The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay Issue 62 Fall 2005

Lt. Commander James Raab " DOC" Medal Recipient, With Lovely Wife Kathryn

Sharon Zunio "DOC" Medal Recipient

Our Newest Member KSV CHICAGO REUNION SPECIAL EDITION Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Reunion Committee Report on 2005 Reunion, We were greatly disappointed in the Hotel. We had Aside from problems we experienced with the hotel, negotiated every conceivable item we thought I believe everyone had a great time at the reunion. important to our members, and the Hotel just chose Some of our BOD members came up for election to ignore our written contract. In the first place, they and the results our as follows: Russ Turner was promised that the Hotel would undergo a 70 Million elected (Unopposed) as President. Russ was the Dollar renovation prior to the reunion. They did not only Staff member up for re-election. The election spend one dime, in fact the conditions were worse for Directors at Large resulted in Doc “Fast Eddie” then when we signed the contract. We are presently Feldman being elected to replace Frank Taggart, involved in negotiations to recover monetary with other Directors at large maintaining their damages for all their indiscretions. respective positions for another term. All monies recovered will go toward reducing the Due to the overwhelming generosity of our cost of the reunion in Mobile Alabama next year. members, our PX did great, with sales of $6,100.00. For your information, the violations of the contract Reaping a good profit, was the sale of Ray Stubbe’s included wrong rooms, parking issues, no new book, and from our Poem Book put together by provisions for complimentary coffee and buffet Tom Eichler. Our thanks to John Pessoni for the lunch, incorrect food at the banquet, and giving hard work which made this all possible. Sgt. Grits away rooms scheduled for our planned events .The added $1,140.00 from sales of his merchandise; our list goes on, but we shall address them. thanks to Don and Meg for coming. Our silent auction brought in another $1,350.00.Remember, Again aside from a few scheduling issues with our you can visit our PX online at www.khesanh.org by transportation, we believe everyone had a good clicking on the PX link, and we will soon be adding time. We are working on upgrading our website many new items. Any order in next few months will with new pictures, PX format, a message board, and receive a free Khe Sanh Veterans bolo. guest book. You will need a password to get in; try bjjimbo. Fill out the registration form; all information is private. Khe Sanh Veterans Inc. Editorial Staff All submissions go to: Ernie Spencer……….…………………….Editor Russell Turner………………………President Email: [email protected] Tom Eichler...... …………..Vice President 3811 Park Dr. James “Jimbo”Wodecki.……..……..Treasurer El Dorado CA 95762 John Pessoni….……………………. Secretary Tom Eichler Chairman Publications, Membership Owen Matthews……………………..Chaplain Email: [email protected] Lloyd Scudder…………………. Sgt. At Arms 3221 N. Opal David “Bulldog” Smith ………..Past President Chicago, IL 60634 Ed Feldman…………………Member At Large James Wodecki, John Pessoni Web Page Editors Bruce Geiger………………. Member At Large www.khesanh.org Cliff Treese…………………Member At Large Diana F. Fecarotta…..…………Editing Director Dale Pack………………….. Member At Large Leo Wong.………………………Design Layout Ronald Shouse…………….. Member At Large James Wodecki…….…………………Treasurer Thomas Ford………………. Member At Large 2200 McGarity Ln Robert Moxley…………….. Member At Large Allen, TX 75002 Dan Fisher…………………..Member At Large Copyright 2005 Khe Sanh Veterans Inc. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in Part in any form.

2 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. SECRETARY NOTES: welcome aboard Ed. Next year’s reunion will be in MOBILE, ALABAMA, and already it is off to a There were a few complaints regarding the hours good start. It’s going to be a great one. There are that the PX was supposed to be open. Next year many things to do there, and we are working to they will be posted to avoid any confusion. Our make it a fine trip, to see old friends, and meet new members were very generous and made the PX a ones. We had several FNGs this year and expect to great success. You made us look like a great small see more next year. Take care all and see you all in business. Lloyd Scudder’s daughter Sara did a MOBILE. wonderful job helping set up the PX. There were a Russ Turner lot more volunteers willing to help. I thanked them ……………………………………………………… for their kind offers. The necklaces Ron Shouse and REUNION 2006 his lovely wife Lynn made, were big sellers. We Plans for Mobile Alabama. The trip to Mobile is actually ran out of them. Ron and Lynn are making already looking good, with the pending planned trip some more, so we should have them in the PX soon, to Pensacola, and a visit to their military museum. for those who missed out. Watch for a performance by the Blue Angels with VIP status, a trip to the USS Alabama Park, and a I want to thank all my Khe Sanh Brothers for planned Mardi Gras at the Hotel with seafood and sharing one of the best reunions I have attended. It Southern Pork, and other BBQ’s as we get details is the one time of my life, when I am really happy worked out. We think it will be a great city for our and relaxed, just being around friends. There were reunion. See ya’ll there. times I laughed so hard, and time to have met some Jim Wodecki and Russ Turner new brothers from Engineers, whom I know will be ……………………………………………………… back next year. Our brothers from Recon were there OOPS in force, but kept getting lost (just kidding guys). There I go with my Fat Thumbs Again The reunion committee worked tirelessly. My In the recently published Khe Sanh Book of Poetry, thanks too, Jimbo, Russ, and their beautiful wives I wrote in a short Bio, that Loyde Arender served at PJ & Kathy. Khe Sanh with K Co 3/26. Loyde upon receiving the book, immediately called me, and informed me A personal thank you to Tommy Eichler, and his of the mistake. He asked me to correct it because he brothers Denny & Bobby, for a job well done; you did not want his fellow veterans thinking he was guys were great. trying to be a Khe Sanh Wanabee. The Mistake was all mine. I apologize to Loyde. Also the picture on John Pessoni the front cover of the Poem Book is our own Jack Corbett, writing home. ( West Dickens Avenue) PRESIDENTS MESSAGE: Tom Eichler I would like to thank everyone who attended the ……………………………………………………… reunion this year. We had a very good turn out, with TAPS more than 230 veterans, 120 wives, and other Major Jerry Edward Hudson (USMC, Ret.) family members. Had a few problems, but nothing Age 73, died Wednesday, June 29, 2005 that our committee couldn't handle. A very big THANK YOU to all who helped with things that Jerry was born in Fort Wayne, IN on May 26, 1932 needed to be done to make it a great success. to the late Virgil and Hazel Hudson. He grew up in Special thanks to Ron Shouse, and Tommy’s the Masonic Home in Springfield, OH, and enlisted brothers, Dennis & Robert, for the transportation, in the Marine Corps after completing high school. and Tommy for the two BBQ’s. I would also like to He was commissioned right off of the drill field, thank the girls for doing such a good job with and retired with the rank of Major in 1971, after registration. Thank you all for a job well done. We serving 21 years. He served in Korea, Japan, and had a new member added to our board as many of Vietnam, where he was the intelligence officer at you know. He is Doc "Fast Eddie" Feldman; the Battle of Khe Sanh. After retiring from the 3 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Marines, Jerry moved to Charlotte, NC, as Director Jim Wodecki of Safety and Security for the University of North FLC-LSU- Carolina at Charlotte. While working at UNCC, he Ammo platoon Khe Sanh earned his BS in Criminal Justice. Following ……………………………………………………… retirement from UNCC in 1989, Jerry worked for Hechinger's and then moved to Richmond, VA for LARRY "WAYNE" WRAY, a short time before returning to Charlotte where he 57, died Friday, June 3, 2005, in Fort worked with Wal Mart. A memorial service was held, July 1, 2005 with Chaplain Pressley Stutts of Wayne. the United States Marine Corps, officiating. Born in Greenville, Ky., he was a Vietnam veteran, Survivors include his wife, Elaine Price of serving with Marine Helicopter Squadron 165. He Charlotte; sons and daughters-in-law, Scott and was a family man and will be missed by everyone Kathy of Waynesville, OH, and Mark and Anna, of who knew him. He is survived by son, Landon Norfolk, VA; and grandsons, Paul and Ryan of Wray of Witchia, Kansas; daughters, Abby, Ashley, Waynesville, OH. and Amber, all of Fort Wayne; mother, Ella of Fort Wayne; sisters, Linda (Ron) Shroyer of Fort Mike Fishbaugh Wayne, and Sandra (Wayne) Watts of Philpot, Ky.; ……………………………………………………… and his companion, Lois Stanger of Fort Wayne. I met Larry at the Vet Center here in Fort Wayne General Robert E. (Bobby) Galer and ended up hiring him to work for me back in the Medal of Honor 80s. Larry wasn't a Khe Sanh vet, but hauled a lot of General Galer was the embodiment of a true 1st Recon teams in and out of hot LZs around Da Warrior. He first fought at Pearl Harbor, firing at Nang. I lost touch with Larry after the company we the Zero's with a Springfield 03. His WW II combat worked for was bought and our jobs were service included, among other battles, fighting at eliminated. Guadalcanal, and earning the first MOH awarded in David Buffalo June 10, 2005 that campaign. He was one of only two Marines ……………………………………………………… with the MOH to participate in the invasion of the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, the other Colonel Mark F. Tierney being fellow Guadalcanal MOH recipient GySgt John Basilone. He bunked with Lindberg and talked 10/19/42-2/6/05 his way back into the war after being ordered to leave the Pacific to participate in War Bond Drives With the heaviest of hearts I am sorry to report that after the battle for Guadalcanal. He was shot down at 11:40 A.M. on February 6, 2005, Super Bowl 4 times in combat. Three times on Guadalcanal, and Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Mark F. Tierney, the last time as a 37 year Group Commander in USMCR (Retired) died in his Lake Ridge, Virginia Korea, flying a Corsair. home, as a result of several Agent Orange related cancers. He is one of the finest Marines I ever All one has to do to learn about the Marine's Corps's served with during my thirty (30) years of Active participation in WW II and Korea, is learn about Duty and Reserve service. General Galer's service in the Corps. He was an All- American basketball player for The University of The Colonel joined the Marine Corps Reserve in Washington before joining the Corps in 1935. He 1964 and after graduation from Boot Camp as his will be buried at the Texas State Cemetery in platoon’s Honor Man, was trained as a Austin, Texas. Communicator, reporting for duty with a Reserve artillery unit near his home in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

4 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Upon completing college in 1968 the Colonel, Marines a job, and make sure they have what they though eligible for promotion to Staff Sergeant, need to do the job, then get the hell out of their way accepted a commission and volunteered to serve in and let them accomplish their mission. He was the Republic of Vietnam. After he was trained as never surprised with at what his Marines produce. an Infantry Officer and Vietnamese linguist, he On February 11, 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Mark F. reported for duty as a Platoon Commander with Tierney, USMCR (Retired) was buried with full Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Subsequently the Larry McCartney Colonel served as a Civil Affairs Officer for the 1st M/GYSGT Retired Marine Division and made many trips into Khe ……………………………………………… Sanh to help the people of that area.

I did not have the good fortune to meet Lieutenant Colonel John H. “Blackie” Cahill, USMC, Colonel Tierney until 1991 when we were both mobilized for the Gulf War. He was the II Marine (Ret.) Expeditionary Force (II MEF) Staff Counter Intelligence Officer, and I was the Intelligence Rest in Peace Chief for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Colonel John H. "Blackie" Cahill, USMC, (Ret.), 2nd (MEB). I was very fortunate to serve under him 80, died July 14th, 2005 at Scripps Green Hospital almost continuously from that point until he retired in La Jolla, Ca. He was a resident of the North from the Marine Corps in 1995, after more than County for the last 33 years. Born October 22, 1924 thirty one (31) continuous years of officer and in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he graduated enlisted service. Though he was my senior in the from North Quincy High School in 1942 and Corps, I was extraordinarily fortunate to have him attended Boston College. In May 1943 he enlisted became my mentor and friend. He is the first in the United States Marine Corps, and completed individual I was ever able to talk with about the basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. He events occurring at and after LZ Margo, in was a highly decorated combat veteran of World September of 1968, and all the grief that incident War II, Korea, and Vietnam. caused me.

I believe that the true measure of the man is in how During World War II he fought in the Pacific he treats those who can’t do anything in return. That Theater, seeing combat in the battles of New description epitomizes the Colonel. When I was Guinea, Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Peleliu sick last December, he was the one who made sure and Okinawa. After the end of the war in 1946, he that I got to the hospital and back home when I was was stationed in China for six months. In 1950, he released. He was the one who took me to have my was deployed with the 1st Marine division to Korea stitches put in, and later removed. While he was in and was with the first Marine unit to fight in that the hospital, he asked me for some addresses and war. He was wounded and evacuated in the battle of envelopes, since he wanted to make advance tax Naktong and received his first Purple Heart. He payments so that his wife wouldn’t have to. He also returned to combat with the 3rd battalion, 5th made sure he made a donation to our association Marines, and was in the historic battle at The knowing full well it would be his last one. He died Chosin Reservoir. During the Korean conflict he just five (5) weeks later. was awarded the Silver Star, our Nations third highest award for heroism. His citation states that The mentorship and friendship the Colonel gave to this award was given for:” With limited food and me is something I will cherish for the rest of my ammunition and no possibility for re-supply, Lt. life. In an era when people have a warped definition Cahill courageously and successfully directed his of leadership, he was the finest leader that I ever platoon's defense against an estimated strength of worked for. His philosophy was simple, give your four hundred. While holding the almost untenable 5 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. position, Lt. Cahill, continually exposed himself to POETRY heavy hostile fire moving from man to man, CLOTH encouraging and reassuring them until relief arrived. It was largely due to his inspirational The most expensive cloth there ever was, or ever leadership and dauntless courage that the will be. enemy failed to break through this vital United There are far to few who know the value, or Nations position." In Korea, he would also receive a understand Bronze Star Medal with the combat "V" for valor. the cost. In1958, after the Korean War, he attended and There are fewer still that have been willing to bare graduated from the Naval War College and was that cost. promoted to major that same year. In 1965 he was Except for a few that came before and a few that promoted to Lt. Colonel. came after guys like me. In 1968 he was reassigned to the 3rd Marine People seem to choose not to know, or incapable of Division and sent to Vietnam. He saw combat in the understanding why. battle for Khe Sanh. He was wounded in combat This piece of cloth will make guys like me actually another three times during his tours in Vietnam, and cry. awarded three gold stars in lieu of second, third, These pieces of cloth are all the same shape, all the and fourth Purple Heart Medals. He commanded 1/9 same color. at the end of the Siege. It does however come in many different sizes. Not unlike those who have fought for this cloth, He was promoted to Colonel in July 1970, and these colors, this flag. assumed duties of Commanding Officer, Weapons Training Battalion at Camp Pendleton. He retired Rick Tam after 35 years of active military service with the Marine Corps in 1978. Ken Pipes BLOWING IN THE WIND …………………………………………….. Peter, Paul and Mary such beautiful Gilbert Wall RIP songs they sing, such meaning. Today at our ward picnic. It is with a very sad heart that I report to you all that Fun we were supposed to have. Gilbert Wall died on 22 March 2004 of a brain Things were going fine till songs we HAD to sing. aneurysm. He died in his office while at work at the Black Feet Community College in Browning, Not in a mood to sing or laugh, Montana. Gilbert was the 81’s FO with Bravo 1/26. I joined the circle on the fringe. He served 2 and one half years in Vietnam with the 5TH and 26TH Marines. He was the bravest Warrior Blowing in the wind, I served with, and was a close friend. Once a song I loved. But its words have such meaning, Bruce "T-Bone" Jones today this song made me Flash. ……………………………………………………… Still now hours later, the tears want to flow. The words running through my mind, time after time. How many people must die? When will we say enough is enough?

6 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. To a plateau of red clay, the battles on Foxtrot Ridge are included among I stood and looked at body bags, them. However, Woodruff=s Battle of Foxtrot Ridge all in a neat row. adds substantially more detail to the one battle Stretchers with my Brothers which gave that obscure plot of ground its name. dead and dying. Woodruff worries that his book is influenced by his I too want to know when will it end? participation in the May 1968 battle. If so, then my Sam Messer review of this book is influenced by my own CBMU 301 presence in 2/3 at that time. But I consider that a ……………………………………………… good thing; no one else can write about an event the same way as the one who experienced it. My BOOK REVIEW: company, Hotel Company, arrived on Foxtrot Ridge a few days after the battle was over, when we could smell the odor of decaying flesh in the air. Foxtrot Ridge: A Battle Remembered. Mark W. Woodruff (2002). Clearwater, FL: Vandamere The foxhole Marine=s viewpoint of a battle is Press. Reviewed by LT/COL Charles S. Gaede, different than the viewpoint of any other observer. USMCR (Ret). The great contribution of Foxtrot Ridge is that author Mark Woodruff has interviewed about 27 of AFor an obscure and otherwise unremarkable plot the Marines of Fox Company and has reported their of ground, Foxtrot Ridge was the scene of immense recollections of the battle of 28 May 1968. Readers courage and carnage from May 1968 through July of the book who knew Marines in Fox 2/3, will 1968,@ writes author Mark Woodruff (p. 189). The encounter buddies and read their account of the most poignant books I have read about the Vietnam battle. It will awaken memories. War are eyewitness accounts where the author has written his story. Mark W. Woodruff has written Woodruff has provided a good drawing that shows Foxtrot Ridge: A Battle Remembered from his the defenses and battle zones on the hill, and he has perspective--as one of the Marines in Fox placed original 1968 photographs that the Marines Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (2/3) who provided to him throughout the book. He based fought the battle. much of the book=s structure on the 2/3 Command Chronology for May 1968, and he includes a The Abattle of Khe Sanh@ may be divided into three complete copy of it in an appendix. Woodruff segments. The battles in early 1967 in the hills west presents the Marines= story of the battle of Khe Sanh have been called the first battle of Khe chronologically in their words. Of course he has Sanh; the isolation and bombardment of Khe Sanh made a few editing changes to their words, but he in early 1968 is called the siege of Khe Sanh; and acknowledges that. Here is one story. the period from 16 April 1968 to 11 July 1968 would be called the last battle of Khe Sanh. It has Lance Corporal Robert Kincaid: When Mylin been said that the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) yelled that, >we=re overrun,= I stuck my head up. began pulling out of the Khe Sanh area in March There were two North Vietnamese soldiers standing 1968. That would not have been apparent to the with their backs at our hole and they were looking Marines of Fox 2/3 on 28 May 1968, to the Marines downhill, like they did=t see our hole or know that of Echo 2/3 on 31 May 1968, or to the Marines of we were there. I was shaking to death. I remember India 3/4 on 1 July 1968, who were all attached by and I=m not a bit ashamed to say that I was scared to the NVA on Foxtrot Ridge, and to many other death. When I looked, those two Vietnamese Marines who fought intense battles in the area soldiers standing there had faced Mylin=s direction between 16 April and 11 July 1968. A volume in and the corporal that was with me shot one with his the Marine Corps Vietnam Series, U.S. Marines in M-16, and I shot the other with the shotgun. Vietnam, The Defining Year, 1968, includes a chapter of the events during this time period, and 7 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. It was kind of a simultaneous. I mean we did not Foxtrot Ridge is to memorialize in history the plan or conspire to shoot these people. It was just courage and bravery of the Marines of Fox 2/3 who like a conditioned reflex. And I did not really pick fought, were wounded, died, and survived the battle one out. I just shot the one that was closest to me. on 28 May 1968. Mark Woodruff has told his story That was the one to my right. I had double-ought and theirs well. You will be glad you read it. buck in that shotgun, he really went down. Then it ……………………………………………………… really intensified heavy small arms fire. It got loud. POETRY I could hear voices. I could hear yelling. I could remember RPGs throwing dirt in the hole on top of Untitled us. I can remember the dirt going down the back of Pen and paper I take in hand. My head to pull from my T-shirt. And then I can remember it was just the sand. On television I see things that stir Charlie Kholer, and me in the hole. I don=t know memories. Fog and rain I see, that stirs where the other guy went. pp. 116-117. Khe Sanh up in me.

