A VVA STAFF REPORT

VVA Veteran Senior Writer Marc Leepson is trying to contact veterans who served with Barry Sadler for an upcoming article. Sadler, who wrote and sang “The Ballad of the Green Berets,” served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958-59, and in the Army from 1960-66, including a tour of duty with the Special Forces in Vietnam. Contact: Marc Leepson, 301-585-4000 ext. 160; mleepson@vva.org

Looking for members of 60th Co. Inf. OCS, Ft. Benning, Ga. The class cycle started January 1969 and was commissioned in July. Contact: Craig German, 6261 Rock Port Dr., Flowery Branch, GA 30542; craigsgerman@charter.net

Trying to locate an SF soldier I gave a ride to sometime in 1968. I was on my way back from Chu Lai in a 3/4-ton truck, headed toward my forward support fire base located just north of Tam Ky. The soldier was walking on the road, and I pulled over to give him a ride back to his camp. On the way, we were caught in a firefight between ARVNs and VC, and we took shelter under the truck, which was loaded with C-rats, beer, liquor, and ammo/demo. The SF soldier had an M-16, and I had an M-16 and an M-79 grenade launcher. We returned fire toward the VC. The ARVNs overran the VC, and we were able to get out. We kidded about the beer and liquor, concerned that it was damaged. Contact: Austin Wilcox, 518-235-1369; awilcox001@nycap.rr.com

Trying to locate Bob Foster and James “Hardtime” Hardin, who served aboard U.S.S. Hector, 1966-69. Contact: Norris Long, 619 Smith St. Addition, Marlinton, WV 24954; 304-799-6447; hdbassman46@yahoo.com 

Looking for any sailor who served aboard U.S.S. Hector (AR-7), 1943-87. To learn about our association, visit www.usshector.org

Found a zippo with the name Pete on the lid and Vietnam 68-69 on the body. On the reverse is his name with another name, possibly his wife’s. The lighter was found around Fredericksburg, Va. I would like to return the lighter to its owner. If you can tell me the other name on the lighter, I will ship it to you. Contact: Thomas Ferstl, tomferstl@prodigy.net

Trying to locate anyone who served with B 2/8 Cav. (Airborne), 1st Cav. Div., December 1965-August 1966. Contact: Miguel Carrillo, mglcar@aol.com

Trying to locate Walter Plummer, USMC, 1968. Contact: Bryan Robinson, bamabryan1@gmail.com

Looking for anyone who flew, worked on, worked with, was saved by, or admires the little A-37 Dragonfly fighter. Contact: Ollie Maier, 512-753-2629; OMaier@TxState.edu

Looking for members of Class 6664, which graduated in January 1967 from Navy Hospital Corpsman School at Great Lakes. Most members went with the Marines to Vietnam. We are trying to get a reunion together. Contact: Joe Haver, olddruggist@gmail.com

Looking for Lt. Robert L. Huggins, SPC Franks, SPC Miller, PFC Cato, Sgt. Reynolds, and anyone else who was part of the Graves Registration Operation Compassion mission in Vietnam, 1969-70, especially those who carried out this mission in II Corp, stationed at Qui Nhon. Also looking for anyone who served with Graves Registration Platoon, Co. A, 9th S&T Bn., 9th Inf. Div., 1967. Contact: Bill Honaker, bhonaker@windstream.net

Trying to locate Robert Wright and Tom Brenneman, who served with me in the S-1 Section of 3rd Bn., 17th Field Arty., Nürnberg, Germany, 1968-69. Contact: Sam Shipley, 737 Quail Hollow Dr., Elizabethtown, TN 37643; 423-542-3232.

Trying to find Kenneth E. Harris, who might have served in A Btry., 3rd Bn., 13th Arty., Vietnam. Contact: D. Beno, debrhb@aol.com 

Trying to locate David Zerkel, who served with me in 3/5 Cav., Dong Ha, 1971. Contact: Gordon Ritchie #236306, Santa Rosa Correctional Institution Annex, 5850 E. Milton Rd., Milton, FL 32583.

Trying to locate Frederick and Church (can’t remember first names), who served with 86th Combat Engineer Bn., B Co., 3rd Platoon, 1967. They manned a Jeep for a while. Contact: Ray Holtz, rayhvet@yahoo.com

I was an officers’ record clerk with HHC, 58th AVN Group FFM, 1st Aviation Bde. We worked at an Army airfield less than five miles north of Long Binh Post. The airfield mostly had 4H-1s and a few 421 fixed-wing aircraft. I would like to know the name of the airfield. Contact: Eugene T. Wilkinson 4552811013, 223 Wayne Ave., Narberth, PA 19072; 610-667-5214.

