2007

Anyone interested in assisting this writer?

Dear Mr. Holdorf, 

I am writing to you to request your assistance. I am an American magazine writer and author. More information about me can be found by clicking on the website below.

For the subject of my next book, I am looking to find a willing participant. This person is a Vietnam veteran who is considering/planning a trip to Vietnam to see what the place he fought in/patrolled looks like today, preferably on his own or as part of one of the organized reconciliation tours. Ideally, I am looking for someone who also has a son who fought (or is fighting) in Iraq, the experience of his son having in part prompted a desire to return to Vietnam.

Through this veteran’s experience, I hope to tell a story of how America ultimately reconciles the war experience, both for his generation and the following ones. While I realize that many thousands of vets have already had the ‘return to Vietnam” experience (and I have met several on previous trips to Vietnam myself), I am interested in one who has not yet gone but plans to, so that I would be able to chronicle the experience as it goes along.

Since you are in contact with a number of veterans through the regiment’s website, please feel free to forward my request widely in hopes of a response.

 With thanks in advance,

Sheri Prasso

==============================
http://www.sheridanprasso.com
700 West End Ave. 3B
New York, NY 10025
tel: 212-678-6789

2006

November 23, 2006

Here is a link to Carr's Compendiums.

http://www.carrscompendiums.com/

We don't do commercial sites as a rule, but Davo thinks that this one 
will have some closure for a few of our members. Just click the link to
be taken to the site. 

Hi -

Here's my tentative proposal for a reunion in Nha Trang in July, 2007.  I know that it may seem a little early to start planning for such an event.  Ticket prices tend to go up about 3 months before a trip.  I'd like to start looking for tickets in a couple of months.  I may try a consolidator in "Little Saigon" in Orange County, CA.  We may be able to get a better price with a group going.

For those of you who would like to start saving, you have about 11 months to do so.

My wife and I, and some of our children are definitely going.  We would love to have any and all of you go with us.

Please note that the cost estimate is based on my last trip in January, 2006.  Prices may go up.  I have tried to guesstimate the mid-range cost of hotels and meals.

When I went, I spent about $200US per week on in-country travel, hotels, food, and beer.  While I did not stay in the low-end hotels, I also did not stay in 5 star hotels, or eat in 5 star restaurants.  But for the cost of the airplane tickets, it is a very inexpensive vacation.

I'll be back in touch in a month or so, to get some type of "head count" - even if you are only interested.

In the meantime, get your passport and talk to your doctor about what shots will be needed.

Take a look at some documents I created for this. Return to 'Nam  Estimated Expenses
Thoughts and Musings

David Gunn 

2005

 http://www.washingtonwatchdog.org/rtk/documents/cong_bills/109/h/h109_ 4259ih.html

Thanks to Jerry Cooke for being proactive and forwarding this information to us.

Thoughts on the 15th Field Artillery Regiment’s Sixth Reunion.

 I attended the sixth reunion of the 15^th Field Artillery Regiment in Cleveland, Ohio

from 18 - 20 August. 52 former members of the Regiment attended, two from 6/15 FA and 50 from 7/15 FA, along with 26 wives.

Folks traveled from 21 states; the furthest coming from Washington, California and Florida. Other states represented included AL, OH, TX, WI, NY, IL, VA, GA, OK, NE, MI, KS, PA, AR, IN, NC, KY, and MN. 

While the numbers might suggest that the reunion was only for veterans of the 7^th Bn, that was not the case. Let me explain. When you look at the Regimental web page, at www.landscaper.net , you will see that the Regiment was / is made up of several battalions. At one time there were eight battalions, today only two remain active: the 1/15 FA (155 SP) in Korea and the 2/15 FA (105 T) at Fort Drum, NY. Two battalions, the 6/15 FA (105 T) and 7/15 FA (8”/175 SP), served in Vietnam. One member of C Battery, 6/15 FA was awarded the Medal of Honor, (Posthumously).  

In 1990, several former members of 7/15 FA got together to share experiences and reminiscences. Since then, they have held reunions every two or three years at various locations. Even though the reunions have been open to any Regimental veteran, usually only members of 7/15 FA attended. This year two members of the 6/15 FA attended … 1SG (ret) Mike Howell (Service Battery Supply – 1968-1969) and myself (B Btry – 1969). 

