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 52 Spring 2002
Notes From The Editor and Board
Home
In This Issue
Incoming Short Rounds Memoirs In Memoriam
A Special Feature A Sprinkling Of Your Poetry
Publisher's Comments
by Thomas Eichler.
By this time, every one should have received their new membership cards. Life members should have also received a new certificate. If any one did not receive their card or I have made an error, let me know and I will make corrections. The new Membership Directories should have been received by those who paid in advance. Again, if I missed you, let me know. The Directories for the rest of the Membership will soon be ready. I print and put them together myself; thus, it is not a fast process and should take me approximately one month. Your Newsletter also contains Raffle Tickets and Registration forms for the Reunion. Please submit them ASAP, so "Jimbo" can get an estimate of the turnout. Also included are color brochures for Khe Sanh Items, such as Jewelry, Belt Buckles, Pins, Hats, Patches etc., designed by one of our members for all the service branches. He is donating a portion of the profits to the KSV. There has also been an interest in a KSV Ring and Membership Pin, in addition to an official patch -- we also need your ideas on this.
*****
Khe Sanh Veterans Annual Reunion
July 3rd through 7th 2002
Irving, Texas
Well, folks, it's about time to saddle up and get ready for the Texas Reunion, bring your partner and your friends. This will be the last posting in our magazine, so fill out the registration form in the back of magazine and send it in. If you send it in before May, you will be eligible for two free nights stay at a drawing on Sat. -- that's $150.00 you could save by getting registered early. Don't forget the Donation Raffle Tickets -- the whole trip could be flee if your ticket is drawn. Plus, the other prizes are well worth the money. Plus, if you send back all five tickets you will receive the collector's Khe Sanh Coin flee. The other prizes are listed in the magazine on the registration form.
On our web site at www.khesanh.com
is our link to all the attractions and events for Reunion 2002.
Hotel information for those who don't have, or care to have
is:
Marriott, Las Colinas ($73.00 per night)
Irving, TX 75039
Telephone: (972) 831-8861 for reservations Mention the Khe Sanh Veterans
Group.
Call me, Jim Wodecki at (972 727-2997 for more information
Wednesday, July 3rd.
Early registration.
Thursday.
We will sit out on the Patio by the canal and eat hot dogs
and barbeque sandwiches and watch the fireworks display just for us by the city
of Irving ($10.00 each).
Friday evening,
We head out to the Ranch ($45.00 each person). Hay rides,
horseshoe pitching, calf ropin', Quick Draw, (horse trail riding extra upon
request), Texas style Bobby-Q and vittles -- all you want to eat. Then, some
down home Country and Western Band Music to Texas Two-Step to, and even some
Line Dancing too. If you don't know how to Line Dance, we will have an afternoon
of practice by a beautiful Cowgirl. So, bring them youngins with you 'cuz we got
swimming and swings and plenty of fun and grub for all. For the children, we are
also just a few miles from Six Flags Over Texas and Water World!
Saturday morning,
There will be a Ladies Breakfast ($10.00) at the Hotel and a
trip for those who want to shop at the Grapevine Mills Mall, the Largest in the
World and for the men, a flee trip to the "Outdoor World Pro Bass
Shop." Included in next year's Raffle will be a $100.00 gift certificate to
the Pro Bass Shop. A Texas State Flag flown over the Texas Capitol in Austin, TX
last Veterans Day 2001 will be presented to a lucky person who attends all the
events.
On Saturday at this year's reunion, the theme will be "Honoring Corpsman, Medics, Doctors, and Aero Medical Evacuation Technicians." We will have a afternoon buffet lunch ($15.00 per person) with speakers and Colors presented. There will be a special ceremony thanking them with a Commemorative Medal [idea] by Bill Jayne, presented by Ray Stubbe and others, just for this reunion.
Sunday morning
Service will be held by Rev. Ray Stubbe as we end our great
reunion. Rest up for the trip home.
Jim "Jimbo" Wodecki
Secretary and Reunion Chairman
*****
ITINERARY FOR 2002 Reunion
Wednesday, July 3rd
10:00 AM,
Early registration begins. Mingle with old friends and relax
the rest of the day, or do a tour of Dallas area on your own.
10:30 AM,
Board of directors meeting
Thursday July 4th
9:00AM
Registration ($20.00 per person) till 5PM
Tour the local attractions. Visit with Friends.
6:00 PM
Sit out on the patio and watch fire works and attend the hot
dog and barbeque party on the canal ($10.00 per person, see registration form)
Friday, July 5th
9:00AM
Registration till 5:00pm.
9:00AM
Board of directors meeting.
Noon
Dance lessons for ranch, OR, do any local tours, visit the
Horses of Las Colinas and take picture of the Million Dollar Bronze Horses
(walking distance), or visit the local restaurants in the area.
3:30PM
Departure. Buses for the RANCH ($45.00 each, all you can
eat). Style of dress is up to you, but
cowboy and cowgirl outfits are best for this one.