Looking for Leonard Torres, who served with 25th Inf. Div., Camp Holloway, Pleiku, 1966. I served with him in AVLB Platoon, 1st/69th Armor and in 17th Engineers Bn., Ft. Hood, Texas. Contact: Tony DiBaldo, 4241 Concord Rd., Aston, PA 19014; 610-459-9483 (home); 484-522-1448 (cell).

Need help for a claim. Trying to locate pilots who served in the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. My husband, John Warren “Hawk” Hawthorne was a captain and pilot in the Navy, and the VA has no records of his missions during that time. He flew off aircraft carriers. If you flew in Vietnam, please tell me your branch of service, your years of service, type of orders, your rank, and the name of the aircraft carrier you were on. Contact: Theresa Marie Hawthorne, P.O. Box 4508, Manassas, VA 20108; 703-472-2593.

Looking for nurses, Red Cross workers, and USO volunteers who served in Vietnam and live in the Orlando area. The 3rd Marine Div. Association is holding its annual reunion there, and we would like to honor those women who served at any time in country. Contact: Ron Deverick, 2840 Mitchell Dr. Unit 7, Woodridge, IL 60517-1558; 630-971-9593; usmcarty312@aol.com

Trying to locate Charles Williams, Huey, Albert Eisley, Charles Edwards, Howard Archie, and anyone who remembers me from 1st Cav., 227th Air Assault, Trang Phu, 1967-69. I was a door gunner on Hueys. Contact: Edward Bogart, 609-204-5702; teach3883@aol.com

Would like to hear from anyone who worked with me at John Robin Skeet Range Long Post, Vietnam, 1970-72. Contact: lanamarisa@ymail.com

Trying to locate Ken Weiss, who served with Co. D HQ, 815th Engr. Bn. (Const.), Pleiku, 1967-68. Contact: Dave Fockler, 330-447-0553; focklerdjf@yahoo.com

Trying to locate Ed Carter, Robbie Robinson, and Bill Hover, who, in 1968-69, served in Vietnam, where they met Italian musicians—Rosella, Viviana, Daniela, Manuela, and Franca—called “The Stars.” Contact: Lucia Alessi, 320-905-0650; alessi.lucia@gmail.com

Trying to locate an F-4 pilot, Michael Gerald or Gerald Michael (not sure which; his nickname was “Big Andy), who was assigned to 15 TFW, 45 TFS, McDill AFB, 1965; was with the first F-4 squadron deployed to Ubon RTAB, Thailand, early 1965; and was a member of a flight of F-4s that shot down the first two MIG-17s during the Vietnam War. His backseat pilot was Wilbur E. “Little Andy” Anderson. Big Andy’s last-known location is California. Contact: Wilbur E. Anderson, 270 Airport Rd., Pikeville, NC 27863; 919-736-3711; 919-344-1202; wanderson6@nc.rr.com

Searching for anyone who served in Vietnam and attended Kent State University or lived in the Kent/Akron area. I am working on a book about the May 4, 1970, shootings on the KSU campus and am interested in Kent State veterans from that time period, especially those who took part in the Cambodian invasion of that spring. Contact: Ed Krzemienski, Ball State University, Department of History, Burkhardt Building, Muncie, IN 47306; 765-285-8770; krzemienski@bsu.edu

In Phu Loi, in late 1970 or early 1971, while driving my Jeep along Southern Bunker Line Rd., I witnessed your Jeep flip over into a shallow, water-filled ditch. You were trapped under the front of your Jeep. Gasoline was pouring into the water next to your face. My buddy helped me lift your Jeep just enough for me to pull you out. We got you into a vehicle to take you to the closest medic. We told this event to our 1st Sgt., but he didn’t ask us to fill out a report. I have always wondered if you fully recovered from your injuries, and if you ever needed an eyewitness for service-related injury. My buddy, Bruce Roberts, and I were with the 23rd Arty. Contact: Rick Amsterdam, grinch51@aol.com 

Seeking anyone who served with me in 1st/7th Cav., May 1966-67. I was a machine gunner. I, along with another person who carried an M60, were in a battle on August 8, 1966. The FO, Lt. Tuttle, saved us. Contact: Edward Greene, 843-795-2035; 843-708-7271; RoGree8@aol.com

Need help for a claim. Seeking PFC Christopher Torrence (from Ohio) or anyone who served with me in 56th ADA, Btry. B, 6th Bn. (E5), USAREUR, Bitburg, Germany. We deployed to Morocco on a six-week classified operation in 1986. We were in Casablanca and Rabat the last two days. I need the name of this mission. Would also like graduation photos for D Btry., 4th Bn., 1st ADATB, Ft. Bliss, around July 10, 1985. Contact: Rob Williford, P.O. Box 600, Apt. 91357, Grady, AR 71644-0600.