Woodruff has included the names and a short Blood and Death on the streets, that brings Tet back biography of each of the Marines he cited in the to me. Children White, Black, and Brown, the hand book in separate appendix. I find this to be an of Death on their Brow. That stirs- Children, hiding, important part of the book, for it brings the reader underground. Uniforms, Fatigues, and Guns on TV up-to-date with the men who fought the battle. It That brings back war to me. also makes this book as much a history of the Marines of Fox 2/3 in May 1968, as it does an Comedy on TV I see, brings no laughter for me. account of the battle. Football, Baseball, sports I love, excitement, joy, anger or pain.No none- none of the above. On May 31, 2004, I revisited Foxtrot Ridge. Today Foxtrot Ridge is a short walk from the Khe Sanh No Joys in my life you might say, I have some in a Hotel, and a sweaty climb through thick elephant small way. In Jennifer’s eyes a glint I see, this grass and other vegetation. The wood leeches are touches something in me. there too. In 1968, it was a dangerous combat march Nieces and nephews anticipation, small children to it. From it we had a view to the Laotian border, glowing. These bring out the best in me. and our observation from Foxtrot Ridge interfered with the Ho Chi Minh trail movement. AS dusk turns to black, terrible memories come back. But today you cannot see the Laotian border; in fact When times I get the stare, I wish somebody would it is difficult to see a few meters. The vegetation has pop a flare. returned, and from a distance Foxtrot Ridge is just So that my eyes and brain could see, that there is another vegetation covered hill near Khe Sanh. still beauty around me.

There are foxholes on the hill, buried beneath the Because of the tears I wipe from my eyes. vines, elephant grass, and thick brush. A I know somehow I will survive!!! Vietnamese guide and the local villager, who I hired to cut a trail to the top of the hill with his machete, Sam Messer had never heard of the battle of Foxtrot Ridge, and CBMU-301 Seabees they were fascinated with the story. It was an education unremarkable plot of ground, Foxtrot Ridge was the scene of immense courage and carnage from May 1968 through July 1968,@ writes author Mark Woodruff (p. 189). Today the Aplot of ground@ is equally if not more Aobscure and unremarkable.@ The greatest contribution of the

8 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

MEMORIALS

IN LOVING MEMORIES OF OUR BROTHERS LEFT BEHIND

“WE WILL NEVER FORGET” REST IN PEACE

FROM YOUR BROTHERS IN SUB UNIT 5

RAYMOND GOODWIN KIA 03 MARCH 67 KHE SANH CHARLES LYNCH KIA 27 JUNE 67 KHE SANH FRANCISCO MAZARIEGOS KIA 27 JUNE 67 KHE SANH DENNIS O’CONNOR KIA 27 JUNE 67 KHE SANH JAMES SHEPARD KIA 27 JUNE 67 KHE SANH

BJORKE-CHILDRESS-JENKINS MEMORIUM

IN MEMORY OF

ERLE LAWRENCE BJORKE CAPTAIN USAF 714 TACTICAL AIR WING LEWIS CLAYTON CHILDRESS CORPORAL USMC FLC PARA- DELIVERY EARLE DAVE JENKINS CORPORAL USMC FLC PARA- DELIVERY

REST IN PEACE

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS

Those Remembered Remembered By

Frank Riportella Jr B Co 1/9 USMC KIA 26-Apr-67 Walter S Johnson B Co 1/9 Manuel Babbitt 3RD AT’s USMC Passed Away 04 May 99 John Hargesheimer 3/AT’s Bob Harrell 3RD AT’s USMC Passed Away 31 Aug 01 John Hargesheimer 3/AT’s Jerry Murray D Co 1/26 USMC Passed Away 09 Aug 05 Khe Sanh Veterans Charles H. Fox C Co 1/26 USMC Passed Away 14 Aug 05 Khe Sanh Veterans James R. Snow W/ 1/13 USMC Passed Away Aug 05 Khe Sanh Veterans

9 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. SHORT ROUNDS members are provided. They found a table with cookies and candies. Plates of homemade fudge Welcome Stop for Warriors circulated. "Welcome home, gunny," said Al Dall, 74, who served in the Marines during the Korean Somebody finally got it right War, as he thrust his hand at a startled Gunnery Sgt. Edward Parsons, 31, of Shelby, N.C. "This is By Tony Perry, Times Staff Writer Bangor, Maine incredible," Parsons said. "Now I know I'm really back in the world." Locals of Bangor, Maine are on a mission to greet every military plane, at any time, in any weather. The greeters line the corridor both as the troops Their tally so far: 200,000 troops. Tired and bleary- arrive and later, as they return to their planes to eyed, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment, continue their journeys to Fort Hood, Camp based at Twenty Nine Palms, Calif., were finally Pendleton and other Army and Marine Corps bases. back on U.S. soil after seven months on the front The airport gift store opens early. T-shirts saying "I lines in Iraq. But, they were still many miles and Love Maine" are popular, so are adult magazines. hours from their families and the homecoming they The store takes military script from troops low on longed for. Their officers told them they would be cash, even though there is no way for the store to on the ground for 60 to 90 minutes while their get reimbursed. The airport bar does a brisk chartered plane was refueled. They disembarked business, selling Budweiser at $3 a bottle. Some and began walking through the airport terminal flights have rules against drinking. The corridor to a small waiting room. commanding officer of this battalion had no such restriction, and the bar was full of Marines That's when they heard the applause. Lining the hall laughing, singing, and joking. "We appreciate and clapping were dozens of Bangor residents who everything you've done for us," said Bud Tower, an have set a daunting task for themselves: They want Air Force veteran, who, at 58, considers himself "a every marine, soldier, sailor and airman returning kid" among the other greeters. through the tiny international airport here to get a hero's welcome. Even if the planes arrive in the Kay Lebowitz, 89, has such severe arthritis that she middle of the night or a blizzard, they are there. cannot shake hands. So she hugs every Marine and soldier that she can. Some of the larger, more Composed mostly of those who served in World exuberant troops lift her off the ground. "Many of War II and Korea, they call themselves the “Maine them tell me they can't wait to see their Troop Greeters”. They have met every flight grandmother," she said. "That's what I am, a bringing troops home from Iraq for nearly two substitute grandmother." The greeters also turn out years, more than 1,000 flights and nearly 200,000 for flights headed to Iraq, but those are somber troops. "Here they come. Everybody get ready," occasions. The Marines on this flight were returning said Joyce Goodwin, 71, her voice full of from a lawless stretch of desert along the Syrian excitement, undiminished by the hundreds of times border, where they dodged roadside bombs and she has shown up to embrace the returning troops. sniper fire on a daily basis. "When the flights are As dozens more Marines came down the corridor, going over, it's heart-breaking," Lebowitz said. "But the applause grew louder and was accompanied by handshakes, hugs, and a stream of well wishes: when they're coming home, it's heart-warming.” The core of the “Maine Troop Greeters” is a "Welcome home." "Thank you for your service." dedicated group of about 30 residents who have a "God bless you." "Thank you for everything." Faces highly developed "telephone tree" to get the word brightened. Grouchiness disappeared. Greeters and out about impending arrivals. Their numbers swell Marines alike began taking photographs. The on weekends when particular brigades are due back, Marines were directed down a corridor decorated such as local National Guard units. Families with with American flags and red, white and blue posters. Cell phones for free calls to family young children join in. Most of the greeters support the U.S. mission in Iraq, but their goal is historic, 10 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. not political. Discussion of politics is banned. The not to come," said Knight, who served in the Army greeters don't want America to repeat what they and Navy for three decades. Francis Zelz, 81, who consider a shameful episode in history: the served in the Navy during World War II, said it is a indifference, even hostility that the public displayed point of pride to respond even with only a few to troops returning from Vietnam. I think there's a minutes notice. Many of the greeters were part of a lot of collective guilt about the '60s," said greeter similar welcome-home effort during the Persian Dusty Fisher, 63, a retired high school history Gulf War. "You get a call at 3 a.m. about a flight in teacher now serving in the state Legislature. 30 minutes, and you think about staying in bed," Zelz said. "Then you realize, no, I can't do that. The airport in this city of 31,000 has a long runway That wouldn't be right." On one window of the and is a refueling stop for many overseas troop greeters' office at the end of the corridor are flights. The terminal is a tidy, homey, two-story hundreds of photographs of Marines and soldiers structure with skylights and floor-to-ceiling killed in Iraq taken from newspaper stories. windows that let in copious light. Above the waiting room, a banner reads, "Maine. The Way Life Inevitably, troops drift toward the window and Should Be.” Once the troops find seats, the greeters search for their buddies. Sometimes they scribble fan out. Phillip Eckert, 70, a bantam-sized ex- small notes of remembrance next to the photos. The Marine with an outsized personality, likes to talk 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment suffered 15 dead and 86 about the "old Corps" and tell stories of tough-as- wounded. The Marines were left alone to search for nails sergeants and crazy-brave officers he knew their buddies' photos. "There's Wilt," said a Marine from Korea. He wears a red sweatshirt that says: pointing to one of Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 23, of "Not as Lean, Not as Mean, But Still a Marine.” Tampa, Fla. "There's Rowe," said another, a Eckert leads Marines in raspy versions of the reference to Capt. Alan Rowe, 35, of Hagerman, Marine hymn. He does his drill-instructor imitation: Idaho. After several long and silent minutes, Staff "move it, Move It, MOVE IT," he said in a mock- Sgt. Larry Long, 31, of Clovis, N.M., finally found urgent voice. "I whoop and holler at the troops, and the photo he was searching for: Pfc. Ryan Cox, 19, they seem to like it, I guess,” he said. Jerry Mundy, of Derby, Kan. "He was a good Marine, a hard- 69, also a former Marine, likes to dispense mildly charger," Long said with a catch in his voice. "He salty jokes. "My lady friend just bought us one of would have been a good squad leader." Navy those king-size beds," he said. "Trouble is that at chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Robert White, returning home my age, after I finally find her, I forget what for.” with the Marine unit to which he was assigned, said the Bangor welcome may prove therapeutic. They Others try a quieter approach. Dall makes himself need to feel good about themselves and what available if the troops want to talk about the they've been through," White said. Marine Lt. traumas of combat. I’ve been there, so I know what David Tumanjan, 24, of Boise, Idaho, said the they've gone through," he said. "I say, Forget me, Bangor greeting is both humbling and gratifying. "It this is your time. I'm here if you need me." Like the shows us that what we did wasn't in Marines, the greeters have had casualties. Four have vain," he said. The greeters say their payoff is died since the group started meeting the planes in seeing the surprise and smiles on the faces of the May 2003. Marjorie Dean suffered a fatal heart troops. "Every flight coming home makes it like seizure while she and her husband, Bill, were on Christmas Eve," Tower said. their way to meet a late-night flight a year ago. She was 79. Goodwin missed three days of flights when Don Guptill, 71, who served in the Army in Korea, she was in the hospital for heart surgery. "I felt like listened as an enlisted Marine, his eyes fixed on the I was in withdrawal," he said. "It was awful not carpet, talked quietly about being wounded three being able to be here for the boys.” Bill Knight, 83, times. As the call came over the loudspeaker to one of the group's organizers, came to the airport return to the plane, the young Marine reluctantly just hours after his doctor told him that he has pulled something from his back pocket. It was his advanced prostate cancer. "It never occurred to me Purple Heart. He said he was embarrassed to wear 11 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. it," Guptill said. "I told him: You wear it. You with. We came upon a plaque with the inscription: earned it. You wear it for all the guys who didn't “Gary Morris Hall of Fame,” along with a brief make it home. The Marines were barely gone when history about his accomplishments as a baseball the Maine Troop Greeters began preparing for the player at the University of Dallas in Irving. I shook next flight. "It's going to be a busy day for us," said his hand since the only other Hall of Famer I ever Bill Dean, 70, an Army veteran. "That feels good." had the opportunity to shake hands with was Roger ……………………………………………………… Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys. Being in a hall of INCOMING fame anywhere is a major accomplishment and certainly identifies that person as a standout player. A Visit with OCS/TBS Classmate Gary Morris Gary had other outstanding qualities besides By Dave Rogers athletics. He had been recognized by his hometown as Ambassador of the Year and, was the recipient of Gary Morris is a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel a Community Service Award. He also received a who lives in Irving, TX, which is not far from my spirit award from his Alma Mater and special home in Arlington. Until January 17, 2005 we had recognition for his support of the armed forces, in never met even though we both graduated from the particular being recognized for his leadership role in 38th Officer Candidate School class in December a POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony. 1965, then The Basic School class (3-66). In May 1966 Gary located me via the OCS/TBS web-site at Gary showed me his work station for painting and MyFamily.com. He contacted me and suggested drawing. Before leaving his residence, he gave me that we have lunch together in Irving. four prints of cowboys, one of an Indian, and, one oil painting of an eye-witness scene at Khe Sanh at We decided to meet on Monday (Martin Luther night during Tet in 1968. It was a scene he had King Day) at the Red Lobster on Airport Freeway. remembered before becoming an artist. Having After entering the door I immediately spotted Gary been at Khe Sanh, I told him that the painting wearing a red cap with USMC written across the reminded me of the surrounding hills during the Hill front with a matching red shirt displaying “38th Fights of 1967, and specifically the counter-attack OCS/TBS 3-66.” Gary had attended a reunion of by North Vietnamese against Hill 881 North. That classmates at Washington/Quantico in July 2004 painting really invoked war-time memories. The where all attendees received the cap and shirt. We painting and prints have been added to the My immediately began talking about our training at Family web-site for viewing. Use Art_by_Gary for OCS and TBS along with our wartime experiences the login ID, and password. Comments about the in South Vietnam. I learned from Gary very quickly artist concerning his background and art work can that he has three passions in life, his grandchildren, be found at this site's homepage. (See Pages 73-75 USMC, and baseball. He also described himself as for an example of Gary’s artwork). being an amateur, self-taught artist. He discussed some of his art projects that he had worked on. Gary’s latest endeavor has been to assist a Marine Corporal in putting on a photographic exhibit of his After lunch we drove to Gary’s home. As soon as combat photos taken during the war in Iraq. we entered through the backdoor from the garage, I Approximately 500 people from the local FBI office noticed his art work hanging on every wall along in Dallas will be able to view the show around with various photos. Gary had a story for each Memorial Day. One of the photos shows a photo and painting as we made our way along each Lieutenant with a Gunnery Sergeant discussing wall. There were paintings and drawings of eagles, strategy while studying a map. Said Gary: “The cowboys, Indians, and musical instruments. One of Corporal taking the picture talked a lot about the the photos was of his OCS class. Another showed Lieutenant. To make a long story short, I want to do him alongside squadron members he had served a work of them hopefully for the basic school from our class in memory of our guys lost.” Our OCS 12 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. class lost 33 of its class members during the playing on the most winning team in UD history. Vietnam War. That indeed will be a noble tribute. It His 1964 school team was the first to qualify for was a pleasure to meet and talk to a former postseason play. In 1964 he led the NAIA in stolen OCS/TBS classmate who retired a Lieutenant bases. He holds school records for most runs batted Colonel. Gary has achieved many other goals in life in for a game, and stolen bases in a season. He also and received special recognition, for serving his holds the record for most at bats, runs and triples. country and others in his community. He is still The inscriptions on several plaques presented to actively involved with painting and drawing. It Gary are shown below. provides him much pleasure.

Gary Morris was the first baseman of the University of Dallas baseball team from 1961 through 1964,

Ambassador of the Year Lifetime Member

Presented to Gary Morris by Irving Chamber of Commerce for an outstanding year of service, April 13, 1985 “The Ulys Knight Spirit Award is given to an alumnus, alumna, or group of individuals affiliated with UNT, who have shown spirit and enthusiasm as they contribute time and energy to a program or activity that has benefited the university family. ”Ulys Knight Spirit Award UNT 1989 Presented to Gary Morris

Community Service Award

Presented to Lt. Col. Gary Morris, USMC, Retired Morris Specialties1992, Irving Parks and Recreation Board. In appreciation for your support and participation of POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony, September 15, 1995, Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center Bonham, TX.

Hall of Fame

Inducted February 1999, Presented to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Gary Morris, USMC, in recognition of your undying patriotism and dedicated energy in paying tribute to our armed forces through four conflicts. Our deepest appreciation, Irving Heritage Board 2003.

13 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. INCOMING stopped in to see Colonel John Valentin, Chief of Staff at Parris Island. We first met Colonel Valentin REPORT FOR INDUCTION PARRIS ISLAND on a previous visit to P.I. when we got lost while By Our Roving Ambassadors, Searching for a female D.I. Ron had his picture Ron Shouse & Cliff Treese taken with him when the reunion was held at Charleston. He was sitting on the front steps of a Get on those yellow footprints, eyes straight ahead, chin in, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in, thumbs along the trouser seams and feet at a 45

Nice of them to remember Ron Shouse on Yellow Footprints very large house, tying his shoe. We yelled to him for directions and he came over to our vehicle. He degree angle. Cut off the Bull S###, you belong to was very kind, noticed our hats, and asked if we me now maggots. Sound familiar? Treese and I were at Khe Sanh. He told us he talks to the recruits heard something similar to this the first week in about Khe Sanh and has the greatest respect for all April. Things have not changed much at our once Khe Sanh vets. We presented him with a Khe Sanh home away from home, Parris Island. Recruit coin and he ran into his house and brought out 2 Receiving now has a modern brick building, not beers labeled Valentin's Red Patch Lager, with a some old broken down, white clapboard 2 story picture of Chesty Puller on it. Being mere enlisted dinosaur from WWII. The DFNG's now spend a Marines, we did not realize who we were talking to. couple of weeks in the Receiving Barracks, learning basic military courtesies, how to make a bunk, and things of this nature. The Drill Instructors still go out of their way to make sure the new recruits are physically fit by allowing them to do lots of push- ups, bends, and exercise the proper use of the sand pit.

Cliff Treese and Ron Shouse, along with Cliff's wife Linda and daughter Brandi, reported aboard MCRD Parris Island and were treated like Royalty. Hand to Hand Training We checked in at the Bachelor Officer's Quarters Cliff asked him his rank and he laughed and said he (Osprey II) and then went over to the PX, and the was a Bird Colonel. We felt about an inch tall. We Parris Island Museum. Gunnery Sergeant Charles have kept in touch with him and he was kind Taliano sent a couple of items for our silent auction enough to invite us back. On a subsequent visit to in July. You may not know him by name but you P.I., we spoke to colonel Valentin about doing a know the man. He is the Marine Drill Instructor story for the Red Clay about recruit training today yelling at the recruit with the caption "We didn't and how it compares to training in the 60's. Colonel promise you a rose garden". After we settled in, we 14 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Valentin was receptive and offered any assistance minor changes. They shoot the M16-A2. This he could provide. He turned us over to Major White weapon is nice. It is unlike those Matty Mattel in Public Affairs. Major White introduced us to pieces of junk we had. These are accurate to 500 Master Sgt. Art Prioletta, Public Affairs Chief. Over yards. They get "Hot Meals" for breakfast and the next few months Cliff coordinated this visit with dinner for the 2 weeks, and have a box lunch for the M/SGT Prioletta. He arranged for a staff van to take mid day meal. If they qualify with the rifle, they us on a VIP tour of the training at P.I. graduate. If they do not, they get put back and do it again. Our first stop was the hand to hand course. Remember when you would walk up behind your opponent for the "naked strangle?” It is now called "Counter the Strike". It still gets the job done, but it just sounds better. We went to the pool to observe drown proofing. Each group of 10 recruits was supervised by several instructors. Also visiting the pool were a large group of teachers from throughout the U.S.