The reunions have been held in Pittsburg, PA, Clarksville, TN, Louisville, KY, Fort Sill, OK, Fayetteville, NC and this last one in Cleveland, OH. Photographs and descriptions of the reunions can be found on the Regimental web page at www.landscaper.net/reunions.htm. Photographs of the Cleveland reunion may not be posted for several weeks. The Cleveland reunion was originally scheduled to be held at Fort Drum sponsored by the 2/15^th FA. The battalion, however, was alerted and sent to Iraq so Cleveland was chosen as an alternative location. The “15^th FA Regimental Headquarters” is located at Fort Drum within the headquarters building of the 2/15^th FA. There are two 105 mm Howitzers on display in front of the building: one is stenciled “6/15^th FA” with the name “Pinky” (the nickname of 2Lt Durham – the Medal of Honor awardee from C Battery) on the tube while the other is stenciled “7/15^th FA. The building was dedicated as Durham Hall several years ago and contains numerous memorabilia from the Regiment. 

If you have never attended a reunion let me fill you in on my experiences:

Travel: I chose to fly to Cleveland from Kansas City. Had my wife attended I probably would have driven. I booked my flight several months in advance and it cost me $140. Everyone stayed at the same hotel at special rates and the three nights stay including tax was $220. The registration fee was $90, which included Friday morning continental breakfast, buffet dinner on Friday evening, dinner at the banquet on Saturday evening, bus transportation on our tour  to downtown Cleveland, two hospitality rooms and all of the snacks and drinks (beer, wine and soft drinks) available every day and night. We gathered and talked in the hospitality rooms where we looked at scrap books and photo albums and just plain reminisced with folks we had not seen in over thirty years.  

Comradeship: I was a little apprehensive at first since I knew only one person at the reunion …. Mike Howell from Service Battery, 6/15^th whom I had only met a few weeks before the reunion …. turns out we live in the same town! I should have not been concerned... from the moment I walked into the hospitality room to register, I was “one of the boys”. I can’t tell you how many times someone came up to me and introduced themselves and we began talking about the “old days”. Different batteries and battalions, different times and different ways of doing things, but we all shared many of the same experiences. Everyone was friendly and had stories to tell and many had attended several of the previous reunions. The regimental historian brought his many books of the regiments history (even included a book on 6/15^th) for everyone to look through. And it seems as though most of the vets brought their personal photo albums with pictures of their days in the Army to include Vietnam. I took mine as did Mike. Incidentally, you can find many of our photographs of Vietnam on the web site. I think that there are more pictures of the 6/15^th FA posted than those of the 7/15^th FA. Just click on the appropriate battalion and take a look. 

Daily activities: Our first day was devoted to registration, meeting folks and getting acquainted. The second day started with a continental breakfast before we boarded the bus for our ride into downtown Cleveland. We had the opportunity to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the USS Cod, a WW II attack submarine, a 1920’s ore carrying ship, the SS Mather, and the Great Lakes Science Museum. All of these venues were within walking distance of each other and were on the shore of Lake Erie. After a quick lunch, most of us took a two hour boat cruise. That evening we held a memorial service for the members of all battalions who had died defending their country in all wars. Mike and I read the names of the fallen members of the 6/15^th FA. After our buffet dinner we participated in raffles and an auction of items donated by members. On the third day we held our business meeting in the morning where we discussed membership, finances, a proposal to become a “formal” organization and the location for the next reunion. After the meeting pictures were taken of the attendees for the web site, the history books and our personal photo albums. Then we were free until the awards banquet that evening. After dinner, awards were presented to several organization officers who had devoted much of their time to the organization. Of course, the hospitality room was open after dinner and many adjourned there to relax, talk, have a snack or a drink and look at the history books and picture albums. Amazing how much younger, handsome and debonair we all looked in those days! 

Departure: The final morning was devoted to saying goodbyes and hitting the road for the interstate or the airport. Some folks tied the reunion in with further travels to visit friends or relatives, while for others, this was their vacation.  

Next Reunion: The location for the next reunion has not been set yet. A committee was established to look at several proposed locations, ranging from Nebraska to Fort Leavenworth, KS to Branson, MO and a decision will be made within a few months. If any of you have any suggestions or comments on future locations, sound off to Mike Howell or myself. 

I enjoyed myself at the Cleveland reunion and, if I didn’t know anyone when I walked in, I certainly knew a lot of folks when I walked out. Many of those friendships will last a life time. Regular Army or draftee or volunteer, we all went through a defining time in our lives and history while we were in Vietnam whether we liked it or not. Reunions are not a place to glorify wars but to grasp, renew, honor and hold on to the friendships we developed during that time. It’s been thirty six years since I was in Vietnam, probably about the same for most of you and none of us are getting any younger. I am sure that we have already lost some of our friends from the past and that will, unfortunately, continue as time goes on. 

I would encourage you all to think seriously about attending the next reunion wherever it is held so that we can relive those friendships and experiences before we lose them forever. 

As some of you know, Gaither Kitchell and I are researching the history of our battalion and batteries. Dick Brown is providing yeoman work in trying to locate “lost” members and Mike Howell has volunteered to help anyway he can and is pursuing the possibility of setting up the Fort Leavenworth/Kansas City area for the next reunion. You can help us in several ways.  

First, look in your garage or storage areas for any old letters, rosters, orders or pictures from your Fort Sill or Vietnam days. Send copies to Gaither or myself. We will forward the pictures to the Regimental webmaster for inclusion in our battalion’s “rogue’s gallery”. Please be sure to write what you remember of the event on the back of the pictures. If nothing else your name, your job, battery, and the year will work. Even if don’t have anything from the past, send us an e-mail or call us so that we can get-together and talk. 

Second, if you know the whereabouts of any of your friends from those days contact them and ask them to get in touch with us. 

And third, start thinking today about attending the reunion in two years wherever it may be held. The cost of attending is not great and can be tied in with a vacation. We do need to meet again to talk and renew friendships before we are too old to recall the past.  

Thanks for taking the time to read this memo, I  hope that it provided you with the information you need to help us in our research and that you will seriously start planning to join us at  the next reunion.

John Sarantakes
sarantakes@leavenworth.army.mil

The passing of a comrade in arms due to dioxins acquired in the line of duty in Viet Nam.

Don Trent: Who served on the Guns in C Btry from Jan 1969 to Jan 1970.  Don was operated on for Pancreatic Cancer on Tuesday and died on Friday, 19 August.  His wife, Patricia, said it was Agent Orange Related and hopes all of the guys will get checked for Agent Orange. The wake is Wednesday, 24 August from 4 to 8 PM and the Funeral Service is Thursday at 10 AM.  The viewing and funeral will be at:

Subject: I Corps reunion
 You guys are welcome to attend our reunion – I Corps Artillery
We are holding it November 10 – 13, 2005
In Branson at the Westwood Inn 

You can contact me for further information at airdsie@charter.net

Its also at our web site
http://www.willpete.com/I-CorpsArtilleryVets.htm

Click on the picture above to visit the Website.
 

2004

2003

COL (R) Norman L. Barnes
1928 - 2004

Colonel Norman L. Barnes passed away on 11 November 2004.  He served as the Bn XO for the 7^th Bn, 15^th FA in 1966-67 and worked diligently to get the Battalion and all of its equipment prepared for shipment to Vietnam.  This was a tremendous task considering the condition of our vehicles and equipment, but he managed to make it happened.  He was the right man for the right job at the right time.  Shortly after our arrival in Vietnam our Bn CO, LTC (later BG) Robert B. Hankins had to return on Leave to the states because of the deaths of his parents.  In his absence of about a month MAJ (later COL)  Norm Barnes became our Bn CO until LTC Hankins returned.  Shortly after this Norm was promoted to LTC and he left the Battalion to become the 41^st Arty Group XO at Camp Fidel (Phu Cat).   Later, in 1978 COL Norm Barnes was my boss at Ft Sill until his retirement in 1979.     

                From my perspective he was an honest, sincere, intelligent, brave, and fair-minded soldier who became a good friend.  And most importantly he was a compassionate human being with a heart of gold.  I would like to share this story with you.  Norm was appointed as the Commander of all of the Troops on the ship when we deployed to Vietnam in June of 1967 aboard the USNS General Walker.  About 10 days into the trip two of the men in my Battalion Fire Direction Section went on-deck with their towels and wearing only a pair of shorts.  It was an overcast day and they thought it would be safe to take a nap.  They laid down on the deck and fell asleep for about an hour, woke up, rolled over and went to sleep again for another hour or more.  Needless to say, they had gotten severely sunburned on both sides of their bodies.  They were in a lot of pain and went to the Sickbay for treatment.  This incident had to be reported to Norm as the Commander of Troops.  Someone in the Sickbay felt these two men may have been trying to avoid going into the Combat Zone. 

