September-October 2018, Issue 82 See all issues to date at the 503rd Heritage Battalion website: Contact: [email protected] http://corregidor.org/VN2-503/newsletter/issue_index.htm ~ Colonel George E. Dexter, Abn Inf (Ret) ~ Battalion Commander 2/503d, 173d Abn Bde (Sep), Okinawa-Vietnam ‘64 ~ ‘66 2/503d Sky Soldier of the Year 2018 Colonel Dexter salutes his men of the 2/503 Okinawa/RVN during a battalion reception at 173d Airborne reunion in Ft. Worth, TX. Inset photo of Col. Dexter and his RTO Tom Conley, 2 January ’66, Operation Marauder in the Mekong Delta. See tribute to the Colonel on Page 13. 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Sept.-Oct. 2018 – Issue 82 Page 1 of 86 We Dedicate this Issue of Our Newsletter in Memory and Honor of the Young Men of the 173d Airborne Brigade & Attached Units We Lost 50 Years Ago In the Months of September & October 1968 If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust and weep. For my sake, turn again to life, and smile, nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do something to comfort weaker hearts than thine. Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine, and I, perchance, may therein comfort you! Mary Lee Hall Dennis Eric Abraham, 22 Thomas Dean Brock, “Doc”, 20 SIG, 104 Sig Sqd, 9/29/68 SGT, D/1/503, 9/23/68 “From Semaphore SA. Was killed (Virtual Wall states HHC/1/503) when the US helicopter in which he was 5/17/15: ”I was there. I was in Greg riding was shot down on September 29, Carter's squad in D company 1/503 that 1968 in Long Khan. Buried Centennial day and 3 months prior. Both he and Doc Park Cemetery, Adelaide.” Brock were instrumental with educating this FNG what I needed to know to protect our lives. I carried Greg down that hill to the medics that September 23 , 1968, I then went back up the same hill as there were solders still engaged. I didn't know until sometime that Tomas was killed, after I helped transfer Greg and Doc Brock onto the dust-off chopper. I sat down and cried. They are my brothers.” Gil Conradis David Carlton Brown, 24 CPT, A/4/503, 9/7/68 2/22/03: “In Honored Remembrance of Captain David Carlton Brown. David Carlton Brown was born into an Army family at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on April 29, 1944. He was appointed to the United Robert Joseph Benz, 22 States Military Academy at West Point in SP4, E/4/503, 9/13/68 1962 and graduated in the class of 1966, 5/10/05: “Old Friend. Assumption & being assigned to the Infantry. He then North High are gone, Carl's served his last attended both Advanced Infantry and beer, the snow of 66 melted. You are not Airborne Schools and was assigned as a Platoon Leader forgotten. RIP old friend.” John F. Hayden and later Company Commander in the 503rd United States Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. On September 7, 1968, he was killed-in-action in the Quang Duc Province of South Vietnam. During his short military career, Captain Brown earned the Bronze Star with two "V" devices for valor, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Captain Brown was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. He Kevin Frederick Brewer, 22 was survived by his parents, Colonel Harry C. Brown, PTE, 4RAR, 10/8/68 United States Army, and Sheila Brown, as well as by his “Launceston TAS. Brewer died of brother, Jeffrey Brown.” Michael Robert Patterson gunshot wounds during a search and destroy mission, Operation Track Duster, (Tributes continued….) on Route 15, near Thai Thien on 8th October 1968. Buried Ulverstone Cemetery 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Sept.