This was too much for Cliff, he fell out and was taken to the hospital by his wife, treated and released for what was thought to be dehydration. Non Qualifiers, Dragging Range Tower Shouse and Cliff's daughter Brandi continued with the tour. The Range Tower is still the same. The ones that do not qualify are still dragging it, but I think it rolls Remember the Khe Sanh history marker at the rifle better now. The Women Marines qualify too, but range? This sort of gives the appearance of it just are not dropped back as the men because there are being a rifle range. This is not the case. There is a not as many women recruits. If the recruit is still pistol range, small arms range and the rifle range having trouble learning to shoot, they have an which is actually "pop-up" targets laid out at indoor course. It is called ISMT or Indoor different distances. They do not qualify here, but Simulated Marksmanship Training. This is the

New Recruits Ron Shouse on Simulated Firing Course they do keep score. I guess you would call it a type biggest facility of it's kind anywhere. It is of Familiarization or "Fam Fire" course. You shoot computerized and will show the point of impact and from bunkers, from windows, and piles of rocks that will tell the instructor why the recruit cannot hit the let the young guys get a feel of what it is like to target without wasting a lot of ammo. Law shoot from different positions. The recruits spend 2 enforcement from all over has used this facility. We weeks at the Range, just like we did with a few both were given the opportunity to use the range for 15 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. an hour and half. During the instructions for Right across from the Crucible Briefing Point is the shooting on the ISMT 45 range, Treese got sick "Gas Chamber". I am sure everyone has tears come again. Ron fired the 45, and the rifle. Treese's wife to their eyes just thinking about it. Not to mention a drove him back to the hospital where he was runny nose, heaving, and all those bumps on your admitted. We all thought he was just trying to keep head from running into trees. I do not know where from showing up Ron, but he was really sick. they got their information but they told us this is supposed to be the worst gas chamber anywhere. If We had gone to lunch at H&S Company prior to it is worse than the one I went to at Camp Geiger, going to the ISMT range. You have your choice of a this should be cruel and unusual punishment. salad line, a sandwich line, or meat and 2 vegetables. Not bad chow for $3.50. And a far cry The Slide for Life has a net at the base of the tower from food we ate as recruits. Civilians do all the but there are still guys that fall in the water. If they cooking. There is no mess duty for the recruits fall in the water, they must put their hands on their anymore. Ron asked if they had any of those head and sing the Marine Corps Hymn as they walk delicious powered eggs we ate as recruits but they out of the water. The rappelling tower has a big pad couldn't find any. Ron was very disappointed. At at the bottom instead of a sawdust pit. The training first we thought Cliff got sick because of the food, is still about the same, so I guess if it isn’t broke but later found out how seriously ill he was. He had you don't fix it. kidney failure.

Cliff was AWOL so Ron, Brandi and Linda went to the Crucible Brief. It is similar to our "Elliot's Beach". There are more combat fundamentals and

Chow Time

We attended the "Pinning On Ceremony" of the EGA for Bravo Company Recruits that were going to graduate the next day. It was great to see these young men doing what we did some 40 years ago. There is an indoor facility at the end of the Parade Cliff & Ron at Gas Chamber Deck that is used for this program if there is the recruit performs his task with little sleep, and inclement weather. only a couple of C-Rats. They are called MRE's now. The Crucible used to be a requirement to graduate, but this has been changed. We talked Treese was in Beaufort Naval Hospital, but was some Drill Instructors who had their Crucible determined to attend the Morning Colors and cancelled due to bad weather. This just did not sit Graduation on Friday. He negotiated with his doctor too well with me because I remember some of the and was given a pass for the ceremonies. Evidently weather we had, and felt that it would have been they didn't trust this Marine to return to the hospital valuable training for the new Marines. so they sent him to P.I. in the hospital commander's staff vehicle. The driver was told that he had better catch Treese if he fell. Fortunately, he was able to 16 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. attend both, and was returned to the hospital from Iraq and was wounded there. He had sustained without further incident. He spent three more days an injury to his hand and lost part of his leg. He was in the hospital before being discharged and returned there to see his brother graduate from P.I. They both home to sunny Florida. had the same drill instructor at P.I. His DI was overcome with emotion at the sight of the young We all assembled at Base Headquarters for Morning Lance Corporal and the reason for his attendance. Colors. There were a lot of parents in attendance. Some of the mothers wore shorts and the bugs were This will make you proud, and at the same time will delighted they did. Bug repellent stock hit an all make you sad. I swear that I could see all of us right time high that morning. Ron offered to help keep there on the Grinder in our younger days. the bugs out of the ladies shorts but was told that Everything was perfect and when the Band played would not be necessary. Cliff and Ron were seated the Marine Hymn there wasn't a dry eye in the in the VIP section and did not kill any bugs which place. The whole thing took less than an hour. attempted to devour us. We wanted to show the new Afterwards I walked out onto the hallowed ground Marines that we were "OLD CORPS TOUGH". We and could not help but think of how many Marines presented the Commanding General, the Chief of had marched by that reviewing stand, and that I was Staff, and the Base Sergeant Major, with Khe Sanh one of them. God Bless 'em all, Semper Fidelis, coins, a ball point pen, a copy of the "Final Frateas Aeternius. Formation", and had photos taken. We then proceeded on to the Graduation. Sitting right behind We would like to thank General Richard Tryon, us in the grandstand was a Marine recently returned Colonel John Valentin, Sgt/ Major Robert Hollings, Major White, LT Miller, and M/Sgt Art Prioletta, for their assistance with this tour. They went above and beyond the call of duty, insuring we were provided all the information we needed. Without their help, we could not have completed this story.

L-R General Tryon, Cliff Treese, Ron Shouse, ` Sgt/Major Hollings

Graduation Day

Obstacle Course Ron & Cliff with Chief of Staff, Colonel John Valentin.

17 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. MEMOIRS tank was watching over me and I felt comforted by its presence. A huge 1 million candle-power Xenon TANKS AT KHE SANH searchlight was mounted above the main cannon. I By Craig W. Tourte remember thinking that it was the oddest thing having a big searchlight on that tank. It got dark at Before I volunteered for the Marine Corps I drove a Khe Sanh and I mean really dark and black. I knew large tractor on the fields of my uncle’s farm. I that if it became necessary for that tank to turn the loved driving those beasts and always thought it light on, it would draw all of the fire towards it that would be a pretty neat job to be a tanker in the the enemy would have been able to muster. Marine Corps. I always thought that driving a tank must be somewhat like driving that old tractor. That M48 weighted in at 52 tons, and had a 1790 cu During boot camp we were asked what MOS we inch 690 horsepower diesel motor, with a CD-850 were interested in. I, of course marked the boxes for Alison Transmission. The engine and transmission tanks, or armor, I am not exactly sure what it said alone weighed over 6 tons. I don’t recall seeing that but that is what I was interested in. Of course the or any, of the other tanks at Khe Sanh fire their Marine Corps had other needs, and my being a cannon but it must have been an awesome sight tanker was not to be. when they did.

When I arrived at Khe Sanh on the convoy from It was one of those really dark and foggy nights at Dong Ha, we turned north from highway 9 and Khe Sanh when the Lang Vei Special Forces Base drove towards the front gate of the Khe Sanh was over run by NVA tanks. I could hear the sound Combat Base. There was a stretch of dirt road from of the V6 240 horsepower diesel engines coming the highway (a narrow dirt road) to the front gate of from the PT76 Amphibious tanks, kind of a muffled around two hundred yards. As we entered the main sound off in the distance. At the time I was not gate, we then turned east and drove about a few aware of what the sound was. I knew it was some hundred yards before we stopped. There was not sort of motor noise but I was not able to identify it. I much in the way of defensive positions, a few certainly did not think it was tanks. I’m not sure if fighting holes and concertina wire, and that was any others on the base could hear the motors, but I about it. I don’t recall when I first spotted that big could, as I stared off in the direction of Lang Vei. M48 tank at Khe Sanh. I think I must have seen it being driven around the base. I was in awe of its During the Siege I lost track of the tanks and also size. The engine was a big diesel, which belched my interest in them. I was too busy just surviving thick black smoke. It just looked powerful and my own ordeal. As I think back to the Siege and all aggressive and I envied those who were aboard. that we went through, it would have been interesting to have been a tanker at Khe Sanh, I watched as it moved around the small base, much especially with all that shrapnel flying around like a teenager watches that shiny new car he wants everywhere. The tankers must have felt relatively but knows he can’t afford. At some point during the safe inside those hulking monsters. I imagine when next several months, that tank parked near the main shrapnel hit the side of the tanks it made quite a gate facing south with it’s 90mm cannon pointing noise. I never did get the opportunity to ride in a level out towards the direction of highway 9. I was tank. Even today when I see a one, I wonder what it convinced that nothing would come down that road would have been like to have been inside during the that the tank could not destroy. Siege, instead of laying on the hard cold ground, enduring the cold, wet, mud, bugs and snakes. I am I pulled guard duty at the main gate a number of sure of one thing though, the rats couldn’t jump that times. Every time it seemed as though I were alone. high. I don’t recall ever seeing anyone else except that ...... big tank standing guard right behind me. I don’t recall ever seeing the crew around. It was like that 18 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. MEMOIRS water can, left our little group, and went to the valve on the hill, and hope to get water. Stuart and I were THE DAY MR. CHARLES THOUGHT bent over trying to turn the wheel on the valve. It KEN PAE WAS IN CHARGE wouldn’t open. Good old Ken Pae shouted encouragement. The area to the right of the water point road outside the wire was the home of an By Charlie Fox NVA sniper who didn’t hit many things he shot at. But he was persistent. I know, in this sniper’s mind, One on the rules of combat written by “Murphy” he was watching the man in charge shouting orders states: “try to look inconspicuous.” I don’t to his underlings, when in reality a corporal and remember the exact date, but one of our members lance corporal were busting their combined butts broke that rule and paid the price. while two PFC’s were screwing off. Charlie Company, 1/26 was on the Blue Line with rd In the midst of our struggle with the valve wheel the second squad of the 3 platoon being just to the and a lot of cursing and grunting, I heard a very right of the water point road. At the time, we were a loud “WHANG” and looked to see where the rather “fat” squad. We actually had a sergeant for a strange noise had come from. Pae was standing squad leader, and corporals for fire team leaders. I there with that deer in the headlights look, still was a lance corporal and M-79 man. holding the water can. A quick glance at the water can revealed a bullet hole and as Pae raised the can, We were, at that point in the siege, where we were a bullet hole in his leg. Pae was nice enough to restricted to two C ration meals a day, and one confirm all this by announcing in true Marine style, canteen of water. We were lean, extremely grubby “I’m $%$^& shot!!” Our training kicked in. In true looking, and very smelly. When you think you Three Stooges style, we promptly ran into each smell bad, you do. I’ve heard stories about showers, other, backed up a step and ran into each other electricity, steaks and all the other stuff we dreamed again. I think everyone changed their angle of about, but our little group acquired things like departure on the next attempt, because we missed candle wax for making our own candles by each other on the next try and headed for our scrounging it from blown up hootches and bunkers, imagined place of safety. There were no more shots, extra chow by stealing it from the LZ’s, and gear possibly due to the sniper’s laughing so hard at our from where ever we could “find” it. We got a pallet attempt to flee. Pae and company made it to the of stretchers that went out of control on a LAPES trench, while Stuart and I went the other way over drop that provided bunks that we hung from the the hill. runway matting bunker roof with comm wire. It helped keep the rats away. After doing the usual, “Damn, that was close,” and joking away our fear, Stuart and I found a small A large pipe, coming from the water point ran gully and headed back towards the trench line and directly behind our bunker, across the trench and up started our low crawl back while getting shot at the hill where there was a large valve. The pipe then three more times. Our final obstacle was the mound continued towards the runway. After seeing that of dirt from the trench. I was convinced we were pipe for many days and cracking my head on it going to get shot going over it, but my corporal was many nights while moving down the trench, it convinced that we had to get into the trench. So, we finally came to me that maybe, just maybe, there devised our plan. “We’ll go on three.” As I rose up might be water in it. I knew Mr. Charles was smart on that magic “three”, the ground exploded in my enough to poison the water, but that wouldn’t face and I fell back convinced I was dead while matter if we just used it to wash, shave and get our Stuart made it into the trench. After a very slow clothes clean. I discussed it with my team leader, self-examination I convinced myself I wasn’t dead, Bob Stuart, and it made sense to him, but before we or even hit and decided I was going to remain that moved on our plan, PFC Ken Pae and another way even though everyone thought I had to get in individual entered the picture. Pae got a five-gallon 19 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. that trench. I did make it into the trench, about ten and told him that often television documentaries minutes after it got dark that evening. seem to make situations seem much worse than they really were, but in this case, reality was much worse Murphy’s Law was violated and the violator was than any program or old grainy film could possibly punished. When we get to Mobile, Al next year, be show. I wonder now, in my later years, what has kind to Ken Pae when he wants to tell you how I got happened to those brave Marines I served with him shot. Be gentle. Remind him of Murphy’s Law during the Siege at Khe Sanh, to those who stood and the fact that the enemy, many times, is not up with me so long ago. I would want to know, just to on what our chain of command really is. say hello, and even perhaps goodbye. ……………………………………………………… SHORT ROUNDS I understand that we each must face our own demons, and sometimes there is just not enough room for certain memories. Perhaps it is a good WHERE ARE THEY NOW? thing some have moved on, and not looked back. I By Craig W. Tourte think some do not want to look back at their experience at Khe Sanh, and there are those who I have read a lot about Vietnam and Khe Sanh the would like to reach out, but cannot. Maybe they are last few years. I attended the Khe Sanh Reunion in the lucky ones. 03 and had a great time. I didn’t see anyone I served ……………………………………………………… with at Khe Sanh, except my friend Tom Horchler who I met at Khe Sanh and had a few conversations with while there. I rode shotgun on Tom’s truck on WHERE DID EVERYONE GO? the way out of Khe Sanh after the Siege. But, other By Craig W. Tourte than Tom, I didn’t see any of the few I served with. I did a little research and found most of their names I have heard and read all of the stories, as I am sure on the Khe Sanh Roster. I didn’t remember their you have. How there were so many of us at the Khe names until I researched the roster and it was Sanh Combat Base during the Siege, that they just interesting to recall and remember their young faces could not put any more boots on the ground in that and little things about them. Some were funny, very small space. How we were stepping all over some were serious, all wanted to survive and they each other. They could just supply so many people were from all over the country. with so much food, ammo, and we had reached our limit. I guess that was true. I have read there were I wrote a little piece on the Khe Sanh Veterans from five to six thousand of us. Seems like a huge Home Page Web Site requesting that any who saw number for a place measuring about one half mile the article contact me. Their names are not listed as by about a mile. They made it sound like we were members of the Khe Sanh Veterans Association and standing shoulder to shoulder in the trench line with I have not seen their names on the KIA list, so I no room to spare. I guess the numbers were correct, would assume that many survived and returned but my question is, where in the heck were you? home. I have found the addresses of a few and written them letters. I expected an immediate When that big old rocket screamed in on me, I laid response but was disappointed that none attempted down in a communication trench dug just a few to contact me. Tom has had the same experience, inches below the ground, as it smashed into the some who he has been able to contact have ground just inches from me, I was alone. When the welcomed him and others have requested that he not 152’s went off and were roaring my way, I dived attempt to contact them any more. into a bunker on the line and I was all alone as the ground shook from the impact beside me. You must I was watching the Fox Channel and the special on have left. As I got up from my fighting bunker Khe Sanh. It was really interesting and amazing that which was just one sheet of runway matting I so many of us survived. A friend asked me if it was placed over the trench line, and put a couple of really as bad as was portrayed, I thought a minute layers of sandbags on top, that rocket entered right 20 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. where I had been standing just seconds before. I I think we expected to receive incoming small arms was alone again, where did you go? When I stood fire and perhaps some mortar rounds and a rocket or guard all night long at the main gate and that snake two. But, we certainly were not prepared; nor did crawled over my feet and the rats onto my lap, you we fully prepare, for what was to hit us some 5 were not around. I could not see you on either side months later. We dug defensive trenches, filled of me. I was alone as usual, what happened to you? sandbags with our entrenching tools, put out wire, As I looked out into the foggy night, looking for ran the usual all night LP’s, and built a bunker to movement and the shadows I knew were the enemy, sleep in. Our bunker looked like all the others being only I could see them, you were not to be seen. As I built around that time of year. First we put up those ran to Charlie Med to repair the shrapnel wound to big, canvas, green tents. There were a lot of tents the back of my neck, I ran alone and you were not then, pitched everywhere. When it rained we’d take beside me. off our clothes and stand next to the edge as the cold water came down in streams. I look at pictures When I prayed to God every morning to let me live now from those days past, everything looks so another day, you did not pray with me. When I green (tents) and red (from the clay dirt) with lots of thanked God at night for letting me live another new green sandbags piled around. day, you were not there to thank him with me. Sometimes at Khe Sanh I just felt so alone. Where Our sleeping bunker was like all the others that we were you? Were you standing right beside me? If saw around us. It started with the tent, then 55gallon you hadn’t been there with me, I wouldn’t be here drums filled with dirt, that were placed around three today. Thanks for sticking around. sides with only the doorway left unprotected. We ……………………………………………………… also filled empty wooden 105mm boxes with dirt MEMOIRS and put those on top of the drums. We then loaded more sandbags on top of the boxes. It must have BUNKERS been 6 feet in height when we finished. We found By Craig W. Tourte some old runaway matting and placed it over the top and put more sandbags on top of the matting. I was thinking about the word bunker and how it just sounded so solid and safe. When I was down in We did a good job. It looked pretty good, kind of the bunker. It makes me think of those old films of battle ready. We felt that we would be safe, since the trenches from WW1 in France; where the trench we had built a “bunker.” I even attached a small was filled up with the soldiers, but the bunker (must California flag to some type of pole I found, and put have been filled with the officers) were timber it on the roof of our bunker. I was proud of the way covered and safe from incoming artillery. I it flapped in the breeze. I expected some old remember seeing a film of the old generals and sergeant, or brass to come along and tell me to take officers hunched over some type of map table it down, but it stayed in place. smoking cigarettes and looking very stern while dust came through the roof. The bunker shook from We did our assigned jobs for the next 5 months, the incoming rounds, but the bunker held up. occasionally adding new sandbags to our bunker and even a few new wooden 105mm boxes. We As we made the turn north from Highway 9 into placed a couple of pallets on the floor (deck) so we Khe Sanh Combat Base, sometime in August 1967, would not always be stepping in the mud. Every day I noticed there was not much to see. We stopped was pretty much the same. We worked on the trench about 100 meters east of the main gate and across the road from our bunker, and filled dismounted. This base and this spot were going to sandbags. I was awed by this interesting place that I be my home (H.Q. 1/13) for the next 8 months. knew so little about. Occasionally we’d go beyond Nine months of basic training, ITR, MOS, Staging, the wire a few hundreds yards to look around, and a few months in Okinawa, did little to prepare me perhaps bring back some timber or anything else we for what lay ahead. thought was interesting or useful. It was always an 21 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. exciting adventure for us non grunts, no radio or One of the guys I had spoken with the day before way to communicate if we ran into trouble, but we was killed by a rocket a few yards away. He had did not expect any. been a Drill Instructor in San Diego and had just arrived at Khe Sanh hours earlier. It was the first I liked being outside the wire. It made me feel like time I had a normal human conversation with a a real Marine. I knew in my heart I was meant to be Drill Instructor. He seemed like a really decent guy, a grunt. I hated my MOS, I loved ITR and Staging not a jerk, like so many others DI’s Our bunker that Battalion, but I was only in for a couple of years took so long to build was useless. We took the and I guess that’s where they needed the manpower. sandbags that had not been blown apart and used them to strengthen the trench line. But, we knew It seems like I was awake all night January 20, there was really nothing that we could do to make 1968. I had guard duty and around 0400 or 0500 the our position safer. morning of January 21, I was walking around inside our area when I heard something scream right over We did our jobs and stayed in the trench line during the top of me. At first I thought it was another one the night. Someone had to carry the dead and of the F-4’s that would fly over the airfield at about injured, hump the ammo, carry the water, go out to 100 feet off of the ground, but when it hit, I knew the airfield and take the cargo off of the pallets and exactly what it was. The ammo dump blew up after put them into the trucks to deliver to the guns and the first round came in. I must have yelled other units. Someone had to fill and pile new, fresh, incoming, but the blast woke everyone up anyway undamaged sandbags onto the bunkers of the and no one had a doubt that we were under attack. officers. Donald Saunders was killed doing this job. He had taken my spot. Someone had to go to the Without orders or any yelling, everyone ran out of guns at night and hump the ammo when they fired our bunker and headed across the street into the the H & Is, and return fire during the days. trench line. We stood in the trench line and watched Someone had to go beyond the wire and sit out all the slow destruction of Khe Sanh. We then realized night long and listen, observe and wait for the how pitiful our little sleeping bunker really was. As enemy. That “someone” was us, it was our job. the big rounds from Co Roc fell around us and the rockets screamed in, we realized that nothing that I don’t know how we could have trained or we could have built, and everything that had been prepared for our experience. I never heard of any built, was useless against such a powerful force that courses given by the Marine Corps on how to build we were experiencing and witnessing. defensive bunkers that would enable one to survive heavy artillery. Apparently the NVA learned and During the Siege of Khe Sanh, every standing they learned well. It was their home and they had structure that I saw was destroyed, including our the time and the ability. They knew what trees to bunker. Two rounds from Co Roc landed just a few cut, how to place the timbers, shore up the joints feet from where I was laying in the trench. The and protect and reinforce the ceiling. ground shook and lifted me into the air and slammed me back down again. The air was full of When I look back on my old photographs taken at dust and dirt everywhere. When the ground settled, Khe Sanh, I notice striking differences. Those I looked out from the trench and saw that on the photo’s taken before the Siege are filled with the outer lip of the depression the round had made just a color green, green uniforms worn by young men few inches from me. I got out of the trench and with fresh faces, green tents, green vehicles, green stood next to the huge hole that had been blown into sandbags and standing wooden buildings. As I look the ground. There was still smoke coming out of the at the photographs taken during and after the Siege, middle. I see very little green, or any standing structures. The uniforms of the now aged men are no longer green, but torn, faded and stained the color of red clay, with few photographs of vehicles. There are

22 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Photographs of large holes in the ground and piles of cloth, which once served as sandbags. I also see a Familiar sight in these photographs taken so long ago, that are similar to others I have taken during other battles. I see pictures of really brave men.

