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Hello Raven FACs,
When I was a young girl, Sam was junior officer, assigned to fly with my Dad. Sam was a frequent guest in our home, and I carry his memory with me every day. He was lost on my 12th birthday, and I had dreamed that he was in danger. At the time, my dad was a (regular) FAC over the HCM Trail, and left his post to go look for Sam along the route where Sam last made radio contact.
I would like to hear from anyone who knew Sam.
Many thanks.
Margaret Griggs
Maggie Lynn Griggs [aspenlynn@earthlink.net]
Feb 2010
Ruth Koehn-Frakes
In memory of Major Wayne T. Abbey.
Today is the 15th anniversary of my Uncle Wayne’s death. I’m signing the guest book in his memory. I loved and respected him very much. A brave man. I also wanted to thank the other brave men he served with over the years. Thank you for our freedom!
~ Cheri Kalsey
Born April 18, 1934-
Died February 17, 1995
Uncle Wayne you were the bravest man I ever knew/
Rich Abbey
Westminster Colorado
16 Feb 2010
We lost a good one today. Jerry and I were together at Hurlburt and I replaced him as AOC at the alternate. One truly great guy. I'll sure miss that Christmas card....
Jesse Scott gardenfly@comcast.net
I had the privilege of serving with Norm at L54 in 1969-70. He took me on several missions and I took this picture from the back seat of a T-28 when we hit a target in northern Laos. He was a good pilot and a good friend. He will be missed.
Danny Spohn
Clyde, TX
Norm and I go back to pilot training and Lake Charles AFB, La. He was my best man at my wedding in 1957 and I will miss him terribly.
God rest his soul,
Colonel Tom Walker (USAF Ret)
602-622-2119
PS I flew the C-123 Provider for the year I was in Viet Nam with the 309th Air Commando Squadron.
Feb 2010
As a former member of a TACP in Vietnam, I want to thank you for the job you folks did in Laos. I know you folks suffered much more, both psychically and mentally, than most of us serving in Vietnam did. My time in II corp was like a picnic in the park compared to what you fellas went through.
I'm proud to say that I served under Fred Platt as a radio operator for a short time while he was a Walt fac in Ninh Thuan province in 68. I find the fact that he took a bear as a backseater when no Hmong would fly with him totally believable
Wayne McCarthy
I was at 20A in 1969. I'm wondering who's still around as we are getting older. I understand that Harold has passed.
Jerry Brothers [jcb@centurytel.net]
Jan 2010
Thank you for all the Ravens who gave unending courage and dedication to the cause. You did make a difference for Freedom.
Met Ed Gunter this past summer in Wisconsin. What a great guy. Thanks to all…………
Mr. Tracy.R.Enman
Senior Q.C., Welding , N.D.E.
C.G.S.B. Lev ll UT,MT,PT
(780) 468-6722 ext 195
(780) 466-4668 Fax
Jan 2010
Thought that you might be interested in this.
Doc Thomas, X-ray 01
From:
techconsultserv@juno.com [mailto:techconsultserv@juno.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 7:11 AM
To: shialary@msn.com
Subject: CIA Air Operations in Laos, 1955-1974
Thought this might be of interest
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/docs/v43i3a07p.htm
CIA
CIA Air Operations in Laos, 1955-1974
Dec 6, 2009
To all Ravens,
I just finished the book "The Ravens" for the second time and I still can't believe the heroism that was displayed on a daily basis! My uncle is Col. Thomas L. Shera who was also a Raven and was quoted in the book a few times.
He hasn't talked about his time in Laos much so I would greatly appreciate any information anyone may have concerning Uncle Tom and his time in Laos!
Uncle Tom also flew C-47's in SEA and I'm part of a group called Indiana Air Search And Rescue (IASAR) that is currently at the beginning stages of restoring a C-47! We have also just finished a 5 year restoration of a 1968 Huey that will be flying before the end of the year! As you can see, I am actively involved in the history of the veteran's that fought in SEA.
So again, if anyone has ANY information concerning Col. Thomas L. Shera ret. I would GREATLY appreciate hearing from you! If you're interested, feel free to visit our site showing pictures of our aircraft at http://iasar.org/.
Thank you all for your service!
Warmest Regards,
Brian T. Shera
email : Brian Shera [bshera@sbcglobal.net]
Director, Indiana Air Search And Rescue
317-605-0049
Nov 2009
Mary and I want to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving. I know we are late but what can you expect from senior citizens.
