War Buddies
This page contains pictures of soldiers that I knew during the Vietnam War. I don’t remember everybodies name, which is a shame. I hope I will be able to put names to all the people that I served with in the 1st Platoon. As you can imagine, we had new guys joining 1st Platoon all the time. Some of the guys were new to our platoon as I was getting to be a ‘short timer’ in Vietnam.
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3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, Company C, 3/187th, 101st Airborne:
3rd Squad - Ed Raines in shirt, Sgt Alvin Dunn, unkown, Jack Schmitz, Ray Fleming, unknown with hand on chin and Ralph Crutts crouching.
Sp4 – Jeff Crabtree:
Jeff/Jerry 'Hillbilly' Crabtree
SP4 – Jack Schmitz with Woody:
Jack Schmitz & Val 'Woody' Wuthrich
Val 'Woody' Wuthrich and Ralph Crutts
Sgt Alvin Dunn and Sgt Roman Perez:
Sgt Alvin Dunn and Sgt Roman Perez at Camp Evans or Eagle.
Sgt. Dunn at fire base near A Shau Valley.
Bandolier:
Bandolier
Alfredo Hernandez and Greg West:
Alfredo Hernandez and Greg West at firebase
Wilkerson and Val ‘Woody’ Wuthrich at LZ
Wilkerson with Val 'Woody' at LZ
ARVN soldier and Acker:
ARVN and Acker at mountain LZ
Val ‘Woody’ Wuthrich and Wilson:
Val 'Woody' Wuthrich with Wilson at firebase near A Shau Valley
Jack Schmitz and Val ‘Woody’ Wuthrich:
Jack Schmitz and Val 'Woody' Wuthrich
Hunter:
Hunter on fire base.
Val ‘Woody’ Wuthrich and Nohn:
Val, 'Woody' with Nohn, a Kit Carson Scout attached to Charlie Company.
Jack Schmitz:
Jack Schmitz at firebase
Jack Schmitz and Ralph Crutts:
Jack Schmitz and Ralph Crutts at firebase
Unknown:
Unknown war buddies playing cards late in the day at a firebase
Unknown:
Unknown war buddy at firebase.
Unknown soldier between ARVN soldiers:
War Buddy between two ARVN soldiers, with me trying to get into the picture.
Val ‘Woody’ Wuthrich and Ed Raines:
Raines giving me a 'G.I.' haircut on a firebase. I'm drinking a beer, it's probably a warm one.
Bell:
Bell at camp Evans, writing a letter home.
Unknown buddy:
Unknown buddy on firebase near A Shau Valley
First of all this is more then an impressive web site!!!! Jack Schmitz is a good friend of mine, we went to high school together. He was drafted in May ’68 and I was drafted in Sept. ’69. He got the short end of the stick and went to Viet Nam & I went to Okinawa. I would like to give him some of these photos as a surprise, if he doesn’t already have them, I would be glad to pay for the photos & postage. Please let me know if this is possible.
Thank You
Vic Guenther
My great Uncle Ronnie Anderson was in Vietnam. It’s sad though. My family doesn’t know if he did comunications, or infantry. They don’t know what hospital he’s in now. They forgot his birthday, rank, middle name, and all of that simple stuff you learn as kids. It hurts to know that he could pass away, if he hasn’t already, without knowing someone in his family loves him, though I’ve never met him. I’ve been looking for him for the past 2 years. He’s not to blame for how he is now. He gave something that’s worth more than his life, his sanity. If anyone that sees this knew or knows of a Ronnie Anderson please let me know. CageRageCannibal@yahoo.com thank you
Floyd, I’m sorry that you never got to meet your uncle Ronnie. I’m also sorry that you don’t know if he is dead or alive, and if he’s alive where he is at. Can you tell me more about him? I will tell you that if he was in the Vietnam War, he is a war hero. There are men that I served with in Vietnam that I can’t find now. It is hard to find people, but with the help of the internet it’s easier than it used to be. I don’t know how you can go about finding your uncle, but hopefully you can find men who knew him in Vietnam. Please right again.