-Oct. 2018 – Issue 82 TAS.” Page 2 of 86 Robert Burns, 22 Robert Thomas Elliott, III, 23 L/CPL, 4RAR, 10/13/68 1LT, B/2/503, 9/9/68 “Stirling Scotland. Burns died of 8/5/03: “I went to Valparaiso gunshot wounds in Phuoc Tuy on 13th University with Tom. He was in my September 1968, 12 days before his 23rd husband's fraternity and we were friends birthday. Buried Centennial Park cemetery and classmates. He was a good friend and Adelaide SA.” a great guy. It was with great sadness that his fraternity informed us of his death in 1968. I teach Basil Eric Byrne, 32 social studies now and my government class is doing a T/SGT, AFV Amenities Unit, project about the Vietnam Memorial and I have been 10/31/68 searching web sites to prepare lesson plans. I have been “Three Spring WA. Byrne died of a to the Wall and paid my respects to Tom and the other coronary occlusion in his sleep in Vung great Americans.” Beth Larson Tau, in the early hours of 31th October 1968. Buried Karrakatta Cemetery WA.” Cecil Vaughn Evans, 20 SSG, A/4/503, 9/7/68 12/21/02: “James M. Bennett H.S. We did a paper on the Green Beret in High School. Cecil and I joined the Army in 1966. I went on to go the the Air Force Academy. So did Cecil's younger brother. We all miss Cecil.” J.D. McBriety Gregory Carter, 21 SGT, D/1/503, 9/23/68 8/29/09: “I just recently found out that my father served with you. He said he would forever remember you...not just because of the kind of man you are, but because there was an incident were you actually helped him out of a situation were a few locals were looking for a fight. And for some unknown reason Paul Evans, 22 they chose my father. He was there the day and PTE, 1RAR, 10/8/68 witnessed 1st hand when you were KIA as was the (2nd site states L/Cpl) medic Thomas Brock (who tried to save your life). My “Fortitude Valley QLD. Evans was father was never really given the opportunity to killed in a contact in Bien Hoa Province 8th properly THANK-YOU or Thomas. Both of you wonderful October 1968. Buried Garden of men. I wish we could thank-you in person. A piece of Remembrance QLD.” you is with us all, as we ‘Frank's’ 6 kids & 10 grandchildren would not be here today if it were not for Alfred Andrew Filippelli, 20 your heroism and bravery. Thank You comes too late & CPL, A/1/503, 9/26/68 will never fully encompass what you mean to all of us! (Virtual Wall states D/1/503) We love you! Keep watching over all of us as we believe 7/18/13: “A son of Woodside. I was you were an angel here on earth and are now an angel a student at St. Mary's and a friend of your who was called back home to serve God better. Thank- sister Joanne. I remember the heartbreak You Thank-You Thank-You!!” Mary Pat Cantando in our school, church, community and especially your family that terrible day in 1968. We lost a wonderful Barry Norton Davidson, 22 and very brave man that September. God Bless you PTE, 3RAR, 10/1/68 Alfred and may you rest in peace.” Anthony Incorvaia “Sydney NSW. Davidson died at the 24 US Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh (Tributes continued….) of wounds received during a contact in Long Khan Province 1st October 1968. 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Sept.-Oct. 2018 – Issue 82 Page 3 of 86 Buried Northern Suburbs Crematorium NSW.” Kenneth Charles Frazer, “Doc”, 22 James David Hacek, 20 SGT, HHC/4/503, 9/9/68 CPL, A/1/50th, 9/26/68 9/16/16: “Remembering Ken. Mr. (Virtual Wall states HHC/1/50th) Frazer, I am the son of your PE teacher at 11/6/11: “Thank You For Your McKendree College. My dad speaks highly Service. I was only four years old when of you! You were one of the top students your life was lost, however, the memory he had the honor of teaching. I was about 8 years old that stands out the most is the horseback when you lost your life. I couldn't attend the services at rides you gave us little ones on your back. You were Bothwell Chapel because I was too young. I did sit on such a fun uncle! I grew up feeling as if I knew you the steps and listened, I have never ever forgotten you, better than I actually did. Your picture was always because I tried following your foot steps. Because of displayed in a glass-front living room cabinet. You have your love of your country, I served 18 years in the Army. always been missed by everyone. Thank you for your Three campaign ribbons for the Gulf War and Cold War. service! Rest in peace Uncle Jimmy.” Jeana M. Smith I finally went to the Wall after 50 years to look for your name. I didn't want anyone to forget you, so I left Donald Curtis Hamm, 20 something for people to remember you! Dad and I sure SGT, E/17th Cav, 10/9/68 6/2/16: “From Your Great Niece. won't!” John Schoon, Jr. Hi, Uncle Don. Unfortunately, we Robert Bruce Gilray, Jr., 23 never got to meet, but I wish we could 2LT, A/4/503, 9/7/68 have. My grandmother, your sister, has 6/4/99: “To an old friend.