Stay till 8pm. We will have buses leaving at earlier times for the hotel,
if priceless fun is too much for you.
Hayrides, gunslinger quick draw, and horseshoe pitching, Country and Western
Band to listen or dance to.
Saturday, July 6th
9:00AM
Registration till 12:00noon
8:00AM
Women's breakfast. Leave on shopping trip to Grapevine Mills
Mall, return is at l:00pm.
10:00AM
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2:00PM
COLORS, "DOCS" AWARDS CEREMONY ($15.00 each)
Presentations, guest speakers. Take a half hour break, then Buffet Style dinner
all you can eat.
*****
The Following Contributed Funds
to the
Khe Sanh Veterans Association
| ALIETTI, Joseph | ALLEN, Lewis J. | ARNDT, Terrence |
| ASSUM, David P. | AVERY, Terry E. | AX, William O. |
| BACON, Fred | BAEHREN, Stephen S. | BALLENTINE, Joseph |
| BAUM, Gary E. | BENNETT ,Charles | BERAN, Robert |
| BERG, John W. | BILOVECKY, Michael | BLANKENSHIP, Robert C. |
| BLANKSMA, Kristie M. | BODENWEISER, Alec | BOHRINGER, Michael B. |
| BORST, John L. | BREEDING, Earle G. | BROSIUS, James T. |
| BROWN, Caryle A . | BRUSH, Peter |
| CAMPBELL, Ronald | CAMPO, Carl | CAVANAUGH, Robert L. |
| CHARBONNEAU, Terry | COMER, Thomas M. | CONLEY, John |
| CONVERY, James | COOLIDGE, Robert E. | COWAN, John R. Sr. |
| COWAN, William V. | CRAWFORD, Danny C. | CREDO, EMMANUEL M. |
| CREWS, Gerald | CROTEAU, John H . |
| DABNEY, William H . | DAKIN, William E. JR. | DAVIS, Gary S. |
| D'AMBROSIO, Richard J. | DELANEY, Michael B . | DENTON, Donald D. |
| DILBERGER, Thomas J. | DRAKE, ED | DUBOIS, William H. |
| DUNLAP, Lee |
| ECHOLS, Ronald E Jr. | EDWARDS, Raymond | EICHLER, Thomas J. |
| ELKAN, Paul | ENSIGN, Gerry F. | EVANS, Edward M. |
| FAMIANO, Louis | FIERRO, Timoteo R. | FELDMAN, Edward M. |
| FINN, John P. | FOSMO, Harold Jr. | FOWLER,William R. |
| GALLEGOS, Richard | GARCIA Rene A. | GERARD, Charles G. |
| GOWER, Lloyd R. |
| HAAS, Lawrence D Jr. | HABECK, Richard | HACKER, Larry W. |
| HAISLEY, Steve D. | HALL, David | HALL, John E. |
| HALL, Robert A. | HAMILTON, Gary R. | HAMPTON, Randolph |
| HAMPTON, Theodore G. | HAAQ, Talib-Abdu | HERMANSON, Rodney |
| HERNANDEZ, Victor | HILLMANN, Richard E . | HOBART, Daniel L. |
| HOLSCHER, Robert | HOCH, Kurt L. | HOUK, James T. |
| HUBBARD, William |
| JACKSON, Joseph | JOHNSON, Hal C. | JONES, Bruce E. |
| JONES, Jerry A. |
| KAHENY, John M. | KANE, William J. | KEATON, Thomas |
| KELLEY, Charles W. | KERLIN, Stanley E. | KING, Robert D. |
| KUEHN, Donald | KUFELDT, Edward |
| LAIBINIS, John | LAMAR, Alphonso R. | LANGSTON, John W. |
| LANIER, William | LEMAK, D.M. | LEMKE, Charles T. |
| L'HOMMEDIEU ,Gregory | LEWIEN, Jerry | LITTLEFIELD, Maylene |
| LOGAN G.L. | LOWNDS, David | LYNCH, Dennis J. |
| MADDEN, Michael J. | MAGER, Larry R. | MAHONE, Michael |
| MAPEL, Randall | MARAS, Robert J. | MARCELLA, Ronald F. |
| MARSHALL, Eddie | McCORMACK, Jack | McCRACKEN, Hugh |
| McDERMID Scott T. | McDONOUGH, Frank M. | McGUIRK, Stephen S. |
| McNULTY, Terry P. | MENZEL, Robert | MEREDITH, Douglas |
| MESSNER, William J. | MILLS, Robert L. | MINNICKS, Charles |
| MONK, Gary | MOLLIVER, Michael | MOLNAR, David |
| MOORE, Fulton | MORGAN, Robert I. |
| NANGLE, James T. | NOYES, Richard | |
| O'CONNOR, Joseph P. | ORTIZ, John A. |
| PADLEY, Shirley W. | PAGE, Raymond L. | PARDEE, Dennis L. |
| PERKINS, Robert E. | PERRON, William F. | PESSONI, John J. |
| PETERSON James | PATTERSON, Charles | PATTERSON, Eldridge Jr. |
| PELON-BABBY, Sharon | PETERS, Thomas R. | PIERCE, Thomas A. |
| PIPES, Kenneth W. | PISOR, Robert L. | POOLE, Leonard |
| POYNTER, Dennis S. | PRENTICE, Glenn | PULEO, Joseph W. |
| RAIT, Donald | REES, Ronald M. | RIDDLE, Steve |
| RING, William | RIOS, Vincent | ROBLE, Matt |
| ROCHE, Robert T. | ROMANETZ, Nick | ROST, Charles |
