Hello and Welcome to Vietnam 68-69!
By Woody on December 10, 2009 in 101st Airborne, 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad, Charlie Company, Screaming Eagles, Vietnam, Vietnam 68-69, War, War Buddies, Woody
This picture was taken of me in a foxhole on “Hamburger Hill”.
READ ME FIRST
Welcome to Vietnam 68-69. This website chronicles my experiences during my tour of duty in Vietnam, as well as photographs of Vietnam and the men I served with in the 101st Airborne Division. I was deployed to Vietnam from mid Oct of 1968 and to mid Oct of 1969.
NOTE: This blog is best read from oldest to newest posts. The oldest blogs are about some of the men I served with and will provide some context for later stories. I would love to hear from you, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or two.
6-19-10 I have been working on this blog for a while now and I don’t know what to think. I thought that I would get a lot more comments and have more of a conversation on this blog. It’s strange to me that visitors to this blog leave very few comments. The only thing I can figure, is that people can’t express themselves about the Vietnam War (Police Action). I have had incredible conversations with a lot of people behind the scenes. One reason is because the conversations are about the lose of a loved one. I wish we could put those stories in my blog. I think visitors could relate to that. As for the Vietnam veterans, that have every right to talk about the “War”, don’t seem to want to share their stories on this blog, though they should. I wish the current active duty would share their experiences with me and everybody.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
Super post, Need to mark it on Digg
Have a nice day
Ivan
Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
Socco
Very good Blog. Congratulations
Regards.
Val,
Kathy shared the fact you had a blog and provided me the site. I didn’t intend to respond but I did happen to read that you were disappointed that few responses were being left. I haven’t had first hand experiences regarding war so I hesitated to respond, but I was affected due to my father serving in World War II. My father didn’t share his emotions about the war. When I was young I didn’t understand why he would weep when a war movie played on television. In fact, I know very little about war experiences to this day. This site has instilled a new perspective on the true price of freedom. Since I know you personally I feel more emotional about the experiences you write about. To view pictures and to read about the young boys out in the field of battle is emotional. The young men of your time look much younger than the young men of today (why is that?).
I will share what little I do know about my father’s war experience. Prior to his death he struggled with diabetes and was seeking financial help from the Veteran’s Administration due to the financial burden. Unfortunately there was no help for him financially, but he was told “we appreciate what you did for us”. I would say my dad was able to release some raw emotion by making the statement “Hell I didn’t do it for you, I had to do it to save my own life”. Later that evening he shared how he found his best buddy dead with a Bible lying on his chest. Another night a friend was on night guard and he disappeared never to be seen or heard from again. This clearly explained to me why my dad was so emotional about war, but more than anything I was able to understand and forgive him for all the years he spent more time in the bar drinking alcohol rather than spending time with his family.
I’m proud of you for creating this wonderful blog, and expressing the emotions. Many of us don’t know how to assist those who have given so much for our country and our freedoms. I wish my dad had opened up and shared so that maybe we could have helped him through the grief and pain he took to his grave. I hope this blog helps you to release all the various emotions you have bottled up inside you. I say thank you for instilling in me a new perspective on veterans. I will pay special tribute on this July 4th for you and all others who paid the price for our freedoms. Thank you Val for your insightful blog. May it console many.
Brenda Haney
Thank you Brenda for your wonderful comment. I have been thinking about what you wrote and have been trying to think of what to write in response, hence the slow response. What you wrote in your comment rings so true on so many levels. I never realized until recently that a lot of the men that served in World War II had the same emotional and social disconnect that a lot of Vietnam Veterans experienced. I have come to realize that war is a very personal experience. Your father’s statement that you quoted rings true for a lot of us. I know that one of the top thoughts on my mind when in life threatening situations in Vietnam, is what can I do to keep my self alive. As young boys we were thrust into experiences that were far beyond anything we had ever experienced before. To say that you came through those experiences unchanged would be lying to yourself, in my opinion. I often wonder how different I would’ve been if I hadn’t been exposed to the horror of war.
