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 55     Spring 2003

Notes From The Editor and Board

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In This Issue
Incoming     Web Briefs     Short Rounds     Memoirs
    In Memoriam     A Sprinkling Of Your Poetry

Notes From The Secretary

Dear KSV Members,

Well here we are guys, already 2003 — hard to believe, isn't it? Next reunion is coming real soon.

Everything is running pretty smooth. Brian Mahoney, our reunion chairman, has got it under control. I have contacted a few Bird Dog Pilots who stated they are going to attend. I am working on finding a few more. I hope most of you know we are going to South Carolina, not North Carolina, as shown on last reunion form.

We have also added a trip to Fort Sumner, included a trip to the USS Yorktown. Parris Island seems to be getting a lot of attention and a lot of husbands are taking their wives. There is a lunch and shopping trip for wives who do not want to go to boot camp.

Looks like its going to be a big Reunion with many old members (no pun intended) and many first-timers coming. It should be a great time as usual.

Thanks to all who ordered items from the PX fundraiser and to all who put in a donation with their annual membership. There are some less fortunate who will receive a magazine because of you.

You guys may not think you are the best, but you're the best I've ever seen.

*****

Upcoming Reunions

3/9 and F/2/12 - BLT 3/9, Inc. is sponsoring a reunion July 16-20, 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.

Vets from all eras are encouraged to attend. For questions, the POC is Stew at e-mail address [email protected], or telephone (727) 581-5454, a Florida area code.

For reunion data, please visit our website at http://www.gomershouse.com/ and click on "Reunions." All friends and support elements are welcome to attend.

Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

Fratres Aeterni

*****

Contributions

*****

Book Reviews

The Pepperdogs

by Francis "Bing" West
Published By Simon & Schuster

The Pepperdogs is a must read for all of you who are interested in the modern way of war. Bing is a former Force Recon type and Assistant Secretary of Defense. Set in Kosovo, it gives one a good perspective of modern grunt capabilities and the problems associated with command and control in the "joint and multinational" arena. Lots of good stuff on the new small unit tactics and equipment. I recommend it highly. A great insight into what Marines and soldiers may face in the next conflict.

John Kaheny
HQ Company 1/26 S-3

*****

West Dickens Avenue: A Khe Sanh Memoir

by John Corbett
Published By Ballentine Books, Jan 2002

from Publishers Weekly:

John Corbett's short, readable account of his days at Khe Sanh during the Siege while serving in a mortar platoon with the 26th Marine Regiment. Described in almost dispassionate prose and in great detail. His brief, staccato sentences effectively convey his last nine months in Vietnam, during which he saw plenty more combat. His brief description of his less than overwhelming homecoming reception rings true. The book's odd title comes from a discarded American street sign Corbett found while digging his personal foxhole.

Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002

*****

From Booklist:

Khe Sanh has slowly assumed its place as one of the most famous of American battles during the Vietnam War. General Giap himself master minded the siege, thinking the time propitious for a wholesale American collapse on the order of Dien Bien Phu. Corbett's is an eyewitness account, but he has sifted through every history he could find so that readers will understand both the enemy's movements and the thinking of the Marines. While he is no Phillip Caputo, he develops suspense about whether he will make it through the battle unwounded and which of his buddies will die. They die on nearly every page. Of course, the Marines do survive, and their bravery lives on.

Semper Fidelis:

36 years later, Corbett does them proud.

John Mort
Copyright American Library Association.
All rights reserved.

*****

from The Men Who Served At Khe Sanh:

from A Khe Sanh survivor

"West Dickens Avenue: A Marine at Khe Sanh" is one of the best books about a Marine fighting for survival during the Siege of Khe Sanh that I have ever read. It was so realistic. While reading it, my mind returned to that God-awful place. His description of the living conditions and state of mind of those enduring all that he described, is simply terrific. Although I never met Jack, he will always be my brother. I am grateful that he brought our Khe Sanh experience to so many through this wonderfully written book.

