would react to sights, sounds, movement and touch in a crazy way, as though I were back in war. -They said I would be wounded in my thoughts. I would forger how to trust, and I would think that others were trying to hurt me. I would see dangers in the kindness and concern of my relatives and others. -Most of all, I would not be able to think in a reasonable manner, and it would seem that everyone else was crazy. -They told me that it would appear to me that I was alone even in the midst of the people, and that there was no one else like me. -They warned me that it would be as though my emotions were locked up, and I would be cold in my heart and not remember the ways of caring for others. -While I might give meat and blankets to the elders, or food to the children, I would not be able to feel the goodness of these actions. That I would do these things out of habit and not from caring. They predicted that I might do harm to others without plan or intention.
-They knew that my spirit would be wounded. -They said I would be lonely and that I would find no comfort in family, friends, elders or spirits. I would be cut off from both beauty and pain. My dreams would be dark and frightening. My days would be filled with searching and not finding. I would not be able to find connections between myself and the rest of creation. I would look forward to an early death. -And, I would need cleansing in all these things. Submitted by Tom "Doc" DUTHIE, 4-47 9th Infantry Division, 1967.

2359 Know always that you are not alone in or with these thoughts. We all are and are not part of these thoughts, they both do and do not reflect what we feel and have experienced. Wartime or military experience changes us forever and we exist forever different and forever alike to our fellow experiencers. We walk and react differently from other folk, which is why the associations, reunions, and camaraderie have such great importance in our post military lives. Not to share ’war stories’, although that is certainly part of what we do, but to be comfortable, at ease, and at peace because we are no longer alone, as we tend to be with our families, friends and associates, we are united and joined at last with those with whom we are most comfortable, our brothers and sisters. See you at the reunion in Jacksonville, FL from June 18th-22nd. Write if you get work.

2400 Journal Closed

Hard Charger News: In my last Saber article I said I would devote this article to 1SG (R) Thomas Jefferson Vernor. To his family he called was "TJ" and to his friends, who knew, respected and loved him, he was and will forever be remembered as "TOP." In my opinion we lost a damn good soldier, a real national treasure and a wonderful and generous friend.

Top’s family members who attended his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery on 1 August, 2007 included Alma-Jean Cagle, James Cagle, Julius Vernor, Tim Vernor, David Vernor, Josh Vernor, Steve and Christy Bardwell, Skye Morris, Carrie and Christopher Ellison. Hard Chargers who attended the funeral at Arlington National Cemetery included: Pat Little, Chuck Causey, Jack Shoalmire, Dick Sparks, Wendell Greenlee, Jack Kloke, Jack Callaway, Jack Garven, Bill Gregory, Larry Faust, Tom Rothrauff, Saverio Grimaldi, Ron Carter, Rusty Carroll, Mike Tthomas Rich and Alice Jones, Skip and Hella Wilfong, Ray and Elaine Zugel, Richard and Sharon Braly, Dan and Theresa Gillotti, Mike and Christine Ray, Bob and Donna Jeaudoin, and John and Susan Hoetker. Also attending from the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) was Ken Swords (National MOPH Sergeant at Arms), Ransom Jordan (National MOPH Sergeant at Arms Emeritus), Jay Phillips (former National MOPH Adjutant), Cy Kammeier (National MOPH Editor in Chief), and members of the Maryland Department of MOPH. 

Photo  (Top Vernor at WWII Memorial Dedication in 2004)

Let’s look at Top’s life. Top was born in Dumas, Arkansas on 3 May, 1926 and enlisted in the US Navy on 11 November, 1941 at the age of 15 years, 6 months and 8 days old. After his initial training, he was assigned to the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and sailed out of San Diego to join the Pacific Fleet. He was integrated into Torpedo Squadron VT-3 and flew onboard a Torpedo Bomber (TBD) (Devastator) as a Gunner. At the Battle of the Coral Sea, Top’s plane was hit and the pilot ditched it into the sea. The Pilot, the Radio-Operator/Bombardier and Top were picked up and returned to the USS Yorktown. Then during the Battle of Midway the TBD Top was flying in was hit and the Pilot, the Radio-Operator/Bombardier and Top were wounded on 5 June, 1942. Top’s plane was badly damaged but the Pilot was able to crash it on the deck of the USS Yorktown. Top’s plane was the only TBD to make it back to the USS Yorktown. Top was 16 years, 1 month and 2 days old when he earned his first Purple Heart. The Japanese then attacked the USS Yorktown which then had to be abandoned because of the severe damaged and subsequent explosions.

Later Top was retrained as an Underwater Demolitions Expert and he was assigned to Under Water Team-11 (UDT-11). In March,1945, UDT-11 was dropped off of the coast of Okinawa to clear the beach for the subsequent successful US amphibious landing. In follow-up action on Okinawa Top earned his second Purple Heart when he was wounded by Jap rifle fire on 27 July, 1945. Later UDT-11 was sent to Tseingen, China to prepare it for the amphibious landing of the US Marines. Top was discharged from the US Navy on 9 December, 1945.

With no work available in Arkansas for someone trained to blow things up, Top enlisted in the US Army on 15 March, 1946. Eventually Top served in Korea as a Mortarman with Company M, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division where he earned his first Silver Star Medal for leading an effort to keep his unit from being overrun. After a total of 25 months in Korea, Top was eventually assigned to occupation duty in Germany. He followed this tour with an assignment to Iceland for a year, then back to Germany for 3 years, then a tour in Korea.

Top began his first tour in Vietnam on 13 July, 1967 with the 2nd Bn., 17th FA as a Chief of Firing Btry and as a 1SG. Top returned to the states in July 1968 and returned right back to the 1st Cavalry Division in October 1968 when he was assigned as the 1SG of A Btry, 1st Bn., 30th FA. During the three major battles of LZ Grant (23 February, 8 and 11 March,1969) A Btry, 1st Bn, 30th FA suffered 9 KIA’s and 34 WIA’s. For his brave actions during the 11 March attack, Top was awarded his second Silver Star Medal while leading the effort to keep the NVA from penetrating the perimeter and exposing himself to enemy fire to identify and direct friendly fire on NVA troops massing for a second attempt. During these three attacks on LZ Grant A-1-30th FA lost 9 KIA’s and 34 WIA’s. From March thru July 1969 Top served through several other attacks, but the worst was yet to come.

On 9 August, 1969, a 3-gun Platoon totaling 46 men from A-1-30th FA including: CPT Donald White (BC); 1LT Paul Stuhr (FDO); and 1SG Thomas J. Vernor, were airlifted from LZ JAMIE to LZ BECKY, located 9 kilometers from the Cambodian border. Also at LZ BECKY was A-2-19th FA and a Company of Infantrymen from the 2-8th Cav. At approximately 0300 hours on 11 August, the northwestern corner of LZ BECKY came under a heavy mortar and rocket attack which was followed by a ground attack by an estimated two NVA Companies. At this point, 1SG Vernor encountered three enemy soldiers who had penetrated the perimeter. The enemy managed to hurl two grenades at him, but he managed to hurl one back, killing two of the enemy. One of the NVA sappers had a satchel charge strapped to his back, and when the grenade that 1SG Vernor threw back at him exploded, it set off the satchel charge which blew the two NVA into several pieces. The second grenade exploded about that same time and painfully wounded 1SG Vernor. Later, he remembers the medics picking more than 20 pieces of grenade fragments out of his body and flack jacket. Although they repelled this initial attack, A Battery suffered 7 WIA’s including 1SG Vernor who declined to be medevaced in order to stay with his Btry. Intelligence reports received by LTC Callaway later that afternoon indicated the presence of a three Battalion-sized enemy force massing near LZ BECKY. At approximately 0300 hours on 12 August, A Btry was hit again with an intense barrage of mortar and RPG fire directed at all three gun sections. CPT White attempted to aid and protect the wounded crewmembers of the #1 gun and help put the gun back into action. When he moved from the #1 Gun to the #3 Gun, CPT White was mortally wounded. 1LT Stuhr was wounded right after CPT White was killed. Also attempting to keep their guns firing were SSG Samuel Abrams Jr. of the #3 Gun, and his best friend SSG George E. Snyder on #2 Gun. Despite their courageous efforts, both of these brave Hard Charger NCOs were killed while keeping their guns firing and rallying their troops. CPT White, SSG Abrams, and SSG Snyder were Posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for their valorous actions. While the action continued around the #1 and #3 Guns, 1SG Vernor worked his way toward the #2 Gun Section to help keep it in action. 1SG Vernor was wounded a second time while he continued to organize and lead the defense of the Btry. After the attack was finally repelled after several hours, 1SG Vernor was the ranking man still on his feet, and he had been wounded twice in two days. In this second attack A Btry had suffered 9 KIA’s and 19 WIA’s. Those killed included: CPT Donald H. White; SSG Samuel Abrams; SSG George E. Snyder; SP5 Jeremiah M. Hayes; CPL Richard J. Zisko; SP4 Bobby L. Bevard; PFC Gregg A. Barker; PFC Gary L. Hoskins and PFC William T. Smith. Although A Btry suffered a total of 9 KIA’s and 26 WIA’s on 11 and 12 August, and had all three guns put out of action, they had bravely punished their attackers by inflicting 54 enemy KIA. 1SG Thomas J. Vernor was decorated for his valorous actions and wounds on both 11 and 12 August, 1969 when he received his third Silver Star Medal and his third and fourth Purple Hearts. Soon after this battle Top was transferred to SVC-1-30th FA to serve as their 1SG.

