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LARRY HARPER—-how would go about posting pics to this site? have a couple to upload–870-899-2882
Ken, I was in Vietnam with Sonny, he was in the third squad and I was the RTO (radio operator) for our platoon leader Hampton Metts. I have a couple of pics of Sonny in my photo album. Sorry to hear that Sonny passed away. Dan
Dan – Thank you so much for responding! Thank you for your kind thoughts. I didn’t know of him being my father until 1994 when my mother and dad announced their divorce, and like most kids, you just assume that your parents were never kids just like you. However through the events, my mother told me that the man she was leaving my dad for was my real father (Sonny), her high school sweetheart. At first I didn’t know how to take it, but I eventually met him and it was the BEST thing ever for me. It was as if he had always been there and we bonded really tight…course he never called me “sir” LOL I remember talking to him about Nam for hours and he always spoke to you as if you knew all the players in the story…so whereas the years have faded the names from my memory I feel I knew you all and was there the way he told me the stories. It was very odd for me to hear him speak of Nam…most of the guys that I served with (the O’l timers) from Nam never talked about it much whereas he did and with great detail. The worst day of my life was January 3rd, 2003. I had moved to AZ and he was still back in Ohio with my mother and his heart just skipped a beat and never picked back up as he was headed to work with his brother. I had bought tickets for him to fly out on the 14th to see his first grandson who was born on November 14th.
I would very much appreciate seeing your pictures and hearing anything you would like to share… Are there any other platoon members here on the site? Thank you again!
My name is Kenneth Scott Rankin…My father, E. F. “Sonny” Kennison served with the 196th, I believe in ’68 with “C” company..although I do not know which battalion. I remember him talking about LZ Baldy and a few names of the men he served with during the war. He was from Dover, Ohio and I didn’t know of him until I was 27 years old and he had reunited with my mother. (Long Story). I only had nine years to know my father as he unfortunately passed away in 2003. My father was very proud of his service and he was laid to rest by his brothers in the Legion. (which prompted me to become one as well – CPT/U.S. Army ’86 – ’96). I write this to reach out to anyone who served with my father and I would like to know more of the times shared in Vietnam. Needless to say, there isn’t a day gone by that I don’t miss him and I am hoping that reaching out to those who shared his life during this time would be interesting.
Hi LT…Thanks for the compliment…Actually those two pictures were not taken at the Hilton Head reunion. They were taken in Albany NY in 2009 when Pancho came for a visit.. Larry must have got them from Pancho…..I was hit with the first booby trap and initially thought it was an incoming round. I was medevacked to the 91st hospital in Chu Lai . I never had any contact with Pancho until after the 2008 reunion when Gill emailed me a picture of Pancho and me together. Then I located him and he told me he was medevacked to the Aid Station at Hawk Hill . My guess is that he was probably hit by the first booby trap since we were hootch mates and hung around together….Give Grandma Tai my regards.
Hey Lurch! The photo of you and wife is very nice! You clean up pretty good, big guy! Did you and Pancho get hit with the 1st booby trap on March 16? The reason I ask is that I mentioned in a letter home about SFC Walden, Hoang and Johnnie Pearson and 2 of my men(maybe you and Pancho??)
REST IN PEACE BROTHER “WILLIE”
thnx Larry for the post //looks like a good crowd//will try to make next one
I have posted photos to this web site that I took at this year’s reunion. I would love to have some from whom ever else took some photos. Please get me your photos so that I can post them to this site.
I also saw that I hadn’t gotten a lot of other photos posted to this site. Check the new updated photo section.
I would still love to have any Nam photos that anyone has to post to this web site. Contact me at larryharper@centurytel.net.
Russ,
I looked at the label in my CIB hat and it came from Indonesia. Oh well! We need to do lunch one of these days.
Hey LT
I bought a couple hats from the Old Post Exchange. I look inside at the lable on one…..MADE IN VIETNAM ….pretty ironic, aint it..
Nancy:
You’re welcome for the link and I understand that civilian’s may not be fully up to speed on all things military. That’s why I posted what I did.
Be patient. There are many here who drop by occassionally and I’m sure one of them will know your Dad.
Nancy,
I probably came after your Dad but give him a hug and kiss from all of us as we are all brothers regardless of when we were there.
sry section
larry recently came across a pic of me on hawk hill ’70 when get scanner fixed send it to u then u cn post or directly to the pic swection?
Larry,
Please make sure that Willie gets listed in the taps section, Please
Thanks
LT
I found the mortuary that you can post condolences for Willie: brothersmortuary.com
The site show that Willie passed away from respiratory failure. It does not mention when the services will be.
SR:
Has the services been held for Dennis? Anything we can do as Charlie company for him? Where was he from?
Thank you Gary. I am not famiiar with the military jargon and my father tends to either not remember or is having difficulty with his memory. My father is Angel Velez Jr and he served in Vietnam during the late 1967-1968. He was in C Co 2/1 as a tower watch guard and machine gunner. He is looking for anyone who may remember serving with him. When he came back to the states he was stationed at Ft Devens. GOD Bless you all and Thank you for your Service!
There’s a woman over on the 196th.org guestbook looking for anyone who knows Angel Velez Jr. She says he was with C Co, 1st Infantry, 2nd battalion (8th support) whatever that means. So, I gave her a reference to this site just in case she meant C 2/1.
Rest in Peace, Brother Dennis. It was so nice that you could spend several of your last days on this earth with us in Wabasha. It was particularly uplifting to see and hear you narrate your slide show from Vietnam. May God hold you in his hands and protect you forever!
got word today that “willie” –dennis atneosen, of 1st platoon died. he was at the reunion.
lt–sounds like an interesting project–enjoy.
your next mission will be to find out why grunts seem to have gone into typing shock since the reunion. seems to be like when in the bush, many a grunt went into writing shock, which has continued into civilian life.
I have started a project that I wanted to do for a long time. I am taking all the letters my parents kept from me while I was in Vietnam and typing them into a document. It is quite a project but when I get done it will be a chronology of my time in Nam. I read them all again and it filled in some blanks.
Bill:
I sent you the password to the email address I have for you. I am sure you were in our Charlie 2/1. You may also have been with 3/21, but we are 2/1.
How do I get a user name and password? My name is Bill Sheppard. I served in Charlie company 3/21 196th. I was in a line squad and RTO from July 1969 to Sep 1970.
Anyone who wants the ultimate in combat infantryman hats go to the OLD POST EXCHANGE online and check out the absolutely ultimate CIB cap. Gary
Evans had one in Wabasha and now I do also.
Congrats to you and your family, LT…My parents were born in Ireland and emigrated the year I was born..Donehoo is the same name as Donahue …just a spelling variation. Glad everyone is OK.
Well guys this old infantryman is Grandpa again. My oldest daughter and her husband bill had their twins today. They are Finn at 7 lbs 15 ozs and Brenn at 6 lbs 4 ozs. You might know by the names that their father comes from an Irish family with a name of Donehoo. Everyone is doing well and I will get to see them tomorrow. That makes 6 grandkids(5 boys and 1 girl).
Chuck,
You can just do push ups until I’m tired and I am all the time! Pancho’s name is Eduardo Martinez-Torres and he is on the roster.
LT
Let me drop and give you 25 first. What is Poncho’s last name?