Reunion in July

05/28/10 1201 hours

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

Posted by admin in General,Reunion • Comments (0)

Sgt. Wolford

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

04/20/10 1141 hours

Continue Reading »

Posted by admin in General,Platoon Members • * Comments (1)

Eric “Smitty” Smith

…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….

04/20/10 1127 hours

Continue Reading »

Posted by admin in General,Platoon Members,x Platoon Obituaries • * Comments (1)

RE: Sgt.Carl Ballard (USMC) and Tony Conigliaro (Boston Red Sox) 5

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.

04/06/10 1319 hours

Continue Reading »

Posted by admin in Forward Observers,General,Platoon Members • Comments (0)

Rene Santerre was my 3rd FO Hill 700

04/06/10 1308 hours

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 »

Posted by admin in General,Platoon Members,x Platoon Obituaries • Comments (0)

Sgt. Carl Ballard (USMC)

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.

04/06/10 1258 hours

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 »

Posted by admin in General,Platoon Members,x Platoon Obituaries • Comments (0)

In the tall grass

03/23/10 0858 hours

+++

Posted by Smith Eric F. in 02 Khe Sanh Siege • Comments (0)

6 81s guys at Hai Van Pass area

03/20/10 1309 hours

+

Six 81s guys at HV Pass

Posted by Smith Eric F. in 01 Phu Bai TAOR,General,Platoon Members • Comments (0)

Jimmy Everley from Golf is gone

03/09/10 2142 hours

He had been sending out messaes  that his time was up. I was with him in Golf but I never got to know him in person. Later at th4e St Louis reunion I met him and we became freinds for ten years. He had a lot of medical problems for the last ten years including a liver transplant and so he knew God had give him some esxtra time to be with us Golf and Khe Sanh Vets and

Semper Fi Jimmy!

Jimmy Everley with the Golf Guidon Dallas 02

James Everly Death Notice:

James Everly’s Obituary by the Wichita Eagle.
Death
Everly, James Joseph, 63, retired US Postal Service machine operator,
passed Jimmy passed away, Monday, March 8, 2010. James was born February 25, 1947 to
Arling and Charlotte (Davis) Everley in Concordia, Kansas. He served as a
Lance Corporal in the US Marine Corp during the Vietnam Era. Survived by:
brother Raymond (Janice) Everley of Pensacola, FL; sister Sue (Terry)
Esselman of Glen Burnie, MD; cousins Beverly (Bruce) Lamendola, Mark,
Annie Lamendola all of Wichita; nephew Greggory Peck, niece Shannon
Flores. Visitation will be Thursday from 6-8 p.m., funeral service Friday,
10 a.m., both at Watson Reflection Pointe. Memorial established with the
KHE SANH Veterans Association c/o Thomas J. Eichler, 3221 N. Opal,
Chicago, Il 60634 or the Intrepid Fallen Hero’s Fund, One Intrepid Square,
W. 46th St. and 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036. Share memories at
watson funeral.com

Published in Wichita Eagle from March 10 to March 11, 2010  print Guest
BookAdd photos and more
You may leave your condolences or share memories by signing the Guest Book
here:

“On behalf of Bob Vivona, and myself, we thank James for pulling Bob’s
brother, and my best friend, Corporal Ron Vivona, Golf 2/26, off Hill
700 on April 6th, 1968. Ron lived 40 years because of James, and Captain
Overstreet. Ron passed away from…” Ron Main (Denver, CO)

Jimmy also helped carry Alan Jordan down the hill to the choppers.

I remember talking to Jimmy abou Alan Jordan and when Jimmy mentioned an Artillery Officer who was wearing Horned Rimmed Glasses, then I knew Jimmy had been up there and had helped to move Lt Jordan down to the chopper where they tried to save his life.

Posted by Smith Eric F. in 02 Khe Sanh Siege,x Platoon Obituaries • Comments (0)

Sir Freddy Johnson

Bill Ventura’s close up photo of Freddy Johnson with his ever present cigar. In any event, good to see Freddy again.

12/16/09 1835 hours

Freddy Johnson has been located.  Eloy Rod has talked to him on the phone or the email.  Let me post a photo of Freddy (Via Billy Ventura) when they were at he Camp Carroll or Con Thien area.Freddy Johnson

Posted by Smith Eric F. in General,Platoon Members • Comments (0)