Below are the names of the troopers who have already signed up or plan on attending. I will update this
list weekly and post it on the Weekly Newsletter. Jim Skillings was making out his reseveration when he received news that he is scheduled for surgery and won't be able to attend. BB
Davidson, Ronald
A Troop, 1/4th Cav
Friday, Jerry
B Troop, 1/4th cav
Kramer, Jeff C Troop, 1/4th Cav
Baker, Daniel D Troop (Air)
Smith, James
4th Cav Regiment
Paul Miller
Other 4th Cavalry Troopers
Baker, Ralph
Bill,
Bill, thank you and the A Troopers, 1-4 Cav Soldiers for all your assistance for this family.
Now here is something you don't see very often. This is an enemy After Action Report written by the
Regimental Commander of units that ambushed A Troop, 1/4th Cavalry on 8 June 1966 in what has become known as the Battle
of Ap Tau O (aka: Benchmark 69). It could be called a "fairly acurate" accounting of the battle except for the
exaguration of Vehicles disabled and the American Body count he claims to his seniors. He sure didn't want them to
know that his 2,000 plus man regiment took one hell of an "ass whooping" from 135 Cavalry Troopers and a few Engineers
that went along for the ride. I bet he really cringed when he heard "Hanoi Rose" tell everybody on her radio program about
"the Walls of Steel of A Troop, 1/4th cavalry that couldn't even be penetrated by ants". To get a fair assessment
of what took place, read this man's report. Then go to www.quarterhorsecav.org/pg4ef.htm and read the after
action report of the battle from A Troops perspective along with the other narratives of the battle. It's really
strange how two seasoned Warriors can see a battle so differently. You be the judge. BB
Maneuver Ambush at Can Dam Conducted by 2nd Infantry Regiment/9th Division
To carry out the COSVN Military Command’s plan, in May 1966 the 9th Division initiated a wave of rainy season operations designed to inflict a number of enemy casualties and disrupt the enemy’s defensive posture in the Loc Ninh-Hon Quan area. However, the enemy discovered the presence of our forces in the area while preparations for this wave of operations were underway. Because of this, the Division Command Group decided to change the operational formula and it updated the plan and realigned its forces. The 2nd Regiment was ordered to shift over to conducting ambushes along Route 13 in accordance with the division’s new battle plan.
_____________________
In Eastern Cochin China we used two types of weapons – enemy 12.8mm machineguns as well as our own 12.7mm machineguns, Page 158
2.-Enemy Situation
Page 159 Page 160 3.-Friendly Situation The 2nd Regiment was made up of three infantry battalions (the 4th, 5th, and 6th) plus various subordinate combat support unit. …
On 17 May 1966, after having basically completed its preparations for the planned attack against enemy forces at Loc Ninh, the regiment was on its way to the battle area. However, that day, just when the regiment reached Soc Con Trang (Tay Ninh Province), it received orders to halt and make preparations to fight off an enemy sweep operation. On 21 May the plan to fight off the enemy sweep operation was completed. On 22 May the regiment received new orders directing it to shift it area of operations to the Route 13 area in Binh Long, where it was directed to ambush enemy road traffic.
Page 161 II.-Preparations for Battle
1.-Unit Mission and the Battle Plan of the 2nd Regiment Commander
Page 162 2.-Utilization of Forces and Missions of the Different Sub-Units Page 163 3.-Combat Support Arrangements
In order to implement the plan described above, the regiment commander issued orders to carry out a number of primary support tasks:
Page 164
When enemy forces appeared, the observation posts had to report the number of each type of vehicle, the convoy speed, the convoy location, and the specific actions of the enemy force. The reconnaissance troops could only abandon the two observation posts when so ordered by the regiment headquarters.
Page 165
III.-Progress of the Battle
1.-Occupying the Ambush Position and Waiting for the Enemy
Page 166
2.-Opening Fire, Assaulting the Enemy Convoy, and Fighting the Enemy on the Road
Page 167
3rd Company assaulted out to the road, where it destroyed two enemy vehicles. The company then moved north, up the road, and destroy six more vehicles, including one M-41 tank. However, the enemy spotted 2nd Company and massed his fire to block the company’s advance. The company was force to halt and was not able to advance any further.
Page 168
Fighting Enemy Vehicles in Defensive Perimeter (from 1345 to 1425 hours)
Page 169
The 12th Company destroyed twelve enemy vehicles in thirty minutes, including M-41 tanks and M-113s as well as three GMC trucks.
Page 170 Page 171
Page 179
Author: Colonel Pham Vinh Phuc
Documentary Sources:
GENERAL ORDERS
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
VA Hiring Update: ********************************************************
U.S. Savings Bonds Update 07: ********************************************************
PTSD Update: ********************************************************
VA Presumptive VN Vet Diseases Update:br>
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs said during a brief visit 6 JUL to Salt Lake City said, "The federal government did not address military members’ exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War ―the way that might have been and the way that should have been.‖ Thousands of Vietnam veterans waited for decades before medical conditions they acquired during the war were connected to exposure to the toxic defoliant. And that meant that many went without the medical care and compensation they deserved while suffering from debilitating diseases caused by their service. But as evidence mounts suggesting that many of the nation’s latest generation of veterans have been sickened by service in Iraq and Afghanistan, Secretary Eric Shinseki defended a century-old standard requiring scientific proof before veterans can be compensated for their suffering. Thirty-five years after the end of the Vietnam War, the V.A. is still slowly adding to the list of conditions recognized as related to Agent Orange exposure, including three illnesses — Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and B cell leukemias — that have been added to the list under Shinseki’s watch. The former Army general, himself a combat-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War, said ―nothing‖ was done to immediately respond to veterans who grew inexplicably sick after returning home from Vietnam. Shinseki said his department was working tirelessly to help veterans establish proof sooner. ―What we’re trying to change is the opportunity to establish the connection,‖ he said, noting that millions of federal dollars have been poured into research into military members who have been exposed to open-air burn pits — one of the probable culprits in a variety of medical conditions suffered by veterans, including cancer, skin conditions and blood disease. But in the meantime, the secretary said, the standard requiring medical proof of a disease’s cause is ―the law. ********************************************************
Heat Exhaustion/Stroke: Drink cool, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages. The CDC recommends that if your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or prescribes water pills for you, ask him or her how much you should drink when the weather is hot. It's best to avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause stomach cramps.
Helping Seniors Cope with Hot Weather. If you have elderly friends, relatives or neighbors, you can help them protect themselves from heat-related stress:
What to Do If You See Someone With Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke. Keep in mind that if you see any signs of severe heat stress, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected person. The CDC recommends get the person to a shady area and cool the person rapidly, using whatever methods you can, for example:
Bill,
Well I'm surviving the eastern heat and humidity while wondering how we ever did it in the Nam, being young and dumb helped, I'm sure!
I know there are a few of us 1/4 Cav types living in New England and New York and was wondering if any would like to hook up, as a group, perhaps for a small mini reunion, if we could find a suitably convenient, relatively inexpensive location. One possible location is the small ski area I am connected with in Otis, Ma, it's close to NY State and convenient to the other New England States, except a long drive from Maine etc., but my contacts there might give us good pricing. It doesn't have much in the way of amenities, but it's in a beautiful locale and for a day or two could be fun.
If anyone would be interested in trying to do this they can contact me at:
robert-ferguson@sbcglobal.net or 860-285-8150. I'm thinking right now of perhaps a late August or in Sept. after Labor Day, but before winter ski area prep gets under way. The facility has limited hours this time of year, so anything would have to fit in a Wed - Sun time frame.
Rob F ********************************************************
We all should find this one Useful. Thanks to Charles Murawski for sending it in. BB
Be sure and watch the clip..
Google has done it again...
Not everybody has On Star, etc. Or a phone book handy. Look what Google is doing..........
