2011 May-Jun

MEDEVAC 15th Med\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
307B N Main Copperas Cove, TX 76522
1704 254-542-1961
E-mail: mbodnar27@juno.com

When I went to my computer today knowing I had to compile the new column, I first had to check the U.S.A. Today news getting into my Juno e-mail, where my latest correspondences were. I always expect to see the worst that has happened in the world on the headlines, but today the news was that Osama BIN LADEN had been killed by U.S. Forces. That turned out to be not the worst news possible, but the best news possible. Although I didn't see it live, when President OBAMA announced the news on television to all, I bet you could have heard a pin drop.

Along the same line, e-mailed a month ago from '70 MEDEVAC Medic Dan BRADY DBrady@stillwatermining.com : "This is awesome! ! ! ! ! At a time when our president and other politicians tend to apologize for our country's prior actions, here's a refresher on how some of our former patriots handled negative comments about our country. These are good: JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean RUSK, was in France in the early 60's when French president Charles DE GAULLE decided to pull out of NATO. DE GAULLE said he wanted all U.S. military out of France as soon as possible.

"RUSK responded, 'Does that include those who are buried here?' DE GAULLE did not respond. You could have heard a pin drop. "When in England, at a fairly large conference, Colin POWELL was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George BUSH. He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.' You could have heard a pin drop.

"There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying, 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt BUSH has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?'

"A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?' You could have heard a pin drop.

"A U.S. Navy admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian, and French navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'

"Without hesitating, the American admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's, and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.' You could have heard a pin drop.

"And, this story fits right in with the above...Robert WHITING, an elderly gentleman of eighty-three, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. 'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically.

"Mr. WHITING admitted that he had been to France previously. 'Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.'

"The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.'

"'Impossible. Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France!' "The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, 'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.' You could have heard a pin drop.

"If you are proud to be an American, pass this on! If not, delete it. I am proud to be of this land, AMERICA."

'68-'69 15th MED NCO Norm ROBERGE normkarenn@hughes.net called to get contact information about Jeremy HOGAN, who had sent photos of 15th MED he had acquired on e-Bay.

'69-'70 MEDEVAC Gunner Mike SMITH mvandco@msn.com sent over a link to photos of his paid for return visit to Vietnam. His first trip to Nam was also paid for.

I asked Mike to write up a report on his revisit, but he did not yet reply. If you want to view his many photos, someone else took, you'll have to type in this long link to your browser: https://picasaweb.google.com/102362765849627623257/Vietnam20 11?authkey=Gv1sRgCLbI_KGKure1IA&feat=email#, or e-mail me and I'll forward the link to you.

'70 MEDEVAC Medic Bill WALSH cpd9283@comcast.net sent, "Just in case you didn't get this note from John or hadn't heard of this endeavor...Forwarded Message From: 'John BRENNAN' johnmailman@yahoo.com :

"Gentlemen & Ladies, Because of the length of time it takes to produce a book of this kind, U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER NAMES IN VIETNAM, I request that you please notify me if your e-mail address ever changes in the near future. Permission will be needed if any photos make the cut and also notification for when exactly the book becomes available (June sometime) and how to obtain a copy. "Another option that you may prefer would be to leave me a telephone number or a mailing address, if that seems more permanent in the near future. Thank you for your past help, and for any future courtesy calls regarding change of contact info. All the best, John BRENNAN, former SP5, 114 AHC, 1970- 71, Vinh Long AAF, Mekong Delta."

Pilot Daniel TOOTHMAN "Fang" danmedevac19@msn.com e-mailed: "I flew C-12s and U-21s for the TRADOC Flight Detachment out of Langley AFB, VA, from August 1984 to January 1997. Langley is the home of the USAF 1st Fighter Wing, which flew F-15s the entire time I was there. The 1st Wing was the home unit of the USAF Eastern Flight Demo Team which flew all F-15 demos at air shows in the eastern part of the USA. The demo pilots flew practice flights over the runway each week during the season, and I watched many of them from our ramp. After one of them, I turned around to return to our hangar and saw a bunch of Zoomies (USAF pilots) there and said jokingly and loud enough for them all to hear, 'That just shows you that if you put enough engine on it, you can make a brick fly.' This video reinforces that statement. Awesome."

To view his forwarded video go to YouTube and type in: "Israeli Pilot Lands Safely With One Wing."

Always remembering our 1st Cav troops on duty around the world; over and out.

FIRST TEAM!
Garryowen,
Mike Bodnar C 2\7 '69
MEDEVAC 1-7\70
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE