Jan Feb '09 Saber.indd - First Cavalry Division Association

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2009Hank Llewellyn58 Mapleleaf LanePottstown, PA 19464(610) 970-9092SilverWingsoftheCav@comcast.netHello once again fellow Sky Troopers,As of this writing I still have not gotten around to building a new Silver Wingswebsite to replace the one AOL pulled the plug on. I must say it has had an impacton my mail, it sure is a lot more convenient to click a mouse then lick a stamp.You may access the temporary site at thanks to the 7th Cav Association.My thanks to all for the holiday greetings and cards. Some were unique andall appreciated.Let’s launch this issue’s column with my After Action Report of Vet’s Day inWashington, DC. This year marked the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam Women’sMemorial and was the focal point of the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Wall. Thekeynote speaker was Diane Carlson EVANS, an Army nurse during the VietnamWar and founder and president of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation.The Vet’s Day ceremony at the Wall was the culmination of three days of eventscommemorating the 15th Anniversary. Other events included a Sunday eveningfilm screening of “A Touch of Home: The Vietnam War’s Red Cross Girls,” honoringthe 627 Donut Dollies who served in the Vietnam War; Storytelling at theVietnam Women’s Memorial; A Native American dance; reading of the names bya rotating cache of volunteers; A candlelight ceremony and much more filled theSaturday - Tuesday hours. In addition to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, the1st Cavalry Division Association and the Division Honor Guard placed wreathsat the WWII and Korean War Memorials.I was headed to my room after checking in and bumped into Jim SHERIDAN,vice president of the Vietnam Helicopter Crewmembers Association. Their reunionthis year will take place in Reno, Nevada June 17-21st. More information can befound at: . Nice talking with you Jim. The Novembergathering sure seems different without the late Charlie RAINS around.One could find Joe GALLOWAY and Hal MOORE signing copies of theirmost recent book, We Are Soldiers Still as well as We Were Soldiers Once… andYoung in the Cav’s hospitality room Sunday afternoon.I joined Charlie SWENSEN and Joe PANZARDI for breakfast Monday morning,November 10, before heading out to the Iwo Jima Memorial to watch theannual and very impressive Marine ceremony celebrating their birthday. I gotto speak with a bunch of outstanding “Jarheads” wearing their dress blues. I justknow they were in awe of our Stetsons. Afterwards we made our way to visitthe accommodating John Lyon, VFW Post 3150, in Arlington, Virginia, alreadypacked with Cav folks.Back at HQ and the “Wall”, we ran into many familiar faces like Julie KINK,Jim and Janice OTTMAN, Ron SLEEIS, Dennis WEBSTER, Paul HANSONand Dave DOLBY to name a few. But I missed some folks that I was lookingforward to seeing again like Bob TREDWAY and Mike LEARY.In all, it was another great few days in DC and Arlington, Virginia. So muchto see and do, but never enough time.Okay, time for the mail sortie. I received a number of orders for replacement“Silver Wings” caps as soon as the SABER hit the mail boxes. Like, JoeGUTZMANN, who was with C/227th from February 1969 thru February 1970.He crewed for COL BENNETT for a while and then his successor (he can’t rememberthe name). The last six months of his tour he crewed a “regular” Huey.And Larry HASTE (Okie) , who was a gunner/Crew Chiefon #351 with A/229th, from July thru December of 1971. I still have some forthose in need of a new cover. Contact me at the above e-mail address.Bill (Doc) HOFFMAN, Senior Medic, A 2-7 Cav and D 1-7 Cav, did a “Commo Check”. He shared: I sent a heated letterto the Joint Chiefs per STATIC LINE (Airborne newsletter) concerning theswitch from Army Green to UN Blue uniforms and the fact that the Airbornewould no longer be allowed to “blouse” their pants over jump boots. Horses#!