As I look back now on those old photographs of Khe Sanh taken during and after the Siege, I notice that they were not unlike those photographs and films I remember seeing taken in France during WW1 showing the trenches and bunkers. Of course the difference is that our bunkers which we privates Tom Eichler with CMC, General Hagee built, would not have withstood those incoming Marines and the many dignitaries in attendance. I artillery rounds, or much of anything really. I don’t informed one of the senior NCOs of the honor the know if our officers deep down in their bunkers Commandant had bestowed upon me when I retired. were standing around a map table looking stern and I asked if I could personally thank him, and smoking cigarettes. ……………………………………………………… SHORT ROUNDS

Part Two Once A Marine Always a Marine, Brothers Taking Care of Brothers By Tom Eichler

In issue 60, I printed a story regarding the Commandant of the Marine Corps, taking the time to honor me when I retired from the Chicago Police Department, in 2003. This honor was due to a Ken Penn, KSV with CMC General Hagee Police Officer under my command, writing the commandant requesting a letter. As you may recall from the article, the CMC not only took the time to write a letter, he sent a personal photos and his very personal thank you, for my Police and Marine service.

On May 15, 2005, I attended the annual National Police Officers Memorial Ceremony in Washington DC. The Police officer who originally wrote the letter (still an active Chicago Police Officer) also attended. We were the honored guest of Captain Jason Pelt, USMC, assigned to Marine Barracks Honor Detail. Officer Edward May with CMC General Hagee

During the twilight parade ceremony we sat with introduce him to the Former Marine who wrote him the Commandant and other VIP’s. Among those the letter. This Marine was not only a highly VIP’s was the assistant Secretary of the Navy. After decorated Chicago Police Officer, but had lost his the parade, the Commandant visited with his 23 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. brother who was KIA while serving with the United INCOMING

Attendance at the Gold Star Mothers Convention, Dallas Texas By James Wodecki

The American Gold Star Mothers annual Convention was held in Dallas TX, at the Crown Hotel. I attended with my wife PJ, as representatives from the Khe Sanh Veterans association. We arrived early so we could talk to a few of the Mothers, and wait for friends who were attending with us. Ken Waterston vice Commandant L-R Ken Penn, General Nyland, Tom Eichler, of Marine Corps League and his lovely wife Cigi, Marine Major along with Jim Meeks the National BOD of States Army in Vietnam, during a two day battle in Vietnam Veterans of America, would join me as which he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, guest speakers. & Two Purple Hearts. As we entered the lounge we met several other Once again, the Commandant put aside his busy KSV members who were waiting for the banquet to schedule of activities, and met with our CPD begin. I observed two older gentlemen seated at the Officer, Edward May, and myself. I thanked him for taking the time to write a personal letter regarding my retirement. He was most gracious and took photos and chatted with the people in our party,

Jimbo with Gold Star Mothers bar. One of them, pointing to my EGA tie clip, L-R Ken Penn, Ed May, Captain Jason Pelt, Tom asked me if I was a Marine. I replied yes, and he Eichler told me that his son was also a Marine, and was which included Ken Penn, KSV. We later met in the killed in Beirut. His son’s name was Jim Young, Officers Quarters, not only with the Commandant, whose Mother Judith, was the new National but with the Assistant Commandant, General President of the Gold Star Mothers. Mr. Young William L. Nyland, who was also a gracious host. asked me where I had served in Vietnam, and I What other Branch of Service would have the replied Khe Sanh. I further informed him that I was Commandant & Assistant Commandant take the there to present a donation to the Gold Star Mothers time to honor a couple of old Marine Veterans? The which would enable one of their members to return motto “Semper Fidelis” never meant more to me to Vietnam to visit the place where their son had and Officer May. Thank you General Hagee from breathed his last breath. the bottom of my heart. 24 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. A tap on my shoulder from a little lady behind me, and a soft voice said "my son was killed at Khe Dressed in flashing red, white, and blue sunglasses, Sanh in 1968". With tears in her eyes, she presented carrying fishing poles and wearing funny hats, they me with a laminated, boot camp picture of Joey returned to the room, Anna leading the way. They Keith Wheeler who was KIA at Khe Sanh while led a procession around the banquet room, singing serving with B Company 1/9. She informed me that “The Old Gray Mare, She Ain’t What She Used to Joey was killed at a place called the Rock Pile on Be”. WE were Shaking our heads and laughing as March 31st 1968. I gave her a big hug, told her how we left to return home. sorry I was, and attempted to give her a mental ……………………………………………………… picture of where the Rock Pile was in relation to the POETRY Khe Sanh Combat Base. BLOWING IN THE WIND I proceeded to hand her a Khe Sanh coin, and with a shaking hand she graciously accepted. She left our Peter, Paul and Mary such beautiful presence to change her dress for the upcoming songs they sing such meaning. Banquet. My wife and I then sat with another Gold Star Mother who lost her son during the 9/11 Today at our ward picnic. bombing of the Pentagon. He was a Marine who Fun we were supposed to have. had already served two tours in the Persian Gulf. Things were going fine till songs we HAD to sing. Just 2 weeks before his death, he had called and told her he was serving in a safe place and did not want Not in a mood to sing or laugh, her to worry as she did when he was in Kuwait. As I joined the circle on the fringe. luck would have it, he was in a safe location at the Pentagon just a few minutes prior to the plane crash, Blowing in the wind, but left and entered the location where the plane Once a song I loved. struck. But its words have such meaning, today this song made me Flash. We then spoke with Anna Heard, the present past President of Gold Star Mothers. We had previously Still now hours later, spoke to her on the phone but never actually met. the tears want to flow. After her son was killed in Vietnam, she made three The words running through my mind, promises to herself; to become an active Gold Star time after time. Mother, to become the president, and bring the annual convention to Dallas, her son’s hometown. How many people must die? She had accomplished all three. We had a delicious When will we say enough is enough? meal and I sat and pondered what I would speak of when it was my turn to address the convention. To a plateau of red clay, When it was my turn, I informed the crowd that the I stood and looked at body bags, other speakers had already spoke of the items I all in a neat row. planned to address, but I have something they did Stretchers with my Brothers not have, a check for $ 1,000, to help one of their dead and dying. members return to Vietnam. They applauded; I I too want to know when it will end. looked at Mary Wheeler, as I spoke on. I told them I could see in all their eyes, their son’s presence with Sam Messer us. God Bless all the Mothers who have lost their CBMU-301 Det B sons and daughters in war. I thought it was over when Anna and several other Mothers left the room for a few minutes. They have a ritual for replacing the past president position.

25 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. INCOMING a Division Parade and presented Sergeant Denny Eichler with his Medals. THE POWER OF A MARINE L/CPL I too, was a Sergeant in the Infantry USMC, with E By Tom Eichler E Co 2/26 Co 2/26, Hill 861A. Hill 861A Another bother William, served in the United States Navy as a CPO. ……………………………………………………… With both of my brothers attending the Reunion, helping with driving our rented vehicles, it brought WEB BRIEFS back memories of how much they both mean to me, A series of conversations on the Khe Sanh and how proud I am of them.. Veterans Websites, with the niece of a Khe Sanh Veteran KIA at Khe Sanh Combat Base, seeking Denny lied about his age and joined the United answers to his death. States Army when he was only 16 years old, being assigned to the 25TH Infantry Division (Cacti). He Wendy Ferris is the niece of PFC Michael John was a Fire Team Leader, and was sent to Vietnam. Laderoute. He was a part of the 3rd Platoon, Bravo Robert was drafted, assigned to the 1st Calvary Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines. A member Division, and also sent to Vietnam. I had reenlisted of the Ghost Patrol, Michael was declared MIA on in the USMC, and was awaiting orders. My Mother February 25, 1968, and his status was changed to received telegrams that both Denny & Robert had KIA, body recovered resulting from Bravo been WIA, both for the second time. Companies successful action on March 30, 1968.We will begin with Wendy's email and Denny was severely wounded while leading a patrol questions. My response follows. that was ambushed by a large NVA force. He was sent to Japan, and transferred to Great Lakes Naval First of all I would like to apologize to you for Hospital to recover from his wounds. Robert taking so long to get back to you. I have four suffered the same fate while on patrol, and was sent children that keep me busy. I also I attend college to a hospital in Japan to recover. full time and work a part time job. Thank you for the kind words, I understand completely how Denny received the Bronze Star, Bobby several Air difficult it is for a lot of the men who served over Medals for Bravery. Both were promoted to there and in any other war. My Grandmother has Sergeant. never recovered from the loss of my Uncle. We grew up talking about him in whispers so she Shortly before I was to leave for Camp Pendleton, I wouldn't hear us. I developed a love for a man I received Denny’s Bronze Star and Purple Hearts in never knew and wanted to know. My questions of the United Stated Mail. I knew that Denny had been why did he go, were always there. Why enter a war transferred to numerous hospitals for rehab, but I that was not ours? still thought his citations should be given in proper Military fashion. By now Denny had recovered and When beginning this search I had to worry first of been assigned as a drill instructor at Fort Leonard all of offending family members who thought it best Wood. Taking pen in hand, I wrote a letter to the to leave the past alone. I didn't want to do that. I Commanding General at Fort Leonard Wood, wanted to bring my Uncle back into the light, which informing him that I thought his medals should have as a War Hero and member of our family he been given in proper Military Fashion, and mailed deserves to be recognized. I was tired of pretending them back to him. he never was except in some version of a dream that you could only remember snatches of. I was I signed the Letter THOMAS J. EICHLER worried about approaching vets who might be L/CPL, USMC (RET). Well the Army I guess, hesitant to talk to someone who was not a vet. I wanting to avoid the wrath of a Marine L/Cpl, held have read about the antiwar sentiment and how many soldiers were treated on their return home. I 26 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. am a believer that even though we may oppose a you and to all the other men and women who war, we must support our vets. served, not just in Khe Sanh, but any war.

I am very happy to say my fears were for nothing. I * have been greeted with many emails offering Wendy, encouragement and support in my search for Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you but I information. I have spoken to men whose stories wanted to visit with a couple of others and do a have moved me to weep for their loss and pain. little research about a few of your questions. When I first started I was shaken to the core at what Frankly, some of your questions brought up several so many of you went through. It was hard for me to unresolved questions of my own. I want to thank think about, and harder still to imagine going you for all your kind remarks both in the emails and through it. I am so grateful that I will never have to in your postings on the message board. I also want experience it, and am so grateful to those who to thank you for being persistent in asking the served. I want to be able to teach my children to be questions that you have. Your doing so has prodded grateful as well. I am looking at the events of me to strongly examine some issues that have February 25, 1968, outside the box and from a lot of plagued me for 37 years. There are a number of different views. I wasn't there, so I cannot say I am fellow Khe Sanh Vets and even family members correct in my thoughts. I have heard a lot of like yourself, that have many of these same different versions of the causation of the patrol unresolved issues, therefore I decided to post your being ambushed. My Mom thinks that Khe Sanh letters and my response on both message boards. was used to lure the NVA out in the open. Maybe this will help answer questions for others, and it will also give some of the other guys an I know that on March 30 a patrol was sent out to get opportunity to give their point of view, and maybe the remains of the patrol, and many were lost and answer some questions. I hope you don’t mind. only a few remains were recovered; nine I believed is the official number, Ronald Ridgeway being one * of them. I have been trying to find out when the rest Mac, of the remains were discovered and how they I've been reading Eric Hammel’s book "The Siege determined identification. I found information of Khe Sanh"...I have a couple of questions I am where the government has tried to classify identity hoping you might be able to help me with. M/Gen with a handful of bone fragments. As a Biotech Tommy Tomkins says that he had ordered patrols to student, I know it is impossible. You cannot even go no further than 500 meters off the wire for the determine if someone is male or female using that purpose of wanting to bring the enemy closer to the method. base, and then all patrols were stopped. It was thought that NVA trenches were within 50 meters I have been reading messages that many experience of the wire. Seismic monitoring was going on just dread with the anniversary of the Tet Offensive. My for that belief. I am perplexed about an order given family doesn't acknowledge the event. My Uncle's for the patrol on Feb 25. Did Captain Ken Pipes try birthday was last Sunday, and in my mind I wished to have the patrol delayed due to weather, and the him a Happy 56th and wished he was here. This is request was denied? Does anyone know why that only one man, and you all have so many to request was denied? If I am bombarding you with remember and Honor. You have your own demons questions I apologize and if you would rather not to carry. I read about your post keeping certain answer, I understand. subjects a little more private. You are correct in thinking that there are people out there who would Wendy, use such information against others. More people Although it has been years since I read it, I recall need to see and understand what you men have that Hammel's book was accurate to a great extent. gone through. What you sacrificed and continue to However, different people sometimes see things sacrifice. I truly pray that this New Year is good to from a somewhat different perspective. Another

27 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. thing is that our own memories sometimes deceive speaks highly of the entire 1st Platoon in itself. us, and some of us have even spent years trying to Although he was able to do so, it was not his bury memories that are just too painful to fully decision to break contact and return to the acknowledge. perimeter. The decision wasn't even from the Battalion Commander as I had previously thought. On top of that, there is Post Traumatic Stress It probably came all the way from Division. If the Disorder eating away at most of us, and let's face it, whole company had been thrown into the fray, the as much as we hate to admit it we are getting older entire company would have been destroyed. and that takes a huge toll on our memory. Another Another observation that I just became aware of, is thing is that I constantly have to ask myself, is if I that Division was also concerned that if the whole really saw this first hand, was it a dream, or was it company left their defensive position on the just described to me in such vivid detail that the perimeter to join in the rescue effort, the entire memory is etched in my brain as if I was there. sector of the perimeter would be so weakened that it could not withstand an NVA counter attack and Khe Captain Pipes probably would have led the patrol Sanh would fall. himself, but that is not the way that it was done, and would not have been considered even if he Personally, I think that Division had it right. I think requested it. Another thought as to why it was the that the NVA were massed and ready to make just Third Platoon, is the depth of leadership and that very strike. The way and place that the 3rd competency of the men in the Third. They were all Platoon was ambushed, and the preparations that good men. Not to belittle the other platoons. had been made to ambush the reinforcements, Actually Bravo Company from Captain Pipes down indicate that it was a part of the over all NVA to the newest arrival, was the best of the best. strategy to take Khe Sanh. If Khe Sanh had fallen and the hills lost the supporting fire that Khe Sanh I'm not sure about the request for a delay of the provided, the hills would have fallen soon patrol due to weather. That may or may not have thereafter. This buries another demon for me. The happened and my thought is that it really doesn't one that asks, if we did what we should have done matter. After the tragic events of the 25th, there was in regard to reinforcing the 3rd Platoon, and were a scramble to second guess every single minute and the decisions regarding this, the right ones? Did detail of the action. I honestly do not think that any everyone at every level do everything they could of it was deserved at any level. have done?