Here is something you will want to have and use ! I still remember when the telephone company charged me $1.50 to get a phone number from information!
My compliments to Google!
Just leave it up to Google to come up with something like this!!!
Here's a number worth putting in your cell phone, or your home phone speed dial: 1-800-goog411. This is an awesome service from Google, and it's free -- great when you are driving on the road with no pen, pencil or paper handy. Don't waste your money on information calls and don't waste your time manually dialing the number. I am driving along in my car and I need to call the golf course and I don't know the number. I hit the speed dial for information that I have programmed.
The voice at the other end says, "City & State." I say, " Garland , Texas ." He says, "Business, Name or Type of Service." I say, “Garland Golf Course." He says, "Connecting" and Garland Golf Course answers the phone.
How great is that? This is nationwide and it is absolutely free!
Click on the link above and watch the short clip for a quick demonstration.
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Thanks to Dan Thompson for this post. BB
Israeli New Trophy Defense Weapon ... Is Awsome
The Trophy system is simply awesome. It protects vehicles like tanks 360 degree and above. This video demonstrates this Israeli developed system.
Trophy system will change the battlefield in a major way.
The system has been installed in over 70% of the IDF's main battle tanks and other important armored vehicles. The balance of approximately 30% will be completed in very short order.
Numerous armies have indicated a very serious interest in the Trophy system, but so far, the IDF is not prepared to share the technology with anyone.
Watch this video.
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Heres some more amazing history sent in by Tony Moscicki. BB
THE AMERICAN SUBMARINE THAT SANK A JAPANESE RAILROAD TRAIN
Eight sailors conducted the ONLY GROUND COMBAT OPERATION on the Japanese "homeland" of World War II.
U.S.S. Barb: The Sub That Sank A Train
In 1973 an Italian submarine named Enrique Tazzoli was sold for a paltry $100,000 as scrap metal. The submarine, given to the Italian Navy in 1953 was actually an incredible veteran of World War II service with a heritage that never should have passed so unnoticed into the graveyards of the metal recyclers. The U.S.S. Barb was a pioneer, paving the way for the first submarine launched missiles and flying a battle flag unlike that of any other ship. In addition to the Medal of Honor ribbon at the top of the flag identifying the heroism of its captain, Commander Eugene "Lucky" Fluckey, the bottom border of the flag bore the image of a Japanese locomotive. The U.S.S. Barb was indeed, the submarine that "SANK A TRAIN".
July, 1945 (Guam)
July 18, 1945 (Patience Bay, Off the coast of Karafuto, Japan)
Commander Fluckey smiled as he remembered that patrol. "Lucky" Fluckey they called him. On January 8th the Barb had emerged victorious from a running two-hour night battle after sinking a large enemy ammunition ship. Two weeks later in Mamkwan Harbor he found the "mother-lode"...more than 30 enemy ships. In only 5 fathoms (30 feet) of water his crew had unleashed the sub's forward torpedoes, then turned and fired four from the stern. As he pushed the Barb to the full limit of its speed through the dangerous waters in a daring withdrawal to the open sea, he recorded eight direct hits on six enemy ships. Then, on the return home he added yet another Japanese freighter to the tally for the Barb's eleventh patrol, a score that exceeded even the number of that patrol.
What could possibly be left for the Commander to accomplish who, just three months earlier had been in Washington, DC to receive the Medal of Honor? He smiled to himself as he looked again at the map showing the rail line that ran along the enemy coastline. This final patrol had been promised as the Barb's "graduation patrol" and he and his crew had cooked up an unusual finale. Since the 8th of June they had harassed the enemy, destroying the enemy supplies and coastal fortifications with the first submarine launched rocket attacks. Now his crew was buzzing excitedly about bagging a train.
The rail line itself wouldn't be a problem. A shore patrol could go ashore under cover of darkness to plant the explosives...one of the sub's 55-pound scuttling charges. But this early morning Lucky Fluckey and his officers were puzzling over how they could blow not only the rails, but also one of the frequent trains that shuttled supplies to equip the Japanese war machine. Such a daring feat could handicap the enemy's war effort for several days, a week, perhaps even longer. It was a crazy idea, just the kind of operation "Lucky" Fluckey had become famous...or infamous...for. But no matter how crazy the idea might have sounded, the Barb's skipper would not risk the lives of his men. Thus the problem... how to detonate the charge at the moment the train passed, without endangering the life of a shore party. PROBLEM? Not on Commander Fluckey's ship. His philosophy had always been "We d't have problems, only solutions".
11:27 AM
6:07 PM
The solution found, there was no shortage of volunteers, all that was needed was the proper weather...a little cloud cover to darken the moon for the mission ashore. Lucky Fluckey established his own criteria for the volunteer party:
...No married men would be included, except for Hatfield,>br>
...The party would include members from each department,
When the names of the 8 selected sailors was announced it was greeted with a mixture of excitement and disappointment. Among the disappointed was Commander Fluckey who surrendered his opportunity at the insistence of his officers that "as commander he belonged with the Barb," coupled with the threat from one that "I swear I'll send a message to ComSubPac if you attempt this (joining the shore party himself)." Even a Japanese POW being held on the Barb wanted to go, promising not to try to escape.
In the meantime, there would be no more harassment of Japanese shipping or shore operations by the Barb until the train mission had been accomplished. The crew would "lay low", prepare their equipment, train, and wait for the weather.
July 22, 1945 (Patience Bay, Off the coast of Karafuto, Japan)
Anxiously watching the skies, Commander Fluckey noticed plumes of cirrus clouds, then white stratus capping the mountain peaks ashore. A cloud cover was building to hide the three-quarters moon. This would be the night.
MIDNIGHT, July 23, 1945
Stumbling through noisy waist-high grasses, crossing a highway and then stumbling into a 4-foot drainage ditch, the saboteurs made their way to the railroad tracks. Three men were posted as guards, Markuson assigned to examine a nearby water tower. The Barb's auxiliary man climbed the ladder, then stopped in shock as he realized it was an enemy lookout tower....an OCCUPIED tower. Fortunately the Japanese sentry was peacefully sleeping and Markuson was able to quietly withdraw and warn his raiding party.
The news from Markuson caused the men digging the placement for the explosive charge to continue their work more slowly and quietly. Suddenly, from less than 80 yards away, an express train was bearing down on them. The appearance was a surprise, it hadn't occurred to the crew during the planning for the mission that there might be a night train. When at last it passed, the brave but nervous sailors extracted themselves from the brush into which they had leapt, to continue their
task. Twenty minutes later the holes had been dug and the explosives and batteries hidden beneath fresh soil.
During planning for the mission the saboteurs had been told that, with the explosives in place, all would retreat a safe distance while Hatfield made the final connection. If the sailor who had once cracked walnuts on the railroad tracks slipped during this final, dangerous procedure, his would be the only life lost. On this night it was the only order the saboteurs refused to obey, all of them peering anxiously over Hatfield's shoulder to make sure he did it right. The men had come too far to be disappointed by a switch failure.
1:32 A.M.
1:45 A.M.
1:47 A.M.
On August 2, 1945 the Barb arrived at Midway, her twelfth war patrol concluded. Meanwhile United States military commanders had pondered the prospect of an armed assault on the Japanese homeland. Military tacticians estimated such an invasion would cost more than a million American casualties. Instead of such a costly armed offensive to end the war, on August 6th the B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped a single atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. A second such bomb, unleashed 4 days later on Nagasaki, Japan, caused Japan to agree to surrender terms on August 15th. On September 2, 1945 in Tokyo Harbor the documents ending the war in the Pacific were signed.
