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13 Jan 2010
My
Friends: I'm pissed. Take action as you see fit.
Today's SA Express-News had an article about a trip to Viet Nam sponsored by the
Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Fund. A well-written article. However, the last
paragraph had a quote by Peter Holt, CEO of the largest Caterpillar dealership
in the US & chairman, CEO, and owner of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, which owns
the 4-time
NBA champion
San Antonio Spurs, the
WNBA's
San Antonio Silver Stars, the
AHL's
San Antonio Rampage, and the
NBA Development League's
Austin Toros. (courtesy Wiki)
Here is Mr Holt's quote from the SA Express-News:
<<“We think about the suffering of John McCain in prison for seven years, but
what were we doing to their country? Bombing their babies.”>>
I
found this repulsive. Here is my letter to the editor of the SA-EN.
<<
Sir:
This morning, I scanned the front page of the Express-News & set it aside,
planning to read it in detail when I got home this evening. As a Viet Nam vet, I
was very interested in the journey back to Viet Nam that was featured on the
front page & sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Before I got back
to the paper, I had an email from a friend who directed my attention to the last
paragraph.
Before I read that, I had a lot of respect for Mr Peter Holt. He was an
accomplished businessman & the Spurs chairman. I found he was also a decorated
combat veteran. However, his remarks put him in a category lower than Jane
Fonda in my eyes. He should know better. Ms Fonda was a glory seeking immature
kid who didn't realize the stupidity of her actions & words. Mr Holt doesn’t
have that excuse.
In
my 526 combat missions and over 1,000 flying hours in the skies of North & South
Viet Nam and Laos, not once did I “bomb babies” as alleged by Mr Holt. I
directed thousands of airstrikes and not once did we “bomb babies.” Many
airstrikes, in fact, were to save the bacon of the ground troops like Sgt Holt &
his platoon. I lost 24 friends in South East Asia and none of them died
“bombing babies.”
Maybe he killed babies, but the rest of us didn’t. Maybe he succumbed to his
emotions & the propaganda of the North Viet Namese. In any case, he owes an
apology to all US Viet Nam veterans, especially the fliers who braved the
intense air defenses of North Viet Nam & Laos while carrying out the orders of
the Commander(s)-in-Chief during a very unpopular war.
Ed
Gunter
Viet Nam vet>>
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
Supporting the
"Secret War"
CIA Air Operations
in Laos, 1955-1974
FYI:
Subj: Fwd: VP to Thailand & Laos
http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/2416075.html
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Stephen Magagnini, 1 week, 5 days ago
Vang
Pao says he's returning to Laos
EX-GENERAL IS AIMING FOR RECONCILIATION
By
Stephen Magagnini
smagagnini@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 - 10:13 am
FRESNO – In a passionate 30-minute speech Tuesday night, Gen. Vang Pao said that
he plans to return to Laos after 35 years in virtual exile.
The general, who celebrates his 80th birthday this week, made the announcement
at a dinner for about 1,000 people, about a third of them from Sacramento, at
the Big Fresno Fairgrounds.
Vang
Pao said now is the time for reconciliation with Laos to liberate thousands of
Hmong trapped in the jungles and stuck in a Thai refugee camp.
"We have to make a change right now," Vang Pao said. "The government of Laos
has tried to open the door. We should put something on the table and sit down in
peace."
On
Jan. 10, Vang will take part in a reconciliation event at the Freedom Bridge
between Nong Khai, Thailand, and Vientiane, Laos, said one of his 18 sons,
44-year-old Chai Vang.
The news Tuesday night at the dinner to honor Vang Pao stunned many Hmong. The
U.S. government in September dropped charges against him for allegedly plotting
the violent overthrow of communist Laos. A dozen other defendants have pleaded
not guilty but still are facing charges of trying to overthrow the Laotian
government.
"Many Hmong people think he's crazy," said Atari Xiong, a Sacramento Hmong
producer for Crossing TV. "All the charges and legal issues here, and now he
goes back to Laos?"
Vang
Pao is the former leader of a CIA-sponsored guerrilla army of Hmong and Iu Mien
soldiers that fought Southeast Asian communists for 14 years.
An
American citizen, he is free to go to Laos and return to the United States.
Xiong
said the Hmong had been hearing that the general is going to Laos in January "on
an official trip because of the refugees in Thailand, and people fighting from
the jungle."
