The Ban'Shee Gazette: April 2001

Dear Fellow Banshee's,

The time is growing near for our 2001 reunion in Lubbock, Texas. You maybe asking yourself, "Why Lubbock, Texas?" The answer to this question is quite simple. It's because Dave and Jinger Martin live there and they are the coordinators for this year's reunion.

In all seriousness, if you are not aware of it, Lubbock, Texas where Texas Tech University has established the Vietnam Archives on their campus. Texas Tech has taken on the task of creating one of the largest, if not the largest collection of records, personal accounts and memorabilia of the Vietnam War. With the Archives personnel and administration taking a personal interest in B Troop and it's veterans who served in Vietnam, our reunion in 2001 is being held in Lubbock so we can tour their facility and give each and every one of you to tell of your own personal experiences during your tour or tours during the Vietnam War.

I have often heard people say "History is never written by the witnesses or participants of a given event, especially what happened in Vietnam." Usually when you hear or read of someone's account of an operation or event there are always critics that say "It didn't happen that way." This is due to the individual's interpretation of events happening around them. NOW is your chance to tell your own personal version of what your experiences and observations were during the Vietnam War. Your accounts will be documented and archived at the Vietnam Archives and be available to anyone doing any research about the Vietnam War.

When we attended the dedication of the LaPointe Clinic at Ft. Campbell last year, we listened to LTC Torry, the CO of the 2/17th tell the audience that most of B Troop and the 2/17th Cavalry Regiment's proud history was written in the jungles of Vietnam. Since B Troop only served five years in Vietnam and most of us only served an average of one year with B Troop there are many events that occurred in 1968 that the people that served in the following years were unaware of and vice versa. This is your chance to give your own personal contribution to the overall proud history of B Troop. This is one of the reasons why Texas Tech has such a great interest in B Troop. Although they welcome any veteran's personal account of their service in Vietnam, they are only receiving a large sampling of interviews of veterans that served in different units, different branches of service and different time periods. With the cooperation of all of us, they can recreate the history of one unit B Troop 2/17th Cavalry Regiment during it's five year service in the Republic of Vietnam.

If you cannot make the reunion this year and would like to participate in the documentation of B Troop's history please let us know and we will make arrangements for your version to be accounted for.

Hope to see you in Lubbock,

"Out Front"

Jim Matthews - President

We apologize for the delay in getting this issue of the Gazette out to you. Items beyond our control delayed the publication and mailing.

by David Martin

Oral History Project
Steven Maxner has agreed to begin Oral Histories on Thursday September 20th through Saturday September 22nd. He and his staff will accommodate as many Banshees as possible during the Reunion. To set up an appointment with Steven you may email him at steve.maxner@ttu.edu or call him at 806-742-9010.

Also if you have not yet been interviewed and are interested in participating in the project, you can visit the following web page, complete the online forms and we will try to contact you soon for an interview:http://www.lib.ttu.edu/vietnam/OralHistory/US-Military-Forms.htm Thank you and we look forward to continuing our work with the BANSHEES to preserve your historic record of service and sacrifice in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Archive
Special Collections Library Room 108
Lubbock, Texas 79401-1041
Attention: Steve Maxner
(806) 742-9010

Editor's Note:
Let's work with the archives to build a better archive of B Troops involvement in Vietnam. Remember oral histories can be accomplished over the telephone or the internet if you do not plan to attend the Reunion. You do not have to be in Lubbock to participate in this historic endeavor!

by David C. Martin

If you are planning on being in Lubbock for this years Reunion, you cannot miss the BEST BURGER in town! BUNS OVER TEXAS serves what I think is the best hamburger in town. You order and when you receive your burger it comes with the meat on the bun. That's when your adventure begins, you make your way to the condiments bar and complete your creation. You mouth will be watering with your first bite!!!

Another treat that they serve is chicken fried steak. Again your mouth will be watering. You will have to ask for a plate for your salad, that's the only negative I have encountered. If you have never had chicken fried steak I really suggest trying one.

There are many other fine restaurants in Lubbock. If you are planning on arriving early, here are some of my suggestions that I think are the best.

Mexican…Abuelos
Bar-B-Q…Bighams
Steak…Harrigans
Cafeteria…Furrs
Ribs…Logans Roadhouse

If you do not have Internet service you might not be aware that the current B Troop is now serving in Kosovo.

Jim and I had the pleasure of meeting many of these dedicated Banshee's last year at the dedication of the LaPointe Medical Center at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. These gentlemen are proud to be caring on the Banshee history.

If you would like to send them a note the Troops mailing address is;

Soldier's Name or
Any Soldier
Task Force Sabre B/2-17
Camp Bonsteel
APO AE 09340

If you remember the days you were overseas, mail call was always a blessing. Let's let our fellow Banshee's know we care. There is also a link to their website on our webpage.

Please note that Reservations for the Reunion must be made by August 23, 2001 to guarantee the rates we have received.

The Holiday Inn has been very generous with us with the use of meeting rooms but we have made a guarantee to them for room nights. This means that we need everyone to stay at the Holiday Inn if possible or the Association could have to pay for meeting facilities.

by David Martin

I have enclosed a tentative itinerary for this years Reunion.