The story of the saboteurs of the U.S.S. Barb is one of those unique, little known stories of World War II. It becomes increasingly important when one realizes that the 8 sailors who blew up the train at near Kashiho, Japan conducted the ONLY GROUND COMBAT OPERATION on the Japanese "homeland" of World War II. The eight saboteurs were:
Paul Saunders
Footnote: Eugene Bennett Fluckey retired from the Navy as a Rear Admiral, and wears in addition to his Medal of Honor, FOUR Navy Crosses...a record of awards unmatched by any living American. In 1992 his own history of the U.S.S. Barb was published in the award winning book, THUNDER BELOW. Over the past several years proceeds from the sale of this exciting book have been used by Admiral Fluckey to provide free reunions for the men who served him aboard the Barb, and their wives.
For those of you that keep and bear arms…I am sure you are aware of the firing line rules.
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." - Thomas Jefferson
....the first thing I noticed is that she's not wearing any ear or eye protection.
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You might enjoy this from Colonel D. G. Swinford, USMC, Retired, and history buff.
You would really have to dig deep to get this kind of ringside seat to history:
1. The first German serviceman killed in WW II was Killed by the Japanese (China, 1937), the first American Serviceman killed was killed by the Russians (Finland 1940); Highest ranking American killed was Lt Gen Lesley McNair, killed By the US Army Air Corps. So much for allies.
2. The youngest US serviceman was 12 year old Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded and given a Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. His benefits were later restored by an act of Congress.
3. At the time of Pearl Harbor, the top US Navy Command was called CINCUS (pronounced 'sink us'), the shoulder patch of the US Army's 45th Infantry division was the Swastika, and Hitler's private train was named 'Amerika.' All three were soon changed for PR purposes.
4. More US servicemen died in the Air Corps than the Marine Corps. While completing the required 30 missions, your chance of being killed was 71%.
5. Generally speaking, there was no such thing as an average fighter pilot. You were either an ace or a target. For instance, Japanese Ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa shot down over 80 planes. He died while a passenger on a cargo plane.
6. It was a common practice on fighter planes to load every 5th round with a tracer round to aid in aiming. This was a mistake. Tracers had different ballistics so (at long range) if your tracers were hitting the target 80% of your rounds were missing. Worse yet tracers instantly told your enemy he was under fire and from which direction. Worst of all was the practice of loading a string of tracers at the end of the belt to tell you that you were out of ammo. This was definitely not something you wanted to tell the enemy. Units that stopped using tracers saw their success rate nearly double and their loss rate go down.
7. When allied armies reached the Rhine, the first thing men did was pee in it. This was pretty universal from the lowest private to Winston Churchill (who made a big show of it) and Gen. Patton (who had himself photographed in the act).
8. German Me-264 bombers were capable of bombing New York City, but they decided it wasn't worth the effort.
9. German submarine U-120 was sunk by a malfunctioning toilet.
10. Among the first 'Germans' captured at Normandy were several Koreans. They had been forced to fight for the Japanese Army until they were captured by the Russians and forced to fight for the Russian Army until they were captured by the Germans and forced to fight for the German Army until they were captured by the US Army.
11. Following a massive naval bombardment, 35,000 United States and Canadian troops stormed ashore at Kiska, in theAleutian Islands. 21 troops were killed in the assault on the island.
It could have been worse if there had been any Japanese on the island.
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Smokey is Smok'in.BB ********************************************************
At last! just what I've been waiting for. Thanks to Wayne Paddack. BB
At Last, a Cell Phone for Seniors!
You REALLY have to be OLD to appreciate THIS one!!!!
Smokey sent in this method for loseing thos extra pourds.BB
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Here's one from Dan Kalahar that speaks for itself. BB
Tracey, here's a group for you
For those of you who don't live in Alabama and think we are a bunch of uncivilized rednecks, well, it’s simply not true! In fact, we have ladies' groups that meet regularly to discuss current events and develop needed home skills. For example, this photo was recently taken at a ladies group meeting in St Florian, AL where they were discussing the elections coming up in November, and in 2012.
Windows uses a system called 'prefetch' to preload and organize
much of the data necessary for commonly used files and
applications. A folder called 'prefetch' is used to store the
information the operating system needs to carry out this operation.
You can imagine that after several months of use, the prefetch
folder may become filled with older and unneeded references to
software and files.
It's a good idea to manually empty the older files out of the
prefetch folder every few months. To do this, navigate to
'C:\Windows\Prefetch' and delete all .PF files that are older than
a week or two.
Well Crap!, someone bring me a couple Prozacs.BB
Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Malathion: The Vietnam Veterans Association Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee released its report on Malathion. This is the name of an organophosphate insecticide used in Vietnam to combat mosquitoes. Organophosphates were first developed in the late 1930s by Nazi Germany as chemical warfare agents (nerve gas). VX nerve gas and Sarin gas are well-known examples. Organophosphates operate on humans and insects in a similar fashion by attacking the nervous systems. During the Vietnam War, large numbers of troops came down with malaria. To kill the mosquitoes that carried the disease, the Department of Defense converted aircraft that were spraying Agent Orange to the spraying of Malathion. This was the start of Operation Flyswatter. Many Vietnam veterans recall the non-camouflaged aircraft flying over their positions—shortly after dawn or just before dusk—covering them with a mist. Three silver ―Bug Birds‖ were used in Operation Flyswatter. Many connected those flights with the spraying of Agent Orange. It is now known that, in those cases, veterans were subjected to Malathion and its more potent form, Malaoxon. These were not just one-time missions. Every nine to eleven days, weather permitting, the planes re-sprayed the areas. The spray operation created recurring chemical exposures for Vietnam veterans.
What are the health risks of these spray operations and what are the combined and synergic effects of Malathion with other exposures such as Agent Orange? These questions have not been addressed. We know that a MAR 08 study shows that organophosphates including Malathion significantly increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Knowing that organophosphates work on the nervous systems, the diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system become prime areas of concern. This is a fresh chemical exposure area for Vietnam veterans to explore as they seek answers to their many health issues. The VVA Agent Orange/Dioxin and Other Toxic Substances Committee also will be researching this area. You can read their full report on this operation at www.scientificjournals.com/sj/espr/Pdf/aId/10482 If you have additional questions about malathion or the health effects from spraying, contact the New York State Department of Health's Environmental Health Information Line at 1(800) 458-1158, extension 27530.
The Vietnam Veterans Association Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee is tasked with accumulating and disseminating information regarding Agent Orange and Dioxin and actively pursuing the recognition of presumptive disabilities from exposure to Agent Orange and Dioxin by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee shall provides assistance to State Councils, Chapters, and service programs in the handling of Agent Orange related problems. The Committee shall encourage and foster the sponsorship of legislation to help the victims of Agent Orange and Dioxin, and encourage scientific and medical research in the field of dioxin-related ailments." ********************************************************
S.3107 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010. ********************************************************
S.3286 : VA Vet Claim Assistance Pilot Program.
S.3359 : Veterans' Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made automatically by law each year in the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
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H.R.5642 : Pension Increase Codification. ********************************************************
H.R.5641 : Heroes at Home Act to amend title 38, United States Code, ********************************************************
H.R.5428 : Disseminate Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights Info.
Thats all the news for this week. Check back next Saturday. Thanks, Ole' Bill
ARVN LT. Lone Van Lock
I believe this is the best stuck Tank I have ever seen!
There's got to be a story here?
CH47 Leaving the AO
CO's Hooch and Jeep Driver
HHT Mechanic, Name?
LT Silva, Mail Officer
Name?, Went to D Troop LRRPs
ARVN LT. Two
Lloyd Howard holding RPG
3/4 Ton Tour Bus
Trooper Bill Kessler
A Pause for the Cause along Hwy 13
Home away from home. HHT Billets
Home in need of a roof.