Photo (Top Vernor, A Battery, 1-30th FA, October 1968-October 1969)

In early ’70, Top transferred to the 1st Bn, 77th FA and served with them until returning to CONUS in November, 1970. Top returned to Vietnam for his final tour in April, ’71 and was instrumental in closing out the 5th Bn, 4th FA, 1st Bde, 5th ID, the 1st Bn, 82nd FA, and other units in the 196th Inf Bde. After a total of 4 tours totaling 47 months in Vietnam, Top returned to CONUS in March 1972 and retired at Ft Hood, TX effective 1 September, 1972 with a total of 31 years Active Military Service.

1SG Thomas J. Vernor’s awards and decorations included: Silver Star with 2 OLC’s; Soldiers Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Medal; Bronze Star Medal with "V" and 6 OLC’s; Purple Heart with 3 OLC’s; Air Medal with 4 OLC’s; ARCOM with "V" and 2 OLC’s; Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award); Navy Good Conduct Medal; Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star; WW-II, Korean War, Vietnam War Service and Campaign Medals with a total of 23 Campaign Stars. His unit awards include the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Army Presidential Unit Citation (3 awards); Valorous Unit Award (3 awards); Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 awards); Korean Presidential Unit Commendation; Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Commendation; Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (3 awards); Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal (2 awards).

But Top was far from ready to be put out to pasture. His sense of adventure quickly steered him to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he served for 19 years. 1SG Thomas J. Vernor served as the Honorary Sergeant Major of the 30th FA Regiment from 1995 to 1998. In 1996, he was awarded the Military Order of St Barbara. In June ’06, Top was appointed as the first Distinguished Member of the 30th FA Regiment by COL Kevin Batule. In his final years Top was very active with the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) at both the State (Mississippi) and the National level where he served as the National Sergeant Arms and the National at Arms Emeritus. He was also active with the VFW in the State of Mississippi as well as with the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations. He also remained very active with the 17th FA, 30th FA, and 77th FA Associations and the 1st Cavalry Division Association.

Photo (Top Veronr Honorary Sergeant Major 30th Field Artillery)

Top was a national historical treasure, a true friend, a Hard Charger till the end and he will be sorely missed.

Sadly I must also report the death of another Hard Charger. MAJ (R) Robert Doering, age 63, died of a heart attack on 14 August, 2007 in Angola, NY. Bob was assigned to SVC-1-30th FA in October ’67 as the Bn Motor Officer. He was wounded during an NVA rocket attack at Camp Evans on 17 Mar 1968 and transferred to HHB as Asst S-3/FDO. As one of my FDO’s in Bn FDC we worked very closely with Bob and we got along very well. On 5 May, 1968, we were hit by an NVA 122mm rocket that wounded 14 Hard Chargers in HHB. Bob was hit inside our Bn FDC TOC in the right thigh as he was standing right next to me. He spent 5 weeks in the hospital and was then transferred to the 1st Cav DIVARTY S-3 shop to complete his tour. Theresa and I attended his funeral in Angola, NY on 20 August, 2007 and he had a very respectful military funeral.

We also want your prayers for Stan Rabesa (A-1-30th FA 1969-70). Stan suffered a mild heart attack in late July and his recovery is progressing well. If his wife can keep him away from the Portuguese chourico and linguica he should live for many more years. Stay well ‘ol friend.

This is Hard Charger 9G, end of mission ~ Out!

7th CAV News
by Robert J. Anderson
Published in the July/August 2007 issue of SABER

July 4th, what a glorious day in the history of these United States. From the Revolutionary War through today’s War on Terrorism our patriots have and are still going in harms way to protect us and to provide hope for other nations in the world.

When you begin to read this installment please pause right here for just a few moments and give thanks for our men and women who are serving so proudly.  News continues to be sluggish from you – the reader.  So, with that in mind here we go on another ride sometimes backward and then forward with the news.

Alpha Company 1-7 recently concluded their 5th Annual reunion in Fairfield, Ohio.  There were 70 troopers from late ’68 through about May of ’71 in attendance plus a smattering of spouses.  These reunions continue to grow in scope and more importantly in attendance with this edition being the largest yet.  I can’t tell you what a company reunion can do for your mental health, except that seeing folks that you thought you would never see again just makes you feel young and good all over.  During the reunion we learned that one of our company commanders had passed in the wee hours of the morning. CPT George (George B. LOVELACE III) had been ill for a number of years and we somehow felt that he was hanging on for us.  It seemed fitting that "his boys" were gathered so that we could raise a glass to this man of high moral courage and integrity.  His funeral was the following Wednesday and 3 members of the company drove down and spoke: Doug (Sgt Rock) HALLS; Jerry WOOD and Tommy and Cheryl MILNER. They spoke from the heart about what this man meant not only to them but to those who weren’t able to attend.  Tommy placed a GarryOwen crest inside the casket and a second one onto the outside of the casket.  I’m sure that CPT George would have been embarrassed yet so very, very proud.  Thank you for going the distance: Rock from Wisconsin, Jerry from Missouri, Tommy and Cheryl from Colorado.  Captain George was buried in Norman, Oklahoma.  The group is again preparing for their 3rd Mini - Cav to be held in early August at the Welcharosa in Pine City, Minnesota.  This years installment promises to be the best yet as one of the attendees has a friend who owns a helicopter and they plan to fly up for the festivities.  Last year we shot all kinds of weapons, played various games of skill, drank lots of beer and soda, visited casinos and just sat around and told lies to each other.  This year promises to be more of the same with point and shoot contests (BB guns), horseshoes, grenade toss and some secret stuff currently in the planning stages by Jim HACKBARTH and Fred (Shortround) WELCH.  A full report will be given in the next column.

As previously reported, Dick TAYLOR’s latest book is now available in your local bookstore, and is titled: Homeward Bound – American Veterans Return from War.  The book covers conflicts from the Revolution through today’s warriors in Afghanistan and Iraq.  "Each chapter begins with a battlefield vignette designed to take the reader back to a given conflict.  "This is then followed by an explanation of the situation and of the reception that the veteran received when they returned home.  "This work follows his earlier book Prodigals: A Vietnam Story, one half of which details his experiences as the B 1-7 Company Commander from July of ’70 till about January of ’71.  Dick just recently returned from Iraq where he has been helping the Iraqi military design and implement an Inspector General Corps.

Two bits of important news from Joe GALLOWAY: General MOORE had back surgery on the 2nd of July to fuse some vertebrae in his lower back.  The surgery went very well and the General should be back in fighting shape and pain free in a few weeks.  Secondly, the sequel to We Were Soldiers Once and Young is scheduled for publication in the spring of ’08 and will be titled We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of VietNam.  According to Joe the central focus is on the trip that they made back to the Ia Drang battlefields in company with the old North Vietnamese Army Commanders that fought against us.  There will be additional chapters on Rick RESCORLA, Julie MOORE and CSM (R) Basil L. PLUMLEY.  I still remember that Dateline Special Report about the journey back to the battlefields and how emotional it must have been.  Thanks Joe and to Shortround MIGUT who gave a number of us the heads-up on the surgery.

I would like to share with you portions of a Foreword that I wrote to Jerry WOODS’ book about A 1-7, that although admittedly biased seems to sum up the feelings that many of us have about Warriors, past and present.  "The focus of the book is Alpha Company with a sprinkling of Charlie Company thrown in and covers the period from roughly May of ’69 through late ’71, with the Cambodian Incursion the approximate chronological midpoint.  Many of the stories are humorous in nature while others dealing with the death of our comrades continue to bring us pain and sorrow.  It is important to remember that many of the participants in these stories were still, figuratively speaking, "kids." Some could not vote nor legally drink alcohol, yet could and on many an occasion did, seek out and destroy our fellow man.  As you begin your journey through these pages, I hope you will recognize what I already know about these men simply that they are all heroes.  Hero is a sometimes overused adjective used to convey to the reader or listener the respect that the author or speaker holds of that person.  Our government recognized some of these men with awards of Gallantry or Heroism while most plied their trade without any official recognition, yet they were just as heroic.  You will see strong leaders emerging through these pages, developing the skills that have served them well for these past 36 years.  The term "grunt" or 11 Bravo is an Army MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) which makes reference to the man who does the vast majority of the fighting, while an MOS of 1542 refers to either his Platoon Leader or Company Commander.  The men depicted in this book were all grunts - no matter what their rank and it is truly an honorable moniker.  The grunt has the dirtiest and most thankless job in the Army.  We close with and engage the enemy, sometimes at distances less than 30 feet.  We didn’t fight an antiseptic war from 35,000 feet and then return to a base camp with a warm shower, flush toilet, hot meal, clean sheets and air conditioning.  Oftentimes we went 30+ days without a shower, and a hot meal in the field was a luxury sometimes marred by rancid food resulting in night medevacs in an uncertain environment.  Our war was up close and when our friends got wounded or killed, it became and continues to be very personal.  When the days battle was over, and we were lucky enough to have survived (at least physically), we opened up a can of C-rations, drank tepid water - often tasting like iodine, curled up in a dirty poncho liner, and if we were really fortunate, fell fitfully asleep on a full air mattress.  We burned leeches off of our bodies with cigarettes, sprayed them with bug juice, cut them off with knives or poured salt packets on them.  We cleaned our sores with dirty towels, because water was too precious a commodity to waste on simple "jungle rot. "We suffered from ringworm and heat rash while others came down with malaria.  We got little sleep and the next day got up and did it all over again.  The Combat Medic was the true hero in our company, going to war with nothing more than an aid bag.  The cry of "Doc" sent a chill down our spines because it meant that one or more of our brothers had been hit by enemy fire.  Doc went to the point of heaviest contact to tend to the wounded, often shielding those who were hurt with his own body.  In many cases Doc was the only difference between a man living or dying.  Men whose stories you will read in these pages owe their lives to our medics.  If your loved one hasn’t shared his memories of that long ago time, maybe this book will give you a better understanding of what it meant to be a member of a Rifle Company.  There are many reasons for us not sharing our thoughts but the simplest one is we felt that you wouldn’t or couldn’t understand what we went through.  These feelings were never meant to exclude anyone from our past but simply our way of dealing with the issues that infantry combat left us with.  After all of these years we now know that violent combat can and in many cases have scarred the men in this book with PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Please read these stories and then ask your veteran about his words.  We are finally ready to share our experiences with you.  For me, I want to thank Jerry for trusting me enough to write this foreword to his (our) second book.  Serving in the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division has been the single defining period in my lifetime.  I once was and continue to be an infantry officer at heart."

