6 Grand Saline Sun, October 15, 2015

NAM, Page 1 ed. They went from a pla- the North Vietnamese sign, “SLOW. Men at play.” called the biggest cache da, and we had two chil- any other, and it’s certainly toon of 30 to 12 in two days forces. Surreal footage That tells a lot about the discovered in the war. dren, Katy and Zach. My worth fighting for. Now, when they fought in Cam- and intimate interviews man and his delightful phi- “It took the platoon 16 wife died 33 years ago so I am just enjoying life.” bodia to break the supply take audiences through losophy of retirement life. days to take Shakey’s Hill, I pretty much raised them A big part of that enjoy- lines of Ho Chi Minh Trail. each fire fight leading up One sees the expanse named for Chris Kaffa- with the help of Brenda’s ment is staying in touch They lost their young- to the operation’s climax, of 32 acres of farmland, los. He was a special guy, mom. Of course there with many of the men he est, barely 18 year-old which because infamous- lakes, a herd of Black An- 18 years-old but looked are still nightmares from fought beside. In 2004 Chris Kaffalos, whomly known as the taking gus, farm equipment and like 15. He was nervous the war -- you don’t know the Bravo Company had they fondly nicknamed of “Shakey’s Hill.” The a two-story “shop” that and sometimes couldn’t when or why they come.” their first reunion at Shakey. Their big- hill was named after the Woodrum calls his pride get his words out right, When asked about his Woody’s and between 12 gest battle – lasting two battalion’s youngest sol- and joy. “It’s exactly like so I nicknamed him feelings since his time in and 20 veterans have been months – took a North dier, who lost his life dis- I dreamed it would be,” he Shakey. Everyone had Viet Nam, Woodrum re- coming every October Vietnamese stache and covering the first cache. said. One sees everything nicknames in the platoon. membered, “I didn’t have since that first gathering. was named Shakey’s Hill. “The discovery of the mas- from funny signs and neat “We felt like much older any problems with the war “We invite all the neigh- They stayed off the North sive caches is considered rows of supplies to tables men, though some of us protestors. I didn’t like the bors and kinfolks to join Vietnamese trails where one of the most successful and chairs, enough tools they were certain to be operations of the Ameri- to stock a Home Depot, ambushed, traveling in- can Forces during the war.” refrigerators, freezer, stead through the jungles Back at the Farm… hunting trophies, rest- surrounding them, con- The veterans of Bravo room, large covered patio tending with water and Company gathered Oc- flown over by the stars mud that seeped into their tober 1-4 for the seventh and stripes of the Ameri- boots, fighting leeches year at Woodrum’s farm can flag and the black that fell from the trees where they found cool and white flag remember- onto their bodies, kill- breezes, plenty of shade, ing the Prisoners of War ing snakes, brushing off comfortable chairs, bever- and Missing-in-Action. red ants crawling over ages of every kind, views Woodrum graduated them. All this while try- of lakes and hay fields. from Grand Saline High

Bravo Company were only 19, and when fact that it was going on us, and it is just good fel- he died, we later found but I guess everyone has a lowship. We usually had a piece of wood, paint- right to his own opinion. to whisper in Viet Nam, ed “Shakey’s Hill” on it “I didn’t ask to go to Viet but now we can talk loud and nailed it to a tree Nam, but we did what we and laugh. We dress com- right there in Cambodia. were told to do. I don’t fortably, kick back, eat “When we captured the believe the war was fought delicious food and spend hill, there was a medical right – the politicians in time with each other.” evacuation by helicopter Washington wouldn’t stay Veterans enjoying the of the wounded and dead. out of it. In a war you cool weather on the patio The North Vietnamese ought to leave things up to began talking with this re- Beautiful Wives shot at the helicopter, and the military. Tell the sol- porter, telling their stories. ing not to make a sound It was also a time set aside School in 1968, worked for there was no place to land, diers to win and give them The first question I asked that would give away their for remembering and the Union Pacific Railroad so the men were hoisted what they need to do it. was, “Why are you here?” positions to the North healing, for sharing pho- for a few