Woody, I am so glad you posted this info about my brother Terry Wender. The idea of a sense of peace surrounding him at his death is most conforting. I and another sister live in Atlanta and his other siblings live in Bozeman, MT, Houghton, MI, and Manitowoc WI. Today is Memorial Day and so I salute you and all who served in Vietnam. The ripples seem endless.
Awesome pics! I appreciate the post so much!
Hi again Woody, just another note to let you know we do read and gain much from your blog. It has opened up a whole new dimension to memory and history. Through it I have met you and in the future might be able to make contact with others who served with my brother Terry. I know what you are doing is not easy but know it is appreciated and keep up the good work and most of all your spirits.
Hi Anita, it was great to talk to you on the phone today. I have been thinking a lot about the things we talked about. I have decided to step back from writing about ‘Hamburger Hill’. Like I said, I’m going to go back to the first of 1969 to try and fill in some of the blanks before ‘Hamburger Hill’. I’m going to use the letters that I wrote home in conjuction with the letters that Terry wrote home and try and flesh out the stories of us ‘boys’ as we progressed towards those fateful days in May of 1969. As I said I have really been struggling with writing about my experiences. It’s hard to put those memories out there and then not really knowing what people are thinking of it. I do get some feedback, but not as much as I would expect or like to see. Woody
I typically don’t reply on sites but you have some good information material.
A very dear friend of mine fought in Vietnam. Roger Kingry. If anyone has any pics of him, would you email them to me.
Thanks!
Loved your site. Looking for anyone who knew Charles Annunziata from Sea Cliff New York. We were very close and I wrote him every day while he was in Vietnam. He just passed and I wanted to see if anyone knew him. He has 2 kids
Thanks,
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen, I don’t thik I knew Charles. Can you give more particulars as to what unit he served with and what years he was in Vietnam? Any information about his Vietnam service may be helpful in finding people that he served with and knew him. Woody
Woody
I’m a USN Vietnam Vet. Served 1966 thru 1968. Loved the site. Need to know if you ever knew a good friend of mine
by the name of Bundy Jenkins? He served in the U.S. Army and was on Hamburger Hill and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Again your site is great and God Bless all our Brothers and Sisters that served in Vietnam.
Thanks
JC Kimble
Hi JC, I didn’t know Bundy Jenkins. Do you know which Battalion and Company he served in? Thank you for your positive comment. More later. Woody
Great site, miss and remember all who served, died and wounded and made it back to the WORLD. C co. HH 3/187Inf 101st.
I believe the last picture is of JB Stone. I am married to him, he is terminally ill, 100% service connection. Trying to locate some of his army buddies, He enjoyed your site.
My father served in vietnam. Sergeant Michael Anderson 101st Airborne division, 327th infantry. I dont know much about my dad. im hoping someone can give me information about him. i found a picture of him in a Shua valley and seeing photos of men in the same place im praying someone knows him.
Hi Debra, It’s wonderful to hear from you. I can’t remember who the last picture is of on the War Buddies page. Can you tell me more about JB or do you have any other pictures of him in Vietnam? I have been having a hard time dealing with all my memories of Vietnam lately. I wish I could remember more detail, but it has just been to long. When I was younger I wanted to forget all about it, but now I would like to remember. Please write again. Woody
Good blog. Thank you for this excellent posting. I enjoy it lots.
Thank you a thousand times for your service. Do you remember anyone by the name of Steven Lafleur who was at Hamburger Hill?
Hi Shirl, I didn’t know anyone by that name. Do you know which unit he served with? If you could provide that information, maybe we can find somebody that served with and knew him.
Thanks for some other magnificent post. The place else could anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect approach of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m on the look for such information.
Dear Woody,
Nice site, you have done a lot of work. I was w/C/3/187th for 2 trips to the field (“the bush”) in Feb and March of 69. C Co. did not have an FO and i was sent while A Co. was back at Evans and or FSB jack. As I recall we had contact a rew times and I handled the Artillery. I remember Cpt Griswald. I also remerber SFC Perez and what a good guy and leader he was. We played poker together.
I was wondering if you knew a Ssgt. Heriberto Marrero Estrada. He was a friend of my friends dad. If you have any pictures of him please send them to my e-mail. thank you very much.