Trying to find Randy Nordstrom (from Neb.), who served with 4th Inf. Div., Co. H, 3/8 Inf. There is a reunion July 30-August 2 in San Antonio. Contact: Jim Keeling, 1502 W. Front St., Tyler, TX 75702; 903-597-1371.

Trying to find the men in the photograph, taken in mid-May 1968, during Operation Delaware, in the A Shau Valley. I am on the left, and Jimmy Cobb is next to me. We were with the 545th MP Co., 1st Cav. Div. Contact: Johnny R. Hounshell, jrhounshell1948@aol.com

Trying to locate Sgt. Ronald Keller, who served with the Army in Vietnam, 1967-68. Contact: hamidahahameed@yahoo.com

Would like to connect with Oscar J. Herring, John “Woody” Woods, SSG Lopez, Slim, Phillips (“Junior”), Pineapple, or anyone else who served with 573 S&S Co., Pleiku, August 1969-June 1970. Contact: Joe Gibbs, joegibbs4507@cox.net

Seeking anyone who served with me in 1st Bn., 5th Marines Comm. Wire Section, Vietnam. I was wounded on February 1, 1968. I was placed on security watch by Capt. Duncan. The camp (next to the Laos border) started receiving fire. Then Sgt. Bart took over. There was a lot of fog, and we couldn’t see anything. A mortar round hit behind two of us, and the metal hit us from the waist down. There were more than one hundred casualties. Choppers came in to evacuate the wounded and KIA, and one was shot down. While I was waiting to be medevaced, mortar fire started coming in. Two Marines (one was black and one was white) picked me up and carried me into a bunker. I never had the opportunity to thank them for saving me life. Contact: Joe T. Rivera, 357 Robin Dr., Dinuba, CA 93618; 559-315-5177; joet.rivera730@yahoo.com

Seeking SP Steed, who was my Jeep driver, or anyone else who served with me in 442nd Trans. Co., 1966-67. Contact: C. Schaner, 2404 5th Ave., Council Bluffs, IA 51501; 712-355-2448.

Seeking photos of, or information about, Charles Dennis Boyer (from Trumansburg, N.Y.), who died June 21, 1968, while serving with MACV SOG, 5th Special Forces Group, FOB 4 CCN in Quang Nam Province. Contact: Christine Elliott; celliott81410@gmail.com

Would like to hear from Coal Sweat, Portnoff, Farmer, Freeman, Carsso, or anyone else who was on my gun truck in 541st Trans. Co. Contact: William Oliver, landoliver@hotmail.com

My cousin found the dog tag of James Lavell Tucker in mid-February on the beach at Okinawa. According to my research, he received a Purple Heart on June 28, 1967, while serving with 3rd Motor Transportation Bn. in Phu Bai. He might currently reside in Eustis, Fla. We would like to return the dog tag to Tucker or his family. Contact: Dave Lewis, 623-535-0439; dave67@cox.net

Need help for a claim. Looking for anyone who was stationed at the POL unit at Da Nang AB, June-September 1972, and at Bien Hoa AB, December 1972-February 1973. Contact: Bryan Hall, bryanhall90@yahoo.com

Seeking Frank Howard, who served with the Air Force in Vietnam. He ditched his aircraft in the ocean, and my father and his crew rescued him and gave him a ride to Phan Rang on May 2, 1967. Contact: Dean A. Kidd, 221 W. 18th St., Gibson City, IL 60936; 217-784-5831 (home); 217-784-2500 (work); 217-369-4493 (cell); deankidd221@gmail.com

Searching for anyone who served with 345th Troop Carriers Sqdrn., CCK, Taiwan, December 1965-July 1966. This unit was formed from three different C-BOE outfits coming from Stewart AFB, Pope AFB, and Dyess AFB. Contact: Jim Lorne, 240 Boston Way, Lake Placid, FL 33852; 863-414-8371.

