~ 2/503D Photo of the Month ~
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July-August 2016, Issue 68 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 ~ “Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade set off a smoke grenade in the jungle during Operation Silver City in Long Khanh Province.” (AP) (web photo) Note: The wounded trooper standing on right waiting for dust off in the “D” Zone jungle in this March 1966 photo is Capt. Les Brownlee (Col. Retired), former 2/503 Bravo Company Commander, and the future Acting Secretary of the Army. See related story on Page 24. 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / July-August 2016 – Issue 68 Page 1 of 93 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 July & August 1966 “To the fallen soldiers….you have done your duty. To honor you is ours.” ~ Quote by unknown Eric Ribitsch James T. Noss, “Doc” C/2/503, 7/3/66 HHC/C/2/503, 7/3/66 “PFC Eric Ribitsch arrived “Jimmy Noss graduated from in-country in Vietnam in Bruceton High School in Preston September 1965. During County, West Virginia with the class of his tour, he received two Purple 1963. He moved to Baltimore, MD Hearts and was awarded a where he found a job in which he posthumous Bronze Star with Valor marked patterns on lumber for Device for his heroism. He was killed on July 3, 1966 in sawyers to use as a cutting guide. Maintaining his home Operation Yorktown in the vicinity of Xuan Loc. He was of residence in West Virginia he received his draft 23 and a true hero. I am proud to be his nephew, notice two years later and reported for basic training on named after him, and I wear his dog tag every day.” October 4, 1965. After medic training he was assigned Eric Ribitsch to the 173rd Airborne and reached Vietnam on May 18, His nephew 1966. He was killed on July 3, 1966 as he was tending to the wounded. His family received the report he ‘raised Terry Kenneth Wilkins up to care for a wounded soldier when he should have C/2/503, 7/3/66 stayed down.’ Preston County will not forget Jimmy “Terry and I served together with Noss and all that he stood for when he sacrificed his life the 101st Airborne at Ft. Campbell, KY, caring for the wounded in his care. He is remembered in 1965, when my orders came for in the book which I wrote, NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN, Vietnam and the 2nd Battalion of the PRESTONIANS WHO DIED IN VIETNAM in which he is 173d Airborne in Bien Hoa in featured along with 16 other men from Preston County, December of that year. Terry came over in January of West Virginia who died in Vietnam. This book, the '66, and was assigned to Company "C" of the 2/503rd as Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and The Virtual Wall a grunt. For the past ten years or so I've worn Terry's will be instrumental in assuring that James T. Noss and KIA bracelet, taking him with me wherever I go, and the others will not be forgotten. “ Dorothy Snyder often when leaving home I'll put his bracelet on and say, ‘Come on, Terry, let's go get something to eat.’ I recall Theodore Williams, Jr. him telling me he entered the army using a forged C/2/503, 7/4/66 passport or birth certificate, and when he arrived in- “REMEMBERED by his friends country he was only 17. I try to keep the memory of my and family in the Blue Island friend alive.” community. A memorial from Lew “Smitty” Smith Randy Kethcart.” HHC/2/503 “Teddie, you were like a brother to our family, and the day we heard of Julius Collins, Jr. the tragic news, we all felt and still feel the loss. Our C/2/503, 7/3/66 mother and sister Cheryl has passed on and we know that all of you are together and smiling on us in heaven. As life is, we will all be together one day in the presence of God.” Mark Tolbert Clark, Sr., and Family (sadly, continued….) 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / July-August 2016 – Issue 68 Page 2 of 93 Elmer Wayne Scarborough Joe David Kegley* C/2/503, 7/4/66 C/4/503, 7/27/66 (Virtual Wall states C/1/503) “Thank you PFC Wayne Scarborough, from CW4 Steven Bowen, USAR, Ret. We had some good times together in Powell County, KY.” CW4 Steven L. Bowen James Larry McCrystal* 173d Engineers, 7/27/66 Stephen Andrew Zukov (Virtual Wall states C/4/503) A/2/503 7/19/66 “You were my brother Anthony's Father, you may have never met him but he has turned out to a great man. Wish you would have been able to see him grow up.” Melvin Warren McDowell* R.L. McCall, B/6RAR, 7/25/66 C/4/503, 7/27/66 James Wilford Collins* A/82nd Avn Bn, 7/27/66 Carlos David Moore,* C/4/503, 7/27/66 (Virtual Wall states HHC/4/503) “Hey Carl, it's Gerry, Gerry Stesiak. I remember Joseph C. Sampson, Jr.* buddy. The chopper you were in had its transmission A/82nd Avn Bn, 7/27/66 lock up. All aboard died with you my fellow medic of “You exemplify the spirit of Hqs Co. 4/503 of the 173rd. Platoon Sgt. Shepherd had Army Aviation ‘Above the Best.’" me take your place out on line. Hey Carl, remember LTC Dick Townes, USA Ret'd that diary I kept of our activities? Well pal, I finally wrote that book. It's titled Raptors Prey, and is coming out this year, 2001. Yea, it's some 35 years later guy. Yea, I know, it seems like just five minutes has gone by. Of course you're in it. Most of the guys, in some form, Joseph Francis Hunt* are in it too. Yea Carl I've told our story, pretty close to C/4/503, 7/27/66 the way it was. Say hello to Jerry Bartram for me. Jerry, “Staff Sergeant Hunt was on his too, was KIA while taking my place on the line when I second Vietnam tour; during his went to Hawaii for R&R. Yea, I'll write him too. Well first tour, January-December 1965, Carl, it won't be too long when we'll be standing he served with the MACV Advisors, shoulder to shoulder again in platoon formation. You Teams 76 and 99.” probably won't recognize me though. Age changes all of us. But I know one thing for sure, I'll recognize you. “Photograph provided by his granddaughter, Jolene.” Until then pal, rest well.” Gerald K. Stesiak (sadly, continued….) 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / July-August 2016 – Issue 68 Page 3 of 93 Jerry L. Schemel* “Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis C/4/503, 7/27/66 O'Donnell KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying “You were my first boyfriend that Cross: Shot down and killed while attempting to gave me a ring, we called it going rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking steady in those days. The memories enemy forces. We Nam Brothers pause to give a are countless. The dances at the backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, Walled Lake Casino where your one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam: band played, and we were on stage Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. with Stevie Wonder. I became friends with your wife Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine- Tina after your passing and I mourned with her and by laden bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. her side. You were such a talented saxophone player. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. We shared so many wonderful and fun times together. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul Thank you Jerry for the gifts you gave to all us. We will ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.” always love you and keep your memory alive within. “ From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers Cheryl Hatch Drinnon Tomas Marroquin, Jr. Rutherford J. Welsh* D/173d Spt Bn, 8/11/66 C/4/503, 7/27/66 “Miss you Uncle Tomas. I survived (Virtual Wall states A/82nd Avn Bn) my tour with the 198th LIB in “I remember when I used to watch 1970-71.” Ernie Flores Jimmy work on his old car when I was 8 or 9 yrs. old on Horner Ave. off Brown's Line in Etobicoke Ont. I think it was an old Jaguar. His sister Thomas William Haney Ann taught me how to swim at the local swimming pool E/17th Cav, 8/14/66 and I used to play with his sister Patty and his brother “PFC Thomas W. Haney served John. My Dad worked at Christies Biscuit's with Doc with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. On who was Jimmy's dad, my grandparents where good August 14, 1966, he was fatally friends of Lil and Doc his parents. I will remember him wounded when an enemy mine always. I still have the newspaper clipping from that exploded while he was taking part in unfortunate time.