Val,
I am thoroughly enjoying this amazing site that you put together. I know that a lot of your time has been put into this. The pictures are wonderful, they remind me of all the pictures that my dad has from his time in Vietnam (He was USMC 1-1, gunner, 1969-1970). When we spoke on the phone the other day regarding the military history of Hailey and the photo collage I had mentioned that the response had been “slim.” Today, after having 7-8 phone calls, the only pictures the committee has “received” are these that are on your blog. At this point, which upsets me to say, we don’t think the collage will happen this year…that’s not to say, though, that we cannot make it happen for next year. With how deep our country’s military history runs in Hailey it frustrates me that everything is so “unheard.” However, just the same, every Memorial Day more and more people come out to attend the ceremony. Maybe in time those same people will share their personal and family military history too. God Bless you, and Thank You, for your service to our country.
Hi,
Lately I have been thinking so much about all the men and women who were wounded or gave the ultimate sacrifice for their county. I am a Viet Nam vet, served in 1968-69 in Dinh Tuong Provence in the delta.
For some reason yesterday I sent an email out, I never pass along emails, however this time I must. Seeing these pictures has been devastating to me.
As a Viet Nam veteran I know first hand that most people, even most of my family members , just don’t give a damn about those children that have been forced to give their lives for our freedom. Sure they say they do but that’s BS. I have family members who never once wrote a letter to me during my 14 terrifying months in Viet Nam.
I came home a different person. I left the comfort of my home in Bergenfield NJ a naïve, caring, sensitive child, age 20 and came back as a person that just didn’t give a damn for people.
I am today that same person. I believe my life would have been much different if not for being drafted, spending my 21st birthday in a bunker wondering if I would live to see another sunrise. I do not want praise, I am NO hero. My best friend died in Viet Nam at the age of 21. You can look it up, his name is James O’ Shaunnessy (never could spell his name) he is my true hero.
I bet if our shores were being invaded attitudes would change.
I know I will not get any or only negative feedback, but shame on each and everyone of you who have not come to me or any Vet and said “Thank you for serving our country in Viet Nam.”. I smoked my first joint in Viet Nam and was addicted to this mood changer for almost 40 years.
I watch the history channel everyday to educate myself about the horrors the World War II vets had to face as they stormed the beaches of France over 60 years ago, I for one feel I would not have the guts to get off one of those amphibious assault vehicles and face devastating machine gun fire. SHAME on each and everyone of you who has not watched a documentary on the wars we have fought. SHAME on each and everyone of you who has not called me to ask if that was what I faced.
I am not religious, however may my higher power bless each vet you died or was wounded in the service of their country. If you have never visited a Vet hospital shame on you.
A few months ago I posted a few pictures on Facebook of some devastation I experienced just to see what comments or silly “Likes” I would receive. I received 2.
Most of you are very good people however I am sad to say most of you are full of shit.
Talk is cheap, for the last 43 years how many of you have called me to acknowledge my service.
I know this email is going to piss off so many if not all of you, I just have to say “I DON’T CARE”.
Am I bitter, YOU BET, and it’s about time I said so. NOW IF YOU HAVE BALLS PASS THIS ALONG. Many thanks to my wonderful classmate Jack Carroll who continues to try to make people aware of the sacrifices some of us have made for this wonderful county. Many thanks to my beautiful nephew Brian who always asks me about my experiences in Viet Nam. These are 2 people who really care.
To everyone in my address book, I would like to post here:
Hi Ernie,
I too have felt the same way as you at times. I really went through a very tough stretch when I started this blog. I sought help from the V.A. and didn’t even find much help there. I was very depressed for a long time and even on A.D.’s I’m still somewhat depressed. I beleive I owe a lot of it to my experiences in Veitnam. When you are fresh of the farm, still green behind the ears and at very impressionable age, it makes an big impression on you when you wonder if you will ever see the ones you love again. Seeing your buddies killed and wondering if your number will be up next.
I think most people don’t know all they have to do is say, ‘thank you’. I have had a small percentage say thank you. I always try to say thank you when I see a war veteran.
Keep your chin up Erie and be proud that you served your country. What you wrote tells me that you are caring person, as is your classmate Jack Carroll.
Gratefully yours,
Val ‘Woody’ Wuthrich