Again a forwarded email from Shortround: the Howard County Reunion is September 12th to the 16th, ’07 in Kokomo, Indiana.  If you know a nurse please pass this on to them.  WE NEED YOU!  As you may know, ’07 will be Howard County’s 25th Anniversary Celebration.  It was 25 years ago when several vets got together and decided to have a hog roast.  Little did they know that 25 years later it would be what it is today.  We will be taking the time to recognize the original Board of HCVVO, but along with that, we want to take the time to recognize Nurses from all wars (It does not matter what war you served in.)  The name that the Veterans have given to all of you nurses is "Angels".  If you are a nurse or have a nurse in your family that served in the Military, and plan to attend the 25th Reunion, we would love to bring you to the stage and show to you our appreciation and gratitude.  Please contact Jackie at: vveterans@aol.com before Aug. 15, ’07, so we may plan for your arrival.

Orders, Company Rosters, hand written notes are needed to continue building the data base of names.  At the recently concluded Alpha company reunion, I met a guy that had been in another platoon who was having a little bit of trouble with the Veteran’s Administration.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?  The basic problem is that he couldn’t prove that he had served in Alpha 1-7 and his DD 214 DID NOT list his CIB.  Without said proof he was being stonewalled as to verifiable stressors.  Well in my collection of orders, I had a copy of him being awarded his CIB (courtesy of Michael KINNEY); in my October ’69 roster (courtesy of Dale HARBITZ), I had a copy of his name on the roster.  With these two verifiable documents plus some S2 reports from Battalion, he should be well on his way to receiving some type of service connection.  So if you have anything with multiple names please send it to me so that we can continue to find and help those who need it to get the benefits they have earned.  Again my plea to each of you to request your official 201 file from the National Personnel Records Center in St Louis – I can almost guarantee that you will be re-connected with a name from the past.  That name coupled with our growing data bank may, just may put you back in touch with that buddy from so long ago.

By the time you get this issue, the reunion will be over and we will be looking forward to Veterans Day in Washington DC once again.

Give some serious thought to getting involved in your 7th Cavalry Association, we can use the help.  Stories would be welcome too and with that I wish each of you a happy holiday and a sincere GarryOwen, from Michigan.

Let’s start at the beginning.  I’ve had some questions about the origin of the 99th FA Battalion.  Here is the official word on the time line of the battalion. It was constituted October 1, ‘33 in the Regular Army as the 99th Field Artillery (Pack).  The 1st Battalion was activated June 1, ’40 at Ft. Hoyle, Edgewood Arsenal, MD.  The 2nd Battalion was activated June 1, ’40 at Ft. Lewis, Washington.  Headquarters and Headquarters Battery was activated July 31, ’40 at Ft. Hoyle.

It was reorganized and re-designated December, 16, ’40 as the 99th Field Artillery Battalion and at that time the 2nd Battalion became the 98th Field Artillery Battalion.  Later, in ’43, the 98th FA Battalion became the 6th Ranger Battalion.

The 99th FA Battalion was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division March 2, ’43.  The 99th was deactivated October 15, ’57 in Japan during the big U.S. Army reorganization.  That’s straight from the mule’s mouth.

During ’41 and ’42 the 99th trained as a pack 75mm howitzer unit at Ft. Bragg, NC and Camp Hale, CO.  The battalion sailed with the 1st Cav Division to the South Pacific in ’43 with the mules being replaced by jeeps and later ¾ ton trucks.

I received an e-mail from Ellen JACOT who writes that her husband, SSG JACOT was sent from Ft. Riley, Kansas in June of ’40 along with 1st Sgt Dale YOUNG and CPT WEHLE to be cadre for C Btry 99th FA Bn.

Along with that, I have also been contacted by Ward CARR whose brother Al has been in touch with Ray PANGLE who joined the 99th in Oct., ’41.  Ray e-mailed to tell me that he joined the Army Jan. 25, ’41 and was sent to Edgewood Arsenal, MD where he had a short basic training in civilian clothes.  He was then assigned to B Btry, 99th FA where he served until Oct,. ’45.  Ray says he was told that the unit at Edgewood was "Motorized" but he said he never saw a motor on a mule the whole time he was there.  He remembers 1SG John FRENCH and Darwin PALMER. Ray adds that he certainly knew where he was when Pearl Harbor was bombed.  He was at Ft. Hoyle on "Stable Police."  Those of you who dealt with mules know what he means.  I think it’s great to hear from these folks who were involved in the early days of our unit.

I talked to Morris TWEETEN on the phone the other day. Morris lives in Spring Valley, a town about 50 miles away in SE Minnesota.  (I ran into Morris one day at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center a few years ago.)  Morris called to ask if I knew about a LT CLARK who was in the 99th in WW II and who he had heard was KIA in Korea.  I checked the Korean War 99th FA Bn casualty list and didn’t find his name.  Anyone knows about LT CLARK, please let me know.  Morris was in C Btry and was telling me that when the 99th left Luzon, and went to Japan in ’45, he operated as a driver in the Military Government with an interpreter in Tokyo and was stationed at Camp Drake which became 1st Cav Hqs. during the occupation.  Someday Morris and I are going to have to split the difference in miles and get together in Rushford.

The last time I talked to R. J. CLARK, he was wondering where Div Arty kept their "Air Force."  That is the L-19 small plane that they used for observation.  I guess I don’t know; somewhere around Camp Drew, Div Arty Hqs.  I would guess.  Anyone know?

I am a believer in the "Small World" theory.  So many times in my life I’ve run into people who knew so and so that I went to school with or something.  So it was not surprising when I read the 545 MP Bn column of the Saber and spotted a photo from ’51 of three 1st Cav Troopers sitting around a table with some Asahi.  I am always amazed that all of us looked alike and so young.  As I read the caption under the photo, I noticed the name Bart WEAVER, of Winona, Minesota.  Well, I looked in the phone book and sure enough there was Bart.  He’s still here so we had a nice phone conversation and I took him a copy of the Saber.

A short up-date on some "Sick Call" news.  I talked to Rich HIGGINBOTHUM and he told me that his wife Billie was to undergo her final back surgery and they were hopeful that it would be a success.  Glenn Jake STOTTS was scheduled to have some serious surgery in May, but it was postponed until August so we have time to say a few prayers for him.  Or call (219) 844-1048 and see how it’s going.  Irvin EVANSON had one of his kidneys removed because of cancer.  He said that went OK but he was in the hospital six days with pneumonia.  Please keep me informed of anyone who is ill.  Oh, yes, I know at our age we spend half of our time in the clinic and the other have trying to figure out which pill to take when.  If it gets a little worse let us know.

I had an interesting experience June 1st when I was part of the local VFW Color Guard at the Dakota Homecoming ceremony.  Once again I heard the ceremonial speaker recognize a 1st Cav Vietnam veteran from the Ho Chunk Nation (Winnebago) Honor Guard.  So as we left the Ceremonial Grounds I found him and talked to him for a few minutes and, of course, urged him to join the 1st Cav Association.

I had a nice conversation with Darwin PALMER the other day. (Darwin’s one of the founding members of the 99th FA Bn Assn.)  He said that he also was involved with the interpreters in Japan although he only stayed a month there after VJ Day.  Darwin was recently honored with the titles of Outstanding Alumni and Distinguished Fellow from his alma mater Penn State.  He also told me that he had been informed that the C Btry reunion will be in Branson, MO this coming September by Bird EPLING.

I read the book GHOST SOLDIERS, by Hampton SIDES that R J CLARK recommended which I mentioned in the last issue of the Saber.  This is the story of the 6th Ranger Bn. (originally the 98th FA Bn.) and their rescue of the prisoners at the Japanese prison camp at Cabanatuan City in the Philippines.  The book was well written and a fascinating story with the story mixed between the life of the prisoners in the camp and the preparation and operation of the rescuers.  I would warn anyone who has trouble dredging up old combat memories to be careful.  There are some pretty graphic scenes in the book.  While I was reading the book, I happened upon an article in the St. Paul paper about a man who had written a book of essays about former prisoners of war from WW II.  The author had been a Marine at Wake Island and was a Japanese prisoner from ’41 to ’45 so he certainly knew his material.  At the end of the review, the newspaper reporter noted that she would send free copies to any veteran for the cost of shipping.  So I sent for one.  She sent me an extra copy because I told her about my buddy Glenn Jake STOTTS, who was captured at Unson and held by the Chinese for 33 months.  At the same time I was reading the essays, I received and e-mail from Ed CARTY, former writer of this column, which told of his recollection of a strange series of events.