Wilemon, Jimmy
Kenneth J Costich II
Esquilin, Jorge and Wife
Wilemon, Jimmy
Humphrey, Richard
Miller, Paul
Baty, Bill
Snyder, Duke
Warne, Gary
Joe and Barbara Dabney
Valentine, Terry
Corbin, Robert and Wife
Empey, Terry
Jones, Charles
Empey, Terry
Kampfert, Elke
Kintz, Gerald
Novak, Edward
Row, Nancy
Keech, James
Benoit, Alan
Brigance, Charles
Seibert, Wilmer
Karl Listl and wife
Capps, Jimmy
Jones Jr, James
Riley, William
I have some sad news. SP4 Johnny R. Wooten passed away peacefully with his family at the VA Hospise in Houston on July 5th, and is being buried today (0900, July 12th) at the VA Cemetery in Houston. His daughter told me last week that HE FELT LIKE A REAL SOLDIER, in the fuss the VA made over his illness and subsequest care right up to the end.
[Một Số Trận Đánh Trong Kháng Chiến Chống Pháp, Kháng Chiến Chống Mỹ, 1945-1975 (Tập III]
Military History Institute of Vietnam; Editors: Colonel Pham Vinh Phuc [Phạm Vĩnh Phúc], Colonel Nguyen
Tuan Doanh [Nguyễn Tuấn Doanh], and Major Cao Xuan Lich [Cao Xuân Lịch], Hanoi, 1992
Pages 157-179
Page 157
08 June 1966
I.-General Situation
1.-Terrain, Weather
The area selected as the ambush site on Route 13 was the section of road from the Cay Da three-way intersection to north of Can Dam (a section of road 3.5 kilometers long). The ambush site was located in Tan Khai Village, An Loc District, Binh Long (also called Song Be) Province. The road was narrow and there were two small bridges: one across Tau O Stream and one across Can Dam Stream. Both bridges were damaged, and although the enemy had repaired the bridges many times, vehicles crossing the bridge still had to reduce speed and cross only one vehicle at a time. …
and our own 60mm and 82mm mortars as well as enemy 61mm and 81mm mortars. [sic]
…Prior to the battle, there were no enemy troops stationed to guard the section of road from the Cay Da three-way intersection to the Can Dam Bridge (the section where we planned to conduct our ambush). At approximately 1300 hours on 25 May 1966 helicopters landed approximately one company of puppet army troops three kilometers east of the Tau O Bridge. These troops searched the area but did not discover the presence of our troops. At 1830 hours that afternoon helicopters picked up the enemy troops and flew them back to Hon Quan. From then on, every day from 25 May to 08 June, enemy L-19 observation aircraft flew up and down along Route 13 from Lai Khe to Hon Quan to monitor the situation and try to spot our forces.
One enemy RF company was stationed in the area of Tan Khai Hamlet, about two kilometers north of the Can Dam Bridge. Whenever enemy military convoys travelled up Route 13 to Hon Quan, this company was assigned to patrol the road up to the Can Dam Bridge. The Chon Thanh district military headquarters, located twelve kilometers south of the Tau O Bridge, was garrisoned by three commando [CIDG] companies and the puppet army’s 4th Battalion/9th Regiment/5th Division. There was also an artillery position (two 105mm and two 155mm howitzers) located at Chon Thanh.
Sometimes the enemy guns shelled both sides of the road from the Cay Da three-way intersection to the south side of the Tan Khai Bridge.
Based on the above factors, the 9th Division Headquarters concluded that if we ambushed the enemy armored regiment along the stretch of road from the Cay Da three-way intersection to the Can Dam Bridge, the enemy would be capable of rapidly responding with air support, artillery support, and infantry, tanks, and armored personnel carriers (APCs). However, there were two streams running through the middle of the ambush site, and there the speed of the enemy convoy would depend on the two bridges crossing these streams. Therefore, if we sealed off the enemy convoy’s front and rear, the enemy force could easily become stuck. This was a fundamental weakness that the enemy could not overcome, and for us it was an advantage that we could use to ambush the enemy.
Even though the regiment was forced to change its battle plans a number of time and it had only a limited amount of time to prepare the battlefield, the regiment had a long tradition of attacking enemy road traffic throughout virtually all of Binh Long Province, and the regiment’s officers and men had operated along Route 13 during 1964 and 1965, so they were very familiar with the terrain. At the beginning of the 1966 rainy season operations, the regiment had strengthened and consolidated its organizational structure. Each infantry battalion had between 250 and 300 men. …
According to the division’s new battle plan, the 2nd Regiment, reinforced by one anti-aircraft machinegun company (six 12.8mm machineguns and two 12.7mm machineguns) and one 75mm recoilless rifle company (three recoilless rifles) from division headquarters, two 75mm recoilless rifles from 1st Regiment, one Assault Youth Company, and one company of civilian coolie laborers, would operate independently to ambush and destroy enemy mechanized forces along the section of Route 13 from the Cay Da three-way intersection to a point 500 meters north of the Can Dam Bridge (a section of road 3.5 kilometers long.
After studying the combat guidance formula sent down by the 9th Division Headquarters and Division Party Committee (“move fast and focus your attacks on enemy relief forces and enemy troops operating in the field, outside of prepared defensive fortification”), the 2nd Regiment Party Committee met to study the mission and to receive a briefing from the regiment commander on the enemy situation, the terrain in the area of operations, and the commander’s proposed battle plan. After the Party Committee studied the terrain and the enemy’s ability to move forces along Route 13, it approved the regiment commander’s plan to mass all of our forces (both the regiment’s organic units and the attached reinforcing units) to conduct an ambush in accordance with the stated intentions of higher authority. The goals set for the ambush were to destroy 50 tanks and APCs, to shoot down five to seven enemy aircraft, to capture enemy prisoners, and to capture enemy weapons. The battle formation would consist of a single echelon
plus a reserve force. The decisive battle area [the kill zone] would be a section of road 500 to 800 meters long south of the Can Dam Bridge.
To carry out this plan, the regiment would use the 4th Battalion to block the front of the enemy vehicle convoy; the 5th Battalion to make the main frontal assault, and the 6th Battalion (minus) to seal off the rear of the convoy. The 13th Company/6th Battalion would be the regimental reserve force. The specific missions of the different units were as follows:
4th Battalion, reinforced by three 12.8mm machineguns, one 12.7mm machinegun, two 75mm recoilless rifles, and two 81mm mortars, was assigned to block the head of the enemy convoy and annihilate enemy forces along a stretch of road from 500 meters south of the Can Dam Bridge to 500 meters north of the Can Dam Bridge (a distance of approximately one mile). The battalion would deploy its forces in a holding position approximately 500 meters from the road. When the regiment opened fire, the battalion would use one infantry platoon and two 81mm mortars to assist the regiment’s main element in destroying enemy forces in the ambush zone. During the course of the battle the battalion was directed to ensure that it maintained contact with 5th Battalion in order to coordinate with them and support the annihilation of enemy forces in the main, frontal ambush zone.
5th Battalion, reinforced by two 75mm recoilless rifles, one 12.7mm machinegun, three 12.8mm machineguns, and two 81mm mortars, was assigned the mission of annihilating enemy forces in the primary ambush zone from Kilometer 95 to the line marking 4th Battalion’s area of responsibility. The battalion’s ambush position would be between one and 1.5 kilometers long. The battalion would deploy its forces at a holding position approximately 400 to 500 meters from the road. During the course of the battle, the battalion would establish contact with the 4th and 6th Battalions and would closely coordinate with the other two battalions in attacking enemy forces along the road. In the event only a small enemy force entered the ambush zone, 5th Battalion would be responsible for sealing off the enemy’s rear if the enemy convoy was moving from Chon Thanh up to Hon Quan or for sealing off the enemy’s front if the enemy convoy was traveling from Hon Quan back to Chon Thanh and Lai Khe.