Seeking correspondence with fellow Vietnam veterans. I saw a lot of firefights in November 1967-December 1968. Contact: H. Payne #036113, Tomoka C.I., 3950 Tiger Bay Rd., Daytona Beach, FL 32124.

I lost a ring while stationed at Tuy Hoa AFB, 1967. Before I shipped out, my mother gave me my deceased father’s ring. It was gold-plated with the letters “HWM” on it. I left it on the sink in the men’s room. When I returned, it was gone. Contact: Clyde Moyer, 1679 So. State St. #24, Dover, DE 19901; 302-382-8160.

Looking for anyone who served with 39th ARRSq, Tuy Hoa, July 1968. I need verification I was there when a VC sapper team destroyed numerous aircraft on the flightline. Also, does anyone know if Security Police Augmentee Duty was documented? Contact: Bill New #F22494, RJ Donavon Correctional Facility (A3-129L), 480 Alta Rd., San Diego, CA 92179.

Looking for anyone who served with my father, Thomas C. Mars, in the 1st Cav., 1968. He was from Camden, N.J. Contact: Chuck Mars, 856-733-6121; chuckm@magnatrol.com or rtgmars@hotmail.com

Trying to locate Charles H. Moore, a friend from 2nd Bn., 94th Arty., 1970-71. His last-known address was New Mexico. We have a reunion coming up in September. Contact: Gary L. Short, 985-345-7322 (home); 985-507-7333 (cell); garyshortkk@yahoo.com

Need help for a claim. Looking for anyone who served in boot camp at Ft. Ord, Calif., with Co. B, 4th Bn., 1st Bde., 1969. Contact: charlesmccarrell@sbcglobal.net

Trying to find Marcella “Tony” Trujillio and Lana Clark (married name Majewski), who were with me in the WACs. They were last stationed in Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., and went to Long Binh as clerks in 1969 or so, I believe. They were both E-5s at the end of their tours. Contact: Patsy Baumgardner (married name, Smith), starbluz.48@juno.com

Searching for Terry “Cop” Hale, who served with me in Kilo 3/9, 1968-69. We were both wounded on FSB Cunningham on March 17, 1969. He was on the LAPD at one time. Contact: Adam “Wally” Mackow, 908-995-9191; abmackow@verizon.net

Looking for anyone who was at Clark AFB in 1968 or 1969, when a riot broke out at the airmen’s club and later at the main gate. Contact: Don Williams, texasshoes@sbcglobal.net

Looking for anyone who served with me in Co. B, 125th Signal Bn., Tay Ninh, August 1966-67. Contact: Titus Beasley, 301-996-6811; drtbeasley@verizon.net

Trying to find anyone who served with Co. C, Mobile Construction Bn. 1 in the two detachments, 1968-70. Contact: Don Little, JJL71@comcast.net

Trying to locate Emanuel “Mannie” Bolofsky, who served with me in 71st Trans. Bn. (TML), Dix (71H), FBH (71J/73C), Eustis, and Camp Camelot, 1966-67. We lost contact when he transferred to N.Y. with the IRS. Would also like to hear from Norman C. Allen (from Denbigh, Va.), Sun, Harlow W. Paul, “Mustang” Gregg, Plisko, and Seibert (from western Pa.). Contact: Paul H. Mueller, Sr., 10333 Strawberry Point, Country Grove, Delmar, DE 19940-3474; pmueller333@comcast.net

Looking for SSgt. F.D. Miller, my former drill instructor from Platoon 237 (Honor Platoon), MCRD, San Diego boot camp, February 21-April 30, 1968. I want to thank him for making me a Marine. Contact: Ben Eyre, 816-401-3834; xfuzzman2457@sbcglobal.net

Seeking Rey Deleon (from Corpus Christi), who served with me in 25th Inf., 4th/9th Manchus, Mole City, 1968-69. Contact: Jose Vilches, santurce@tampabay.rr.com

Seeking anyone who served with me in B Battery, 1st Bn., 11th Marines. We left Camp Pendleton as a unit aboard the U.S.S. Gunston Hall on August 6, 1965, setting up base in the Phu Bai/Hue area. Contact: Jose “Marty” Chavez, marty@gmthinkalike.com or go to my profile on togetherweserved.com