%!.Doc, I’ve never known you to hold back your thoughts. I’m sure you made animpression on them.Editors Note: The new Army Service Uniform regulations do allow Airbornepersonnel to wear bloused boots. Please read the story on the new uniform onpage 20 of this issue of Saber.Al WALKER, 610th, An Khe, checked in. Thanksfor your comments about AOL dropping all their members’ websites (homepages).Always good hearing from you.A request arrived from SFC (Ret) William LAWLESS, , “I served with B Company, 228th Aviation from FortBenning to An Khe, DROS was the end of August, 1966, from the First Team. Ifyou were in the Cav from the end of November, 1965 to January 10, 1966, I wouldlike to have your e-mail address (to be used only once) and then deleted.”I received a couple short stories from MAJ Robert RUNYAN, A/229th AHC,1967-68. One of which reflects his thoughts of Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet)that I will share with you. Bob does not have an e-mail address. So if you wouldlike to respond with comments, please send them to the “Wings” e-address and Iwill see that he receives them pronto. Karl ZINSMAN, “Snoopy Flight”, HHC3rd Brigade, Camp Evans, you may enjoy this one.Memoirs of Tet -1968 - “Hello fellow “Silver Wings” troopers. My name isBob RUNYAN and I was a 1st Lieutenat with A/229th AHB, 1st Cav at CampEvans in February of 1968. I was also 1st Platoon Leader and one of two RRF(Ready Reaction Force) flight leaders in our company.On what became the first night of the Tet Offensive of 1968 I was assignedthe duty of taking the RON detail (Remain Over Night) aircraft to a more secureairfield; A practice we used to keep our flyable birds dispersed in case of attack.The secure place I was to take my eight helicopters to that night was Hue!We were parked along side the commercial airfield at Hue Phu Bai, located afew miles south of the Citadel and the Vietnamese I Corps HQ. All went welluntil about midnight when we started taking 122mm rocket and mortar fire. Wewere sleeping in our helicopters and were immediately told to “crank-up” andPage 16clear the area! I quickly, as you can imagine, had my flight up and running. Iwas ordered to land the flight on the southeast side of the base - outside the perimeterwire. I didn’t like it but had no choice as, by now, the base was takinga real plastering.We landed in a swampy area and dismounted our M-60 machine guns - all sixteenof them, that would afford us some fire power! A platoon of troops openeda path though the barbed-wire and upon seeing my group commenced to relieveus of our crew chiefs and gunners and all that firepower. They put us pilots insandbagged - open top - four foot high “bunkers” and some REMF told us todefend it in case of attack?! In all, there were sixteen of us pilots in two of thosesquares, armed with our 38 cal. pistols and maybe 6 rounds of ammunition each.Pucker factor set in as the fireworks blazed all around us.Phu Bai had actually two bases. One was the airfield and the other was a supersecret “Spook” base with it’s own barb wire, guards, PX, real air conditionedbarracks and the biggest insult of all - an Olympic size swimming pool. Thatpool could be seen by all, but no one except the “Spooks” were permitted accessto it.As I said, the base was really taking a hammering from the rockets. Everyonewas concerned that a ground attack was forming so the Air Force turned the nightinto day with aerial flares. About the same time we heard and saw a barrageof incoming that squarely hit the “Spook” compound and blew their swimmingpool to hell and back. Pieces were all over the compound. And in spite of thedin of the assault you could hear hoots, yells, whistles and shouts of “all right!”as their pool was transformed into a large dirt hole.As daylight approached we were told to crank-up and return to Camp Evans.Ordering the flight into two V formations I noticed we had a lot of ground fogaround Hue and the Perfume River area with a broken layer of clouds near 1200feet. The weather was getting worse so we climbed to around 2500 feet withsolid overcast at 3000. Now I’m telling you about the weather because a momentlater, looking to my right through a break in the clouds, I see the biggestNVA flag, about 100 ft. by 50 ft., that anyone has ever seen, it was flying abovethe ARVN I Corps Headquarters. Shouting to my peter pilot, “Look at that NVAflag!” He replied, “Someone must be playing a joke”. “The ARVN don’t jokelike that” I said as I got on the mike to alert the flight. Most had already seenthe flag and a lot of chatter commenced on the radio.In the next instant green tracers came flying through the flight. We were receivingfire from a Quad 12.7 mm antiaircraft heavy machine mounted atop awater tower on an island located in the middle of the Perfume River. I got onthe “horn” to Phu Bai tower to warn of the situation. Their reply was that I wasmistaken and that what I was reporting couldn’t have happened! My final replyto them just before switching the radios to the 1st Cavalry Division net to warnothers was, “Well, you boys have one hell of a surprise coming”.We flew back to Camp Evans - the Tet Offensive of 1968 had began - and themost exciting, challenging two weeks of my life just commenced, requiring thefull use of ones abilities and resources.Now, fast forward 15 years to the Texas National Guard Headquarters in Austin.Over lunch one of the guardsman asked if I was in Nam during Tet of 1968?