War Stories

It is entirely accurate? Who knows...it is what we remember...and that's what counts.
Does someone have a "better memory"? Perhaps....after all, it was a long time ago.

You are invited to submit your "war stories"...your best recall, a close call, a humorous story,
or a tribute to someone very deserving, a major battle summary...something you'll never forget.

the MIGHTY NINTH		in BATTLE

A BATTLE AT LZ ST. GEORGE *Sgt Herb Ables, Sgt Mike Medley*	A BATTLE AT LZ ST. GEORGE - II *Sgt Rick Ericksen*	A BATTLE AT LZ ST. GEORGE - III *SSG Charles "Chuck" Wahlquist*
Thanksgiving Day at LZ St. George	A BATTLE AT ST. GEORGE Timeline of events 6Nov69 Audio of Night Attack 6Nov69 Audio: 0800Hrs 7Nov69 Audio: VC Inside Wire AIR CREW MEMBER KIA Greg Rugenstein killed in tragic accident submitted by Jim "Tex" Shelton	PFC David John Gamble KIA at this parapet "All Gave Some; Some Gave All"
MORTAR ATTACK AT LZ MONTEZUMA - 24JUN67 Sp5 Danny Yates	LZ INCOMING...and I do mean incoming! *Lt Bert Landau*	LZ INCOMING - REDUX *Lt Bert Landau*
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY - NOT! Our brother veterans recount the attack on LZ Oasis (see OPERATION WESTERN PISTOL) Maj Jerry Orr (dec) Lt Mike Kurtgis, Sp4 Rick Ericksen, Sp4 Steven Cox, Sp4 Milton Pounds	LZ LANE - 19NOV66 Lt Jim DeLoney, Sgt Ray Delano, Sgt Joe Cook Comments added by Lt Dennis Dauphin, Webmaster	THE BATTLE OF ONE-NINER, MAR67 Courtesy of the CACTI TIMES magazine. Lt Bob Emory, FO for C/2/35, was KIA
OPERATION WESTERN PISTOL More on LZ Oasis, the Mother's Day attack of 11May69, and the search for Russian helicopters LESSONS LEARNED: Atk on LZ Oasis The "official" report	DEFENDING SF CAMP @ BEN HET Air Observer Cpt Bob Baird recounts his adventures defending the SF Camp	OPERATION GREEN LIGHTNING 8 - 17 Feb69: A major bombardment on the Chu Pa mountain involving the1/14th, 35th & the 2/9th. (Incomplete Report - 4 pages) CHU PA PHOTO ************** READ MORE: Rick Ericksen: I Was There Mike Kurtgis: It Was A Bad Day Joseph Sleevi: The Men Involved Dick Arnold: Officers Relieved of Duty Ed Thomas: OERs Affected** James Deloney, Jr: Blast Wave Effects Ray Beebe: Firing HA at Charge 7 Steve Cox: I Was There, Too
	LZ TUFFY: MORE THAN TOUGH Setting up an LZ was not meant to be a full-fledged battle!
	TRIBUTES

Lt BILL FARMER: A Tribute *Lt Ed Thomas (dec)*	PFC ODELL EASLEY: A Tribute Sgt Rick Ericksen & PFC Larry Engels	RECON SGT STEPHEN PECK: A Tribute *Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)*
RTO RAYMOND WESLEY: A Tribute *Lt Don Blankin (dec 29Jul21))*		RECON SGT MICHAEL SAWYER: A Tribute *Sgt Mike Medley*
35th's RALPH BLACKERBY: A Tribute *Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)*	THE MEN OF THE 35TH: A Tribute **Lt Don Blankin (dec 29Jul21)**	WELCOME HOME, BROTHER! A Tribute *Sp4 Danny Yates (dec)*
	WAR STORIES

