From:
lew
To: Edgunter
Sent: 6/3/2009 3:41:51 P.M. Central Daylight Time
Had something come up on Saturday. You remember Tony Soderstrom, the Swedish Sea Captain. He came to the reunion with me last year. He still talks about the great time he had. Saturday, he was crop dusting cotton for boll weevils near San Marcos. They were doing a hot refueling and had an accidental fuel spill on the hot engine. Tony was in the pilot seat and was badly burned. He has third degree burns on 12% his body and second degree burns on 26%. He had his first surgery for skin grafts on Tuesday, 2 Jun. He is doing well according to the nursing staff, but has been heavily drugged since I got down here on Monday. As you all know, this will be a very long, very painful recovery. He is very fortunate in that he is in the Brooke Army Medical Center Burns Unit. For my money, they are the best burn care in the world and are doing a great job for him, even though he’s a civilian (and a Swede at that). Anyone who is interested can see a web site that we update a couple of times a day about Tony and his condition. The site is caringbridge.com/visit/tonysoderstrom . It will ask you to sign in (to reduce the nutballs and “bots”) but all you have to give is name and email. These sites were originally set up for the families of wounded warriors and are a great idea. They really take a load off the next of kin. It will be some time before he can have visitors but you can leave well wishes at the web site. We will let everyone know via the web site when he is able to have visitors.
May 2009
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by Sarah Parke National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
5/13/2009 - DAYTON, Ohio -- Career intelligence officer and author Dr. Timothy N. Castle will present "Reflections on Heroism at Lima Site 85" during a special appearance at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on May 27 at 7:30 p.m. Castle has wide-ranging experience and expertise in U.S. foreign policy, special operations and Asia, including two wartime tours in Southeast Asia. While serving as an enlisted man in Nakhon Phanom Air Base he participated in 38 combat support missions with the 21st Special Operations Squadron and received the Airman's Medal for heroism in the rescue of a crashed and injured pilot. More recently Castle joined the CIA's Center for the Study of Intelligence (CSI) in August 2006 following a tour with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) where he established and directed the Intelligence Community Lessons Learned Center. Before his service with the ODNI, Castle was Professor of National Security Affairs, Director, Security, Strategy and Forces, at the U.S. Naval War College and has also held many other government responsibilities. He currently directs CIA efforts to develop lessons learned on counterterrorism and military programs and has been a frequent traveler to the warzone. During his lecture Castle will discuss the findings contained in his book One Day Too Long: Top Secret Site 85 and the Bombing of North Vietnam, which was selected by the Air Force Chief of Staff for the 2009 Reading List. On March 11, 1968, the U.S. Air Force suffered the greatest single ground combat loss of the entire Vietnam War. Twelve USAF technicians--assigned to a top secret program called Project Heavy Green--were killed or went missing in a devastating North Vietnamese assault on a remote Laotian mountaintop. Castle will explain the Heavy Green radar program, the bizarre January 1968 communist air attack on Site 85 and the final commando assault in March 1968. He will also detail the final hours of Site 85, including the heroic actions of CIA officers, Air America and Jolly Green rescuers and the extraordinary bravery and selflessness of Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger. Etchberger, posthumously honored in December 1968 with the Air Force Cross, is now being considered for the Congressional Medal of Honor. For further information, please visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news&events/lectures/castle.asp. This lecture, held in the Carney Auditorium, is part of the museum's "Wings & Things" Guest Lecture Series. For more information or special seating arrangements, contact the museum's Special Events Division at (937) 255-1743. Filming or videotaping the lecture is prohibited. The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located off Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day). NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, contact the National Museum of the United States Air Force at (937) 255-1743. NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, contact Sarah Parke with the National Museum of the United States Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1376.
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May 2009
Research Requests
Seeking American case officers or pilots who were involved in any way with Kong
My (PS-7) in the southern Lao province of Attopeu. I am interested in all
periods from the early 1960s until 1973. I am writing an article about the
history of Kong My and I am also working on a book about the Lave/Brao people
who lived there as well as in other parts of southern Laos and northeastern
Cambodia. I am interested in talking with anyone who visited Kong My, even if it
was only for a short time, or has knowledge of the area. I am also interested in
contacting any case officers who had contact with Brao/Lave people in southern
Laos or northeastern Cambodia more generally.
