September-October 2016, Issue 69 See all issues at the 503rd PRCT Heritage Battalion website: Contact: [email protected] http://corregidor.org/VN2-503/newsletter/issue_index.htm ~ 2/503d Photo of the Month ~ A/2/503’s RTO extraordinaire Don Horger in the “D” Zone jungle, circa ’66. So, you wanna be a paratrooper? 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Sept.-Oct. 2016 – Issue 69 Page 1 of 100 We Dedicate this Issue of Our Newsletter in Memory of the Men of the 173d Airborne Brigade We Lost 50 Years Ago in the Months of September & October 1966 “If they are remembered, they are not gone truly, they simply changed duty assignments and are amongst our best.” ~ Unknown Tommy Traxler, Jr. Louis R. Randall A/1/503, 9/6/99 C/3/319, 9/24/66 “Tommy is buried at Crystal (Virtual Wall states date-of-death 9/25/66) Springs Cemetery, Crystal Springs, “Louis was my first love and we MS.” were to be married when he returned home. He was fun Alexander Lorenzo Barney, 173d Abn, 9/10/66 loving and took care of the world in more ways than I “Alexander is buried at Long Island National can tell. Even after 35yrs I still dream of him. I know Cemetery in New York.” he is in heaven and will meet me one day. He was too young to go but he always did what was required of him. He was a very passionate young man and he loved the army, it suited him. He volunteered when Joseph Lloyd Miller he was 16yrs old and loved every minute of it. He B/4/503, 9/15/66 was about 5'11 and broad shoulders and the deepest (Virtual Wall states C/4/503) brown eyes that could look into your very soul. “This (photo) is in the remem- When he left he took a big part of me with him. I will brance of my father Joseph Lloyd NEVER NEVER forget him. As long as I live his Miller. I Love You Dad, your memory will live. ALMOST.” Donna Randall Daughter.” Judith Patricia Miller Thomas Lee Westpoint, E/17th Cav, 9/30/66 (Virtual Wall states B/2/503) “ Thomas is buried at Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, SC.” Edward Garry Rankin A/4/503, 9/16/66 “Originally from Texas, he became a high school chum when he moved to Augusta County, Elmer Eugene Cotney Virginia. He went to Wilson E/17th Cav, 9/30/66 Memorial High School. His high school classmates “I miss you every day! You were miss him, and he is remembered at every five year only 20 years old when you were reunion, along with those others that have passed killed ........ I was 15 years old and away.” trying to understand my brother John was never going to come home again .... I love you WMHS Class of '65 Reunion Committee and will see you again in heaven! You are my Hero.” Unsigned Wayne Allen Blanck, AATTV (RAINF), 9/20/66 (continued….) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Sept.-Oct. 2016 – Issue 69 ~ Unknown Page 2 of 100 Lanham Odell Broyles John Henry Jones HHC/2/503, 9/30/66 A/2/503, 10/4/66 “My dad’s name is Chuck Joslin. “Miss you very much, love you, He has told me stories of his best your sister Sarah.” friend but won't go into much Sarah Jones Green detail. Odell was his best friend and I don’t believe he ever has gotten over losing him.” Chris Joslin Josh Palm, Jr. C/1/503, 10/5/66 (Virtual Wall states C/2/503) William Leroy Stubbe “Thank you PFC Palm for your A/2/503, 10/1/66 courage in dangerous times, in a “William is buried at Central City far and dangerous place.” Cemetery, Central City, Merrick A Grateful Vietnam Vet County, NE.” John Green Dickerson, III Michael James DeMarsico C/1/503, 10/5/66 A/2/503, 10/1/66 (Virtual Wall states C/2/503) “Michael is buried at Mt. Calvary “John is buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Greenburgh, NY.” Memorial Park, Hobart, IN.” Graham F. Warburton, 5RAR, 10/1/66 Terry Eugene Hemmitt, A/3/319, 10/2/66 “Terry is buried at Ft. Leavenworth National David Wesley Branch Cemetery.” E/17th Cav, 10/7/66 George Allen Waldron, C/1/503, 10/3/66 “In loving memory, thanks, and “George was my favorite cousin. He was kind and gratitude for your ultimate loving to his little cousin. I'll never forget his warm sacrifice. Your daughter, Salina smile and eyes that twinkled. He was the very best C. Hamilton.” Mae Frances Davis cousin. I'll always miss him.” Leslie Gammel Gaard ~ Freedom ~ Randal Clyde Engram Those who take freedom C/1/503, 10/3/66 for granted, “Randy started Inf OCS in Nov would be dependent 