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

Web Briefs

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In This Issue
Notes from Editor and Staff     Incoming     Short Rounds
Memoirs     In Memoriam     A Sprinkling Of Your Poetry

Note:
Messages culled from the Khe Sanh Veterans Message board

We would like to find out the identity of the "Gunny" who in Nov-Dec 1967 routinely came through our back perimeter and had a few beers with us. Also for the first time, I now know that we at FOB-3 were tied in with the 1st Battalion, Ninth Marines. Now we also realize why there were so many NVA present. 1/9 was famous for almost having a NVA Regiment attached to it.

Lee Dunlap
Captain, FOB-3
CDR , A221 USSF

Dear Editor,

I am enclosing this poem written by Pamela Zorn-Anderson. She wrote it as a tribute to the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines who served on Hill 861 and 881. Her poem was picked up by the UPI, copied and sent to many soldiers by their parents. Pamela, who is now 54-years-old, disappeared in the Fort Lauderdale area. The veterans in Texas gave me the mission of locating her and the poem. Anyone with information, please call Rick Foley 856-234-5540.

Art Brooks
1st Force Recon
USMC

Bugler, sound the "Colors" now...
give greetings to the morning sun
and hoist the flag with stripes unfurled
to decorate Eight Eighty-One

She'll wave in gentle majesty,
and let escape a mournful sigh,
for those whose blood has stained this hill
and those who've Yet to die

Personified, she walks with God
and longs for peace when all is done,
but 'til then, lives will still be lost
like those on Hill Eight Eighty-One

As nightfall comes her vigil ends,
she's folded with a loving hand,
and sent with care across the sea
to the family of a fighting man.

Tomorrow brings another flag
to stand, like she, against the sun.
The queen of those who fought for us
and died on Hill Eight Eighty-One.

*****

A Father's Worry

Brothers,

It is 0254, the house is quiet, and I am wide awake. I sit here drawn to the computer to a place where I know my friends are. My friends whom I depended on so greatly 35 years ago. I am not in danger as we all were then, but now my son is in harm's way as perhaps some of your sons are. Mine is a crew chief on a 46 in the Persian Gulf with the 24th MEU.

While in Khe Sanh years ago, we knew what was going on around us. We saw the day to day horror of that place. I don't have any concept as to what he and his buddies will see in the upcoming weeks and months. Then, we had a certain degree of control over our lives. Prior to a recon insert, we would pre-pare, we would over fly the zone, we would check all of our equipment, we would practice immediate action drills. We got as ready as we could.

Now my only option is to check websites and CNN and try to get a glimpse of a man a half a world away. Somehow combat in Khe Sanh in 67 and 68 doesn't seem to be as hard as the anticipation I now feel. I now know what our parents went through 35 and 36 years ago. It wasn't easy for them nor is it going to be easy for us who sit and wait. I only hope that my son has the friendship of Marines to get him through as I did all those years ago and still have today.

Thanks guys for the opportunity to speak my mind about what is bothering me this early winter morning. Semper Fi!

Kevin C. Macaulay

Kevin,

I also feel that tight knot in the pit of my stomach. The contributions we all made to this Country, as our Fathers before us, and what our children are contributing now is what made us the great nation we are today. It sure doesn't make it any easier to watch our kids go off to war. My prayers will be with you. My 17-year-old son is named Kevin.

Semper Fi.
Doc Thomas

Kevin,

I, for one, will never forget sitting in a Washington, D. C. hotel in late April of 2001 listening to you relate your experiences with 3rd Recon at Khe Sanh. At the time, you mentioned that your son was a Crew Chief on a CH-46 that still had the bullet hole patches from Vietnam, and he researched the logs and found it had flown at Khe Sanh. Based on your previous comments, he is obviously on his second enlistment. Any man who would commit to serving his country in a 35 year old helo is obviously "one hell of a man." Like father, like son. At this point, all we can do is pray. You know where mine will be.

Semper Fidelis
Larry

Hoss,

My thoughts and prayers are with your son. Remember he is with the best and as we did some 35 years ago, Marines take care of each other. We know that on a first-hand basis. I sincerely believe it. My son is a 1st Lt in the Army currently stationed in Italy. I, too, share some similar concern should his unit be deployed. A unified support of all true American patriots is what our troops need. I fly Old Glory on the front of my house every day.

Semper Fi.
Leiand Upshaw,
B Co 3rd Recon.

