THESE AREN'T CUSTER'S CALVARYMEN

Several hundred Vietnam War enthusiasts will converge on Grandover Resort June 1, 2016.  From Michigan to Atlanta, from Texas to New Bern, North Carolina, they’re coming to hear Joe Galloway talk about the Battle of la Drang and his best-selling book, We Were Soldiers Once…And Young.  

GRANDOVER RESORT -- GREENSBORO, NC

This talk is the West Point Society Piedmont’s idea of celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.  The luncheon meeting is by reservation only -- details and registration available at https://secure.west-point.org/wps-piedmont/luncheon/.

The November, 1965 Battle of la Drang was the first major battle of the Vietnam War.  Joe Galloway was the only war correspondent on the ground during the battle.  For his bravery in rescuing wounded soldiers under fire, the Army awarded him a bronze star.

Of Galloway, a Vietnam veteran wrote, “Joe has been one of the few from the media who has been kind to us – he is a wonderful spokesman for our involvement.” 

Several members of the 1^st Battalion, 7^th Cavalry, 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), including Medal of Honor recipient, Joe Marm have registered to attend.

While the North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and North Carolina Chapter of the 1^st Cavalry Division Association will turn out in force to join their Air Cavalry peers, they will not lunch alone – Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard veterans – many who served in Vietnam – will join them. 

Officers from second lieutenants to generals will be on hand.  At least one command sergeant major will attend.  Probably, more than one private will show up.  While rank will have no privileges at this gathering – peace and decorum will not be a problem -- the group’s DNA is built around military courtesy.

One command sergeant major will be noticeable by his absence – CSM Basil L. Plumley.  The veteran of three wars and iconic senior enlisted leader during the Battle of la Drang died in 2012 at the age of 92.  Galloway will see to it that Plumley’s legacy is not forgotten.

It should also be noted that a huge number who did not serve militarily will be on hand to share the moment, including spouses, parents, children, grandchildren, friends, and some who just want to give Vietnam veterans the “Welcome Home,” they deserve.

“Grandchildren” was not a typo – “Thanks for opening this up to the public, this allows my husband and me to share my grandfather’s heritage – he served in Vietnam as an Air Force electronics warfare officer, wrote a respondent.” 

Given the Air Cavalry’s war-fighting technique, a litany of interesting military occupational specialties have surfaced among the registrants, including helicopter pilot, door gunner, flight engineer, mechanic and crew chief.

A Navy SEAL veteran of Vietnam and his wife, whose son is currently serving as a SEAL, a Riverine Boat Captain, a Naval Advisor, and an engineman will be among those representing the Navy.

Air Force-wise, there will be the Greensboro reservist whose crew flew to Hanoi in 1994 to repatriate the remains of two servicemen back to the U.S.

Among the Marines on hand will be three brothers – two served in Vietnam, the third is a MGySgt USMC (Ret.).  Also noticeable are over a dozen registrants from the Greensboro Marine Corps League – including veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and the Gulf Wars.

A Gold Star Wife has registered, as has a 94-year old purple heart, bronze star recipient from World War II.  Several highly decorated Special Forces and Army Ranger veterans will be on hand.

The Human Resources Director of one of the largest Triad manufacturers, and possibly the largest employer of veterans wrote, “My Battalion Commander considered We Were Soldiers Once required reading.  I’ve read it more than once, seen the movie, and followed Mr. Galloway and General Moore throughout their careers – I will be at the luncheon, as will a large number of my employees.”

Not that they would want it mentioned, but the West Point Society will be the majority block at the luncheon – as it should be.  They’ve done the heavy lifting to make this a signature event, both for the Triad and for 50^th Anniversary observances.

The West Point Society Piedmont consists of West Point graduates, their spouses, families, and a broad cross section of the community -- meetings are open to the public.  The organization supports the U.S. Military Academy and members of the Armed Forces. 