1964 as Abn & Ranger qualified. on those brave souls, Randy and I were good friends in who are willing to pay 2nd Platoon. He often spoke of the price for it. family and how he looked up to And the price of freedom, his father. After graduation, Randy will be paid at times went to the Airborne School. I was assigned to join unexpected, the 82nd Abn Div in combat in the Dominican by heroes, Republic. On my first jump, Randy made sure he was who didn’t know they with me. He sat across from me and teased me. were. Years later, I realized he was watching out for me, smiling as he jumped first. In 1968, a 173rd NCO who (continued….) knew him told me Randy's unit in the 173rd Abn Bde had been overrun. Certainly not easily.” 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Sept.-Oct. 2016 – Issue 69 Ronald Bunch Page 3 of 100 his own blood and in minutes was dead. The medics did Willie Junius Roundtree their best but the damage was too great and Willy A/2/503, 10/7/66 Roundtree died being held by his now graduated “Personal Thanks: Willy Junius replacement. The helicopter carried him to some far Roundtree. ‘Willy’ to his friends and away army mortuary a few minutes later. So near and other soldiers, ‘Roundtree’ to his yet so very very far from that imminent anticipated trip Sergeants and the officers of the back home. I know all of this because I was that mortar platoon Company “A” 2nd replacement and the memory of that day, and those Battalion, 173rd Brigade (Airborne) few minutes have haunted me for almost fifty years. Infantry stationed at Bien Hoa, Republic Had we walked that trail two days prior I would have of South Viet Nam in 1966. A tall, charming friendly been carrying that radio and the likelihood would have fellow, a boy really, 19 years of age whose always sweat been my death instead of Willy’s. Such is the role of glistening skin in that tropical climate was only out chance and fate in the tapestry of life and death. shown by the brilliance of his ever present smile. He Over the years since then I have visited the ‘Wall’ many was THE forward observer, that fellow who goes out times (Section 11E Line 58) and quietly thanked Willy day and night on small group patrols, well in advance of for his sacrifice many many times in many places the company troops, and directs mortar and artillery around the world. My two daughters who have also left fire, and the occasional air strike, to keep his colleagues flowers at that wall for him, and taken a rubbing of his and the whole infantry company safe from enemy name from that wall, are keenly aware that their very attack. A more dangerous job than most, as it is always existence is a result of his sacrifice so very long ago. far out front, with a different group each time and often One of them told me of this site (Wall of Faces) just a great distance from quick help. For almost a year he recently and hence this long overdue contribution to his did this dangerous job superbly. On the day that he memory. A brave man, a good son, a good soldier and a died, he was preparing to go home in two weeks or so good friend. Gone a long time now but never….ever…. to Fayetteville, North Carolina, his tour in Viet Nam forgotten. Willy, from the center of my heart, thank complete. He had been training his replacement and you for your service and your sacrifice.” normally they made an odd pair; the tall lanky Black John Timothy Kelly Willy from North Carolina followed by the shorter White Livingston, Tennessee stocky kid from New York . The ‘new guy’ always carrying the heavy PRC-25 radio that was the Forward Observer’s link to the mortar and cannon crews and their deadly long range fire power. These two were friends and laughed, shared meals and talk of home, Frank Michael Sokolowski girls and the future in their long and difficult treks 173d Eng., 10/7/66 through the Asian countryside, rice paddies and “An elementary school in mountains. Until that day and for over the prior three Chelsea, MA was named in honor weeks, Willy had been the teacher, called out the of my brother Frank. My family commands (‘Fire Mission’, ‘Marking Round’, ‘Add’, loves to fish and this 4½ pound ‘Drop’, ‘Traverse right/left, ‘HE’( High Explosive) and the brown trout was caught by understudy had relayed them to the gunners through Frank at Cliff Pond in Brewster the radio for action.