November – December 2014

4th Quarter Issue
November - December 2014
Vietnam Veterans of America
Chapter 952
Springfield, Missouri
Publication of VVA Chapter 952
Presidents Corner
VVA Board of Directors
!
Page 1
Harlan Bristol (Army) President
bristolharlan@Gmail.com
This year has been active with raising money and
assisting Veterans in need. Stay tuned for next year as the Chapter is
involved with new projects and active fund raising. I would like to thank
everyone who supports the Veterans Chapter 952 during the 2014 year.
John Walker (Army)
Vice-President
johnnwalker@hotmail.com
Dan L. Igou (USN)
Past President
dan@marathonbenefitsgroup.com
Please join us at Ryan’s Steakhouse on Campbell Ave from 6-8 p.m.
Bring a wrapped up Naughty or Nice Gift to exchange ($5.00 value)
Susan Phillips (USAF)
Secretary revsp19@gmail.com
There will not be a meeting in December, so mark your calendar for
Saturday, January 31, 2015.
Harlan Bristol, President
Tom Blubaugh (USN)
Treasurer, Chaplin
tom@tomblubaugh.com
Service Officer Chapter 952 Sam Hudson
I am the Service Officer and on the front lines assisting Veterans with
Chapter 952. My job is to make sure that All Servicemen and
Servicewomen get the care, respect and compensation from active duty
experiences. I see Veterans come into the office at their worst with tears or
joking and laughing to cover the terrible need and ask for help.
Rex Krasche (Army)
Sgt. at Arms
Honor Guard Commander
rexdk10@sbcglobal.net
I ask Veterans what took so long to file a claim? Most reply, "I thought many
other Veterans deserved help before me." I reply, "These are comps you
earned and are entitled to. If you were hurt on duty, under fire in an
overturned truck, caught a bullet, around Agent Orange, temper issues such
as P.T.S.D, you need to file a claim.”
Every Veterans case is different. Please call the office for an appointment;
you will be glad you did. 417-862-8387.
Sam Hudson (USN)
Service Officer Veteran’s Benefits
Office 417-862-8387
samhudson44@aol.com
Mission Statement:
To
foster,
encourage
and
promote
the
physical
and
cultural improvement, growth
development, self-respect, selfconfidence and usefulness of all
military Veterans to improve
their overall quality of life.
Continued page 2
We Will Never Forget The Courage, Honor and Sacrifices of All Veterans And Their Families.
Presidents Corner- continued
Credit Counseling Department
Landy Dixon works at the Veteran Consumer Credit Counseling for 21 years and a
th
Veteran with the MO Army Guard 1107 from 1980.
Landy is the Director of the Credit Counseling Department as well as speaking to the
community. She assists with disputes and errors on credit reports to help people help
themselves with education and money management skills.
We salute all the
Armed Forces who
have given so much to
enduring freedoms.
The Mission Statement
“To develop, provide and implement financial solutions and credit education that results in
self-sufficient individuals, families, neighborhoods and communities.”
Taps Audio File mp3
http://www.vva.org/Media/T
APS_Audio.mp3
The Debt Management Program works with major credit card companies as well as
offering free credit and budge Counseling. The funding is provided from large banks,
HUD, grants, donations, and not associated with Federal Government Funding.
Discrepancies on the Credit Reports can be corrected; but can take months to remove.
Locations
1515 S. Glenstone, Springfield 417-889-7474
1055 S. Campbell, Springfield 417-831-0888
Branch Office
Joplin, Missouri; West Plains, Missouri;
Satellite Offices
Branson, Missouri; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO Lebanon, MO Mountain Home, AR
Ed’s History Corner
Landing Zone X-Ray
Nels Faught
Susan Phillips, editing
The Battle for Landing Zone X-Ray was the first large-scale engagement between the regulars of the
People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the United States Army November 17, 1965. The discussion will focus on
how artillery and CAS turned the tables on the Battle for Landing Zone (LZ).
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Harold Moore's 1st Battalion 7th Infantry conducted an air assault on LZ X-ray.