Chai
Vang said Tuesday that his father and his representatives are working through
the Thai and Lao governments to resolve these issues.
During his speech Tuesday night, Vang Pao urged his people "to forget about the
past so we can bring those back to live a normal life. Right now the government
of Laos thinks it's time to live together peacefully with equal rights and equal
opportunities."
Vang
Pao did not offer a timetable for the liberation of those in the jungle, but he
promised "that shall be coming soon, and I will be the one to be there. … I was
the one in the beginning, and I will be the one to finish it in the end. I'm not
going to give up. I will carry my people on my back no matter how heavy they
are.
"For those Hmong trapped in the jungle and the refugee camp, I will be the one
responsible for solving the problem."
It's unclear what Vang's return to Laos could mean for 4,600 Hmong refugees at
Hoi Nam Kao in north-central Thailand and an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 Hmong
reportedly still trapped in the jungles of Laos, where they've been running from
the communists since the Vietnam War.
Many in the jungles have reportedly been waiting for Vang Pao's return for
decades. If he were to ask them to lay down their muskets and come out of the
jungles, said Sacramento Hmong activist T.T. Vang, they might do so.
But
how they would be treated by Lao authorities is an open question. The Lao
government has accused the jungle Hmong of terrorist acts but denies human
rights violations against them. Amnesty International and other human rights
groups say the jungle Hmong have been tortured and killed.
"A
lot in the Hmong community are very concerned and very frustrated with his
plan," T.T. Vang said. "There's a lot of mistrust of communist Laos."
Thai and Lao officials want the Hmong refugees in Thailand returned to Laos, he
said.
"The point is, all Hmong are waiting for (Vang Pao) to return, and the enemies
know that (he) is the only one who will make the Hmong to stop the fight," T.T.
Vang said.
"The Hmong crisis will keep going unless V.P. says 'I've returned, I've come
back home.' "
Thousands of Hmong turned out for emotional rallies in Sacramento and St. Paul,
Minn., after the federal case against Vang Pao and his co-defendants was filed,
chanting "Free Vang Pao!" and calling for the United States to recognize the
Hmong for 14 years of service in the guerrilla forces Vang Pao once led. From
the early '60s to 1975, Vang's jungle army of Hmong and Iu Mien warriors helped
the United States wage war on Lao and Vietnamese communists.
"There's no doubt they took this case personally," his eldest son, Chao Vang,
told The Bee. "It woke up the Hmong people – a lot of people we never knew came
out to support us."
28 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
From: mactbkk@gmail.com
To: Edgunter@aol.com
Sent: 12/19/2009 6:28:20 A.M. Central Standard Time
Subj: Fwd: Book: A Peoples History of the Hmong by Paul Hillmer
Ed
It's a good one, I just received my copy.
Mac
There's a new book coming out shortly on the Hmong of Laos, should be a good
one. Paul Hillmer, the author, traveled to Thailand and to Laos to do on-site
interviews plus hundreds of interviews in the U.S. of a whole range of Hmong and
Americans. Good guy, we've sipped Singha on Sukumvit.
Attached is a copy of the dust jacket. Some folks will remember Her Chai there
on the cover, former SGU guy at Long Tieng and in Vientiane. Also a good guy,
now lives in Texas.
Pre-publication orders of the book may be made at Amazon, discounted price,
too: http://tinyurl.com/yze8krc
Paul is a professor of history at Concordia University's. He's also involved
with Concordia's "Center for Hmong Studies" ttp://www.csp.edu/hmongcenter/
Lee Pao Xiong, the director of the Center is also a friend, he's been to
Bangkok a couple of times and I just missed him in Vientiane this past July.
Anyway, take a look at Lee Pao's letter below and consider buying the book,
I'm going to.
Mac Thompson
Army, Korat, '64-'65; IVS & USAID/Laos, '66-'75; Thailand, Indochinese Refugee
Program, '75-'83; back to Thailand in '89, and retired in place 1992.
30 Oct
Ravens, go to the guestbook page for some new pictures of
L20A
22 Oct 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
21 Oct 2009
I ordered and just finished reading the book "Cash on
Delivery". The author was a junior case officer at Pakse from 1970 to 1972 - he
primarily ran the road watch teams and that is the major thrust of the book.
