The Ban'Shee Gazette: December 1997

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Banshees,

The final Holiday Season of the year is approaching fast but it is Veteran's Day, that I would like to write to you about. This months Gazette has a review about a book titled "To Have And To Hold," which was written by former Banshee John-Michael Hendrix (Scouts 1970). It's not the book that I want to expound on, but what happened after the book was published.

About a year after the book was in print, Debra Howell, a teacher in the Granite Falls elementary school used the book as a filler for her students that range from 9 to 11 years old. The students became so interested in the book and the true to life characters, they started someth1ng that snowballed into a national if not international event.

When the children found out how badly Vietnam Veterans were treated, they went out of their way to make amends for what happened to the returning veterans in the 60's and 70's. They made seventy-seven Veterans Day cards for each character, one for each year after they returned from Vietnam. They saved these cards and mailed them to each character after they were located.

This story doesn't stop here! When the students found out that their community had not had a Veteran's Day parade since the end of WWI, they petitioned their city council to have one. During the summer they had fund raising events to fly the main characters of "To Have And To Hold" up to Granite Falls, Washington to participate as their guest of honor in "their" Veteran's Day event. The whole community got involved and a small town of 1,500 people swelled to over 10,000 for the event, all because several school children felt that Vietnam Veterans were treated wrongly by their country and wanted to do something about it.

The following letter is one that I sent to the Granite Falls School students that were responsible for this remarkable event. I am asking each and everyone of you, not only as veterans but as Banshees, to take a few minutes and send these kids a well deserved "Congratulations" or "Thank You".

Their address is:

Debra Howell
c/o Monte Cristo Elementary
P O Box 9
Granite Falls, WA 98252
E-Mail: dhowell@mystery.gfalls.wednet.edu

Now, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Joyous Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year.

"Out Front"

Jim Matthews

Dear Debra,

Please share the following letter with your students. John has been sending me copies of some of the letters you have been sent over the past few weeks and now I would like to share a few words to your students.

Dear Mrs. Howell's Students,

We have never met, but since John Hendrix has been sending me copies of newspaper clippings and e-mail messages about your activities, I feel as though I have known you for sometime now. My name is Jim Matthews and I served in Vietnam with B Troop 2/17th Cavalry (Banshee's) almost a year before John Hendrix, "Weird Bob", Wild Bill and the other real live characters you have come to know. Now I am serving as the president of the newly formed B Troop 2/17th Cavalry Association.

Several months ago your project started out as a dream and now it has taken on a life of it's own. Your school project has turned into an event that has grabbed the attention of veteran's organizations across the country not to mention the news media. I was some what amazed that children 9, 10 and 11 years old could accomplish such a feat, but then I think back that most of the veterans that served in Vietnam were only 7 or 8 years older than you are now.

Besides you students doing an out- standing job, I think Mrs. Howell took a bold step by using Mr. Hendrix's book in your classroom. I'm not sure if you know it, but most teachers and school districts across the country avoid teaching about the Vietnam War or any other modern day war or conflict our country was involved in. Do you know that in some schools, students do not even have to say the Pledge of Allegiance? Through Mrs. Howell's efforts you children learned and experienced more than what could be taught out of any school book.

You learned lessons about human emotion that were shown by the characters in the book. You learned lessons in pride, honor and patriotism by what you have done for the characters you have come to know and yourselves. You also learned lessons in commitment and citizenship by your fund raising efforts and petitioning your city council to have a Veteran's Day parade. But not only did you learn, you taught. You taught that what starts out as a dream can become a reality if you work hard at it and take pride in something you believe in.

During our last telephone conversation, Mr. Hendrix invited me to Granite Falls to participate in your first Veteran's Day parade since WWI. Regretfully I had to turn down his invitation. Due to prior commitments, I will be in Washington D.C. for Veteran's Day. I really wish I could have made the trip to Granite Falls to participate in your parade because no matter how many more Veteran's Day parades Granite Falls has, this one will be very special to everyone involved, especially the students that worked so hard to make it happen.

To make Veteran's Day extra special, I would like to make a very special suggestion. When you see or meet a Veteran, no matter what war he participated in or whether he is your father or other relative, give him a little hug and a pat on the back and say "Welcome Home".

I, as a veteran and president of the B Troop 2/17th Cavalry Association, am proud of you and deeply appreciate what you have done for, not only for John, "Weird" Bob and Wild Bill, but for veterans everywhere.

TAPS

It is with deepest regrets that we inform you that we lost Arthur J. Kroll to cancer on June30,1997.

MEDICAL ALERT

We have information that two of our members have molds appearing on there bodies that are beginning to turn blue. Both are recieving care from the VA to remove them.

Needless to say the VA does not except this as Agent Orange exposure. We do have information that Nicholas Munk past away from Agent Orange exposure.

We are interested in knowing if others in the Unit are experiencing the same problem.

Please send any information on this to Jim Matthews.