6th Battalion (minus 13th Company), reinforced by two 75mm recoilless rifles and three 12.8mm machineguns, was assigned the mission of sealing off the rear of the enemy convoy and of cooperating with 5th Battalion in annihilating enemy forces along the frontal portion of the ambush zone from the line marking 5th Battalion’s area of responsibility down to the Cay Da three-way intersection, a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers. The battalion would deploy its forces approximately 500 to 600 meters from the road. The 6th Battalion would be responsible for the area along the line marking 5th Battalion’s area of responsibility. In the event that a small enemy force was ambushed, the 6th Battalion would serve as the regiment’s reserve force.
13th Company/6th Battalion would be the regimental reserve force. The company would be stationed at a point 500 meters east of the regimental command post and would be ready to enter the battle in the primary ambush sector (5th Battalion’s sector).
In addition to being responsible for building the regimental command post, the regiment’s engineer company would also be responsible for planting a minefield on Route 13 at a point four kilometers south of the Cay Da three-way intersection. If enemy forces were approaching, the engineers would detonate the mines to alert our southern observation post that enemy forces were moving up from Chon Thanh.
With regards to reconnaissance activities, the regiment would establish two observation posts, one at either end of the ambush position, in order to spot enemy forces approaching from the north and the south at a distance of two kilometers or more. While waiting for the enemy’s arrival, our reconnaissance element had to keep these two observation posts manned constantly in order to monitor the situation and send timely reports back to the regimental command post.
In the area of communications, the regiment’s communications with the battalions would consist of three different types: field telephone, radio, and couriers, with the field telephone network being the primary form of communications). Prior to and during the battle a solid, timely, and completely communications network would have to maintained in order to ensure constant communications from the beginning of the engagement to the end.
The regimental command post would be established in the area of Elevation 80, about 800 meters west of the 5th Battalion command post.
On 23 May the entire regiment moved to Assembly Point 1 in the area of Bong Xom Stream. The regiment began to construct its combat and attack fortifications on 25 May.
After the regimental Party committee approved the primary elements of the battle plan, the regiment commander began the work of preparing the battlefield and approved the plan drafted by the operations staff for the movement of the unit to the battle area. On the afternoon of 22 May a cadre group led by the regiment commander and consisting of the battalion commanders, the commanders of the regimental combat support companies, and key officers of the regiment’s three staff offices (operations, political, and rear services), went forward to the battle area to conduct reconnaissance, make specific unit assignments, and work out coordination arrangements. These tasks were completed at 0900 hours on the morning of 24 May, after which the cadre group returned to Assembly Point 1 to meet the regiment.
At 1400 hours on 24 May the regiment political commissar and the deputy commanders of the regiment’s subordinate units commanded the march of the units to the assembly point in the area of Bong Xom Stream (about five kilometers from Route 13). The battalion commanders made arrangements for the company and platoon officers to go forward to study the terrain, to determine the routes they would take to move forward from their holding positions, to determine the point where the assault line would be formed, to determine heavy weapons firing positions and command post positions for all units, and to work out combat coordination arrangements based on the assigned missions of each unit.
At 1825 hours on 25 March 1966 the sub-units began to move forward to their holding points to build fortifications and prepare the trails they would take to move forward to the assault line, about 200 meters from the road. No enemy forces moved along the road on 26 and 27 May. On orders from regimental headquarters, all units returned to Assembly Point 1 to allow the troops to conduct exercises to practice carrying out the plan.
After waiting for fifteen days, at 0800 hours on the morning of 8 June 1966 the northern observation post reported back to the regiment command post that enemy forces had arrived at the Tan Khai Bridge. At 0845 hours 4th and 5th Battalions were ordered to move forward to their assigned holding points, while 6th Battalion was ordered to stand ready and await further orders.
At 1100 hours the enemy finished repairing the Tan Khai Bridge and two enemy patrols, one coming down from the north and the other coming up from the south, met at the Tau O Bridge. 4th Battalion sent its 1st Company forward to prepare to conduct its attack to block the head of the enemy convoy. Meanwhile 6th Company/5th Battalion moved up to a point 400 meters from the road to prepare to block the rear of the enemy column. The regiment commander concluded that since the enemy had finished repairing the bridge, an enemy vehicle convoy might begin to move up the road from Lai Khe, so he ordered the entire regiment to prepare to move forward to their attack positions.
At 1240 hours a technical report [radio intercept report] was received stating that an enemy vehicle convoy was coming down from Hon Quan. The 4th and 5th Battalions moved forward into position, but the enemy force consisted of only three jeeps, so our forces did not open fire. After waiting for the enemy for one hour without any further enemy movement, both battalions pulled back to the rear to continue to wait.
At 1305 hours technical reconnaissance [radio intercept] reported that an enemy vehicle convoy would leave Chon Thanh at 1550 hours to drive up to Hon Quan. At 1310 hours the regiment commander directed 4th and 5th Battalions to prepare to attack the enemy using the following attack plan: 4th Battalion would use one company to block the head of the enemy convoy, 5th Battalion would use one company to block the rear of the enemy convoy, and 6th Battalion would serve as a reserve force.
At 1320 hours, at the regimental command post the regimental commander received a report from the southern observation post. The report said that enemy vehicles had been spotted. The enemy convoy was led by an M-41 tank, followed by an M-113. The enemy vehicles were keeping a distance of 50 meters between each vehicle and were advancing slowly. When the enemy convoy neared the Tau O Bridge, the engineer’s DH-10 mine [a ten-kilogram claymore-type directional mine] exploded, causing the enemy vehicles to increase their speed.
On orders from the regiment command post, after the 17th vehicle entered the ambush zone, 4th Battalion ordered its 1st Company to open fire. One M-41 was destroyed during the first minute of the ambush, and 20 minutes later four more enemy vehicles had been destroyed, forcing the entire convoy to halt. The company had accomplished its mission of blocking the head of the convoy. However, after that the 1st Company did not follow the pre-arranged plan, which was for 2nd Platoon to remain in the north, for 1st Platoon to move down the western side of the road to fight enemy forces from the north down to the Can Dam Bridge, and for 3rd Platoon to move in from the east to attack the enemy’s flank. Instead, the company sent 1st Platoon across to the east side of the road and 2nd Platoon attacked down the west side of the road; 3rd Platoon was not able to advance because of enemy fire. We now had no blocking force in the north. As the 1st and 2nd Platoons moved down the eastern and western sides of the road, the enemy spotted them and opened fire with heavy weapons to block their advance, inflicting a number of casualties on the two units. At that same moment, enemy aircraft arrived and attacked our formations. As a result, only one squad from 2nd Platoon attacked down to the Can Dam Bridge. Another element of the unit move back up to the north, and another element accompanied the company commander as he crossed over to the eastern side of the road. The company was now dispersed, and our cadres had lost control of the unit. It was now 1420 hours, and the battalion had lost contact with 1st Battalion (battalion reconnaissance was sent out to locate and reestablish contact, but they did not find 1st Company until after dark; the element of the company east of the road did not return to the unit until 9 June).
After 1st Company opened fire, 4th Battalion’s 2nd and 3rd Companies moved forward to close with the enemy. Meanwhile the battalion’s mortars, following the pre-arranged plan, concentrated their fire on the southern side of Can Dam Bridge to support our infantrymen.
In the 5th Battalion sector, when 4th Battalion opened fire, on orders from the regiment headquarters all spearheads moved forward to close with the enemy. At 1340 hours there were 37 enemy vehicles within the battalion’s assigned frontal killing zone.
When 6th Battalion reached the enemy convoy, it saw that there were only a few enemy vehicles in front of it, so the company sent its 3rd Platoon across to the eastern side of the road and then up to the north to support 8th Company in destroying the cluster of enemy vehicles in front of the battalion’s frontal killing zone. At the same time, the company sent its 1st Platoon down to the south to protect its flank. However, when three enemy vehicles blocked his unit’s advance, the commander of 1st Platoon destroyed these three vehicles, which were located in front of 7th Company, with a B-40 rocket launcher. The 2nd Platoon Commander lost control of his men, so when he reached the road he found that he had only one man with him. The platoon commander went back to find his men and bring them forward, but when he got back to the road there were no more enemy forces in front of 6th Company.
