Several original members of the 199th complimented us on the book within a day or so after they had purchased it, including members of B/2/3d Infantry, who were stationed with Gene L. Bettger, KIA 22 December 1966.
Between the 6th and 9th of June, we were privileged to be in attendance of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade's 50th Anniversary Reunion. Through the kindness of Jim Brinker and Johnny Valesquez, we were given a prime location within the reunion area to launch our newest book "Camp Frenzell-Jones: Home of the Redcatchers in Vietnam". We met many new friends, many of whom were original members of the unit, who by virtue of the fact that they travelled on the troop ship USS Daniel I. Sultan called themselves the "boat people". First Sergeant Jim Diamond, Frenzell's and Jones' first sergeant, who himself received the Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam attended the reunion. We presented a copy of "IN HONOR AND MEMORY" to him, which includes Patrol Base Diamond named in his honor. The highlight of our time while there was meeting Billy Jones' wife, Theada, and his oldest daughter, Connie, who both flew long distances to be there with us. We had a delightful lunch with them and, afterwards we introduced them to members of A Company, 4th Battalion, 12th infantry, who knew their loved one Billy C. Jones, posthumous recipient of the Silver Star.
Several original members of the 199th complimented us on the book within a day or so after they had purchased it, including members of B/2/3d Infantry, who were stationed with Gene L. Bettger, KIA 22 December 1966.
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8/21/2019 03:58:01
Fifty years is definitely a long time. I was together with my wife for the same amount of time, at least before she died. Once you get as old as me, you will start thinking about what you have done in your life. I never really did anything that changed the world, but I was able to make the world for someone. My wife was everything to me, I am happy that I was able to give her all of me.
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Master Sergeant Ray Bows, US Army (ret.) spent twenty years on active duty including overseas assignments in Korea, France, Vietnam, Germany, and Belgium, with TDY to Crete and Italy. Archives
March 2019
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