Members who have information about the above, please contact Dr. Ian Baird,
ianbaird@shaw.ca
Seeking intelligence officials who were in southern Laos and northeastern
Thailand during 1960-75: This is a research request for information about how to
contact American officials who were stationed in Pakse and Ubon during 1960-75.
I am involved in a project researching the development of inter-party relations
between revolutionary groups located along the Lao-Cambodian frontier. I am
seeking information on how Royal Lao Army units (both regular and paramilitary
in nature) stationed in frontier districts adjacent to Communist controlled
areas in Cambodia dealt with civilian and military refugees. In addition, I
would like to contact intelligence officers who were involved in work with
Pathet Lao, Khmer Rouge and Thai Communist Party defectors. The researcher,
Martin Rathie, is an Australian scholar based in Vientiane who has been studying
Lao history since the early 1990s. He is the co- author of the 3rd edition of
the Historical Dictionary of Laos, published by Scarecrow Press.
Please contact the researcher at <martin_rathie@yahoo.com
May 2009
jlbloomberg@aim.com writes:
One of the T-28's that Chip operates 53-138287 came into their organization with
a complete set of AFTO-781's that showed it having early 70's service with
MACTHAI in the Khmer province. Chip and his troops are interested in finding
out if there is any information in Raven archives that can confirm if this
aircraft was ever operated by the Ravens.
If there is a possiblity that this aircraft was a Raven. They are very
interested in bringing this aircraft to a Raven reunion and reuniting Ravens who
might flown this aircraft in SEA. Any assistance or direction that you can
provide on this project would be greatly appreciated
MAY 2009
To: Edgunter
Sent: 5/16/2009 6:03:29 P.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Thank You
Dear Mr. Ed Gunter,
I would like to thank you and the Scholarship Committee for selecting me for the
Paul Merrick Memorial Scholarship. I am extremely grateful and this scholarship
will be a huge help financially as I attend UW-Madison next fall. Thank you
once again for this opportunity and gift.
Thank You,
Shifee Vang
18 MAY 2009
From: palazzonancy@yahoo.com
To: Edgunter@aol.com
CC: bommyoga@yahoo.com
Sent: 5/11/2009 6:03:02 P.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: dave's scholarship
|
To all Ravens, |
April 28 2009
Hello Ravens,
Please click on the link http://www.t28trojanfoundation.com/index.html to view my new website and see the progress of my project, the T28 documentary "Tribute to the T28 - The Tour of Duty Continutes" and other T28 news, history and T28 people and planes flying today.
I look forward to hearing from you. I thank Norm Crocker for allowing me to use some of his photo's and reference his webpage.
Sincerely,
Helen Murphy
Captain Gomer David Reese MIA Funeral photos courtesy of Bob Green, FAC ASSN VP
17 March 2009 from H. Ownby
Received a call from Bridget
late last night. Pete Larson had a heart attack yesterday, was taken to the
hospital, and did not revive.
She is working on funeral arrangements this morning. I will get back to you
with information as it is available.
H.
Ownby
Here is the info on Pete.
The family would love to receive emailed photos of Pete, which could be used by
the Funeral Home during the services. To accomplish this, have any Ravens send
them to me,
hkownby@aol.com and I will forward them to the correct email address.
Daughter:
Bridget A. Larson
34 Rotherdale Road
Brewer, Maine 04412
Tel. 207-989-2317
Pager- 207-818-2825
email
balarson55@msn.com
Son:
Patrick C. Larson
42 Glencove Ave.
Bangor , Maine 04401
Tel. 207- 947-2010
Visitation Thursday 4-7 pm
Funeral Friday 11 am
Undertaker:
Kiley & Foley Funeral Service
69 State St.
Brewer
207-989-3311
Obituary:
| Peter C. "Grandfather Pete" Larson | ||
 BANGOR
and AURORA - Peter Charles Larson died peacefully March 15, 2009, in Bangor.
