2009 Jul-Aug

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

'67-'68 MEDEVAC CE Randy BREWER randelljbrewer@bellsouth.net writes in: "Mike, so glad that Gil GATTO, MEDEVAC 20, wrote in. I have pictures of him in the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death,' 'The Ashau,' when the 1st Cav. went in around the 1st of May, 1968. I could not remember his name. Now, I can put a name to his photos. On the 5th day in, my aircraft was badly damaged by gunfire. On returning to Camp Evans, our platoon leader, Major Dorris GOODMAN (R.I.P.), knowing that I had just gotten out of the hospital from being wounded Apr. 4th, asked if I had been on R&R. I told him I hadn't even thought of it. That was on a Tuesday. He said, 'I've got a plane going out of here to Bangkok on Friday. I want you to be on it. You're grounded until then.'

"That was how I came to go to Bangkok. He even loaned me $500 U.S. greenbacks for the trip, which I repaid at a later date. Maj. GOODMAN was a great platoon leader. Murray GIBBS found out from his wife that he had passed after returning to the states."

Robert SAGE rsage@austin.rr.com of Austin, TX, signed the Guestbook, "I would like to add to one of the men who died when your unit was in VN. PFC Robert L. SIMS of CO B died while home on leave on 8\2\68 when struck by an auto. However; his name cannot be put on the Wall. He was from Buffalo, NY. Velma SMITH velma58@aol.com Greenleaf, ID, wife of '69-'70 MEDEVAC gunner Mike SMITH, signs, "I would like to welcome everyone to Idaho in 2010; look forward to having a big turn out, meeting some new people, and seeing some faces that we have not seen for several years. IDAHO OR BUST 2010."

Webmaster\past president 2003-2006 15th MED Association Murray GIBBS, MEDEVAC '67-'68, gunnermadmur@neo.rr.com notifies that Paul TROOP, who is one of our historians and chaplain of our Association, was just admitted into North Side Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL, having open heart surgery on Monday the 15th of June.

"Paul is now home from the hospital. I spoke to Paul on Friday after he had gotten home from the hospital. He is doing well and on his way to recovering. I spoke with him again today on Father's Day and he is doing very well. He told me that the VA had found blockage in his arteries. He had blockage in one artery of 95% and two other of 75%. They did a bypass using veins from his leg.

"Paul says he can now hear his heart beat and feels so much better. He did say he doesn't bend his leg as far because it feels different due to the vein being shortened. That too will heal. Paul is in good spirits and I am glad to hear that. While John CRESPI was president he gave Paul and me orders not to die. Jim CALIBRO is doing well after his gall bladder removal."

'70-'71 MEDEVAC CE Jim FERGUESON informs that Dillard Roscoe CARTER, an original member of 15th MED Assn. has died. He attended the first two Reunions; the 1st in Virginia at Sherman-SNORE-BREEDAN's home, and became a charter member, as well as the second in Las Vegas with Sherman and Jim.

Cliff DAVIS is in the hospital. If anyone wishes to call his home or wife's cell, the phone numbers are: Home - 843-572- 8043; Wife's Cell - 843-343-2652. Barry BROWN sent out this e-mail back in April: "Hi guys, just wanted to give you an update. I have been here in Balad, Iraq as the Aviation Safety Officer since last September and look to be heading back to Oregon sometime mid July. The last several years I have either been deployed or at some school when the Reunions were happening. The one time it was held in my neck of the woods, my father was dying and I went to be with him.

"Our MEDEVAC unit is coming this month and I will fly with them for a couple of months; Vietnam, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and now Iraq-a long and satisfying career of MEDEVAC. I intend to make the next Reunion and look forward to seeing all of you again. I included an updated photo to show you guys an old aviator."

Murray says, "Barry looks great and in good condition. We look forward to seeing Barry at the next Reunion in Boise, ID. The 2010 Reunion will be in Boise, ID. I have posted most of the information about it. I have an update on the 2010 Reunion that I will be posting very shortly. You can view the Reunion information by clicking the button 'Current Reunion Info.' I have gotten a lot of feedback about many members' plans to attend this Reunion. I thank our Reunion Coordinator Mike 'Smitty' SMITH for doing a quick and efficient job of setting it up.

"David HUSER will be assisting me with our Website once he is fully setup to do so. So far, he has most of the programs he will need. I have sent him all of the files I have on the Website so he can understand what I have done and work off of them to work on the Website as needed. One important piece of software and hardware for the computer will be the GSC voice over Internet provider, and a set of headphones with mic. We will be able to have hands free discussions while working on the Website. It is also good for us to have meetings and get together over the Internet. If any of you have any concerns or wish to contact me please feel free to do so."

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