months, then en- up from the ground to “Those who served there J. W. Shiring Vietnamese fighters who tographs of their grand- listed in the Army. His the helicopter in the air.” did what they were asked “You are never so alive were also in those jungles children, for petting An- initial training took him One man in the platoon, to do and more. They as when you are so close ready to kill them first. nie, the farm’s Aussie who from Ft. Bliss in El Paso to Mike Lewis, accompa- were noble warriors who to death.” J. W. Shiring Though the word “embed- felt completely at home ly- Ft. Ord, CA, Ft. Benning, nied Shakey’s body to his deserved national re- of Pittsburgh, PA, said, ded” was not used in 1970 ing among the feet of the GA , for the NCO Acad- home in New Mexico, spect and gratitude. They “These are all my broth- when Norman Lloyd, an soldiers, for being with emy, back to Ft. Ord, then planned the service, spent didn’t get it. The families ers, this is my family. You Australian photojournal- those who understood to Viet Nam as a member time with the family, who stayed behind sup- don’t go through what we ist who worked for CBS, a defining year, so long of the Bravo Company. then came back to fight ported us every day, and did without it changing joined their trek from ago, in each of their lives. He spent his entire year again with the platoon. we owe them more than you. There were 130 men Viet Nam into Cambodia. It was a very good time to of duty in the field in Lloyd took photographs pull away from the noise Viet Nam, then Cam- to document the hor- in the rest of the world. bodia. The platoons of ror of those battles, the To get to Woodrum’s farm, 30 were further divided wounded being cared they drove, they flew, they into squads of eight to 10 for, the medical evacua- brought RVs, and they men. Woodrum was first tions which were danger- drove with their wives who a line squad leader, then ous in themselves, those share a bond of living that the machine gun squad who held their “broth- year alone and terrified leader. He took shrap- er” in their arms while that they would never see nel in the back (which they died, the times they their sweethearts again. he still has) but did not could laugh in a whisper Some veterans are wid- have to be evacuated for and smoke a cigarette. owers, some divorced, but his wounds. He was later He sent his photographs they all received the ben- awarded the Purple Heart. back to Richard Threlkeld efits of having war-weary, He remembers, “We lost and Ed Bradley of CBS, wise and compassionate two of our original pla- and he never forgot the women there who have toon at the end in Cam- Bravo Company of the become much like sisters. bodia, and a hellava lot Charles and Linda Walter 5th Battalion of the 7th They are among those were wounded. Soldiers It took three days of sol- we can ever describe.” in our company, and 65 Cavalry of the first Cav- women who know what in the North Vietnamese diers working 24 hours a Woodrum gave time came back, but the North alry Division of the Unit- war does to a man, and Army were much better day to recover and carry and thoughtful answers Vietnamese lost twice as ed States Army. (General they are there to honor fighters than the South down the trail all the sup- to the question, what many of their soldiers. George Custer’s division) them as well as share their Vietnamese. They were plies from the hill. Two lessons did you learn “I was the point man Before “retiring,” Lloyd own quiet stories of what hard-core, organized with thousand guns and mil- from your experience? because I could quickly ultimately received 10 the last 45 years have been. sniper groups everywhere. lions of rounds of am- “Appreciate life” were his see and even sense signs Emmy awards for his war Many of those wives “We were sent to destroy munitions were captured first words. “I hate war. of danger. I saw the for- documentaries as well as brought all the “trim- the North Vietnamese sup- and carried back to Viet It never accomplishes est through the trees, saw other pieces for CBS 60 mings” for the Friday night ply routes that went from Nam. When the sup- anything. I always heard broken pieces of bamboo Minutes and CBS Eve- feast of catfish and shrimp, Cambodia to Viet Nam. plies were on their way, that if the nation’s econ- indicating someone had ning News, but he never fries and hushpuppies, “It was pure hell from the men of Bravo Com- omy was in a bad situa- been there recently. There forgot the men who took cooked up by Wood- day one