Three West Pointers are shown in the photograph above.  Among numerous personal decorations, Dr. Mike Brennan, Colonel USA (Ret.), and Ted Crichton, Brigadier General USAF (Ret.) hold distinguished service medals.  Bill Trivette, Lieutenant Colonel, USA (Ret.) is President of the West Point Society of the Piedmont. 

Registration will close on Friday, May 27, 2016, or sooner if all seats are sold.  Current information is available at https://secure.west-point.org/wps-piedmont/luncheon/.

MORE ON BATTLE THAT CHANGED THE WAR IN VIETNAM

Have you heard about the Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient from Western Pennsylvania who was captured while working in the Pentagon and held captive for decades in a rural hamlet in Eastern North Carolina?

That would be Colonel Joe Marm, U.S. Army (Ret.).  He shared his story with me recently, “My date for a 1986 military ball in Washington was a farmer’s daughter from Fremont, NC.  By day, she was a caseworker for Senator Jesse Helms.”

Basically, that’s how the capture began.  In 1987, Marm and Deborah Yelverton were married.  In 1995, he retired with 30 years military service.  The family moved to Fremont, NC where they became involved with Deborah’s family hog farm business, Yelverton Farms.

Now, for the Medal of Honor part – not as Pollyannaish as the capture.

His 1964 diploma and degree in finance from Duquesne University was just five days old when Joe Marm realized he might be drafted into the Army versus starting his march towards Wall Street.  “I went to Army Officer Candidate School via the college option program, graduating in April, 1965.  After completing Ranger School, I was ordered to Fort Benning – rumors were, that was a sure ticket to Vietnam.”

The rumors were correct – by November 14, 1965, 2^nd Lieutenant Joe Marm and his Alpha Company, 1^st Battalion, 7^th Cavalry Regiment, 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) were engaged in the first major battle of the Vietnam War – the Battle of la Drang Valley.

As a note, this battle was well chronicled in WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE…AND YOUNG, the best-selling book written by COL Hal Moore and war correspondent, Joe Galloway – more on this later.

Marm picks up the story, “It was pretty quiet when we were inserted, but it heated up very quickly.  One of our platoons was facing annihilation as they were cut off and surrounded by enemy troops.  My platoon’s rescue attempt of the trapped men stalled in the face of heavy resistance from a bunker filled with North Vietnam regulars – we started taking heavy casualties.”

Excerpts from after-action reports tell more of that story than would Marm, “Showing indomitable courage and facing enemy forces estimated at regimental size, 2^nd LT Joe Marm ordered the bunker hand-grenaded.  When that failed to destroy the bunker, he personally fired an anti-tank missile at the bunker.  When that failed, he made a 30-meter dash through open enemy fire and dropped a hand grenade into the bunker.  That worked well, and Marm eliminated survivors of the bunker with his M-16.”

Congress was even more succinct when wording Marm’s Medal of Honor citation, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in la Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam on November 14, 1965.”

COLONEL JOE MARM, US ARMY (RET.)
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT

Marm fills in a missing point, “During the assault, I was hit in my left jaw.  The bullet exited through my right jaw, it certainly ruined my day!  By the grace of God, it missed my juggler vein by an inch or two.  I was airlifted out and hospitalized for 90 days in the States.”

His Medal of Honor was presented by Secretary of the Army, Stanley R. Resor, on December 19, 1966.  “I don’t know if President Lyndon Johnson was in town that day or not -- if so, he was keeping a low profile in regards to Vietnam.” 

At his request, and after signing multiple waivers, then Captain Marm returned for a one-year combat tour in Vietnam in 1969, during which he commanded an infantry company in the field.

During his Army career, Marm completed the Infantry Officers Advanced Course, Armed Forces Staff College, and earned a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Georgia.  He also served as a Ranger School instructor and taught at West Point.  He retired as a colonel.

    

As of 2016, the Marms have four children and eight grands.  Two of their sons are in the Army.  Deborah Marm serves on the staff of both U.S. Congressmen Walter Jones and George Holding.

