Dear Present and former Banshee's,
There appears to be some confusion as to the membership of the B Troop 2/17th Cavalry Association so I would like to take this opportunity to try to address some of those questions.
When we locate a person that served with either B Troop 17th Cav. or the same unit that was later designated B Troop 2/17th Cav. we automatically add him or her to the active roster and to the mailing list to receive the Banshee Gazette. We mail the gazette to everyone whether they join the association or not and continue to do so unless the gazettes are returned "undeliverable" or we are notified that the recipient no longer wants to receive the newsletter.
You do not automatically become a member of our Association just by us locating you and placing you on our roster or mailing list. To officially become a member of our Association you must fill out the membership application that either comes with the gazette or it can be downloaded from our Internet web site. The application and yearly dues must be submitted to our Secretary/Treasurer, Randy Kunkleman. Once we receive your application and dues you are then sent a membership packet which includes a membership card, an Association bumper sticker, a copy of the Association By-Laws, a copy of the last updated "Active Roster" (people we have located) and a copy of the last updated "Unfound Roster." (People we can not find).
At the present time we have had 114 Regular members and our numbers keep growing all the time. I would like to remind you that you do not have to be a member of the Association to attend our reunion. But, if you want to take an active part in the annual dinner/meeting and have a vote on Association business, you must be a paid up Regular Member of the Association. If you have any questions as to whether you membership is active please contact Randy or myself as soon as possible.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those of you that have showed continued financial and moral support in our Association as well as those of you who have supplied us with copies of orders and historical information about B Troop. Without you help we can not keep our organization operational and growing.
Hope to see all of you in Las Vegas,
Jim Matthews - President
In late May and early June, Fernando DePerris led a pilgrimage back to Vietnam. Upon the return of our Pilgrims I requested their thoughts about their journey. The following stories are what I received and I felt all Banshees would enjoy these stories.
Two days after having located what became known as "Hamburger Hill", on 15 May 1969 B Troop 2/17 Air Cav, 101st Abn Div was sent early in the morning south to Chu Lai. The Americal had declared a tactical emergency and the 1st Brigade of the 101st was sent down to help and what was named "Operation Lamar Plain". By 1000 hrs B Troop was fully operational in the AO east of Tam Ky, Death Valley.
2 June 1969
In response to a few potshots the B Troop Aerorifles are inserted at 1240 hrs on Hill 376, vicinity of Tam Ky, RVN. Eighteen men, including a medic and 2 Vietnamese scouts who fled the area are surrounded by hundreds of well-bunkered NVA troops. The Platoon is pinned down for several hours and suffers heavy losses. Only a few are able to return fire. Several companies are inserted later in the day and the siege is broken not without heavy losses on both parts. The following day at noon the survivors are returned to Tam Ky. The bodies and the blood stained equipment of the KIA's are also returned but their souls were left on the hill. We inserted them but never extracted them. This action was a bitter pill for the Banshee troopers. We did not realize then that we would carry this event deep inside us for years to come. To one degree or another, we have carried a sense of helplessness and guilt, which have haunted us all these years. A yearning to return to the Hill would become a reality.
26 May 1999
The Last Recon Platoon assembles at Los Angeles International Airport. One by one, the platoon elements fly in from all over the United States. At 0115 hrs the platoon departs enroute to Vietnam arriving in Saigon on 28 June.
MISSION: to land on Hill 376 and extract the five souls left behind on 2 June 1969.
30 May 1999
The Last Recon Platoon flies into Danang and sets up a base of operations at the Furama Resort in China Beach.
1 June 1999
The Last Recon Platoon, a Task Force from B Troop 2/17 Air Cav, reinforced by aviation assets from the 5th Mech Division and the Americal, augmented by a volunteer dependent contingent, departs Danang enroute to Tam Ky arriving at the assembly area at approximately 0800 hrs. A Vietnamese scout who had previously reconnoitered the area leads the party to the top of the hill after stops at three staging areas. Vietnamese carriers porters logistical support. The final assault is launched from Mr. Minh's home, the last hamlet on the hill.
The Task Force reaches the summit at approximately 12:40 hrs where a 2 June 1969 survivor finds that nothing has changed. Evidence of bunkers has not been erased by 30 seasons of monsoons. The boulder where the platoon leader and three others took shelter are still there, silent witnesses to a tragedy. The grass is taller, the only change. The survivor tells the story, step by step, walking through the area, marking the place where our KIA's fell, where the platoon was positioned. A story of anxious hours, of smoke, of death, of gunships firing rockets, of fear and of bravery. Of heavy monsoon rains that preclude reinforcements for several hours.