Little mention of the Ravens, other than in passing, until his chapter titled
"Raven 42 is down". His story jives with that in "The Ravens" book but is a
much more complete chronicle (and he references it also). The major players are
Dunc Duncan (42), Pepsi Ratts (41), and Jim Hix (44) and he is very
complimentary of them and the Ravens in general. He just happened to be on the
Air America H-34 that picked up Duncan and his backseater.
Not a spine tingler except for this chapter.
Jack Drummond
From:
info@rosebankpress.com
To:
laos@redpeach.net
Sent: 10/11/2009 11:31:42 A.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Tom Briggs - Publication Announcement
Please help me
out and forward this email to anyone you think might be interested in my book.
My book, “Cash on
Delivery: CIA Special Operations During the Secret War in Laos,” is now
available for sale in paperback format at www.rosebankpress.com.
A hardcover version can be pre-ordered and should be ready to ship about 25
October.
By the end of October, or the beginning of November, it will also be available
for sale from amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
There is more information about my book on the web site-
www.rosebankpress.com.
Here is a brief summary and also what the cover looks like.
If you have any questions or comments about the book you can ask me directly at
the email address:
info@rosebankpress.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash on Delivery: CIA Special Operations During the Secret War in Laos is a
detailed accounting of a CIA program directed by a CIA operations officer that
sent small teams of irregulars behind enemy lines in Laos to find, fix and
destroy North Vietnamese Army units, capture NVA soldiers or encourage them to
defect, intercept NVA radio communications, and recruit NVA soldiers to spy and
report on their comrades.
It is a unique contribution to the history of the Vietnam War describing useful
experiences using surrogates to conduct intelligence and combat operations that
have little or no adverse impact on the United States government’s relations
with the peoples and governments of other nations. An important lesson in the
post 9/11 world of countering terrorism all over the globe where we do not have
enough American troops to get the job done without political consequences.
The book also describes the daring and dangerous rescue of Raven 42, a U.S. Air
Force forward air controller shot down while supporting Lao irregular surrogate
forces fighting NVA main force units in Laos, attempts to infiltrate Cambodia to
collect intelligence on the North Vietnamese in early 1970, the effort to
uncover information about a missing Air America crewman captured in 1963, the
tragic fatal crash of an aircraft carrying four of the author’s best Thai
operational assistants, and the uncovering of a mole hidden in a Royal Lao
government military headquarters.
Learn in intimate detail, as has never before appeared in print, the planning
and execution of a variety of special operations, conceived and carried out
behind enemy lines by the CIA using only Lao irregular surrogates.
The CIA employed surrogates in southern Laos to force the North Vietnamese Army
to keep combat units there to defend their logistical supply line rather than
send them to fight U.S. and allied forces in South Vietnam. For the duration of
U.S. participation in the Vietnam War the CIA succeeded in that goal.
Read more at www.rosebankpress.com.=
5 Oct 2009
Last Saturday,
Terri and I drove to Pennsylvania to visit Yia Kha and his wife Bee (and other
Hmong friends/family). He was, I believe, Robin 03 at Long Tieng. He spoke
English far better than the others (except Yang Bee). He also had a lot of
courage and volunteered to fly with us when the others hid behind "Buddha say no
fly today". He went to Thailand and became a Chapakao. He spent a couple of
years in a camp in Thailand after the war then relocated to the area around
Lancaster, PA. He has 5 kids and even got his private pilot's license here in
the U.S. I always thought he was the best back seater I ever knew. I'll be
asking the guys to sign a book for him at the reunion. See you then.
Craig
Duehring
Sept 2009
Thanks, Larry--
Actually, here are 2 videos-- one with engine sounds, one without that Jack D
made up from videos he took up there. fantastic, I think. Thought I had
included them in my after-action report that's in the News, but guess I was a
little too quick getting that report out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h_pwJXQsc0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcXN6zhkRwQ
Cheers, my friends.
Ed
In
a message dated 9/8/2009 1:13:10 P.M. Central Daylight Time, L H RATTS writes:
You
would already have this video, I am sure. But I thought it interesting that the
last aircraft that could be identified flying at the end of the clip was a
T-28. You or Jack? Don't tell me if it wasn't. I like to see it that way.
Pepsi
m/watch?v=nKU0uQki5Dc
Sept 2009
FYI
From Out That Shadow:
The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe
September 8, 2009 - January 3, 2010
The Harry Ransom Center, a humanities research library and museum at The
University of Texas at Austin, is commemorating the 2009 bicentennial of Edgar
Allan Poe, American poet, critic and inventor of the detective story, with the
exhibition "From Out That Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe."
