Guys-
It was a genuine pleasure to see you again and spend some time with you. As Mary Jean said on the way to the airport, “What a great bunch of guys!”
I told her that we might be a bit older, but we could still get the job done.
It was an honor to serve with you, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Semper Fi,
-Alan
Guys:
The agenda looks perfect. Great job Rod.
S/F,
Bruce
From: Alan Green
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 9:02 AM
To: ‘Eloy Rodriguez’; ‘Rachel Rodriguez’; ‘Bill Ventura’; ‘Brian Green’; ‘Bruce Pilch’; ‘Cary Cooper’; ‘Charlie Kipp’; ‘CHRISTINE SMITH’; ‘Eric Smith’; ‘Frederick R. Johnson’; ‘Gary Hoopman’; ‘Gordon T. Colucci’; ‘Jerimiah Macdonald’; ‘Joseph Lynn Cooper’;'Larry Ballard’; ‘Linda "Samme" Fabyukey’; ‘Maynard Sinclair’; ‘Michael Hoeffler’; ‘Pedro marquez’; ‘Robert Hommer’; ‘Tony Rodriguez’; ‘Walter "Walt" Philbin’
Cc: ‘Mary Jean Green’
Subject: RE: Reunion
Rod, this is great. Integrating it with the KSV agenda lets us do things together but also be with the larger group.
Mexican food? Outstanding. My wife Mary Jean and I co-owned a Mexican restaurant for a few years.
I can’t wait to see everybody.
Semper Fi
-Alan
PS Bill, I’m from Milwaukee. Let’s hit the Harley shop.
From: Eloy Rodriguez
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 10:13 AM
To: Rachel Rodriguez; Alan Green; Bill Ventura; Brian Green; Bruce Pilch; Cary Cooper; Charlie Kipp; CHRISTINE SMITH; Eloy Rodriguez; Eric Smith; Frederick R. Johnson; Gary Hoopman; Gordon T. Colucci; Jerimiah Macdonald; Joseph Lynn Cooper; Larry Ballard; Linda "Samme" Fabyukey; Maynard Sinclair; Michael Hoeffler; Pedro marquez; Robert Hommer; Tony Rodriguez; Walter "Walt" Philbin
Subject: Fw: Reunion
All,
My apologies for coming out a little late with our own (81 Mortars Platoon) agenda for the larger Khe Sanh Reunion next week. Our Friday evening, except for our get-together at “Howlin’ at the Moon”, and Saturday events are in conjunction with the Khe Sanh reunion agenda. There should be enough time to do your own sightseeing. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone.
SemperFidelis,
Rod
—– Forwarded Message —-
From: Eloy Rodriguez
To: Alan Green; Bruce Pilch ; Bill Ventura
Sent: Tue, July 6, 2010 6:08:34 PM
Subject: Reunion
Guys,
These is a possible agenda for next week. I wanted to touch bases with you to see what you think. I’ve added the suggestions as far as making the Trolley tour a family affair with stops at the sights and spending some time at a popular ‘drinking hole”, “Howling at the Moon”. If it’s too detailed, let me know and we’ll go from there. Bill V., thre’s a Harley-Davidson place about 15 minutes from the hotel.
S/F,
Rod
Thursday – July 15
6:30 p.m. – Meet in hotel lobby to go to dinner.
7:00 p.m. – Dinner at a nearby Mexican Restaurant at Market Square
8:30 p.m. - Meet at hotel to “reminiscense”
Friday – July 16
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Meet at hotel lobby for San Antonio Trolley Tour
Cost is $ 26.00 per person
Children 5-11 years are 1/2 price
Walk/Drive to Trolley office which is 1/2 mile from hotel. One minue drive/10 minute walk
(Eat lunch during tour)
We can get off at each trolley stop. Trolleys make their rounds every 45 minutes.
One of the stops is at the Market Square where one can buy Mexican souveniers
2:00 p.m – 2:30 p.m.. Visit to the Vietnam Memorial (Hill 881)
6:00 p.m. – Free Luau Kon Tiki Plaza in Hotel
9:00 p.m. Meet at “Howlin’ at the Moon” (Pub on the Riverwalk)
Saturday – July 17
10:00 – 12:00 Noon – Memorial Service
1200 – 2:00 General Membership Meeting
6:00 p.m. – Memorial Banquet (Cocktails)
7:00 p.m. Dinner (Buffet)
9:00 p.m. ” – Reminiscense”
Sunday July 18 Checkout
There are several attractions within walking distance from the hotel including the Alamo, Riverwalk and the Riverwalk Mall.