This blog has helped me release a lot of the grief that had suppressed for so long. It was very difficult at first. It’s strange to grieve for those that I knew in Vietnam that were killed there so many years ago. I have grieved for their famalies and the families of the other fallen that I didn’t even know. This blog has helped me and some of the family members of those that I knew who were killed in action and have written about. I hope I have helped them in some small way. I know that talking to them has helped me tremendously.
I hope you will continue to visit and leave comments. I would like to hear more about your father and what you know of his military experiences.
Hey Woody,
Was looking for any new info on the “Valley” and spotted your site, it’s very nice. I served with B Troop, 2/17 Cav, 101st. I was a scout observer/door gunner on a LOH. We flew OH 6′s. I spent a LOT of time in the Valley. My good friend, Steve Jones was in the Scout ship that was shot down at the beginning of the Hamburger Hill battle.
I know the Valley like the back of my hand, I spent many hours in that place looking for, and finding, the bad guys. My hats off to you and all your buddies.
Welcome back my Friend.
Best regards,
Roy Cullum
Scouts Out!
Hey Roy,
Thanks for writing a comment. I would love to hear your stories from Vietnam. I knew the A Shau Vally pretty well too. I knew it was a place you didn’t want to go.
I more for Steve Jones being killed. All you chopper crews were brave. I saw a few downed American aircraft on the hillsides while patroling the jungle…
It’s been a long time ago…
I have been neglegent in not approving and responding to you comment. Pleaae respond bank – Woody
Sorry Woody, I didn’t see your response untill today.
Thanks for the comment about us guys in the choppers…we felt the same way about you and the other guys on the ground.
My email is….
roygonefish@yahoo.com
drop me a line.
Best regards,
Roy
“SCOUTS OUT”
Hi Roy, I read your response the other day and I’m just getting a chance to sit down and write and a response. One of my most enjoyable times in Vietnam was when I was riding in a helicopter, except for in Chinooks. When we were up in the air, flying high over the jungle, it was cool and I felt a little more out of harms way. I especially enjoyed the flights out of the bush and back to the rear. When we were picked up from patrol we were usually tired and dirty, and looked forward to getting cleaned up and getting a hot meals and some much needed rest.
When you get a chance write to me about some of your Vietnam experiences. I would love to hear them.
Just wanted to stop in and give you a big thanks on Veterans Day!!!!
I saw this poem on a friends blog and I thought I would share it.
Soldiers & Jesus by James Otto
“Well granddaddy came home in a B-52
In a pine box covered in red, white, and blue
He was one of the brave and the proud and the few
21 guns helped us say goodbye
I stood there in silence trying hard not to cry
As the preacher he quoted lines written in red
And he folded his bible in a broken voice he said
There’s only two people who’ve ever died for me
Laid down their lives just so I could be free
They both went through hell bared crosses and shells
And both got back up again after they fell
They never pick a fight but their there to pick up the pieces
God only knows where we’d be without soldiers and Jesus
It seems like the news loves to run ‘em both down
Whenever we need ‘em there always around
So don’t hand me a parties political views
There’s left side and right side and then there’s the truth
There’s only two people who’ve ever died for me
Laid down their lives just so I could be free
They both went through hell bared crosses and shells
And both got back up again after they fell
They never pick a fight but their there to pick up the pieces
God only knows where we’d be without soldiers and Jesus
To me their both heroes for the path that they chose
One fights for my life one fights for my soul
There’s only two people who’ve ever died for me
Laid down their lives just so I could be free
They both went through hell bared crosses and shells
And both got back up again after they fell
They never pick a fight but their there to pick up the pieces
God only knows where we’d be without soldiers and Jesus
Soldiers and Jesus
Well granddaddy came home in a B-52
In a pine box covered in red, white, and blue”
Hello again Woody,
I’m terrible about remembering to follow up when I post. I wish there was a notifier when I need too respond, haha.
