Saber Article Index
2000 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
I received the following e-mail from: Derrill
M. DOTY DSTER1@ACCESS1.NET and Mike SMITH
MVANDCO@AOL.COM and I
thought that it would be of great interest to the 1st Cav Association
membership. I thought that it would be twice as appropriate after reading
in the last Saber the more than sobering 1-9 CAV POW story of and by Dr.
Hal KUSHNER:
"I, too, remember Hanoi Jane...please pass this on, it's not a hoax or
a Web-joke, it's all too true; Derrill.
Hanoi Jane
Looks like
Hanoi Jane may be honored as one of the "100 Women of the Century." JANE
FONDA remembered? Unfortunately many have forgotten and still countless
others have never known how Ms. Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our
'country' but the men who served and sacrificed during Vietnam.
There are few things I have strong visceral reactions to, but Jane
Fonda's participation in what I believe to be blatant treason, is one of
them. Part of my conviction comes from exposure to those who suffered her
attentions. The first part of this is from an F-4E pilot. The pilot's
name is Jerry DRISCOLL, a River Rat. In 1978, the Commandant of the USAF
Survival School was a former POW in Ho Lo Prison-the "Hanoi Hilton."
Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell, cleaned, fed, and dressed
in clean PJs, he was ordered to describe for a visiting American "Peace
Activist" the "lenient and humane treatment" he'd received. He spat at
Ms. Fonda, was clubbed, and dragged away. During the subsequent beating,
he fell forward upon the camp Commandant's feet, accidentally pulling
the man's shoe off-which sent that officer berserk. In '78, the AF COL
still suffered from double vision (which permanently ended his flying
days) from the Vietnamese COL's frenzied application of a wooden baton.
From 1983-85, COL Larry CARRIGAN was the 347FW/DO (F-4Es). He spent 6
years in the "Hilton"-the first three of which he was "missing in
action." His wife lived on faith that he was still alive. His group, too,
got the cleaned/fed/clothed routine in preparation for a "peace
delegation" visit.
They, however, had time and devised a plan to get
word to the world that they still survived. Each man secreted a tiny
piece of paper, with his SSN on it, in the palm of his hand. When paraded
before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each man's
hand and asking little encouraging snippets like: "Aren't you sorry you
bombed babies?" and "Are you grateful for the humane treatment from your
benevolent captors?"
Believing this HAD to be an act, they each
palmed her their sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a
beat. At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling, to
the shocked disbelief of the POWs, she turned to the officer in
charge...and handed him the little pile.
Three men died from the
subsequent beatings. COL CARRIGAN was almost number four. For years after
their release, a group of determined former POWs Including COL Carrigan,
tried to bring Ms. Fonda and others up on charges of treason.
I
don't know that they used it, but the charge of "Negligent Homicide due
to Depraved Indifference" would also seem appropriate. Her obvious
"granting of aid and comfort to the enemy", alone, should've been
sufficient for the treason count. However, to date, Jane Fonda has never
been formally charged with anything and continues to enjoy the privileged
life of the rich and famous.
I, personally, think that this is shame
on us, the American Citizenry. Part of our shortfall is ignorance: most
don't know such actions ever took place. Thought you might appreciate
the knowledge. Most of you've probably already seen this by now, only
addition I might add to these sentiments is to remember the satisfaction
of relieving myself into the urinal at some airbase or another where
"zaps" of Hanoi Jane's face had been applied.
To whom it may concern:
I was a civilian economic development advisor in Vietnam, and was
captured by the North Vietnamese Communists in South Vietnam in 1968, and
held for over 5 years. I spent 27 months in solitary confinement, one
year in a cage in Cambodia, and one year in a "black box" in Hanoi. My
North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and murdered a female
missionary, a nurse in a leprosarium in Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom
I buried in the jungle near the Cambodian border. At one time, I was
weighing approximately 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs.)
We were
Jane Fonda's "war criminals." When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi, I was asked
by the camp Communist political officer if I would be willing to meet
with Jane Fonda. I said yes, for I would like to tell her about the real
treatment we POWs were receiving, which was far different from the
treatment purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by Jane
Fonda, as "humane and lenient." Because of this, I spent three days on a
rocky floor on my knees with outstretched arms with a piece of steel
placed on my hands, and beaten with a bamboo cane every time my arms
dipped.
I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda for a couple of
hours after I was released. I asked her if she would be willing to debate
me on TV. She did not answer me; her former husband, Tom Hayden, answered
for her. She was mind controlled by her husband. This does not exemplify
someone who should be honored as "100 Years of Great Women."