until we left two pany began walking back tion, the politicians would were hundreds of trails, Shakey’s Hill in 1970 from rum’s neighbors and good months later. We usually to Viet Nam. They lost decide to start a war. but we had to stay off them; the North Vietnamese in friends, Beverly and Ted had a three-day supply of more men as they walked. “I have a simple view of you get on a trail and you the Cambodian jungle. Echols. Saturday evening food though sometimes In 1970 Woodrum re- war – we hate it, but as are ambushed real fast. He told their story in pho- brought barbecued brisket that was delayed, and turned from Viet Nam to loyal, patriotic Ameri- “What did I learn? To tographs and in their own and ribs – beautiful fruit our clothes were not very Grand Saline and went cans, we done our duty. live every day to the full- words. That documentary, salads, bowls brimming good but we weren’t na- back to work for the rail- “Once you have faced est and that after Viet Shakey’s Hill, was the 2007 with green salads, desserts ked. We found all sorts of road. “I didn’t tell anybody death, it really touches Nam, every day is a winner of Best Documen- so worthy of the name, caches, hospital supplies anything, and I didn’t have you, makes you appreciate good day. It’s all good.” tary Short at the GI Film home canned delicacies, and equipment, a trans- any problems to speak of,” your own country. It isn’t Eldon Erlenbach Festival. It also won the cornbread, you name portation depot in that he said. “I married Bren- perfect, but it’s better than Eldon Erlenbach came Storyteller Award at the it. A feast for the eyes mountain. It was later from Columbus, OH, with Redemptive Film Festival as well as for the palate. his wife Gail. He was a in 2007. Leslie Stall of 60 Much of this preparation printer’s apprentice when Minutes called it “a shin- was done around and be- the draft called him, and ing triumph of a movie!” tween the times the wives he joined the group with With permission from banded together to go to the second platoon that Norman Lloyd, we re- First Monday. One year was ordered in to help the print here the description Woodrum said the guys original struggling Bravo of the movie: “In 1970, got into trouble by plan- Company as they fought one cameraman followed ning the reunion on a to take the hill of North a battalion of American weekend other than that Vietnamese supplies. soldiers into the jungles amazing event in Can- Men in the first platoon of Cambodia. The mis- ton. Lesson learned! were the most experienced sion was to seek out sub- Bill Woodrum (Woody) fighters so they were usu- stantial weapons/supplies Starting to tell the story, ally asked to walk point, caches being used by the Woodrum invited me to making them the most North Vietnamese Army his farm. Entering under a vulnerable to enemy fire. during the Vietnam War. silver fence gate that bears Looking around the “As the battalion closed his name, winding by his reunion area, he com- in on the location of the home of 20 years, through mented, “These are caches they encountered another gate into the pas- the nicest people. a growing resistance from ture you see a delightful Woody and Mike Lewis Grand Saline Sun, October 15, 2015 7

They would do anything war and her husband hav- ily farm that has chick- all walks of life, and this made in the United States.” from soccer games. The in the world for you. This ing to go and fight. “I’m ens, ducks and guineas. is my fourth reunion to Paul Nechanicky father told his son of Lew- is my third reunion and it still mad!” she says with a “A lot of what we went spend with them. They Paul Nechanicky came to is’ fighting in Viet Nam. is so enjoyable. The wives fierce sparkle in her eyes. through was pretty bad. are like my brothers. the reunion for the third The young man wrote, take each other in and have Charles was in the fourth I lost touch but thought “I experienced no time, from Albert Lea, MN, “Your service has helped a great time. Bill is very platoon to join the fight about it a lot. These prejudice or trouble be- where he and his wife Mar- lots of people and changed special to have us here. for Shakey’s Hill. He was guys were the ones I was ing a Japanese-Ameri- ilyn have an antique store. lives including mine. You “We are a close-knit group wounded and received with, and it means a lot can, and I bonded with “These are the greatest are my hero. Thank you and we keep in touch the Purple Heart medal. to be with them again the other men. I val- bunch of guys