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!6 April 2008
Kham Phiou Manivanh, CPK Red.
It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.
15 Apr 2008
<phessinger@splitter.com>
31 March 2008
23 March 2008
my father flew for continental air services from 68 to
74 when the pathet lao started to enter vientiane i
also lived there during that time and some of you guys
probably visited our house my youngest brother gaelan
was the first american baby born at the usaid med
fac.vang pao did com to
montana for awhile and lived
in the bitterroot valley for a short period i remember
one guy my father used to bring home he was called
beetle bailey he used to let me hold his swedish k
well any way my father passed away in 02 but i still
remember a lot of the guys and their stories of
rousting p.l on the plain of jars.all my fathers
photos are still intact and in florida the one of site
32 elongated (taken by dave kouba)if anyone remembers
or would like to see the pictures contact my sister at
jgrey@graebel.com good luck to everyone sean clark
9 March 2008
To all the Ravens,
I have read the book by Christopher Robbins, “The Ravens”, and think the world of you guys. I want to thank all of you for your service to this country. My dad flew the A1 Skyraider with the Air Commandos out of Nakhom Phanom. He was 3 months as Sandy 1 and spent most of his remaining year doing sorties on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He has read this book as well and we both enjoyed it. Thanks again for fighting your ass off in a war that was miss-managed in a big way. If only we could have had everyone in the war fight like you guys did, we would have kicked some serious ass.
Thank you again,
David A. Darsey
Kenai, Alaska
March 2008
Great web page.
I am looking for members of the 6th Air Commando Squadron later called the 6
Special Operations Squadron.
Also I am wanting pictures of Pleiku from the air or the ground. If any of you
would know where I could find any I would be very greatful for your help.
If any of you did fac work for the Spads, I would like to hear from you.
etterlingsr@wmconnect.com
Keep up the good work
This is to let you all know that I spent 2 weeks in the hospital in Jan. They removed a grapefruit size tumor from my
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
I am looking for FACs in the Twin Cities area to be VIP guests at an annual aviation show. I am a volunteer with Wings of the North at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. Our show, AirExpo 2008, is scheduled for August 16th and 17th and we would like to find a few FACs to join the 35 to 40 other VIPs who will be attending. Past VIPs include veterans from WWII groups like the Doolittle Raiders, Black Sheep, Tuskegee Airmen, Enola Gay, 8th Air Force and so on. Last year we added some SAC crewmembers and now we would like to honor FACs also. Please contact me at bobj@wotn.org if you are interested or know other FACs in the Twin Cities area who may be interested. Photos from AirExpo 2007 are available at www.wotn.org. Bob Jasperson, Director, AirExpo 2008.
"Bob Jasperson" <mnriverrat@frontiernet.net>
My name is Larry Nemec. My dob is 5-21-1956. I am a Captain with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. I am trying to locate a Raven that lives in the Houston area near the Beltway 8 Westheimer area. My friend Grover Norwood was Walt 75 forward air controller and instructor for pilots that ended up in the Raven program. I can't remember the exact time frame Grover was instructor there but it was when the Ravens were still flying O-1's and that was what Grover flew as a FAC. You can find out more about me at www.co.fort-bend.tx.us in the sheriff's office section.
12 Feb 2008
Isent a photo and illustration of Dick and Lao backseater Phanthy
to Jimmie
Butler, and he returned the attached montage that he created for the
Memorial/Reunion Committee's use. It's a very fitting and moving
remembrance of the fallen FACs. He's given me permission to send it
you...post it on the Ravens
website? Apparently, he's already sent it to the Nail FAC and All-FAC
webmasters.
FYI, I learned last week from a Lao internet friend that legendary LS20-A
Hmong
backseater Scar's brother, Youa Bee Seng, and son are living right here in
Oakland County, Michigan. We're almost neighbors. Scar's son emigrated to
the
U.S. last year after spending well over thirty years in a Thai refugee camp. I'm
told that Scar (whose real name was Vang Vjer Seng) did not die from injuries he
sustained in the crash that killed Dick, but was hunted down, captured and
killed
by the NVA just after the war's end, near LS118.