He heard the song, "You Are My Sunshine," in a commercial and it brought back memories from 63 years in Leyte.  It seems HQ Btry came in contact with a band of young Philippine fighters led by a 15 year old whose parents had been beheaded by a Japanese officer.  Each morning the band would leave the Hq position and find Japanese soldiers who they beheaded and brought the heads of Japanese soldiers they had caught in the jungle.  They would bring the heads back hanging on bamboo poles marching back singing "You Are My Sunshine."

The book, GHOST SOLDIERS tells that the 6th Rangers counted on two Philippine civilian groups to help hold off the large Japanese force around the prison camp which led to the success of the daring rescue.  I guess my "small world syndrome" works in the printed word also.

By the time you read this we will have passed Memorial Day, Flag Day, the 57th Anniversary of the Korean War, and the Fourth of July so you’ve had plenty of time to reminisce about times, good and bad, in the service.  The State of Minnesota just unveiled the WW II monument.  I guess better late than never, eh?  A few days later the last member of the Marines, Charles Lindberg, a Minnesotan, who raised the Flag (the first time) on Iwo Jima died.  Maybe he was waiting until they finally put up the monument?

Speaking of monuments, the photos this time are of Korean War Memorials.  Two are small town, one mine and the other from Rich VanGIESEN and one from the Capitol Mall in Washington.  I like the small town ones better I guess.  The one in Washington is really impressive with those huge figures, but it’s not very realistic.  Those of us who were there in the beginning know you couldn’t find that many guys all fully equipped at the same time.  I’m sorry I’m in two of the photos; I’m always in the way when people are taking pictures.

Remember to say a prayer for all the young men and women who are serving in our Armed Forces, remember your old buddies on these National Holidays, and most of all remember we are all in this together.

Hello once again fellow Skytroopers! Please note an email change from: SilverWingsoftheCav@msn.com to: SilverWingsoftheCav@comcast.net .

This e-message is from Glen CLOVER, glenclover@yahoo.com.  Hank, Thanks very much for sending the previous issues of Silver Wings, I enjoyed reading them and catching up on the Cav news.  I was indeed in the Cav, attached to the 11th Combat Aviation Group at Phuoc Vinh as a 93H20 Air Traffic Controller from 12/69 - 12/70.  I had the honor to participate in the Cambodian Invasion (May, ‘70) as a crewmember in COL Ken MERTEL’s command ship, beginning with the first day of the operation, and for the following week.  My other noteworthy achievement was the creation and operation of the Headquarters Company 16mm movie theater, created by cutting a hole in the side of one hootch and displaying the film on the white-painted side of the adjacent hootch.  I think I showed 2 movies a night for the last 6 months I was there.  Several of my fellow ATC team are still in contact with each other, and I’ve attempted to track down others over the intervening years.  Your salute to Ken MERTEL was much appreciated.  He and I had been in contact via email for the past 4 years or so, and he was always pleased to hear from any of his Skytroopers and remained the consummate patriot and warrior to the end.  Thanks again for the Silver Wings material.  Glen (St. Paul, MN).

SSG Ric WETHERBEE, D 5-7, ’67-’68, TVRIC@aol.com, wrote to say.  "Hi guys, saw your columns in SABER.  I am fairly new subscriber.  Guess the belated CMH award got me thinking about this again.  Specific details appear on my web site: www.ricwetherbee.com, under 10/23/67 story.  Has always been a burden that I never identified or thanked any of the flight crews involved.  We ground-pounders owed them our lives many times over.  Is there a way to identify these guys?  Perhaps a byline to my site? J ust would like to give credit where it was deserved.  Thanks again, Ric [Garryowen]" Ric also adds, "I sent the earlier e-mail before I read the rest of the SABER column.  Skip Mc and my guys must have flown together.  I was part of 5-7th Cav who were first Army troops into I Corp, Hue. Remember English, Evans, 122s, loosing all the birds, etc.  Real strangeness is that I DEROS’d out of Hue.  Left by sitting down in the door of a Huey that was momentarily hovering in our company perimeter.  Had no idea where it was going, but figured it was the only thing heading’ home.  Would have been about Feb 10-11ish.  That’s another story.  Rest of my unit was in those flights into Khe Sahn and A Shau.  I was on my TV truck in DC, (working for ABC) during Vets Day.  Tried to hook up with association members, but work kept me from attending any of the ceremonies.  Charles and Kathryn SKIPPER were among those at the Wall and Marine memorial when you were.  He was 5-7 Cav and she was Marines, (talk about a mixed marriage).

The following request came in from Larry AGOSTA, (973) 752-6662.  Perhaps someone out there can point him in the right direction, someone that has had a similar problem.  Larry states, "I wrote a couple of times about two years ago about finding info about my old units and the personnel that I served with.  Since then I’ve written letters to the Military archives and another organization in Washington that I cannot remember, but the bottom line is I got no where.  So here I am back to you to see if maybe we could start over again.  It all starts on Oct. 3, ‘69 where I arrived and was placed with the 15th Admin Co. in Bien Hoa where I spent a little less than 90 days before being traded to a Helicopter unit to fill in as their Courier since the one they had had Derosed out.  Now as far as I could make out from some info you sent me back then I assumed it was the 229th.  I spent the rest of my tour with them.  Now, this is the fun part.  All I would like know is why can’t I get a copy of t he 15th Admin personnel roster and Morning reports?  The morning Reports might tell me when and with whom I was traded to.  It’s bad enough I never received new orders placing me there.  So on my DD214, it only lists the 15th Admin.  Then I would like to confirm with you that it was the 229th out of Bien Hoa.  The other problem is which Company was I with?  See I would be very proud to know that I did in fact serve most of my time with the famous 229th."

The following announcement has caused a lot of e-mail, 95% very strongly against the action.  What do you think?  Thanks to Bruce SILVEY for bringing it to my/our attention.

Here it is: "Soldiers who operate unmanned aerial vehicles now are eligible for award of the Aviation Badge, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. The policy change will be included in an upcoming revision of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards). Under the new policy, approved last March, unmanned aerial vehicle system warrant officers and enlisted operators may be awarded the DFC or Air Medal "if they are physically located on the aircraft (system) during the cited period, and all criteria for the decorations have been met." In addition, Aviation Badges, which previously were called Aircraft Crewmember Badges will be awarded upon successful completion of advanced individual training in a designated career field or military occupational specialty, upon successful completion of the tactical unmanned aerial vehicles training. You can even earn The Master Aviation Badge is upon successful completion of 17 years of non-flight (joy stick time) experience in a principal duty assignment for designated specialties.

Here is a sampling of the e-mail:

1. Silly me---I had always thought that a person actually had to be in harm’s way and risk death or injury to qualify for any medals other than the Good Conduct medal, the theater service ribbons or unit citations. Boy, was I wrong! Those Air Medals we all got---they just lost about 99% of their currency. A DFC for playing a freakin video game? Come on! Carpal tunnel syndrome is the worst injury those guys face! Sure it takes skill to fly those things, but lots of things take skill--typing fast and accurately takes skill. This whole thing is going in the wrong direction.

I always thought it was kind of cheesy for a unit commander to get a DFC or Silver Star for orbiting above an engagement at 2000’, when the people down in the sh!# were taking real hits and showing real courage flying in and out of some hot LZ or dirt strip. But this really cheapens the entire medal structure. What’s next?--company clerk getting a Purple Heart for a paper cut? MOH for carrying the guidon during morning PT? Sorry for the rant, but some of this stuff just grabs me wrong.

2. Looks like a ton of them will be issued. I suggest that we take all our decorations from heretofore places of honor, package them up and send them to the Army and suggest they all be placed in a barrel. When a new recruit or officer joins up, they can be blindfolded, and allowed to reach into the barrel and whatever ribbon or medal they fish out be added automatically to their permanent record. Just imagine how the lucky guy who finds a Medal of Honor or Silver Star will feel when he or she shows up for their first formation -- and won’t their drill instructor be envious? Bah! Humbug!

3. Maybe if the control site is being overrun?

4. This is a ridiculous, unbelievable way to cheapen awards and decorations. Have we seen it all yet?

5. Senior and Master aviator badges loose some of their prestige under this. If they want to recognize UAV operators (I won’t call them pilots) and give them awards related to aviation they need to develop new ones. If they can get an AM or DFC from an arm chair then neither are worth any thing and no one should confuse an armchair warrior with some one whose ass is actually in flight and doing the mission. How stupid and disrespectful to real pilots and crews.

6. The days of "The Right Stuff" are gone forever. Where do I send my aviation medals?

7. Yeah, this new aviation badge is worn just above the X-Box Olympics ribbon and the Game Boy Medal.

8. This bit of information brought to the surface again a major festering sore of mine that just will not heal. Unfortunately, this time I am venting my frustration - sorry it had to be to you, but thanks for the opportunity.

