GUESTBOOK
2006
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SITE. THERE ARE SO MANY WHO DON'T KNOW THAT AMERICANS FOUGHT AND DIED IN VIETNAM IN 1972.
Bobby Johnson <btragic8@aol.com>OKC, OKLA. USA - Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 00:34:03 (PST)
interesting site thanks....
philip <philip_mckracken@yahoo.com>reno, us - Monday, December 18, 2006 at 17:08:49 (PST)
god bless you all...fallen or alive...
thanks 4 all you done....
rotterdam, south holland netherlands - Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at 04:04:20 (PST)
344th ADD attached to Mac-v Team 41 In Kontum, I hope to hear from those who served in the Kontum area, I hope all is well with all of you who served there.
Anybody know what happened to the Mountainyards from KUNUM Village,and the American Pat Smith Hospital ?
Sterling Heights, Michigan USA - Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at 07:31:23 (PST)
On reading through this site, I found a reference to my grandfather, LTC Norbert Gannon. It seems that he was interviewed on The Battle of Kontum. I am researching for a school project, and would like to find more information on my grandfather, and his involvement in the war. If anyone knew him personally, or has information on him, please send me and email at Gannon705@hotmail.com. Any information you have to offer will be greatly appreciated.
Dillon Gannon <Gannon705@hotmail.com>Camp Lejeune, N.C U.S.A - Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 09:09:13 (PST)
I was a captain who served as aide-de-camp to General Nguyen Van Toan in the South Vietnamese Army. I posted a memory of Kontum in the Memories Book.
Duc Do <dragon75do@sbcglobal.net>- Thursday, November 02, 2006 at 19:08:44 (PST)
[ View Duc Do's Contribution to the Memories Book ]
I was with B Troop 7/17th Air Cav as a gunsmith for the cobras 71-72
Terry D Miller <okmillers@aol.com>Claremore, Oklahoma - Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 15:37:57 (PST)
If memory serves me right, Kontum was also overrun in 1968. Welcome Home. I assume alligator 3 was part of the 119th air assault out of Holloway. Sure was a great view from those choppers.
Fast Eddie Wilson <formerlyfast@iwon.com>Winnsboro, Texas USA - Sunday, October 08, 2006 at 04:26:00 (PDT)
My respects to all the soldiers who served and fought here.
Having read the site and reports I realise it must have been really tough and difficult for all of you.
My deep respect you have.
Netherlands - Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 09:51:15 (PDT)
Truly fantatic site. Brilliant work!!!!!
Theodore <father_crilly_uk@priest.com>Glasgow, Scotland - Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 16:38:13 (PDT)
I was in the 2/1 cav, kontum, firebase west side of the runway. (1967-68)
mike ervin <michaelervin@aol.com>new philadelphia, ohio usa - Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 08:32:10 (PDT)
I have commented before about my husband , Lt.Ronald Doughtie, however, Ron was in Nam prior to 72 with Vann. He was a Sgt. in 67-68 with the First Cav., he was there for over a year plus and he really never did go into what he was doing....he went in Feb. of 67 and came home in July of 68..?? anyone know of him back then ???
Kaye Doughtie Ralston <kralston@chesco.org.>Parkesburg, PA chester - Thursday, August 24, 2006 at 11:16:28 (PDT)
wow thank you for the site guys. Its nice that people keep the memories alive.
Alan
271 mobile.
- Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 12:37:22 (PDT)
Your article sent shivers up my spine and brought back too many buried memories. As an Air Traffic Controller at Holloway Twr, during that time, the missions to Kontum were all to frightful. An additional note on the C-130 dropping 155mm pallets at Kontum, I was in the second C-130 loaded with class A explosives. We were on final, getting ready to push the pallets out the back door, when the pilot got the word that the C-130 you mentioned got shot down. Now after all these years, I finally got to hear the rest of the story. Great work!
Michael Waite <michael_waite@live.com>Flower Mound, TX US - Sunday, August 06, 2006 at 20:01:49 (PDT)
my brother got killed in Oct of 1968 he was in the army, does anyone remeber my brother Wayne C.Elledge, he died in a fire fire n Kotum? please let me know as much about him you knew i was 4 years old when he died, he was from Kingsville Texas. thanks and god bless all of you who served,
otis elledge <oelledge@yahoo.com>everet, wa snohomish - Wednesday, August 02, 2006 at 09:49:52 (PDT)
I was one of the medics at the 67th Evac Hosp. in Pleiku during 72 and 73. Helped patch lots of pilots and was there when John Paul Vann was killed. At the time I did not know too much about what was going on other than the medical situation. This is a great site that I have really enjoyed.