At 10:48 in the morning, LTC Moore was the first person to set foot on LZ X-Ray, Chu Pong massif, near the
Cambodian border (Leonard). When LTC Moore landed, preparation twelve 105-millimeter howitzers were air
lifted to nearby landing zones and fired from a nearby LZ's (Falcon and later Columbus). Two rounds from LZ's
(Tango and Yankee) continued to assault and confused the PAVN for eight minutes. In addition to the field
artillery, aerial artillery fired rockets and machine guns for about 30 seconds (Leonard).
Expecting combat, the soldiers assaulted X-Ray and were surprised by the 2,200 man 33rd People’s
Army Regiment attack. The motivated enemy immediately attacked every element on the LZ. A Cavalry platoon
of 29 men were attacked by at least 200 enemy (Galloway), cut off from the main body, and completely
surrounded when aerial artillery and howitzers were brought to bear on the enemy attackers (Ott 1975, 93).
Continued page 3
2
Ed’s History Corner continued
Landing Zone X-Ray
The enemy heavily engaged Captain John Herron’s Bravo 2nd platoon company who moved to far, too
th
fast, and was subsequently cut off from command at 13:30 (1:30 PM) on November 14 (Leonard). The Americans
transported 60 and 81-millimeter mortars and fired. An After Action Report (AAR) written (plagiarized) by ARVN
Colonel Nguyen Van Hieu, the mortars was not so effective. In the same AAR, LTC Moore called in CAS, artillery
and aerial rockets (Moore, & Hieu), which were more effective than mortars.
The enemy attacked and probing the perimeter while field artillery continued firing to prevent the PAVN
from overrunning the LZ. Many times the artillery fire was brought within 100 meters or less of the troops, and if for
artillery fire this was close. During the night of the 14th, Batteries A and C, of the 1st Battalion, 21st Artillery would
fire at least 4000 105-millimeter shells around LZ X-Ray.
The enemy continued attacking the morning of November 15th with artillery firing 50 meters of the Cavalry
Soldiers or bayonet combat range (Ott 1975, 93). The artillery wall and Calvary Soldiers forced the enemy to
regroup. So much so, the lull allowed Americans to reinforce and resupply troops surrounding the LZ. The Army
realized the gravity of the situation, placed additional firing batteries on the LZ Columbus supporting X-Ray with B
Battery Army 1st Battalion, 21st Artillery and C Battery 2nd Battalion, and 17th Artillery on LZ Columbus providing
additional fire support (Ott 1975, 93). The reinforcement was fortuitist as the enemy attempted to overrun the LZ
on the second day attacking repeatedly but repelled by fire support. LTC Moore called his Commander with a code
that signaled serious trouble alerting Commanded of support needs.
Joe Galloway wrote for U.S. News stating "We had aircraft stacked at 1000-foot intervals from 7,000 feet to
35,000 feet, each waiting to receive a target" (Galloway). The destruction was needed relief at the LZ and created
a virtual impenetrable wall around the Americans. An unfortunate incident occurred when two F-100 Super Saber
aircraft (one was called off) dropped napalm practically hitting LTC Moore, the Command Post Moore as well as
killing two Soldiers. (Moore, & Galloway).
LTC Moore received reinforcements from LTC Robert Tully's 2nd Battalion of the 5th Cavalry and air lifted
to LZ Victor. Landing, the Battalion marched overland two miles to LZ X-Ray. LTC Tully's men reported dead
PAVN a half an hour before reaching the Landing Zone and were successfully reinforced by noon November 15,
the second day (Galloway). With the LZ reinforced, LTC Moore moved the perimeter outward from base 300 yards
to search for American wounded and dead. Enemy casualties were high and the wounded had been removed from
the battlefield.
Continued page 4
Continued page 4
3
Landing Zone X-Ray
After the perimeter expansion Moore "ordered a two-pronged attack by two companies of Tully's men
across the Chu Pong" (Galloway) with the goal of retrieving his "lost platoon". The platoon leader was killed the
first day and amazingly not another soldier died during the assault (Galloway). Lives were spared because of the
effective and constant coverage provided by American field artillery.