In war, battles are won and battles are lost. On the issue of the recovery of the bodies of those Unfortunately February 25, 1968, was one of the lost and left behind on the 25th, I have had several battles that the US lost during the Vietnam war. To conversations and have done little research, but my knowledge it was the only one that Bravo relied mostly on my personal notes at the time. This Company was engaged in that they lost, and there is one of the reasons this reply has taken so long. It were many in which Bravo Company was the over took a while to locate and organize my notes. My all victor, including the one in which I mentioned notes show that there were eight Marines from Jacques having been in prior to the siege. There was Bravo Company that were immediately listed as also the tremendous victory that Bravo Company KIA bodies recovered on February 25,1968. I claimed on March 30, 1968, and we can also most believe that they were all from the 1st and 3rd certainly claim the ultimate victory for the battle of Platoons. My notes also show a total of 19 Bravo Khe Sanh. Lt. Weiss and his 1st Platoon did an Marines that were listed as MIA. My notes are very outstanding job in attempting to reinforce and detailed and include name, rank, serial number, rescue the 3rd. Several more good men were lost in MOS, and even next of kin. For Michael J. the attempt as they were also ambushed by NVA. Laderoute, my hand written notes actually show two The fact that Lt. Weiss and his men were able to next of kin entries. One located in Montreal, and avoid not completely falling prey to the ambush, one in New Brunswick, Canada. I only mention this

28 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. so that you can see the great amount of detail and Marines lost from Bravo Company. I also later effort that went into doing everything possible for added two more names one from A/1/13 and one our lost brothers and their families. from H&S 1/26. Each and every one of these men were true heroes and their loss was mourned by all; Again, referring to my personal notes: after the however, the battle was an overwhelming defeat for highly successful raid on the enemy led by Bravo's the enemy. Their losses were well over a hundred Commanding Officer Ken Pipes, on March 30, killed and no telling how many were wounded, or 1968, the status of the 19 Marines that had been DOW. Considering that a single Marine rifle listed as MIA on the 25th, was changed to KIA company was assaulting a battalion of NVA in well body recover. After more than a month the fortified positions, the Marine losses were decomposition of the remains was very bad. miraculously light. I say miraculously because I Identification was also hindered by the fact that truly believe that there was divine intervention that personal items had been removed by the NVA. day. Another factor was that in addition to the wounds received that led to their death, the bodies were Wendy, thank you again for your persistent effort further torn apart by constant artillery and mortar and questions which caused me to get back into all fire directed to that general area for more that a this. Over the last couple of days I have talked with month. some truly outstanding men and I probably would have missed that opportunity had not been for your Ten of those recovered were separately, positively prompting. After gaining new information and some identified and individually shipped home to their first hand observations from others I have changed family. Nine others were so commingled and in my outlook on several major issues. Several of my such a state that they could not be separately personal demons have finally been put to rest. I can identified, and were interned in a mass grave at only hope that some of this information will help Jefferson Barracks. They were Michael Baptiste, you and maybe a few others. Jerry Dodson, Frederick Billingham, Bruce E. “Mac” Milton McNeely Jones, Michael Brellenthin, John Lassiter, James Bruder, and David Scarbrough. The ninth was * Ronald Ridgeway. Ron actually was not KIA, he Wendy, was unconscious, and apparently the enemy had I just wanted to add my thoughts; understandably mistaken him for dead. When he regained you are having a very difficult time excepting your consciousness he was taken as a POW. Uncle's death, and this I can truly understand. I was on the ghost patrol that day, I was a squad leader, One of the reasons that we can be fairly certain that and some of my men didn't make it back from that there were no other survivor/POW's from the 25th, is patrol. Over the years I have had a very difficult because Ron would have seen them while he was time second guessing what could have been, what taken miles away to a rendezvous camp where he should have happened, but the fact is what joined up with additional POW's and was then taken happened, happened. Did Lt. Jacques make the to a POW camp. There is no way that Ron could correct decision? Well, here's my opinion, and this have missed other POW's, either on the march or at is in NO way to take away anything from the Lt. I the POW camp and he most certainly would have don't think it was the best decision that could have told the Corps during his debriefing. He has also been made, but Wendy, you should look at it this been to at least one Khe Sanh Vets convention and way. The men that gave their lives on that patrol, has been in contact with a number of us. There has more than likely threw a monkey wrench into the been no mention of other Bravo Company POW’s, NVA's plans to take Khe Sanh. I truly believe that because there were none. patrol may have saved thousands of lives at Khe Sanh base. As for thoughts that there more Marines KIA on March 30, 1968, my notes show that there were ten

29 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. As far as Captain Pipes decision not to send out a something that amazes me, a closeness that you large rescue force, I'm sure his decision was one of usually only see in families (and sometimes not the toughest he had ever made. To know Ken Pipes, even then), the support you offer each other, is so you would know that this man would do anything in special and unique. Something that someone his power to save the life of even ONE man, if it looking in, can see but not even begin to was possible to do so. understand. Something to aspire to, among mankind in general. If the world could reach what you all Wendy, I'm sure from your stand point, you think share, then maybe there wouldn't be any more wars. your Uncle died unnecessarily, but given the choice There is unity among you even when you don't to have gone on the patrol or not, I bet he would always agree. Thank you so much for your words of have gone. Speaking for myself, and the men in my support and encouragement. Thank you for squad, we couldn't wait to get out on patrol, we welcoming me to your site and sharing with me were so sick of being stuck on the base and being your memories. mortared and rocketed and not being able to do Semper FI anything about it. So like I said, you should think WendyFerris of your Uncle as the HERO that he was, and the ……………………………………………………… thousands of lives that he helped save. MEMOIRS Steven Wiese THE GUNNY B CO 1/26 By Dennis Mannion Semper Fi. The name is on panel 35 east, line 9, and although * the monument in Washington, D.C. doesn’t list any Mac & All Who Responded, particulars, I know that it was January 21st 1968 at From everything I know of my Uncle I know that he about 0330 on Hill 861 at Khe Sanh when Gunnery lived his life on his own terms. He made a choice to Sergeant Melvin Rimel was killed by North be in Vietnam. I know now there is no one th Vietnamese gunfire during an all out assault on the underlying reason for the events of the 25 at least hill. He was 15 years older than I, he outranked me not in my mind. My search to find out what by a considerable amount, I was not near him when happened was not to lay blame on anyone’s he died, and he wasn’t a good friend of mine. It is doorstep. It was for understanding and peace of the Gunny’s sacrifice, more than any other, that I mind. My family and I have that now. Thanks to so still carry around like emotional baggage after all many, especially Mac and Ken Pipes. In my heart I these years. believe that many more people need to hear the stories of the brave, and heroic men who fought He was from the small town of Dawson, there, died there, who continue to suffer for the Pennsylvania and had enlisted in the Marine Corps sacrifice they made. To survive and return, meant to during the Korean War. Decided to stay in and be changed forever. Not one person who went there make it a career, and was part way through his came back the person they were. That too was a second tour in Vietnam when I joined Kilo 3/26 in sacrifice. Not only to themselves, but their families, the fall of 1967. Every Marine Corps E-7 I ever and loved ones. For those who have never gone to crossed paths with seems, at least in my memory, to war, the freedoms we enjoy are taken for granted. have been a particularly big man, but in the case of We take it for what it is and never think about what Gunny Rimel, that was physical reality. He was it Might have cost... well over 6’4”and weighed in excess of 245 pounds with a voice to match. He was married and had 4 Here in New Brunswick, Canada there are not a lot children, a facet of his life that I learned 20 years of Vietnam vets. There are no families that we later. I was an enlisted man (E-3) holding down an know that can relate to what happened. We have officer’s job as the company’s artillery forward been solitary in our grief. Finding this website and observer, and as a consequence of those all of you has changed that. In all of you I see responsibilities I came into almost daily contact 30 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. with him as part of the Kilo’s command group. He destroyed in the crash, or wouldn’t the NVA have was firm when the job required him to be so; he was taken them months before. It’s not wise or even a sharer of his extensive field knowledge; and he possible to turn down a Gunnery Sergeant’s relaxed many of us under some very harrowing personal invitation. conditions. Our CO, Captain Jasper, was wise enough to know that men like Rimel were the heart We went out the northwest gate, hung a left, and and soul of infantry outfits, and I think the best way began the slow and cautious process of disappearing to put it was that under the aegis of Jasper, the into the dense vegetation of the ravine. With our Gunny ran the company like a benevolent dictator. protective barbed wire no longer visible behind us, and the real jungle growth all around, it was as if In some ways, I was innocent about many things in the war had suddenly left us behind. Take away the those days, especially the depths of my own fears grenades, the M-16’s, the helmets and the flak and my curiosity – but I sensed early on that he was jackets, and we easily could have been hikers or what I like to call “good people.” As my first campers in some out of the way region of the world. months in-country passed, I began to slowly benefit The bottom of the ravine was spooky quiet but the from his goodness. In December of ’67, Kilo was vegetation was not as much of a hindrance, so sent to Khe Sanh as part of the buildup, and an aura visibility was better and scattered evidence of the of impending battle loomed heavily over those last Hill Fights was in abundance – trash, c-rat cans, peaceful days of the year. We spent Christmas dug used LAW tubes, shell casings, and even the in just off the western end of the runway at the remains of two partially buried NVA. But, no combat base, and he stopped by my tent/foxhole on helicopter. Sitting by a small stream, we lunched that special day to share some of the goodies that he on C-rations and Kool-Aid flavored water and had received in Care Packages from home. Along talked. Well, mostly, the 5 of us listened and the with the material gifts, he seemed almost apologetic Gunny talked. What I remember most was that he for us young kids having to be away from family spoke about fate and being in the wrong place at the and friends at this time of the year. right time. He recounted a few Marine Corps experiences, both from battle and back in the States, The next day, Kilo hiked up to Hill 861 and where death and injury could have just as easily replaced a company there. We began conducting been him if the timing was right. He talked about daily platoon and multi-platoon sized patrols, with FEAR – his as well as ours – and he talked about the platoons rotating these assignments. However, the responsibility we had to look out for one as the only artillery FO, I accompanied every one. another. Sitting beside that stream for an hour, it On the 13th of January, I was informed that the was actually pleasant, and I hated having to get up, patrol for the day would be going northeast off the gear up, and climb back to the war. hill, down to what would become 861a during the siege. Since they would not be out of sight and A week later, he was dead, hit by mortar shrapnel within range of our 81 mortars, I could have to day when Hill 861 was partially overrun by the NVA in off! After 18 straight days of patrolling great the post-midnight assault that marked the start of distances, this was welcome news indeed. the 77-Day siege. I had no advance knowledge of However, the Gunny had other plans. his death, and thus no warning, until I ran by his bunker in the half-light of early dawn. I looked He “convinced” me and 4 others to accompany him down, stopped short, and knelt. Tears came to my down into the steep ravine that ran below the entire eyes as I used my thumb to close both of his. I western side of the hill. The purpose for our little knew, in a slow motion sort of way, that the good sojourn was to try to find the wreckage of a shot fortune and protection afforded me (and others) by down USMC helicopter (from the Hill Fights back this individual had left me for good, and that my in April 67 and to ascertain whether two machine days on this hill, if not numbered, were due to guns were still in the debris. I had my doubts about change. I had already experienced the deaths of the whole thing. Wouldn’t the guns have been others in combat, buddies who were more my age,

31 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. but this loss was different. The detonation of this two of us repaired to the porch with some Virginia 82mm mortar round cost me my guide, my advisor, bourbon. and my protector. In short, I lost my Marine Corps father, and that is why, there is at least a moment in My impressions of that afternoon remain vivid. He every waking day since that I think of him and the was reading when I arrived, and there were books lessons he imparted. scattered all over the house. As we talked, he was unfailingly patient with my ignorance. I was I often look up at the sky when I think of the impressed (awed might be a better word) by the Gunny and it is doubly appropriate to do so. Thirty- breadth and depth of his thinking about geopolitics seven years ago, I looked up to him both literally and military history, and my respect for this aspect and figuratively, and when I first found his name on of the man deepened as I pursued my own studies at the Wall in 1982, I had to lift my eyes and stand on Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Marine Corps my tip-toes in order to see his name on Panel 35e. Schools, and the National War College. In effect, I ……………………………………………………… MEMOIRS

The next stop is Saigon Reprinted With Permission, The Marine Corps Gazette June 1998 By Colonel William T. Dabney

Dabney remembers a conversation he had with General Lewis Burwell Puller concerning the As the Legend As the Man Vietnam War. He believed that Vietnam posed knew the man before I knew the legend. The similar strategic problems as North Korea, but there legend, then, does not portray entirely the Marine I was no vital American interest in Vietnam and knew. He was much more than the medals and 'one Vietnam was not a peninsula. liners' for which he is remembered today. I have

I met Gen Puller in the spring of 1957. I was a long felt that to be the Corps' loss because the sergeant on active duty on leave after a Far East young men who strive to emulate him today cannot tour, and was near the end of my 3-year hitch. He know him for what he really was. God knows we had recently retired, lived near my home in need our heroes. We should not let them be Virginia, and was a friend of my father. We met at remembered only because they were brave and, as the funeral of a mutual cousin, to which I had worn he often described himself, lucky. my uniform because it was the only appropriate attire I had. Because the old church was too small It is in that spirit that I have written out my for everyone, the ladies were inside, and the men recollections of the conversation, for whatever were gathered around the gravesite in quiet value they may have to the readers of the Gazette. conversation. He had many questions about Okinawa, where the 3d Marine Division had recently moved from He spotted the uniform and introduced himself in Honshu. He was particularly interested in how we his gruff way, asking me about myself and what I trained and how much live-fire training we had done in the Corps. I was flattered by his conducted. When he asked what my plans were, I interest, which I later learned extended to all said I'd been accepted at VMI and intended to return Marines. After the burial, he asked me to come to for a career upon graduation. I then asked what he see him. When I called to follow up on his thought was in store for the Marine Corps in the invitation he asked me for lunch, after which the future. He replied that he thought a NATO war

32 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. unlikely, and we'd probably fight next in Vietnam. prevent a Communist takeover of South Korea by He recalled his Marines singing about Saigon as force, not, as Gen MacArthur had later decided to they marched into Hungnam from the Chosin reunify Korea. He remarked that he considered Gen Reservoir in December of 1950. ("So put back your MacArthur’s decision the classic example of pack on/The next stop is Saigon/'An cheer up me Clausewitz' dictum that war tends to create its own lads/Bless 'em all," as quoted in Robert Leckie's momentum. (He would have agreed, I suspect, with The March to Glory, p. 192.) President Bush's decision to stop after liberating Kuwait.) Vietnam, he said, was essentially a colonial struggle, unresolved because of the Geneva All great powers want buffer states, and North partition. The Soviets were using it, through support Korea was precisely that to Red China. It could of Ho Chi Minh, to extend Soviet hegemony in the accept an American army in South Korea, but could area. In turn, the United States regarded a North not tolerate its approach to the Yalu. Its reaction Vietnamese attempt to conquer the south as a threat was understandable and, he said, expected by most to American interests in accordance with the Marine and many Army officers at that time. 'domino theory'-that the loss of South Vietnam risked the eventual loss of all Southeast Asia to the It was fortunate for Korea, he remarked, that Soviets. The Vietnamese, he suggested, regarded President Rhee had placed South Korean forces the growing American involvement as offering little Under United Nations (effectively American) more than the prospect of one colonial power command. The ultimate right of command was the replacing another. power to appoint and relieve subordinates, and we had left the South Korean forces in good shape by When I asked how he thought the war would end, appointing competent officers who had proved their he replied, without hesitation, "The Red Chinese worth in battle. (I don't believe it occurred to him Army will win it without firing a shot." that we would not insist upon the same command relationship with South Vietnam.) That leap of military logic was a bit large for a young buck sergeant to understand, and I asked him He ended his discussion of Korea by saying that the to fill in the blanks. He began by regretting that he Korean War was strategically necessary because, did not have good maps with which to explain. He coupled with our military presence in Japan; it then discussed Korea, saying that the decisive force ensured our control of all straits leading out of the in the war and the subsequent peace was the U.S. Sea of Japan, denying the Soviet Pacific Fleet Seventh Fleet. This was so because the peninsular unhindered access to the Pacific. It also gave us, in geography of Korea restricted the maneuver of large Japan, a secure offshore base from which to armies, whether North Korean or Chinese. They influence events in Northeast Asia as we chose. He were forced to attack on narrow fronts where they reminded me that Admiral Mahan had called Japan offered good targets for the superior firepower that "the England of the Pacific." American industry could provide, and their flanks and supply lines were always vulnerable from the Before discussing Vietnam, he said that wars should sea. be fought only for vital national interests, and that those interests were few: survival, strategic position He said that President Truman's decision to accept a (as in Korea), resources/markets or access thereto, partial victory rather than widen the war into China and in limited cases, cultural affinity. He suggested was correct. We could not have fought two that "saving the world for democracy," however it continental campaigns at once, and Europe would was phrased, had never been accepted as a vital therefore have been put at risk. Additionally, given interest by the American people. Had it been, we'd our maritime superiority, widening the war was have joined the League of Nations after World War unnecessary to achieve our original Korean war I. (He remarked to me in 1961, shortly after objective. That objective, he reminded me, was to President Kennedy's inaugural address, that the

33 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. President's " . . . we shall bear any burden, pay any could not be decisive. Should we invade we would price, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure "Stand a damn good chance of being pushed into the survival and the success of liberty," was grand the sea" (his words). The North Vietnamese could rhetoric, but lousy strategy.) The domino theory not defeat us; but since we could not go north, was flawed, he said, because China and Russia were neither could we defeat them. (When I later asked and always had been enemies (the Great Wall faces whether we could do so by bombing, he suggested I north, he pointed out). The Chinese would view read the Strategic Bombing Survey done Soviet control of Southeast Asia as encirclement, immediately after World War II, keeping in mind and would either deny the Soviets supporting that North Vietnam was an agrarian nation.) transportation links across China or march to Consequently, he said, should we commit forces to prevent it. Vietnam; we would condemn our troops to a prolonged defensive campaign in South Vietnam in He explained that in redesigning our armed forces which North Vietnam retained the initiative. He after World War II for the strategy of `Massive cautioned that a salient characteristic of Asian Retaliation' made possible by nuclear weapons, we peoples is patience. had neglected the forces and training to win a conventional war quickly and decisively. We would He then observed that democracies do not fight need time to reconfigure and retrain them, and colonial wars well. Such wars tend to be long, he would probably commit them piecemeal to said. Absent a vital interest, the electorate of the Vietnam, which would give a resourceful and democratic power eventually concludes that the determined enemy like Ho Chi Minh time to adjust marginal benefits of a victory are not worth the cost and fight on. in casualties. Witness, he said the British in India and the French in Indochina. The decisions to Gen Puller believed that Korea and Vietnam posed withdraw were made in London and Paris, similar strategic problems. Both were artificially respectively, and not by force of arms in the field. divided. Both North Vietnam and North Korea He suggested that the same outcome was probable were, with Soviet sponsorship, intent upon in Algeria and the other European colonies in reunification; they both bordered Red China; they Africa. In all cases, the defeat was (or would be) not both were regarded by her as buffer states. But there military, but political. were two critical differences. The North Vietnamese understood that reality, he The strategic difference was that there was no vital said, having recently been one of its beneficiaries in American interest in Vietnam. It did not threaten the 1954 Geneva Accords. They would shape their American survival; it was not located where tactics accordingly. Since a defensive campaign in a American or Soviet bases would provide any place with porous jungle borders would at best strategic advantage; we depended on it for neither result in a bloody stalemate, at some point the resources nor markets; we had no cultural links with mothers of Peoria and Pocatello would grow weary its people. Consequently, there was even less of burying their sons and petition their elected justification for risking an all out war with the Red representatives to bring them home. North Vietnam Chinese over Vietnam than there had been over would then reunify the country on its terms, and the Korea. Red Chinese Army would have won the war without firing a shot. Note: In a later discussion (we The operational difference was that Vietnam was had several before his health failed in the late not a peninsula. A large army can always outflank a 1960s) he remarked that an eventual rapprochement small army if it has room to maneuver, and the long between America and China was inevitable and Chinese border with Vietnam, Laos, and Burma essential, and that if we withdrew from Vietnam provides that room. Invading North Vietnam risked rather than challenge China, we might create an catastrophe by confronting the huge Red Chinese opening to achieve it. Should that occur, he said, it Army in a continental campaign where our fleet would profoundly alter the strategic situation of the