           Norm did what he was suppose to do and looked into Military Justice charges.  There is a chapter in the Uniform Code of Military Justice that reads something like “Purposely incapacitating ones self so as to avoid combat” or words to that affect.  I went to his cabin and requested to speak to him about my men and the charges.  He gave me the opportunity to speak and I explained that I knew these two men very well.  I told him they were certainly guilty of being stupid but they weren’t guilty of being cowards.  I also told him that I needed these men when we got to Vietnam as they were an integral part of our Battalion Fire Direction Section.  He thought about it for a few minutes and offered me a deal I couldn’t refuse.   

He said, “Sergeant Gillotti, if those two knuckleheads can get off of this ship wearing all of their combat gear, flack jackets and carrying their own weapons and baggage when we get to Vietnam I won’t Courts Martial them.”  By the time we arrived in Vietnam their blisters were the size of small pancakes all over their bodies and they were in a great deal of pain.  But they did manage to get themselves and their gear off of that ship and onto shore.  Eventually their blisters healed and they served their 12-month tours honorably in Vietnam and the whole incident was never brought up again. 

Norm was a man of enormous integrity and personal convictions.  I was a much better soldier for having known him.  He kept his word and I will forever have the utmost respect for him.  May he now Rest in Peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 Respectfully Yours,

Dan Gillotti

Historian, 15^th FA Regiment

Remains of American MIA's Found in North Korea

POW/MIA Consultations Conclude in Cambodia

            The four nations involved in accounting for Americans missing in action from the Vietnam War closed their meeting Friday in Siem Reap, Cambodia, agreeing to intensify cooperation on losses in border areas.

            The 2004 Consultations were hosted by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs Jerry D. Jennings.  Senior leaders from the United States, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam gathered to forge a common vision, share experiences and set a course for the future.

           Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen opened the meeting challenging the conference participants to find new ways to cooperate on the POW/MIA issue “for the sake of humanity.”  He said it was “…important to enhance cooperation and integration of efforts between the United States, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as so many of the missing were lost in border areas.”

           Last year’s gathering in Bangkok, was the first time the four nations had come together to hold such a meeting since the end of the war in 1975.  The United States also continues to work with each of the countries individually to investigate MIA cases and excavate loss sites in an effort to recover, identify and return to the families in the United States the remains of missing Americans. 

           Expressing gratitude for the assistance the United States has received from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, Jennings said, “Without your cooperation, this mission could not continue.  We know that and the families and veterans know that.”

           At the conclusion of the two-day session, the delegates agreed to reactivate senior-level trilateral discussions on cases in the border areas, where the United States will join either Vietnam and Laos, or Vietnam and Cambodia to mount a three-nation, or trilateral, effort for case resolution.

           Additionally, the delegates established new mechanisms at the expert level to coordinate efforts on these cases.  Special emphasis will be placed on the United States government’s highest priority cases, those involving servicemen last known to be alive (LKA) at the time of their incident of loss.

           Resolving the LKA cases and improving trilateral investigations in the border areas are two tasks President Bush has identified as key to success in accounting for missing United States personnel.   The multilateral consultations follow recent bilateral breakthroughs that also reflect President Bush’s push for greater cooperation.  These include agreements between the United States and Vietnam, and the United States and Laos on initiatives to improve access to each country’s archival holdings, along with renewed access for investigations and recoveries in previously denied areas of the Central Highlands in Vietnam.

           Since the end of the war, the United States has accounted for more than 700 Americans from the Vietnam War.  More than 1,800 are unaccounted-for from the war.  More than 88,000 are still missing from all conflicts.

            Additional information on POW/MIA accounting may be found on the DPMO web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or by calling (703) 699-1169.

U.S. POW/MIA Official Cities Breakthrough in Vietnam

U.S. POW/MIA accounting operations will soon resume in the Central Highlands of Vietnam to account for missing Americans lost during the Vietnam War.  U.S. and Vietnamese technical experts will meet in September in Pleiku, Vietnam, to review cases and interview witnesses as an initial step.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs Jerry D. Jennings met with Gia Lai Province officials in Pleiku yesterday to discuss the return of American POW/MIA investigators, whose access had been denied for three years due to local unrest.  Senior province officials agreed operations will resume and that they should be conducted in the same manner as in the rest of the country.

"I am very pleased," Jennings said, "that Vietnamese officials both at the provincial and central government levels are again willing to allow us access to this sensitive region.  This is a very positive step."

