We were again able to attend the 29th Annual Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion in Melbourne, Florida, starting with a delicious breakfast at the American Legion Post 81 tent, where we met and had some interesting conversations with veterans Ed, 101st Airborne Division, and Ron, 440th Terminal Transportation Company (TTCO). Ron presented us with his unit patch (440th TTCO - ROAD RUNNER) which we will proudly display on our insignia board that we put on show when we set up with the books. Patch courtesy of Ron Longshore.
We spent time with Joe Craig, at the 1st Cav tent, President of the Florida Chapter, who is doing a great job of keeping the chapter of the 1st Cavalry Association solvent.
Tom at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association tent told us about Florida Chapter President and author Joe Pond, who was set up with his book, "The 600 m. o. l." After speaking with Lieutenant Pond, we purchased a copy which meticulously pays tribute to black helicopter pilots in Vietnam, with a section on black aviators who lost their lives in combat - information which has not been published anywhere else.
We spent time with Joe Craig, at the 1st Cav tent, President of the Florida Chapter, who is doing a great job of keeping the chapter of the 1st Cavalry Association solvent.
Tom at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association tent told us about Florida Chapter President and author Joe Pond, who was set up with his book, "The 600 m. o. l." After speaking with Lieutenant Pond, we purchased a copy which meticulously pays tribute to black helicopter pilots in Vietnam, with a section on black aviators who lost their lives in combat - information which has not been published anywhere else.
On Saturday we met up with our good friend Bill Robinson, who, in 1965, was stationed with the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division at Lai Khe. In late October and November 1965, he helped build the tactical area of operation (TAOR) at Lai Khe. His specific job then became handling unexploded ordnance for the 3d Brigade. "We'd bring dud rounds to our special blasting place and set them off with charges," said Robinson. As his reputation grew, he became known as "Wild Bill" Robinson. "Five and a half months later, before my enlistment as a draftee was up, we had set off so much dud ammo in the blasting pit, it was 10 feet deep and 40 feet around." The base camp at Lai Khe was memorialized in honor of LTC Gordon J. Lippman, who was a personal friend of Bob Hope and who died, 11 December 1965, of wounds received from a sniper's bullet.
We encountered WWII veteran George Norris (88), again, this year, who was in full dress uniform, with his sweetheart. George escorts the Wall into the park each year on his motorcycle. We also saw Phil G., 39th Engineer Battalion, who purchased a copy of IN HONOR AND MEMORY last year, and who shared his incredible photo albums with us. Phil was stationed at LZ Snoopy and had kept letters he wrote and sent from Vietnam, his draft notice, and lots of great photos.
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Anyone at the park on Saturday afternoon must have seen the swarm of bees arrive and nest on the trailer hitch in the vendor area - quite an experience. Doc Russo and the other organizers did a great job of removing and relocating the hive.
We also met up with my good friend CW3 Doug Conklin, US Army (ret.), who not only spent many years in the Army as a calibration expert but was a valued employee of NASA during Cape Canaveral Space Missions. On our last day, we also met George P., NMCB-7, who was kind enough to share his NMCB-7 Cruise Book with us, which has become a great asset to our research. Photo below of Doug Conklin and Ray Bows.
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