Dave,

I felt your concerns some 4-5 years ago when my son was with the 13th MEU, HMM-166. Saddam made a fake run back down towards the border and we thought we were going back to war. I turned on CNN, and there they were on board his ship. My son was with a 46 as well, and they showed them flying off the deck towards Kuwait. My heart hit the deck. A few days after, a letter arrives and I felt better. My son told me that when they went on alert, the entire attitude on the ship made a 180 degree turn. Live ammo and the like. I suddenly realized what a outstanding well trained company he was with. Remember the company you and I had at Khe Sanh. These Marines, your son and mine, are better equipped and trained then we were. Each unit had an information phone number that you could call. There was a voice mail message that gave you daily up dates on the unit. They must still have that and it made me feel a lot closer to my son. My son returned home safely. On the way back they stopped in Hawaii. I met him there and sailed back to Camp Pendleton on his ship. It took 8 days, 8 days at sea with the USMC. The only thing they would not let us do was fly. Rest assured that your son and his fel-low Marines know what they are doing. These Marines are absolutely fantastic as Marines and as men.

Semper Fi
Rich Hillmann

Kevin,

My sentiments and prayers are with you and your son. I remember coming home from Nam and walking into my house (October 68) and being stunned to see 2 small B/W TVs sitting atop our "large" console TV. I asked my mom what the TV's were all about. She said, "Oh, your father bought them both back in January so he could watch all three networks at the same time and not miss any of the news from Khe Sanh." (No cable TV and certainly no VCR's back then.) Up until that point, I had never given too much thought to what my folks went through while I was in-country. Those extra TVs were proof. I earnestly hope that armed conflict can be avoided. My thoughts are with you.

Dennis Mannion

*****

Convoy out of Khe Sanh

Is there anyone out there who has pictures of the first convoy out of Khe Sanh, or are there any drivers out there? I rode in the back with a 50 cal. mounted on the back of the cab and about a half dozen LAWs opened. That wasn't much company I had in the back of that 2 1/2 ton truck. I can only imagine that wonderful warm fuzzy feeling the driver had. I was getting a ride to Camp Carroll to rejoin Fox Co. What a lonely ride. Anyone out there on that ride? Fox and Echo 2/26 or from any other unit?

Hank

As a matter of fact, I do have some on VHS made by LT. Bruce Geiger along with hundreds of others from Khe Sanh to Dong Ha convoy. Cam LO, Phu Bai, Con Tien, Quang Tri and other places he was stationed with the Dusters. He has given me permission to sell repos of them to members as a fundraiser for KSV. Anyone interested there are 2 VHS for $10.00 each, Bruce even narrates and added music of the times. Email me to purchase. These are great to have. PJ and I view them every night when reruns are on.

Jimbo

It was fun to read these! Many different units made the "drive" to and from the base. They even had some runs at night, April/May 1968 to prove that 'we could drive the road when we wanted. I (as a junior Lt) believed the whole idea dumb and that anyone could stop us on that road, even if you flunked boot camp!! The road was like a small drive-way with a hill immediately to one side and a drop off to the river on the other. The approach to the base off of Highway 9 just had some trees and an approach trench on each side! Third week in May 1968, had the sweep team ambushed and later that week a convoy on Highway 9 just prior to the artillery unit's position.

I recall one ride when a helo called me to ask if we were under fire (because of the dust we had tossed up). After checking all hands we said no and kept on trucking. We'd drive to Ca Lu and pick up supplies and return to Khe Sanh, not a bad drive, never any other traffic! Down south had problems with them cutting in to the convoy after one overloaded civilian vehicle hit a mine in front of my M-151 (near Hill 55). I allowed them to pass!! Actually, they were a nice mine sweeper, just couldn't let them brake down and block the road (push them off the road (quickly!!) and continue the drive.

Yes, a former Marine who lives around here has been denied PTSD since he was "just a driver" and never fired his rifle. He served Dec 67-May 68 and drove the "highways," including Khe Sanh. Sad.)

Well, thanks for the memories.
Terry Charbonneau LT, 
1st M/T.BN.

Hello Terry, 
I was wondering if you were the Lt. in the Bn supply bunker when Lt. Kim Johnson was killed on 23 February 1968?

Terry Lacy

No, it wasn't me. I was still South in the Hue city area until April when we rode North to Ca Lu, and then Khe Sanh. In February 1968, it would have been someone from 9th Motor Transport Bn. I know that one of the M/T officers at Khe Sanh was hit and a replacement was sent from 9th M/T Bn during the second week of February 1968.1 was "visiting" 9th M/T at the time and observed the replacement gathering his gear and leaving. Funny, three months later, I was living in the M/T bunker at Khe Sanh. One did get to see different areas of Vietnam while riding the roads.

