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

Incoming

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In This Issue
Notes from  Editor & Board   Health Matters   Short Rounds   Memoirs
   In Memoriam   Email   A Sprinkling of Your Poetry

Looking for Book

Hi. My name is Diane and I found a copy of The Khe Sanh Veterans' Red Clay at the Vet Center in St. Petersburg, FL. I know it is last year's issue, but I found it to be the most fascinating reading I have found in a long time. I was married (many, many years ago) to a career Marine (Air Wing) and have always had a lifelong interest in the military and battle strategies. Living on Okinawa for close to three years let me study the battle up close and personal. Otherwise, I have had to keep it to Civil War sites, like Gettysburg, Chattanooga and New Market. I had great success with Dien Bien Phu when I found a survivor from the French Foreign Legion who was willing to talk to me.. Language was a bit of a problem but we managed fairly well.

Khe Sanh seems a bit overwhelming at the moment, but I thought you might be able to point me in the right direction. Is there perhaps a book that you find to be an accurate account? Or do you know of someone who would be willing to email me about it? I would sincerely appreciate any help you could give me. And feel free to forward my email to anyone who could help me with this. I know this is many years too late, but no less sincere. Thank you and WELCOME HOME.

May 6, 2000

There are less than 2000 active duty military with RVN service in uniform today. All of us are senior enlisted/officers. On the eve of the fall of Saigon, I feel compelled to talk about the soldiers who served during that conflict. The barrage of misinformation about the war and who fought it is a national disgrace. For example, the B.S movies--"Rambo," "Apocalypse Now, .... Deer Hunter" and "Platoon," Oliver Stone's rendition of guys in the same unit killing each other, smoking dope on patrol. The sad thing is, Oliver knew better but wants to be one of the Hollywood insiders. Some of the things portrayed in these movies did happen, as they happen in all wars, but they are portrayed as everyday occurrences in Viet Nam, as every man's experience. Why?

My guess is that those in Hollywood and the media who avoided service have this need to reinforce their decision not to serve by vilifying those who did. This continued effort to disgrace those who went saddens me and makes me furious.

I am going to compare two conflicts: "The Greatest Generation" and Vietnam as a vehicle to define the RVN combat soldier. My intent is not to denigrate any other veteran but to shed some light. WWII was "The Good War," there was an evil foe bent on conquest and the destruction of the world as we knew it. Our whole society was galvanized behind the war effort. Every organization supported the war and total victory. There was every reason to fight and no excuse not to. The 60s generation and Viet Nam was the not-so-good war. The American public initially supported the war, but it was a side bar. The Reserves and National Guard were not mobilized. There was no societal effort. The goals were ambiguous and the threat undefined. The only reason to fight was a sense of service to the Nation. And yet during WWII, only 33% enlisted, 67% were drafted. Initially, only 21- to 35-year-olds were to be taken but not enough volunteers came forward, so the draft was lowered to 18.

Compare RVN 65-73: 67% enlisted and 33% were drafted. Of the draftees 10% volunteered for the draft.

In WWII during a 4 year period, there were 350,000 draft evaders. In RVN during an 8 year period there were 500,000 draft evaders. Developed to a fine art by some we know well.

WWII desertion "in the zone" Europe and Pacific theaters: 20,000 convicted prior to D-DAY. The British jails were full of US deserters who were brought to dockside in handcuffs. RVN desertion in country--250. WWII units surrendered to the enemy from Bataan to Europe. Many units with the ability to fight surrendered without one. Platoons, companies and in the case of the Battle of the Bulge, regiments with the ability to fight chose not to. RVN: not one platoon in 9 years of fighting surrendered. Some were overrun, but chose to fight to the death. LTG H. G. Moore, when revisiting his battlefield 20 some odd years later, was told by the North Vietnamese officers that they were astonished at the American soldiers "fanaticism" to fight to the end.

My unit was the 3rd squad C Company 2nd Bn 14th Infantry of the 25th Inf. Division (Tropic Lightning) or the "Electric Strawberry" as we called it, with pride. The Division fought in RVN from early 66 to late 71(?).

The Division had a little less than 17,000 assigned. During its tour the 25th had over 5,000 killed in action and just under 25,000 wounded in action. That's about twice the Divisions rolls. The 25th never lost a position to the enemy. Never had a unit overrun. Never had a soldier surrender under fire.

I am proud to have served as a grunt in RVN and have never served with finer men.

ED NOTE: Too bad Tom Brokaw doesn't read our magazine.

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Sandra Hill

Dear Editor,

I've been a member since around 1991 (my name is included in the Membership Directories of 1994 and 1996). Ray Stubbe and I have corresponded for quite a number of years, and I've also exchanged correspondence with Talis Kaminskis, whose written work I greatly admire.

What initially led me to become interested in the Vietnam War itself was the POW issue. I think it was during 1989 that British television aired a documentary on the POW/MIA issue, which made an enormous impact on me, the sort of impact where you lie awake at night and can't get it out of your mind. Then about 9 months later another TV channel aired a documentary called "We Can Keep You Forever," and the evidence they put forward was so overwhelming (set against the skeptics, who also had a fair hearing in the program) that it compelled me to go out and start reading up on the issue. From then on I got swept away and read just about everything I could lay my hands on. Books on the war aren't easy to come by in the UK, but over the years I've collected around 70 books on the subject, some of which I've had imported from the US. It was this accumulated knowledge that made me want to visit Vietnam, which I did in the early 90s and since then I've been working on a writing project (a novel) set during the war.

