2017 Jan-Feb

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

Worth noting, from the last Saber, about the photo with MEDVAC door gunner Bill Pickle. It was mentioned to me once that door gunner Bill Pickle was the Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate. The 37th United States Senate Sergeant at Arms, to be exact. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Pickle A notable achievement, also having served as an infantryman in C Company 2-8 Cav in 1968, and a MEDVAC door gunner in 1969!

Flying on 1st Cav MEDEVAC was not easy. For a grunt and infantry Medics, it was out of the fire and into the frying pan. Like MEDVAC door gunner Larry Ash whom I had mentioned recently, Bill Pickle and others I have written about when I knew of them over the years had the CIB. Further service to comrades in life and death situations.

Also in the last Saber photos, Dale McGuff, before becoming a MEDEVAC Medic, was assigned to B 1-5 Cavalry in 1969. He humped the sticks. I had a couple of photos with him because I wanted to include the other MEDEVAC members pictured. Dale wrote a book about his experiences in '69 to '70 which I had posted in the Saber years ago: So That Others May Live. There were also many other MEDEVAC Medics over the years who had also earned the CMB by serving with infantry units.

From Ron HUEY Huether medevac2@15thMedBnAssociation.org : "Hello fellow 15th Medical Battalion member. We’re sending this e-mail to notify you that online registration for our 2017 Reunion in Branson, MO the end of April is now open. All the Reunion information is on our Website at: http://15thMedBnAssociation.org .

"If you haven’t attended one of our Reunions, or if it’s been several years since your last attendance, we are cordially inviting you to seriously consider attending the 2017 Reunion. "Last year we had the largest attendance and interest in next year’s Reunion is even greater. Having the Reunion in Branson, MO has many advantages; centrally located in the United States, easy to get to, and plenty of entertainment. If you’ve never been to Branson – this be your time! The shows are all first-class.

"One of the contributing factors to our last Reunion being so popular was the publishing of registered attendees on our Website. By knowing who has already registered and who is planning on attending, you will be amazed to find friends attending you’ve lost track of since our all-expense paid vacation to Southeast Asia.

"So, if you’re 'on the fence' about attending, periodically check back, and see who’s registered and see if any of your old foxhole buddies are coming. Here’s the short URL for the attendees list: https://goo.gl/kz1LIX . "And if you’re already planning on attending, how ‘bout checking our searchable database to find long-lost friends you’d like to get together with and calling or sending an e-mail to encourage them to meet you in fun-filled Branson. The searchable database is located at this short URL: https://goo.gl/v066pj .

"The Executive Council, Ron Ingram (Reunion Coordinator) and everyone working hard to make the 2017 Reunion one to remember would really like seeing you at the next reunion. Ron (Baby Huey) Huether Medevac 2 ('70-'71) (830)997-9686 <ww.15thMedBnAssociation.org> I'd give back all the medals to have saved just one more life."

Terry McCarl terryamccarl@gmail.com wrote to encourage the same. Terry also writes that 03/68-03/69 Weber Borrell (SGM Ret.) who was 1SGT of A Co., 15th MED Bn. 03/68-03/69, would like to reconnect with two PSG's who served in his company: SFC Kenneth Clayton 09/67-09/68 and SFC Martin (first name unknown) 10/67-10/68.

If anyone has contact information for these gentlemen, or remembers them at all, please contact Weber at borrellsr@gmail.com or 337-984-4897. I had included Weber's photos in previous Saber columns.

And don't forget, you can encourage those you would like to see and everyone else from the 1st Cav Division at the 70th Annual 1st Cavalry Division Reunion 7-11 June 2017 - Killeen/Fort Hood, Texas. Check the Saber or online.

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