Mini Reunion in Mechanicsburg

by David Martin

On October 19 Jim Matthews, David Martin, Jim Brown, and William Meade surprised Fernando De Pierris in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania with a mini-reunion.

With the help of Fernando's beautiful wife Renata the time was set at 9 am on Sunday morning at a local restaurant. Fernando was told that Renata was meeting friends and he needed to join her.

Fernando was surprised to say the least. He had just had a visit from Terry Fields (another slick pilot) on the previous Friday.

The guys spent the day reminiscing, looking at tapes and pictures. Telling war stories and just BS’ing as usual. I'm sure a lot of your ears were burning. Especially Bohler's!

We encourage those of you that are close to each other to get together when you can.

If you would like to be a state coordinator to help fellow Banshee's in your state to get together, let us know. We will provide state coordinators of Banshee's in their state.

LZ EAGLES NEST 1998 UPDATE

August 7-9, 1998

We hope to have hotel and Reunion registration information available for the next Banshee Gazette. There are two new hotels being built at the present time and we felt one of these will provide the best facility for our Reunion.

Your officers will be working hard with the active B Troop to insure that this will be a memorable reunion.

MARK those calendars.

Did You Notice???

On the POW/MIA Postage Stamp issued by the United States Post Office, that they used a post WWII- Korean War dog tag?

NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRIP

Jim Matthews and David Martin spent the day at the National Archives Records Center at College Park, Maryland on November 10.

There is an enormous amount of information available at the Archives and we are attempting to obtain as much information as possible. This will provide members with a source to locate information.

We obtained Unit histories for 1968, 1970, and 1971. It seems the Unit history for 1969 was lost. We even checked for it at Carlisle Barracks at the War College. This is even more reason that we should do everything possible to reconstruct it ourselves.

We did obtain after action reports and other valuable information. For some reason this time they did not pull the aircraft accident files for us. We know they have some, so this will be another trip in the future.

We continue to ask that if you have any orders, records, or documents we would appreciate a copy of them for our association records.

We would also appreciate copies of any personal documents that you have. Citations for medals sometimes given a very detailed description of events that occurred. Letters home or anything that might be of interest. The more we put together now the better future researchers will know about our efforts in Vietnam.

We are somewhat unique in the fact that we were shipped to Vietnam as a Unit. Most of our comrades were shipped individually and did not have the opportunity to share the relationships we had formed prior to going to Vietnam.

Eventually we will have significant information on any given day we were in Vietnam.

If you have anything please send a copy to Jim Matthews.

Joseph "DOC" La Pointe

Fernando DePierres contacted Mrs. LaPointe in October. She was happy to hear from a friend of her son. She said that she had never heard from anyone in the unit and had unanswered questions about what happen to her son.

Over the years she was not aware of a lot of the things that "Doc" had done. The way he cared for the Vietnamese children. Volunteered to go on his final mission when he didn't have to go. From what Fernando said she is interested in attending one of our future Reunions.

Fernando said that the only thing she regretted was that her husband is not still alive to hear the stories about their son from his friends.

Fernando said he really enjoyed his visit with Mrs. La Pointe and hopes to have the opportunity to meet her soon.

"Three Fighting Men"

Frederick Hart

I had the pleasure in April of meeting Frederick Hart the sculptor of the statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. With some artistic background I had always been interested in this work of art.

Mr. Hart's artistic background includes 16 years of dedicated work on the Washington Cathedral. When he was commissioned to sculpture the statue for the memorial he had no real knowledge of what he was going to do. With research on the "typical soldier" in Vietnam he began his work. He used Marine guards that were attached to the White House as models. The rest is history.

Mr. Hart is a very interesting person and a tremendous artist. He is working with our local community college to help raise funds for an art wing.

I did get to ask him why did he have the ammunition belts on the middle soldier pointing in. As I had remembered our "Blues" the shells pointed outward and he had portrayed them as pointing inward. He stated that this was the one area of the statue that he has received criticism for. He said it was just an oversight on the research teams part.

I forgave him, and really appreciated the opportunity to meet and visit with him.

Recommended Books

To Have and To Hold

by: John-Michael Hendrix

Our own highly decorated scout pilot from 1970-1971.

"To Have and To Hold" is far from being just a love story. It also includes many of John's combat experiences and lessons learned, that keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat throughout the entire book.

A personal autographed copy can be ordered directly from John at the following address:

Emerald City Publications
30528 Mountain Loop Highway
Granite Falls, Wa 98252

Please include $ll.95 plus $3.95 for shipping and handling for each copy.


Unknown Warriors

by: Fred Gaffen

ISBN-1-55002-073-0
Dundurn Press Limited

This book contains some information about CWO Holditch. It gives a little insight into his previous tour, only a couple of pages about him. I would suggest checking this one out through your library if you are interested.

< p>Did you know that CWO Holditch was from Canada? He enlisted in the Army to get away from a woman.

He spent his first tour in Vietnam in 1962 as a Green Beret. He was serving his third tour when we were in Vietnam.