Jennings has notified U.S. investigators to resume contacts with officials in the Central Highlands in order to schedule operations.  Of the 1,855 Americans missing from the Vietnam War, some 110 are thought to be in the Central Highlands area.

Achieving the fullest possible accounting of missing Americans is of the highest national priority.  Of the 88,000 missing from all conflicts, more than 125 are from the Cold War, 8,100 are from the Korean War, and 78,000 are unaccounted-for from World War II.

Additional information on POW/MIA accounting may be found on the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/ or by calling (703) 699-1169.

New 15th Webmaster! 

Reunion 2005 Dates & Location Changed

Combat Artillery Badge

HR 3950 IH
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3950

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a combat artillery badge to recognize combat service by members of the Army in the artillery branch.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 11, 2004

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin (for himself, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire, Mr. EVANS, Mr. LIPINSKI, and Mr. ROHRABACHER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a combat artillery badge to recognize combat service by members of the Army in the artillery branch.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The field artillery is one of the oldest and most celebrated of the Army's combat arms. 
(2) The field artillery was critical to American success in the `War to end all Wars,' World War I. 
(3) The field artillery also proved to be a decisive factor during World War II, helping the United States achieve victories in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. General George S. Patton Jr. remarked, `I do not need to tell you who won the war. You know the artillery did.' 
(4) The field artillery continued to play a role in military actions in Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf and it remains critical to today's military efforts. 
(5) Despite the past heroic efforts of the members of the Army who served in the field artillery, there is no badge specifically recognizing the contribution of field artillerymen. 

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT ARTILLERY BADGE.

(a) In General- Chapter 357 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

Sec. 3757. Combat artillery badge

(a) The Secretary of the Army shall issue a combat artillery badge to each person who, while a member of the Army in the artillery branch, participated in combat after April 5, 1917. Criteria for the issuance of the medal shall be established by the Secretary and shall be as similar as practicable for the issuance of the combat infantry badge to persons in the infantry branch. 
(b) In the case of persons who, while a member of the Army in the artillery branch, participated in combat after April 5, 1917, and before the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue the badge described in subsection (a)-- 

(1) to each such person who is known to the Secretary before such date of enactment; and

(2) to each such person with respect to whom an application for the issuance of such badge is made to the Secretary after such date in such manner, and within such time period, as the Secretary may require.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

3757. Combat artillery badge.

Military Phone Card Donation Program Goes Public

For those wishing to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member may log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange web sites: the Army and Air Force Exchange Service http://www.aafes.com the Navy Exchange Service Command http://www.navy-nex.com and the Marine Corps Exchange http://www.usmc-mccs.org. Click the “Help Our Troops Call Home” link. From there, a prepaid calling card may be purchased for an individual at his or her deployed address or to “any service member” deployed or hospitalized. The Armed Services Exchanges will distribute cards donated to “any service member” through the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society and the Fisher House Foundation.

The Armed Services Exchanges operate telephone call centers in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other countries and aboard ships -- anywhere servicemembers are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. All of these locations stay busy around the clock to keep up communication between deployed troops and their loved ones. The cards available through the “Help Our Troops Call Home” program offer the best value for calls made from the call centers, never expire, and there are no added charges or connection fees.

Individuals and organizations also can show their support to deployed troops and their families with gift certificates. The “Gift of Groceries” program allows anyone to purchase commissary gift certificates at http://www.commissaries.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. The Armed Services Exchanges offer the “Gift From the Homefront” gift certificate for merchandise at these exchange web sites: http://www.aafes.com and http://www.navy-nex.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. Gift certificates may be purchased to be mailed to servicemembers and family members or will be distributed to “any servicemember.” Only authorized commissary and exchange patrons may redeem the gift certificates at military commissaries and exchanges, including those stores supporting deployed personnel around the globe. 

M107 in Vietnam War Museum at Hue

Capt E. Alan Brudno Added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial

While this case stands on the particular merits flowing from its unique circumstances, the decision must not be misunderstood to include, broadly, cases involving more attenuated circumstances that may have led to post-war suicides, or those post-war deaths more distantly based on cases of war-related psychological trauma.
   

Carol Donley

On Thursday, March 19, at approximately 1800 hours (6pm), God saw that Carol Donley was getting tired, and saw a cure was not in sight so he picked her up and said daughter you have suffered enough. She now has joined some of our comrades that left us during the Vietnam conflict and some later on. 

If you have attended the 7-15th reunion, you would always see Carol along side her husband, Mike. 

Mike, there is very little we can do to comfort a person when their loved o