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Gary, Thanks for the kind words. You are right. We were very concious of the situation. I guess it was a little strange, that we knew that we were the last Combat Brigade sized element in country. Toward the end even the Brigade was transitioned into a Task Force sized element. I believe it was called Project Gimlet, or something like that. We moved to Phu Bai, and they put us in trucks, (imagine that), and took us to hill 180. It was an old Fire Base. We even spent some time on the old Camp Eagle, which was the base that the 101st occupied.
I also remember that it was just after Heavy was killed, and we were in Danang on stand-down that I was told that I had earned the Combat Medical Badge, and it is still my most coveted award.
I may be in the States during the reunion in Alexandria. I hope that I can make it. I too, have never been to the Vietnam Memorial. I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather go to it with than the men that I served with.
Gary, As you know I got there just as you were leaving. I think we all learned from you guys that keeping each other safe was the most important thing. One of my sons just retired from the Marines and took a job in Alexandria for a Gov. Contractor………..so looks like I will be there. Never been to the Wall and to have him there with me will be awesome.
Rick and Jim:
You guys who were there at the bitter end deserve a tip o’ the hat from the rest of us. How you managed to soldier on when you were a part of the LAST combat unit in Vietnam is beyond me. It was hard enough by the time I left in Aug, ’71. With troops leaving every day and the war conceded as not worth fighting any more, our suffering and losses seemed to be totally pointless and without any redeeming value at all. It must have been far worse when nobody else was still going out into the bush and grappling with the enemy. It’s one thing to fight when you still think you have a chance of winning, but something far different when the outcome is no longer in doubt.
You guys are heros in my book. I hope you can come to Alexandria, VA in August and hang out with the rest of us came to the war late. (See the reunion button above).
welcome home RICK glad to see more coming to the site. n-joy ============i m going to go to Glens “hanging up my blues,my od fatigues’ party. thnx again larry h. for info.
LT
We are planning on getting to Wabasha on thursday,thanks for not bringing that other shi?.
Jim, Bill, Gary;
Thanks for the warm welcome. I was so surprised when I looked at the 196th page and found the link to Charlie Company. During my 24 year Army career, I always looked back fondly to my days with all of my Grunt family.
Cpt. Cato was my Company Commander and SSG Murtland was my Infantry Platoon Sergeant. I was a platoon medic for a while, then moved to the company medic spot. I was with the Company from the beginning of 72 till the move to Phu Bai, then I stayed till the Brigade was stood down. I then went to the Hospital in Saigon and stayed there till I left country.
I work in Italy, with the 173rd Airborne Combat Brigade, in Vicenza. I plan to work for 4-5 more years, then retire to my home in Sugar Land, Texas.
Thanks for such a wonderful web site. I have put it in my favorites and will look at it every day.
Rick that was quite a predicament we were in that day. My squad was in charge of the “LZ” although they couldn’t land. We got the wounded out and they said they wouldn’t be coming back for Heavy because they were taking fire. Luckily some Colonel sent his chopper in. All that and it started with taking friendly arty fire after we were dropped in.
Wecome Rick!
I got home to Walsh (home) yesterday. I have been out and about and attended my son’s & our web site guy’s wedding on the 16th in Las Vegas. I will try and get in the groove and be more active on the web site.
Rick:
Click the “contact” button up at the top and send the site administrator an e-mail.
Welcome home, Brother! When were you with Charlie Company?
I found this website yesterday. Can someone tell me how to become a member, register and get a log in. I am a former Charlie Company Medic. I was with C Company when Heavy was killed.
Gary, If you and Tressa make it, I promise not to bring any of that other s**t
LT
Igot my package from Wabasha too looks like a lot to do there. Hope to make it there.
LT,
Good to see you. People have not been posting much. Will not see you there but know everyone will have a good time.
Bill,
Here I am! Got a nice packet in the mail yesterday on the Wabasha MN area from Fred Passe. Looks like it will be loads of fun and I hope alot of you will attend!!!!