Per Joe Marm, now 74, “Deborah is a good Methodist and I am a good Catholic – we also enjoy going to each other’s churches.”

From his travel schedule, it is obvious there are many demands on a Medal of Honor recipient – such as the several hours he generously shared with Bill Trivette, of the West Point Society, and me. “It could take all my hours, but I am honored to wear the medal – I am just a caretaker of the medal for thousands of others who served, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.”

JOE MARM PATIENT, KIND AND ENDURING TO WOULD-BE WRITERS

Don’t miss this part – Joe Galloway will be speaking at a luncheon engagement sponsored by the West Point Society on June 1, 2016 at Grandover Resort – Medal of Honor recipient Joe Marm will be in attendance as well. 

 BEAUTIFUL HOME OF DEBORAH & JOE MARM
IN TREMONT, NORTH CAROLINA

Until seating capacity is breached, reservations may be made at https://secure.west-point.org/wps-piedmont/luncheon/.

Contact Harry Thetford at htthetford@aol.com

THE GERMANS JUST THOUGHT THE WAR WAS OVER FOR PAUL DALLAS

Fayetteville's Paul Dallas was sharply dressed in his American Ex-Prisoner of War blazer when we first met in a Greensboro restaurant.  Hesitant to stare at his impressive array of medals, I suggested he must have held every AXPOW position, “Yes, I have – local, state and national,” came his straightforward reply.

PAUL DALLAS HAS SERVED IN EVERY AXPOW LEADERSHIP POSITION

Due to time restraints, we parted with my encouragement that he write a book about his experiences.  He had a straightforward reply for that too, “Nobody would want to read about me!”

Several weeks later, he called from his home in Fayetteville, “You suggested I write a book.  Well, I’ve started it three times, only to lose everything in computer crashes – would you help me?”

It was my straightforward answer this time, “You bet!”

The Dallas farm in East Central Mississippi had 60 acres under cultivation when the 1943 draft notice came for Paul Dallas, the oldest son and primary farm hand.  “My father begged for a deferment until the crops were laid by.  One day I hauled the last wagon-load of corn to the barn, the next day I reported to Camp Shelby.”

Dallas had never ridden a train or been out of the state of Mississippi.  A troop train ride to the Port of Debarkation at Newport News, Virginia filled in both blanks.  “Traveling through the Carolinas, I told my buddies we couldn’t grow collards or turnips in Mississippi like we kept seeing along the way.  Quietly, someone explained to me we were seeing something new to me -- tobacco!” 

MISSISSIPPI FARM BOY ADDRESSED SENATORS &
CONGRESSMEN ABOUT VETERANS ISSUES

His first boat ride got Dallas to Italy just in time to leave for the Invasion of Southern France in August, 1944.  The day after Thanksgiving, his infantry company was over-run by German tanks, Dallas was captured.

Several POW camps later, bookending an inhumane six days and nights locked in a rail-car without food or water, Dallas was among 40 prisoners sent to the forced labor camp at Runddorf – in Eastern Germany, near the borders of Poland and Czechoslovakia.

“We worked seven days a week cutting ice blocks from frozen ponds, cleaning out sewage ditches, and digging tank traps for the rapidly approaching Russian Army.  The German guards knew they would be shot on sight when the Russians arrived, so the 32 surviving POWs and the seven German guards all left the camp, walking in the direction of Allied Forces.

Days later, we were intercepted by the Russians.  They machine-gunned the guards and marched us towards Russia – to Siberia, we surmised.”

After two weeks of walking eastward, the group reached Sagan, Poland and Luft III, where they were deloused, examined, and treated by Russian doctors.  Finally, the POWs were placed on trucks and sent back towards American lines – on the way, they learned they had missed V-E Day.

“It was a long hard struggle, but I never lost my faith – in God that His strength was sufficient, in the Army that they would eventually rescue me, and in my family that they were praying for me. 

For sure, I was one happy guy to reach Le Havre, France and see ships at the dock ready to carry us home!  POWs received priority passage, so all I needed was a quick OK by a doctor,” exclaimed Dallas.

