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Folks I will be at the Wall this coming Monday , last chance to ask me for tracings of names. I decided to tape on the Wall the attached document.
Regards, Fernando
DATE: 2 June 1969 Time: 1230 hrs
Action: Combat Assault on Hill 376 vicinity of Tam Ky, Vietnam
CASUALTIES
| SP4 Brech, Richard L 23W line: 042 |
| SP4 La Pointe, Joseph G 23W line: 045 |
| Congressional Medal of Honor, Silver Star |
| SGT Prince, Dennis 23W line: 047 |
| SSG Reed, Jimmie L 23W line 047 |
| SSG Saunders, Emanuel L 23W line: 047 |
Members of B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment 101st Airborne Division
Guys: look us down on 2 June 1999, we are going back to the Hill with wives, widows and sons. You are not forgotten.
Banshee 46 and the Gang
Fernando,
It's funny how timing is everything, but Glenn and I were just talking about the Wall last night--his older brother's name is on that Wall too. If you could get a tracing, I'd be forever indebted. The name is Harland M. Davis, Jr.. The Wall address is: Panel 01W - Row 053. (At least that's what it says it is on the website--we've never been there and aren't certain about it) He was based in Thailand, a major, was flying the F-4 (I think) and was shot down and crashed at sea on July 7, 1972.
I hate to say that it's sort of mysterious or surreal how all these things are coming together at this point in time, but I'm a firm believer that there's a Force far stronger than any of us that is ensuring that closure takes place, memories and love keep everyone alive even after a physical death, and that beyond the Wall the meaning of all of this world becomes crystal clear.
Only a few more days my friend! Looking forward to meeting everyone!
Well folks, went to DC today to get the tracings from the Wall.
Parked the car in Shady Grove and took the subway into town, interesting trip. Got to the Vietnam Memorial half an hour early and "to get myself emotionally ready". Roxanne and Mike, the TV crew arrived a few minutes before 2pm, the appointed time. They had no problem locating me, how many fat guys with a mustache and a Cavalry Hat do you find at the memorial with 2 german women (a cousing is visiting from Austria).
Suffice to say that Roxanne and Mike are great people, she is a charming young lady! it was a pleasure working with them. Having arrived early, my 5th trip to the Wall, and having looked around, I really thought I had the situation under control.... until we reached panel W23 and started counting lines. My wife brought flowers for them and laid them on the ground.... the colors of love, friendship, and remembrance. As I traced, I told the story to Mike who was filming me, including SGT Saunders and the chicken, then my cool composure went by the wayside and I cried like I never did at the Wall, just could not contain it. By now I realized that the camera had attracted a lot of people who were listening to the story, young school children and teachers, a few adults, so the story was repeated except that talking became difficult and the words did not come out. I felt so close to these guys, as if time had no passed at all.
I taped the note I had for them, with the 101st Airborne Division patch, a picture of Doc, Fleming, and Richard, with the last remark being "Look us down, we will soon be there..." signed by Banshee 46 and the gang. This, and I never planned on it, became the main attraction as bunches of people were kneeling down reading it. I must say, there was plenty of silence... and respect. The usually less than dignified Wall was solemn and dignified, the kids would look at me pretending they were not.
It was quite an experience, an experience I had not anticipated and I feel good, very good. Never forgot these guys and being there is like reminding them. I also got the tracing for Nancy's friend.
Roxanne and Mike spent a lot of time with us, asking questions and talking. Thank you for sending them Kevin. When we got to talking about the age of those who died, they could hardly believe it. How young they were!
I think we are ready to go guys and dolls. Just say a prayer for the last visa and we are on the move! Remember we used to sing "California here I come", well now it is "Vietnam here I come".
Regards, Fernando
PS: I cannot even begin to tell you how hospitable, friendly, and HELPFUL every vietnamese I have dealt with is, beginning with Mr. Quy at Huong Giang. We will never be able to thank them enough. Good night.
Fernando,
Thank you for sharing your experiences at the Wall. I'm sitting here tonight in Arizona thinking of a memorial service that is being held there tomorrow morning for Ron Timberlake who died in an accident a few weeks ago in Texas. I didn't know Ron well but I knew him on the Net and for his standing up to take issues. I had a lot of respect for him so when Ray told me of his accident when I arrived in Phoenix last week it hit me hard. There are going to be something like 45 Vets attending that service tomorrow
.Earlier today Bill Russell arrived in Safford and another 30 year reunion took place between him, Ray, and me. We were able to visit for about four hours before he continued on his way home from his father's memorial services held in Las Vegas this past weekend.
It seems like we're in a season for dying, and then rebirth. As you've pointed out, we are ready.
I want to tell you how much your efforts have meant to me personally. When I started doing this journal it was meant to relieve some tension of going back. Seems it worked. Now that I'm having the Visa problems it almost seems humorous. I would laugh and make more fun of it but for your efforts. Your going above and beyond in all your care and concern. Let it be known that no matter what the outcome those efforts will mean far more in the final judgement. Let it be known that those efforts will and have joined you to those ranks you've seen at the wall. I know. I wrote two poems on it... or should I say they wrote them.
You think we could get that Miss Ngeuyet in with us at that hotel in Taipai?
Your faithful scout,
Steve Jones, Banshee 10
Steve,
Thanks for your remarks. Miss Ngeuyet in Vietnamese means "Miss Moon". I am working on bringing her to Taipei, planning on joining us?
So you met Russell after all this years, I think it's great, he was a tall blond young looking gunny, real nice guy. If he is like me, he should be a tall, fat, mustachioed, old looking guy!
Regards, Fernando
Well, Fernando, I don't know where to begin, Your trip to the wall brought a lot of light to my thinking. Thank you for sharing this with us. For the past 30 years I always thought that us infantry guys were never thought about in anyway but a face or just a number. When we would get sent out to the field to rescue the crew of a down chopper, We'd feel great to help the boys and bring them back safe, it was as if these guys were our little babies and when they were in trouble we were there for them. But I never really thought anybody cared a damn about us, we kinda thought everybody thought us infantry guys were just crazy, well I guess we were in a way. That's the reason why most of us just kept to ourselves. But now as I can only speak for my self, I realize we had people that did care about us. Asking me to go along and all the other help and encouragement I've been getting. I guess I've been in a shell all these years. So I would like to apologize for thinking this all these years. I hope I explained this to where you understand what I mean. If you could share this with most of the people for you have all the addresses and I could not begin to enter them all, I would appreciate it. Thank you for opening my eyes.
Later
J.R.
J.R. is Gonzalo Baltazar, one of the few survivors of the 2 June 69 combat assault. When all was done, Dietmar Schneider asked him for water only to realize that JR's canteen was full of holes!
Fernando, Thank you very much for getting that tracing. That's Glenn's brother--Glenn doesn't say much about him, and when he does speak of him it's to answer a question--one word answers. "Sonny" (Harland Davis, Jr) was Glenn's idol--the reason he was so bound and determined to become a USAF Fighter Pilot in every sense of the word. Glenn has never been to the Wall, and I know that this little remembrance will mean ever so much to him. His brother was flying out of Thailand and was shot down over the water.
I never knew him--but somehow all of this remembering and thinking is making everyone seem alive and real. You have been an incredible force in all of this Fernando. I thank you for that.
See you next week!!!
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