34 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Soviet Union, which would then face the possibility almost became a fatal error when a helicopter of a two-front war against a steadily strengthening gunship accidentally opened fire on us. I recall Lt. NATO and an industrializing China? Col Dabney Burton exiting the river wearing only his pistol belt, later met and married Gen Puller's daughter radio in hand, screaming for the helicopter to cease Virginia. They live in Lexington, VA its attack. He saved a lot of Marines that day with ……………………………………………………… his quick thinking. MEMOIRS I was not at Khe Sanh during the siege, but The History of the “Ponderosa” participated in the following operations: Prairie, By Irvin Smith Beaver Cage, Hickory, Bear Bite, Colgate, Delta Company 1/3, Khe Sanh Choctaw, Union, Maryland, Bear Claw and Buffalo, where I was WIA. I would also like to mention a I just finished reading the latest issue of Red Clay. few of the men whom I was proud to have served Part of the story on page seven, brought back with. I might not have the correct spelling of their memories of my time at Khe Sanh. We arrived at names, since my memory is some what faded, but Khe Sanh on C-130’s during the Monsoon season in here goes: Dave Brook, Bill Southern, Rod Brewer, December of 1966. I remember we placed our packs Ray Kelley, Luewellyn, Lopez, Phil Lynn, Harry on the metal runway being built by the Navy Bornfield, Lt Ronald Burton, Lt Spears, Bill Sims, Seabees. Unfortunately, they were soon buried “Doc” Pearson, Jerry Furmanski, Dean (M-79 under mounds of freshly dug Red Clay. The Man),Alabama, Roger Flood, Don Sweeny, John Seabees apologized and dug out our gear. We Cook, and Miller. immediately set out in a Northerly direction from the airstrip. I recall Lt. Ronald R. Burton chewing In May of 2004, I returned to Vietnam in search of out one of the Marines who had managed to bring my youth that I lost so many years ago. It was a real his guitar with him. It kept making noise every time good experience except for the accident I had near the strings brushed up against the heavy bushes and Namo Bridge, located near Danang Harbor. While elephant grass. jumping from a large rock, all 285 Lbs of me slipped, and I landed headfirst, breaking my arm. Once we arrived at the location we would be defending, we dug in as best we could. As luck I am still looking forward to returning there with would have it, one of our Marines knew how to my wife in 2006. I will be going with the current rd operate heavy equipment. With a backhoe borrowed president of the 3 Marine Division, Mr. Bill from the Seabees, we were able to dig much more Erwin, B Co 1/3 (69), who has returned many times. formative defensive positions. After we were pretty He and his associates took good care of me in 2004. well established, someone thought we should give it The country is really very pretty and the a name. Because of the physical layout, I and a few Vietnamese people were very good to us on our first other Marines thought it looked like the place from trip. I will never forget the ones we left behind. So the television show, Bonanza, so “The now you know how and when the “The Ponderosa” was born. Ponderosa” got its name, God Bless all of you, Semper Fi We spent some cold miserable nights on ambushes, Irvin Smith surviving the elements, leeches, and mosquitoes, ……………………………………………… while waiting for the NVA to attack. Those attacks MEMOIRS never came, but there were NVA who would light a lantern down from our lines, trying to draw fire, to THREE DECADE WAIT ENDS WITH have us disclose our positions. We never did fall for VETERAN RECEIVING BRONZE STAR those kinds of tricks. Our position was close to the By Leonard Skonecki Focus Correspondent Water Point down by the river. Once Lt Burton let us bathe in the river, a few guys at a time. This On March 22, 1971, Bloomville resident John 35 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Ward earned something very special. On June knocked on the door of the Seneca County Veterans 22, 2005, he finally received it. Service Commission. Service officer Jim McAuliffe who took up the search. "I tried everything I could On that day more than 34 years ago, John was a he said”. specialist fourth class in Company A, 27th Engineering Battalion. He was far from home, Mac was able to locate a hometown news release serving with the U.S. Army in the war in Vietnam. about the engagement, but that wasn't proof. I His unit was assigned to repair the primary and needed the citation, the order. You can buy a medal, assault airstrips of the American base at Khe Sanh. but it doesn't mean anything without the order," The airstrips were vital for purposes of re-supply John said. Then, less than a year ago, help came and providing air support for American operations unexpectedly from Manor, Pa., in the person of in the vicinity. retired Master Sgt. George Smeltzer. George had just joined an association of Khe Sanh veterans, a John and his unit were working on the assault air group John already belonged. He casually flipped strip when the primary airstrip was hit by an enemy open his new Khe Sanh directory to see if there artillery barrage. According to Army records, John were any names he recognized. The first name he "moved to the damaged strip to begin immediate saw? John P. Ward repairs and came under four additional enemy artillery barrages. Although faced with physical George was a member of John's unit. He was with danger, Specialist Ward continued the vital John on the Khe Sanh airstrip three and a half repairing of this critical re-supply airstrip. His decades ago. He, too, had endured the shelling. intrepid determination and professionalism without George gave John a call, just to say hello. John regard for his own personal safety was highly wasn't home. His wife Sharon took a message. instrumental in the successful completion of this Finally, John and George talked. Like John, George mission in a minimum of time. His valorous actions earned a Bronze Star that day. And, being career were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military, he'd kept all his Army paperwork, military service and reflect great credit upon him- including' the award citation. John's next phone call self, his unit and the United. States Army. John was to Mac. "After I talked to him for a while, I earned a Bronze Star for his devotion to duty under realized that he was for real," John said. "I told Mac fire that day. He never received it. to call him. I can't thank Mac enough for all his work." Shortly afterwards, he was discharged from the Army and came home. Other members of his unit Mac and George talked three times over the next 24 were decorated for that action sometime later, but hours. Two days later Mac had a copy of George's John's order authorizing the Bronze Star got lost. He citation. Now the mystery of John's missing award didn't receive his award until June 22, 2005, in a was cleared up. Everyone had been looking in the ceremony sponsored by the Seneca County wrong place. John's unit was part of the 18th Veterans Service Commission at the Tiffin Amvets Engineering Brigade. A month after the attack at Post 48. Khe Sanh, the 18th was re-designated and re- assigned to the Engineering Command. It was the At first, John wasn't concerned with the medal. He latter unit which issued the award' citations. Armed knew what he had done. But about 20 years ago, it with a copy of George's order, Mac was quickly in came to mean more to him. John set about trying to touch with Clifford Snyder of' the National get the medal, without success. He went to the Archives Records Administration in Suitland, Md. Army, to the military archives in St. Louis, and George's order gave Snyder a place to start looking. various government agencies. He hired a professional investigator at the cost of several At first, Snyder came up empty. But he persistently thousand dollars, all without luck. As the years expanded his search until, bingo! he discovered went, I almost gave up. Roughly10 years ago, John order 394, John's citation, which had laid waiting

36 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. for 34 years... "It was like a thing come true," John summer of 1967. We arrived on LST 1166 and said. Retired Maj. Gen. David Einsel presented John made a beach landing south of the Cao Viet River with his Bronze Star and citation. John also and then proceeded by convoy up Route 9 to Khe received a proclamation from Seneca County Sanh. There wasn’t much at the base but a few Commissioners Joe' Shock, Dave Sauber and Ben bunkers left by the French and red clay, so we Nutter. The ceremony was held at Tiffin's started filling sandbags. AMVETS Post 48, where John is a member. John Ricker is the post commander. The colors were Our construction of hooches and “bunkers” was posted by the Seneca County, United Veterans based on what we had seen at Dong Ha and Da Council. The Seneca County Veterans Service Nang. Our living quarters were large tents with Commissioners are Tom Evans, John Leifheit, Dave sandbag walls on the sides, and as you can see from Martien and Jim Rochester, who also attended, Commission chairman Dave Young, also a Vietnam vet, said, "I'm happy, I'm proud that we were able to do this."

The Bronze Star is one of America's highest military honors, John's has a "V" device attached to it The "V" indicates it is earned as the result of valor displayed by the soldier, John’s Bronze Star was earned in 1971. On June 22, it found its rightful home. Today, John and Sharon live in Bloomville. Among the 80 persons in attendance The Swimming Hole. FDC 1/13 after the flood. was Bloomville Mayor Barbara Jacoby. John has a Note the “telephone poles” made out of 155mm construction business there. "John does a lot for powder casings in the background. Bloomville. He donated the equipment building in our park and made picnic tables. Most anything we ask, he does," the mayor said.

Publisher Note: This story is a wonderful example of why Ray Stubbe founded the Khe Sanh Veterans. Our congratulations go out to John Ward for his long overdue award, and to George Smeltzer, for helping in John’s quest. ……………………………………………… MEMOIRS The Swimming Hole FDC HQ Btry, 1/13, before the Siege. Tent in upper By Jim Madara right belonged to the Seabees HQ Btry 1/13, Comm Platoon the picture, our vital command center would not Our first FDC was simply a wide trench scooped have lasted long during the siege. Within that trench out of the red clay by a bulldozer. The trench angled covered with a tent we had radio communications down to a flat area for about 25-30 feet and then links with ground and air forward observers. There angled back up to ground level. We erected sandbag was also a Fire Coordination Control, ground wire walls at either end of the trench where it started to link with our artillery batteries, plotting tables, and, angle back up and then threw a couple of tents over later the first computer I had ever seen (which I the top. Officers slept behind the wall in the think was called a FADAC). foreground. Headquarters Battery, 1st Bn. 13th Marines (Artillery) were staged in Okinawa at Blissfully unaware of what was to come, we settled Camp Hansen and arrived in South Vietnam in the 37 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. down to ply our trade. Then, it started to rain and songs. It was a beautiful day with warm, clear skies. rain and rain. I was standing radio watch one night I enjoyed watching the older women remembering and noticed water seeping through the sandbag wall when they were young. There was the occasional just behind me. I stuck a pencil into the bags to old guy with the too young girlfriend, or wife, who mark how high it was getting and moved the pencil looked kind of funny. Almost everyone was middle a number of times before the game got old and I aged, but I just couldn’t see myself as such, though forgot about it for awhile. Really early in the I knew better. morning I glanced behind me and noticed the sandbags had become saturated with rain water and During one of the old tunes; I don’t remember was moving like a snake. I yelled something and which one it was, I started to cry. It came up from leaped up to grab hold of the lip of the trench, as the my throat and into my eyes and the tears ran down wall gave way and a wall of water rushed over my my face. Good thing I had on that big old pair of buddies and all the gear before it disappeared wrap around sunglasses because no one noticed. It behind a blanket that served as the dividing wall seemed like a long time before I was able to between the work space and the officers sleeping compose myself. Fortunately I didn’t have to talk to quarters. The last thing I saw in the fading yellow anyone, or look at anyone directly. light from the drenched gas lanterns was a very surprised officer dressed in wet skivvies floundering Memories are unique things. We all have them. I on his rubber lady, as the wave returned from don’t know what we called them in the years crashing against the far wall. Sorry I didn’t get a following our return from Khe Sanh. I think to a picture of that. certain extent, we didn’t know we had them. Perhaps we just thought it was an experience and it Things have a way of turning out for the best. After was over. A memory? The word sounds like the rains destroyed our first bunker and we dried something you can turn off and on. I think a lot of everything out, the Seabees built us a really nice us just didn’t know why our lives seemed to have one up by Alpha Battery. We never would have gotten so screwed up when we got home. In survived the first day’s incoming if we had still looking back on our histories of divorces, drug and been in this bunker at the start of the siege. alcohol abuse, bitterness, and our inability to get ……………………………………………………… along with other people, it seems like a lot of us MEMOIRS turned out that way. Most of know why now, they kept telling us it was because of our experience in The Concert Vietnam. It is PTSD and we would work through it. By Craig Tourte I went to counseling classes where we sat around and heard other Vietnam veterans talk about their I went to a concert in Sacramento last night, with experiences, but it seemed like they were more Oldies music, mostly from the 60’s. Lots of people interested in talking about theirs than listening to there were my age: Everyone was enjoying ours. You understood when they talked about their themselves, singing along to those old tunes that one or two experiences, seeing friends killed in the reminded us of our youth. The man next to me was brutality of war, and you could see that it certainly telling me what a great time he had during the 60’s, seemed to affect them, but they didn’t and couldn’t gave me a little nod and wink as he went on about understand mine. I tried to make them understand, his time in San Francisco, the girls and the concerts to tell them in my own words what those 77 days he attended as a kid. He said his hearing was bad was like, but as I looked into their eyes, I knew they now because of the all concerts and the music was were not getting it, none of them. so loud, we laughed and I kind of smiled at him and his wife. They seemed like nice folks. I have talked to a number of you, with similar stories where you tried to tell others. After you I enjoyed the music. I’m not much for dancing, or finished you asked yourself why you bothered singing along, but I loved the simple lyrics of the opening your mouth. One Khe Sanh guy told of 38 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. when the CP blew up and all were killed but him INCOMING and when he got to Dong Ha was placed in the medical tent there were dozens of other Khe Sanh NEWS FROM IRAQ Veterans laying around, moaning in pain,. blood running in streams across the dirt and how after his This is another combat report from Colonel Bob recovery, he felt so guilty because he thought he Chase, G-3, 2ND Mar Div in Iraq. should have gone back. Was talking to Gino and he asked for some details on the MATADOR fight. Figured, by now since Another Khe Sanh guy was talking to the guy next many of you might have caught some of the to him and just remembered that the next time he interviews, you'd like to hear, 'the rest of the saw him he had no arms and he was confused and story..." didn’t know what happened. Another had the breath knocked out of him and the head of the guy who Matador is now officially over, supposedly, they had been standing next to him was now sitting on were going to fight our way back and destroy us, his lap unattached from his body. Another moved guess they missed the turn at the dairy queen. We his new squad up the hill and told them to watch are back and the final tally was Good Guys 125+ him. and when he came down for them, he directed enemy dead, many more wounded, and 39 detainees their attention to another fire team off to his right, of some significant value. The bad guys, who talk a and now told his men to watch them. Because they real good game, 9 Killed (6 in the one Amtrak) and would not make it up the hill. When the machine 30 wounded (most will return to duty). Not a bad gun of the NVA exploded in front of his position, week's work. all of his men got down as they watched the other team continue to stand and die. As we have said, our intent was to make ourselves big by leveraging our firepower and mobility. This Another arrived at Khe Sanh with boots that were area was a real sh--hole for AMZ criminals. We too small and a friend he had known gave him a knew it, 1st Division knew it, but working it on a new pair. How those boots meant so much to him regular basis was tough. We kept some recon there after the friend was killed. And, when he was and got the timing pretty well, brought up a wounded for the second time that day, they cut bridging unit from the Army in Baghdad, then went those boots off and threw them away. This had across in the middle of the night (that was probably affected him, because it was all he had left of the the only part that didn't go on sked, the bank memory of his friend. How could anyone ever gradient was poorly assessed) but we had near and understand the meaning of having those boots? far-side security already in and a blocking position near the Syrian Border. I thought of all of those things during that concert, sitting there listening to music on that warm The enemy figured out after about 4 hours that we Saturday afternoon. My hearing is not too good, but were there in force. They came down with about it is not because of going to concerts with loud 100 fighters (no, scratch that they were TARGETS) music. I smiled at the guy sitting next to me, but not and made the poor decision to take on a battalion in because of his memories of girls and concerts in open ground. They with drew, we went after them San Francisco, but because of my memories of a into a place called Ubaydi. Many mounted boats Siege so long ago. He just would not understand and tried to escape North, we pushed Air and the why would he, no one else has, and unless you are a Cobras sunk a bunch of trash barges that night. Khe Sanh veteran, you won’t, and never will. Meanwhile, we continued to push west across the …………………………………………………….. river. Our far-side units started to see pockets of insurgents move to key areas to emplace mines/IEDs. They came out, snipers took them out; their friends came for the bodies; they, joined them on the deck, permanently. 39 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. The force started getting the tanks and LAVs across they still didn't get pissed off enough to come out later than we had hoped; but when they did. Our and play. We went back across the river without first casualties came at a high-rise where the enemy incident, decided to 'poke a stick' in Ubaydi (where had prepared positions; a platoon moved in under the big fight was), just ONE MORE TIME before fire, 2 Marines, a SSGT and a LCPL were first in we left. NOTHING, they wanted no part of these the hatch and received a burst of MG fire. As the Marines again. We're all back at base camps and unit assumed they were dead (no additional fire/no Forward operating Bases, maintaining, cleaning, one came out), they lit up the house and dropped it talking s--t, and prepping for the next smackdown! with a couple 500-pounders. As we moved to recover our Marines (NONE LEFT BEHIND), we NBC interviewed me again, last night, good stuff, discovered that the L/CPL, a though wounded, was but they harped on the casualties. I told them it was still alive (he is serious, but stable). Unfortunately war; they wanted to know if a whole squad was the SSGT had taken a round to the grape and had killed in the track. As I told them a squad's worth of been killed by the initial burst. We moved on; Marines were killed/hurt (6 KIA, 14 WIA) but it portions of the task force moving along known rat- was NOT the catastrophic loss of a squad (it was a lines and others working intell developed in the HQ track). NBC wanted to know how to refer to cities of Ramana and Karabila. Fighting was them, as a squad, company, etc. I told them, pretty sporadic, intense, and one-sided in outcome. We bluntly, "refer to them for what they will always be, followed individuals into buildings, we leveled the US MARINES! They continued to push (I was buildings; all night, every night, Marine Air had starting to become a bit agitated); they wanted to eyes up and shooters on-station, talk about a know how we considered this a success with the guardian angel! Each night we re-assessed, looked deaths. I nearly lost it. And how would we at the intel and developed the next target sets. We remember them, would there be a ceremony? You stayed down there until a few days ago; then shifted know what happens when I get into this mode. to a series of caves in the north. Thought you might appreciate the answer:

The caves were on an escarpment and rumors We can never replace a fellow Marine or best friend abound about whether these were, Bin-Laden like but I can attest that he died doing what we all hope caves answer no, mostly small caches and some to be doing as Marines, they were advancing, protection from about everything but a hellfire with leading, and setting the example. They were being a laser designator. We exploited some and closed MARINES! It may not matter in the grand scheme most of them permanently. The enemy propaganda of things to anyone but us, but we are singularly talked a lot about how they were going to kill us as proud that we have and know Marines that fought we retreated, etc. They showed pictures of and died like these. We remember and memorialize devastation in Al Qaim (caused by an intramural them and keep them alive every single time we put fight between the tribes and foreign fighters, no on this uniform -- we are just honored to wear the less) and blamed the Americans. Al Jazeera called same eagle, globe, and anchor as these to speak to me and interviewed me twice on air, yes, warrior/heroes. We don't make policy, we don't I called the enemy cowards, and again, they hide decide on the fight, but we do fight and win. And behind women and children in the cities and caused when we win, it is because every one of these their death by their cowardice. Played well, enemy Marines fight with us in sprit, and we will not, we swore they had captured/killed the enemy cannot let them down. To we Marines, Semper commander. Went on again last night to ridicule Fidelis is more than a motto. It was to them, and to them for their lies and continued fear of death, told us who were privileged to fight with them, a way of them the destruction of AQ was evidence that, the life. Not sure that will get on the tube. Unfortunate, noble tribes of Iraq also reject those that deface because I think we should all be such Marines when their holy places and dishonor their dead. We'll see our time comes. if a wanted poster appears tomorrow's bad news is,

40 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. POETRY

This is a poem being sent from a Marine to his Dad. For those who take the time to read it, you'll see a letter from him to his Dad at the bottom. It makes you truly thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops.

C-28's at the Cross Roads THE MARINE

We all came together, Both young and old To fight for our freedom, To stand and be bold.

Huge Bronze statues of Saddam Hussein

In the midst of all evil, we stand our ground, And we protect our country From all terror around.

A Mosque inside Green Zone

41 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. I'm harder than nails, Stronger than any machine. I'm the immortal soldier, I'm a U.S. MARINE!

Peace and not war, Is what some people say. But I'll give my life, So you can live the American way.

So stand in my shoes, And leave from your home. Fight for the people who hate you, With the protests they've shown.

I give you the right To talk of your peace. To stand in your groups, Fight for the stranger, and protest in our streets. Fight for the young. So they all may have, The greatest freedom you've won.

But still I fight on, I don't bitch, I don't whine. I'm just one of the people who is doing your time. Fight for the sick, Fight for the poor Fight for the cripple, Who lives next door.

42 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too. Aaron ……………………………………………………… POETRY But when your time comes, Do what I've done. THE BATTLE OF KHE SANH For if you stand up for freedom, You'll stand when the fight's done. If freedom needs reminding of honor bright and memories dim with life's fast pace, remember the young marines on the hell of Khe Sanh's face.

Of tanks white hot and holed right through and napalm's glow and medics sprawled across the bodies of their friends and going to the wounded call.

Of steep air-strikes and flare-lit nights twelve yards forward and ten years back, By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps and fighting hard with bayonet's grace USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF as men in black attack, attack. March 23, 2003 And gallant youth in hell's own glades cutting, thrusting on the hills, remember those boys and Khe Sanh's sighs Hey Dad, where the echoes of courage are calling still Do me a favor and label this "The Marine" and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this And as you march down Arlington's streets letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US; I want past ashen widows and winding-sheets, every home reading it. Every eye seeing it, and and hear the somber bugles shrill every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for pray for the lost on Khe Sanh's hills. me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway. You know what John A. Moller Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly Whiskey Two Company understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech. RNZIR ……………………………………………………... "When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it."

Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left 43 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. POETRY KHE SANH VETERANS BOOK REVIEWS THE COWARD OF KHE SANH Here are just a few of the letters Chaplain Ray The coward of Khe Sanh, Stubbe has received in regards to his latest edition Each day you see him rise. of Final Formation “Battalion of Kings.” He runs outside to take a piss, Congratulations Ray, we all know how much of Gives the high sign, your life was spent getting our story into the History Then runs inside. Books. The book is now available in our KSV PX for the price of $ 25.00. Plus $ 6.00 S/H. You will The coward of Khe Sanh, have to order now, there is a limited supply. Doesn’t walk & doesn’t run. He’s doing a shuffle, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS Bent forward a bit at the hips. UNIVERSITY

At the sounds of the mortars, MARINE CORPS HISTORY & MUSEUMS Rockets or arty, DIVISION He becomes the fastest man alive! 1254 CHARLES MORRIS STREET S.E. The coward of Khe Sanh, WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, DC 20374 Works on the strip, He hauls ammo from the dump to the pits. Ray old friend, He loads the rounds into the tubes. He also wants to kill an NVA or two. I received your books yesterday and was delighted to hear from you, but more importantly, amazed at The coward of Khe Sanh the thoroughness and excellence of your book Sometimes leaves a trail. "Battalion of Kings." I have sent the copies to our A Trail of shit paper flying behind. Reference Section where they will become an Some ass hole yelled important source to our many clients seeking Incoming! information about Khe Sanh.

The coward of Khe Sanh, The book is one powerful and personal work. The See him run, format permits the researcher to access the date of One hand on his head, an action; casualties involved, and better still, One on his gun! comments about the participants. In fact the His weapon is for fighting, research is handed to the requester with little else His gun is for fun! for him to do. Pretty amazing.

As for my personal involvement, you probably The coward of Khe Sanh, already know from the tapes that I had business at No where can he run, Khe Sanh during my first Company Commander No where can he hide. tour in 1967; both opening & keeping open Rt. 9, So each day and each night, and the Hill fights. We spent one hell of a lot of He stands on the firing line. time and lost some good Marines--too many--trying to keep the road safe from the Rockpile all the way The coward of Khe Sanh, to Khe Sanh. It became impossible by late '67, and He looks at you, frankly, the cost was not worth it. I have since been From out of my eyes. back to Vietnam a few times and seen what has Sam Messer become of the road. You would not recognize it; 44 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. wider, straighter, and now a major route for traffic experience in 2002 that turned out to be another out of Laos all the way to a deep water port at Cua miracle of survival. Viet. Really hard to believe. I send you greetings from your admirers here; Dan My actions on Hills 950 and 1015 in 1971 are in Crawford and Bob Aquilina who now have the book print for the very first time with your account on pp. and appreciate what you have written. It will be of 426-427. Also, for the first time I have seen the good use to us. With our appreciation, best wishes, actual number of casualties there, which we didn't and, Semper Fi, know at the beginning of the operation--30. Of the many close scrapes I lived through in two years of John W. Ripley fighting with US and Vietnamese Marines that Colonel, USMC (Ret) Khe Sanh 1967, 1971 action ranks as one of the most remarkable. Director Remarkable for three individual reasons; 1) getting off the mountain and through an amazing amount of * fire with just a minor wound, 2) being able to MARINE CORPS ASSOCIATION evacuate all of the casualties after having made a Marine Corps Gazette & Leatherneck controlled crash landing on the air strip, and under (Magazine of the Marines) enemy fire, and 3) getting off the airstrip after having been left there, alone, and with a badly shot up & broken helicopter. Dear Chaplain Stubbe,

Perhaps there is another factor you are unaware of Thank you for your letter of 28 June 2005 and the that would have a major impact years later. As I accompanying book, "Battalion of Kings." I assure went about the desperate job of unloading & you it will reside in a place of honor on our transferring casualties from the troopship into my reference shelf. The book is rich in history and still operating helo, I became soaked—very literally provides tremendous insights into the valor and “soaked”—in their blood. I even had difficulty bravery of that special brand of warriors who fought holding them and carrying them (alone, without any it out tooth and nail at Khe Sanh. Wishing you help) because blood is so slippery it was hard for continued success and we thank you for your me to stay on my feet. When the job was finished I continued support. looked as if I had fallen into a pool of blood. It was Sincerely, all over me; hair, eyes, chest, back, and unbeknownst to me at the time, it had entered the John P. Glasgow, Jr. wound I had received. It also entered the multitude Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret) of cuts, abrasions, etc. we all had that never seemed Editor, Marine Corps Gazette to heal. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library Years later I would take an annual physical and the 2313 Red River Street examining doctor would tell me that I had Austin TX 78705-5702 something unusual in my liver enzymes. He then asked me “have you been around any blood in the Dear Reverend Stubbe: past”? I told him the story. When he heard this he said, “that’s it, you have Hepatitis. When I finally Thank you very much for sending us the copy of retired from the Marine Corps this disease came at “Battalion of Kings”: A Tribute to Our Fallen me with a vengeance and my liver finally failed in Brothers Who Died Because of the Battlefield of 2002. So in some way I suppose the enemy did Khe Sanh, Vietnam. I have added it to our manage to give me a near fatal wound in that action collection for the benefit of staff and researchers on Hill 950 in 1971. Even so, I beat the odds again. alike. Along with your and John Prados' Valley of I will include the full story of the liver failure Decision and some documents about the aerial re-

45 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. supply of Khe Sanh during the siege in January - "Siege of Khe Sanh". This book was created out of April 1968, compiled and given to us by Ray the love and compassion you have for your fallen Anderson, this volume represents another excellent brothers and their families. It means so much source of information about .that landmark knowing how deeply you care; and for this I can engagement. never thank you enough or show you how much you are appreciated. Sincerely, For this and so much more, may God Bless You Allen Fisher Always. Archivist Semper Fi. You Are Forever In My Prayers. With much love, * Suzi Littlefield Dear Ray, Gold Star Wife I received a copy of your recent book, “Battalion of Robert Littlefield KIA KSB Kings” sent to me with your cover letter last Wednesday, July 6th. What a wonderful surprise. It * is an incredibly rich documentary. I know that I Dear Chaplain Stubbe, shall be spending many hours reading through it and reminiscing, with tears, our days of youthful valor. Today I received your book and sat down and read Thank you so much for this wonderful gift, and for the event of the day of my son’s death in Vietnam. your love and dedication throughout all these past All I can think of is that I was so blessed to have a years that have brought you to this publication. I great son who was willing to fight for this free know, beyond any doubt, that the love of God country, and set a good example of love, and dwells richly in your heart. I love you, Ray! friendship to those who were with him. War never will be easy; sometimes God is kind in helping the My wife is busy building the library she's always rest of us find those good men who were with him, wanted. It's in our living room. When it's finished and grow to love them as he did. That has been my we intend to spend many hour sitting there and privilege. You spoke of Gary O’Neil, Billy Moffat, reading. Your book will have a place of honor, just and Lieutenant Ken Penn. I have come to know all as you have in my heart. of them. They have sort of become my sons, and great friends. Semper Fi, John P. Colvis I have met several of the other men were in his unit. 4978 S. Hoyt St. Captain Mike Pierson, Howard Whitaker, Billy Joe Littleton, CO 80123-1988 Hill, Willie Roe Yates, Bob Harris, John Wright, Bob Bates, and several others. I consider them part * of my family. I really love them all. I also met three Vietnamese brothers who I became very close to. I Dearest Reverend, Ray Stubbe, think of all those whom you all fought against. They had Mother’s too. How sad is this earth that we How do I ever find the words to tell you how much cannot be kind to one another. We should all live as your sacrifice, dedication, loyalty and under- God has told us to do. I believe that we will all meet standing mean to me. You are an amazing man of in the hereafter, laugh, and rejoice together. For the God who has sacrificed so much and given so friendships we have all formed. There will be no much for others. Thank you from the bottom of my war, and we will be a family together. heart for all you do, and all you have done over these many years while serving in Vietnam and at Thank you so much for sending me that book to home. Thank you so very much for the new revision remind me how much I care for all of you. Also for of your book written in memory of, and dedicated the kindness you have all shown me and my family. to, all of those who fought and died during the God bless you in all you do to further the work and 46 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. love that you so graciously share. attended one of your services at Khe Sanh in 1967, Semper FI that you would play an important role in my life Wilma Bugger, many years later. But you truly have, and for that I Gold Star Mother am most grateful. Semper Fi, Curtis Bugger KIA KSB David G. Rogers 2720 Laurel Valley Ln. * Arlington, TX 76006 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY UNITED STATES ARMY WAR COLLEGE * AND CARLISLE BARRACKS Dear Ray, CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA 17013-5021 . Thank you for your extraordinary book! I have been reading it since it arrived last Friday and am just in U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center A TTN: awe of the incredible effort and dedication it Collection Management required to accomplish something of this 950 Soldiers Drive magnitude. I didn't think anything would ever again Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013-5021 equal the powerful emotions I felt years ago, when Dear Reverend Stubbe, alone one evening, just after sunset, I first came upon The Wall in Washington, D.C. On behalf of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, thank you for your unconditional donation Yet, Battalion of Kings has done that. In fact, it is of the book: Battalion of Kings. You have enriched sometimes too overwhelming and I must stop our collection by your generosity. . reading for a while. Though difficult as it is to reflect upon the horrible end each of these young The purpose of this letter is to acknowledge that men met, and the often ghastly scenes that forever your materials have been received. If you have any disturb the sleep of their buddies, such a personal, questions regarding this, please contact us anytime. monument, profoundly honest, heart-rending could Thank you again for your contribution. Your never have been achieved in stone. Your ability to support of the Center, and its mission of telling the weave the lives, and deaths, of these men into the Army's story is greatly appreciated. broader historical context, from both, American and North Vietnamese perspectives, gives this tribute a Sincerely, real sense of purpose and continuity that I often find Gregory E. Statler missing in other memorials. . Registrar, For Collection Management Michael Archer * * Dear Reverend Stubbe, Dear Ray I received the autographed copy of Battalion of I'm unilaterally doing away with such formality of Kings and want to thank you for sending it. If I can, headings. We both know our own names and or should reimburse you for your time, money and addresses well enough to not have to write them out efforts please let me know, as I will be happy to do with each letter. Anyway, it gives me more room to so. In the meantime I wish to say you composed a shoot my mouth off. masterpiece that will always remain in my home. Knowing how my friends and many others died on Thank you so much for the copy of "Battalion of the battlefield in Vietnam, helps to bring closure to Kings." I look through it every night, bringing back my memories of long ago. I'm sure many others feel so many memories of those days when we were so likewise. You have done a great service to many young and charged up with life, even though we Veterans of Khe Sanh. Little did I think when I first were in that place of death. When I read about those 47 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. men who were killed, I think that they will be Tom, forever 18-19-20 years old throughout eternity. Many thanks for the wonderful book of poetry Also, that old saying, that as "long as we live, they written by members of the Khe Sanh Veterans live" is so true. I want to say congratulations for organization. You and Diana Fecarotta did a great your work in compiling this testament to those men. job in editing and putting the book together. To It must have been a monumental task compiling this have two of my poems included in your book is an information. I read at random. Wherever I happen to honor. Thank you, also, for including the two open, that's where I start. I finish each piece and poems written by Paulette Mitchell. She and Laurie, highlight the heading. Buzzy and Paulette's daughter, were able to attend the 30th anniversary reunion of the Battle of Hill For some reason, I think its best that I read it this 881 South. I promised them I would try to get the way. The statements are terse and manly. No poems published. Thanks to you and Ernie Spencer morbid sobbing and weeping. Exactly the way it and others for including the poems in the KSV should be. These men died doing their duty to their Magazine. comrades. I know that sounds heroic, and it was. It Semper Fi, was even more heroic in that most people don't know. They don't know who these men were or David Rogers anything about them. Oddly, that's fine with me because the memory of these men is too much for the average person now. They couldn't conceive of even allowing themselves to be in a place that such men as these actively sought out and put themselves into. They were the boy next door, the H.S. dropout, and the scholar athlete, the religious boy, and the boy with no religious training. All meeting their ends as brothers. That's all I can say of your effort. Well done Ray. I'm proud that I know such a good person as yourself, take care. Semper Fidelis

J. Thomas Dilberger 1000 River Rd. Apt. 6L Belmar, N.J. 07719

Publisher Note: There were just too many more letters to print in this issue. * KSV BOOK REVIEWS CONTINUED: KHE SANH BOOK OF POETRY

We also received many letters of thanks for the recent issuance of The Khe Sanh Book of Poetry. These are all poems that have appeared in our Red Clay Magazine. They are for sale in the Khe Sanh PX for $ 10.00, Plus $ 3.00 S/H.

Here is just one of the letters we have received.

48 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. MEMOIRS digital pagers, cell phones, or computers, little distracted a young boy from savoring his youth. A Warrior without his Armor Such was the locale for his two sisters, one brother By Tom Clarkson and James’ upbringing, middle class upstate New Gulf Region Division York. From Kindergarten through his high school U.S. Army Corps of Engineers graduation from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, to Baghdad, Iraq the Jesuit run Canisius College, his education was Roman Catholic based. At Canisius, he was enrolled in the mandatory, ROTC program. Like “There is something either highly auspicious or many youths, when he and his girlfriend broke up, very suspicious about us talking about Vietnam and toward the end of his sophomore year in college, he Iraq today,” James S. Zucarelli said with a soft was distraught and decided he would quit college, smile that crinkled kind eyes. “I noticed this join the Marines and go off to war. At the morning that I have exactly 190 days left on this recruiting station, a crisply-attired, ramrod straight, tour here in Iraq, and as were the number I had in no nonsense Marine Captain fired a question, “Just Vietnam, serving on Hill 190!” why you want to join the Marines, son?” It seemed a simple enough question so Zucarelli candidly A Liaison Officer (LNO) between the 42nd Infantry answered that he’d just split up with his girl friend. Division, of the New York National Guard, and the Project and Contracting Office (PCO), Zucarelli is With that the officer rose, walked around his desk, one of a very few. Today, he is an Army Lt. Col. grabbed Zucarelli by his shirt, pinned him to the serving in Iraq, and in 1968-69 was a Marine 2nd wall and delivered an impassioned, several minute, Lt. in Viet Nam. diatribe (with liberal use of that particular flavor of profanity only a seasoned military veteran can so His pride is obvious as he states that his father has capably invoke.) In a highly abbreviated form, the always been his hero, and clearly enjoys recounting Captain suggested “that was about the stupidest the story of how his father and mother met. Now 88 thing he’d ever heard!” By the time James left the years old, during WWII, the senior Mr. Zucarelli recruiter’s office, he’d wisely decided to return to was a naval aviator on anti-submarine duty, flying his college coursework. He did, however, sign up PBYs out of the Panama Canal Zone Naval Air for the Platoon Leaders Course which would allow Station. His mother and a girl friend, though in their him a Marine commission when he graduated. As a early 20’s, in proper Latin tradition, accompanied result, in June 1968, he went to Marine Corps Base by a chaperon, had come from Cartago, Costa Rico in Quantico, Va. for the Officer’s Basic Course and on a visit to Panama. His father, the senior Mr. became a Marine infantry officer. Zucarelli was then a young smitten ensign. On December 22nd six months later, he arrived in At his earliest opportunity, bedecked in a spotless, Da Nang. Two days later, he was in his first fire perfectly ironed, white dress uniform, he arrived, fight when the “listening post” he and several others unannounced, at her parent’s door, back in Costa were manning was attacked. Of that traumatic Rico.Love prevailed and they were married in introduction to Vietnam, he remembers little other Buffalo, NY in 1942. That area, the community of than that the only weapon he had at that time was an Amherst specifically, has been their, and James’ - Army issued .45 caliber pistol. It jammed, and after home ever since. beating it on the ground to no avail, he found himself weaponless and crouching behind a bush, as His boyhood was during an idyllic time, though in though that would somehow stop hostile fire. He the early days of the Cold War, the public was more was, however, learning fast. He soon said to his interested in whether our President Ike would break Gunnery Sgt., an experienced E-7, “Gunny, you just par in his golf game. Well before the “electronic tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” Wise that young age” and with only three television stations, no 49 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. lieutenant, though like all zealous, enthusiastic, and coned hats upon their heads, stepped into their well intentioned young men, he soon forgot counsel killing zone. Zucarelli set off the claymores and a given by more experienced combat hands. dozen Marines started spraying rounds into the midst of half a dozen “hostiles.” It happened only a short time later after he’d taken over command of the second platoon, Delta Co., 1st Momentarily it seemed that all was going off as Bn., 26th Reg., 3rd Marine Div. Their task early in planned when “suddenly all hell broke loose”. A 1969, was that of the first line of defense, “out in veritable wall of fire rolled upon them, as those, Indian territory.” By day they conducted Search they’d ambushed were the point personnel of a and Destroy patrols and at night, set up squad sized battalion sized VC unit.. A few moments before the ambushes. During his very first patrol, deployed fight, he’d removed his helmet and placed his exactly by the book, he saw smoke coming from a twelve hand grenades in it. As a result of the cave directly in front of his platoon. unholy humidity and sweltering heat, he’d also Enthusiastically and stupidly, he ran ahead of his taken off his flak jacket and jungle fatigue jacket, men hitting a trip wire, and, as luck would have it, having fought bare-chested in the battle of - and for was able to throw himself behind a boulder just as - his life. the booby trap went off. The VC clearly heard the Americans coming and had departed the area. After A squad taking on a battalion! Frantically he called their corpsman had pulled sharp splinters of rock for artillery support, “Box us,” he screamed on his from his face, his platoon sergeant approached and radio, “we’re not going anywhere for a while.” quietly requested, “Sir, might I have a word with Luckily “Puff”, a C-47 gun ship, was soon overhead you?” laying down sheets supporting fire. He formed his prescribed “wagon wheel” defensive position Properly, and polite-like, they stepped behind a desperately trying to keep the overwhelmingly large large formation of rocks where Zucarelli found force held at bay. However, a sapper slipped himself thoroughly counseled, chastised, and through and standing not ten feet away, pointed his chewed out in no uncertain words. Devoid of the AK-47 at Zucarelli. Out of ammo, he realized the plethora of colorful profanities, the several minute enemy was too close to throw his one remaining session boiled down to the simple guidance that hand grenade, and too far away to engage in combat “You are the Platoon Leader. You do not run ahead with his father’s WWII K-Bar killing knife strapped of the platoon. You do your job; we will do ours. on his waist. His life, he was sure, was at an end Do you understand?” Now, he got it! He attributes when to his side Lance Cpl. Edwin J. Smolarek, the fact that he is alive today to the advice, tutelage Jr., unleashed a burst from his M-16, killing the VC and friendship of Platoon Sgt. David Hayes. before he could shoot.