My first ever contact with the KSV Organization was when an enquiry letter I'd sent to another vet's organization for some information was redirected to Ernie Spencer. He then responded to that letter. By pure coincidence, I had literally just finished reading Ernie's book (WELCOME TO VIETNAM MACHO MAN) which I'd picked up in a book store over here. We just struck up a regular correspondence for quite a number of years after that. At that time I was preparing to visit Vietnam, including Khe Sanh as a result of his book. Ernie asked me to write a piece on my travels for inclusion in the newsletter which I did, and, which he published (article title: "Stop the Plane I Want to Get Off" ). During the early 90s Ernie was working flat out on preparing the newsletters all by himself. There was no team of editors helping to sift through and type all the submissions and prepare them for printing, etc. One day I volunteered my assistance, which fortunately for me he eventually accepted, and I think I helped him on about 3 or 4 of the newsletters. Ernie would send me a package with all the letters/articles/poems in their original format (often handwritten) and I typed them all up, sectionalized the various items, put it all onto a disk and mailed everything back to him in time for his deadline. Ernie then took over through to the final process of it going to press. When Ray took over Editorship of the newsletter, he printed an article I wrote on the Wall in issue no. 38 (Spring '97).

Ernie sounds like he's having a busy time of it at the moment--give him my regards when you next see him. Also, I hope you have a memorable visit back to Vietnam next month. It is, without doubt, the most amazing country I've ever visited and I would really love to go back some time. The poverty we saw in the south was truly humbling, both inside and outside the cities, but the southerners' friendliness was one of the major high points of the visit for me, and, alongside my visit to Khe Sanh, it's something that I'll never forget.

Sandra Hill

ED NOTE: Please see Sandra's poem about homeless Vets on page 43.

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Charles Kelly

Dear Editor,

My name is Charles Kelley and I was with the 2/94^th Arty on Carroll from Sep 67 to Sep 68. After looking for over a year for something on the 94^th or Carroll on the Internet I finally signed in on the Khe Sanh web site asking if any one knew of Carroll or the 2/94^th. I never expected the response I got from the Marines that were in the hill battles, Khe Sanh, Con Thien, Gio Linh etc.. Long story short, we now have a 94^th sign-in sheet at 2^nd battalion 94^th artillery

I have written the history of the 94^th in Vietnam for 6 years. I tried to write it as a history, but also with the personal accounts of the Marines and Army personnel. The 2/94^th supported from Carroll and other places along the DMZ. History is under my name on the sign-in sheet along with the 94^th MIA, KIA, WIA. Not really a web site yet but we have added a few pictures.

The 94^th was assigned to the 3^rd MAG from Oct of 66 to 1968 when the unit fell under the newly formed 108^th Arty Group. All fire missions went through the 3^rd Division. After the 3^rd was stood down, the 108^th went under the XXIV Corps arty. The 94^th did not leave until 1972.

The 94^th supported most of the hill battles for 861,861a, 881s and the KCB perimeter itself. When the KCB was being hit by NVA Arty from Laos, the 2/94^th moved a couple of guns at night out to LZ Stud to shoot over into Laos, which was not in vogue at that time. The enemy was allowed a safe area. The NVA Arty was knocked out and the guns withdrew to Carroll. The 94^th also tried to send four guns to Khe Sanh but the 9^th Marine convoy was turned back. The higher ups had waited too long.

The Service battery at Dong Ha delivered to C/1/12^th Marine Arty ammo and powder during the arty duels at Gio Linh in 67 when their supply was hit. The convoy was ambushed just out side of Gio Linh. Also the Service Battery delivered much needed supplies to Khe Sanh in the Pegasus operation, while their guns fired a corridor for the lead elements of the Marine break out as they left Ca Lu towards Khe Sanh.

I know the 25 guys that have signed in on our 94^th site are very appreciative of the Marine comments in the history. Made their trip over worthwhile finally after 34 years.

The 94^th was awarded a PUC by the Navy for its support of the Marines.A Battery in 66 was sent down to Chu Li to support the 1^st Marines down there.

See you in September. A couple of us are going to try and make the reunion.

Thomas S Buono

I lost my youth at Khe Sanh along with so many other young marines. We were so wide-eyed and proud, and we had every right to be; we are the nation's best, as all our brothers who joined us in that battle from all services were. We left damaged, but not defeated. We left proud, yet lost in our own anonymity. We are the defenders of our country and the conscience of the future. Let all who fell there know we hold those truths and their story will be told.

Roger Hildreth

Dear Editor,

I was stationed in Khe Sanh in August and September in 1968. My bunker was right on highway 9. I caught malaria up there and then they pulled us out of there and sent us down south near Da Nang to guard some NVA prison camp and patrol the area. We ran into an ambush and I was shot and blown up by a land mine.

I never found out what happened to anyone after that. But maybe I might find someone who was with Gold Company, 2nd platoon in the newsletter.

Thank you,
Roger D. Hildreth

Dear Editor,

Just to let you know that I received the new Red Clay today and read some of it, and so far not only so good, but so Great!

One thing of note, re: "Why Are We Here-Reunion 99" is shown as "Author Unknown." I'm the one who sent it to you. It was written by Cmdr. John "Doc" Lancaster, USN Ret. (Corpsman with E 2/26) John wrote it in honor of and read it at the Jefferson Barracks KSV Plaque Dedication Ceremony. He is a very self-effacing man, but I respectfully request that you assure he gets due credit in the next issue as well as any other use of the poem.

I understand the Ernie Spencer is on and off line. Please convey my special thanks to him for his beautiful words regarding the Echo ceremony for Joe Roble at ANC in 1998. His words and heart's recollection of this event brought it back again for me. As did the ceremony, Ernie's telling brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. Since I love all these guys and this special family, for me, it was a reunion of a different sort.

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