LTC Moore's men entered a third day of battle for LZ X-Ray and at 4:22 a.m. September 16, an estimated
300 North Vietnamese attacked the LZ with the Americans artillery and troops previous weapon registering held
ground. Registering guns provides accuracy with fire missions both faster and safer for the ground troops.
The Air Force provided flair support from orbiting C-123 aircraft allowing easy identification of targets on
and around the LZ (Galloway). During the early hours, “the North Vietnamese broke and ran" (Galloway). Shortly
after the attack, almost 200 enemy soldiers retreated (Galloway) with LTC Moore’s successful defensive tactics.
LTC Moore changed strategies with offensive posturing. A popular technique used included a mad minute with
soldiers shooting at any suspicious movements. There was indeed good reasons for suspicion as 50 North
Vietnamese attacked with the solders mad minute. LTC Moore goal of expanding 500 yards engaged nine of his
companies for the assault. After 50 yards of progress the American troops encountered a large volume of small
arms fire, simply pulled back, and called in the artillery, which quickly ended the engaging fire (Galloway) as well
as the last major engagement for LTC Moore’s men in the hard fought battle called LZ X-Ray.
On the third day, LTC Moore gave orders to transport his men out of the LZ and the last soldier to get on
the departing helicopters, as was his practice throughout the war, first on last off. His troops performed well
inflicting 1,300 casualties on the enemy with 79 Americans killed and 121 wounded. The artillery, aerial artillery,
and CAS were equally impressive with 18,000 artillery shells fired, 3,000 rockets from helicopter gunships, and
400 CAS sorties (Galloway).
The soldiers involved performed or witnessed tactics previously not used in battle during the first largescale engagement between the United States combat forces and North Vietnamese regulars. The Battalions
witnessed the first use of 24 B-52’s for CAS dropping bombs close to the LZ (Galloway). The entire U.S. 1st Air
Cavalry Division was another first deploying, displacing, maintaining and supplying field artillery batteries by air,
which would be especially useful in the less than friendly terrain of Viet Nam (Ott 1975, 95). The LZ's X-Ray and
Albany was statistically deadliest month for the United States with a total 545 war deaths (Galloway).
The LZ battle provided Americans a draw with the North Vietnamese, which would eventually win the war
in Vietnam. During the three days of battle, field artillery and close air support (CAS) assisted Americans returning
to base camp from inevitable defeat at the hands of the PAVN who were outnumbered by ten to one (Leonard).
PAVN had a definite numerical advantage and the fire support, which advantageously shifted the battle to the
United States Army.
Bibliography
Leonard, Steven. "Fire Support in the Ia Drang Valley." http://www.almc.army.mil
http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/MarApr06/ia_drang_spprt.html(accessed September 21, 2013).
Galloway, Joseph. "Vietnam Story." http://www.usnews.com
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/soldiers/vietnam_901029.htm (accessed September 22, 2013).
Ott, David. Vietnam Studies. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 1975. (accessed September 20, 2013).
Moore, Harold, & Hieu, Colonel. "LZ X-Ray After Action Report." http://www.generalhieu.com
http://www.generalhieu.com/lzxray_moore_hieu-2.htm (accessed September 20, 2013).
Galloway, Joseph. "Ia Drang The battle that convinced Ho Chi Minh he could win." http://www.historynet.com. iadrang-where-battlefield-losses-convinced-ho-giap-and-mcnamara-the-u-s-could-never-win (accessed September
22, 2013).
Continued page 5
We Will Never Forget The Courage, Honor4and Sacrifices of All Veterans And Their Families.
Chaplain’s Corner
A Miracle in the Fog
My eyes flew open! I looked at the clock! I was going to be late to class! Hurrying into
the bathroom, I ran my hand over my face. I have to shave—appointments later. After
a quick shave and a fast shower, I headed out the door with my brief case in one
hand and toast in the other. It was a dreary fall morning in Kansas City. I climbed in
the car and was glad to hear the motor turn over at first try. I backed out of the
driveway and headed for I-435.