The OK was not forthcoming.  He passed out when leaving the doctor’s tent.  Five weeks later he woke up from a coma, only to lapse a few hours later into a second coma, this time for two weeks.  “I peeked at my chart while being stretchered onto a hospital ship.  I had spinal meningitis, double pneumonia and hepatitis – conflicted by other medical issues and malnutrition.”  

Dallas was treated in Army hospitals in New York, Georgia and Florida before receiving a medical discharge in 1946.  Over the summers before graduating from Mississippi State University, Dallas sold Bibles in North Carolina, whereupon he made the decision to call North Carolina home.

Although Dallas kept his WW II and POW experiences private and unmentioned for 40 years, his advocacies and involvement for the past 30 years are legendary.  He has, indeed, held every AXPOW office.  He has addressed both Senate and Congressional Committee regarding veterans affairs.   He and his wife have served as National Services Officers and assisted veterans all over the country.

DORIS & PAUL DALLAS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR
VETERANS ACROSS AMERICA

He worked several years for the Public Works Commission of the City of Fayetteville and later retired as District Manager of the Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation in Red Springs, NC.

DALLAS TOOK VETERANS ISSUES TO THE TOP!

Dallas, now 91, married Doris Cole Temple in 1974, they are of the Methodist faith.  Their combined families include five children, six grands, and seven great-grands.

Harry Thetford is a retired Sears Store Manager who enjoys writing about veterans.  Contact him at htthetford@aol.com

     

PARRIS ISLAND PRIMER

Reading and writing about the Marine Corps is a passion for me.  Without argument, my brother joining the Marine Corps when I was six years old had lots to do with that passion.

PLATOON 76 EXCELLED ON THE RIFLE RANGE -- MANY OF US
BECAME RIFLE COACHES AT QUANTICO, INSTRUCTING MARINE
CORPS OFFICERS HOW TO FIRE THE M-1, BAR & COLT 45

I can’t say that I learned to read by reading about the Marine Corps, but reading about the Marine Corps was a top priority after I did learn to read.

Without argument, I learned a lot about writing by writing about the Marine Corps.  There should be an adage -- you learn to write best by writing from your heart. 

Even though I’ve come close to heart-writing on articles over the years pertaining to Memorial Days, Veterans Days and Marine Corps Birthdays, I’ve never really, really written about the Marine Corps experience from the depth of my heart.

Until now.

That hesitancy has to do with advice given me by a pastor-friend of years past, “Life comes down to three major choices – your vocation, your partner for life, and alignment for your after-life.”

He was as wise as indicated by the stream of initials that trailed his name.  However, either from a sheltered background or academic naiveté, he failed to account for guys at my juncture, who were incapable of making such heady choices.

While family and a covey of earlier pastors helped me along with my after-life alignment, only the Marine Corps could have conditioned me to make sound choices in the areas of choosing a vocation and a partner for life.

Good grades came easy for me, even though I goofed off in high school and my first two years of college.  Parris Island was pre-destined to be my first real test.

I suspect a good number of family and friends seriously doubted I had the heart to make it through boot camp, a premise strongly articulated by my drill instructor, just after passing the point of no return (Yemassee, SC).

To that point, the piece of gum I swallowed after the DI expressed his strong disfavor, was the last piece of gum that ever entered my mouth. 

Records say I reported to Parris Island July 7, 1955 and departed September 23, 1955, seventy-seven days inclusively. 

GRADUATION DAY @ PARRIS ISLAND, SEPT1955
FELLOW GRADUATE FROM CO-LIN, JIMMIE RODGERS
BEING AWARDED, HARRY THETFORD IS NEXT

Stated another way, for seventy-six evenings, I thanked the Lord for another day of survival.  And, wondered to myself if I had the heart to make it one more day.  And, on the seventy-seventh evening, I thanked Him for life itself. 