you could for your service.” Lew- throughout the year. We Still he can say, “It wasn’t in a beautiful place.” ue these friendships. ever get together. We talk is was so touched that went through hard times, very pleasant, but it was ‘Doc’ Joe Roberts “War is stupid! The about the war, sure, but we 40 years after one hor- and coming here reminds a learning experience.” This was the sixth reunion hardest part was that no also talk about what goes rible year for him, his me how much I appreciate Charles was older than for ‘Doc’ Joe Roberts, one one respected you for on in our lives. Keep- service means some- my country. I feel proud. many of his fellow sol- of the medics for Bravo your service in Viet Nam. ing up with each other thing to a young man. My family knows and ap- diers, but he says they Company. He was trained They called us names. is what keeps us close.” During the two evenings preciates what this group became his true, life-long as a medic because he was Think about it – 50,000 Mac Coffman of the reunion, this report- went through together. friends. “Out in the field a conscientious objector. Americans didn’t get any Mac Coffman and his er spoke briefly with Da- “If you can believe it, we became brother car- He arrived in Viet Nam respect for doing what wife Leanne came from vid Monk who was called friends in my hometown ing for brother; we lost so January 10, 1970, and left, they were ordered to do.” Oklahoma. Mac works Sgt. Buck by his buddies. made me a purple heart many men that we became seriously wounded, on Bill Little in Houston where he is a John LaDu ke spoke to me quilt. Yes, I was wound- a very strong group. We June 12. He was treated Bill Little is an orga- petroleum land manager. briefly as did Mike Spray- ed, but I didn’t think it lost over half of our guys in hospitals in Long Binh, nizer, tireless host and “I came to see some of berry, Tim Kasprowicz was a big deal. Most so we are lucky to be here. Tokyo and finally The Pre- still carries on like a pla- my brothers. In Viet Nam and Harry Lea – who his sidio before being released toon sergeant at these re- we were all about self- brothers called Harpo from care on November 16. unions. Describing him- preservation plus look- during the war because He and four other medics self as a “take-over kind ing out for each other. It of his curly hair. They sent in were all wounded. of guy,” he and Woody was scary but also like sat at a table together for One of his wounds severed the brachial artery. He tied a bandage around it and asked another soldier to help him pull the knot tight to stop the bleeding before he went into shock. The North Vietnamese offensive was so fierce that the wounded had to “shelter in place” for many hours. The U. S. Army artillery came in and Bill Little rained bullets all around on the North Vietnam- of us were wounded.” “When I got hit I was ese until it got quiet. Fi- Ian McCalister lying on the ground in nally, a helicopter could It was the first Bravo Com- the jungle. I looked up land in the clearing and pany reunion Ian McCali- through the bamboo and take out the wounded. ster had attended, though could barely see the sun. It was many hours before he had been invited and I said to the good Lord, he had any pain medica- thought about it every “Please don’t let me die tion, then lay in Saigon year. Coming from Santa here. . . . I consider that I for triage a full day before Harry Lee and John LaDuke Paula, CA, McCalister have been living on bor- being flown out for care. have always worked well a job – keep all of us a long time, swapping was in the third platoon rowed time ever since.” Doc said, “Going to a together, so Bill spends alive and kill the enemy. stories and memories. that was sent to be part of Charles returned to Texas far-away land and kill- lots of time at the farm “No one else can imag- Norman Lloyd Bravo Company as they to work as an educator ing people I didn’t know with Woody, cleaning up ine what it was like. We When I finally sat down fought to take the hill of for the last 40 years. As a didn’t make sense to me. from one reunion and became kin, like broth- with Norman Lloyd who North Vietnamese caches. former high school prin- But trudging through planning how to make ers. An explosion blew made the documenta- “I know it’s weird but cipal and now a consul- the jungle can give a lot the next one even better. me 40 feet from where I ry of Bravo Company’s when I left Viet Nam I put tant, he says. “Things don’t of time for reflection. And then they