Then, Bows was finally able to contact the Anderson family in Minnesota, and through the good graces of local veteran's organizations in the Minneapolis area, the Andersons were flown to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Washington, D.C., where a plaque, designed and engraved by Bows' son, Jeff,  was placed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where it remained for one week before becoming a permanent part of the "Wall's" collection. 
 
Bows explained, "Sergeant Freeman was home on emergency leave, because of the death of his youngest daughter, but chose to return to Vietnam, knowing that his surrounded location would be overrun at the next new moon when jungle nights were the darkest. Sergeant Anderson was back there on his own and their team did not have the support they required. Sergeant Freeman packed canned meat and other supplies into two suit cases, and left Talladega, already certain of his ultimate fate when he returned.  His actions were heroism beyond the call. He had complete justification for a compassionate reassignment, but wouldn't leave Anderson on his own."  Yet after all these years the Freeman story still has many gaps in it.  His commander is not willing to talk about the night of 24 March 1969, when the two sergeants were killed, and Bows has learned that there were two other team members who were supposed to be at Tam Soc on the night of the attack. "I have yet been able to locate them for interviews, so that I might get the full story."

As if the powerful tale of Freeman and Anderson is not enough, Bows learned (in 1992) that four days later, on 28 March 1969, another attack occurred on another mobile advisory team, 215 miles to the north of Tam Soc. 

Twenty-three year old, First Lieutenant (1LT) Terry D. Graham, a native of Gainesville, Florida, along with his fellow officer, 24 year old, First Lieutenant Earl F. Browne, from New York City, lost their lives when the two men were attacked by a Viet Cong force, and their defensive bunker was overrun. They died while their position came under an intense enemy barrage as they defended Operation Base #6 at Duc Vinh in Binh Long Province.
 
Ray Bows, who was in Vietnam at the time of those attacks, had no idea that they had occurred. "They were never publicized," he said.  None-the-less, years later, Ray discovered information about Graham and Browne after he came across a photograph of the camp at Hon Quan named in their honor.  Like Freeman and Anderson both officers also posthumously received a Silver Star, and the Graham-Browne Compound in the III Corps Tactical Zone was named for them in a growing tradition.
 
During Ray's investigation he learned that Lieutenant Graham's family knew little about the camp named for their loved one, and it is not certain that Earl F. Browne's family was ever notified of the honor bestowed on their family member.  Ray said, "New York City is a big place, and I have not been able to narrow down which borough Earl Browne grew up in, and therefore have never been in contact with his family." 
 
Bows, however, was able to contact Graham's son, Robin Graham, long after the MACV installation had been transferred to the South Vietnamese Binh Long Province chief on 18 December 1970. 
 
"These men were assigned to mobile advisory teams which were placed in remote villages to provide military and civic backing. To gain the confidence and support of the locals, Graham and Browne, like Freeman and Anderson were expected to live among the villagers and adopt their life style. Most such units were pitifully under-strength. These were heroes of the highest order," said Bows.  "Yet after all these years the Freeman-Anderson and Graham-Browne stories have many gaps in them, and although I know much about mobile advisory teams, I am still trying to fill in the missing pieces to the puzzle.  I am looking for those who served with these brave men.
 
"My job isn't complete in telling the mobile advisory team story," said Bows. "This is one of the most unique chapters of the Vietnam war, and men who served with MAT teams, fought and sacrificed during trying and very dangerous times as they experienced the most Spartan conditions that anyone could ever imagine.  I know MAT team members were a tight knit group, who served few and far between. I probably have no better than a fifty-fifty chance of ever making the right contacts, but I won't quit. Anyone who knew any of these four men at whatever point in their lives, and in whatever capacity, is urged to contact me." 
 
Those who have more information about Freeman, Anderson, Graham, Browne, or other mobile advisory team members, can contact Ray Bows at his website www. bowsmilitarybooks.com. 
 

A couple of weeks ago, Pia and I enjoyed speaking with Marines at the 7th USMC Engineer Battalion's reunion in Orlando, Florida.  Most were stationed in and around the Da Nang area, like Jim Taranto, Norm Johnson and Harry Prasch (Hill 37), Paul Narson, stationed at the Hai Van Pass, Billy Sorrell (3d Bridge Co), Ted Witsche, Lee Ragsdale, and "Ty" Cheripka, who was instrumental in building Anderson Trail (named for Sgt John A. Anderson, see IN HONOR AND MEMORY, page 11) and Cooper Bridge (named for Cpl Andrew J. Cooper - see IN HONOR AND MEMORY, page 76).  

