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This page is created to allow Ray Bows to keep you informed of his book signing schedule and to share some of his experiences concerning the books he has written.

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Dale R. Buis and Chester M. Ovnand

7/8/2016

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From Left to Right: Howard Boston, Chester M. Ovnand, Dale R. Buis, and Victor W. Gorlinsky, members of MAAG Vietnam
July 8, 2016 - On this 57th Anniversary of the death of Major Dale R. Buis and Master Sergeant Chester M. Ovnand, who were killed at the hands of the Viet Cong, at the BIF Compound in Bien Hoa on 8 July 1959, we are reminded of sacrifices of the early MAAG personnel, and the survivors of that attack, Howard Boston and Victor Gorlinsky, who played a major role in my 2012 book "FIRST ON THE WALL".
 
In the last two years, I have been privileged to know CW3 Doug Conklin, who, while stationed at Killen, Texas, as a young soldier under the command of First Sergeant Chet Ovnand, held Chet in high esteem.  Doug and I have become fast friends and he often mentions Master Sergeant Ovnand with fond memories, explaining that Chet was a tolerant senior NCO, who kept Doug out of trouble more than once.   Doug lives here in Florida, not too far from me, and we get together on occasion to talk about the Army and the good ole days.  He's a bright spot in my life and I am always enthusiastic about what he has to say and the stories that he tells.  At some point in the future, I may be sharing some of Doug's stories on this blog.


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CW3 Doug Conklin, USA (ret.) with good friend Ray Bows
Major Howard Boston and LTC Victor Golinsky survived  the 1959 attack at Bien Hoa and, as the reader will learn, they were  interviewed extensively for "FIRST ON THE WALL".  
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30 June 2016 - Veterans Memorial Bridge, Daytona Beach, Florida

7/3/2016

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While in attendance at the Veterans Memorial Bridge groundbreaking ceremony, Ray handed out copies of his latest book "Camp Frenzell-Jones" to officials and friends.  The bridge, designed and approved by the County of Volusia, is to be named in memory of Tom Staed, a Korean War veteran.  Completion of the Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge is due approximately 32 months from today.  
 
"The new high-level, multi-arch concrete bridge construction project will replace the existing drawbridge, which is more than 60 years old.  The $38 million construction contract is funded by the federal government and being completed by Johnson Bros. Corp. Design elements of
the new two-lane bridge include handicap accessibility, 8-foot sidewalks, fishing piers on both sides of the Halifax River, and plaques at 28 scenic overlooks commemorating conflicts in America’s military history. The plaques will include descriptions of conflicts and outcomes; the number of killed, wounded and missing in action; a QR code linked to additional data; and a Braille plate with information."

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Ray stands beside VFW Florida State Commander, Alan Ayoubee
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Ray and good friend Gerald Bozarth stand with Eric Dietrich of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office
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A group of Volusia County veterans stand at the base of the old bridge flanked by Eric Dietrich (left) and Ray Bows (right) Photo courtesy of Rod Phillips, VVA Chapter 1048
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Special Forces Convention, Jacksonville, Florida, 2016

7/3/2016

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SFA President Jack Tobin, Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Roger Donlon, and author Ray Bows stand together at the Special Forces Convention, Jacksonville, Florida, June 2016.
On 13 June 2016, we were in attendance at the US Army Special Forces reunion in Jacksonville, where we encountered an old friend, Colonel Roger Donlon, the first Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War.   We hadn't seen each other since 2001 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the day before 9/11.   The fifteen years between encounters seemed to evaporate as Ray and the colonel spoke of previous meetings at such places like Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and San Antonio, Texas.  Ray has written extensively about two of Colonel Donlon's team members at Nam Dong, Master Sergeant Gabriel Alamo and Sergeant John Houston, for whom the Alamo and Houston Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQs) in Saigon were named. 

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At the reunion, we also met the current president of the Special Forces Association, Jack Tobin, as well as fellow author Andy Winfree;  Bob Mulcahy, who shared invaluable information previously unknown to us; Pete Peterson, David "Bulldog" Smith, Pete Laurence, and Johnny King, who was at Nui Coto with Ben Davan, for whom the Davan Compound was named.  We shared a table with USASF author and historian Steve Sherman and MAC V SOG historian Jason Hardy.  We  also encountered Betty, manager of the Special Forces gift shop who agreed to carry "IN HONOR AND MEMORY" at the Special Forces Museum, Fort Bragg, where it is now available in limited quantities. 

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 Above (left): Pia and Major David C. "Bulldog" Smith, President of Chapter 57,  share a hug after "Bulldog" kindly shares information of several places in New York named in memory of Major George Cuomo, missing in action (MIA) in 1968.

Above (right):  Ray Oden, President of Chapter 33, looks at the BOQ/BEQ  section of "IN HONOR AND MEMORY" as he tells Ray Bows and Andy Winfree about his time as a dependent in Saigon when his father was stationed in Vietnam.

Left:  Pia with Johnny King, who was at Nui Coto.  Johnny knew Ben Davan for whom the Davan Compound (Det. B-55), at Nha Trang was named (see page 92 of "IN HONOR AND MEMORY"). 

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1st Infantry Division Reunion, Atlanta, Georgia, 2016

7/3/2016

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On 9 June 2016, we left Columbus, Georgia, and arrived in Atlanta for the 1st Infantry Division reunion, where we received a very warm welcome.  During the two days we attended, we met and spoke with many interesting veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
   
We were introduced, by retired LTC Jim Holland, to Silver Star recipient Israel Tames, member of 1/2d Infantry.  Israel had been in the Army since the mid 50's, and before his time in Vietnam was a proficient military skier, who, while stationed in Alaska, made a rescue of people stranded at the top of Mount McKinley way back when most people had never even heard of Vietnam.


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Ray Bows stands with Silver Star recipient Israel Tames, 1/2d Infantry, Vietnam
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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.

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