just sit had been crouched and two months in Cambo- everything behind. I nev- bother me. Misbehav- “I recognized that I was for a while with good I realized my leg wasn’t dia, he was giving all the er talked to anyone, even ing students is nothing. not there of my own voli- memories piling up from working. I thought credit to the veterans my wife, about any of the We are lucky to be here. tion, but I was a person the seven reunions. Little ‘my time has come.’” while they praised him things that happened but “We survived and can of value. I began feeling as the one person who it tore me up every day. reminisces, “Norm is our Michael Lewis hero. He got us together Michael Lewis of St. Louis finally told their story. “I didn’t think anyone He was a cameraman in could understand or would again – seven of us the was fighting with his bud- first time, and we’ve been dies the day Shakey was his native Australia who want to hear. It was private, bought a one-way ticket just between God and me. getting together every killed. His death hit all of year since. He started them hard because he was to Viet Nam because he “When I saw the picture wanted to record war sto- of Norman Lloyd repel- this whole reunion plan.” like a scared kid brother Little was wounded in although he fought with ries. He talked to CBS ling out of a helicopter to personnel who gave him be with us and tell our sto- Cambodia, receiving real dedication and valor. the Purple Heart, but he At the age of only 20, Lew- a chance. He met Sean ry, I felt a real connection Flynn and Dana Stone with him. He has kept that says, “I was there to take is was the one who took care of those 25 guys.” on the incredibly difficult who were combat cam- connection, and it means a eramen for CBS. Those lot that he is here with us.” Hospitalized for a month task of accompanying at the Great Lakes Naval Shakey’s body back to his two were later captured McCalister was not and killed in Cambodia. wounded but contracted Station, north of Chicago, home in Bloomfield, NM. Bill says he chose that hos- “The whole town clung Lloyd would go into a malaria and was so ill he battle with a group, then had to be evacuated out. pital because his sweet- to me the three days I heart Pat was then a flight was there. I had to fol- get the film to Saigon and Many in the company nev- go back to the front again. er knew what happened to attendant for American low a certain military Doc Joe Robert and Gregory Penny Airlines and flying in and protocol – presenting “I have great respect for him and thought the worst. American troops. They He had no addresses of his out of the Chicago airport. the flag from his coffin come here to Bill’s place more and more justified in are my heroes. I found war buddies, only names He knew he could see her. to his family and giv- to visit with each other.” defending myself. Once I that a bond forms with and memories. He found He says after getting ing a memorized speech. Gregory Penny was there I was there – and the men in really diffi- them again at the larger back to the states in May “I had to say certain Gregory Penny drove given responsibility for the cult situations, even with reunion of the 7th Bri- of 1970 he felt he was re- things to the family, tell- down from Red Wing, well-being of these guys. a civilian like me. I went gade in Jacksonville, FL. turning to a safe haven. ing them of his bravery MN, with his brother Dan. “Later, once I had kids up the hill with them. I “It was like I saw them yes- He had a successful ca- and the way he died. It He remembers clearly go- I began to feel I would was only in the country terday,” McCalister said. reer in home furnishings was hard, extremely hard. ing to Viet Nam on Sep- certainly avoid violence for two weeks, but we “Hugs and hugs and hugs.” – drapery and furniture, “Then I got back on an tember 8, 1969, and leav- unless I had no choice. never forgot each other.” “These guys still have and he and Pat have en- airplane and returned to ing on September 8, 1970. Then my choice would Lloyd retired from my back, and I’ve got joyed traveling to Germa- fight with the others who It was not a good year. be to defend my family.” CBS in 2004, sort of. He theirs. I would go any- ny, Switzerland, Italy and were still trying to take Earning the Purple Doc returned to north- still makes documenta- where with this group.” most recently, Australia. that hill in Cambodia.” Heart for his wounds, he ern California to work ries for Sixty Minutes, Charles Walter He wanted to see