General Thoughts
Val 'Woody' Wuthrich
In the creation of this blog I have had many personal thoughts and observations. On this page I hope to share my current thoughts. When I thought about sharing my personal experiences, photos and memorabilia, I started sharing the photos that I took while in Vietnam and knowledge that I had of those photos. I can’t remember all the details of most of the photos, it especially bothers me that I can’t remember the names of some of the young men I served with in Vietnam.
There are a lot events and locations I do remember and want to write about. I have letters that document the events and bring the war home to me in a new way. The problem is that the letters are personal, written to my family, with most being sent to my mom and dad. I really want to share them, but I wonder if I ‘really’ do. The logical part of me says they need to be scanned and posted. The other part of me says. ‘No!’. I do know that if I post them it will make this bog much richer, for me at least.
I’m finding it difficult to write about some of the things that happened in Vietnam. You can’t imagine how hard it is for me to dredge up that part of my life and write about it. I haven’t been posting any of the stories I have been working on. Somehow I don’t think my writing is worthy of the story I’m trying to tell.
I bought three pocket size ‘MOLESKINE’ notebooks at Barnes and Noble and have started a ‘Vietnam 68-69, Post Subjects’ list in one of them. I have a great list of stories already. I’m thinking of using what I wrote down for the title of the posts.
I have been hesitating long enough, it is time to let it out.
I will keep adding more thoughts to this page as the process continues.
1-23-10
I’m hoping that this blog will be helpful to me and the men that served with me, as well as the families and loved ones of the soldiers I knew that didn’t make it home alive.
1-30-10
I’m going to make phone calls today, one to Douglas Dugger’s brother and one to my old Sergeant, Alvin Dunn. I’m full of trepidation about what to say to both of them, especially Douglas’ brother. I have been thinking about Douglas a lot since starting to write my post ‘A Beautiful day’. There have been some very emotional times over the last few weeks. My heart has been heavy. I have been experiencing a lot of grief too, even after forty one years. I have been suppressing those memories and feelings for all these years.
2-9-2010
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. I have revised ‘A beautiful day’ post several times. Thanks to Will Duke for his input. I have been trying to do the story justice and have been working on it some more. I have had the opportunity to talk to Douglas Dugger’s brother a couple of more times the last two weeks. I have also been able to talk to Alvin Dunn and Joel Trautmann. It has been great to talk to them and catch up. Tonight I searched the on-line white pages for Jack Schmitz. A search for his name in Wisconsin returned three results and made a phone call to the most likely one. To my delight Jack picked up the phone and verified that he was indeed the Jack Schmitz that was in the 3rd squad with me. We talked for a good two hours catching up on everything. Jack was one of my closest buddies in Vietnam.
2-16-10
I have really been experiencing a lot of what I can only call grief. As I said previously, my heart is heavy. I dwell on the things I remember about the war and find it very hard to deal with the tragic things that happened. I at times feel like that young man I was forty one years ago. That young man’s bad memories were locked away and only rarely talked about years later and only with a few people. Now that I’m 61 years old, I find all those memories want to come out. I know there others out there that experienced a lot worse things than I did and wonder how they handle their memories of the Vietnam War.
4-17-10
It’s hard to believe that it has been two months since I have written something on this page. I have been having a hard time dealing with all of the memories of Vietnam. The whole thing is like remembering the experiences of another person. Anyway, I went to the VA Medical Center for the first time. My wife and I drove over to Boise, Idaho for my appointment. The whole experience was quite good. Everybody was nice and there was hardly any waiting. I got to see the mental health person, because I answered ‘Yes’ to three of the four questions about how I felt. I think from reading this page you will know what my state is. The doctor gave me a mental health pamphlet for me to read and told me to call her after I read it. After four phone calls to her and her staff over a two week period, she finally called me back. I told her that I would like to see counsler in Twin Falls. She said she would have them contact me. During on conversation she said that it was apparent because of my persistence that I wanted help.
I have been writing some posts and moving forward with adding new things. Lately I have been scanning my pictures at high resolution and them trimming them for 3 1/2 square to 4 X 6. I completed about seventy pictures and had them printed at Costco.
I’m putting together a picture album to take to the forty first ‘Hamburger Hill’ reunion. The reunion is going to be from May 12th to May 17th, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I’m nervous about going, but very anxious to go. It will be good to talk to guys that went through the same shit I did.
9-4-10
Where have I been. I went to the reunion and then it’s like I hit a brick wall. I think that brick wall was “Hamburger Hill”. I kept banging my head, thoughts, memories, feeling ans soul against that wall. I have been dealing with a lot of things about the war that I had long suppressed. In the same breath I would like to go back and do it all over again. It’s hard to describe the feelings I have about the whole thing. It’s almost like there are two of me, the young man in the jungle worried about living another day and then just old me.
I have been talking to a few people lately and have had some good conversations. It seems that has really helped me with coming to terms with my old memories and sharing them with you. I keep telling everybody that I need their support in doing this. Anyway it goes I plan to keep writing. Pardon me if some of the stories get a little rough, but I feel that’s what I need to do.