While “goofing off” in college was a skill set for me, Parris Island Drill Instructors deleted that from my persona in microseconds.  Instantaneously, I tried to do my very best in every respect of boot camp.  I wanted to be the first to fall in for formation.  I’m a slow eater, but was never, never last out of the chow hall.

I learned how and when to respond vociferously, and how and when to remain very quiet.  I tried to jump higher, run faster, last longer, shoot better, memorize faster, and spit-shine glossier than all others. 

I learned this was a lost cause unless I helped all others jump, run, last, shoot, memorize and spit-shine as well as I could.

I could say it was OK for sand fleas to chew on me, since that meant buddies standing nearby were being spared.  I could, but that would be a huge lie.   

If the Marine Corps wanted to teach me something, I wanted to learn it.  Again, a moot point unless all others learned it as well.

Did this make me the best man of the sixty-nine graduating Recruits in our platoon?  Far from it!  Sixty-eight others had the same aspirations.  Most of these aspirations were drill instructor-inspired, but a covert group always took up any slack.

That “covert group” persona has probably been around since 1^ST LT Pressley O’Bannon put the initial unit of Marines together in 1775.  It exemplifies the Marine Corps.  

 

After boot camp, we learned the Marine Corps already had a term for this covert group mentality that no Marine should be left behind.  They called it, “Esprit de Corps”!

In today’s vernacular, the Marine Corps left me with an attitude.  While I never had an eagle, globe and anchor tattooed on my arm, the same three items tattooed on my heart are holding up quite well.      

It isn’t fair to say that everything I’ve learned, I learned from the Marine Corps.  There is no question that everything I’ve learned has been brought into sharper focus by my Marine Corps experience.  

This isn’t a puff piece for the Corps, and no apologies are offered for those from other services with equal or better experiences – just words from one Marine’s heart –  well over a half century after the fact.

Every Marine has a story.  I recently golfed with a retired Army veteran with thirty years’ service.  He noticed my surprise to see his car loaded out with Marine Corps decals and paraphernalia. 

He explained, “I spent a hitch in the Marines before I went Army!”  On the way home that afternoon, I knew it was time to write my Marine Corps heart article.  

God bless America, and God bless the USMC, it’s never been a greater time to be “One of the Few!”

A WARRIOR AND A GENTLEMAN

Two full-time RV couples, both from Greensboro, but unknown to each other, camped side by side at Hagan-Stone RV Park.  Deluges came, both RVs bogged down to their axles.  The other couple was bogged down in a custom-made Foretravel bus.  My wife and I were bogged down in a Winnebago. 

DAVID & DAWN CARTER

With their help, the Winnie finally tracked out to dry land.  With our help, their Foretravel sank deeper, eventually bog-extracted by a biggie-sized tow vehicle.

Fast forward two RV lifetimes, the Foretravelers and the Winnie couples find themselves living side by side – unknowingly -- in Greensboro villas.  As is too often the case, only after David Carter died did I realize what I had missed by not knowing him better.  Or, by asking a few questions.

Those at Greensboro’s Curry High School knew Carter well.  They had an inkling he would be successful, seeing that he was Senior Class president, school newspaper editor, Key Club, Curry Club, Quill & Scroll, lettered in football and track, and more.

However, it is doubtful his Curry classmates had any inkling Carter would join the National Guard even before finishing high school in 1956.  After all, his parents were Quakers.  His father was pastor of Glenwood Friends Meeting.

Local trivia buffs can have their say about Curry School, but here are a few hints.  Named after a financial supporter, Jabez Curry, the neighborhood school opened in 1902 and closed in 1970.  It offered practical experience for students and practice teachers at UNCG.

For those thinking Carter would opt for college, they were correct, but their timing was off.  During twenty-four years of Army service, he earned a BA degree from the University of Nebraska and a master’s degree from the University of Utah.

After advancing from private to Specialist 5, David Carter completed Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant.  Already a paratrooper and Green Beret, Carter earned his wings as a helicopter pilot.  He was a helicopter flight instructor before his first deployment to Vietnam. 