Guys-
Our reunion’s less than two months away — it’s time to start getting ready for some serious re-connecting and remembering.
I know I’m not alone in feeling my wind knocked out by Smitty’s death last month, but as many of you have said, he would have wanted us to carry on. So I’m coming to San Antonio to share a toast with you to Smitty and our other brothers who fell in battle or have died since. But I’m also planning to party hearty with you guys. Who knows when our next chance will be?
Since my last message I’ve talked with several people. Maynard Sinclair’s doing better and really looking forward to the reunion. His daughter Samantha (soon to be a dentist) will accompany him. She’s giving up a long-planned vacation to Hawaii to come to San Antonio with her dad — she says it’s a matter of priorities and Hawaii can wait.
I also talked again with Larry Ballard, who has tracked down Johnny Traylor (who may attend the reunion.) Larry sent along this photo of a group of us at Con Thien:
I called Gary Hoopman, who has a flooring business with his son in upper Minnesota. Gary’s been married 23 years, with two kids and six grandkids. He’s going to retire in July, and then do plenty of hunting and fishing (he’s done guiding all his life.) Gary’s stayed in touch with Jim Borgh (Gary, please send me his phone number.)
I had a great conversation with Walt “Phil” Philbin. You might remember from Smitty’s e-mails that Walt retired not long ago as an ace crime reporter in New Orleans (he also covered Hurricane Katrina.) He hopes to attend the reunion, driving to San Antonio since he doesn’t like to fly.
I also heard from Bob Hommer, who has made several efforts to track down Linwood Thompson, so far without success.
As most of you know, Smitty’s sisters Christine and Ellen are coming, along with nieces Christine and Olivia. I’m looking forward to sharing pictures and stories with them.
It will be great to see all of you!
Best and Semper Fi,
-Alan
My name is Christine Smith and I am Eric’s little sister.
I’ve been reading and hearing about the reunion in San Antonio.
Christine:
Rod and Alan are right on with their comments.
You better be there!!!!! Smitty was “walking point” for this reunion….it was going to revolve around him….that’s his personality with us……so you have no choice….we will bring our picture’s, etc….
Semper Fi,
Bruce Continue Reading »
Too bad Al-
I was really hoping to hear something about Dennis. I mean just connecting with him would have been great. Anyway lately we’ve been getting a lot of good news as far as finding the guys, but then we here about Sully and now Sgt Wolford. And at such an early age.
So we get a little bad in-between some good news. Hmm? Just another reason to come to a reunion and talk to some people as we might not get the chance to do it again.
SF
…But I especially remember Smitty’s bravery under terrible artillery fire in the DMZ in October 1968, when he volunteered to lead the medevac effort for our wounded and dead. Under intense fire and at great personal risk, he got the job done. He was recommended for (and earned) a Bronze Star, and was eventually awarded a Navy Commendation Medal for his efforts….
Forget the Books and the Stories and the Command Chronologies! If I were more organized I should be able to write at least a couple of books about our 81s Platoon and all I would need is the information from all of the E-mail Information that we send to each other. But then perhaps I was born to be an Observer! Hmm? Oh Well. I hope someone here will be able to gather adn organize this material and write something better than I can do.
According to one of Rene’s brothers:
Rene has been living in the woods for about 5 years up on Long Island. I’m sure it has to do with “post stress” from Khe Sanh. However he is healthy and seems content living that way. Continue Reading »
Carl Ballard, Sr. was born December 3, 1940 to the late Ethel and Dave Bollard in Chicago, Illinois where he graduated from Grain High School with commendations for his superior service to the school programs. He was the eldest of fourteen children.
In 1960, he enlisted in the United States Marines Corp where he was awarded medals for National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign and Good Conduct (twice), as well as, a Presidential Unit Citation for his service during the Vietnam Crisis. He was honorably discharged in 1968, with the rank of Sergeant. He relocated to Washington, D.C.
Larry-
Did I tell you that I finally got to talk to Terry Lee Poole for a couple or hours just some two weeks ago? Continue Reading »
Read Major Lynch’s statement about the mortar platoon reaching a high volume of fire — we were the only ones on that hill who could fight back against a devastating mortar attack and that’s just what we did.
And then there is the memory of the 25 guys under the ponchos on the LZ. It could have been any of us, but fate chose them that day. There would have been many more of them were it not for the bravery of every man in the 81s platoon.
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