The tactical situation having been described, the positions marked, it was time for the 91st Psalm read by a cobra pilot who spent hours on station talking to the survivor… after 30 years they realized who they were… they had known the voices but not the faces.
Name tracings from the Vietnam Memorial are read and one by one they are burned, their ashes symbolically left on the hill for the wind to play.
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Their souls are now free to wonder the heavens. We never forgot them.
As if on cue, the same monsoon rain of 1969 begins to fall again and at the same time, reminding us that there are forces more powerful over which we have no control. The return to the staging area is wet but joyous; a sense of fulfillment is felt by everyone, we are free at last. We sought and found inner peace. We sought and found closure. We extracted them.
The war is over.
Banshee 46
(The following day at 1230 at a Church in Tam Ky a memorial service was held. The church was decorated with fresh flowers and a choir of young Vietnamese girls, looking beautiful in white ao dais, plus young boys in white shirts and ties, sang for us. Through large open windows bright sunlight entered the nave and in the midst of the service butterflies, the symbol of life, flew in and out of the church)
Observations from each perspective of the individuals will very, so I am only relating one of the 26 available from our pilgrimage to Vietnam. To me the trip was a mixture of duty with soul searching mixed in. I was not planning on going at first, but Helen; my wife told me that she believed I needed to go for closure. (Closure is something I am unsure about.) I still have questions, but many questions were answered for me. Why were we there is one question that was partially answered. From my point of view it was to help the South Vietnamese to have a free country like I live in. A country I can love even though I sometimes fear those who govern it. It seems the Vietnamese love their country but their fear is far greater than mine. They would talk openly if they were sure no one else could hear them. Vietnam is a Communist country where the people have very limited freedoms that are given based on how they conform to dictated Communist policy and previous associations. Every one that I talked to who was family or friendly to those associated with the South Vietnamese Army said their life was extremely hard from 1975 until the middle 1990's. Many would gladly leave if they were allowed to. I believe I served in Vietnam for those Vietnamese people that do not want to fear for what they say, believe, and think. What do they think of me is another question that was answered. Every one showed great respect, and emitted a seemingly genuine love for Americans. All the people, from the card carrying Communist to poor common people were very friendly. I guess that even though there was no hatred, animosity, or prejudice by those in power, there is still a big difference in how we construe individual freedom. The Communist are willing to get along well with anyone who is unwilling to help those people be free. At the same time there is abundant propaganda as to the atrocities Americans did. The Communists publicize isolated atrocities committed by American soldiers as the normal behavior during the Vietnam War. These atrocities produced torrents of outrage from antiwar critics and the news media in our country during the war. Even though the Communist atrocities were so common in the war, yet there was not a single occurrence mentioned in all the war history open to the Vietnamese and we tourist. The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece of its strategy. Americans who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations. The biased presentation of atrocities by the Communists is in sharp contrast to how Vietnam is presented from both sides by the American press. In all I did not get the feeling that the average Vietnamese bought into the Communists propaganda, but the new minority ruling Communists generation coming up very likely is in agreement with it. I believe the bulk of the South Vietnam is non- Communists, and look to us as a child looks to his dad who deserted him. In love he can only ask why did you leave?
When Dave Martin asked me to write up something for the Gazette I told him I had lots of things that were written now on the trip and lots to add and he could have his pick. Easy task... then I got to thinking. We need a good summary and it was not an easy task. How could I possibly fit it all in without hoging pages. This trip was a highlight and the crowning jewel to many of us. To summarize might belittle the whole experience... If you want the juice read the Banshee Journal. If your looking for quick and dirty read on. Remember these are my opinions and they tend to go poetic at times.