I plan to call them next week and see if we can get together. As I learn more,
I'll keep the LS20-A Ravens informed; several of them flew with Scar. Perhaps I
can get enough information to document Scar's story. I'll tell them the Ravens
story and make sure they get information about the scholarship program. This
part
of
Michigan has the fourth largest concentration of
Hmong people in the U.S., so
perhaps they can spread the word about the program in the Hmong community.
Kindest regards,
John
Ravens Friend
P.S. Years ago, a
Hmong friend who'd been studying English in my wife's Adult
Community Ed program over in nearby
Rochester, Michigan, brought her a unique
gift as an expression of his gratitude...a huge sack dripping with live blue
crabs. We had two sinks overflowing with the critters and a real feast. Never
thought I'd get tired of crab.
> Gents: As you probably know, Oct 1-5 is the All FAC
> reunion, in
Colorado Springs this year. Hope you can make it. It will
> include dedication of a FAC memorial in
Memorial Park. It's on a
> beautiful site on the East side of the Springs. The memorial
honors
> the 290 FACs lost in SEA, to include the 23 Ravens who didn't return.
> The ceremony is being planned now. In addition to fly-bys of
various
> FAC birds, including 0-1, 0-2, OV-10 & T-28, they have a 4-ship of
> F-16s who will play. You might be able to help.
They want to put
> faces with the names of our lost brothers. If you have
pictures of
> the lost Ravens (or other FACs), esp if airplanes are in the pic,
> too, please send to Jimmie Butler (Nail) at
jimmieb@earthlink.net.
> See you in
San Antonio Oct 16-19. Nevermore, Ed
Gunter Raven
> Pres
>
Jan 2008
Dear Ed,
We’re hard at work here in Colorado Springs putting together the 2008 FAC Reunion and 2008 FAC Memorial. We’ve been lining up aircraft for the flyover at the dedication ceremony, and Don Haller is our aviation coordinator. Jim Roper recently sent us the note you received from Jeff Clark, and we wanted to follow up on that info about T-28s. Don has a local contact who is building up a couple and might have one flyable by October. A few years ago, I went to a small air show in Aurora, Colorado at the home base of a T-28 of an Academy grad of the late 60s. He also flew it at a Hmong gathering in Golden, Colorado in maybe 2002. I haven’t been able to remember his name, but I imagine Jeff will know who I’m talking about. I’m thinking a Bob R., but my memory isn’t what it was 40 years ago when I was a Nail FAC.
So if you can help us get in contact with Jeff, Don can work out the coordination to hopefully get some T-28 participation. Gene Hamner just sent us a great picture of a T-28 with Doc Russell standing on the wing with another Raven.
Don Nieser who flies an O-2 out of Oklahoma City thinks he can bring in 4 O-2s to allow us to fly a FAC missing man formation. We also expect to have a flight of Colorado ANG F-16s to end the ceremony with a missing man formation. We have a contact with the owners of the only OV-10 in civilian hands and hope to get it in. The International Bird Dog Association is hoping to have some O-1s aboard. We’ve had an offer of an OV-1 Mohawk. We’re hoping to make the aviation tribute worthy of the nearly 290 men we will be honoring on the morning of 3 October 2008 at Memorial Park just east of downtown Colorado Springs.
We’re now soliciting pictures of the men we will be honoring and also building a contact list of family members, so perhaps your contacts with the Ravens can help us there. We’re asking for people to send me scanned images of favorite pictures—we’re hoping to get a number that include aircraft, as well—at jimmieb@earthlink.net.
Thanks,
Jimmie
Jimmie H. Butler
Nail 12
Member, 2008 FAC Memorial Committee
Jan 2008
I would like to get in touch with Art Cornelius who wrote the poem
about my childhood friend, Sam Deichelman. Our families were very
close and Sam and I swam together in
Hawaii. I honestly believe that
the middle man in the "Three Servicemen" statue in DC, is modeled
after Sam, as his mother sent many photos to the sculptor.