…It wasn’t long ago that the Army began distributing the distinguished Special Forces style beret to every soldier; and now the prestige of the aviation badges and medals will be like getting bells and whistles in a Cracker Jack Box. Deserving individuals should be rewarded for their accomplishments; however, not at the expense of historical and proven recognitions within well defined branches and missions. Should the Medical Corpsman receive an aviation badge because he/she "rode" in an aircraft that transported a wounded soldier to safety and medical services that were life saving? Not in my opinion; however, the appropriate recognition should reflect how well the corpsman performed the duties that saved the life of the soldier - a performance that deserves a medal, not an aviation badge. The aircraft crew would also be recognized, if the performance of its duty were above and beyond normal expectations. The CIB, EIB, Parachute Badges, Aviation Badges (including crew), Medical Badges, Missile Badges, Green Beret, etc., in my opinion, rightfully recognize the accomplishments of the appropriate wearer based on training, experience and performance. Military badges and awards are huge morale boosters that identify the wearer as having accomplished something special in his/her chosen field or special assignment. My opinion again, a non-infantry soldier does not earn a CIB because of his/her performance of non-infantry MOS duties while present in a combat zone or a fire fight for a given period of time. When I see a soldier’s badges and medals they represent and reflect very meaningful accomplishments. Soon I’ll have to sift through my mind when I see soldiers wearing badges and medals that don’t appear to reflect their branch of service. Don’t get me wrong because I know there are soldiers who transfer services, transfer branches, or once served as an EM/NCO, etc., and these soldiers are not included in my assault on the current policies that dilute the Army’s recognition system. I’d like to have earned a CIB in RVN, but as an Infantry Officer/Aviator I was in the Aviation Bn and I had to be happy with my EIB and aviation recognition. I didn’t expect or want the rules to change so that I would receive a CIB because of pick-up and drop-off infantry soldiers in DZs that were sometimes hot. The Army should make every effort to ensure that badges and medals are truly earned and deserved. Thanks for inadvertently providing a vehicle for me to express my thoughts. CGC

9. And last but not least. "Sounds like a bunch of crap to me."

Now for a different view from Cliff LETTS, UAS Flt Ops Site Manager, General Dynamics Information Technologies, UAS Training Bn, 1AB, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-7002.

"Ok, so all this started out with "So what happened to the ‘personal’ and the ‘being there’ part of all this? Quickly followed by a ton of whining and sniveling on how all this makes our awards and efforts worthless. I’ll try to be brief but let me reply like this: Like you, I’ve been there - done that. I’m dual rated and like many of you I did two tours in Vietnam, one fixed wing and one rotary wing and like many of you I got some awards and recognition. So NO, your awards are not cheapened at all. You did your best, likely didn’t get near the recognition that you deserved and your awards stand on their own - be proud of them.

As for me, no big hero here, but I have more right to comment on this topic than any of you. Why? Because I’m still serving the Army, admittedly as a contractor, and what I do every day is teach soldiers how to operate and maintain Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I should also note that before I could teach soldiers I was required to become a qualified operator. That’s right I went through the UAV course and four years ago, at the ripe old age of 63, picked up my most recent airframe qualification. If you are going to talk the talk you best be able to walk the walk. You might take note that when the Army Aviation took over responsibility for the UAS field from the MI Branch they took on a course that was pretty much following Army Aviation’s way of conducting business and they found that we had a reasonable good grip on how business should be done. Of course the fact that we made a point of hiring former military pilots (mostly Army) had a strong influence on that. We weren’t perfect but still damn good. Rucker has tightened things up but that’s what they are supposed to do.

One of the things they did was change the name UAV to Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Gentleman, these are flying machines that require the same knowledge of flight physics and regulations to operate and are subject to the same forces of nature as manned aircraft. Our soldiers go through aviation ground school, spend many hours on system (read aircraft) simulators and finally fly actual flights with their assigned system. Oh yea, the same soldier who fly’s the system must also master the intricacies of operating the system’s payloads, no mean feat in it’s self.

As for the "personal" and "being there", a number of the soldiers who graduated in the same class that I did have been to the box and are now back, working along side my contractor instructors bringing their hard earned combat experience to the table. Yes, I said combat. These are not the Air Force types flying their missions from the safety of Nellis AFB. Our soldiers deploy to the fight. Our Army systems currently require line of sight to the aircraft and that many times, puts our soldiers on the road without much in the way of force protection to set up launch and recovery sites along side the road or in a field in the middle of no where. My classmates often were out there, jumping their equipment 50K at a time for weeks at a time. Depending on the season, they are hot/cold, always dirty, sick of MRE’s and sleeping curled up in the back of a HWMMV. Even those operating from the relative safety of a COB like my Grandson currently at COB SPEICHER remain at risk. Just like in our day, mortars and rockets are a common place thing and supply, fuel, and parts runs still occur - you just gotta love those IED’s.

Bottom line - these are aviation soldiers, most with GT scores that would get them into flight school. They train hard, take the aviation systems assigned to them and go to war. Ask any ground commander over there if he wants to give up his Shadow Platoon - not a chance. So here are these two "kids" (remember we were kids in our day) in a non-bulletproof shelter, with their Shadow on station giving the Commander eyes on his troops in contact, someone is lobbing mortars in the compound and the crew won’t break contact because it’s their brothers down there in a fire fight. Hell yes they deserve an Air Medal or whatever other award the regulations say is appropriate." Cliff.

With that, I’ll bring this Wings flight to an end. Our 60th Annual reunion is just about a month away as you read this. Looks like a great time is in store for those attending. Plans are also in place for the November Veteran’s Day gathering in DC. Reserve you room early.

Until next time, "Clear right!" Hank

Loyalty & Courage all 5th Cav Veterans.

Richard DARLING, 1st Plt. B 2-5 ’67-’68, called to tell me Bill DOGGETT unexpectedly passed away the Saturday before Christmas.  Rich and Bill and the other members of his squad had gotten together several times for reunions.  Bill was the kind of guy who kept his buddies spirits up, quick with a smile and fun words.  Bill was WIA June 19, ’67 along with Len TEPOEL and they were together in the hospital before returning to the states.  Rich says he and Bill’s 1st Plt. friends, Earl CALLAN, Jack DOHERTY, L.C. KILLIAN, Wayne WILCOX, and Jim WHITAKER, attended the funeral.  Military honors were provided by the American Legion.  On the way to the cemetery many citizens saluted as they passed. Bill was well loved by his friends and family and he will be missed.  Photo of Wayne Wilcox and Bill Doggett 1967  Photo of Wilcox, Whitaker, Doherty, Callan, Doggett 2006

George BOYETTE, 2nd Platoon, B 2-5, reports Wallace "Wally" MILES, passed away Feb. 11th from lung cancer.  He was 59 years old.  Wally’s first Nam tour was with B 2-5 7/66-7/67, he was a squad leader and Platoon Sergeant.  He did two more Nam tours, one as advisor to ARVN’s.  After retiring from Army he ran his own painting contractor business.  He became very dedicated to helping his fellow Vets in recovering. He worked hard to start a home for the homeless Veteran.  He got support from Senator Strom THURMOND in the form of a grant for the home.  Eighteen Veterans at a time cycle through the home.  So Wally had helped many Veterans. Rest in Peace Brothers.

Harvey ROTHMAN has updated the roster for B 2-5 ’66-’67 era.  Harv and his wife Sheryl, are still working hard at their picture frame business.  They live in their deluxe motor home at Thousand Trails Preserve in Orlando, FL.  They can’t make the Riverside reunion but are looking forward to ’08 reunion in Jacksonville.  Harv is hoping to hear from his 1st Plt. buddies LT Joe BUTLER and Jack DOHERTY.  Email is shervey98@aol.com.  Contact Harv for your update for a copy of the updated roster.

Ed WALSH, 3rd Platoon Sergeant B 2-5 ’66-’67 had made two missions with the Patriot Guards.  He is planning to be at Gathering of Eagles at the Wall March 17th.  He will report back to us on how this trip to DC goes.  For more info check the web sight at www.patriotguard.org and www.gatheringofeagles.org.  Ed is attending our Fallen Warriors funerals with The Patriot Guard Riders.  His first was on March 10, ‘70 and he will be at SPC Luis RODRIQUEZ-CONTRERA ,HHC 2-5, funeral March 14, ‘07 in Allentown, PA.  This is tough duty.  I congratulate Ed on a strong and noble effort.  Check out the Guards web site for how you can help in your area.

Ed says Bob WENNER, B 2-5 ’66-’67, is still racing horses.  During his travels to racetracks he ran into 1st Cav Vet, who named on of his horses "An Khe Pass".  We are looking for more info on this 1st Cav Vet, he drove a wrecker with 1st S&T Bn., we believe.  We hope to hear back from this Nam Vet and his special horse.

Richard MILLER 4th Platoon, D 1-5 ’66-’67, was glad to read about his C.O. CPT BUCKNER and mortar platoon leader Joe O’LEARY in past Saber.  Richard was 81mm gunner when instructed to resupply platoons in the fight up the rocky mountain in Bong Song in Mar. 13th ’67.  His squad leader SGT Brett YOUNG was WIA.  While bringing him down for Medevac Richard was hit and CPT BUCKNER was also WIA that day. Richard also remembers a LTC MAPP being there.  Richard was seventeen days from his DEROS when WIA. You can reach Richard at this email onecav66@msn.com.

Ben MICHELS,of 227th ASHB. sent me copies of Sept. 1 ,’66 Cavalair which gave accounts of CPT Charles FRY’s, C 2-5, combat involving their long range patrol led by SGT Dennis KINDSCHI with squad members John GARRETSON and Paul LOCHINIC.  Following a fresh trail they soon entered a NVA bunker complex and were pinned down by enemy fire which wounded SGT KINDSHI. CPT FRY and LT Jim WALKER with a reinforced squad came to their relief.  CPT FRY called in supporting fires.  The next days search discovered 150 bunkers , 12 enemy KIA, and 2 villages of 30 huts each. I appreciate Ben sharing this history with us.

