Guest Book Entries
Guest Book Index Page > Go to Guest Book - 2011 | Go to Guest Book - 2013
- Date:
- 3/4/2012
- Time:
- 7:05:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Hi, my name is Allen Bell and I was assigned to D Co 39th Eng Bn July, 1971 at Tam Ky. Later I was assigned to A Co at Chu Lai, then Da Nang and helped build the fire support base (can't remember name) had 175mm and 8in guns. Was an old marine corp base. We were kicked out of there for fighting with the cannon cockers (after the CCs driver shot Ralph our beloved dog) for no reason, at least one that made sense to us. We moved to an Infantry compound for a couple weeks and were kicked out of there (smuggling contraband on the compound-- need I say more). I was a 5 ton dump truck driver in A Co. I departed Da Nang in Mar, 1972. I was very sad to leave the guys (I can't remember names any more). I do remember the good times we had together in both D & A companies. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who was there during those times. My email: owlhoot2@verizon.net. I have some pictures of our time in Da Nang at the fire support base if anyone is interested.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 3/21/2012
- Time:
- 4:36:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Hi, my name is Allen Bell and I was assigned to D Co, 39th Eng. Bn. in Aug, 1971. I am trying to find GPS coordinates for a couple of places I was at while with D Co. One is the location of D Co base camp at that time and the other is the location of the NDP near the river where we were building a ford and road. I am not sure what platoon I was in ( I think maybe the 3rd herd) at this time and if anyone remembers which plt it was that worked on the ford/road, I would appreciate the info. I am trying to put something together for my grandchildern. I remember we had a old Vietnamese guy climb a nearby hill and snipe us at night, also some locals got hurt when they tripped a boobytrap meant for us. There was a village to our north, I think, where 4 tracks from the cavalry unit that was with us at the NDP was ambushed by a ripper team. I hope this will be of some help locating these areas, thanks.
Shortly after that I was reassigned to A Co and moved to Da Nang onto and old Marine Corp base south of the Da Nang Air Force Base where we built a fire support base for 8 in and 175 mm guns. A Co moved once more to north Da Nang to a really nice compound. I would appreciate any info for these areas also.
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide and Welcome Home!!!
Allen Bell
My email: owlhoot2@verizon.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 3/26/2012
- Time:
- 11:41:00 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
My name is Neil Young and I was on LZ Snoopy and LZ Max in 68 and 69. I would like to make contact with Bill Jernigan. My e-mail is neil.fairoaks@gmail.com. Thanks for your help. Neil
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 4/19/2012
- Time:
- 12:13:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
I came across your site about Duc Pho. Thanks for taking the time to put it all together. I was one of the six Air Force guys that worked the ramp there. I was assigned to Duc Pho from July 1967 thru March 1968. Prior to that I had been at Da Nang. I very much enjoyed the photos and also your diary. Your writing of the visit from Gen. Westmoreland in September of 67 brought back some memories. We had to build a special bunker on the ramp for him, Robert McNamara, and some politicians to meet in to discuss the war. It took us forever to build the bunker and they spent about 15 minutes there. Of course, we were told to dismantle it when they left. They had arrived with 2 C-123's. One of the 123's blew a tire on landing. It was sitting at the far end of the strip. Since we could not keep fixed wings overnight (attractive targets), we had to radio for a wheel and tire from a bigger airfield. A C-130 arrived after dark with the equipment we needed. We had lined the strip with smudgepots for him and told him to approach from the loading ramp end of the strip. Of course, confusion prevailed and he came in right at us and the darkened C-123. When he finally put his landing lights on we thought for sure there would be a crash. Also, as he lit up, he drew ground fire from the VC. We scattered and I think he had to have come within 20 feet of his wing hitting the tail of the 123. It took a while, but we got the 123 fixed and out of there later that night. Just one of many adventures over there.
