Comments on: Khe Sanh and Beyond: Col. (ret) Joseph Abodeely Interview http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sun, 19 May 2013 22:40:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joe Abodeely http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-813408 Joe Abodeely Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:03:51 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-813408 Doc: Good to hear from you. Yes, you were my medic and a great one at that. I wrote a sory about the action we had February 27, 1968 called "Firefight", and you're in it. Yes, we saw some terrible things, but I still think we were right in helping the South Vietnamese--we won Tet 1968, we kept all of S.E. Asia from going Communist, and we won the war in 1973 with the Peace Accords which got our POWs back and concessions for the South. We promised to aid the South if the North acted up, and Congress broke that promise; the North invaded in 1975 after we left--and we were made the scapegoats. I served over 30 years in the military--active, Guard, and Reserve--and the best unit in the history of the Army was the 1st Air Cavalry Division. And you and I were part of it. Welcome home, brother. Remember--If you ain't Cav, you ain't s**t! Garry Owen. 2-6. Doc: Good to hear from you. Yes, you were my medic and a great one at that. I wrote a sory about the action we had February 27, 1968 called "Firefight", and you're in it. Yes, we saw some terrible things, but I still think we were right in helping the South Vietnamese–we won Tet 1968, we kept all of S.E. Asia from going Communist, and we won the war in 1973 with the Peace Accords which got our POWs back and concessions for the South. We promised to aid the South if the North acted up, and Congress broke that promise; the North invaded in 1975 after we left–and we were made the scapegoats. I served over 30 years in the military–active, Guard, and Reserve–and the best unit in the history of the Army was the 1st Air Cavalry Division. And you and I were part of it. Welcome home, brother. Remember–If you ain't Cav, you ain't s**t! Garry Owen. 2-6.

]]> By: John Halvorson http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-813396 John Halvorson Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:50:12 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-813396 Col Joe.........however you where my 2-6 and I was your Medic in Nam and damn proud to serve with you. I try not to mention my time in Nam as it tends to bring back some very strong feelings and I only want to remember the guys I was there with. Col Joe………however you where my 2-6 and I was your Medic in Nam and damn proud to serve with you. I try not to mention my time in Nam as it tends to bring back some very strong feelings and I only want to remember the guys I was there with.

]]> By: Joe Abodeely http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-805779 Joe Abodeely Wed, 30 May 2012 23:00:22 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-805779 Mike: I became the Assistant S-4 for the 2/7 Bn in June, 1968--so I missed serving in the field with your uncle. Find the platoon leaders in the company at that time and that may help you. Good luck. Joe Mike: I became the Assistant S-4 for the 2/7 Bn in June, 1968–so I missed serving in the field with your uncle. Find the platoon leaders in the company at that time and that may help you. Good luck.
Joe

]]> By: Joe Abodeely http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-805776 Joe Abodeely Wed, 30 May 2012 22:56:53 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-805776 Roger: Call me at 520-868-6777. Joe Roger: Call me at 520-868-6777.
Joe

]]> By: Mike Hullinger http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-805709 Mike Hullinger Wed, 30 May 2012 16:05:36 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-805709 Joe, Terrance, Roger, My Uncle, Stan Simmons, was a sargent ( and at some point a platoon leader) in D Co, 2nd Bn, 7th Cav during his second tour from January 18, 1968 until he was KIA on July 25, 1968. I had just turned 10 years old at the time. Did you know him, or could you direct me to how I might find out more about his serivce during that time period? Uncle Stan would stay with us on his state side leaves. I still have memories of his visits, and the 1st Cav patches and Gary Owen pin he gave me. Thank you for your service and sacrfices for our country! Joe, Terrance, Roger,

My Uncle, Stan Simmons, was a sargent ( and at some point a platoon leader) in D Co, 2nd Bn, 7th Cav during his second tour from January 18, 1968 until he was KIA on July 25, 1968. I had just turned 10 years old at the time. Did you know him, or could you direct me to how I might find out more about his serivce during that time period? Uncle Stan would stay with us on his state side leaves. I still have memories of his visits, and the 1st Cav patches and Gary Owen pin he gave me.
Thank you for your service and sacrfices for our country!

]]> By: Joe Abodeely http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-786922 Joe Abodeely Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:23:59 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-786922 Roger: Welcome home. I don't want to put my email on line, but Google me, call my office, leave your contact info, and I'll contact you to give you my info. Joe Roger: Welcome home. I don't want to put my email on line, but Google me, call my office, leave your contact info, and I'll contact you to give you my info. Joe