After
I was released, I was asked what I thought of Jane Fonda and the anti-war
movement. I said that I held Joan Baez's husband in very high regard, for
he thought the war was wrong, burned his draft card and went to prison in
protest. If the other anti-war protesters took this same route, it would
have brought our judicial system to a halt and ended the war much
earlier, and there wouldn't be as many on that somber black granite wall
called the Vietnam Memorial. This is a democracy. This is the American
way.
Jane Fonda, on the other hand, chose to be a traitor, and
went to Hanoi, wore their uniform, propagandized for the Communists, and
urged American soldiers to desert. As we were being tortured, and some of
the POWs murdered, she called us liars. After her heroes-the North
Vietnamese Communists-took over South Vietnam, they systematically
murdered 80,000 South Vietnamese political prisoners. May their souls
rest on her head forever. Shame! Shame! (History is a heavy sword in
the hands of those who refuse to forget it. Think of this the next time
you see Ms. Fonda-Turner at a Braves game).
Please take the time to
read and forward to as many people as you possibly can. It will
eventually end up on her computer and she needs to know that "we will
never forget." Lest we forget..."100 years of great women" Jane Fonda
should never be considered."
E-mail from Jim BRIGHAM 2-7 CAV
Search Team Leader-Vietnam Subject: Time Magazine Person of the Century;
"I normally do not send out things like this, but as of right now the
American GI is in the lead. As well he should be! Vote early and often.
To date 10 million people have voted. In this Century 600,000 GIs have
died, millions more wounded. All of us have had a dad, mom, sister,
brother, friend, relative or yourself that has served in the military. We
are voting for all of us.
Forward this to all your friends and
relatives. Make a difference and help to influence Time Magazine to name
the real person of the century. Time is of the essence as Dec. 20 is
the deadline. Go to the following to cast your ballot. <HTTP:
century.html poc time100 time www.pathfinder.com> Type in "American GI"
and then submit." This will be after the fact when this is read in this
Saber edition but it is the thought that counts.
Thanks to the 1st
CAV Division Association and our President Roy C. BLUMENAUER for drafting
and printing in the last Saber the statement in response to the
Associated Press and their story of the Korean War incidents concerning
1st CAV troopers. It is good to see some firmness in a position taken
against criticism of what had to be done in good conscience so that our
soldiers could fight those who would deprive us of that free press.
Also in the last Saber I noticed in the SILVER WINGS of the CAV
column a story about an impromptu medical evacuation by means other than
MEDEVAC and what seemed to be a reference to probably myself, being the
writer-and herald-of this 15th MED\MEDEVAC column. If that reference was
to me, I must say that I do not speak for any veteran of these units.
I am very privileged to be able to return the favor of the brave
deeds that were rendered to my 1st CAV and U.S. Army buddies, before,
during, and after-my own time served in MEDEVAC-by many who were the best
of the best, i.e. 1st CAV and U.S. Army Aviation pilots and crewmen.
Most, if not all of those pilots, I could not even speak to outside of
the line of duty because they were so good.
Many of those pilots,
as well as crewchiefs, door gunners, and medics came to MEDEVAC from
other units, where they had already more than proved themselves, because
of a sense altruism that I have mentioned before. I sure the heck did
not want ANY of those MEDEVAC pilots digging into my s___ telling me that
I could not do my job which I always made a point of doing, more because
I personally was doing it for my grunt buddies than for any other reason.
But, those MEDEVAC crewmembers that I have written about and that I have
yet to write about were also doing it for the same reasons, trained me
to function in their capacity, and could only be as fervent as I, not
more so-yet many, many, have the wounds to prove different.
Many
of our pilots were MSC-Medical Service Corps-Officers and many if not
more were the best of the best Warrant Officers. Many of them would tell
us that as pilots they had a choice of what type of unit they wanted to
fly in, so to choose medical evacuation, and MEDEVAC, shows their sense
of altruism. One of our pilots when I flew, LT George SCHNEIDER, had
an Armor U.S. Army Branch of Service which for a combat arms officer is
living proof of that commitment to his fellow G.I.'s. (LT SCHNEIDER use
to tell us that if we ever served in Europe and wanted a good time to go
to Amsterdam, which indicated to me his love for life.) We also had many,
many crewmen with C.I.B.s; you guys know who you are, and why!