Terry Charbonneau

One of the guys from Battalion supply and I dug this guy out. We had to find him first. He had a wire wrapped around his neck. I ran over to Alfa Co. sup-ply tent and got my wire cutters and cut the wire from around his neck. I think all he had was a bro-ken leg.

Terry Lacy

*****

The last issue of Red Clay mentioned that a few of the members were concerned about some of the posts on this message board. I, too, have been bothered by a few of the "off topic" posts, but over the years I have learned to ignore distractions and to focus on the things I care about. Some of the posts may not interest you, but I can't remember too many posts that didn't get some type of reply. Someone took the time to read and reply to just about all of the messages regardless of the topic. I check all the messages daily to make sure we don't have any personal attacks, ads for porn sites or any other flagrant violations of decent behavior, but I've only had to delete 5-6 messages since this board came online.

I think of this board like our bunker at Khe Sanh. We didn't sit there and talk all night about tactics and weapons, we would shoot the bull, talk about our cars and girlfriends, what we were looking for-ward to when we got home and what we planned to do on R&R. If conversations didn't interest me, I would tune them out and join back in when I heard something I could relate to. I ask all of you to do the same. I'm happy to see all the posts and don't want to see anyone drop out of sight because of a few off topic posts. I think the best policy is to ignore some of these posts and not encourage the practice by replying to these posts. If you guys have any ideas or suggestions, send me an e-mail or post your concerns here.

Dave Doehrman

Agreed. I visit the site every chance I get. But, I don't always read all that is posted. I don't think there is anything wrong with some of the friendly, light joking around that I sometimes read. I spent a lot of time living in holes that were just that, a quick place to hide from the incoming. But even then we could find something else to talk about, jokingly or just sharing a dream about what we understood then. I think what I'm trying to say is, some things haven't changed much as you can see by the posts from the past and what many of us are still living. And I think some of us just want to remember some of good times no matter how bad things got. You have done a great job with the site. I have been able to find a number of old friends and information that I probably would not have found if not for this site and the involvement from others. It is a wonderful place to come to for all of us. Thanks.

Semper Fi Brother
Hank Melanson

Dave, your message sounds like a common sense way to handle the problem. Keep up the good work!!

Dave Anderson

Well said, Dave. I concur. Keep up the good work. It is what makes message board life interesting. The clown, the lifer, the agitator, the father, the serious guy and, of course, the witty, uncomplaining, shy, handsome, debonair guy like me. It is very uncanny what jogs our memories of the past. Now guys go to the Red Clay PX and buy some stuff so we have enough money to put out another Red Clay magazine. http://www.stores.ebay.com/stores26342286

Jimbo

Dave, I do admit that sometimes the Message Board does get out of hand, but that is normal for us guys and what we all went through. Like you said, if you don't like what you are reading, move on. I read the Board every day and it is all interesting to me, half these guys were on the hills. During the Siege, I was on the Base and at the rock quarry with 1/9. So what I can learn from them means a lot to me about the hills.

Keep up the good work, See you at the reunion.

Semper-Fi
Big John

*****

I was a USAF loadmaster flying in and out of Khe Sanh in 1967-68.I lost a good friend who died when one of our birds crashed at Khe Sanh on October 14, 1967. Does anyone on this message board remember this crash incident? My hats off to all Khe Sanh vets. I'm proud that I was able to contribute by bringing in beans, bullets and band aids. Keep the spirit alive and your powder dry.

Wes

I was there that day, 10-15-67, and helped with the removal of bodies. Kristine Blanksma, Capt. Earle Bjorke' s daughter, who was only three months old at the time, has been a wonderful help to me. She truly deserves our praises for the website to her father's memory, and to the others who perished in the crash.

Jim Dawdy

Wes,

See if this is the right crash...it was 10-15-67... www.geocities.com/erlebjorke It lists the flight history of the crash. I would love to find out who your friend was... I have been in touch with a few family and friends. The men on the crash were Joe Hannah (survivor), Earle Bjorke, Hottenroth, John Snyder, Ed Mosley, Lawrence Berniski.

Kristine

Dear Kristine,

My friend was Air Force Sergeant Larry Berneski, the loadmaster on that flight. He was my mentor in Vietnam and I was supposed to be on that flight with him. When I awoke, he had already left for Khe Sanh and the word I got from ops was he said that I could sleep in and that he could handle the mission by himself. His act of kindness to me saved my life but left me with a lifelong guilt complex.