Jack Pessoni,
A Co 3rd Engineers

*****

another Khe Sanh Survivor:

Jack Corbett, in his book "West Dickens Avenue," wrote a brilliant, accurate, and humorous account of his time at Khe Sanh. I truly enjoyed reading the book. It was so realistic. Finally, someone wrote a book from the private's view of combat at Khe Sanh. I would recommend this book to all who enjoy truism in combat. His adventures from the time of enlistment, serving in combat, and the return to an ungrateful nation, was superb. You have done the Khe Sanh Veterans a great favor —

thank you brother.
James "Jimbo" Wodecki,
FLSU # 2 FLC Ammo Pit

*****

Jack Corbett served in Vietnam with H6&S Company 1/26, 81 MM, during the Siege of Khe Sanh. He now lives in Key Largo Florida. West Dickens Avenue is his first book.

PUBLISHERS NOTE: "West Dickens Avenue" was named Military Book of The Month. There were several more letters praising Jack's book that were not published due to space constraints.

It is available in hardcover at Amazon.com. It lists at $24.95, reduced to $17.47.

*****

Welcome to Vietnam, Macho Man

by Ernie Spencer
Published by Corps Productions
(Ernie's new company)

I have read almost every book written about Vietnam and a place called Khe Sanh. Ernie Spencer's book "Welcome To Vietnam, Macho Man" (both versions) is the best, or among the best written. He brings a different perspective to the responsibilities endowed to a front line combat officer.

Unlike most books about Vietnam, which deal with the horrors of combat, Ernie lets us experience other facets of life at Khe Sanh. Besides the horror of war, there is humor, honesty, and even anger. It is extremely difficult to explain to a civilian population the vast responsibilities of a front line combat officer commanding a group of young Marines whose lives are entrusted to him.

Ernie Spencer does it with an honest, simple writing style, which destroys a lot of myths created in other novels written by those who have not served in combat. His research was done in the trenches and fighting holes with the young men he led in combat.

It is one of those books you cannot put down. It makes you feel you are there with the young troops he is commanding. It should be a reference guide for all those training to be Marine Corps officers. This new release was done by our graphics guy Leo Wong. It has a stunning cover and pictures.

Those who want to publish their memoirs can contact Ernie for consideration in being published by his company.

Thomas Eichler,
VP Khe Sanh Veterans
E Co 2/26 Hill 861A

*****

"Macho Man" is an extraordinary, riveting account of Vietnam. Of the hundreds of books on Vietnam I have read — Spencer's work is the the funniest, the angriest, and the most honest. It is a riveting right of passage. It lights up truth like a tracer round.

The author is part Korean and all Catholic, and his blood and his beliefs are both put to the test. He saw it all — the big battles like Khe Sanh and the small daily conflicts that ate away at your soul and your guts. If you were there, you know this is the true stuff, the things we all felt or knew but seldom had the courage to say.

This book is about truth. By the time I finished I wanted to start all over. Spencer lets it rip. He is the kind of Marine you'd want at your back during battle and by your side with a brew after.

William Broyles, Jr.,
author (Brothers in Arms),
screenwriter (Apollo 13, Castaway)

*****

Ernie Spencer's "Welcome to Vietnam, Macho Man" is a compelling, uncompromising, sensitive and relentlessly accurate diary of one Marine's experience during the worst year of the war in Vietnam.

Spencer, a well-regarded Marine Company Commander and a gifted writer, shows us the Vietnam War as no other writer has. He is faithful to his Marines, to the hard and gritty facts of combat, and to himself as he captures the language, attitudes and feelings of those Marines who endured the Siege of Khe Sanh.

If you truly want to feel the Vietnam War, I recommend a ride with the Macho Man through Vietnam and beyond.

Chuck Patterson,
author (The Petrified Heart)

*****

For those who recall only a handful of good books about Vietnam, here is another to add to the list. Spencer writes with a light style, a sense of humor and an honest simplicity. A joy to read.