Clair W. (Wayne) Sircoulomb <wsircoulomb@cox.net>Wichita, KS USA - Sunday, July 23, 2006 at 11:33:48 (PDT)
Mr. Heslin I had the honor of meeting you at your sons house in Baltimore Maryland. We were talking about the Battle of Kontun after reading the stories I now have a much better feel of you and your men. Thank you
Howard Katz- Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 12:37:43 (PDT)
Welcome Home
My name is Don Reed and I am a member of VVA 142 located in Monroe Mi just south of Detroit. In our Memorial Park is a UH1 B/M gunship tail # 66-00632 which served with the 14th AHC 11-67 to 12-69, 57th AHC 10-67 to 4-71, 129th AHC 5-71 t0 12-71. I am attempting to write a book about her history and the men who knew her. I am looking for help making contact with crew, stories, pictures anything which may tell her story. Pictures of her today can be seen by Googleing "Heck Park Monroe Mi" and going to second main link shown. please try to help me. I can be contacted trkdon@hotmail.com or by phone 734-847-1767 or by mail Don Reed 7310 Silo Meadows Temperance, Mi.
Thanks for help you can give. Again WELCOME HOME, Don
Temperance, Mi USA - Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 04:14:22 (PDT)
I was part of "B" CO 504 M.P. Hwy Plt out of Pleiku 67/68. We took the 1st convy in over a year to Kontum. The town was like an old movie. That was changed Tet of 68.
Great site!
USA - Monday, May 15, 2006 at 20:14:13 (PDT)
I was with Tm 24/41 at Kontum District in 68-69. Sad too hear how little many things have changed. I got there after Tet 68 and the place was a mess then. Looks like it was a real mess after '72 and still hasn't progressed much. I'm still looking thru the site. Interesting.
Richard R. Nelson <rick.nelson4@us.army.mil>Steilacoom, WA USA - Tuesday, May 09, 2006 at 16:07:31 (PDT)
Jan 70 to Sep 70, G2 NCOIC, 24th STZ, MACV Tm 23. Sep 70 - Dec 70 MR2 Ranger HQ, Pleiku, lived on 5 SFGp compound, swimming pool, Martha Rae et al, what a change. There was a big battle around Tan Canh in 70, Apr-May that included Dak Seang, Dak Pek, Dak Sut etc. I flew fm Tan Canh to Ben Het to pick up an NVA prisoner. I think they found him chained to a .51 cal mg. It was some tour and the last time I volunteered.
James E Greene <puycowboy@comcast.net>Puyallup, , WA 98374 USA - Tuesday, May 09, 2006 at 15:03:00 (PDT)
If anyone has a good e-mail address for Rick Vogal or if you read this Rick please e-mail or call @ 870-879-9267, I now know the person,s name you gave the spoon to that day, and I have his phone number.
Jim gibson <jimmy.gibson@us.army.mil>- Sunday, May 07, 2006 at 13:23:36 (PDT)
Looking for the guys I picked up one day while we were flying over.I flew with b troop 7/17 cav scalphunters. One guy gave me a big wooden spoon and the other gave me a nva belt. Give me a shout if you see this. 71-72
Donald Harshaw <dhars@bellsouth.net>flintville, TN united states - Sunday, May 07, 2006 at 11:45:56 (PDT)
Pictures of Vung Tau, South Vietnam are here:
http://home.att.net/~georgekrejci/
IL USA - Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 23:11:13 (PDT)
I was a platoon leader in A Company of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion in 1966-1967.
We were in Kontum for several periods of time during my tour. The town was quiet and actually quite nice. The only other American unit was a MACV group at an old French fort, plus a group of "unnamed" guys south of town who had their own choppers and worked with people who appeared to be mercenaries (not Montagnards).
I would like to hear from my CO, then Captain Ron Wetzel, as well as First Sgt. Ken Schmitt. Good men!!
Germantown, Maryland - 20874 USA - Sunday, April 09, 2006 at 21:05:35 (PDT)
I SERVED AND FOUGHT WITH THE 299TH COMBAT ENGINEERS DURING TET-68 IN KONTUM.
HENRY ROUTON <HROUTON@AOL.COM>VA. - Sunday, April 09, 2006 at 14:11:07 (PDT)
Extremely fine website! Very interesting and instructive!
Was it you or your Air Force son who made this profound statement about the Linebacker II bombing?
"If American bombing had been continued . . . the NVA would have streamed home, starving. Then their divisions could have been obliterated on the highways."
That is a very profound observation and is exactly what should have been done.
Thanks for your great website.
Sincerely, Gene Richey
Vancouver, B.C., Canada - Sunday, March 12, 2006 at 22:58:45 (PST)
I maintained the communications equipment at Kontum and Pleiku towers leading up to the battle of Kontum. I was assigned to the 344th ADD. This was a very scary time, even for a rear echelon troop like myself. I remember the attack on Ben Het and the reports by the helicopter pilots that they had sighted tanks and whole companies of NVA on hard pack. I even remember one report that they weren't allowed to fire on them. Of course, this was second and third hand information and may not have been true. I drove to Kontum shortly before the attack and remember the sandbags in the middle of the streets that we had to drive around to get to the airfield.