Andrew "Pizza" MAZZA, D 2-5 ’70, emailed that he is life member and been reading the Saber since returning from Nam.  He keeps in touch with his buddy Tim PADGET and they would like to hear from others they served with.  Andrew is Veteran of the Cambodian Incursion.  He remembers waiting for the Hueys to pick them up.  His Plt. was to be on first lift and they hadn’t been told where to go.  They were dropped and waited for the next lift but on one came.  They tried the radio, but heard nothing.  When they did get through they found out they were in Cambodia. They were alone and set up their perimeter.  It wasn’t till the following day that rest of D 2-5 joined them.  That day was the longest and scariest in his life.  Contact Andrew at amazza@zoominternet.net, address 4891 Westchester Dr. Apt 6, Austintown, OH 44515, (330) 793-8629.

Henry DEMERRITT, 1-77 ’65-’66, called.  He served with A Btry. and HHQ 2-5.  He shares strong connection with the Grunts he served with as other Red Legs , Bill SHEPARD and Joe PURDY.  He would like to hear more from them and share info and memories.  He remembers FO LT KRAMER and Recon Sgt. Chuck IVEY attached to C 2-5. Hope to hear more from Henry about his time with the 5th Cav.  Contact phone (703) 494-5507.

David GARCIA, received pictures of Charles LANDA from his son Brad.  Charles served during WWII with 5th Cav medical detachment during the Luzon Campaign and the Japanese occupation. I am including one of the two in this column.  Those of you who recognize Charles or knew him e-mail me for copies.  Photo Charles Landa  

John C. BALDWIN, D Co. 5th Cav at Camp Drake, Japan ’47 wrote that he was proud to serve with the First Team.  He also served with F Co. 60th Inf. Reg. Camp Blanding, FL.  He would like to hear from those who served during those times.  His address is 20 North Chestnut, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

SGT Jim BITTER, was with K Co., 5th Cav ’51.  He remembers Thanksgiving feast of 11-22-51.  He was squad leader of 3rd Plt. machinegun squad.  Bumping heads with Chinese after battle for Old Baldy in Oct.  It was cold with dusting of snow as their squads took turns going down hill to the mess line.  The cooks and bakers did a great job filling their mess kits.  They were grateful to those cooks and bakers some of whom had grabbed M-1’s and helped in the final assault on Baldy.  Jims contact info phone (352) 628-1563, 4330 S. Conwell Point, Homosassa, FL 34448-3918, jbitter@tampabay.rr.com.

In a past column, I mentioned Chaplain Claude NEWBY’s book It Took Heroes, about his time with the 1st Cav.  I have completed reading it and highly recommend it.  It is bone chilling on the mark account of being a Grunt.  From keeping warm in a wet poncho liner to attacks from the "Mad Blooper", and nights on ambush and LP’s.  He will be attending the Riverside reunion.  He is one of our Chaplain’s for the 5th Cav. Association.  For a copy of his book contact him at cdnewby@earthlink.net or bring your copy to the reunion to have him sign it.

The 5th Cav Association will have a meeting at 1100hrs. July 11, in conjunction with the 1st Cav reunion at Riverside Marriot Hotel.  All officers and members are asked to check in Tues. July 10th in preparation for the luncheon meeting.  There will be reservation forms and info in the next "Voices of the Black Knights" newsletter.  Be sure and attend as we will be choosing location and date for the next ’08 reunion.  5th Cav President David GARCIA has a slide projector and screen available to bring to the Riverside reunion.  Let us know if you will be bringing slides so we can take advantage of this.  B 2-5 reunion for 2007 will be held in Cinncinatti , 9/12 to 9/16 at the Drury Hotel.  This is Vietnam era ’69-’70 with guys from ’67-’68 also attending.  For more info contact Joe LUSTER email cincystop@yahoo.com phone 513-615-7548.  I hope you are making plans to attend the 1st Cav reunion in Riverside.  Debbie and I are driving down from Oregon with our travel trailer stopping at some of our Thousand Trails campgrounds along the way.  We will be staying at TT Wilderness Lakes, just south of the Riverside.  It looks like we will have a good attendance from the Columbia Willamette Chapter.

Frank BAYER, A 2-5 ’70, recently retired from driving with Portland Metro Trans. and he will be driving his ’07 red Corvette to Riverside.  We plan on dragging the gut along Mission Blvd!  His buddy Pat BOUDREAU is flying in and will join us in rowdy behavior!  Len and Merry TEPOEL, B 2-5 ’67, are planning to attend.  They will be driving their RV stopping in Colorado Springs to visit their son.  They have been enjoying their winter in Corpus Christi, TX area.

I continue looking for a new 5th Cav columnist.  My travel plans for this year will interfere with my writing.  It could be a temporary fill in position as I could return to doing column after our travels.  Call , write or email me with questions you may have.  It is a great way to serve 1st Cav Veterans.

Loyalty & Courage, Loyal Prince 46 India Out, Swig 

The 1st Battalion is about to be history again. The casing of the colors will happen at Ft. Sill on Mar. 6, ‘07 on the Polo Field.  The Inactivation Ceremony, as it is called, will bring a close to the current history of the battalion.  LTC Carl TROUT, CSM SHELTON and the troops will be reassigned to other duty stations and some will leave the Army.  The various memorabilia will be stored and preserved so when the battalion is reactivated, we can again be one of the famous artillery battalions in the Army.  The 1-77th has a history of activations and deactivations going back to 11 June, 1917.  First named Troops A and B of the 19th Cav. their first duty was along the Mexican border against the Mexican bandits.  It was named the 1-77th on 11 Nov., 1917 as Btry A, 77th FA, then duty in WW I with the 4th Infantry Div.  Over the years several other periods of change occurred with deactivations and the like.  In ‘57, it was again reactivated as the 1-77th in ‘57 at Ft. Hood.  The 77th was sent to Vietnam in ‘65 with the 1st Cavalry Division.  The other 77th Battalions served in Vietnam also.  The 2-77th and 6-77th troops did their duty well.  The 1-77th became an MLRS unit at Ft. Sill in June, ‘96.  They have supported our 77th Reunions over the years with remarkable service!  We will miss their colors and the great troopers.  We had a good ride and I hope the colors again come out of their cases.

We met in Jan., ‘07 for the St. Barbara’s Day celebration and in conjunction with this the 77th Artillery Assn. Reunion.  We had the pleasure of having members of the 2nd and 6th Bn 77th join the festivities.  F Troop 6-77th ARA was attached to the 1st Cav. Div. for a few months in VN before being deactivated there.  It was good to meet up with other 77th troops.  They have an interesting story to tell also.  There were lots of laughs and tales to tell.  They are a good bunch of troops who are already planning for the next 77th Reunion.  With the 77th history back to WW I as part of the 4th ID, we may meet again at Ft. Carson, CO.  The 2-77th will be assigned to the 4th ID.  This is dependent on the Army’s current reorganization plans.  A possible reunion date was mentioned about Sept., ‘08.  This remains to be determined and we will keep all members posted.  If all goes well the plan would be to meet from Sunday through a Thursday.  We had the distinct pleasure to honor Bonnie BALBO.  She attended to discover some of the feelings of men who served in VN.  Her former husband was killed in VN.  She is a lovely and gracious lady who made this reunion that much more remarkable.

Another interesting happening was the meeting of the grandson, Gabriel GARCIA, C Btry., whose grandfather fought with Poncho Villa in the Mexican Wars with a guest from the 18th FA whose uncle fought against Villa.  Now there is a remarkable piece of history and unknown to all until the 77th Saturday banquet.

John AVERA and his very enjoyable wife, Charity, came up from Alabama to join us for the first time.  John retired from the Army and was also one of the "Early Birds" as I call those of the Cav who trained together and went to VN together.  Bob TAGGE was his usual fount of information and knowledge which has been so helpful in keeping the Cav Association and 77th informed.  Roger GRAY, C Btry ‘67-‘69, works on the post and his office provided much support for the doings.  Fortunately his office is in the same building as the hospitality room.  Doc and Joan BOSMA did the usual outstanding pre-event set up and organization.  The stay in the Ft. Sill Army Lodging facility right on post was a delight as the rooms were affordable, clean neat and convenient.  Much like a motel only right on post.  The Saturday evening dinner was well done.  LTC Carl TROUT, CSM SHELTON and other 77th officers and their wives were so supportive of us and really are a credit to the US Army.  We owe them so much for their service and support.

The Iraq after action briefing presented by the 77th was very interesting.  Some 286 men went to Iraq to provide heavy equipment and road security from Kuwait to 51 supply areas all around Baghdad and related areas.  Driving the Heavy Equipment Transporters, called HETS, over 18.6 million miles on not so well made roads was a remarkable feat.  Along with the 77th were third world civilian contractors who drove the "White HET" to denote them as civilian contractors.  The White HETS were smaller transport rigs but which at times carried an M-1 Abrams tank.  The tank was wider then the trailer and caused many problems in the loading and off loading.  One photo shows the tank partially off the trailer. But good old GI ingenuity solved this problem and many others they encountered during the year.  The GI HET is a huge rubber tired monster.  Along with the unit were the 8 wheel drive recovery units that could haul heavy supplies but were used for recovery of stalled or damaged equipment.  They also hauled artillery or tanks for other units stationed in Iraq. To provide road security the M-114 gun truck was used.  This unit weighed in at 16,000 pounds.  It had a back seat observer, spotlights on the gun and large mirrors to provide vision.  The old and venerable Quad 50’s and other weapon combinations gave them some real firepower.  Technology has certainly come a long ways from VN days.  The Tracking Satellite Radio was of particular interest.  It could provide instant navigation and communications for the convoys.  I would have loved to have even a basic handheld GPS and I know the Infantry would have the same feelings.  Another interesting fact mentioned was the split battalion with part of the unit stationed in Kuwait and the rest doing the driving.  When I took over A Battery in 1968 we were split between two LZ’s.  CSM SHELTON headed up the log base rear Transportation Company.