Diana
www.dianagessler.com
email:
dgessler@cfl.rr.com
827 Oakwood Drive
Melbourne, Florida 32940-1787
phone/fax:
321-775-4752
cell:
321-704-1196
BOOKS BY Diana Hollingsworth Gessler:
THE SAMPOERNA LEGACY
VERY WASHINGTON DC 2009
VERY NEW ORLEANS
VERY CHARLESTON
VERY CALIFORNIA
12 Jan 2008
I was the Flight Surgeon for the Ravens in 1971. Received a note from Chad Swedberg
this Christmas with an invite to attend the next Ravens reunion,and may attend. Over the years I've continued to examine what happened to me during that time, but have not participated in much. It's surprising to me that I still go on the
internet and read about it....and thus to the website.
For approximately 20 years I tried to find "Miss Sidah" who was my right hand at the
"dispensary" on the hill and the niece of Vang Pao.
Several years ago I was successful and talked to her in Hawaii....living on a hill in Maui...not bad. I am so proud to have been associated with the Ravens....I do have a patch..."FAC Quack" which I will try to forward to you.
My experiences with you gave me a foundation for the rest of my life.
Hopefully, I will see you in the future.
Wayne Lee, MD
Captain, USAF
SOF
I am in the final stages of the book by Christopher Robbins entitled The Ravens. I recently finished A Lonely Kind of War by Marshall Harrison. I bought both books for my son in laws father who was a FAC in Korea. My other favorite is Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. I am a civilian who has never seen combat and would never understand the extent of what you guys did and saw on a daily basis. I read and study from the safety of my chair.
27 Dec 2007
My father is Don Service, aka "Raven 40" , I would cherish any information you may have on him or copies of any pictures. He is telling us that he has only a few weeks left. Thank you so much!!
I got to meet a number of 'Ravens' during my three years in Vientiane with Royal Air Lao, every one I met I had great respect for knowing the great job that they were doing, silently and without fanfare.
18 Dec 2007
Hello!
My name is Liam Kozma. I am the nephew of Raven Bill Kozma. I visited your
website a few years ago, and signed the guestbook, but (for some reason) felt
the urge to sign it again. I love the site. One of my hobbies over the last
few years has been researching the Ravens to learn more about my Uncle and what
he did. The urge has grown since I graduated from West Point. He was an Air
Force Academy graduate.
Thank you for all the great information! I always enjoy looking around the site.
Also, if anyone who reads this has any information about my uncle, or pictures,
or stories, I would greatly appreciate them. I am putting together kind of a
book on my Uncle's experience during the war.
Thanks again!
Respectfully,
2LT Liam Kozma
Still searching for anyone who was acquainted with my brother, Richard E. (Dick) Shubert. I would like to record some things in the family history. Dick died a few years after returning home, so I cannot ask him these things. Thank you.
RSmith2111@aol.com
Nov 2007
First time I've seen or heard about this site. Neat--- It brings back a
lot of old memories.
Thanks to everyone who obviously spent a lot of hours of love and sweat.
John
Raven 32
Savannakhet, 1969
--
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
+ John F. Urban +
+ Milford, DE 19963 +
+
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Webmaster note: His email address is on the protected email page
Nov 2007 Refers to an article from Bulldog in Sept below. I no longer have the email address on file.
Nov 2007
Ed O'Connor: Bilk 25/Covey 25/Mike 25 Camp Eagle & Da Nang
1971-72. Just checking site. Knew several Ravens: Sandy Sanderson,
John Carroll, John Rhoades.
Hello from a Nimrod,
"Frank and Norma Nelson" <fwnln@ssctv.net>
Oct 2007
Hello to all, I would like to thank ALL the Ravens, Raven Spouses, and Raven Friends in attendance at the 2007 Raven Reunion. My sister, Laura, attended as my guest. She had a wonderful time. This was her first “military dining” experience and she was especially thrilled to be part of the rowdy table!!
Can’t wait to see the pictures… I hope everyone submits their pictures for posting on the site!!
Thanks so much.
