Saber Article Index
2009 Mar-Apr
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 a phone call from Charles FREEMAN
who was in G 1-8 Cav in 1950. He was reassigned to the 15th QM after
being wounded. He said that he was recently put on the Board of
Directors for the 8th Cav. If you would like to contact him, call the 1st
Cav Div. Assn. HQ.
Monty HALCOMB medevac08@hotmail.com posted: "Bugs MORAN was a C
Battery {2-20 A.R.A.} Blue Max pilot '70-'71 who covered quite a few of
our MEDEVAC missions. One particular mission out of Quan Loi, he flew his
Cobra between us (Hank TUELL and me) to take the enemy fire for us - Bugs
had expended his ammo. We were able to extract the critically wounded
(plus one dog) with minimal damage. Bugs' Cobra took pretty heavy
damage.
"If you'd like to sign the guest book at his funeral parlor,
here's the link: http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries
/obituary.cfm?o_id=220490&f h_id=10707"
Monty also replied to me,
"Mike, Monty HALCOMB, MEDEVAC 8, '70-'71. We flew together, as I recall!
I was in the same pilot group as Lee CAUBARREAUX (MEDEVAC Meadow), Tom
TRIFIRO, and Craig HOLLENBECK."
Lou ESPOSITO
CASASITO@AOL.COM of
Davie, FL, comments: "I was with B Co. 15th MED LZ Buttons from 01\'70
until 11\'70. I was the cook that burned down the mess tent."
Jim
BRODIE jbr8519738@aol.com in Columbus, GA, signed the Guestbook,
"'65\'66. TI along with John BUBELA. Don't recognize any names. I stayed
at An Khe and only saw the crews when in for maintenance. Sorry I didn't get to
know you all. Best to you all."
Ronald INGRAM
papillion251@aol.com at Papillion, NE {?} writes, "A great spread on
15th MED\MEDEVAC. Medic '66\'67 on {aircraft} 499 577.
David FLOYD
webmaster@alpha2-7cav.com from Warren, MN, requests, "I would like to
locate a Native American (Tribe is unknown) who was with A 2-7 Cav on 13
June 1969 when he was shot through both lungs. Later on in '70\'71 I met
him in the chow line at Fitzsimmons Hospital. He was working there and I
was a patient."
Jim CALIBRO, MEDEVAC 6\'67-6\'68,
jimcc4@att.net
Modesto, CA, mentions, "Sure seems strange with the MSN Website down
and out. No way to see who will be at the next Reunion; Myrtle Beach
4\2-4\5\09. I'm sure Murray will come up with something to re-establish
the Reunion list.
"For those who haven't been to one of the Reunions
yet you are missing out on a lot of fun & reminiscing with old
friends."
Webmaster\Past President 2003-2006 15th MED Association
Murray GIBBS, MEDEVAC '67-'68 gunnermadmur@neo.rr.com
e-mails, "FYI, I received this e-mail from Cliff DAVIS' wife. E-mail
address: cliffdavis@comcast.net
.
""I am sending out this quick update on
Cliff. He is in Roper Hospital here in Charleston, SC. They have
diagnosed him with advanced pancreatic cancer. He will be getting a port
put in tomorrow afternoon, and then will be getting chemo. Our doctors
are keeping him pain free. I'm sorry I am just getting this news to you,
but he was only diagnosed after severe abdominal pain started on January
5th. Pass the word if you can as I am not able to reach everyone. Please
keep him and me in your thoughts and prayers. Sherie DAVIS'
"The
2009 Reunion is one and a half months away. I put a picture of the
Registration Form in the Feb. Newsletter. Just right click with the mouse
and then print picture. Link to the newsletter:
<http://www.15thmedassociation.com /Newsletters/2009FebNewsletter.html>"
"I have some bad news about the MSN Website. MSN plans to shut down
all of the <groups.msn.com>. I got this e-mail about it stating that I
had three options: '1. Do the migration. 2. Start from scratch. 3. Move
all the files to a storage place on MSN.'
"Well, to do 1. and 3.,
1. needs to be a Group Manager. I am only an assistant manager of the MSN
Website, thus I can not do the migration which would be the option I
would take. I called the 2. Group Managers of the MSN Website to get
their e-mail address and password to make that happen. Smitty (Mike
SMITH) gave me what he has as e-mail and a password; it did not work. I
also call Larry ASH two times and left messages. He never responded.
Today is the last day for the Website and it is all gone. I have the most
important stuff on the Main Website at <www.15thmedassociation.com>. We
will be losing the discussion board stuff and all those pictures that the
members posted. I am going in and try to capture all the profiles members
left.
"The last few days I have not been able to edit anything
because of what is going to happen. I did do a screen capture of the
Reunion List and a certain discussion on the Discussion Board that is of
historical interest. The rest we will lose. Members will need to start
using the FORUMS of the main Website.