What started out as a dream a year ago by our Banshee headmaster Fernando, became reality when he was able to obtain and contain 25 warm bodies to go with him to a place most of us would rather dismiss. Perhaps it was the memory of Hill 376 or perhaps it was the need in all of us. What he did in organizing, bringing together, and keeping together, was just short of a miracle. Without doubt it was Fernando who made this trip not only possible but incredible. The accommodations were beyond all expectations, the meals were superb, the transportation arrangements were outstanding, the guides were above top notch... the agenda left us spell bound and ran perfectly. If there were medals in private life then we give our highest to Fernando. But why did Fernando make this effort? Why did he and JR Baltazar, Ken Barwick and Robert Bohler, Joe and Cindy LaPointe, and Kandy Nevin; what needs were theirs? The answer lies on the crest of a beautiful hill in the LaMar Plain near Tam Ky. It's in the memory of a pilot and crewmember who brought food and ammunition so that eleven men might live. It's forever in the minds of a young radio operator and a cobra pilot exchanging life's finality, and it's in the very fiber of a young man who never saw his father. It's in the wife who bore a son and in the sister who shared the pain of thirty years. No effort was too great for these needs. No reason is further needed. Hill 376... Hill 376 will always be reason for this trip and it will always be the highest reason anyone could give to any venture on mortal earth.
JR gave our service on top of Hill 376 and it's recorded on film for later viewing, perhaps in November, by WDAY TV of Fargo, ND. JR was the young radio operator that survived and stood 20 yards from Doc when he gave his life. JR was to find out on this trip that it was Ken Barwick in the Cobra overhead when he called in for desperately needed support. Ken and crew gave their best. Later, when the rains came down and socked in the valley, and when bullets were almost gone, it was Fernando and Robert Bohler who volunteered to fly an impossible mission up the river to resupply. Risking their lives they saved those left on the hill when they were successful.
Night came and through out it the 2nd NVA Division probed for a weakness. Five men lost their lives and among them Joe 'Doc' LaPointe was to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery. The leadership of a young platoon leader, LT Burke, was to carry forward and today he is one of few Army Aviation men made General and serves at Ft. Rucker, AL. There were others of course who made the rescue possible but this account is of those on this trip. They knew the reason they were here. It is the reason we give for making this journey. To understand a Vietnam Veteran is to walk with him and to feel some of the pain, some of the joy, some of the sorrow... and then just to walk with him.
Mike O'Toole is a lot closer today because of this trip with his grandfather. He understands a little more now who JR really is. Cindy LaPointe and Kandy Nevin know some of the emotions we shared now too, and we know theirs. There was a special bonding that took place. Joe came about as close to his father as he will ever get.
If I heard love and understanding on this trip I heard it in the form of, "Honey, I now know what you meant when you said the heat was unbearable", "I couldn't imagine before now, the terrible conditions you had to fight in". "I understand now..."
Ken and Donna Barwick, Randy and Helen Kunkleman, Glenn and Nancy, John and Christy Winlow, Jacki, and Kathi... We all came together in understanding and we shared something grand. John and Christy came on this trip because it offered a chance for John to get back to Khe Sanh up there by the DMZ. He just may be our answer to getting PBS onto our story too. No pressure here. John and I got along great and even talked of going back some day. I think fun-loving Christy might go for that too.
Katherine Weick works at the Pentigon and has connections to the CIA. She's fun to be around and she's a people person. Her smile is forever there and we were in great company around her. She came along because... hmmm. She likes Fernando I suppose, or she has a keen sense of grand adventure.
Michael Davis was fun. He came along on many of the side trips I got to go on with the Fargo guys. I'll put him in my fishing boat any day. He even goes out of his way to make the 'other' guy feel good. He understands and knows a world of things too.
George Snyder is all up front and he bubbles with enthusiasm. When it came to seeing Marble Mountain, George was all for getting one of those little "junks" to take us out in the bay. He was also the guy who would have had us going into DaNang for a cool Guinness beer. I half expected him to propose to our Hanoi host one day too. This guy is great fun to have around.
Glenn and Nancy were the couple to invite us down for Texas BBQ. When they read this I will expect it all the more. There were 36 horses on their spread so we can invite a few of those guides we had too. In the 'George Burns - Gracie Allen' scheme of things, Glenn is George... the straight man. Nancy was always there with wonderful insights and helped me greatly in her notes on our trip. From Glenn I got some intriguing side stories of mystery, and the jungle.
Frank "Jim" Stefancic met Jacqueline Spare via email back last year and to get her to come on this trip must have taken a lot of messages. I think Jim is a great salesman because it took him all of 30 seconds to convince me I needed to buy a wooden model of a "Chinese Junk" which is puzzling me on how to put it together. It's a great boat too. Jacki made a friend for life when she said she liked my writing, and you gotta like someone who goes half way around the world to see Vietnam on a whim. Then maybe it was Jim's salesmanship.