“Yes”, I Corps I replied, as did a 30’s-something NG 2nd Lieutenant. Turningto the 2LT I asked, where? Phu Bai, he replied. “I was an 18 year old Spec 4at the “Spook Shop”. Maybe you can clear something up for me? When thebarrage hit our compound and blew up the PX and swimming pool we were surea ground attack was coming as we heard hoots, yells, whistles and shouts - butit didn’t sound Vietnamese. Do you know what happened?”We both laughed as I told him why it did not sound like Vietnamese, Many ofthe GI’s vented while enjoying the sight of the privileged pool disappear. Thento my shock he informed me that for their year of duty they were not allowedto leave the “Spook”compound and were only permitted one R&R and it had tobe to Hawaii for fear of being “snatched”. Hence, the PX and swimming pool.Little did we know! Bob.And finally. Dogs have always been a part of my life since I was a child.We provide a good home and in return they provide companionship, protectionand unconditional love. After our Golden Retrievers’ passed of old age a JackRussell pup came into our lives. “Jack” is now fifteen months old, a great dogand at my side as I write this article. Yesterday I received information from afriend about Military Working Dogs (MWDs). Congress passed law H.R. 5314on November 6, 2000 that allows civilians to adopt a retiring Military WorkingDog. These wonderful animals can now have a well-deserved retirement witha loving family. To adopt, (the dogs are free) an application must be filled outconcerning the prospective owners experience with dogs, household, etc. Onceapproved, an agreement is signed with the Defense Department removing themfrom any liability. The new owner is responsible for transportation and any costassociated with same. For more information and to learn about these dogs, goto: .With that I will shut down this month’s flight of Silver Wings of the Cav. Untilnext time, “Clear Right!”We expect good attendance at this year’s Reunion so preregister inorder to be sure you have your tickets for each event that you wantto attend. The size of available rooms limits the number of ticketsthat we can sell. Registering early helps us make the Reunion a betterexperience for you.RETURN ADDRESS LABELS1st Cav Div Assn. return address labels are now available from DouglasTIMM, 1000 Main Rd., Richmond, VT 05477-8804,
Page 1715th MED/15th BSBMike Bodnar13010 N. Lakeforest Dr.Sun City, AZ 85351-3250(623) 972-4395e-mail: mbodnar27@juno.comForum: http://groups.msn.com/15thMEDASSOCIATIONWebsite: http://15thmedassociation.comHello fellow Alumni. As I sit here at the keyboard typing this issue of the Saberthe holiday season has come and gone. I hope that when everyone sat down toenjoy their special meals that they said a prayer for our troops. As always mythoughts were not only on our Blue Max unit C1-10 but all the other units and their membersso far away from their families. As I crankup my computer much of my article will bebased on the good and not so good feelingsthis holiday season had for many of us.---- UPDATE ON RICKENBACKER----Ernest W. RICKENBACKER AKA FastEddie was laid to rest in Arlington NationalCemetery on December 2nd. In addition toRick’s family, Jim MACLACHLAN, WarrenCHUNN, Art JETTER and Marco CORDON,who served with Rick, attended the services.Jim MACLACHLAN credits Rick with savingMEDEVAC Memorial, Canby,OR. Photo from ‘69-’70 MEDE-VAC gunner Mike “tater”SMITH.his life by pulling him from a burning Cobraon October 12, 1971. Mike SLONIKER, whowas an A/229 1CAV Huey pilot escorted byBlue Max, also attended.Mike SLONIKER attended 41 Arlingtonservices since 29 August, 1989 when one ofour Blue Max members was interred. Thank you, Mike. You have always supportedthe ARA/AFA and Blue Max.---- UPDATE ON BLUE MAX C 1-10 ----E-mail message from the First Sergeant of Blue MaxC 1-10: “The troops arrived in northern Iraq and havebeen flying missions 24 hours a day without any incidentsthus far. In just three weeks we’ve flown almost600 total hours and have maintained an OperationalReadiness Rate, which exceeds unit, brigade and Armystandards.The Soldiers still have high moral and they are bustingtheir humps to keep these Apaches in the air so thatthey’re providing security for our brothers on the ground.I, of course, cannot mention details of engagementsor missions but the pilots are motivated and doing anoutstanding job. They are putting in long hours andare focused on their mission and are making us proud.I could not possibly ask for any better Soldiers and1969 MEDEVAC PSGGordon RUSSELL ashe looked in WWII.Aviators that I have the absolute pleasure of serving with over here in the BlueMax. Those of you that came before us would be proud of the job that they’redoing, just as we’re proud of the job that you guys performed during your toursof service for our great nation. It’s always great to hear from you and I hope thatall is well with you and your family. God bless and take care.”Thank you Top, we pray for the safety of ALL our troops and will be glad tohear of the return of our Blue Max as well as ALL our troops.We have a full list of troops and a mailing address but have been asked to notpublish it due to security issues. We also have a list of their families here in thestates and will be supporting them in any way we can.