Again, thanks for the site and thanks for reading my reflections. Now I'll fast-forward 45 years and get back to the present day.
Paul Gleason
E-mail:gleasonpk@comcast.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 6/6/2012
- Time:
- 6:16:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
You were smart to keep a journal. I recently found that my girlfriend, (now wife) kept all my letters. It is the closest thing I have that resembles a journal. I recently wrote an account of my time in the Army. I arrived in VN in Dec of 67, at first in Chu Lai, then from Feb 68 on mostly on LZ Baldy as a medic in the 196th aid station.
I see from your journal that you arrived on Baldy in early Dec of 67. We always used the name LZ Baldy and Hill 63 interchangably. Do you know if they really are one and the same??
The reason I ask is that during my research, I came across a couple accounts of the "Thanksgiving Day Battle" of Hill 63. Do you recall hearing about this? I found an artillery guy on the internet who was on Baldy that Thanksgiving and he doesn't remember a thing like that happening. He says it must have been on a different hill but it is even referred to by both names on many internet sites. I am confused.
If you have any details, it would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Rod Boltjes
E-mail: boltjes@hotmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 7/4/2012
- Time:
- 10:27:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Hello Richard,
I am contacting you on behalf of two B Company men who were seriously wounded during a mortar attack on LZ Dottie on August 12, 1969. They were both medevac'd out and survived. Their names are Fred Grimm and Robert Griffin. They are friends of mine and I am trying to fill a tall order in that I would like to be contacted by anyone who may know them, remember the incident, or know which medevac unit came in to take them out. Fred went to Pleiku and Robert went to Chu Lai, I believe. They both came home after their hospital treatment. They would love to meet the chopper pilots who flew them out to safety ... as I said, a very tall order, yet I will try to make it happen. Whatever you can do to help get the word out would be greatly appreciated.
I served with A Company, 70th Combat Engineers near a rural village 40 miles northwest of Nha Trang during 1969.
Thanks for your service to our country and “Welcome Home!”
John Craven
SGT
A/70th
Khanh Duong, Vietnam 1969
E-mail:johncraven@wowway.com
John E. Craven II
Legacy of Hope
www.jecraven.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 7/11/2012
- Time:
- 6:29:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Hello Richard,
I am Fred Grimm and served with the 39th Engineers on LZ Dottie from April 1969 to August 1969 when I was wounded along with Bob Griffin. I was wounded after spending only 4 months in country and feel so blessed that I survived that Aug 12th evening attack. Just last year, 2011 I got a call from my company commander LTC Bruce Haigh. He told me about the attack and that a great bunch of engineers fought off VC and NVA troops who wanted the big guns that recently arrived on the LZ.
I have had the opportunity to go back to Vietnam 11 times in the past 11 years. So, now, I finally have my one year of service in. Went to LZ Dottie and found the bunker where I was wounded. What a feeling that brought.
I will be going back to Vietnam again on Jan. 17th, 2013 and would love to have any 39th Veteran join me. I am part of a group out of Toledo, Ohio that helps the less fortunate in Vietnam. Visit our website at www.dovefund.org
Peace and love to all of you, and thank you for serving.
Welcome home!
Fred Grimm
E-mail: FCG302@aol.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 7/27/2012
- Time:
- 5:14:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
[The e-mail below was sent to John E. Craven II and he forwarded it to me.]
Dear sir,
Greetings from Hochiminh City, Vietnam
I searched on Google and know you thru this website http://www.vietnamphotosbyrbm.net/Guest Book.html. I am helping a Vietnamese man find his foster father who was a veteran in Vietnam in 1966, 1967. His unit is Engineer battalion 39th, stationed in Tam Ky, former Quang Tin province and currently Quang Nam province.
I used to help an American veteran whose unit was Vietnam 737th transportation company http://www.vietnam737th.com/aboutus.html; find a Vietnamese boy who he knew and helped in the war and I succeeded in finding that boy. Now that boy's daughter is the American veteran' daughter-in-law. Now I continue to volunteer to help find an American who was the foster father of a Vietnamese boy in the war, his name is Hien.