Enemy weapons they dealt with are common and uncommon to us older guys.  Small arms fire and indirect fire are known to us all. The IEDs and formed explosive charges are new variations of old weaponry.  I noted on the First Cav WEB page how many of our casualties are the result of the IED.

The St. Barbara’s Day was a fun and moving time for all involved.  This was my first St. Barbara’s Day doings and I was much impressed by the color, pomp and ceremony surrounding the event.  The men were in their dress blues and the ladies all decked out in their fine evening wear were impressive.  Even a few Marines in dress blues were present.  The most fun time for me was the recognition given by those present Soldiers to the 77th Artillery Association.  All 500 plus guests rose in a standing ovation to recognize the Vietnam Vets.  The really great time was the initiation and presentation of the new members into the Order of St. Barbara.  Unbeknown to Mike MAYNARD his name had been submitted and accepted for the honor.  When his name was called he thought there was another Maynard present.  I told him to join the line up as I was sure it was his name.  After the presentation ceremony he was about as moved as I have ever seen him.  He was such a rock of stability and calmness in VN that I thought he never got shook.  I have clear memory of him calmly walking around during counter battery fire missions giving reassurance to the troops like the incoming rocket and artillery fire was of no reason to worry.  He deserves every accolade that has come his way.  The food was good too.

It was good to meet up once again with Ben SCOTT, the way out in the wilderness radio relay man!  His story of being a small 3 man detachment stationed all alone on a hilltop is to me a bit unnerving.  I don’t think I would feel so secure being stuck there with only the NVA and animals keeping you on guard.  Or as in their, case an American unit coming up to them and not knowing Ben’s group was already on top of the hill. Ben is still on a mission of find one of his friends.  We wish you well in your mission Ben. Roy GOBER came down from Midwest City to again join with us.  This time he left the tornados behind.  Several years ago we were driving in Lawton when the sirens lasted away.  I was looking for the fire trucks and Roy was hitting gas as he knew what the radio was telling, tornado.  His town had been hit earlier that year by a monster tornado and he wanted to hit for home and be with his wife. Roy has just retired and now hopes to enjoy life without work.  Roy was wounded at LZ Peanuts and awarded the Bronze Star with V for his actions there.  Larry SCOTT was with us again (another person familiar with Peanuts). I enjoyed the time with him as we recounted our time together in A Btry.

The Army reorganization continues.  Ft. Sill will become home for all artillery training when the air defense school moves up from Ft. Bliss, TX.  The 1st Armored Division will move back from Germany to Ft. Bliss.  The 4th ID will move from Ft. Hood to Ft. Carson when the 4th ID returns from Iraq.  It will be interesting to see if all this happened as planned.  Planning is always good but as was said, the best plan in the world goes out the window when the first shot is fired.

I must pass on several book reports.  John TOLAR served and a 1-77th FO in ‘68. John was attached to the 2-12 Cavalry when they made their ground assault near Hue during the TET.  John was wounded during what later became the "The Lost Battalion" action.  The book by that name was written about this dramatic event.  COL Richard SWEET led the charge.  He retired as a Brigadier General.  This book really is about men under great combat stress and the ability to survive because of leadership.  The book highlights decision making and making those decisions without first had on the ground knowledge or choosing to ignore this info.  But we are human and certain personality traits affect our behavior.  The other book "The River of Doubt" is a about President Teddy ROOSEVELT’s trip into the Amazon wilderness.  Again leadership and human suffering and the ability to complete the mission are amazing.  Just like the 2-12th.

The most commonly published picture of the place was from a higher angle as the photographer passed over in another helicopter. The 2007 calendar published by the 1st Cavalry Division Association has a slightly lower angle of that photo for the month of September. The helicopter is also just lifting off the LZ instead of being on the ground with blades turning.  Photo

The location on a military map would be BR 879950, but for the multitude who lack military maps it is near the north end of a ridgeline with several prominent knobs just to the east of Highway 1 and just south of Bong Son. The highest point on the ridge is the Nui Tach Ba with an altitude of 314 meters, while Highway 1 in that area is at an altitude of about 12 meters. To the east of the ridge is a fertile valley that separates it from the Cay Guip Mountains which are referred to in the book, Brennan’s War, as the ‘Tiger Mountains’. In some spots access to the top of the ridge can be gained by following routes that are 10-15 degrees. Other areas are over 40 degree pitches.

Near the end of ’67, the 1st Cavalry Division had most of its forces operating within 40 kilometers of Bong Son with an important headquarters just northwest of the Hwy. 1 bridge at Bong Son was LZ Two Bits. A few kilometers north and on the east side of Hwy. 1 was LZ English. Both were important to the 1st Cavalry Division.

The VC and NVA forces realized the importance of the bridges over the Song Lai Giang and had as a matter of fact dropped the highway bridge into the river. The railroad bridge then had heavy planks laid across it and was used by Hwy. 1 wheeled traffic.

On 30 Dec., ’67, the 2nd Platoon, of D 1-8 Cavalry was dropped onto the ridge at about BR 880947. The platoon leader was one Nelson DeMILLE who would later gain fame as a best selling mystery writer (Word of Honor, Charm School, Plum Island, Gold Coast, General’s Daughter, Up Country, Night Fall, etc.)

D 1-8 often had a platoon on separate operations and CPT Al CONETTO would have liked the idea of being able to rotate all of his four platoons through the operations. Unfortunately, he had lost his experienced 4th platoon leader, LT Leonard HIGDON (later killed with E 1-327th Infantry of the 101st Airborne) and his replacement was working out poorly. LT Timothy BARRICK of 3rd platoon had been wounded in the Bong Son Plain and his replacement LT FLORENCE, was showing promise but lacked experience. LT Robert REID’s 1st platoon had more than their share of separate operations for the month so this one fell to LT DeMILLE. CONETTO sent along his artillery recon sergeant, Glenn SHEATHELM, to call artillery fire which would allow DeMILLE to concentrate on maneuver details.

DeMILLE’s platoon air assaulted onto the ridge at about 1530 hours and was instructed to patrol the sides of the ridge until dark then set up an ambush behind one of the villages on the east side of the ridge. Due to the steepness of the slope the platoon found it rough going before they found a suitable ambush site. They had movement below them and to the south during the night, but no clear targets. The mosquitoes on the other hand had a holiday feast at the expense of 2nd platoon.

Hardly anyone got any sleep and the troops were in a pretty common state of exhaustion when morning came. They resumed patrolling and DeMILLE sent part of the platoon to see if they could identify what had been moving during the night. It turned out that several VC had been in that area and had continued south, further up the ridge. There was considerable grumbling in the ranks, but they were back on top of the ridge shortly after noon.

2nd Platoon was told to move to BR 879950 without being seen and set up a position to observe any mortar positions the enemy might set up to fire on the bridge New Year’s Eve. LT DeMILLE started north with his platoon until he saw their objective in the distance. The location was scoured of any vegetation by previous artillery fire and occupation. Concealment was nearly non-existent. DeMILLE had a solution for getting to the top of the hill without being seen. Wait until dark. He had his platoon take a break in the wooded section of the ridge line.

About an hour later, he received a radio call asking whether he was at BR 979950 to receive supplies. After some conversation on the radio, DeMILLE was aware that waiting to move after dark was not an option. He was supposed to move to the barren hilltop ASAP. The troops who had been informed that they would be an observation post (OP) above the bridge and Hwy. 1 were beginning to think the idea of a "secret" OP would be compromised if they walked up there in broad daylight, but they went to the barren hilltop anyway.

The security of the hilltop was reported by radio up the chain of command. Later a CH-47 was observed flying their way with huge rolls of barbed wire slung under the helicopter with a Huey behind it. The CH-47 stopped over the hilltop and dropped the barbed wire and sling. It then moved left and landed on the barren little hilltop. Several other troopers got out of the helicopter and told DeMILLE that they would be with him as additional forces for the night and that additional food and water was inside the helicopter.

Meanwhile, SHEATHELM noted a sampan on the river had turned up a side stream and was unloading things in the distance to the northeast. Using his left knee to steady one elbow he watched them with the binoculars. He was unable to verify they were unloading military equipment so they didn’t become a target for artillery fire. (In the calendar picture he is the 4th from the left along the top of the hill.)

After the CH-47 was unloaded, it clattered away borne aloft by its own wind storm. It was during that time frame that the calendar picture was taken.

As quiet returned to the little hilltop, DeMILLE called his NCOs together for a meeting. One of his squad leaders, SGT Gary WILSON, commented, "I guess we aren’t a ‘secret’ OP any more. The VC are not dumb enough to think the Chinook put the barbed wire up here as late Christmas present for them nor blind enough not to see us walking around." There were other negative comments about the mission and all the barbed wire they were supposed to string. LT DeMILLE realized the troops were exhausted. Troops would still dig in even if only improving shallow craters and old positions, but the barbed wire would not be strung because they would have to just roll it back up in the morning. As soon as it was dark, all position improvement work was to cease unless it was essential for security of the hilltop.

