Saber Article Index
2015 Sep-Oct
MEDEVAC 15th Med\15th FSB
Mike Bodnar
307B N Main Copperas Cove, TX 76522
1704 254-542-1961
E-mail:
mbodnar27@juno.com
A correction to this last Saber column for
the 15th MED Assn. Reunion group photo is: Sitting, L to R: Robert McKinley,
Bill Haistings, Rich Leonard, Randy Burkhart, Leo Williams, Larry Norris,
Art Martin, Larry Hatch, Norm Roberge Standing, L to R: Jim Calibro, Tom
Grove, Jim Victor, Terry McCarl, William Keller, Dave Parks, Corky Walsh,
Floyd Jackson, Mike Smith, Dennis Guthrie, Dan Korty, Jon Lundquist, Dave
Huser, Ken Colby, John Sampson, Richard Medlock, Fred McKellar. Not
pictured: Eric Traub, Murray Gibbs, Clyde Moore, Don Hayes.
That correction came from Terry McCarl who also sent: "Many of us who
served with 15th Med Bn. in Vietnam between August '68 and August '69
remember Lawrence E. 'Ed' Chance, CPT, Medical Service Corps. Ed was the
Division Social Worker, helping soldiers of the 1st Cav with all types of
personal problems in their lives, both in Vietnam and at home. Ed worked
closely with MAJ James H. Rumbaugh, Division Psychiatrist.
"Ed
volunteered for duty in Vietnam because of the great need which he perceived
for Social Work Services. He received a direct commission as a CPT.
"After his three years of military service, Ed went to work for the VA. He
retired in the mid '80's with the rank of COL. Ed spent his entire career
helping soldiers.
"The first photo (April '69) is Ed at the
right-hand side, and possibly one of his Social Work Techs at the left. In
the second photo (August '69), Ed is second from the left hand side. It is
believed that the other guys in the photo are Social Work Techs. If you are
in, or can identify anyone in these photos, please let me know
(terryamccarl@gmail.com ) Also, if you were a Social Work Tech, or know
someone who was between 8\'68-8\'69, please contact me.
"Ed is
afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease, but his long-term memory is still quite
good. He enjoys reminiscing about his time in Vietnam. He and his wife
Dorothy live in an assisted living facility in Tampa, FL. If anyone
remembers Ed, he would love to visit with them by phone. If anyone would
like to contact him, please e-mail me
(terryamccarl@gmail.com ) and I can put
you in contact with him.
Also from Terry, "When in the TSA security
line at the Boise Airport on Sunday morning, April 19, 2015, to fly home
from the 15th MED Reunion, a TSA worker saw my 1st Cav Vietnam Veteran cap
and proclaimed, 'If you ain't Cav, you ain't s!!!!' I told him that I had
not heard that expression in years, and it was very refreshing. He went on
to explain that he had served in the 1st Cav in Iraq. I flashed back to late
November of 1968 when I arrived in An Khe for 1st Cav Orientation before
being shipped down to Phouc Vinh.
"I remember a major lecturing our
group of fresh troopers on the history and traditions of the 1st Cavalry
Division. He closed his talk with this: 'Many of you will become familiar
with the well-known expression of disrespect, ''If you ain't Cav., you ain't
s!!!!” I personally prefer the more refined and grammatically-correct
version which is: 'If you are not, nor ever have been a member of the 1st
Cavalry Division, from the standpoint of military proficiency and
excellence, you rank somewhere below human excrement!' I related the major's
comment to the TSA worker, who liked it, but thought that he would stick
with the more popular version."
Terry also mentions that if anyone
would like to know about the annual Huey 369 get-together in Peru, IN Corky
Walsh had gone and would respond to questions. Corky recently had a stroke,
but is reported to be fine-he went salmon fishing the other day. If you
like, you can e-mail Corky at: <medevac454@aol.com>.
From
dilboy.post@comcast.net "Hello Mike, My name is Bob Hardy and I served in
A Co 15th MED Bn. (Medic) from Dec. 13, 1967 through Dec. 13, 1968 at LZ
Baldy (II Corp), Camp Evens (Tet), LZ Stud (A Shau), LZ Stallion (A Shau),
LZ Sharon (Quang Tri) and Tay Ninh City (also 25th ID base). I served with
six men from basic to Vietnam (eighteen months), their names\nicknames are
Bob Hardy (myself) (Heartless), Bob Ottaviano (Otto), Mike MacGrane (Face),
William Owens (Rack), Charles Frydel (Fry) and another, I can't remember his
name.
"Out of the six of us, three are still alive and from the
Boston area; myself, Face and Otto. I was CPT Barrows' driver from Jan. '68
to May '68. I attended two of the Reunions, one in Ohio and the other in
Mississippi. I am hoping to make more of these Reunions in the future.
"Is it possible to learn about a MEDEVAC that was damaged. This bird
came in the heliport smoking and shot up. Maybe someone can remember
something from Camp Evans in February. I would also like a little
information about A Co. 15h MED from Dec. '67 to Dec. '68.
"Thank you
and I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Bob Hardy, Commander Dilboy
Post VFW 529 Somerville, MA 02144. Phone (617) 666-8794."
Remember the
2016 15th MED Reunion will be hosted by Larry Hatch
<campingout@comcast.net >. From the last Saber if you did not receive that:
'The dates for the Olympia, WA Reunion at the Red Lion are April 11 - 18,
2016. It's going to be a country western theme being this is the Pacific
Northwest and our dinner banquet is going to feature a catered pulled pork
shoulder and slow cooked chicken BBQ with all the trimmings, the 'Oly
Mountain Boys' bluegrass band in performance and locally brewed beer kegs.
Tours are set at the Olympic Flight Museum and NW Helicopters at the Olympia
Airport, Museum of Flight at Boeing Field just south of Seattle and the
LeMay Family Auto Collection at Marymount, WA featuring over 2,5000 cars,
trucks, and other vehicles.'"
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