The anniversary of the ’68 TET Offensive loomed As the platoon leader, he ordered his men to ominously ahead in but a few days. As a result, withdraw. No sooner had Zucarelli issued the order, U.S. forces were on high alert but it was work as than a grenade knocked him down and out. usual for the Marines. Though his Italian last name Thankfully, another of his squad noted his absence, translated to “a little sugar” there was nothing sweet came back, and dragged him to cover. This position in how February 22 would turn out. Zucarelli, afforded little cover as he remembers another himself the twelfth man, took out a squad ambush grenade going off close by and feeling the shrapnel team, set up their claymore mines, spread out, found pierce and lacerate the back of his skull. Though cover, and prepared to fire their weapons, on full eleven of his twelve men were wounded, none had automatic at any enemy unlucky enough to walk been killed. In addition to incurring a collapsed into their trap. At 2015 he quietly did a radio check lung, Zucarelli, sustained a total of seven wounds to on the PRC-25 radio. Soon it appeared they had set his head, back, arms, and legs. When he was up in the right place as they silently watched several medevacted he noted the time, 2205 hours. An hour armed individuals, with the typical, Vietnamese and fifty minutes had transpired since setting off

50 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. those claymores in what was supposed to have been The two enemies Zucarelli and his men had just a simple ambush. captured were seven and nine years old! War is not pretty. As he lay in the hospital he asked himself, He was taken to the 95th Evac Hospital outside of “Did he do the right thing?” After significant Da Nang, the same one that years later was the thought, Zucarelli had ...... released the two subject of the TV series “China Beach.” Without children. anesthesia, a doctor diagnosed one of his injuries, promptly put a knee on his chest while a nurse held Upon his own release from active duty. he returned down his arm and with scalpel in hand, cut deeply to Buffalo and a public that was massively anti-war. though the skin and muscles to the lung so that he He became a total recluse, not leaving his parents’ could insert a tube into the collapsed organ. Later he house during June, July, or August 1971. At the remembered a priest giving him last rites and then time he didn’t recognize his condition for what it equally vividly he experienced a sense of total calm was, but now he does, a classic example of Post as an aura of “whiteness” surrounded him and he Traumatic Stress Disorder. found himself looking down on his own mangled body. The second part of the process of becoming whole again came with the birth of his first child in 1979. Days later as he began recover he put this “out of He came out of the self imposed closet into which body” experience off to a euphoric state induced he had locked himself with his Vietnam experiences from morphine. He described the experience and and memories. The next step for him was when the said something about it to his corpsman friend Vietnam Wall was built and dedicated in “Doc” Whitman. “Doc” quietly listened and simply Washington, D.C. responded, “Morphine is not given to those suffering from chest wounds. You were given This for many was an acknowledgment and none.” He had spent a mental lifetime in Vietnam. recognition long overdue. His family helped in his It had taken only eight weeks. A like period of healing. An important part of his very existence, physical recovery time was required of him in Lance Cpl. Smolarek who had saved his life, was Yokuska Naval Hospital, in Japan. Repair of deep himself killed in July 1969. Ironically, though they emotional wounds were on an altogether different had not known each other in their youth both were timetable. As a result of his extensive injuries, his the same age and came from Buffalo. Smolarek was last eight months of duty were spent on Okinawa. buried directly across the street from where During this time in the hospital, he had ample Zucarelli had gone to college and where his opportunity to ponder the complicated and difficult daughter then went. She regularly visited the grave decisions facing those in command. Among several of the man who had saved their father’s life, incidents, one decision he had made weighed upon sometimes sitting beside it while studying. The him. It was an incident he would later often pose to family carefully maintains his grave site and, to this classes of young leaders that he would address. day, his daughter keeps her father’s savior’s picture in her room. They were carefully creeping along on the first day of a five day Search and Destroy mission. Ahead of One day he saw an opportunity to determine, them they saw two individuals setting a fine through the Vietnam Veterans newsletter, RED tripwire to catch and kill any American forces CLAY, if those harrowing experiences which had coming that way. The Marines were able to capture so terribly plagued his mind were truly real or both of them. With over four days still ahead of imagined. He placed a simple message in the them in their mission it made no sense to try to take publication,“Second Lt. James Zucarelli, Delta1/26, them along as prisoners. Orders were simple - these USMC, does anyone remember me?” Shortly after were the enemy - “dispatch” them. its publication Robert Whitman from Ames, Ia., who had been the corpsman of the first platoon, 1/26, contacted him and started their conversation

51 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. with a simple, “Yah, I remember you.” Besides be ‘productively reactive’. Furthermore, well aware that, he knew the location and contact information that we are the first deployed National Guard of Cpl. Edwin Knight, the one Marine who had not Division I strive to ensure our excellent, service been wounded during that horrific night on Hill190. based image and reputation are properly Ultimately, several of them started the Delta 1/26 maintained. “I’m in the information exchange Marines Association. business and sometimes keeping up with that is quite a chore what with the six sectors of the Project So, what brought him full circle to don once again a and Contracting Office: Oil; Public Works – Water; military uniform? Electric; Transportation and Communication; Security and Justice; Buildings, Health and Zucarelli had sat down to read the evening paper Education.” and saw an ad encouraging veterans to re-enlist in the National Guard. First he tried to get into the He sees not the remotest parallel of our involvement Marine Reserve. His numerous wounds and ten in Iraq to the experience that was Vietnam “There,” point VA disabilities precluded that possibility. he explains, “We were fighting a well organized Finally, at age 43, he went for a physical so that he and structured, ideologically driven force. They might join the National Guard. The doctor was had a recognizable cause. Yes, we knew that the doubtful but Zucarelli, his Vietnam demons now NVA and VC was our enemy, but we could have shed, pleaded saying, “I feel that I still owe respect for them as believers of that for which they something to this country and I really want to do fought. For them it wasn’t about Communism … it this.” was simply nationalism. Think about it,” he challenges, “Ho Chi Minh didn’t do what he did for When the Secretary of Defense announced that he power or personal gain. He was a nationalist. was activating the first National Guard Division “Here, we find ourselves fighting desperate, since the Korean War – the 42nd Infantry Division factionalized knots which employ barbaric tactics (ID) or the Rainbow Division, the once young like car bombs blowing up mosques, and suicide Marine lieutenant was 57. By the time he leaves bombers blowing up crowds of women and Iraq he will be 59. Does age help someone like him, children.” Rhetorically he asks, “And for what end? in a deployment such as this, he’s asked? “Wisdom Do these insurgents really think that they are doing is what we should seek. It’s comprised of a anyone any good?” balanced blend of knowledge and experience that can be gained only through the passage of time. Too few grasp the reality that there is no such thing Awareness of when and how to apply that wisdom as ‘instant democracy’. For the best model comes only through maturity.” In a shortened imaginable, look at the United States we’re still a answer his response would be a monosyllabic, major work in progress! If put in the proper “yes!” perspective, it’s not a bad analogy to compare our disassociation with King George nearly 225 years His organization, the 42ID has a long and proud ago to the Iraqis now being out from under the heritage. Presently comprised of Soldiers from 26 thumb of Saddam Hussein. Neither action meant states and the territory of Guam, it was the first voila, now there’s a perfect democracy! Army Division deployed to France in WWI. It was the unit that liberated Dacau in WII. More recently People, like countries, also grow and change. In it constituted the first responders to 9/11 in New 2001, Zucarelli and two Viet Nam veteran buddies York City. Accordingly, the words “Never Forget” returned to the country where they lost their now grace their division standard. His job in Iraq is youthful naiveté. As a Marine in Vietnam, in the that of “keeping my ear to the rail and my eyes throes of combat, he himself, killed at least seven peeled,” he explains. “While an extremely difficult individuals. One of them had been a female Viet position from which to work,” he laughs, “my job is Cong combatant. The memories haunted him. The to ‘make things happen,’ be the “conduit guy” and demons of these deaths rode his soul. He knew not

52 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. if he returned to apologize or for catharsis. He did Two old warriors stood side by side, without their know, however, that he returned neither as a victor armor or arms, and looked into the future. nor as the vanquished. Note: Tom Clarkson is a Strategic Communicator While visiting the State University of New York with the Gulf Region Division of the, U.S. Army (SUNY) Da Nang campus they found themselves Corps of Engineers, Iraq. Requests for more invited to a floating restaurant in Da Nang Harbor. information should be directed to him at (540) 665- Seated across from him was the city’s Chief of 5344. Email requests can be sent to: Police, and nearby the Mayor. The guest of honor, [email protected] the Province Communist Chairman, arrived. As a For more information on the U.S. Army Corps of youth this man had worked in the Da Nang Air Engineers in Iraq, visit Force Officers Club. Upon overhearing discussions of upcoming missions, he would slip downstairs to use his wireless to tell fellow VCs what areas they INCOMING should avoid. MY HEROINE By George A. Cole Through an interpreter, the Chairman stilled the assemblage with his query of Zucarelli, “Why are At the KSV Chicago reunion, my lady friend you here?” Conscious of the ramifications of his Sharon Zunio, was awarded the "Doc Medal," for response, his answer was one of civility and her service as an Air Force Medical Evacuation politeness. In appreciation for the country, its Technician. We were on my Harley on our way people, and the great beauty of its women. The home, when I attempted to exit the highway in Chairman’s cold response was, “Why are you really Repent, Idaho, to look for a gasoline station. I here?” looked down, and observed gravel on the pavement "Look out" I yelled, too late. The next thing I knew Not one to mince words when challenged, the my head was bouncing off the rocks on the shoulder former lieutenant told the interpreter, “Please of the road. I pulled my leg out from under "Baby translate my answer word for word,” Upon Blue"(My Harley). I found Sharon, her arms were receiving her assurance that she would do so, he bleeding, and all cut up. Despite her wounds, stood, looked the Chairman directly in the eye and Sharon took charge. stated with calculated directness, “Mr. Chairman, I am here because I once was fighting men like you. She retrieved a pair of sweats from the bike and I have killed them and they have killed men like started to work on stopping the bleeding from my me. My blood has streamed from multiple wounds head wound. Sharon managed to stop the bleeding, into this very land. No one has the right to tell me and pulled me to a safe place while she looked for that a part of this country does not belong to me or help. In my daze, I looked up a saw a corpsman that I do not belong to this country. “ holding an IV shouting orders, working on me with her free hand, the other waving for help from Upon translation of his words into Vietnamese, the passing motorist. I realized it was Sharon. The silence was deafening. The chairman slowly rose Ambulance finally came, and took us to the from the dais, and walked to his once bitter enemy. hospital. Sharon was cut and scrapped from her The thought flashed through Zucarelli’s mind, knuckles to the shoulder. The doctor said my eye is “Holy S***, what have I just done?” When the going to be ok and I will need a skin-graft on my senior communist official reached his side, he elbow. He also said if Sharon hadn't been there to locked their eyes, looked deeply into them, and then stop the bleeding, I would have bled to death in 4-5 the Chairman took his once antagonist and bitter minutes. Once again Sharon has proven enemy into his arms and gave him a long hug of herself worthy of the “Doc Medal, still saving lives. love, reconciliation and welcome. I truly love her.

53 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. SHORT ROUNDS

A Great Day in California! By Chuck Chamberlin

Took a ride today with KSV’s, Craig Tourte, Chuck Teasley and Steve Wiese to the 26 acre residence of Tom Holchler, also a KSV. All together there were about a dozen guys in the group. Craig Tourte arranged for, and provided transportation for everyone. It turned out just great. I learned Chuck Teasley was the C Co 1/26 radio L-R Steve Wiese, Chuck Teasley, operator whom I replaced before the company left Craig Tourte Hill 861. Glad you guys had such a good time. It is always great to have a get together with a bunch of Khe Steve Wiese was with B Co 1/26, and survived the Sanh Vets. February 25 ambush, and the March 30 battle to Leland Upshaw Rd retrieve those KIA. Craig Tourte served with Hq Bravo Company, 3 Recon Btry 1/13 at Khe Sanh. I also met another fellow, R. * Cueva from Vacaville, California, who's brother Tony was awarded a Navy Cross, and whom had Leland, dated my sister in high school. Talk about a small I’m sorry I missed the party. I posted the photos for world. The entire day was an absolute revelation for Craig. I heard those Marines sold $ 50.00 worth of me. To finally meet and talk with fellow KS Vets in aluminum cans the next day. Well, maybe only $ such a great setting was a "changing day" in my 20.00. life. Without becoming to melodramatic, the Mike Fishbaugh thoughts, feelings and behavior of these individuals, FLC and the things we discussed, once again made me proud to still be associated with such a great bunch * of guys. Mike, Blackbud Charlie, Out What I see is one old Dr. Pepper can, and a beer ……………………………………………………… bottle hiding in the rear. Is that all there was to Publisher Note: It is so great to know that our drink. organization has brought so many people together. Leland Upshaw We have found old friends and met so many new ones. This is why the organization was founded, to * keep our legacy alive. Leland, S/F There was lots of water, some milk, and we had a Tom Eichler big chocolate cake. I think someone did sneak in a beer or two, and there was that Dr. Pepper. Craig Tourte * Guys, This thing did not start out this big. It was just supposed to be a few guys stopping by. Tom knows a lot of veterans who stop all the time. I wish I had contacted Ernie Spencer. He lives about 25 miles from me. Chuck Teasley and Chuck Chamberlin Mini Reunion at Tom's Farm 54 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. have had little contact with Khe Sanh Veterans. I and he knows how much those two, 17 year old cats think they are still in shock. Finally realizing there mean to my new wife. So make peace with her are others just like them around for support. I hope before you invite me to one of your chingaderos. I Ernie can make it next time. know you guys feel uncomfortable being around Craig Tourte officers, but I assure you we pi$$ and Sh!t just like Hq Co 1/13 you guys do. Well maybe not, I’m still regular, but my bladder seems to be shrinking. Craig, Ernie Spencer I am hurt at not being invited that I killed my wife’s D Co 1/26 two cats. Steve has been over to my place for dinner

KHE SANH VETERANS REUNION, CHICAGO IL, 2005

One of the many sights members were able to visit during the Chicago Reunion. The following pages contain photos of our members enjoying each others company, and the various events held at the reunion.

55 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

HOTEL BBQ

Boy that Tommy Sure Can Cook, How Many Times Did You Go Thru the Line, Jimbo "Wow”, That's Good Steak"

"Come on Bill that’s Your Third Helping” "Come and Get It" 56 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. BBQ AT JARHEADS

57 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. TRIP TO NAVY PIER

One of the World's Biggest Ferris Wheels They shopped till they Dropped

Trish & Family Boat Ride

58 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. KSV BANQUET

Ron Shouse, Bob Moxley & Casper Lt.Commander James Raab, To Place Symbolic Cover at MIA Table

MIA Table at Banquet

Floyd “Shortround”McCulley

Engineers

The Fox Family & Friends 59 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Neil & John seeking Devine help Russ, can I please dance with Tommy? from Chaplain Ray Stubbe, with Neil’s wife, Alice

Okay PJ, you can dance with Tommy "Here", please put your clothes back on

Our own Chippendale Dancers

C Co 1/26 with Lt Cmdr James Raab who received the “DOC” Award for his Father, HM-3 JamesD. Raab, KIA with C Co 1/26.

Ok Ken, if John Strips it is only worth $ 2.00

60 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Echo Company 2/26

Delta Company 1/26

Delta Co Memorial Lunch Getting Ready for memorial Lunch

Also Getting Ready For Memorial Lunch Fond memories! (Memorial Lunch)

61 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

IF YOU AIN’T 0311, YOUR’E JUST SUPPORT

CHARLES H. FOX REST IN PEACE, YOU WILL BE MISSED BY ALL

Little kiss from Bruce Geiger

Okay Charlie, Pucker Up Charles H. Fox C CO 1/26

“ HUGGY BEAR”

If You did not get hugged by Charlie Fox, You have never been Hugged. Of Course the Army Guys took it a little further.

CHARLIE’S THEORY OF CRIME Who Loves You Baby?

After working 23 years as a Police Officer, assigned There are times of the month when the numbers of to a one man car on the midnight shift, I became a spaceships vastly increase. During full moons there "thinker", and figured a few things out. I developed is an increase due to the available light for landings. the “Pod Theory” years ago, and after years of On pay weeks there is an increase due to the extra watching, know it to be true. On Wednesdays money available for fuel. I have attempted to verify spaceships come to America and distribute seed the spaceship arrivals with the Federal Government, pods. Many come to Central PA. This is because we but they deny everything. Other officers working have two airports. On Thursday, the pods sprout and the midnight shift in my area confirmed my theory. start producing a++holes. By Friday night, they Igor Demetrovitch, a Moscow police officer, have all sprouted and there are a++holes all over the confirmed my findings also existed in his country, place, running around, causing trouble etc until the and found the same denials from his government. dawn of Sunday morning. The Sunday morning sun He also confirmed an additional peak period in his causes them to start to die and by Sunday night all country that is exactly 30 days after their potato but a few are dead. All are gone by sundown on harvest. Tuesday, but on Wednesday, the spaceships return. 62 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. TAPS

Bye Charlie, My Good Friend It is a sad note when one of our own passes. Pray Charlie thanks for the advice through the years. You that he is in a better place without pain and sleepless had a wit probably because you were from PA. I nights. We all know when it is our time nothing can met Charlie on the IRQ network way back in 95. keep us for that appointment. All we can ask for is We found out we were at Khe Sanh but at different that it happens quickly and our loved ones are left in times. I attended two Khe Sanh reunions, and kept good hands. God Bless you Charlie Fox, and God asking him to attend. Finally in 1997, Charlie Bless your family. decided to attend the St Louis Reunion. Charlie always bought his family with him when he left Chuck Teasley home. When he arrived, I went to give him a hug. Charlie 1/26 Holding his arms on his side, he looked at me like I ……………………………………………………… was strange. That tough old Marine ex cop, hugging I was one of Charlie's gun team leaders at Khe a man he didn't know, it was funny. When he was Sanh. We remained together, and left Nam at the departing the reunion I went to shake his He gave same time. I remember him best as a caring person me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. I Loved that who took care of all his people. When we left Khe guy. In his own words: The most dangerous thing Sanh we camped at an Army supply point. As we on the battlefield is a second lieutenant with a map were waiting in the chow line, one of the soldiers and compass commented that they have been taking mortar fire James “Jimbo” Wodeck, Treasurer during the evening hours. Khe Sanh Veterans Charlie remarked that would cease after they ate FLC Ammo Plt dinner. That night Charlie set up a night ambush, …………………………………………………… and sprung it with a LAW, followed by his shotgun. Charlie will be missed by many, who knew him in Did not take another round of mortar fire the whole Nam and also who just met him at reunions. He was time we were there. never at a loss for words and knew how to get some Semper Fi Charlie, Guns are up. Turtle out. to laugh. Semper Fi Dave Meyer Charlie 1/26 Russ Turner, President, ……………………………………………………… Khe Sanh Veterans' Charlie was my squad leader in KS, and he became Alpha 1/26 a very good friend. We would kid each other at …………………………………………………….. some of the reunions and this past reunion, I ripped Charlie, sadly I sit her with tears in my eyes, never on him and called him Charlie-Charlie because he imagining having to write your obituary. I will miss had gotten so big. Goodbye, Charlie. You will you dear friend. I used to fear death, until I thought always be in my heart, I will never forget you. how many of our beloved friends are there waiting. Semper Fi, Brother! It is going to be some kind of reunion; I will not forget the Jack. Kenneth Pae Tommy Eichler, Vice President Charlie 1/26 Khe Sanh Veterans ……………………………………………………… Echo 2/26 Semper Fi Foxy, to my friend, Brother, 1st Team ……………………………………………………… Leader, and traveling Buddy, you will be missed. Steve Hecknauer Charlie 1/26

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SNAP SHOTS

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SNAP SHOTS

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SNAP SHOTS

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SNAP SHOTS

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SNAP SHOTS

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SNAP SHOTS

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SNAP SHOTS

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SNAP SHOTS

72 Fall 2005 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ART BY GARY MORRIS

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75 The Khe Sanh Veterans’ Red Clay Fall 2005

Memorial to Spanish Servicemen KIA During the Vietnam War. At 92ND & Brandon, Chicago Illinois. Those from the neighborhood, have their pictures at top of Memorial.

KSV Women at the Memorial (Note the size in relation to the girls). Close Up of Scroll on Memorial