---- STILL SERVING ----CW4 Gordon EATLEY who served with C 2-20 in 1967 just send us anThe AdmiraltiesContinued from pg. 10.but some reached the areas near the perimeter to the south. This rush was verydefinitely not an attack but a mass effort to get away from the bombs.A few enemy aircraft appeared but failed to put up a successful defense. Eightenemy fighters were destroyed in air combat over Momote, including one shotdown by an Allied combat transport dropping supplies, and four other enemyfighters were probably destroyed. One enemy element of 8 fighters and anotherconsisting of 7 to 10 fighters intercepted twelve B-25’s shortly after noon approximately30 miles south of Momote. A B-25 was lost and one enemy fighterdestroyed.The afternoon was free from enemy activity except for a patrol which was discoveredinside the perimeter at about 1600. The patrol’s mission was evidentlyto kill or capture the American commanding officer. It was led by Captain Baba,the commander of the battalion which made the major attack on the precedingnight. Although operating in broad daylight, the patrol came close to succeeding.The Americans were confident that the morning’s mop-up had taken careof all the enemy within the perimeter. Secondary growth was thick in the areaand the Japanese were unnoticed until they were within 35 yards of the task forcecommand post. Once the group was sighted, a considerable amount of fire wasplaced on it. The Japanese lay concealed in the undergrowth and a single sniperpecked away with his rifle in the direction of the CP. Not knowing the size ofthe party, Major Chiaramonte set out with four men “to get the sniper.” The taskforce commander and his executive officer directed the movement of the groupeither right or left according to movements in the underbrush, and the soldiersand Major Chiaramonte opened up whenever they detected any movements. AsMajor Chiaramonte and his party finally entered the area on which they had beenfiring, they heard a click followed by grenade explosions. Three of the Japanesehad committed suicide. Another rolled over on his back and used his sword tocommit hara-kiri. Fifteen dead officers and sergeants were counted, includingCaptain Baba.Although another attack had not been expected before dark, the enemy madea coordinated effort against the perimeter at 1700. However, its intensity wasJANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2009e-mail from Iraq. He wrote, “Forty three years of fun and games, and moretime in the cockpit than I care to remember.”He just arrived in Iraq so he will not be home until about this time next year.We wish him a safe tour and plan to stay in touch.---- THE TIMES ARE A’ CHANGING ----When we look around us and see the hardships that others are going through, itreminds us of what we have gone through or maybe what we are going throughright now. The loss of a friend who was like a brother or family member cannot be described in words.For me, 2008 presented a challenge I had to face with great emotion, havingbeen the founder of the Blue Max ARA Association. It was like watching yourchild move away from home. But, after over 14 years, it was something I neededto do. This past May, I met that issue with mixed feelings, turning the group overto the membership. They selected their own slate of officers, started a journeydown a road to a new beginning with all the membership on board.As the new chain of command moved into office, they elected to change thename to the Aerial Rocket Artillery Association and to have a reunion in Midland,Texas from April 16th -19th 2009 with Glenn BROWN, in charge of arrangements. Wish I could be at this reunion but it is notpossible. You will all be in my thoughts and I hope that everyone has a greattime at the reunion.