Hello Woody it’s been a while since I seen you. Give me a call, XXX-365-2785.
Alvin Dunn
I have been reading your posted comments with great interest, as Ralph Joel Crutts was my brother. It would be great to talk with you some time and share memories with you about my brother. Please call me at 989-277-2234. Thanks.
Richard, It is wonderful to hear from you. As you have probably read on my blog, one of the reasons I started it was to make contact with old ‘War Buddies’, as well as family members and friends of the men I knew in Vietnam. I will give you a call so we can share memories of your brother, Ralph.
Hi Val! Good to talk to you the other night. You sounded like you are feeling better. Good! Anything I can do, please do not hesitate to call. Take care my friend, Dale
Hello?
I am searching for artwork of a soldier standing on hamburger hill – the hill is made up of the words Dong Ap Bia. Has anyone seen this or do they have the image they can send me? Thank you so much!!!!
Hi Ashley, I believe I have the image you are looking for. The one I have I saved from a book or magazine. It is of a drawing by William Lad named “Nam 69″. I had it folded up in a photo album I kept in Vietnam. It has some creases from being folded up. If you are interested in getting a copy of it for me, let me know.
Hello – Thank you so much!!! I was able to get ahold of a copy of it from Mike Smith – though we were thinking it needed to be redrawn. (Tracked him down because of your website – Thank you ) Its a little fuzzy – I was wanting it, start working on a project for you guys for the next reunion. I had such an amazing time at the past reunion – it was one of the most memorable and amazing experiences of my life! I think about you guys all the time and what you all went thru. I am really looking forward to the next reunion.
If you have a better copy – I would love to see it. My husband has been a Rakkasan for the last 10 years and is currently deployed to Afghanistan (on his 5th tour.) Thank you so much for getting back with me. My email is AshleyAdler04@yahoo.com. I hope you have a great day!!!!
Val, I have a spare copy of “RAKKASANS”. compiled by Capt. James Bond. Would you like it? Give me a call. Dale
Dale, I read your comment earlier today and was going to reply, but didn’t get a chance before my mother called. I would love to get a copy of the Capt. Bonds book. I have been reading a book about the Vietnam war that is very good. The title of the book is “A Life in a Year, The American Infantryman in Vietnam” by James Ebert. Some of it is pretty difficult for me to read, but I’m getting through it. When I get a chance I will give you a call, probably tomorrow night.
Terry Wender, my uncle, served with you in Vietnam. I came upon your site when I did a search of his name. I read with interest the Hamburger Hill story that details how my uncle died. Thank you for taking the time to post all this information. I don’t remember my uncle but I recall my mother (his sister) going to his funeral. I do have some scanned pictures on my computer of him and his buddies in Vietnam. If you are interested in me sending them to you please let me know and I will do so. Thanks again for sharing your stories, which I’m sure is difficult at times. And thank you for serving our country. God bless you and your family.
Kelly, Thank you for your comments. It does my heart good to hear someone say thank you for writing about my Vietnam experiences. It has been very hard to write about some of the things I experienced. I find it especially hard to write about the deaths of the buddies that I knew. I shed many a tear thinking about and writing about my memories of those deaths. It was a traumatic thing for a twenty year old boy to go through. I didn’t know what the responses of the family members would be when they read my account of the their loved one’s death. The responses have been nothing but good. It has been wonderful to talk to family members and answer their questions too.
I would love to have any pictures you have of Terry and his buddies. I, for some reason never took a picture of Terry. Anita, sent me some pictutes she had of Terry in Vietnam, along with pictures of guys in our platoon. You can e-mail me the pictures you have. My e-mail address is woody@ this blog’s address vietnam68-69.com. Thank you again for your kind words.
Woody,
Thinking of you on this Veterans Day. Thank You and Welcome Home !!!
Jane
Hi Woody
Just a short note of thanks for sharing your memories & experiences with everyone who cares to look.
I’ve read a little so far & will continue to read the rest of your site as time allows.
Cheers
Mike
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your comment. I haven’t been writing many posts lately. It’s good to hear that you are reading what I have written. I will try to write more in the near future.
Woody
Woody,
Thanks for putting all this together. My Dad was in the Marines in 68/69, he didn’t see the action like yours but he was there.
He doesn’t talk about it much, but this site gives me some insight into what things were like. Thanks for sharing.
Julia, Tacoma WA
Thank you for creating this website. I was assigned to D co. 14th engr. battn. based at camp Evans. We worked with 101st. I spent most of my time at firebases Rakassan and Barbara. Thanks for the memories. I was there in 69-70. Jim
I hope you received prior comment. Its me looking in on something I really know nothing about but was from the heart. Thanks
Hi Woody,The more I read,the more I want to read. There is nothing wrong with your writing style/presentation,etc. If it comes from inside of a mans soul/heart, how could anything be wrong. Have you given any thought to how many people you will be helping? I, as previously stated, did not serve but it is helping me cope with a incurable condition. Some you help, you will never know about! Consider this when you are writing down your thoughts and memories. Thanks, Bill
Hi Bill, Thank you for all your comments. I’m responding to this comment first. I will respond to the rest when I’m finished with this response. I want you to know that this comment has touched me deeply. I have been stuggling with writing more about my Vietnam experiences. Even after all the years that have past since I was there. You have inspired me to push through the bad feelings I get when ever I start to think about it. I have wonder about wether I’m doing the right thing sometimes, but your words of encouragement have helped me realize that I am. Please keep up the words of encouragement, I need them very much. Thank you again Bill. Woody
I think most people feel the same way about not knowing about the Vietnam War and the experiences that the men and women who served there had.
