November-December 2017, Issue 76 See all issues to date at 503rd Heritage Battalion website: Contact: [email protected] http://corregidor.org/VN2-503/newsletter/issue_index.htm ~ 173d Photo of the Month ~ Father Roy Peters conducts services for Sky Soldiers at Dak To in the jungle battlefield of Vietnam before next assault up Hill 875, in November 1967. See more about Fr Peters on Pages 45-47. Photo courtesy of June Peters 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Nov.-Dec. 2017 – Issue 76 Page 1 of 88 We Dedicate this Issue of Our Newsletter in Memory and Honor of the Men of the 173d Airborne Brigade & Attached Units We Lost 50 Years Ago in the Months of November & December 1967 "It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember." Commander in Chief Ronald Reagan, at dedication of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC Clarence Mattue Adams, 25 Louis George Washi Arnold, 19 SSG, A/3/503, 12/30/67 PFC, A/2/503, 11/20/67 “Thank you Staff Sergeant Adams for (Virtual Wall states A/4/503) your devotion, leadership, and courage.” “Buddy. Thanks for being there.” Jerry A Grateful Vietnam Vet John Robert Arrington, 19 PFC, A/3/503, 12/27/67 Michael Edward Adams, 19 “PFC John Robert Arrington won 170 SGT, C/2/503, 11/19/67 trophies in go-kart racing since his 12th “Mike: Even though it's been 39 years, birthday. He also was on the Columbus I remember you just like when we talked High School state championship swim- on the hill. You were in B Co, and I was in ming team and organized a band while in A Co, but we both loved to talk smack high school. He volunteered for the Army at age 17, when the companies logged together. I upon graduation from Columbus High in 1966. Arrington remember you every November buddy. Airborne friends arrived in Vietnam in September 1967 and served with never forget each other. You're always with me. Now the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was one of 12 your God's RTO!” Ed Perkins, A/2/503 Americans killed when his brigade made a helicopter landing in a jungle of coastal lowlands near Tuy Hoa. The fight with communist guerrillas lasted nine hours before the guerrillas retreated. Arrington died of a Dan S. Allen, III, 20 gunshot wound Dec. 27, 1967.” Arnold M. Huskins SGT, C/1/503, 11/12/67 John Andrew Barnes, III, 22 (Virtual Wall states D/1/503) PFC, C/1/503, 11/12/67 “Love you. This is my dad I miss him every day of my “John Barnes was my machine life so I honor you on this Memorial Day twenty sixteen. gunner in the third platoon. John Love you always.” Unsigned had volunteered to join a line company if Norman George Allen he could be a machine gunner. John had PTE, 7RAR, 11/10/67 already served his tour, with an engineer “Norman George Allen was born in company. John could have been home, but for whatever Rose Bay, NSW, Australia, on the 24th reason he didn't go home when he could have. John April 1946. He was a National Service- gave his life so others could live. I always remember man from the Australian state of New John on any occasion that calls for remembering those South Wales. He served as a rifleman in brave Veterans. John you were the bravest man that I the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, from personally knew, I will never forget you. Airborne, All the Way.” Don Martindale, C/1/503d Inf 173d Abn 14th August 1967 until his death on the 10th November 1967. He was killed in action in Phuoc Tuy Province (continued….) from a claymore mine explosion on the 10th November 1967.” 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Nov.-Dec. 2017 – Issue 76 Page 2 of 88 ~ Medal of Honor ~ Carl Ray Barnhart, 18 The President of the United States of America, in the PFC, A/3/319, 11/25/67 name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal “Carl: A day doesn't go by that we of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class John don't think of you. Wish we would have Andrew Barnes, III (ASN: 21336509), United States had more time and used the time we had Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the more wisely. Looking forward to seeing risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while you in glory! Miss you! To Sherry, Ms. serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry Barnhart, Doug and any surviving members of the Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, in action against 173rd, 503rd 2 battalion . would love to hear from enemy aggressor forces at Dak To, Republic of you and hear your stories. Blessings!” David Barnhart Vietnam, on 12 November 1967. Private First Class Barnes was serving as a grenadier when his unit was Luis Barreto, Jr., 20 attacked by a North Vietnamese force, estimated to be PFC, C/2/503, 11/10/67 a battalion. Upon seeing the crew of a machinegun “We remember. Luis is buried at team killed, Private First Class Barnes, without Municipal Cemetery in Carolina, PR.” hesitation, dashed through the bullet swept area, Robert Sage manned the machinegun, and killed nine enemy soldiers as they assaulted his position. While pausing Gregory Charles Bauer, 19 just long enough to retrieve more ammunition, Private PVT, C/2/503, 11/20/67 First Class Barnes observed an enemy grenade thrown “Each time I hear Bruce sing ‘the into the midst of some severely wounded personnel Wall’ I think of Greg. I did not know him close to his position. Realizing that the grenade could well but coming from a small town further injure or kill the majority of the wounded school, we all knew, or knew of, each personnel, he sacrificed his life by throwing himself other. Greg hung around with a few of directly onto the hand grenade as it exploded. the school tough guys like Ernie Godel and the older Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard Karker boy, but he was an easy going, friendly guy. I for his own safety, and profound concern for his fellow was 12 years old, at the swimming hole at Fox Creek in soldiers, he averted a probable loss of life and injury to Schoharie, NY, sitting on a picnic table talking to Greg, the wounded members of his unit. Private First Class which was cool since he was quite a bit older than me, Barnes' extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the and he gave me a smoke. The next time I heard about cost of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are Greg was when he was killed. There was no school in the highest traditions of military service and reflect announcement like there was for Kit Sigman, the first great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United boy killed from our town, and the only one of the many States Army. Vietnam KIA's the school bothered to announce. I visited the Wall in Washington for the first time for the dedication by President Reagan. When I found Greg on the Wall it gave me chills, choked me up...and still does even at 62 years old.” Neill Kennedy Douglas Bruce Baum, “Doc”, 20 SGT, A/2/503, 11/18/67 (Virtual Wall states HHC/1/503) John Henry Barnes, 20 “I was maybe 5 years old and second PFC, C/1/503, 11/12/67 (Virtual Wall states B/1/503) to the youngest of the kids on the block. “To my brother-in-law John. I never got Everyone was in the Baum's pool that the chance to meet you, but I heard a lot day except for me. Nervously walking of stories about you from your siblings. up to the front door of their house, hearing all the And I've met your son Rick, who is a great splashes, and the joy in my many friends' voices echoing guy. I know someday I'll meet you and off the walls from the backyard pool I looked eye level at get to give you a hug, and thank you for fighting for all the doorknob and knocked…. of our freedom. I know you're with your dad now, (continued….) telling war stories together. Until we meet someday, 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Nov.-Dec. 2017 – Issue 76 your sister in law.” Patty Page 3 of 88 …Doug came to the door. All of eleven, he towered David Brooks Betchel, 20 above me as I asked in a high pitched question of doubt, SP4, A/2/503, 11/20/67 ‘Doug, is it OK if I go swimming too?’ He grinned as he “Salute to a fallen soldiers. You gave picked me up and held me high above his head.