Check out our unit website:
http://www.vietnamproject.ttu.edu/Banshee/
There are a bunch of storys and photo’s of us (B Troop, 2/17 Cav) Like I said before I was with the Scouts. You’ll also be able to read some combat stories the guys have shared. My pilot passed away a few years ago, his war wounds finally took him. John Michael Hendrix is his name, he wrote a neat book, “To Have and To Hold”…He shared a bunch of our missions in the book.
One of the guys sent me a copy of a letter from a past CO. I’ve copied it below….I hope it works!
This is a short letter from my Commanding Officer in Vietnam. Thought some of you would appreciate reding this.
From our Commanding Officer…A letter to B Troop……
First off I thank you and your fine organization for keeping B Troop 2/17 Air Cavalry alive. You did a great job in organizing this event. Keep up the good work. “Air Cav Pats” on the back to you, Larry Allen, Jim Matthews, Randy Kunkelman and webmaster Dan Schave.
As you know, I will not be in attendance this year at the Associations reunion at Fort Campbell, but I would appreciate it if you would pass along some of my thoughts. Several of the troopers who were with us in 1969-70 have passed. Our former XO Rosie Rosenthal and the Squadron commander, Bob Molinelli have passed. But you can be sure that they are proud of you all. I do communicate frequently with our former XO William David Livingston who has recovered from his gunshot wound and is living in Colorado. As you may recall, he was flying cover with Blake Shelters assisting a Marine Long Range Recon Unit when he got shot in the head and his ship crashed in the A Shau Valley. I also hear from Chuck Detchon our former Infantry platoon leader who was shot and evacuated from country. I’ve heard his replacement, Cpt. Brooks also passed on some time ago.
I never had the opportunity to say, “Thank You, Job Well Done.” Seems that we drifted in, did our jobs and then drifted on. There wasn’t a lot of time to say thank you. We were in the middle of a long 24/7 war and we didn’t get the opportunity to meet and greet. Sometimes when we arrived, we went straight on a combat mission and didn’t get a chance to unpack. So I want to thank you for all you did when you served in Vietnam.
I want to thank the brave Infantry Platoon members who didn’t hesitate to fly out on a moment’s notice into the dark, foggy nights, trusting the aircrews to get them there and back safely. I want to thank the Scouts for their extreme bravery. As you know we were authorized ten scout pilots and crew, but because of the great danger in their jobs, one time we were down to one pilot. There isn’t enough words to pay tribute to the bravery of these great horsemen of the skies.
I admired the Cobra crews, as no mission was too tough and when we had to penetrate the clouds they were ready. As I recall on one mission to the south A Shau, a Cobra gave me cover. After he was out of ammo, he used his ship to create noise to give me and my crew cover, while we rescued two scouts deep in enemy territory. Dan Hilliard said we took over 100 hits in our HUI and was still able to fly it to the Division Helipad some 45 miles to the east. I thank those men who gave us protection that day and all the days I was fortunate to serve as your commander.
Noteworthy were the crews who participated in the rescues of the Rangers and Marine Long Range Recon members especially during periods of no visibility and often in light rain and fog. I want to thank all the maintenance men who devoted long hours to ensuring our aircraft were ready for flight on a moment’s notice. Their job was thankless, but I can assure you without their competence and dedication to duty we couldn’t have performed our missions.
I thank the supply people, the ammunition specialists, the cooks and mess personnel. The cooks always had some chow available and a cup of hot steaming stiff “Army Coffee” at the ready. I thank the operations and headquarters personnel and especially the guy who blew the “air horn” telling us to saddle up for a “hot mission.”
I thank my HUI crew for having my aircraft mission ready at all times. I thank my body guard, as I was one of the few commanders not to worry about my back. He wore a bulls-eye on his shirt to take the hit for me. I thank my Artillery FO who manned the radios in my ship. I thank my crew chiefs and gunners who kept the ship flying.
Finally, I thank all of you who took time out of your busy life to come to the Reunion and celebrate. You deserve it. It is fitting that you are here at Ft. Campbell, where just a few days ago, our President and Vice President thanked the brave men of the 101st for their mission to get bin Laden. I want you to remember always, when the President of the United States thanked them he also thanked you.