My uncle Ronnie Coleman Anderson died in 1966 in a huey crash he was in
11D, 9th Cavalry Regiment/A Troop if anyone is familier with this division or my uncle himself please contact me!
Woody, First of all Happy New Year 2012. Your Blog is great. I still have a lot to read. I was SP-5 and was in the 3/187th, HHC S-1, September 7, 1968 to July 30, 1969. I was the Battillion Legal Clerk. My call name was Legal Eagel. In reading some of your Blog, I am starting to remember some of my experience. By choice I did not want to remember. I have some questions to ask you. Please send me an e-mail. My experience during Hamburger Hill was nothing like the experience that you had and the rest of the guys. From what I can remember I was at Camp Evans when Hamburger Hill started. The guys at the rear were getting information that the news was not good. After a couple of days we were told that we were going to join all of you until new troops arrived. For some reason I was told that my orders were to go to the Hospitals and morgue. I was to get the information about the wounded and deceased and every night I would radio back to Camp Evans and talk to the company clerks. Woody, I cannot remember where I was, but I stayed at a Air Force Base. The experience for me going to the Hospital and the Morgue was over whelming for me. I knew a lot of the Officers, because they had to sign Article 15 and Summary Court Martial papers. As for the name of the Fire Bases I do not remember the names either. I think I went to all of the fire bases. I have some pictures of fire bases. I also have pictures of the guys at Headquarters. I also have all the newspaper clippings about hamburger hill. Tomorrow I am going to get them out and look at them. If you want any information, please let me know. I am hoping that maybe I will be able to go to the reunion 2012. Can you tell me what the date will be. Please send me a e-mail so I can ask you a couple of questions.
My father SSG Michael Higgins recently passed away, I knew he served in Vietnam in the 101st Airborne, (that was also his user name for aol cairborne101). However, I am unsure what company or brigade. Unfortunately, the VA can’t locate his DD214 from that era & the info I received from them doesn’t list it either. He didn’t speak much about his time there (Hamburger Hill) but he was there (@ the time he was a private). I am holding a memorial service for him in a few days & would like to know if anyone served w/him & could share anything you could remember.
Hi Keon, I didn’t know your father personally, maybe someone out there will remember serving with him and the unit of the 101st Airborne he served in Vietnam with. It is unfortunate that a lot of the men that fought in Vietnam didn’t or don’t talk about it. I know from experience that it is very difficult to talk about some of the things that happened there. I hope you can find out more about your father’s service in Vietnam. I will check the information I have to see if I can find his name. If I do I will let you know. I hope your memorial service is a wonderful rememberance of your father. Woody
Hi William, It’s good to hear from someone that was stationed at HQ. I’m hoping we can help each other remember things. I will send you an e-mail. Woody
Hey Woody,
I am wondering if you might remember my grandfather David Johnson. He served in the 101rst Airborne Div. (1968-1969). He just recently passed away due to cancer in June of 2011. From what we can gather from his paperwork he was Company C, 1rst BN, 1rst BDE . He didn’t speak much about his time in Vietnam but I know he spoke of Hamburger Hill and A Shau Valley. We are trying to piece together some information as we go through photos any help would be appreciatted.
Thanks!
Hi Dezi,
Thank you for your comment and e-mail. I haven’t been looking at my computer lately, sorry for the slow response. I did some research and found this 101st Airborne, 1st Battalion, BDE S1 website. – http://www.campbell.army.mil/units/101st/1BCT/Pages/1stBCT.aspx – I’m sure they will be helpful in finding information for you.
Unfortunately a lot of war veterans are passing away without telling their stories. From my experience it is one of those things that is hard to talk about. I started out writing my blog in part because of that reason, but found it is a lot harder to write about my war experiences than I ever imagined. I have been trying to writer some more posts, hopefully I can get through my wall again. Good luck with finding out about your grandfather’s service. Everybody who served or serving now, or in the future should be remembered for their service!
Yours sincerely,
‘Woody’
You have a great site..thank you for putting some of your memories out there for us to read as I am sure it’s not easy. My father, Dito Butigieg, was in Vietnam and hardley spoke about his time there. He passed away a few years ago due to the after effects of the war/agent orange. I now have all his pictures from Vietnam. I would love to find friends of his who served with him and pass on the pictures. I also found an American flag he had in the photo album and on it he wrote: “Charlie Company” “QUI-NHON” “S.Vietnam” 1968-1969 Guard Post One Main Gate.
Dear Woody,
Thank you for telling your story.
Anna Rae