For
anyone to bring or to imply any discredit to this unit, I say that you
should speak to all of the veterans of MEDEVAC individually, not bring it
up to me, as I was only a very, very small part of it all. I am supplying
the names and addresses of those brave, and worthy MEDEVAC veterans, so
please, talk to them about your concerns if you have any. Also, contact
the men whose names I have had printed who wrote to say "thanks" for
saving their lives.
When a word like "gospel" is used to describe an
inferred discrediting story, I am even more suspicious. The dictionary
says that "gospel" comes from the Middle Anglish word "godspell" derived
from the Old Anglish "godspel"-which sounds like superstition-but it
meant "good news." Being an American and not "respecting an establishment
of religion" I use the lower case for the words "gospel" and "god" in
"godspell." But, if it is "good news" that an honorable unit like MEDEVAC
was found or thought that they "could not" nor "would not" do their job
then I would think that there is some kind of rivalry to discredit.
I know that it is always possible that any discrediting incident can
happen in any unit and I know that with a long war like Vietnam it did
happen to most units and probably could have happened to MEDEVAC as well.
My own infantry field unit, 2-7 CAV, which has two Presidential Unit
Citations from the Vietnam War was accused of discrediting mistakes in
the Ia Drang Campaign. Perhaps some commanders could have committed
citable errors, but should the unit be discredited? I have spoken to many
Ia Drang Campaign veterans about their time and someone said that they
were "green," but who is not during their first experience in combat.
I had spoken to LTG (ret.) Hal MOORE when his book: We Were Soldiers
Once...and Young, first came out and there was mention of the use of the
brave "slick" pilots to extract the wounded as well as resupply. There
was some mention that MEDEVAC could not nor would not go into LZ XRAY and
received the evacuated wounded farther out. He told me his
perspective. Any commander in combat wants what he wants when he wants
it, and when he does not get it then he would be mad about that. As far
as the true facts go, again, one needs to research through those involved
and existing documents.
I had spoken to Bud DAVIS and Mel ALLEN at
one of the 1st CAV Reunions about those early Vietnam MEDEVAC days
because they were original MEDEVAC doorgunners and they told me, like the
other Ia Drang Campaign veterans, that those were developing days. But,
the rest of MEDEVAC's history finds few if any less than desirable
incidents. Again, talk to the many individuals veterans if you have any
doubts. I sat with John CRESPI at the Vietnam Veterans' Luncheon at the
last Reunion and listened to his interesting stories as an E-6 MEDEVAC
medic about one particular "career" pilot who ironically critically
risked all "just" for the highest medal, and got it.
I personally
know that in combat if there were wounded, and if there was a helicopter
on station and could be spared, then they would evacuate those wounded,
in a FIRST TEAM manner. Not, that MEDEVAC necessarily "could not."
My company, C 2-7 CAV, was involved in a helicopter combat assault or
"Charlie Alpha" on 18 June 69. From the Daily Staff Journal of that day
that I received from Peter COLE, D 2-7 CAV '69-'70, who got those from
the Nation Archives, it shows that "Charlie" Company was at map
coordinates XT415801. That was very close to the Cambodian border.
My platoon was on the first lift and we landed in a long field
surrounded by tall trees. I noticed when I was leaving the lift ships and
heading to the wood line that there were explosions walking down the field
towards us. I thought that maybe it was still the artillery prep going on
but it turned out to be incoming NVA 120mm mortars. I heard cracking
rounds in the trees by where my platoon had entered the wood line and
then I heard voices yelling the "M" word so that was my cue.
When I
got over to where I was called to I found one of our best 11Bravos who
had become one of our RTOs, Joel SMITH, doubled up on his knees with his
PRC-25 on his back. I did a quick inspection of him and found a moist,
dark bulge in his O.D. T-shirt which I lifted up. Apparently he had
caught a shard of one of the 120mm rounds that exploded in the trees
and it had cleanly cut across his abdomen because I found his spleen had
popped out.
I did what I had to wrap it in place with the largest
size field dressing and our Senior Medic, Doc DIAMOND, came over to
help me. Just then also, the 2-7 CAV Battalion Surgeon who apparently was
on the "Charlie-Charlie" bird got off and took over from me, us. He
approved a shot of morphine when I asked him and became quite startled by
the gun fire on the other side of our perimeter. I remember one of our
machine gunners Tom VINCIGUERRA yelling, "The stupid NVA are shooting at
the Cobras!"
