2016 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

I got a confirmation about who MEDEVAC pilot "Big Okie" was. Terry McCarl says that it was, indeed, WO Philip K. Gibbons. Terry says that he knew him very well. Terry says that he, himself, DEROSed shortly before the Feburary date I mentioned seeing on SNORE's original Website. Their tours overlapped by all but a few months.

Terry says that he found out later that WO Philip K. Gibbons died after his tour in Vietnam. Listed as living in Helena, AL, his original home was Muskogee, OK. A true “Okie from Muskogee." DOD in his obituary is 4 Aug 76.

Terry adds, "I have never been able to find any information like why he died at such a young age. Phil had a great sense of humor. I recall one night we were discussing what we were going to do when we got back to the 'World.' He said that the first thing he was going to do was visit the zoo, which was the first place that he always checked out when he visited a new city. I asked him why. He said, 'To see the Gibbons, of course!'” Another death at a young age was 15th MED Assn. founder SNORE, i.e. MEDEVAC crew chief Sherman Breeden. SNORE died unexpectedly shortly after their first Reunion which he worked so hard to create.

Larry Silvey larrysilvey@cableone.net writes: "This unsolicited e-mail is being sent to you because at one time you had joined the 15th Medical Battalion Vietnam\Cambodia organization. I attended my first Reunion in Olympia, Washington last year. I was off handedly asked\suggested that Arizona might be a good site for a future Reunion. I've given it some thought and think that maybe Tucson would be a good location to bring in numerous members for an approximately week Reunion. I can go into further detail if you are interested in how it proceeded.

"I've never done anything like this, I know how to organize things but I'm not necessarily a people person – a Vietnam veteran characteristic. I would need help to make this happen, even if it would happen.

"If you have a desire to help in organizing this would you please respond? Take care and I look forward to hearing from you, Larry Silvey."

Terry McCarl also notes, "Mark your calendars! The 19th Annual 15th Medical BN Assn. Reunion will be held April 26-30, 2017, at Westgate Branson Woods Resort, Branson MO. Information, including registration forms, will soon be on our Website at www.15thmedbnassociation.org under the 2017 Reunion tab. If you are not into computers, or just want additional information, contact Reunion Coordinator, Ron Ingram at papillion251@aol.com {need computer} or call 402-670-1370.

"The Reunion will be held at the beautiful Westgate Branson Hills Resort. Check out its Website www.westgatebransonwoodsresort.com . For room reservations call 1-877-502-7058 and refer to Group Code: 61-327. Reunion room rates are $63/ day plus tax, a real bargain! To get to Branson by air, fly to Springfield, MO and take a shuttle service to the Resort. Schedules and additional information will be coming out soon!"

The 70th Annual 1st Cavalry Division Reunion will be 7-11 June 2017 - Killeen/Fort Hood, Texas. Mark your calendars! https://www.1cda.org/annual-reunion.html or Google: "1st Cav reunion 2017." Check the SABER.

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