| RULEMAN, Lee G. | RYAN, Thomas F. |
| SANDERS, Stephen T. | SCOTT, Michael D. | SCOTT, Steve G. |
| SHOUSE, Ronald | SKINNER, Robert E. | SMITH, Irvin |
| SOTO, Marco | SOUSA, Richard G. | SPENCER, Ernie |
| STACK, Geoffrey L. | STANLEY, Brian M. | STEWART, Robert W. |
| STRASNER, Lloyd T. | STUBBE, Ray W. | STUDT, John C. |
| STURGIS, Terry J. | STURKEY, Marion F. | SWEARENGEN, Mark A. |
| SWENSON, Jed | SWETS, Fred |
| TAYLOR, Erskin A. | TILLERY, Terry | TONICK, David |
| TORONTO, Wesley | TREADWAY, Michael |
| VINING, Francis E. |
| WALSH, Jimmy | WATSON, John H Jr. | WAYNE, Patrick |
| WEBBER, Lee | WELLS, Marshall R. | WEST, Joel |
| WHITENACK, James H. | WILCOXEN, Gerald W. | WILKINSON, James |
| WONDERS, William K. | WURTH, John |
*****
Reunions:
DELTA Co 1/26
Will hold their 2002 reunion in conjunction with the Khe Sanh Veterans Association Reunion in Dallas TX.
Date:
3-7 July 2002
Location:
Marriott Hotel, Las Colinas Texas
223 West Las Colinas Blvd.
Irving, Texas
Contact:
Liaison with Khe Sanh Veterans for details .
Daniel Fisher
6050 52nd St
North Oakdale, MN 55128
Ph: (612) 777-2406
Email: [email protected]
*****
3rd Bn 9th MARINES:
H&S, INDIA, KILO, LIMA & MIKE Co.
Date:
11-14 June 2002
Location:
Walt Disney World Resort
Hotel Royal Plaza
1905 S Hotel Plaza Blvd.
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
Contact:
Stew for details
Ph: (727) 581-5454
Email [email protected]
*****
3rd Bn 26th MARINES
Date:
11-15 June 2002
Location:
Ennis, Montana (6) Hotels
Contact:
Andy Debona
78471 Indigo Dr
La Quinta, CA 92253
Ph: 760-345-1245
Email [email protected]
*****
Book Reviews
We must support all the Brothers that put pen in hand, that pour their very soul into memorializing those with whom we served, that leave a part of themselves on each written page and, in the final analysis, become "SPEAKERS FOR OUR DEAD!"
,
"PETRIFIED HEART"
by Charles "Chuck" Patterson
John Kaheny wrote: "Charles Patterson, an LA attorney and member of the Khe Sanh Veterans Association, has published a book of poems based on his Vietnam experience. It is available on Amazon.com. The title is ' PETRIFIED HEART.' I recommend it highly, especially to those who know and love Marines." S/F John Kaheny
Kenny Pipes Wrote: "'PETRIFIED HEART' is the title of a just published book that I strongly recommend be added to your Khe Sanh collection! It is Vietnam poetry at its absolute best! As an added bonus, it is written by one of our own, Chuck Patterson. It is not exclusively about Khe Sanh. It covers a variety of people, places and subjects and tells a powerful poet's story of experiences that will be familiar and deeply moving to all of our members and to the public at large!
"This is a powerful book that drives to your heart. It ranks up there with Ernie's book, 'Welcome to Vietnam, Macho Man' and the other classics that have been penned in honor of those that served with us."
"PETRIFIED HEART" can be ordered from the Amazon website by special order, from all major book stores, or directly from: Signal Tree Publications, PO Box 551, Livermore Maine, 04253. Buy it, and read it in a quiet place, and remember! It is an absolute bargain at $15.00.
"GOD IN THE TRENCHES"
by Lakin Spivey
In "GOD IN THE TRENCHES," Spivey shows when the nation's survival seemed uncertain -- even doubtful, Fate seemed to turn America's way, giving way to mysterious, if not miraculous, events. These events altered the course of history, leading to victory for the American Military and enduring freedom for America's citizens. In his book, Spivey leaves no doubt that the History of the United States was swayed many times by a hidden hand. Will the hand of providence help America once again?
"GOD IN THE TRENCHES" can be ordered from
Allegiance Press or from [email protected]
*****