Khe Sanh Veterans Association Inc.

Red Clay
Newsletter of the Veterans who served at Khe Sanh Combat Base,
Hill 950, Hill 881, Hill 861, Hill 861-A, Hill 558
Lang-Vei and Surrounding Area

Issue 47     Fall 2000

Notes from the Editor and Board

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In This Issue
Incoming   Health Matters   Short Rounds   Memoirs   In Memoriam   Email    A Sprinkling of Your Poetry

A Message From The Editor:

We failed to get permission or credit the cover photo in our last issue. The photo was taken by David Douglas Duncan, a photo journalist, who went through the Siege with some of us. I first saw the photo at Jim Wilkinson's home in Memphis in 1987. I was meeting him for the first time since Khe Sanh. I thought it was his personal photo. I asked if I could use the photo for our cover and he obliged. After we had gone to print, he mentioned it was a Duncan photo. Jim said he didn't think Duncan would mind. Little did I know it was used by David on a cover of one of his books. Tommy got quite a scare when David called him from France and pretended he was upset at his photo being used without his permission. He then laughed it off and said he thought it was a great cover. His photo on last issue's cover is a segue between what Jim and Walt are looking off towards, and the NVA on this issue's cover. Paul mentioned that the wearing of the green pith helmet is akin to the brothers in America wearing their "colors." While it is common in the North, it is looked down upon in the South. Paul caught the guy's look using a telephoto lens. He was not posing.

We bombed with the Rats/Red Clay theme for this issue. One submission. You guys cannot tell me you did Khe Sanh and don't have any stories of rats or red clay. There's a big difference between mind stories and writing, huh? The submission deadline for our next issue is November 31.

Ernie Spencer
Editor

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

It has been my pleasure to serve you, as your President of the Khe Sanh Veterans, for the past year. Since I spoke to you last, I have made two trips to Vietnam and have been in the village of Khe Sanh. I have worked with the Bru and the local Vietnamese. They appear to be, outwardly, pleased to make contact once again with Americans. There is no animosity among the people of Vietnam towards the Americans. On one of my trips I was able to find some of the Strikers that had served with us at Khe Sanh Fire Base and Khe Sanh Village. I just wish you could have felt the joy that radiated when we were together. The Mountain People are still as poor as sin, yet are eager to share with their visitors anything they have. English appears to be their second language now. When you walk through the streets of Khe Sanh young people and children all want to practice their English.

I hope we have a tremendous Reunion at San Diego in September and I want to talk with everyone of you. I know you did your job in a far superior

way than we can ever give you credit for.

David "BullDog' Smith,

Your Faithful Servant
President Khe Sanh Veterans

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From The VP

As the chairman of the publishing committee I want to personally thank every member of the organization who responded to my request for articles for our magazine. Your response is going to make this issue one of the most diverse and interesting we have ever published. Along with this issue you will also receive a copy of the 2000 Directory. Please check your personal information and correct any error on the form provided in the newsletter and return to me ASAP. I will be making corrections and additions, which will be mailed to you in each forthcoming edition of the KSV magazine. The directory has a

Binding that can be removed with a little practice and you can replace the pages with the corrected ones. I am debating whether to change the front and back cover, once a year. I would like to hear from the membership on this idea. James Wodecki (Jimbo) has done a magnificent job of recruiting new members and designed the covers for the 2000 edition.

I have one more request to help us keep our magazine one of the best published of any organization. We know and understand not everyone owns or has access to a computer. Paul Knight, along with Ernie Spencer and the rest of their staff, spend endless hours retyping and editing submitted material. They would be able to accomplish much more if we could have the materials submitted to Paul Knight, electronically. If at all possible, once you have written your story and do not have access to a computer, maybe you could have it done at your local library, or have a friend who has a computer, help redo the material. I do not wish to, in any way, discourage any one from writing, especially after making a plea for more articles. It is just a suggestion that will help the editors and save a lot of time and work. All materials for the newsletters should still be sent directly to Paul Knight. I again welcome any suggestions or criticisms. This is the only way I can judge our progress with the magazine, which will continue to grow with your help. Keep those articles coming.

Tom Eichler
VP & Chairman of Publishing &
Membership Committees

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March 24, 2000
Chaplain Ray W. Stubbe

    These are indeed times that become increasingly difficult. I had always assumed, when much younger, that the transitions and the issues that would be faced as one got older became less and less burdensome and difficult--that all the major ones (like a life's work, partner, etc. ) were all done early in life. I'm finding that the issues, however, have a sort of accumulative force to them. Issues of grief, of loss, of death, etc., are especially in this category--they seem to grow by adding what has been, with what is, and even anticipation of what will be!
    Thus, I heard recently of the loss of Tommy Eichler's mom.

    In my own case, my dad's condition has remarkably deteriorated so quick. He was placed on Home Hospice Care about a week ago--meaning that his condition is regarded as terminal within 6 months. He doesn't sleep well--and I'm up with him most of the night, and now he doesn't eat either. He's mostly in a wheelchair so that I can move him to the bathroom in a hurry to assist him while he sits on the pot clean him up afterwards, etc. Getting him dressed in the morning, taking care of the urine bag (he has a permanent catheter now), and so on have made me appreciate in much greater degree those who have done this sort of thing in the past for others.

*******

    I received another letter from Ines S. Kerch. (I think I sent you a letter from her before concerning the advisability of autopsies so that surviving next-of-kin might get compensations from the VA.) She writes in her recent letter something that you might consider putting in the next issue of our magazine: "I wonder if other veterans may have revealed a problem with 'bumps' forming on the body? Apparently, it is accompanied by some itching and, when scratched, there is flaking of the skin. One Vietnam member at our VFW Post served in the Army and has such a problem. According to the veteran, it affects his back, legs, and arms. He stated no doctor has been able to identify what it is, nor the cause. Has anyone revealed such a problem to you? I would appreciate your response." (Mrs. Ines S. Kerch, 1918 Storm Drive, Falls Church VA 22043-1413, widow
of Richard Kerch, Khe Sanh vet.)

Chaplain Ray W. Stubbe
April 17, 2000

8766 Park View CT.
Wauwatosa, WI 53226-2729
(414) 771-9987

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