During the course of its advance 7th Company was hit by enemy heavy weapons blocking fire. As a result the company’s advance was uneven and it was unable to conduct a simultaneous attack. Only 1st Platoon was able to kill a number of enemy troops and to occupy some fortifications along the side of the road. Meanwhile the company’s 2nd and 3rd Platoons were unable to advance. Enemy vehicles pulled back to the rear and regrouped in a cluster, where they fought back ferociously.
During 8th Company’s advance, when the company was still 200 meters from the road it was hit by enemy heavy weapons fire, which knocked out the company’s voice radio and severely wounded the company commander. During the advance one company had to cross an open clearing, so its advance was slow. The company’s advance to attack the enemy was uneven and its subordinate units did not open fire simultaneously as planned. When the company’s 2nd Platoon reached the road, it saw vehicles firing into its formation. The B-40 gunner hesitated, so the company commander took the B-40 and tried to fire it. However, even though he squeezed the trigger three times the B-40 failed to fire, so the enemy tanks were able to pull back into a defensive perimeter in 2nd Company’s area, where they fought back ferociously with their heavy weapons.
At 1325 hours, after 6th Company/5th Battalion had captured and occupied its section of the road, 2nd Company/4th Battalion was still struggling with the enemy for its area. The 4th Battalion commander had to organize heavy weapons barrages (B-40s, recoilless rifles, and 81mm mortars) four different times before he was able to destroy the enemy forces clustered on the road. At 1424 hours, after 2nd Company captured and occupied its section of the road, the company in coordinated with 3rd Company in sweeping the area, taking prisoners, and collecting enemy weapons.
At 1425 hours 5th Battalion’s units secured complete control of the section of the road in their area of responsibility. During this time enemy aircraft attacked the positions of 4th and 5th Battalions. Our anti-aircraft machineguns fought back ferociously, shooting down two helicopters that crashed on the spot and damaging two F-105s and one L-19.
At 1430 hours, after reviewing the situation of both battalions, the regiment commander concluded that there were no enemy forces left in the sectors for which 4th and 5th Battalions were responsible and that the two battalions had essentially accomplished their missions. However, in the south enemy relief forces had moved up and formed two defensive clusters in the area of the Tau O Bridge. These enemy forces included M-41 tanks, M-113 APCs, and infantry. The regiment decided to commit 6th Battalion to the battle. The 5th Battalion was ordered to leave its 6th Company behind to support 6th Battalion in annihilating enemy forces north and south of the Tau O Bridge, while the rest of 5th Battalion and all of 4th Battalion left the battle area.
6th Battalion Enters the Battle and 4th and 5th Battalions Withdraw from the Battle Area (from 1440 hours to 1800 hours)
To carry out this plan, at 1440 hours 6th Battalion entered the battle. The battalion’s 12th Company was responsible for the area of Kilometer Marker 95, but when the company reached the road it did not find any enemy forces there. The company commander left one squad and a 75mm recoilless rifle there to block the road while the rest of the company formed two columns that advanced down the eastern and western sides of the road to attack the cluster of enemy vehicles in the area of the Cay Da three-way intersection. Taken by surprise by our attack, the enemy did not have time to turn their vehicles around. Some enemy vehicles were destroyed while others fled the area.
During its advance to the road 11th Company got lost and had to turn back. Only the company’s 1st Platoon reached the battle, where it moved down the west side of the road and attacked the cluster of enemy vehicles on the north side of the Tau O Bridge. The platoon destroyed one M-113, three GMC trucks, and one jeep. Because it was only a small force and because the enemy massed his fire against it, inflicting a number of casualties on the platoon, the platoon was forced to halt in place. When 2nd Platoon arrived, it quickly used B-40 rockets and recoilless rifles to destroy three more vehicles and cooperated with 1st Platoon in advancing to destroy the enemy. The 3rd Platoon arrived later. The platoon saw enemy forces moving along the road, but the platoon commander did not let his men open fire. The entire platoon stopped and laid there waiting until nightfall before the unit fell back to the rear.
Following the orders from the regiment commander, 6th Company/5thBattalion advanced down toward the north side of the Tau O Bridge to support 6th Battalion in the effort to destroy the remaining enemy vehicles. However, the 11th Company commander did not immediately arrange to attack the enemy but instead waited for 6th Company to attack. At this time technical reconnaissance [radio intercept] at the regimental command post reported that the enemy had decided to bomb and destroy the cluster of vehicles (three vehicles) and the enemy troops still remaining in this area. The regiment ordered the 6th and 11th Companies to pull back to the rear. At 1540 hours enemy aircraft arrived and began bombing, destroying all enemy vehicles and enemy bodies in this location.
While 11th and 12th Companies were fighting enemy troops on the ground, the 6th Battalion’s anti-aircraft machineguns hit and damaged one F-105, one Skyraider, and one helicopter.
After 5th Battalion’s fight with the enemy [sic], at 1445 hours the 4th and 5th Battalions were ordered to police up the battlefield. Each company was ordered to leave behind one platoon, along with anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft machineguns. This force, under the command of a deputy battalion commander, was ordered to sweep and clear the battle area. Each battalion also sent three cells equipment with rifles to the east side of the road to fire at enemy aircraft to divert the enemy’s fire while the bulk of the forces left the battle area.
As our forces were dealing with enemy forces in the south, back at the command post the regiment commander received a report from the northern observation post: enemy M-113s were moving from the Tan Khai Strategic Hamlet down toward the Can Dam Bridge. In the sky overhead an enemy L-19 was circling to pinpoint the target for the jets to bomb to destroy the concentration of enemy vehicles on the north side of the Tau O Bridge. Acting on an order received from regiment headquarters, 6th Battalion directed 11th Company to disperse its units and withdraw from the battle area.
At approximately 1700 hours, seven M-113s and M-41s came up from the direction of Chon Thanh and drove directly toward the 12th Company’s fighting position in the area of the Cay Da three-way intersection. The soldiers of 12th Company fought ferociously, destroying three of the vehicles. The other three vehicles fought back against our infantrymen. At this point our B-40s and 75mm recoilless rifle had expended all their ammunition, and enemy tanks overran the company’s position, destroying one heavy machinegun and killing the gunner. Since they had no hand grenades or hand-held explosive charges left, the recoilless rifle team had to take empty recoilless rifle shell casings into the enemy and throw them into the vehicles to try to trick and frighten the enemy. All three remaining enemy vehicles drove straight toward the Tau O Bridge to link up with the enemy forces coming down from Tan Khai. It was now 1844 hours and it was already getting dark.
After the senior officers held a quick conference, at 1800 hours [sic] on 8 June the battalion commander ordered 6th Battalion and all remaining elements of the 4th and 5th Battalions to leave the battle area.
It was not until later, after the regiment re-established contact with 1st Company/4th Battalion, that the regiment learned that at 1830 hours on 8 June helicopters had landed one company of enemy troops at 1st Company’s position and that at that same moment enemy armored vehicles and infantrymen from the north that had crossed the Tan Khai Bridge had also swept into the battle area. Because it had not yet recovered all of our wounded and dead, 1st Company was compelled to stay where it was until the night of 9 June before it finally withdrew.
Results of the Battle:
Our forces eliminated 300 American soldiers of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division’s armored regiment and 200 puppet army soldiers (including 22 who were taken prisoner) from the battlefield; destroyed 40 enemy vehicles (twelve M-41 tanks, 19 M-113s, eight GMC trucks, and one Jeep); shot down or damaged ten enemy aircraft (one F-104, four F-105s, one Skyraider, one L-19, and three UH-1A helicopters); and captured 45 enemy weapons (four pistols, 15 M-1s, three M-14s, three light machineguns, three medium machineguns, one 12.7mm heavy machinegun, and one Thompson sub-machinegun).