---- UNIT HISTORY TIMELINE ----I am trying to compile what I am calling a UNIT HISTORY TIMELINE. Ihave a lot of history but hope to gather information such as when 2-20 changedcall signs such as Tough Barron, Griffin, Armed Falcon and Blitzkrieg from thelist of many call signs used in Vietnam. Case in point, we know that the BlueMax call sign came into play sometime in early to mid April, 1968 when CPTJerry BARLOCO returned from R&R in Hawaii and brought a Blue Max shirtwith him. Battalion was asking for suggestions for a new radio call sign and therest is history.I am also collecting information on when each battery got their first Cobras.Some research finds dates which do not match what we know as fact. Remember,we want to cover ALL the ARA units as we collect this history.If anyone has anything showing when something took place please contactme.---- TAPS ----James W. “Buggs” Moran, 61, of Baldwinville, Massachusetts, died unexpectedlyWednesday, January 7th, 2009 at his residence. He was born in Worcesteron February 23, 1947, the son of the late James Earl and Marjorie Moran.He was an active member with Ovila Case Post 905 VFW and was its presentQuartermaster. He gave speeches at Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances.Jim proudly served in Vietnam with C Btry 2-20th Arty as a pilot. He was arecipient of the Vietnamese Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, ArmyAviator Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Crosswith Oak Leaf Cluster, and numerous Air Medal awards, one awarded for Valor.He was a member of the Aerial Rocket Artillery Association and the VietnamHelicopter Pilots Association.He leaves his wife, of four years, Denise J. (Marcoux) Larson-Moran; one son,Matthew D. Moran and his fiancée Megan MacMahon of Hoboken, New Jersey;three stepchildren, Edward P. Larson of East Templeton, Lori A. Guthrie and herhusband Jody of Baldwinville and Lisa M. Larson and her boyfriend Ryan Daigleof Gardner; four brothers, Ken Moran, Wayne Moran, Gerry Moran and StephenMoran and two step grandchildren, Sadie and Madelyn Guthrie. A sister, CindyMoran, predeceased him.Military funeral services were held Monday, January 12th at the MassachusettsVeterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. The family asked that memorialdonations be made to the PACC Scholarship Fund, 171 Kendall Pond West,Gardner, Massachusetts 01440. A guest book was set up on line at where yourthoughts and messages can be left for the family.Until next issue, “Clear Left, Sir!”undoubtedly lessened by the loss of the battalion commander and his staff, andits effect reduced by the further tightening of the perimeter. The daylight washelpful in spotting targets and the Japanese were kept beyond the perimeter untilnightfall. At 2000 the main attack ceased, but individuals and small groups continuedto infiltrate throughout the night, including about 50 Japanese who crossedthe harbor entrance by wading and by use of inflated life belts, and attacked ourposition at the base of the peninsula. It was a big night for the field artillery:not only did they fire 300 rounds of 75-mm at the approaching enemy but theykilled 47 of the Japanese by small-arms fire within the artillery positions. Thetotal of enemy killed within our positions for the first two nights was determinedon the morning of 2 March to be 147, including those who had infiltrated duringthe second night and had been mopped up between dawn and 0900. JamandilaiPoint was cleared by 1045 to prepare for the reinforcements scheduled to arriveduring the morning and the defense of the area was turned over to the 168th and211th Coast Artillery Batteries.Enlarging the PerimeterThe 2d of March had been eagerly awaited by the troops, exhausted after thelong strain of defending the perimeter against infiltrating Japanese, for about1,500 combat troops and 534 naval construction men of the support force wereexpected to arrive to expand the perimeter and get the air strip ready for operations.The 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry, was to land, bringing with them the restof the 99th Field Artillery Battalion. A machine-gun battery and a gun batteryof antiaircraft would also increase the fire power in the perimeter. The 40thNaval Construction Battalion and other service troops were scheduled to comein with the support force so that work on the air strip could begin immediately.The beachhead would no longer depend on the light weapons and “K” rationsthat had sustained the 2d Squadron, 5th Cavalry.The convoy with reinforcements commenced standing in to Hyane Harborat 0926. Six LST’s (three from Oro Bay and three from Finschhafen) and sixdestroyers, which were joined by the Bush at 0800, made up the convoy. Threedestroyers were detached to accompany two minesweepers on a mission withinSeeadler Harbor, while the others patrolled outside Hyane Harbor, ready to fireContinued on pg. 18.
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Jan Feb '09 Saber.indd - First Cavalry Division Association

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