Peter was born Sept. 29, 1921, in Elizabeth, N.J., the son of Hans Peter
Larson and Alma (Cross) Larson. As a young man, Peter developed a great love
for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Beginning at an early
age, Peter assisted his father raising hunting and show dogs. One of these
dogs was an Irish setter named Cloudburst Red, who was the world's first AKC
Field and Show double champion. Peter was very proud of this family
accomplishment. Peter also trapped muskrat, mink and raccoon throughout New
Jersey. In 1943, he headed to Maine in search of more trapping opportunities
and found them in the Aurora area. In 1953, he purchased The Birches,
hunting and fishing camps in Aurora. He and his two brothers, Arthur and
Robert, guided sportsmen in the Aurora area until the mid-60s. Peter was
also the first tri-county deputy sheriff in the state of Maine when he
served in Penobscot, Hancock and Washington counties and was responsible for
patrolling the Airline Road from Brewer to Calais for more than 25 years.
Peter was the driving force in establishing the Aurora Volunteer Fire
Department in 1975 and was a member for more than 25 years. In addition to
these activities, Peter was an electrician, a master oil burner man and
managed several Christmas tree farms. He was also a very gifted wood worker,
making furniture and woodcarvings in his spare time. Peter enjoyed fixing
anything in need of repair and frequently helped family, friends and
neighbors. In his later years, he spent his spare time doing special
projects with his two beautiful grandchildren, Sarah and Erin, who he loved
and cared for very much. Since the passing of his wife, his love of nature
and art lead him to a very special relationship with the Penobscot Nation.
He was adopted by Arnie Neptune and cherished the relationships that
occurred as a result of Arnie's friendship. Peter was loved and will be
dearly missed by survivors including his daughter, Bridget A. Larson; son,
Patrick C. Larson and his wife, Laurie and granddaughters, Sarah Elizabeth
and Erin Patricia; brother, Robert A. Larson; sister-in-law, Louise Larson;
brother-in-law, Lee Sirabella; nieces, Laurie Sirabella, Julie Whitney,
Robin Clarke and Krissy Larson; nephews, Noel and David Sirabella, Charlie
and David McLuskey, and Arthur Larson; many other close friends and extended
family members. He was predeceased by his parents; his beloved wife, Helen
"Pat" Larson; his sister, Jane McLuskey; his brother, Arthur Larson;
sister-in-law, Stella Sirabella; and his Yorkshire terrier, Buster. Family
and friends may visit 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Kiley & Foley Funeral
Service, 69 State St., Brewer. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday,
March 20, at Amherst-Aurora Congregational Church, UCC. Interment will be in
the spring at Aurora Cemetery. Peter's family invites you to join them after
the service for a time of fellowship and refreshments at Osborn Community
Center. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made
to Amherst Church, care of E. Martin, P.O. Box 25, Aurora, ME 04408 or
Aurora Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 33, Aurora, ME 04408. Condolences
may be offered at
www.kileyandfoley.com. |
||
Funeral:
Amhearst Aurora United Church of Christ
Amhearst ME 04408
Louise Larson - Church Officer (Pete's Sister In Law)
Wrk 207-584-5672 (Aurora, ME, Post Office)
Hme 207-584-3611
March 2009
Brings back memories ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvNQJ4Ibnms
March 2009
The Central Intelligence Agency and the University of Texas at Dallas present a joint symposium to be held from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on 18 April 2009, at the University of Texas at Dallas. This symposium is the culmination of a decade-long effort to declassify and publicly release thousands of formerly classified documents. To highlight the document release, the symposium, for the first time ever, will provide scholarly discussion on Air America’s rescue efforts based on original source documents. The symposium will reunite downed U.S. pilots, Air Force, and CIA survivors from Lima Site 85 with the airmen who rescued them, and feature a panel of pilots and government officials who were intimately involved in the evacuation of Da Nang and Saigon in the final months and days of the Vietnam War. The symposium, together with the declassified documents, will uniquely highlight Air America's invaluable contributions to the rescue and recovery of Americans during the Vietnam War.
Interested Ravens, contact Craig Duehring or me for registration details.
Ed Gunter>>
11 March more info
Attached you will find information about our up-coming symposium. Seating is limited so there is a link to a registration page. Can you post this on your web page or get it out to your members?
Thanks, Air America Symposium Overview (2).doc
Paul A. Oelkrug, C. A.