Aus- Years later the town dedi- served as the statistician again as an EMT in the and he never forgot the Charles and Linda Wal- tralia in part because cated a public memorial to for the group. He kept an California Department men of Bravo Company. ter had a short drive from of Norman Lloyd, the Kaffalos, and many of the updated map for all the of Forestry and Fires. It He says, “My hips went Waco to the reunion. Australian photojour- Bravo Company veterans companies and the bat- is a family tradition – his out, so while sitting They had just celebrat- nalist who documented went for the ceremony and talion. He was in daily father, uncles and cousins around I started looking ed 50 years of marriage. the fight of the Bravo to meet Shakey’s family. contact to inform the all fought the fierce wild for these guys. I had al- When Charles left for Viet Company in Cambodia. Lewis hasn’t missed “brass” what was going on. fires, and he lost friends ways dreamed of making Nam, he left his 19-year- Originally from Cleve- a single reunion and he He was also serving as in that environment, too. a film of them and their old wife and one-year-old land, OH, he and his wife says he wishes more could the radio operator for Since retiring Doc en- experiences. I received son behind. But their Pat made Texas their come. “They are still heal- Captain Millineaux and joys gardening and land- permission from the bond was strong. They home in 1977 when they ing, and we all respect that. was wounded four days scaping. He is the volun- Army and started to meet wrote each other every day moved to Flower Mound. I thought I was the only after the captain was teer director of facilities these remarkable people. and still have those letters. Bill says his Army ex- one with problems from killed and just three days and maintenance for the “For example, Mike Each day they read the periences helped him the war, and these guys shy of leaving Viet Nam. Jewish Community Free Sprayberry received the same passages of the Bible. to grow up and learn a have done more for me He left to convalesce in Clinic in Santa Rosa. Medal of Honor because Linda sent Charles three lot about when to de- than any doctor could do.” several hospitals, then Bob Kihara he went back and back care packages a week, pend on other people. He and his wife Alice went to Ft. Leonard Wood, Bob Kihara of Vacaville, into the jungle to retrieve with canned fruit, candy, “The Army is an expe- have a farm in southern MO, where he instructed CA, was part of the as- his dead comrades af- tooth brushes and soap rience that every young Missouri where he goes new soldiers in an infil- sault to take Shakey’s Hill ter a particularly bad fire and those precious pho- person needs to develop to maintain the prop- tration techniques class. also. He volunteered to fight. He is a wonderful tographs of his son. She respect for authority and erty and enjoy “the alone The men in basic training serve as the radio trans- man who I found living even sent a Christmas tree! their country. Young peo- time.” Now he is also learned to manage such mission operator, carry- in Tennessee, although While he was gone, this ple today have a lack of dis- enjoys hunting and fish- problems as barbed wire ing the heavy equipment he is from Alabama. energetic, ambitious teen- cipline and I would like to ing with his grandsons. and explosions before they and staying with the com- “We finally got seven age wife and mom got a job, see a reinstatement of the At the reunion he proud- left the states for combat. manding officers because guys together at a reunion bought a house and furni- draft so they could spend ly showed others a letter Returning to Red Wing , as he said, “I wanted to here, and now we are en- ture, even planted flowers two years in organized he received on May 20, Gregory worked 30 years know what was going on. joying the seventh one. to surprise and welcome groups learning about dif- 2015, from a 13-year-old for the U.S. Postal Service, “It was a good experi- I hope for many more him home. She said much ferent countries and see- Vietnamese boy, Jesse Au. retiring 11 years ago at age ence though I probably because none of us will of her energy came from ing what real poverty is. Lewis had spoken at a “Vis- 54. He spends much of his wouldn’t do it again. I met ever forget Shakey’s Hill.” being angry about the “I thought it was a privi- it with a Veteran” function time caring for the fam- really good people from lege to serve. We have it and knew the boy’s father Oorah!