]]> By: Roger (Doc) Lutz http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-786908 Roger (Doc) Lutz Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:18:18 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-786908 Joe: Terry sent me the link and mentioned that you had written about the Khe Sanh operation. I enjoyed reading the account. I certainly agree that there is a lot of misinformation running around. Yet I also realize that many of those that participated did not have the total picture--only their perspective as viewed from a small part of the action. I was a medic in that mess--and one of my prouder moments was to be able to serve not only the guys in the 2nd of the 7th, but to also act as a Marine Corpsman taking care of those precious marines as well. As you, I stayed in the active reserves (Air Force) and retired in 2000. I did tours in Desert Storm as well as flew alerts and missions to most parts of the world. My civilian career as a water engineer has allowed me to serve in projects in Asia, the South Pacific and of course here in my home state of California as well. As you well know Vietnam is a detail that has become part of each of us--and find myself drawn back to various locations in both North and South Vietnam on a regular basis. It is certainly a pleasure to communicate with you! I had met Col Ron LIttle in 1988 as I remember he stayed in the military--and I believe he retired not too long after we met. I have not heard from him since. The other names are but memories---and I have not communicated with any except Lee Craig--I believe he was in the 2nd Plattoon and now lives in Redding Ca.; Ron Halvarson who lives in Chicago; Pat Nardi--lives in El Sobrante CA.; Sammy Johnson that lives in Florida; Steve Banko; --Terry and a few more that evade my memory at the moment. Garry Owen and welcome back I agree with your statement of spurning the war---but not the warrior. Let me know how to contact you and I will send you an email Joe:
Terry sent me the link and mentioned that you had written about the Khe Sanh operation. I enjoyed reading the account. I certainly agree that there is a lot of misinformation running around. Yet I also realize that many of those that participated did not have the total picture–only their perspective as viewed from a small part of the action.

I was a medic in that mess–and one of my prouder moments was to be able to serve not only the guys in the 2nd of the 7th, but to also act as a Marine Corpsman taking care of those precious marines as well.

As you, I stayed in the active reserves (Air Force) and retired in 2000. I did tours in Desert Storm as well as flew alerts and missions to most parts of the world. My civilian career as a water engineer has allowed me to serve in projects in Asia, the South Pacific and of course here in my home state of California as well. As you well know Vietnam is a detail that has become part of each of us–and find myself drawn back to various locations in both North and South Vietnam on a regular basis.

It is certainly a pleasure to communicate with you! I had met Col Ron LIttle in 1988 as I remember he stayed in the military–and I believe he retired not too long after we met. I have not heard from him since. The other names are but memories—and I have not communicated with any except Lee Craig–I believe he was in the 2nd Plattoon and now lives in Redding Ca.; Ron Halvarson who lives in Chicago; Pat Nardi–lives in El Sobrante CA.; Sammy Johnson that lives in Florida; Steve Banko; –Terry and a few more that evade my memory at the moment.

Garry Owen and welcome back I agree with your statement of spurning the war—but not the warrior.

Let me know how to contact you and I will send you an email

]]> By: Joe Abodeely http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-785419 Joe Abodeely Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:29:16 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-785419 Terry: I remember Lt. Little. I thought he was a good officer. I often thought we had some friendly competition going, but he was a good officer. What ever happened to him? Did he stay in or go back to school like I did? If you can get email addresses of guys who were in 2nd platoon for Khe Sanh, I'd appreciate it. I know Captain Stevens is still around. I had RTOs named Snyder and Pee Wee. I'd like to know what happened to them. Joe Terry: I remember Lt. Little. I thought he was a good officer. I often thought we had some friendly competition going, but he was a good officer. What ever happened to him? Did he stay in or go back to school like I did? If you can get email addresses of guys who were in 2nd platoon for Khe Sanh, I'd appreciate it. I know Captain Stevens is still around. I had RTOs named Snyder and Pee Wee. I'd like to know what happened to them.
Joe

]]> By: terrance p girard usa retired http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-785280 terrance p girard usa retired Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:04:13 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-785280 Joe Some of D company troopers are coming to florida in feb. will send you some pics of khe sanh later. I was in 3rd plt.D 2/7th. Lt. little was our Plt Leader. we are not trying to Insult anyone. our job in the cav was to releive troops that were pinned down or what ever. we kept the nva on the move as much as we could. lost some good men that day going into khe sanh. I will never forget them. thanks joe Terry Joe
Some of D company troopers are coming to florida in feb. will send you some pics of khe sanh later. I was in 3rd plt.D 2/7th. Lt. little was our Plt Leader. we are not trying to Insult anyone. our job in the cav was to releive troops that were pinned down or what ever. we kept the nva on the move as much as we could. lost some good men that day going into khe sanh. I will never forget them.
thanks joe
Terry

]]> By: Joe Abodeely http://www.historynet.com/khe-sanh-and-beyond-col-ret-joseph-abodeely-interview.htm#comment-785256 Joe Abodeely Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:16:59 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682721#comment-785256 Terry: Thanks for the comment. We need to get more Cav guys to speak up. A lot of misinformation is our there. Some Marines say they were never even under siege or that THEY fought their way out or that there were no NVA left when we cleared Route 9 to the wire at Khe Sanh. I was second platoon leader of D company 2/7. Garry Owen. Terry: Thanks for the comment. We need to get more Cav guys to speak up. A lot of misinformation is our there. Some Marines say they were never even under siege or that THEY fought their way out or that there were no NVA left when we cleared Route 9 to the wire at Khe Sanh. I was second platoon leader of D company 2/7. Garry Owen.

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