In years past we have had people show up early so Jim and I decided that we would arrive on Thursday. So Thursday night we will have a hospitality room available for anyone that shows up early.

Also remember that Steven Maxner and his staff will be available all day Thursday for anyone wishing to provide an oral history.

Friday will start the official beginning of our fifth Reunion. September 21 is POW/MIA Day so I thought it would be nice to attend the opening of the Texas Tech Air Force ROTC POW/MIA Vigil at noon. After that we can have lunch at the University Center and then tour the Vietnam Archive. Friday evening will be an informal get together to share pictures and memories. It seems each year we have more fun on Friday evening. We will be having hor'dorves served and will have a cash bar available.

Saturday a tour of the Vietnam Archives will be available for anyone that could not make it to Lubbock on Friday. Local actives will be available for those that chose (note that most of the local sites are probable within a 15-minute radius of the hotel).

We will visit The National Ranching Heritage Center at 1 p.m. This is a must see! Saturday night will be our annual dinner. Our guest speaker this year will be Dr. James Reckner, the Director of the Vietnam Center. Jim is also a Vietnam Veteran.

Sunday morning we will have a Memorial Service. If you are interested in staying Sunday in Lubbock, Dave and Jinger are planning a cook out for anyone that is staying. Also we are planning on attending the South Plains Fair which will be in Lubbock.

We hope you will join us this year in Lubbock. Remember if you can not stay for the entire weekend join us for the time that you can.

We will have an updated itinerary for those attending the Reunion in case anything changes.

See You in Lubbock!

Agent Orange Helpline

March 9, 2001

Toll-Free Agent Orange Helpline Established for Vietnam Veterans

WASHINGTON - Vietnam veterans now have a new national toll-free helpline to answer their questions about Agent Orange exposure, health care and benefits. The new helpline 1-800-749-8387 is part of the continuing efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reach America's 2.3 million Vietnam veterans.

Callers can speak directly to VA representative's Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Central Standard Time, or access a 24-hour automated system.

They can leave voice mail messages to have information sent to them or listen to recordings about exposure to Agent Orange, VA benefits, health care and disability compensation.

"As scientific studies expand our understanding of the possible long-term health effects of Agent Orange spraying in Vietnam, VA is increasing its programs for affected veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi, himself a Vietnam veteran. VA is committed to reaching out to these veterans and their families whenever and wherever possible to ensure they receive the health care and other benefits they deserve.

VA expects considerable interest in the helpline because of a new policy that allows Vietnam veterans with adult-onset (Type II) diabetes to receive disability compensation for ongoing medical problems linked to Agent Orange or other herbicides during the war. VA now recognizes 10 medical conditions as being associated with Agent Orange.

Agent Orange was a herbicide used to unmask enemy hiding places and destroy foliage during the war. It has been linked to a variety of health problems, ranging from rare conditions and certain birth defects in veterans' offspring to diseases that are somewhat common in middle age, such as prostate cancer and adult-onset diabetes.

A regulation to provide monthly compensation for Vietnam veterans with adult-onset diabetes is expected later this year. VA estimates that approximately 200,000 Vietnam veterans will receive service-connection for their diabetes within the first five years under the new policy. About 36,000 veterans from all periods of service are already recognized as service connected for diabetes.

As part of its outreach, VA is expanding its Agent Orange Review newsletter mailings to over 600,000 identified, in-country Vietnam veterans. A special issue of the newsletter has been prepared which summarizes VA benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and the procedures to obtain benefits.

The newsletter, along with the helpline, builds upon long-standing VA outreach to let Vietnam veterans know of changes to their benefits. Over the last 18 years, VA has provided periodic newsletters to over 300,000 Vietnam veterans who have received free Agent Orange-related physical examinations.

The helpline is located at the St. Louis VA Regional Office, which has a similar toll-free helpline for Gulf War veterans. The two helplines will share the same telephone number, with callers selecting the service they wish.

For general information on VA benefits and programs, visit VA's website at www.va.gov. VA has developed a specific Agent Orange Web Page in conjunction with the helpline. It can be accessed at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/herbicide.

While on a training deployment the Captain and the 1stSgt were in the field. As they hit the rack for the night, the following exchange took place.

1stSgt: "Sir, look up into the sky and tell me what you see?"

Capt: "I see millions of stars."

1stSgt: "And what does that tell you, sir?"

Capt: "From an astronomy perspective, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?"

1stSgt: "Well sir, it tells me that somebody stole our tent!!"

"You, you, and you: Panic. The rest of you, come with me."

A Purple Heart just proves that you were smart enough to think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.

A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit.

From the Army's magazine of preventive maintenance:
"Any ship can be a minesweeper... once."

"Bravery" is being the only one who knows you're afraid.

Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate -- the bombs always hit the ground.

Combat will occur on the ground, between two adjoining maps.

Don't draw fire, it irritates the people around you.

Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last, and don't ever volunteer to do anything. Don't look conspicuous: it draws fire.

Five-second fuses only last three seconds.

"Friendly fire" - isn't.

If God had meant for us to be in the Army, we would have been born with green, baggy skin.

If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.

The Banshee Gazette is the OFFICIAL PUBLICATION for B Troop 2nd 17th Cavalry Association.