Also remember all of the snakes and loaches patrolling the area. I thought, "They have a Montagnard manned tank at every other bunker around the airfield, will they hold?". After I left, I really was interested in what happened. Another enlisted man had told me that they had airlifted all of the SF and people from the airfield out and left the ARVN's to fend for themselves along with the MACV advisers. Again, the guy had been there, but whether they pulled everyone out, I don't know.
Anyway, I really liked Kontum. The food beat anything on Holloway hands down. I also learned to respect the Montagnards and loved the smiles on the kids faces when we gave them candy.
Thanks for writing this outstanding piece of work on the battle. I have always wondered what happened.
I just have to wonder if there is another piece like it that details the battle for Quang Tri province earlier.
Boca Raton, FL USA - Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 12:35:24 (PST)
[ View Dan Thomas's Contribution to the Memories Book ]
I was in Kontum with Smasher Forward (6/14th Arty)Feb 70 to end of Oct 70 then sent to 1st Air Cav til April 71 in War Zone D
Dennis Proulx <frenchy70@aol.com>Taunon, Ma - Sunday, February 26, 2006 at 17:24:59 (PST)
I am working on a TV documentary on almost 500 years of US military history (obviously an overview) and your web site has provided valuable perspective on the role (both strengths and weaknesses) of the ARVN, late in the war.... and the incredible courage of American advisors. Thank you.
Bill McCune <mccunetv@aol.com>Phoenix, Arizona U.S.A. - Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 13:50:58 (PST)
I landed incountry/Saigon just before TET went fullblown. From there straight to CCC. Till the end of Oct. 69, I was 12 on 12 off in the commo bunker crankin' out field ops cryptoed to Chief-SOG. Like so many of us did these memories have been stuffed deep in a part of my mind. Since we were never there and I wasn't sending info of non-existing operations, you can imagine what it is like to find this and other sites related. Many memories are fuzzy, long forgotten, but I was there. When we weren't in the commo bunker we were in the motar pit providing illumination, or at one of the relay sites. I was sent there from the 82nd, since I was 05C/top secret/crypto. Even though I was just support, I felt part of something that was bigger than all of us. To the families of the KIA and MIA you are witness to the thankless heros that remind us that freedom isn't free and not to be wasted. I will be able to find my peace after all these years, knowing that we shared a place in time that is and will be remembered thanks to folks like you.
Bill Walden <chruck@austin.rr.com>Lago Vista, Tx USA - Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 08:00:21 (PST)
very interesting site
Vikki Pollard <vikki099-hunny@yahoo.co.uk>- Monday, February 20, 2006 at 05:04:27 (PST)
Just stumbled on the site. Well written, and very great job of explaining what went on. I had some small part in the battle, working at II Corps Headquarters, coordinating arclights. I've provided my experience in the Memories section of this web site. Thanks for the job everybody did.
Chris Scudder <cscudder@alltel.net>Harrison, Arkansas U.S. - Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 19:16:27 (PST)
well done!
wert- Monday, February 06, 2006 at 04:24:11 (PST)
COL Heslin, great site. Just found it tonight while reflecting on Kontum in 1967-68 and the TET Offensive. The references to TET and the role that the aviators played brought back lots of memories. I was assigned to the Province as a PsyOps Advisor (belongs to the CORDS organization). Spent most of my time in civilian clothes as I worked with the Province (US and Vietnamese), 5th SFG and the SOG folks south of town. Rudy G. Hall was a close friend. LTC Tom Whalen was the PSA during the time that I was there. Am still reading through all of the information that you have collected. Great job. Respects. Joel F. Thomas, US Army LTC (Ret)
LTC(Ret) Joel F. Thomas <j2thomas@knology.net>Huntsville, AL USA - Saturday, February 04, 2006 at 19:53:35 (PST)
Fred Alvis - the aircraft you mention on the discussion board could have been one my dad was working with. Could also have been Air America. (civilian pilots working for the cia). There was another civilian operation called CORDS. My dad was a provincial police aviation advisor for them. He died last may and as I was going through his things I found a photo of a unit called "ghostriders". seemed relevant so I thought it appropriate to write back.
His call sign I have learned was Sherrif 06. Maybe you knew him.
Fairfield, CA USA - Wednesday, February 01, 2006 at 11:46:57 (PST)
Hi, I'm John Ruhm looking for anyone that served in 604 trans co 1970-72
John Ruhm <jlyiakos2002@yahoo.com>Bourbonnais, IL USA - Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 07:28:42 (PST)
Would like information on the PFC Arnold Duryea (Max) he was KIA on 9 Feb 1968 in Kontum. He was with the 4th inf div 1/14inf. I do know that he was the RTO that day. He was a very close friend of mine and any information would help. I was with the 11th cav and 1st Cav 71-72. Thanks
Richard A Dewitt <rick57andflo39@cox.net>Sierra Vista, AZ US - Wednesday, January 04, 2006 at 08:00:36 (PST)
Brings back a lot of memories
John Holm <Jholm55@yahoo.com>Chicago, IL - Sunday, January 01, 2006 at 20:36:40 (PST)