We were like those men. We did missions, like they did. We put our lives on the line, like they did. We were rough men, who stood ready in the dark of night. We saw many dawns approach, when returning home. We operated in no horizon, pitch black night and watched it turning to purple then light at the break of day. That was us and we were always “Ready and Out Front.” We were the eyes and ears of the 101st Division. Airborne.
David Larcomb
LTC USA (Ret)
David J. Larcomb
larcomb.1@osu.edu
Val, I’ve been thinking about you. I check here on your blog every now and then. I love to read what you post. I have always felt very far removed from what you went through and this lets me understand you and the war a little better. I never have left a reply before because I am afraid of saying something wrong I guess. But I want you to know how proud I am of you and how much I love you. I only remember when you got on the airplane to go and not really understanding why we were all so sad. I guess I was about 5 years old and I didn’t like my big brother going away. I didn’t realize what was really going on or how much danger you were going to be in. I do remember how upset Mom was though and how hard it was on her. To me you were so big and tall and all grown up, looking at these pictures now I realize you really were just a kid. I am amazed at how young you all look. Thank you for doing this and I hope you are able to add to it sometime. I know that the things you have to tell need to be told. Not to entertain anyone but so that the real story is out there and maybe understood a little bit. Know that I love you. Lori
Hi Sir from Italy.
Congratulation for the web site.
I’ve in my book collection Hamburger Hill by Sam Zaffiri.
No easy for me to read a book like that, the slang, the technical words and my poor English. May be I spent five months in order to read it .
But I have known a man that fought there and he helped me.
His name is Frank Boccia, he’s a great man and a good friend.
I met him two years ago in Italy and we had a good friendly time.
Congratulation again and have a good time.
Ivan
First of all, I’m not a vet but have a great appreciation of them. I missed my time due to a hearing defect at physical. Sgt. took notice. I think Lori Price explained/understood more about Vietnam War than anyone I’ve read as a civilian. Thanks for serving and welcome home from a construction worker that cared then and now.
Bill, Thank you for all your comments. Sorry I took me a few days to respond. I hope you keep posting. I will try to respond more quickly in the future.
Hi Ivan, Thank you for your comment and your congratulations. I have been avoiding writing much on it lately, but plan to write more now that I have more time.
I think that Sam Zaffiri’s book is one of the best accounts of the “Hamburger Hill” ever published. It is hard for people that don’t know the “slang” to fully understand. I watched the movie “Restrepo” recently. It is a documentary about an army platoon in Afganistan. Though most of the weapons and things are familiar to me, a lot the slang was not. I imagine that is similar to what you are experinecing. Let me know if there are things that I can help you understand better.
I think I know Frank Boccia. I tried to verify that the Frank you know is the one that I knew in Vietnam. Thanks again, and please write more comments. Woody
My father in-law servered in Vietnam from 68-71. I have known him close to 20 yrs & he would never speak of it, that is, until my oldest son started asking questions. He said in school they only learned 1 paragraph about it & knew their was way more to it than that. So slowly, my father in-law started speaking bits & pieces. He asked us to watch the program on history channel & National Geographinc. And we did. There was so much that I at 36 hadn’t realized. I was born 2 days after the war ended. I feel ashamed at how this country treated our service men, especially all those who didn’t have a choice but were drafted. I have uncles who also fought over there. I have read their accounts in letters written to my mother. From the deepest depths of my heart I THANK YOU, for your service. I have made a point that my sons should learn as much about this as possible so they can make the right choices for their future. Sincerely, Dani
Hi Dani, Thank you for your poigent comment and your heart felf thank you. I’m still having problems telling people about my experiences in Vietnam as your father-in-law did. When I started this blog I never realized how hard it would be. I always enjoy hearing from other veterans and their families which makes it a little easier. Please write again and if you can get them to, have your son and father-in-law write some comments too. Thank you again, Woody