Our side lost 25 men killed and 131 wounded. …
1.- Report on 2nd Regiment/Work-Site 9’s Mobile Ambush Against the puppet 9th Regiment/5th Division at the Can Dam Bridge on Route 13, 8 June 1966.
2.- Deployment of Enemy Forces in the 3rd Tactical Zone in June 1966
3.- The Course of the American Imperialist War of Aggression and the U.S.-Puppet Pattern of Operations in the B2 Theater
4.- Eighteen Years of Victorious Struggle Against the Americans to Save the Nation, People’s Army Publishing House, 1974.
5.- 9th Division, People’s Army Publishing House, 1990.
6.- The Cuu Long [Mekong] Corps, Volume I, People’s Army Publishing House, 1980.
NUMBER 5964
On 11 MAY 2010, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum calling on executive departments and agencies to transform federal government recruitment and hiring practices. The required reforms will enable VA to hire the employees needed to deliver on President Obama’s pledge to transform the Department for the 21st century. The memorandum calls for the elimination of lengthy application processes, including essay-style questions for initial applicants; a reduction in the time it takes to hire mission-critical and commonly filled positions; and greater involvement by managers in the hiring process. The VA Hiring Reform Taskforce, led by Annie Spiczak, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources Policy and Planning, is leading implementation of this mandate and includes Human Resources (HR) professionals and line managers
representing all of VA. Teams of HR professionals are working to make job announcements shorter and easier to understand; streamline and automate the hiring process; and train hiring managers in workforce and succession planning. For managers, the reform will put the focus on partnering with HR practitioners to develop staffing plans, with the overall aim of reducing hiring timelines and providing access to the highest-quality candidates.
[Source: VA Secy Vet Group Liason Officer Kevin Secor article 13 Jul 2010 ++]
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will stop all current Savings Bonds allotments processed for military personnel and military retirees effective 31 JUL. Allotments for federal civilian employees will end A29 AUG. This comes following the U.S. Treasury's decision to convert electronic transactions through www.TreasuryDirect.gov . DFAS customers who wish to continue purchasing savings bonds through payroll deduction will need to establish an online account with TreasuryDirect. Once they have an account with TreasuryDirect, they can a new allotment using the TreasuryDirect account number through their normal pay system. Information on purchasing Treasury securities is available on the DFAS website.
[Source: Military.com Military report 12 Jul 2010 ++]
The government is preparing to issue new rules that will make it substantially easier for veterans who have been found to have post-traumatic stress disorder to receive disability benefits, a change that could affect hundreds of thousands of veterans from the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. The regulations from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will take effect as early as 5 JUL and cost as much as $5 billion over several years according to Congressional analysts, will essentially eliminate a requirement that veterans document specific events like bomb blasts, firefights or mortar attacks that might have caused PTSD., an illness characterized by emotional numbness, irritability and flashbacks. For decades, veterans have complained that finding such records was extremely time consuming and sometimes impossible. And in the wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq, veterans groups assert that the current rules discriminate against tens of thousands of service members — many of them women — who did not serve in combat roles but nevertheless suffered traumatic experiences.
Under the new rule, which applies to veterans of all wars, the department will grant compensation to those with PTSD. if they can simply show that they served in a war zone and in a job consistent with the events that they say caused their conditions. They would not have to prove, for instance, that they came under fire, served in a front-line unit or saw a friend killed. The new rule would also allow compensation for service members who had good reason to fear traumatic events, known as stressors, even if they did not actually experience them. There are concerns that the change will open the door to a flood of fraudulent claims. But supporters of the rule say the veterans department will still review all claims and thus be able to weed out the baseless ones. ―This nation has a solemn obligation to the men and women who have honorably served this country and suffer from the emotional and often devastating hidden wounds of war,‖ the secretary of veterans affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, said in a statement to The New York Times. ―This final regulation goes a long way to ensure that veterans receive the benefits and services they need.‖
Though widely applauded by veterans’ groups, the new rule is generating criticism from some quarters because of its cost. Some mental health experts also believe it will lead to economic dependency among younger veterans whose conditions might be treatable. Disability benefits include no-cost physical and mental health care and monthly checks ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than $2,000, depending on the severity of the condition. ―I can’t imagine anyone more worthy of public largess than a veteran,‖ said Dr. Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative policy group, who has written on PTSD. ―But as a clinician, it is destructive to give someone total and permanent disability when they are in fact capable of working, even if it is not at full capacity. A job is the most therapeutic thing there is.‖ But Rick Weidman, executive director for policy and government affairs at Vietnam Veterans of America, said most veterans applied for disability not for the monthly checks but because they wanted access to free health care. ―I know guys who are rated 100 percent disabled who keep coming back for treatment not because they are worried about losing their compensation, but because they want their life back,‖ Mr. Weidman said.
Mr. Weidman and other veterans’ advocates said they were disappointed by one provision of the new rule: It will require a final determination on a veteran’s case to be made by a psychiatrist or psychologist who works for the veterans department. The advocates assert that the rule will allow the department to sharply limit approvals. They argue that private physicians should be allowed to make those determinations as well. But Tom Pamperin, associate deputy under secretary for policy and programs at the veterans department, said the agency wanted to ensure that standards were consistent for the assessments. ―VA and VA contract clinicians go through a certification process,‖ Mr. Pamperin said. ―They are well familiar with military life and can make an assessment of whether the stressor is consistent with the veterans’ duties and place of service.‖
More than two million service members have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001, and by some estimates 20% or more of them will develop PTSD. More than 150,000 cases of PTSD. have been diagnosed by the veterans health system among veterans of the two wars, while thousands more have received diagnoses from private doctors, said Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, an advocacy group. But Mr. Sullivan said records showed that the veterans department had approved PTSD. disability claims for only 78,000 veterans. That suggests, he said, that many veterans with the disorder are having their compensation claims rejected by claims processors. ―Those statistics show a very serious problem in how V.A. handles PTSD claims,‖ Mr. Sullivan said. Representative John Hall (D-NY), and sponsor of legislation similar to the new rule, said his office had handled dozens of cases involving veterans who had trouble receiving disability compensation for PTSD, including a Navy veteran from World War II who twice served on ships that sank in the Pacific. ―It doesn’t matter whether you are an infantryman or a cook or a truck driver,‖ Mr. Hall said. ―Anyone is potentially at risk for post-traumatic stress.
[Source: New York Times James Dao article 7 Jul 2010 ++]
[Source: Salt Lake Tribune Matthew D. LaPlante article 6 Jul 2010 ++]
Summer means outdoor fun -- from hiking and swimming to music festivals and county fairs to dancing in the street--but summer fun can quickly turn tragic if you or someone you care about ends up with heat exhaustion or heat stroke. As temperatures rise, so does the risk that your body's natural cooling system will malfunction or shut down if you fail to take proper precautions. Although heat exhaustion and heat stroke (sometimes called sun stroke) can affect anyone, seniors are more prone to heat stress than younger people for a variety of reasons. In general, seniors do not adjust as easily or as well to sudden temperature changes, and they may have chronic medical conditions or take prescription drugs that interfere with their bodies' ability to regulate heat. As part of your preparation for summer you should know how to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke plus what to do if you see someone with either of these dangerous conditions. The following will assist you in this:
Who Can be affected. As summer temperatures climb in some parts of the U.S., more people are vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that approximately 400 people die each year from excessive natural heat, and that these deaths are preventable. And while seniors are more likely to be affected by high temperatures and heat-related problems than younger people, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can affect anyone if the conditions are right. This includes animals. Be sure to provide shade and plenty of cool, fresh drinking water for your pets, and never leave a pet, child or elderly person in a locked car on hot days.