We also met Colonel Frank W. Harris III, stationed in Vietnam from July 1966 to July 1967, who was present the day Corporal Andrew Cooper was shot by sniper fire while building the bridge that would later be dedicated in his memory.  Colonel Harris also spoke at the dedication of Camp Love, Headquarters, 7th Engineer Battalion in Da Nang and provided us with a copy of his actual speech to be included in a future publication.  Camp Love was named for L/Cpl James E. Love (see IN HONOR AND MEMORY, page 247).  The colonel was also the comrade of Colonel Charles H. Horn, who died on 13 April 1967, and for whom Camp Horn was named (see IN HONOR AND MEMORY, page 190).  Ray had first spoken to Colonel Harris via telephone about the circumstances of Colonel Horn's death, some thirty years ago, and was honored to have been able to meet him in person.  Our special thanks to Jim Taranto for allowing us to attend the reunion.   

On 13 June 2017, while set up with our book, "IN HONOR AND MEMORY", we encountered two members of Detachment A-33, Andy Corder and Joe Meier, who arrived in Vietnam in July of 1963, and were stationed at Djarai with Captain David J. W. Widder, for whom two Camp Widders were named (one at Hon Quan and the other at Duc Hoa - see IN HONOR AND MEMORY page 432), and Master Sergeant John Holland.  Although I had written extensively about the team, back in my 1998 book, "LEGENDS, SHADOWS AND HEROES", this was our first encounter, and Pia and I were elated that they lingered at our table for a while, and that we could speak about David, who had died on his second tour in Vietnam on 24 March 1965, and about SMAJ John Holland, who I had become very close to until his death on 19 July 2010 (see team photo below).

This month, we also remember posthumous Silver Star recipient Sergeant Harry A. Walling, Sr., Detachment A-113, who was killed in action, 19 June 1964, at Suoi Da.   The Walling Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) in Saigon was named in his honor (see IN HONOR AND MEMORY page 417). 

My search for the Walling family began in 1986.  It was in 2015 that Pia and I had a chance meeting with Sergeant Walling's son, Harry A. Walling, Jr., at the All Veterans Reunion in Melbourne, Florida.  Harry shared photos of his dad and supplemental information about his father's service that we were not aware of.  The rewrite of Sergeant Walling's story is an ongoing project for us. 

Photo of Harry A. Walling, Sr., after graduation from Basic Training.  Courtesy of Harry A. Walling, Jr.

Pia and I could not make our usual trip to Washington, DC, for Memorial Day weekend, this year, but thanks to Colleen Smith, commander of American Legion Post #285, who allowed us to set up, we were able to spend a few hours with fellow veterans and their families.  Among them were WWII veteran, Robert Tucker, 94, who served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany, who we presented a copy of FIRST ON THE WALL to; and retired US Army Special Forces Command Sergeant Major Tom Seuberling, who spoke to the Edgewater Lakes veterans earlier this morning, and who informed us of the "Sue & Pete Tavern", a facility at the Navy Seal Patrol Base in Nam Cam, Vietnam, named for two Special Forces survivors, himself and Peter Thompsen.  We are looking forward to getting together with CSM Seuberling, who is going to share photographs and info for our supplement to IN HONOR AND MEMORY.  

Our sincere thanks to Casmira Harrison, Lola Gomez and The Daytona News Journal for their informative and compelling explanation of the Vietnam Memorialization Project and the purpose of our book "IN HONOR AND MEMORY", and its significance to all Vietnam veterans and families who lost loved ones in Vietnam.  Their accuracy in reporting is greatly appreciated. Their article on pages 1 and 12 A, of today's paper, mentions Floridians CWO Charles E. Holloway, killed in action (KIA) 22 December 1962,  for whom Camp Holloway in Pleiku was named and SP5 Wyley Wright, Jr., KIA 9 March 1964,  for whom the Shannon-Wright Compound at Vinh Long was named for, in part.