I send you his below story and do hope you can help by forwarding the story to your friends who were veterans in Vietnam before or forwarding to any one who you think can help.
Vietnamese Boy Looking for Foster Father
Thank you very much for your kind attention and help
Look forward to hearing from you soon
Best regards
Andrew Nguyen(Mr)
Travel Consultant
ASIAN DESTINATION TRAVEL CO..,LTD
Add : 5th floor, Hudson building, 179 Nguyen Cu Trinh street, Dist 1, HCMC, Vietnam
Tel : +84-8-2240 7804/03/05
Fax : +84-8-3920 9098
Mobile : +84-98 3343656
General email : service@vietnamtravelmate.com
Direct email : quy@vietnamtravelmate.com
Website : http://www.vietnamtravelmate.com
Chat with me on Yahoo messenger : quyt2vn
On Skype : vietnamtravelmate
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 7/31/2012
- Time:
- 9:19:00 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Richard, Hi !
My name is Donald George. I went from Ft. Bliss Texas to Vietnam. Jan. 1967-Jan. 1968.
I was with the 39th. Combat Eng. Headquaters Platoon, Company D. I was very happy to find your site. Thank you for setting it up. The names & pictures are great and brought back lot's of good & bad memories.
When I first went to Nam, I drove the Mess truck then transfered to heavy equitment, mostly running a dozer. I saw guy's names here that I was good friends with and lost track of them after we came home. I would love to get in contact with Merlin Hanson, Arron Dunham, Jose Lopez, & Jerry Lynch. Also anyone else that might remember me and want to get in touch. I talked to Greg Heacock on the phone today, was very nice talking to him. Thank you Greg for returning my call, enjoyed talking to you.
I now live in Missouri, Lake Of the Ozarks. Back then I was from Bourbon, Mo. Looking forward to hearing from any one that was in the service with me.
My email address is : dgeorgvw6768@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Donald George
--------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 10/10/2012
- Time:
- 8:46:00 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
Hi Richard!
I stumbled across your web site while doing research for a book I'm writing about my experiences in Vung Ro Bay, '69-'70. I was with the 458th River Patrol Boats.
Your site is an absolute gold mine! I've been trying to remember little details, such as arriving at Long Binh, etc, but I guess I've had too many beers over the years! The old memory bank is severely depleted.
Anyway, I'd like your permission to use your diary as a reference. I will not use anything verbatim, just use the basic facts. I really wish I had the foresight to keep a diary like yours. It's really superb! Congratulations! I'll send you a free book! :)
Thanks,
Mike Hebert
Web site: www.458pbr-vungrobay.com
E-mail: michaelhebert@cox.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 10/16/2012
- Time:
- 7:26:00 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
I came across your website today and just wanted to tell you of my time at Duc Pho. My name is Phil Carver, I was one of the 7 members of the USAF (zoomies, as you Army guys referred to us as) detachment assigned to Duc Pho and headquartered out of the 15 th Aerial Port Squadron in Danang. I was in Duc Pho from 3/12/69 thru 02/25/70, loading and off loading the numerous C-130's, C-123's and caribous C-7's, that came thru there. We were in the little wooden terminal across the airstrip, remember? Anyway, just wanted to check in and say "Welcome Home Brother"!
Phil Carver
E-mail: tedalu@att.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Date:
- 10/17/2012
- Time:
- 9:07:00 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
Hello Richard, I wrote in the other day to be placed on your roll call. I noticed that there was a Norman Jones on there. He didn't have any contact information. Could you forward my e-mail address to him. I have several photos of him and trying to get in touch with some of them. There are so many places to find your friends. I found one the other day, he said I was the first to ever contact him.
Thanks,
Stan Graves
E-mail: forever-stan@hotmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------