Sharon Young
“the quilt lady”
I was "Bulldog" from February, 1971 through July, 1971. . Just looking over your shoulders, Gentlemen. Thanks for the photos. Goodbye to Dick D. Last I saw of Frank Kricker, he was, after piling in his Bird Dog with a hole in the starboard wing (I later climbed through it just to prove I could do it) and flying out with bloody legs, well, parts of them.
Sept 2007
I’m a C-17 trash hauler and recently read the book “The Ravens” on a trip. I have always been interested in how I could have grown up (I was born in ’65) not knowing the war was even going on. I have read several books about the Vietnam War through the years and have always been curious about the covert side. I must admit I am not made of the stuff you are. I have met special ops folks through the years and I realize that you are definitely set apart from the ordinary people. You have a fierce courage backed by an innocent love for humanity. A rare combination that makes a person the best under fire. You word is gold and you quietly carry your courage without the need for recognition. Although I am currently involved in a different war I am certainly not risking as much as you did and don’t know if I could if given the chance. So THANK YOU! Thank you for all you did for the Hmong. You are a selfless breed that the U.S. needs more of today. I hope each of you have written down as many records of your activities as possible for history’s sake.
Scott
Sept 2007
Sept 2007
Just recently found your website while searching for other info......
I am trying to catalog a few thousand photos etc from 1964-1975 in S.E.A. as I
spent the time there primarily with Bird and Sons.....When Bird air first
started I had been discharged from the air force at Manila...I was assigned to
Clark Field but spent most of my time TDY to Northern Thailand and Nha Trang
Vietnam...I am a former Bush pilot but I also was/am a ham radio operator and
electronics engineer....so when I was discharged I started an Aviation
Electronics shop in Manila (the only one in country) and then in Thailand
etc.....my primary customer was Continental Air Services and Bird and Sons....in
1967 I merged with the groups and set up the facilities in Thailand, Lao,
Vietnam and also an "unofficial" operation in Cambodia...complete with long haul
communications...I also flew Pilatus porters, the U-206 and 185 aircraft, and
ferried 5 of the 0-2's across the pacific....I also installed all the electronic
psyops gear in them....I am just now going through a lot of the photos.....
Chuck Phillips
Sept 2007
I am looking for a US jet fighter pilot who bailed out between (LS 32) and
(LS 36) in the later part of 1961 or early 62 (aprox). You were hung-up in the
canopy of a tall tree. A group of Hmong rescued you by fashioning a rope out of
vines. A Hmong climbed a parallel tree and anchored the canopy of your tree to
the jungle floor. The group proceeded to slowly chop your tree causing it to
lean against a cliff and extracted you. The leader of the group called General
Vang Pao at Padong and a helicopter was sent to retrieve you. This man is
interested in knowing your faith. Anyone with information please contact me.
ctj.ctj@comcast.net
Chong Jones
Sept 2007
Great site; enjoyed reminiscing about my SEA days, did work with Raven’s occasionally in PDJ. An outstanding classmate, Skip Jackson, gave his life while a Raven. He is still missed.
Rick Mugg
Dear Raven rep.
4 Sept 2007
I had a lot of friends with the Ravens in 72 and 73 in Vientiane. I lost contact with everyone when I left Laos in 73. I know a lot of friends did not make it home and they are missed by all. All I can say is Welcome Home and someday there will be a big reunion and we will be young again.
Robert “Bear” Perry
Project 404
Aug 2007
Interested in plight of the Hmong people. Especially refugees in Thailand, and their being sent back to Loas. Also the situation with VP.
Aug 2007
I was a child, and then an adolescent, during the Vietnam War. For many years, I wore a silver POW/MIA bracelet that said "Captain Samuel M. Deichelmann 9-6-68." I remembered him in my prayers every single night.
From sievers2711
Aug 2007
July 2007
After a several year absence from your web site, I was brought back in mind
and spirit by a visit to a similair geography in Costa Rica. Equipped with
several of the factual record books of your commitment, loyalty, and devotion to
the service of our country, and the Hmong, I couldn't help but be drawn back in
a big way. Again, my respect and sincere admiration to you all for your
commitment and loyalty to the cause. It continues to be one of my most
passionate sources of inspiration..."Thank you for your example."