	"FREDDY FADAC" WAR STORIES
FADAC *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	A CASE OF FADAC, PLEASE Lt Don Blankin (dec 29Jul21)	DON'T HURT MY FREDDY! *Sp4 Danny Fort*
	HERE, FREDDY-HAVE A COKE ON ME Sgt Mike Medley
	more WAR STORIES (listed Alphabetically)
	8" HOWITZER SAVES THE DAY *Lt J. Fred Oliver*
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN CAMBODIA *Lt Frank Herbick*	A BIG BANG WELCOME *Sp4 Danny Yates*	A BULLET WITH NO NAME Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)
A DIFFERENT KIND OF BAGGAGE *2/9th Anonymous*	A FINE FOR "BARFING" Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	A FIRST CLASS OUTHOUSE Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)
A "GOPHER" Sp4 Leon "Lee" Dixon	A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW Lt Dennis Munden	A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE *Sp4 Steve Cox*
A RABBI IS MISSING *Lt Bert Landau*	A REAL "MERRY CHRISTMAS" *Lt Jim Brother*	A SHORT CIRCUIT *Lt Don Keith*
A "SPEEDY" PROMOTION *Sp4 Ambrose Smurra*	AH, SMELLS SO GOOD...BUT! *Lt Ed Thomas*	ADVENTURES AT LZ ANCHOR *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
AND THEN IT REALLY HIT THE FAN! Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	ARTILLERY INCIDENT REPORTS *2/9th Battalion Adjutant*	AVOIDING STUPID *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
BASE CAMP: HOME OF THE MIGHTY NINTH? Sgt Joe Cook, et al.	BY AIR, LAND AND SEA Robert "Bob" Wilson Danny Yates	BUT, GENERAL...I'M AWOL! Lt Don Keith
CAMPTOWN RACES (DOO-DAH) *Sp4 Danny Fort*	CAPTAIN HUTSELL'S FLASHLIGHT *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	CLIMBING THE CHU PA *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
CONGRATULATIONS! Lt Dennis Dauphin		CRAZY CANNONCOCKERS Lt Bert Landau
DANGEROUS TRAJECTORY *Various Contributors*	DEEP-SIXING THE #6 *Stephan Zacharias, grandson of SSG Spears, KIA*	DEMOLITION FOR DUMMIES *Sgt Rick Ericksen*
DINKS IN THE WIRE! Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	DON'T NEED YOUR HELP, MAMA-SAN! *Steve Gorecky*	DROPPING THE HOWITZER *Contributors: SSG Chuck Wahlquist, SGT Rick Ericksen, LT Joe Hannigan, SGT Herb Ables, SGT Walt Shields & SGT Larry Engels*
DRINKING RICE WINE *Sgt Joe Cook*	DUCK! You make a good target *Lt Mike Kurtgis*
FAKE IT! *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	FLYING LOBSTERS Lt Dennis Dauphin	GANGWAY! MAN WITH A BABY *Lt Gary Dean Springer*
GONE TO THE DOGS! *Various Contributors*	GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM! Sp4 Rick Ericksen	HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (MEANTIME, SHUT UP!) Sp4 Rick Ericksen
HELLO, FNG! *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME? *Cpt Bob Baird*	H & I TARGET *Lt Dennis Munden*
HYMN AND HOD-JA *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	I'LL STAY HERE *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	IF IT WALKS LIKE A BULL... *Sgt Joe Sleevi*
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED *Lt Gary Dean Springer*	IF YOU'RE GOING... *PFC Tom Surratt*	I'M NOT A PILOT, BUT... Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)
JUNGLE EXPERT SCHOOL *Lt Dennis Dauphin, Lt Ed Thomas, Lt Bert Landau, Lt Bob Patalano, Lt Don Keith, Maj Jerry Orr*	JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU CROSSED THE FINISH LINE *Sp4 Rick Ericksen*	LET ME TELL YOU HOW TO FIGHT Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)
LOOKING FOR SMOKE *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	MAKING MOOLA *Lt Bert Landau*
MY WILD RIDE: A NIGHT CONVOY *Sp4 Dante Pucetti*	NO JOY IN A CONVOY Sp4 Steve Sykora	NO HOPE FOR BOB HOPE *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
NO LIVING RELATIVES Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	ODE TO A SANDBAG Lt Bert Landau	OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? Lt Dennis Dauphin