Heat Exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures, along with dehydration caused by inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.
Heat Exhaustion symptoms. People respond to heat exhaustion in different ways, but the CDC reports that common symptoms include: Heavy sweating; Paleness; Muscle cramps; Tiredness; Weakness; Dizziness; Headache; Nausea or vomiting; Fainting; Skin: may be cool and moist; Pulse rate: fast and weak Breathing: fast and shallow
Heat Stroke. The CDC reports that heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. Heat stroke occurs when the body is exposed to an excessive amount of heat and becomes unable dissipate the heat through sweating. When heat stroke happens, the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes, and at 106°F brain death begins. If emergency treatment is not provided, heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability in humans and animals.
Heat Stroke Symptoms. The CDC advises that warning signs can vary among individuals, but common signs of heat stroke may include: An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F); Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating); Rapid, strong pulse; Throbbing headache; Dizziness; Nausea.
Prevention. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be avoided if you protect yourself from heat-related stress by follow these prevention tips from the CDC:
Drink water regularly throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty. Once you recognize the feeling of thirst, dehydration is already taking place.
Be aware that some medications can make you more vulnerable to heat exhaustion. For example, painkillers can mask some of the symptoms of heat exhaustion, and laxatives can increase the risk of dehydration. If you have any questions about prescription or over-the-counter medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Rest, often. If you need an excuse to be a couch potato, hot days are just the ticket.
Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment. If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping mall or public library to cool off.
Wear lightweight clothing.
If possible, remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day.
Do not engage in strenuous activities.
Visit older adults at risk at least twice a day and watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Make sure they are keeping themselves hydrated by drinking plenty of cool water.
Encourage them to avoid beverages with caffeine or alcohol. Alcohol, in particular, increases dehydration.
Take them to air-conditioned locations if they have transportation problems.
Make sure older adults have access to an electric fan whenever possible.
Immerse the person in a tub of cool water
Place the person in a cool shower
Spray the person with cool water from a garden hose
Sponge the person with cool water
If the humidity is low, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously
Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101°–102°F.
If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
Do not give the person alcohol to drink.
Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
[Source: About.com | Senior Living Sharon O'Brien 1 Jul 2010 ++]
A Troop '68
Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz looked across the desk at Admiral Lockwood as he finished the personal briefing on U.S. war ships in the vicinity of the northern coastal areas of Hokkaido, Japan. "Well, Chester, there's only the Barb there, and probably no word until the patrol is finished. You remember Gene Fluckey?" "Of course. I recommended him for the Medal of Honor," Admiral Nimitz replied. "You surely pulled him from command after he received it?"
It was after 4 A.M. and Commander Fluckey rubbed his eyes as he peered over the map spread before him. It was the twelfth war patrol of the Barb, the fifth under Commander Fluckey. He should have turned command over to another skipper after four patrols, but had managed to strike a deal with Admiral Lockwood to make one more trip with the men he cared for like a father, should his fourth patrol be successful. Of course, no one suspected when he had struck that deal prior to his fourth and what should have been his final war patrol on the Barb, that Commander Fluckey's success would be so great he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.
"Battle Stations!" No more time to seek solutions or to ponder blowing up a train. The approach of a Japanese freighter with a frigate escort demands traditional submarine warfare. By noon the frigate is laying on the ocean floor in pieces and the Barb is in danger of becoming the hunted.
Solutions! If you don't look for them, you'll never find them. And even then, sometimes they arrive in the most unusual fashion. Cruising slowly beneath the surface to evade the enemy plane now circling overhead, the monotony is broken with an exciting new idea. Instead of having a crewman on shore to trigger explosives to blow both rail and a passing train, why not let the train BLOW ITSELF up. Billy Hatfield was excitedly explaining how he had cracked nuts on the railroad tracks as a kid, placing the nuts between two ties so the sagging of the rail under the weight of a train would break them open. "Just like cracking walnuts," he explained. "To complete the circuit (detonating the 55-pound charge) we hook in a micro switch ....between two ties. We don't set it off, the TRAIN does." Not only did Hatfield have the plan, he wanted to be part of the volunteer shore party.
...The opportunity would be split between regular Navy and Navy Reserve sailors,
...At least half of the men had to have been Boy Scouts, experienced in how to handle themselves in medical emergencies and in the woods.
FINALLY, "Lucky" Fluckey would lead the saboteurs himself.
Patience Bay was wearing thin the patience of Commander Fluckey and his innovative crew. Everything was ready. In the four days the saboteurs had anxiously watched the skies for cloud cover, the inventive crew of the Barb had built their micro switch. When the need was posed for a pick and shovel to bury the explosive charge and batteries, the Barb's engineers had cut up steel plates in the lower flats of an engine room, then bent and welded them to create the needed tools. The only things beyond their control were the weather....and time. Only five days remained in the Barb's patrol.
The Barb had crept within 950 yards of the shoreline. If it was somehow seen from the shore it would probably be mistaken for a schooner or Japanese patrol boat. No one would suspect an American submarine so close to shore or in such shallow water. Slowly the small boats were lowered to the water and the 8 saboteurs began paddling toward the enemy beach. Twenty-five minutes later they pulled the boats ashore and walked on the surface of the Japanese homeland. Having lost their points of navigation, the saboteurs landed near the backyard of a house. Fortunately the residents had no dogs, though the sight of human AND dog's tracks in the sand along the beach alerted the brave sailors to the potential for unexpected danger.
Watching from the deck of the Barb, Commander Fluckey allowed himself a sigh of relief as he noticed the flashlight signal from the beach announcing the departure of the shore party. He had skillfully, and daringly, guided the Barb within 600 yards of the enemy beach. There was less than 6 feet of water beneath the sub's keel, but Fluckey wanted to be close in case trouble arose and a daring rescue of his saboteurs became necessary.
The two boats carrying his saboteurs were only halfway back to the Barb when the sub's machine gunner yelled, "CAPTAIN! Another train coming up the tracks!" The Commander grabbed a megaphone and yelled through the night, "Paddle like the devil!", knowing full well that they wouldn't reach the Barb before the train hit the micro switch.
The darkness was shattered by brilliant light and the roar of the explosion. The boilers of the locomotive blew, shattered pieces of the engine blowing 200 feet into the air. Behind it the cars began to accordion into each other, bursting into flame and adding to the magnificent fireworks display. Five minutes later the saboteurs were lifted to the deck by their exuberant comrades as the Barb turned to slip back to safer waters. Moving at only two knots, it would be a while before the Barb was into waters deep enough to allow it to submerge. It was a moment to savor, the culmination of teamwork, ingenuity and daring by the Commander and all his crew. "Lucky" Fluckey's voice came over the intercom. "All hands below deck not absolutely needed to maneuver the ship have permission to come topside." He didn't have to repeat the invitation. Hatches sprang open as the proud sailors of the Barb gathered on her decks to proudly watch the distant fireworks display. The Barb had "sunk" a Japanese TRAIN!
William Hatfield
Francis Sever
Lawrence Newland
Edward Klinglesmith
James Richard
John Markuson
William Walker.
A man was lying in bed with his new girlfriend.
his testicles ...
Something she just loved to do.
As he was enjoying it, he turned and asked her,
"Why do you love doing that?"
"Because"... she replied ...
"I really miss mine."
[Source: VVA National Committee Chair Alan Oates article Nov/Dec 09 ++]
A bill to amend title 38 , United States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2010, in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/11/2010) Cosponsors (11) Related Bill: H.R.4667
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the award of grants to State and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to veterans with their submittal of claims to the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Sponsor: Sen Thune, John [SD] (introduced 5/13/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
To codify increases in the rates of pension for disabled veterans and surviving spouses and children that were effective as of December 1, 2009.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/30/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts for the transfer of veterans to non-Department adult foster homes for veterans who are unable to live independently.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/30/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
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