Clay, I went to the company with about 20 other guy’s a few days after the battle on Jan 5. We were out in the field and did short patrols. Carl Fryman and Ron Causey both survived that night and will be at the 196th reunion in Washington in 2011. I met our Co. Commander Captain Thomason at a reunion and he explained how it went down that night. Anything I tell you would be second hand information, best to talk to Carl or Ron.
Dan
Dan, were you with the company when it got shot up so bad on 1/5/68? I read the book Though The Valley and got the impression C 2/1 was attached to 4/31 and kind of treated like a stepchild which was why it was out by itself when it got dark and the attack began. I’ve also wondered what the company did and where it was until it got enough people and training to reorganize and begin operating again.
Clay
Ben B.
Third Platoon leader Lt Drake was KIA at Heip Duc on January 5 1968. I was the RTO for Hampton Metts from about March to May 1968. I can’t remember if we had Leader between Drake and Metts. Charlie Company lost a lot of people on May 5 and it took a while to get our numbers up. I can’t remember who had the platoon after Metts
Thanks Lt!
larry thnx for info————————-living in emmet it just be a short r n d trip
I got the info on Glen Coonts retirement for everyone. Is anyone planning on going? I would really like to go, but my calendar is fairly full. If others go, I will try and make a special effort to go.
Host: Sheri Coonts
Location:
Jacksonville Military Museum
1 Veteran’s Circle
Jacksonville, AR 72076 US
When: Saturday, May 22, 6:00PM
Phone: (501) 626-2352
Lets toast Glenn
food, cake, a D.J. & plenty of beer!
Bill,
It was LT Homaki that posted the site. Here it is:
http://www.micom.net/songs
Guys, evidently so many people accessed that Vietnam Music website, that it crashed or something, and that site no longer exists. If you had previously saved it to your computer hard drive, you can still get it. I still have it, for that reason. So, if anyone wants to get the music, send me an email (sahomoki@hotmail.com), and I can email the music folder directly as an email attachment to you. Once you get it, open the file, and immediately save it on your hard drive, so you can keep it. HOMOKI
Whoever posted the web site with all the old Vietnam songs would you please do it again. I lost it somehow. Thanks
Thanks Brandon! Very moving & quite a time capsule.
thnx brandon congrads on job well done
Hey guys, I came across a post on a photo blog I read from time to time that I thought you might find interesting:
“It’s nearly impossible to encapsulate an event of such scale in a handful of photographs, but here, 35 years after the end of the conflict, is my attempt. (47 photos total)”
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/05/vietnam_35_years_later.html
Lt. Harrison’s first name was Robert, not William.
Sorry,
Clay
Rod Shortell took over 3rd platoon when William Harrison left to take over the Recon Platoon in Echo Company. That was in early or mid November 1970. Lt. Harrison was shot while with E Company and died a few days later. Rod Shortell had our platoon through the DMZ operations then became the battalion intelligence officer. He left 3rd platoon probably in April, 1971. Last I heard he was a real estate sales manager in the Richmond, VA area. I can’t remember the new Lt’s name but it may have been Hall. He had played football for one of the smaller schools back east and was Ranger and/or Special Forces qualified. All three were pretty good men.
Ben:
To fill in your Third Platoon Leader roster, I had it from September, 1965 to May, 1966.
Tim Schlink succeeded me and took it to RVN. If I can find his email address, I’ll ask him to carry it forward. It would be kind of neat to have the complete list.
Russ,
The only guy I know who is old enough to be around from the year 1070 is LT. Is he old! How old is he………………Johnny? He is so old he painted the “Last Supper” in person.
Ben, I clearly recall an operation that went bad and 3rd plt got shot up and with KIA’s as they were clearing and taking a hill. I believe we in an area of small foothills with waist high buffalo grass and the enemy was dug in. I remember when they got hit, and after we regrouped, I think it was after dark, a group of us went back up the hill to bring our fallen brothers back. No choppers in that night. I couldn’t remember names or dates, but I believe that was May 4, 1070.
Ben:
As I recall, the Shortell’s replacement was a guy named Hall. I think he took over the 3rd during the DMZ operation in early ’71 or shortly thereafter.