Letters

Bro. David Martin,

Perhaps you knew or perhaps not the formation of B, 2/17 as an air cavalry element took place at Ft.Hood, Texas in 1968. It began as Troop F, 15th Cavalry; it then became "B" Packet, 17th Cavalry and finally Troop B, 2/17th when ready to go enroute to 'Nam.

I was with the outfit from December 1968 until WIA on 22 January 1970.

Dominus vobis cum,

David Livingston


Dave,

I was aware, but I'm sure not everyone was. Below are the dates that are on my military records for the events you are discussing.

13 Sept 68 F Troop 15th Cav

25 Oct 68 B Packet 2/17th Cav

1 Mar 69 B Trp 2/17th Cav


Hello Banshee's,

We were Cav but lest us not forget the lowly little 333rd Transportation Detachment (Aircraft Maintenance) that had only one purpose in life, which was to keep our aircraft mission ready. But we did not miss one mission for lack of flyable aircraft.

Ref the VA: What I did (after 22 years) was learn my subject (13 books) and what was required by social security for 100% disability. I won my 100% from the VA within 90 days.

A comrade that I have thought of many times was the Artillery Observation Lt. that was wounded? in the Command ship - Gary Dolin might know who he was.

Motto of 333rd

You break them - We Fix Em

Love you all,

Frank Wayne Thompson

COPIER DONATED

Thanks to Tina for the donation of a copier for the Association. Tina is the daughter of Fernando and Renata De Pierres.

This will save us the cost of purchasing a copier for the publication of the Banshee Gazette.

We appreciate all the help that we have received from everyone.

Thanks Tina!

ROSTER

Our roster now has over 400 names on it. We are adding new names weekly so, we expect it to continue to grow.

We will provide a copy of the roster with paid dues to the Association.

Future Ban'shee Gazette's will list all new additions for that time period. This is the best way that we think we can keep everyone informed of new B Troopers found.

Newly Located Banshee's

James Hamilton MS Huey Pilot

Wilbert C. Jones CO 333rd Trans. Detachment

Stephen A Thomas AZ C.O. 333rd Trans. Detachment

Sylvester Quitiquit HI Blues Platoon Lesder

Correction

I messed up Randy Kunkleman's zip code on the membership application in the last newsletter.

If you received your application back from the Post Office please resubmit it with the application that is in this newsletter.

Garrett Reierson - first name is spelled with two t's not one.

Please note that Address Changes should be sent to Jim Matthews. Jim maintains our Roster for the Association.

Membership

We encourage you to join the B Troop 2/17th Cavalry Association. The membership dues are currently being used for the cost of running the Association. This includes the publishing and mailing of The Banshee Gazette.

We hope to use future dues to enhance our Reunions, build our own historical archives, and possibly provide scholarships.

If you cannot afford the membership dues let us know. No one that wants to belong to the Association will be left out.

Send in Those Applications!

Membership Dues Received

Where to send Things

DUES

Randy Kunkleman
2395 N. Conant Road
Elida, OH 45807

ADDRESS CHANGES

Jim Matthews
6743 Madison Avenue
West Mifflin, PA 15122

BAN’SHEE GAZETTE

David Martin
135 Latane Street
Winchester, VA 22601

The Ban'shee Gazette is the OFFICIAL PUBLICATION for B Troop 2nd 17th Cavalry Association. We need your input by way of letters, poems, stories, pictures, or any form that is acceptable in print. This publication will only be as good as you make it.

UNIT CITATIONS

All members of the 101st Airborne Division, 101st Air Cavalry Division, or 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) who served in Vietnam received at least one (1) Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm. In addition:

101st Airborne Division:

17th CAVALRY, 2nd SQUADRON:

If you have not received these citations, I suggest contacting your Congressman for assistance in obtaining them.

Hot Off The Internet

To: Dan Schave

I have just this evening found your website while surfing Vietnam stuff on the net. I was just about floored when I saw Troop B 2/17 Cav in a title. I jumped on your site and was at once so pleased to find it.

I served with 333rd TC and B Troop from about March 1970 to February 1971. I was an airframe repairman (68G30), and worked in the maintenance hanger at the strip. So many vivid memories of those months I was there are put away now, unpacked less and less frequently as time passes. Visiting the roster I saw names of people I knew and even a few I shared a hootch with. I have saved most of the photos I took while there (even have the Canon camera I bought from the mail-order PX). I have old orders I have kept all these years and intend to get them out and compare them to the roster to see if any names match.

Thanks again for your work on the site.

SP5 Wilbert "Chris" Jones

INTERNET IDEA

If you do not have Internet service, you might want to check your local Library.

There is allot happening on our web site that you might be interested in.

Many of our members are staying in touch by Email and there are free Services for this if you check.

You might also have a child or friend that you could use their service.

Website Receives Award

Thanks to the continued tireless efforts of Dan Schave our webmaster, our website received a Site Recognition Award of Outstanding Patriotism. It was presented by Al Varelas USMC Vietnam Veteran, whom I must say has a tremendous website himself.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

To All Banshee's and their Families