Do you like to get the best prices when you go shopping? Take Ed Yazinski. He has a calculator with him and knows the current daily dong to dollar rates. He got me some of my best deals by just tagging along with him. He knows how to see the city too. Not afraid to go and see things, he will someday end up owning a big chunk of Saigon. I'll always remember him on the train to Hue. He had the whole Communist Vietnamese crew back there playing cards or something... was that for money Ed? One of them let him wear his cap... or did he win it...
Wait till you see the pictures Randy and Helen Kunkleman took. We got a sampling at Hue when they got them back and they are terrific, as we already know of their camera. Randy and Helen were great fun and we walked Hue one day, which led to further adventure. They also got me in trouble in Saigon. I'm getting the idea that Randy and Helen have the action come to them just so they can get it on film.
Kirk and I sat next to each other on the plane over and back. He lives right next door in Fargo with his wife and family. Kirk took my camera out one day when I couldn't make it and takes better pictures than I do... that's good. He also gives out great compliments so he fits right in. He and I shared in some high adventure, which will make another story.
It was Kirk's connection that started the process, which brought Erik Speer and Kevin Wallevand on this trip. Erik does the filming and Kevin does the narration... or something like that. They do it as a team anyway. A few years ago Kevin won an Emmy for his story of a hand made blanket, which made it to Angola. The filming they did for our trip will be a half hour production which will air on WDAY TV in Fargo, North Dakota sometime the middle of November. There are something like six 'shorts' planned also to air about the same time. The nature of the film will be on the line of present day Vietnam I think. The shorts will be more of a local nature and perhaps some on our group... then I've been wrong a lot too. If George doesn't marry our Hanoi guide then Erik will... or is that Kevin?
Stuart Goodacre kept me going the whole trip. He got the duty of sharing a room with me and I now know how to speak a little British. It will not win the hearts of ladies however but then that is what Guinness is for. Stuart is studying journalism at London University and will probably sell his first big seller in a few years. He is doing a report or thesis on the human side of things. Ok, so maybe we are in it in some small way. To write well you need to experience what you write about and Stuart does this enthusiastically. He had some very good insights into the people of Vietnam.
Somewhere along the way of telling you about our trip here, I've told you about us. Well... what can I say? We are the story. The rest of it was just places, things, and ruby trinkets. If you want that you'll just have to read the Banshee Journal. Be advised however it ranges from the serious to the maniacally silly. It's the material I had to work with. You try and get them to sit still.
So we came back home. At least most of us did. We left Fernando and Ed over there in Taipai. Ed was bartering on getting Fernando on board "by the pound" method of paying fare and they just weren't buying it. If they haven't shown up by the time of our Banshee Reunion in October we'll just go back and get them.
Note: The Banshee Journal can be found on the Banshee Home pages at:
http://www.vietnamproject.ttu.edu/btroop/
It is with great regret that we advise you that we have lost John Hill. John attended the first Banshee Reunion in Shelbina, Missouri in 1997 and was excited to about reuniting with lost friends. John served with B Troop in Vietnam.
The Association will send a donation in John's name to the Vietnam Memorial Fund.
If you have not made your reservations for this years Reunion there is still time. Many of you live close and can drive in for one day if you choose. Come on over to Vegas and have a great time with your fellow Banshees. We hope to see you all in Las Vegas.
REUNION NOTICE
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND THE BANS'HEE REUNION IN OCTOBER THE BLOCK OF ROOMS AND LOW RATES ARE GUARANTEED ONLY TO AUGUST 29, 1999. AFTER THAT DATE THE UNUSED ROOMS WILL BE RELEASED BACK TO THE CASION FOR REGULAR USAGE. SO SEND IN YOUR REGISTRATION FORM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION ABOUT MAKING RESERVATIONS. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE CASINO AND MAKE RESERVATIONS BEFORE RECEIVING YOUR REGISTRATION PACKET.
Texas Tech University recently announced plans to build a three story Vietnam Center on its campus in Lubbock, Texas. The building will have a museum in the west wing, of the main floor. The Archives contained at Texas Tech are second only to The National Archives in Washington, DC. We hope to have one of Texas Tech archivist as a speaker at our Reunion in Las Vegas, to explain how we can help to insure our legacy is forever available to researchers.