ON THE LINE *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	PCS: DESTINATION VIETNAM *Lt Bert Landau*	PURPLE CAN OF HAM & LIMA BEANS *Lt Gary Dean Springer*
RACE WITH DEATH Lt Gary Dean Springer	REALLY YELLING Lt Don Keith, as told to Lt Dennis Dauphin	REAR AREA REPORTS *PFC John J. Portonova*
RESUPPLY - A "CRYING SHAME" Lt Don Keith (9/10/24)	REOPENING THE ROAD TO PLEI ME *Sgt Mike Medley*
RIGHT OF THE LINE Lt Jim T. James (deceased 7/29/20)		RINGING THE BELL *Sp4 Rick Ericksen*
RING KNOCKERS Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	RUN! BUT DON'T JUMP!!! *Lt Cal Graef (35th)*	RUNNING THROUGH THE JUNGLE *Sp4 Rick Ericksen*
SAFE TO COME OUT NOW *Sp4 Leon "Lee" Dixon*	SECOND THOUGHTS *Sp4 Steve Sykora*	SHORE BATTERY WARFARE *Lt Bert Landau*
SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOOCH ALWAYS TASTES BETTER *Sgt Rick Ericksen*	SOMETIMES...YOU'RE TOO SMART *Sp4 Larry Engels*	SMOKE ROUND DOES THE JOB *Stars & Stripes News*
STEAKS FOR DINNER *Lt Bert Landau*	TAKE IT ALL, WHY DONTCHA? Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	TACOMA, CALIFORNIA *Lt Gary Dean Springer*
THAT'S NOT A "DONUT", DOLLY! *Sp4 Rick Ericksen*	THE AMBUSH *Lt Bert Landau*	THE KING'S AMBUSH Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)
THE COFFIN CORNER Lt Don Blankin (dec 29Jul21)	THE COLONEL'S THRONE *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	THE FIRE-EATER Lt Gary Dean Springer
THE GREAT DEBATE: WERE OCS GRADS "CANNON FODDER"? *Participating FOs*		THE OCCUPATION OF LZ SUSIE (PIG) Sgt Mike Medley
THE LEAKING COOK *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	THE "NO-NAME" BULLET Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	THE OTHER REASON *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
T.V. -or- NOT T.V. ? Sp4 Leon "Lee" Dixon	THE STREETS OF SAIGON *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	THE WAR WASN'T OVER Lt Dennis Dauphin
THE SPINNING MOSQUITO *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	THESE AIN'T "GOODY'S POWDERS" Lt Bert Landau	THIS IS NOT A DRILL! *Lt Bert Landau*
THREE IS A CROWD Lt Don Keith *(dec 9/10/24)*	TWO BIG PESOS *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
UNLIKELY HERO Lt Dauphin, Springer & Sgt Joe Cook	UNFRIENDLY SKIES *Lt Gary Dean Springer*	VIETNAMESE LAUNDRY *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
WANNA CUSHY JOB? *Lt Dennis Dauphin*	WASN'T WORTH "TWO-BITTS" Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)	WELCOME to CAMP ALPHA *Lt Dennis Dauphin*
WHAT THE FK, OVER? Lt Dennis Dauphin**	WHO GOT "THE BIRD"? Lt Mike Kurtgis	WHY? THAT'S WHY! Sgt Joe Sleevi
YA MEAN "REAL BULLETS?" Capt Jerry Orr	YES...YOU WILL BECOME A PILOT! Lt Don Keith (dec 9/10/24)
YOU GOT HIM! Lt Dennis Dauphin	YOU LOOKING FOR ME? Lt Bert Landau	ZING, BANG, BOOM! Lts Dauphin & Springer; Sp4 Danny Yates