LEATHERNECK
Magazine of the Marines

*****

Welcome to Vietnam, Macho Man is available for $16.95 from Corps Productions. Contact them at

Corps Productions,
P.O. Box 1452,
Alamo, CA 94507-7452
(925) 838-6348
or at www.corpsproductions.com.

*****

Health News

William P. Miller
Former Corpsman, , L Co 3/26,

writes:

Dear Tom,

I received my Doc Medal and certificate. Thanks so much. Due to my health problems, I was not able to make the reunion in Irving, Texas. I did manage to attend the 3/26 reunion in Ennis, MT. For me, it was one of those special reunions. Many of the original members of the "Filthy Few," 2nd Platoon, Lima Co 3/26, were in attendance. For most of us, it was the first time we had seen each other in 33 years. There were a lot of hugs and tears. We also managed an awful lot of smiles. The stories began to unfold. Friendships that had been kept in everyone's heart were rekindled. It was a healing and holy experience. On the other hand, it was also the opening of "Pandora's Box."

Ever since I had been diagnosed with Porphyria Catonea Torda (PCT) in the mid 1980s, I wanted to satisfy my curiosity regarding the extent of the symptom among the brothers I served with. PCT is a liver dysfunction that occurs naturally in one in 30,000 people. It, along with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and other disorders has been directly related to herbicide exposure. Having all three conditions, I became suspicious. It did not take long for me to meet other veterans who also had the same condition. I am talking about Marines, Navy, Army, and Air Force veterans. The only thing we had in common was that we served in Vietnam in 1966 or 1967.

While at the reunion in Ennis, I discovered that ten former members of my platoon had some liver problems. One just died 12 February from liver failure, and two others are awaiting liver donors. I later learned two Marines also died while the reunion was in progress (they were not in attendance). I talked to ten Marines from our sister companies, they also had similar disorders. The PCT factor and liver disorders seemed to be in epidemic proportions. We all can relate to diabetes and peripheral neuropathy (numbness in arms & legs), but PCT is a whole different ballgame.

The symptoms of PCT are as follow: fatigue, lesions on the skin, sensitivity to light at extreme levels, and you may pass out or feel faint. Water blisters may appear on your hands or other areas of your body, usually in areas most exposed to sunlight. The skin on the hands will break open easily. The water blisters or scrapes leave a purple scar. Abdominal pains are also symptoms of PCT. If left untreated, this disease will eventually lead to liver failure or liver cancer.

I understand the VA is telling veterans effected with the symptoms that they have too many red blood cells (Polycythemia) and too much iron in their system. They are told to quit using metal pots to cook their foods. To me this is all bullcrap —something needs to be done, and quickly. PCT is a symptom of the liver, in that your liver fails to process iron, resulting in your body shedding iron through your urine. This in itself can cause liver failure. If anyone questions my accusations, then on your next trip to the VA primary care doctor, ask for a 24-hour urinalysis to check for porphyria (iron) in your urine.

If any of this makes sense to you veterans, please contact me at [email protected]. This is a serious health problem and the VA is backing away from any type of diagnosis of it. For a disease that is supposed to affect 1 in 30,000 people, I have interviewed plenty of that alleged one, many times over.

*****

Obituaries

Our Khe Sanh Brother Bob Mills has passed away. Bob was in 81mm mortars, H&S Company on the eastern perimeter of the base. We were in the same mortar squad, and stuck together after Khe Sanh and for all the stuff that happened to us down south afterwards. Bob and I always split the cost of a room at our annual reunions. Bob had a big heart, and anyone who could not afford accommodations at our annual reunions was always welcome to pick a spot on our hotel floor and bunk with us. May God Rest his soul. Semper Fi to Bob Mills.

Jack Corbett

Bob and Casper were fixtures at the bar. Every time you walked by, he was there and would talk to everyone. Jack, he was a good Marine and was unselfish to others. He will be missed at the reunions. Bob was at every reunion I attended. May he find peace on the other side of the River.

Semper Fi Bob
Jimbo

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