Tom and Mary Shera
Very very, interesting.
I held both Australian and Papua New Guinea chief pilot (Helicopter) approvals, cherish the memories of operations there (PNG) and EMS work here in Oz. Though I have never been a target of others.
No longer flying I now work with and have come to know a number of former Lao (T28) pilots who served in that conflict way back then and I respect them very much.
Your website gives a great insight of those who gave their all during yet another conflict.
Thank you again
Regards
David A Lawton
Sydney NSW Australia
0428 210 812
Never
"for the sake of peace and quiet" deny your own experience or convictions.
- Dag
Hammarskjold,
Statesman and Nobel
Peace Prize Winner
former Secretary General
United Nations 1953-1961
Oct 2009
Hello there ravens
I have just completed reading the book The Ravens, as others have commented in the guest book page absolutely amazing story. After reading the book I have nothing but the upmost respect and admiration for what you guys have done. I am currently working approximately 40km south of Long Tieng and was lucky enough to be able to go up there a couple of months ago for a look around (must be under military escort and special permit required), please find attached a few photos of modern day Long Tieng that I took that may bring back a few memories, see image 1221? Any how I must go plenty of work to do, but before I do go, I am not a church going man but if there is a God may he bless you all.
Respect & admiration
Craig Stewart
Senior Safety Supervisor
Mining Department
Phu Bia Mining Limited
Lao PDR
Mobile: (856) 20 2214032
Email: craig.stewart@panaust.com
5 Oct 2009
On the website first time. Great job. Jeff Haggas – 219th Headhunters , Pleiku 1970.
Dear Ravens,
I am just reading the Robbins book 'The Ravens' and I was glad to find your website. I am going to find time this Sunday to finish the book as it's brilliantly written and the stories are hair-raising. It's too good to read on the bus: I miss my stop if I do.
The stories so far that have really extra intrigued me were about the Meo pilot, Ly Lu. This man's life should be a movie. There are lots of Vietnam War movies, can't think of one about Laos, and I can't think of any with an Asian warrior at its heart, surrounded by all these unbelievable Americans....
Maybe I'm the one to write it. I couldn't do it without help, though and I would love to know more about the Ravens anyway, script or not, and especially, I would love to hear memories of Ly Lu. I find nothing on the net. I suppose the communist government of Laos would be unlikely to celebrate him.
Incidentally, I live in Hong Kong and I went to Laos for my summer holiday this year, which is where I got the book, and I wish I'd got it before and that I'd bought 'AirAmerica' too. I'll get it somewhere. If I'd read 'The Ravens' beforehand, I'd have made sure to head up to the PDJ as I could've seen far more than a lot of old jars. Next time, I will, as soon as AirAsia does direct flights.
I adored Laos and the Hmong people are outstanding in every way. We crashed our car in the mountains and everyone who came by stopped, spending two hours getting it on the road again, acting very cheerful all the time. They wouldn't even accept our thanks.
So please, do any of you have any personal memories of Ly Lu that you would like to share with me? I think there is a picture of him on the gallery, it looks like one in the book. Did Ly Lu have family other than his cousin the general? Does anyone know what became of them?
Thanks, if you can help. If you go to Laos again, be sure to go tubing at Vang Vieng. Very fun.
Fiona Beswick [figale@netvigator.com]
Sept 2009
Gentlemen: I
am a USAF Vietnam Vet (1968-69, 126 missions on EC-47) and am researching a new
book. One of the characters is a FAC pilot and I always try to make sure my
fellow vets get presented in the best light with the most accurate facts. I
would like to ask one of your pilots to contact me via email and that I would
like to get some information from him on the day to day operatiions, i.e.,
sounds, smells, etc. The scene for this particular character takes place over
the A shau valley in 1969....I would really appreciate any help you guys could
give me. Our website is ec-47 and our unit was the 6994th....Thank you for your
time and consideration.
Danny Johnson
3740 Hermine ST
Durham, NC 27705
PH— 919-949-3519
Email: wordsofmine01@gmail.com
From:
Fred Gilligan [mailto:fgillig@comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 4:00 PM
To: ravenguestbook@yahoo.com
Subject: J. Fred Guffin
Just checking in to see how J. Fred is doing.
Fred Gilligan