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/2009/poe/
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
Aug 2009
Dear Ravens and Friends
New Raven location just across the Mekong from Vientiane, Laos. My Tii rak and
I have set up camp in Nong Khai, Thailand to be close to some projects.. (Don't
ask.) Cannot make this Oct. re-union due to commitments in Laos that
weekend. Come visit. I didn't have a fish or a dead deer for a photo to make the
newsletter so this will have to do.
Mike Cavanaugh Raven 48
Princess Wan Co-pilot
4 Aug 2009
Dear Sir,
I
would like to send you a photo of Marlin Siegwalt - RAVEN 71 (and a photo of
Luang Prabang) taken at Luang Prabang in August 1968. I recently came across
them when I finally found my photos from my tour(s) with Det 1.
Mr
Siegwalt was one hell of a man and I greatly enjoyed working alongside (and
flying with him when possible). When I learned of his untimely death I was not
only stunned but deeply saddened.
Arming up (I was pretty skinny back then ... blasted mosquitos!)
Luang Prabang airfield from the back seat ...
NEVER MORE!!
STEVE HERBERTH, MSgt USAF (Ret)
2 Aug 2009
Gentlemen:
Jack & I just got back from some of the finest 4 days of my life. We were at
OSH, sponsored by the T-28 demonstration team, the Trojan Horsemen.
http://www.trojanhorsemen.com This is a super bunch of guys & they now love
the Ravens. If they are ever in your area, you have to see them.
We
got in on Tues evening & were taken to "T-28 Taco Night". They also had a few
beers and some great conversation for us. After that, they took us to our room
in the Hilton on the airfield.
Wednesday AM, they picked us up & took us to our presentation on the T-28 in
Combat. We shared the stage with some publicity hog named Bob Hoover. Lance
Borden was in the audience, as was one of my academy classmates. Here's how the
Newspaper covered it.
http://www.airventure.org/news/2009/090730_t28.html
I
didn't realize I was a retired Raven. But that's the media. They missed
a few other salient points that we made.
That afternoon, we had an autograph session. The highlight was when a Lao lady,
born in Xieng Kwang, moved to Vientiane, went to a refugee camp because her
brother was a T-28 pilot, came to the US in '80, came up to talk to us. She
almost cried when she saw the Arawan on my bracelet.
Thursday AM, we were scheduled for Raven flight-- unfortunately, Mother Nature
intervened and dumped water all over the area. So, our attache took us all over
the grounds in a golf cart.
We
found a Ravens Board in the Warbird Briefing room. In spite if it being about
16 feet off the floor, our hosts got the EAA Ex Dir to take it down so Jack & I
could add our names to those who had signed it in the past.
Ended up briefing for our 4-ship at 4:30 PM. We taxied out as a helicopter was
doing vertical maneuvers; took off right after the Heritage Flight of a
P-51 trailed by an F-86/A-10 flight. After a little T-28 formation fun, we
split up & got to do our own things. I picked Loops, rolls, Split-Ss, Immelmans,
Wifferdills, Cuban-8s. Couldn't talk my pilot into letting me do spins &
hammerheads.
Recognize Jack?
The
banquet that night was great. Jack gave some super words on the little guys &
the friends left behind.
They picked us up early Friday AM to get us back to MKE. Decompression
followed & we safely got back to Austin. (Actually, decompression is far from
complete for me. I am still on a high from the combination of OSH & the great
treatment the T-28 guys gave us.)
Raven funds expended: $0.
Autographed Raven books given away: 4.
Good will, spreading the Raven word & excellent experiences: Priceless.
Thanks, guys. We were proud to represent the Ravens.
Ed
2 more pictures courtesy of
Scott Boudreaux N8009g
Click on picture to see it full size
From:
KMani1T28dfp@aol.com
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:14:56 EDT
To: <ravenguestbook@yahoo.com>
Subject: RLAF Reunion in Fort Worth, Texas
Dear Ravens.
There will be RLAF Reunion at Fort Worth, Texas Oct. 3rd, 09.
More info at the link below, hope to see Ravens there, since you were the first
one to get up in the air and find the target.
Best Regards, Kham CPK Red.
http://rlaftexas.org/Reunion%20Info%20Flyer.pdf
http://rlaftexas.org/index.htm