Wes

I remember what was left of the wreckage, mostly tail section. I was a C-130 navigator who flew out of Danang into Khe Sanh approx. 50 times in 1971, during Lam Son 719. There were several C-130 wreck sites we could see from the air, most in I corp. One was blown up and burned right in its parking spot on the ramp at Danang. It remained there for days. "Mortar magnet" is right!

Al Wilson
1/24/1968

*****

On the evening of the 24th 
during heavy incoming, an artillery round landed directly in the doorway of one of the 3rd Recon bunkers. Three Marines and a Navy Corpsman died instantly, the fourth Marine died three days later. Others in the bunker were wounded and buried alive when the bunker collapsed. The survivors were dug out and the wounded taken to Charlie Med. You are not forgotten...

Dave Doehrman

Dave,

The day the bunker got hit sticks in my mind very vividly as well. One correction though: Jr. Reather was killed 3 days later when a mortar round landed next to group of guys filling sandbags. A bunch of guys were wounded and medevaced out. Jr. was the only one killed that day.

Kevin

Hey Kevin

He was called Junior, right? When you and I first met in NYC for the Dear America book thing or the parade (1985). I think of you often (and your health issues) and Junior as well. Stay warm and well!

Dennis Mannion

*****

1st Air Delivery

As I am new to the Association (sent in my application for membership today) and old to Khe Sanh (I made so many drops out of C-130's to that hell hole I received a handful of Air Medals), I wish to add to something I read in last month's issue about some parachutists who died at Khe Sanh in November of 67. Earl Dale Jenkins (from Georgetown, IL) and Lewis Clayton Childress (from Urbana, IL), both rather new in country and both Cpis with the 1st Air Delivery Platoon, Headquarters Co., 1st Mar. Div. flying with VMRG-152 out of Da Nang.

The accident involved the way Cpl. Jenkins exited the aircraft in a low level (800 feet) jump. As you who now remember, the drop zone was small and the nature of the winds that came up the valley made judging them unpredictable. It was a hurried jump, and Jenkins main chute became entangled with Childress's (who was the third man to jump). Jenkins tried to pop his reserve but that added to the entanglement and both men hit the ground at about 90 miles and hour. They were both 19 years old when they died that day. I was with Lt. Medez, our platoon C/0, when we went to Graves registration to pick up their effects. I write this as a pledge to my friends that I will never forget them, and now you all know who they were and their memory can be brighter and stronger. If and when you pray, send a little something to Earl and Lewis. Thanks for being there to all my brothers who did the terribly tough duty at Khe Sanh. I remain your comrade,

John Wagner, 
Soquel, CA.

John, I remember that day well. What I saw was one man jump out of the plane, his chute opened but twisted around itself, the next man caught up with him and grabbed him and his chute wrapped around the other guys chute and they both came down together. The ambulance truck came by our area and I stopped it to find how they made out, and he told me they didn't make it. John, that will always stay in my mind.

Big John

John, I too, saw this terrible accident. C Co. just came off of 861 a few days before. We were base security/reaction force. I think we just walked through the drop zone, returning from a patrol. I watched the aircraft pass over the drop zone and saw both Marines fall to the earth. That incident was my first experience with death. I had only been in country and at KSCB for just over a month. We never had any contact. Nothing more to say.

Nick Romanetz

John, I was there November 16, 1967. We took a dump truck through the wire and were the first to reach Childress and Jenkins. The Corpsman worked on one with CPR but it was hopeless. I'll always remember how surreal it was to hold a man's hand as he died. He had an M-14 and the stock had broken at the handhold. We were asked to go west into the trees to help guide one parachutist, who had drifted out of sight into the trees, back to the base. We had just located him when an AK-47 fired several bursts and we all had to take cover. In 1997 I finally worked up enough courage and I called Childress's mother and expressed my condolences to her. I should have called her years before, but you know how it is. She had never been provided a convincing explanation by the US Government concerning her son's death, so I traveled to Las Vegas a few weeks later and met with her, a daughter, and a son whom they were visiting who lived in Las Vegas. It was a duty I felt I owed to Cpl. Lewis Clayton Childress, USMC, and a man I have never forgotten and will never forget. I think of him very often. When I am feeling real low his presence within me seems to provide some solace. Strange, don't you think?

Jim Dawdy

John,

I, too, remember the incident well. I was in "A" 1/13 and we used to watch the drops all the time since they were not too far from our position. If my memory serves me correctly four jumpers came out of the C-130. Two landed safely and we could see the other two tangled up in their chutes. I still remember the ambulance passing our position carrying these fine young men.

Jim

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