Why do I do this? I was married with two sons ages six and three, working full-time as
an insurance agent, active in my church and taking twelve hours of Bible courses
forty miles from home.
We salute all the Armed
Forces who have given so
much to enduring freedoms.
Taps Audio File mp3
http://www.vva.org/Media/TAPS_A
udio.mp3
By time I reached the I-435 onramp, I had run into fog. At least I can see taillights. I
turned on the radio for Christian music to calm my nerves. Do I have my assignments
done? Hopefully. I had presentations to put together for another long day. The boys
will be in bed by time I get back home.
I looked for traffic in both lanes beside me—no vehicles there. Don’t see any
headlights behind me. The fog had gotten thicker by time I reached the Missouri
River. No taillights in front of me. I glanced down at the speedometer. 50. Maybe a
little too fast for the conditions.
When I looked up, there was a clear patch in front of me, and a car! It was, maybe,
three car lengths in front of me! No time for brakes! Too fast! I clenched the steering
wheel, gritted my teeth, closed my eyes and waited for the impact! Nothing! No crash!
I opened my eyes and I was back in fog!
What just happened? I was shaking. Thank you, Lord! What happened to that car? It
didn’t have time to change lanes! Did I go through it? Over it? Angels? It did happen!
That incident took place thirty-eight years ago and I don’t know any more now than I
did then. I’ve praised and thanked God numerous times for sparing me and whoever
was in the other car.
I often hope that The Lord will show me what occurred that morning when I get to
heaven.
Christian Author
Tom Blubaugh
Email
tom@tomblubaugh.net
Tom
Website
TomBlubaugh.net
Advertising
Newsletters, Membership Directory, or general information flyer
Business Card: $25 per year.
Call: Dan (417) 234-3501
Email Dan: dan@marathonbenefitsgroup.com
Continued page 6
We Will Never Forget The Courage, Honor and5Sacrifices of All Veterans And Their Families.
Did You Know?
Agent Orange Update: http://www.vva.org/Committees/AgentOrange/index.html
Arts of War: Vietnam Veteran’s compilation of new and old arts, books, movies, TV, music, videos, news, etc.
Books in Review: http://vvabooks.wordpress.com/
Employment: http://www.vetjobs.com/
Friends, Family, and Associates of VVA: http://www.avva.org/
My HealtheVet is the VA’s online individual well-being and healthy records. Sign up to manage health care
online and review health team visits. https://www.myhealth.va.gov/index.html
Veteran Legal Court of Appeals Pro Bono Claims: http://www.vetsprobono.org/veterans-family-members/
Veterans of Modern Warfare: http://vmwusa.org/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------u Calendar 2014
November
5-11
November
22
December
5
December
6
December
11
December
11
Veterans Day (VVA Booth in Branson)
VVA Meeting
Support our OTC Veterans Fair in the ICE Atrium from 10-2p.m.
Christmas Dinner and Party at Ryan's Steakhouse on Campbell Ave from 6-8 p.m.
Exec Meting Logan Steak house on Battlefield 4 p.m.
JCF Friends and Partners in Support of our Service members and Veterans
Location: US Armed Forces Reserve Center at 1110 N. Fremont Ave.
Bring a Toy for Tots – Sponsored by the Marines
Marines cannot accept liquids (i.e. Bubbles, Play-Dough, Paint, etc.), any kind of sand art, or
anything easily ingested (small items). If batteries are to be attached, they asked that they be
placed within the package/box so that they will not fall out.
u Calendar 2015
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
November
December
31
28
29
25
30
27
25
29
26
31
tba
11
26
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting
VVA Meeting (November 21 or 28)
Veterans Day (VVA Booth in Branson November 5-11)
No VVA Meeting (Christmas Party)
Advertising
Newsletters, Membership Directory,
Or General information flyer
Business Card: $25 per year.
Join Us
Scenic Lodge Post 639
Saturday, November 22, 2014
(no meeting in December)
January 31, 2015
Call: Dan (417) 234-3501
Email Dan: dan@marathonbenefitsgroup.com
Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Meeting 10:00 a.m.
6