But, just as soon as the next lift came in we put
Joel onto my portable litter that I was humping and carried him to an
awaiting "slick" and sent him out with the Battalion Surgeon. The Daily
Journal confirms that at 12:15 "MEDEVAC requested at 1130H for 01 litter
patient with frag wounds in chest [sic]. Patient was Line #122. MEDEVAC
#07 conducted the medevac. Skids up 1155H, down 1212H. LZ-LZ JAMIE
(Returned to LZ JAMIE by C\A Bird), mission complete at 1215H. Ground
contact was JAMIE control. Patient was medevaced to Tay Ninh." So, should
I say that MEDEVAC "could not" get our wounded out? At least, I supplied
the evidence.
Joel told me years later when I received a letter from
him that he was addicted to morphine after years of operations in the
V.A. and that he "rarely had a good day." He also told me that he had
named his first son after me which was quite an honor, but I lost contact
with him after that. If you are reading this Joel, we all would like to
think that you are feeling better.
Of course, as I mean to say
here, many military veterans like to maintain rivalries. Another personal
experience of that was when I went on R&R at the end of the eleventh
month on my first tour of duty. Thinking that I had to go, off to Sydney
I went. With a young nineteen year old's naive pride-albeit a recent
hardcore combat veteran-I wore my Khaki uniform with my CAV patch on the
pocket. When we got to customs in Sydney I watched as all the other
American Vietnam veterans in their civilian clothes ran through the
checkpoint while the Australian customs agent held me up and thoroughly
searched everything that I had. While taking my transistor radio apart
this Aussie proceeded to chastise me about when: "The First CAV pulled out
on us [his unit] in Korea." Tell me, would anyone in the FIRST TEAM think
that could happen?
In addendum: After that R&R nonsense and with no
real thoughts of the rewards of female splendor nor anything else when
I went, only concerns for my buddies to keep their heads down that I had
left breaking bush in Nam-two of whom did not keep their heads down good
enough and caught "stray" rounds in the head and their names are now on
the "Wall," I did not even bother with R&R when I was on a six month
extension with MEDEVAC. I was happy to be with and do all that I could
with and for my buddies and let others worry about rivalries. For all
of the above, this defense rests-until the next time.
Hamilton C.
SMYTH HCSMYTH@EARTHLINK.NET Newhall, CA wrote and says, "I served with
the Hq & Hq Co, 15th Med Bn in 1954- 55-56, at the time I was a Sgt. E-5.
I would like to contact others that served with the Bn. during that
period."
From Oklahoma, David NOE
CAV2@KIWASH.NET writes and says,
"Just saying hi to some more brothers. I served with the Jumping Mustangs
of the First CAV D Co 2/8 Honor & Courage."
Bob KON
KON@MSU.EDU whose Website: LZ Rally; A Directory for 1/7 Cav Vietnam
Veterans: <HTTP: Page_1x.html web kon o k user www.msu.edu> and from
Michigan comments: "If any of you wonderful medics served with B, 1/7th
Cav, you have another home on the Web at LZ Rally. Come over and sign
in."
Bruce GRANZOW from Hobart, IN
TIRESMOKE@WEBTV.NET also has a
Website: BRUISER'S WORLD <HTTP: BRUISERSWORLD TIRESMOKE
community-1.webtv.net /> and writes to say, "I have been checking out Web
sites listed in the Saber and dropped in [to SNORE's site] for a visit. I
like what you have done with your site. I served with the 1st Cav. as a
medic with Co. C 8th Engr. Bn. from Nov 66-Nov 67."
Fred MYERS
FREDM@MYMAIL.EMCYBER.COM writes from Tunkhannock, PA, "No words can
express the feelings of seeing some of where I was also. I was in the
First Cav. 8th Engineers. My name was Sargent Mick while I was there. I
may have seen you in passing from time to time but I know you. Some of
the pic's are of places I been and seen. I can't get my mind to remember
names and it feels so empty. I worked with explosives and opened and
closed firebases. Booby traps were my specialties. Now I can't remember
things. Bless and thank you for a walk back in time. If you find time one
day, maybe you can write a note to say hello. I am a Skybeaver too.
Worked with First Brg., Second Brg., and Headquarters Third Brd. from
69-70."
I noticed in the previous Saber that Mike SMITH a.k.a. tater
(small "t") MVANDCO@AOL.COM as previously mentioned from Idaho-where
else with that screen name-finally just rejoined his bros in the 1st CAV
Association. Way to go Mike! He also writes: "I just talked to a MEDEVAC
door gunner by the name of Jerry DICK. He was with MEDEVAC when he was
shot in the head July 24, 1968. He has been 100% disabled since then. He
was excited to hear from someone from MEDEVAC even though he has never
met me! If someone from 1968 remembers him I am sure he would love to
hear from you. 1-307-856-2829 tater."