Trying to locate Wayne Richards, Ben Hawkins, Bob Chrishom, Joe Thompson, Courtney Wayne Thompson, and William Jeter, who served with Bravo Co., 1st Bn., 8th Cav., 1st Cav. Div., 1966-67. Contact: James “Doc” Hancock, 361-277-8869; james_maryhancock@yahoo.com

Seeking Mike Gilmore (from Springfield, Colo.), who worked as a carpenter and was married to Juanita, and John McBryer, a proud Irishman who returned to Philadelphia and was a schoolteacher the last time we spoke. Both served with me in MACV TM 21, II Corps, MR2, Pleiku, 1971-72. Contact: Jimmy “Latin Lover” Barrientos, jlbarrientos@sbcglobal.net

Seeking Kenneth Taylor or anyone else who served with him at Long Binh and Vung Tau, 1969-72. Taylor knew Bui Thi Tuyet, who left Vietnam for Kentucky with her daughter Natalie in 1972. Contact: Daniel Gregg, dgregg@dovefund.org

Trying to locate Jorge Omar Mendez Vidal from Osorno, Chile. He escaped his abusive home with a circus crew and entered the United States in the early 1960s. His last letter to his sister Olga is dated May 1969 and indicates he was training as a paratrooper. His family believes he was sent to Vietnam, but they did not hear from him again. Contact: Daniela Rovner, bunndel@yahoo.com

Looking for Sgt. Samson Lee (unsure of spelling of first name), who served with the military police in the Army, Nha Trang, 1969-February 1970. He may have served with 272nd Co. MP. He rented a house near Le Thanh Tong and had “Lee” tattooed on his right arm. Contact: Autumn Ly, ly.autumn@gmail.com

Trying to contact anyone who served with 1st Lt. Denis Wayne Galloway, 101st Airborne, Co. A, 326th Engrs., October 1966. Contact: John Pastor, 952-261-4537; pjdpastor@aol.com

Looking for anyone who served with my father, Raymond L. Wilcox in B Co., 3rd Bn., 21st Inf. Rgt., 196th Inf. Bde., Americal Div. He arrived in country in April 1969 and died in Quang Tin Province on August 20, 1969. I was only six months old when he died, and I would like to know more about him. Contact: Raymond L. Wilcox, Jr. #205039; Pugsley Correctional Facility, 7401 E. Walton Rd., Kingsley, MI 49649; 231-943-1600.

Trying to locate anyone who served with C Co., 41st Sig. Bn., Cam Ranh Bay, 1967. Contact: Douglas McMillan, fridjm@juno.com

I honored Vietnam veterans in my books, The Faces behind the Names, printed in 1996 and 2000. I am interested in survivors telling me their stories for another book. Contact: Don Ward, donward38@gmail.com or visit www.mpress.addr.com

Looking for anyone who served with 51st USASA SOC, Torii Station, Okinawa, 1967-68, especially those who went TDY to Camp Humphries and to the outpost at Sokcho City along the DMZ with Jerry L. Phillips and Charlie Heath. Contact: Cheryl Phillips, cdphillips50@gmail.com

Looking for James O. Temple (from the Detroit area), who served with me at Ft. Devens, Mass., and in Nha Trang. We were with the 330th Radio Research Unit, May 1971-April 1972. Contact: Tom Tingle, 303-656-3120; triathlete3_99@yahoo.com

Looking for David E. Greene (from Upstate New York), who arrived in Vietnam in October 1967 and in February 1968 was assigned to Delta Co., 1st Bn., 46th Inf., 198th LIB. Contact: Hubert Fendley, 284 Boiling Springs Rd., Oxford, AL 36203, 256-831-9053.

7th Annual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor Tribute Ride, July 11, N.Y. State Route 38. Sponsored by VVA Chapters 377, 480, 704, and Chapter 17 of the Blue Knights, the 100-mile ride will kick off at 10 a.m. from the Owego Free Academy School on Sheldon Guile Blvd. The ride will stop in Groton for gas and food before continuing on to the American Legion in Hannibal, where there will be food and entertainment. The ride is free and open to the public. Register the day of the ride between 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. Contact: Dan, 607-229-8153; Harvey, 607-898-3507; or Bill, 607-222-6357; or visit www.Cyberspokes.com

Trying to contact David Shields (pictured), John Swisher, or anyone else who was stationed with me in Quang Tri, 1970-71. I drove fuel trucks. Contact: Roy Jamison, 1400 N. 30th St., Trlr. 58, Mount Vernon, WA 98273; 360-424-9265; 360-840-9087.