The troops, who had already spread out in groups of two, went to work on the positions as instructed but as the warm glow of unusual late afternoon sun bathed the hilltop one of the troops noticed movement below them in the general direction of the bridges. As word spread, the entrenching tools were dropped and the troops grabbed their rifles. SHEATHELM scurried over to the side of the perimeter with radio and rifle. The troopers had flipped off the safeties on their rifles and were looking down the ridge to the northwest. One figure could be seen briefly between the bushes advancing towards them. There was discussion whether to engage with rifle fire or artillery fire when SHEATHELM got the binoculars on the figure several times. He reported that it appeared to be a woman with a wicker backpack and no weapon was visible. SGT Gary WILSON sent for LT DeMILLE.

DeMILLE wanted the woman stopped and turned around with shooting her, if possible, before she got within 100 yards of the perimeter. He sent three troops down the hill in short rushes and had others covering them with their rifles. The woman made no attempt to evade but kept walking up the hill.

The first troop reached her and she stopped to remove the wicker pack from her back. The trooper raised a bottle from the pack. The woman not only knew that the 2nd platoon was on top of the hill, but knew what holiday they would be celebrating!

DeMILLE allowed a limited number of troops to go down the hill to purchase alcohol tow at a time and instructed the rest of the platoon to keep rifles pointed into the jungle below them. The woman’s hike up the hill was financial success for her. By keeping the platoon in an obviously alert mode, DeMILLE was ensuring that if the woman encountered any VC on her way back down to the village she would report that the platoon or larger force was well prepared and alert.

They did maintain 50% alert on the hill over the night and when some of the troops heard SHEATHELM chuckling they asked him what was funny. He said an artillery recon sergeant named ANDERSON from B 1-8 was a bit drunk and was very entertaining on the artillery net. The infantrymen wanted to hear it too and they had SHEATHELM put ANDERSON on the speaker. Off and on for the next hour or two ANDERSON was the New Year’s Eve entertainment for an unknown number of American troops and maybe a few of the enemy. He was the Johnny Carson of the Bong Son Plain that night.

The morale of the 2nd platoon also improved because the hill had a nice breeze blowing across it and there were no mosquitoes. They spent a quiet night.

At daylight on 1 Jan., ’68, LT DeMILLE received instructions to break down the perimeter and prepare to be lifted out by noon. He reported that he was already on it as he looked over the hilltop and his relaxed soldiers. The rolls of barbed wire had not been used and he figured it would take less than an hour for his troops to break up the simple perimeter. There was no rush. He walked calmly to the positions and told the troops to eat breakfast, break down their sandbags, rig the wire for lift and relax until the helicopter arrived.

Shortly after noon Delta 26 was on the ground at LZ Mustang in the An Lao Valley. The troops wished others from their company a Happy New Year. The 1st Cavalry Division had pretty much defeated the North Vietnamese in Binh Dinh Province in several big battles and numerous smaller ones during ’67.

The first six months of ’68 saw 1-8 CAV moving to Quang Tri, Tet ’68, relief of the Marines at Khe Sanh, and air assaults in the A Shau Valley with flak bursts from 37mm and 57mm anti-aircraft fire as they sat in the open doors of their helicopters. By the time of the A Shau, artillery recon sergeant Glenn SHEATHELM, CPT Al CONETTO, and others had rotated back to the USA. Evans CROCKER, the machine gunner at the front center of the picture, would die in the A Shau along with others in the company including Ray I. HAAS and SSG Doward JONES who were wounded in late December and returned to the unit.

Now you know the rest of the story behind the September picture on the 2007 calendar. There may be others in the picture with other information to add. I would be interested in their comments.

Had a nice long call from Curt ARONSON (SVC and HQ ’51-’52) relating what a good time he and all the others had at the Sugarcreek reunion last May.  It doesn’t, however, appear that the rift between the two alumni groups has been entirely breached and that there will continue to be two separate reunions for the foreseeable future.  Too bad, but I guess that’s the way it goes.

A telephone call between Bill STEWART (A and SVC ’49-’51) and Dick WEAKLEY (B andHQ ’52-’54) only resulted in an agreement on both sides to exchange reunion information, but not to combine the events.  As Charlie PILLERS (A and HQ ’49-’51) noted, a combined reunion is going to eventually have to occur or neither group will have enough members to be holding a reunion at all.

Received Bill STEWART’S nice newsletter around the first of June.  We had published the list of Sugarcreek attendees in the last issue of the Saber so won’t repeat it here. Bill did acknowledge and express everyone’s thanks to Joe and Lois LECHMAN (B ’43-’46) for all the hard work they put into the reunion.  The featured speaker was General Haas who spoke on the history of the Korean War. The ‘07 reunion will be held at the Drawbridge Inn in Ft. Mitchell, KY on May 21 – 23.  That’s a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Bill also included an updated roster and we appreciate that.  Anyone who wants one can get a hard copy from Bill by just asking or I’ll be glad to email you one.

Bill also reported that Pat BOHNERT (C ’42-’45) is recovering from recent surgeries and is hopefully well on the way to full recovery.  Al and Carol NOVOTNY (HQ and B ’49-’51) had a tough year with Al’s health, but both are doing much better now and looking forward to the next reunion.

Also talked to Dick WEAKLEY from Colorado.  Dick was in the midst of barbecuing some steaks while he talked.  He was asking about my participation in the Chitose Younguns reunion.  Unfortunately I had made previous plans to attend the OCS reunion (see the recap on that later on in this article).  On the subject of the Chitose Younguns reunion I got the following from the reunion host Grady TUCKER.  The reunion opened on 8 June with presentation of the colors, pledge of allegiance and opening prayer.  Following was a well-received presentation by the Honorable Sonny CALLAHAN, former US congressman representing the 1st congressional district of Alabama.  Sonny is a native of Mobile and served Mobile as a state representative, state senator and US congressman in the House of Representatives for 9 consecutive terms retiring in ‘03.  A delicious southern buffet capped the evening.

Friday, 9 June started with a complimentary breakfast followed by a tour of Mobile.  At the start of the tour, Richard HEETER (B ‘52-’54) was stricken with what was believed to be a heart attack and was rushed to the emergency room.  He was diagnosed with a severe gall bladder problem and they removed the gall bladder that evening.  He is recuperating nicely at home.  Later in the tour, Woodie MARTIN (A ’52-’54) took a nasty spill at the cathedral in downtown Mobile.  He was also rushed to the emergency room where he was patched up and released to continue the reunion festivities.  He is also recuperating at home.  Friday was capped with a cookout at the home of Alex and Suzanne NAPIER.  The group enjoyed a hula presented by Suzanne backed up by her husband Alex, brother David TUCKER and future son-in-law Matt LAW with music by Bob KAGAMIDA. Photo of Chitose Younguns Reunion

Saturday, 10 June opened with a complimentary breakfast followed by a photo session.  A business meeting and lunch followed.  Unfortunately, with regard to having one common reunion, the group opted to continue their own way for now.  Negative feedback from the 61st FA Bn. Assn. was a major factor in the decision.  An agreement was reached to pursue the possibility of meeting again in ‘08 in northern Kentucky. Sat. was capped by a Cajun buffet and Mardi Gras dance.

Sunday, 11 June began with a complimentary breakfast followed by farewells.  Attendees included Ralph BOZARTH (B ’53-’54), Don and Virginia CHAPPELL, Richard and Judy HEETER (B ’52-’54) with guests Junior and Sharon CANTRELL, Bob and Yvonne KAGAMIDA (B and HQ ’53-‘54) with guests George and Joyce BOGS, Woodie MARTIN (A ’52-’54), Glen and Kathleen NOLEN (B ’53-’55), Hoyt POWELL who was attending for the first time, Richard and Peg SCHOTTLANDER (HQ ’52-’54), Bobby and Telva STOUT (B ’52-’54) with guests daughter and son-in-law Telva Gale and Jerry Wallace, Russell SUMMERLIN (B ‘51-’52) who was also attending for the first time, Matt and Laura TRINGALI, Grady TUCKER (A and B ’52-’54) with guests daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Alex Napier and son and daughter- in-law David and Susan Tucker, Gerry and Mary Kay VANCE (C ’53-’54), Richard and Joyce WALTER (B ’52-’54), Marion and Charlene WATT (HQ ’53-’54), Dick and Audrey WEAKLEY (B and HQ ’52-’54), Jim and Juanita WELLS (HQ ’53-’54) and Bob and Betty WILLIAMSON (B ’53-’54).  And I think all the attendees owe Grady TUCKER a huge thanks for setting up and coordinating everything.  By way, if you don’t see your battery assignment and years following you name it’s because I don’t have it on my roster.  Please drop me a line or give me a call to get the situation corrected.  You might have also noted the preponderance of fellows from B Btry.  Where are all the guys from A, C, SVC and HQ? Maybe we need to try to contact some of them and get them to the reunions.

On Friday we spent most of the day at Ft. Sill.  A few of us boarded buses at 0500 and rode out to the base of MB4. All you OCS guys will remember that!  We walked to the top and enjoyed the view and the sunrise.  That night we attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Patriot Club on the post.  We watched as they inducted 26 more OCS grads into the Hall of Fame.  The total m