Larry JACKSON
JACKSONS3@NETSCAPE.NET from, Portland, OR writes to say, "Please put me
on the found list too. I served from March 69 until Feb 70, as a
Door-gunner. I was SGT Lawrence BRAINARD then, but changed my name to
honor my adoptive parents to Jackson. I was nick named "Smokey the
Bear" from dropping a smoke grenade into the doorway of the MP Station on
a fly over at Quon Loi. I had come over from the 545 MP Company and had
been stationed there for a short time. I happened on SNORE's site on a
link from the Fort Hood U.S. Army Web page and some help from Dan BRADY.
Someone at the college where I worked had commented the choppers I flew
on were like MASH. I was looking for an H-Model to show them. I still
have my "SO OTHERS MAY LIVE" patch, but mine says Door Gunner on it. It
was nice to see the names of people I flew with and I am happy to know
that they survived to come home. I don't have many memories of that time,
but only recall flying 36 hours straight on August 11, 1969. I was in
Tay Ninh at the time and all hell broke loose all over country. I do
remember Gene WHEELER's chili pepper\C-Ration stew and Ray ZEPP
collection he used to hang on the back of his seat every time he stayed
over in Saigon. You have a nice Web page and wonderful to see the old
pictures. Do you have records of the class of 1969. Also, did crazy "3
tour" SSG HALL survive? My Best Wishes for all Larry JACKSON."
Larry BIRD DCSTRNG@EXCITE.COM writes, "Happy Holidays all!! Just popped
back for my weekly visit -- Hope Santa is good to all Troopers
everywhere. Larry -- Medic 70-71."
Ron FINDLAY
KAWA@PORTUP.COM from Marenisco, MI writes, "I was with Alpha Co 15th Med from 66-67. I have
been in contact with David LANE and others. Spec.5 FINDLAY."
Ft.
Hood's local PBS's The Army News Watch had a story about SP/4 Ryan CLARK
who was awarded the Civilian Medal of Valor by the National Association
of Police Organizations when they made him a "Top Cop" for "going above
and beyond the call of duty" in Los Angeles and rescuing a downed fellow
police officer when he also was one in 1997. SP/4 CLARK said,"I found out
that a lot of people on the civilian side of things do not understand
what values are. They claim to be public servants maybe being police
officers but they have no conception of what actual public service is.
Whereas, in the Military, and especially the Army, I think there is no
greater public service then that, then as a solider."
When asked
about if he felt odd and out of place being the only person there, and
even at the White House for the same ceremony, in Army "Dress Blues," he
said that everyone else there should feel out of place because they are
not wearing the Army uniform. I will leave it to the reader to deduce
what this story says about civilian civil service in comparison. I
noticed that SP/4 CLARK, a former Infantryman, now wears the Medic's
caduceus which indicated his present M.O.S.
As I mentioned in the
last Saber the use of the Julian calendar, which was suggested for use to
Julius Caesar as an improvement for the then Roman calendar by the
astronomer Sosigenes 2045 years ago, and that was slightly improved upon
by the Gregorian calendar some 1,627 years later developed by the
astronomer Christopher Clavius, and which calendar we use today, i.e. the
New Style calendar, this is a slight improvement on that information. I
mention this so that you, my fellow veterans, are more informed than
those who do not serve, as I know you do not necessarily have the time to
research these things, especially when you may not even know about them.
Contrary to what I had implied, the Julian calendar also used a leap
year but was found still to be slightly longer than the tropical solar
year with the result that the solstices and equinoxes drifted from their
calendar dates. This created discrepancies in the Catholic Church's holy
days such as their Easter so eleven days were added to restore the actual
vernal equinox to March 21 and to reposition ecclesiastical holidays.
Even with that slight improvement the Gregorian mean year is eleven
minutes and fourteen seconds longer that the mean solar year. To equal
the tropical year it retains the Julian calendar leap year but deletes
the leap year at the end of the century, unless the year is exactly
divisible by 400.
A U.S. Army style synopsis would be: a tropical or
mean solar year is 365.2422 days; the Julian or Old Style calendar is
365 days and six hours; and the Gregorian or New Style calendar is
365.2425 days. Thus the need for leap years to equalize the tropical
solar mean year.
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