Coordinator for Special Collections
McDermott Library
The University of Texas at Dallas
Phone: (972) 883-2553
Fax: (972) 883-4590
27 Feb 2009
I was recently contacted by a man whose Dad was probably in Laos. He is very interested in learning more about his Dad, especially this once secret tour. I contacted a couple of guys I thought might have known him, but had no luck, so I am passing this on to Lloyd for the News page to see if anyone can help.
The father was Clinton Smith, he was a “flight line mechanic,” and would have been in country in ‘71-72. He was quite probably at the VTN AOC, and maybe other sites.
Here’s a picture the son scanned & sent me.
If you can help this gentleman learn more about his father, please e-mail me & I’ll get you in touch.
Thanks,
Ed,
Raven President.
In a message dated 2/25/2009 12:17:46 P.M. Central Standard Time, cvaus@cox.net writes:
Hi Ed,
I'm following up with a few more details regarding the documentary and future airings. Please forward this to anyone who might be interested, as we seek a sponsor.
Many thanks!!
The half-hour documentary, A Father's Return, was recently accepted for distribution to hundreds of public television stations around the country by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA). The planned air date is Memorial Day.
Now, we're seeking an individual, company or organization that would like to attach its name to this project as a powerful way to salute our veterans and armed forces.
The sponsorship amount is only $10,000 (to help cover production costs and distribution)
Sponsor Benefits:
• Program Credits could include the sponsor's name, location and business purpose. An established corporate slogan may also be used.
• The sponsor credits would be 15 seconds in length at both the beginning and end of the half-hour program.
* The sponsor may benefit from ongoing airings. Public television stations have the option to broadcast the documentary over a 2 year perio
Documentary Description:
A Father’s Return is a tribute to our service members, through the story of one who gave his life. Major John Carroll was a U.S. Air Force pilot in the Vietnam War. He was shot down and killed on a covert mission over Laos, flying as a Raven in 1972. Numerous attempts to recover his body failed and his family had to accept that he would never come home.
As the story unfolds, we see how the US military goes to extraordinary lengths to find soldiers lost in foreign wars. A military search team tried again and recovered Major Carroll's remains--35 years after his death. We’re there when he’s returned home for burial with full military honors. And through the words and tears of his daughter and mother we share in their sadness, their pride and the joy of finally getting closure.
The Distributor:
The National Educational Telecommunications Association is a professional association that serves public television licensees and educational entities in all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. NETA enriches public television by delivering high quality, one-of-a-kind documentaries to every public t-v station in the country.
The Producer:
Corrie Vaus has won 14 Emmy Awards and 9 Golden Mike Awards for her work in television. She works as a reporter in San Diego, CA.
Feb 18, 2009
Donations
At the last reunion, some one suggested that we post the charities we contribute to on our web site. Recently, the ExCom wanted to contribute to a charity working with our troops.
Over the last couple of months, I've done some research into organizations providing support to our current generation of wounded warriors. Needless to say, there are many of them. I have found two that I feel are especially deserving of our donations. And, truth of the matter, there are many others out there.
First is the TEENS-IN-FLIGHT organization. ( http://www.teens-in-flight.com/ )
Executive summary: They provide flight/maintenance training to the teenage children of veterans killed or disabled in the GWOT. The program has started in Florida and is working to set up programs in Texas (Fort Hood area) and Colorado (Fort Carson area). Here's what the CEO said about fund-raising expenses: "I would estimate that 30-40% of my personal income augments this program. Nobody in our organization receives a salary. All funds raised is spent on the kids."
Next is OPERATION COMFORT. (http://www.operationcomfort.org/index.html ) Provides support to service members wounded in Iraq/Afghanistan and receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center. They get the troops involved in a variety of other activities such as ice hockey, skiing, rafting, surfing, biking, auto repair, etc. They also provide assistance loans to help the guys/gals out during the transition from AD to VA. They have just partnered with the U of Phoenix to award 5 x 4-year scholarships to severely injured veterans. According to the CEO, fund raising expenses are about 12%. Well within my limits.
I feel comfortable recommending either of these to fellow Ravens.
Ed Gunter,
Raven President
Feb 6, 2009
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Feb 6, 2009 Dear Ravens, I am starting to film a documentary on the T28 - anyone from your group that would like to share your story or has photos/film from that era - please contact me: Helen Murphy email: skymd80@yahoo.com |