"This means I have a lot of
work ahead for me to update some of the screens on the main Website. I
know there are going to be a lot of questions about this. One thing is
for sure, I have full control of the main Website. One counter measure
that needs to be done is break in a couple of members on how I setup the
main Website. The access name and password of our main Website needs to
be in several hands along with all the files of it. This must be
determined at the 2009 Reunion to insure that this doesn't happen again.
Luckily, last year I had all the main Website on my computer and was able
to reestablish it on another server and at an excellent monthly price."
Jim BELAIR JBelairE6@aol.com forwards a correspondence with Dorr
JOHNSON: "Well it was nice to hear from you and I am going to pass your
name and e-mail address to everyone I know who was with the 15th MED. We
will be having a Reunion in April."
Dorr JOHNSON
oldcop47@hotmail.com wrote: "Jim, I just found the 15th MED Website.
Saw the pictures you have posted there. I was attached to 15th MEDEVAC at
Phouc Vinh in late '69 to early '70. Pictures brought back many
memories. One of the pictures is by a Huey. In the picture is a dog. I
had a dog there, left her with the MEDEVAC guys when I ETSed in April
'70. Her name was Pizon. She looked a lot like the dog in your picture. I
do not remember the bear but do remember Jo Jo the monkey. Jo Jo once
grabbed my little transistor radio and ran up on top the hooch with it.
"I didn't do ANYTHING heroic, just patched up the Hueys and flew
around a little. Have the GREATEST respect for those of you who flew
everyday. I went home just before Mr. RODNEY, SFC BROOKS, and my friend
Jim CONWAY crashed. Regards."
From Robert L. TERRELL
bobterrell@optonline.net , "Hi Mike, I was MEDEVACed out of Bong Son
Valley, at about 0730 hrs, on the 31st of May 1967. We were getting ready
to go on a pony team, recon mission, at 0700hrs, when a grenade came
rolling in on us, and it went off and caused M-79 rounds to blow up as
well. I was wounded by shrapnel, along with seven of my men. One EM had
to stay behind, as there was no room for him in the MEDEVAC chopper. All
of my men received a Purple Heart-even the one EM that stayed behind;
except me. I was treated by a nurse. After pulling the shrapnel out of
my shoulder, she then put some lotion on my left shoulder and put some
gauze and tape on it, to stop the bleeding. After awhile I talked to a
doctor about my men's injuries, and I was given a shot to calm me down.
There were no beds left as they were all filled up. I had to sit outside
the tent on the sand bags. After awhile I left and went back to the field
to my unit. I am trying to find out who was the Medic, attached to D
Co. 2-8th, 1st Cav Div., and the nurse who treated me, as well the
doctor. The head doc was LTC Donald A. NIXON, Dep. G1 at B Co. 15th
Medical Field Hospital at LZ English in Bong Son.
"Apparently they
never signed me in, so there is no record at the hospital, so I need more
information to present and prove I was there that morning. If anybody can
help me out please e-mail the information to me."
More from Jim
CALIBRO, Secretary\Past President '06-'07 "Marchetti9"
jimcc4@att.net :
"The 2009 Reunion is just around the corner, a little over a month away.
Pete MULFORD plm8410@aol.com has done a great job coordinating the
upcoming Reunion to be held in Myrtle Beach from 4\2-5\09. A lot of
responsibility goes into setting up a Reunion to get things right, but
all in all it's worth it.
"This gives us a chance to reunite with old
friends and make new ones. Our wives, girlfriends, family members and
friends are welcomed. They always seem to have a good time. Holly was
trying to put together a brunch for the ladies of the 15th MED on Sat.
afternoon. If interested, please check the box on the registration form.
I was also informed that the pilots may have a little get together on
Friday night 4\03\09. Pete may have more info. on that.
"If you plan
to attend this year's Reunion, please notify our treasurer, Bob MCKINLEY, at
usaretbob@aol.com , or Murray GIBBS
at gunnermadmur@neo.rr.com as soon as possible. Pete will need a head
count for dinner, and Bob collects the fee's.
"Due to the poor
economy, I'm looking for suggestions for the 2010 Reunion that would be
the most cost effective for our members. I personally feel that the next
Reunion should be held somewhere in the Midwest (smack dab in the middle
of the United States) like Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma or even Texas.
(Idaho would be cool). Somewhere near a big city to prevent making
additional flight arrangements on a small 'puddle jumper' to smaller
cities. By doing this, more members may be able to attend the 2010
Reunion, or have the opportunity to drive rather then fly. I've talked to
several members that were unable to make the last two Reunions, or the
upcoming Reunion, due to distance and the cost of airfare.
If you
have any suggestions or are willing to coordinate the 2010 Reunion, shoot
me a e-mail at jimcc4@att.net and I will present your proposal at the
next general meeting in Myrtle Beach on Sat 4\4\09, for members present
to vote on. Thanks."
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