Carter’s combat tours can almost be date-lined by his litany of personal awards.  In September, 1967, he was presented a bronze star for meritorious service during ground operations. 

In March, 1968, he was awarded a purple heart for wounds received in combat.  In July, 1968, he won a distinguished flying cross for heroism in aerial flight.

In August, 1968, Carter volunteered to take his Chinook helicopter on a dangerous night-time resupply mission to a forward position.  Weather forced gunship escorts to turn back, but Carter completed the mission in the face of withering artillery, small arms and machine gun fire.

 

As a result of this mission, Major General Melvin Zais, commanding general of the 101^st Airborne Division, presented Carter a silver star, the nation’s third highest valor award.

Carter survived five helicopter crashes – three from enemy fire and two from other causes.  He wrote later regarding his retirement, “The Army decided it was cheaper to pay me a pension than to keep me flying!”

He made at least one unscheduled trip back to the States while serving in Vietnam, but it wasn’t to his liking.  He was tasked to escort the remains of a fallen friend.

DAVID CARTER SERVED WITH VALOR & DISTINCTION

Carter earned the incredible number of fifty-seven air medals, with valor device, representing meritorious service in combat involving aerial flight.   He was a master aviator and master parachutist, and expert marksman with seven different weapons.

Commanding both air and ground forces, he was awarded two army commendation medals and a meritorious service medal for Vietnam service, as well as gallantry awards from the Republic of Vietnam.

A naval officer who served with Carter acknowledged his vast array of personal decorations, “But what impressed me more -- David Carter was a gentleman, he did not smoke, drink or use vile language -- he never wavered from his Quaker values.”

In the early seventies, Carter completed the 82^nd Airborne Jumpmaster Course, Special Forces Officers School, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. 

CARTER'S PERSONAL AWARDS WERE UNIQUELY UNIQUE

He was selected as a member of the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP) battle staff.  Known colloquially as the doomsday aircraft of the cold war era, U.S. forces could be commanded from this aircraft in case of an extreme national emergency.

After his military retirement, Carter founded an insurance and investment firm, which he and his wife operated successfully for over twenty-five years.  In addition to his wife, he left three sons, two daughters, and three grandchildren.  To them, he left a military, moral, and entrepreneurial heritage like few others. 

Memorial Day (2013), was the family’s first after Carter’s death.  While David Carter died unexpectedly, he left his affairs in impeccable order.  It would not be surprising to learn he left specific instructions for his progeny’s first Memorial Day observance without him.

       

GLENWOOD ARMY RANGER GAVE -- AND KEEPS GIVING

Thousands of U.S. Army soldiers have trained at Fort Lewis, Washington over the years, but Greensboro’s Al Stewart must have been the most atypical when he reported aboard the sprawling base during the summer of 2012.

Without a doubt, he was the only combat veteran of Vietnam in his battalion.  Over 40 years prior, he had fought on the ground, wearing the Combat Infantry Badge, Jump Wings and tab of an Army Ranger, and in the air, wearing the wings of an Air Crewman. 

   

Secondly, he was 20 years older than his Battalion Commander.  Additionally, he was the only civilian in his battalion.  Without a doubt, he was the only retired Greensboro Police Officer in the group.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A VIETNAM VETERAN TO
SERVE IN AFGHANISTAN?    ASK AL STEWART

The battalion would deploy intact to Afghanistan after three months of extensive training.

Stewart understood deployments – he had recently spent a year deployed to Iraq, where he served as Regional Commander – Iraq Police Mission.

Prior to that, he had deployed to Beirut, Lebanon where he served as first Contingent Commander for establishing the initial Lebanese Police Mission.

There were two other year-long deployments to multiple areas in Iraq, where he trained and advised Iraqi police officers and served as Mosul Police Academy Director.

According to Stewart, he has a perfectly logical explanation for these unique deployments, “I was a Greensboro Police Officer from 1973-2003, and began work with the District Attorney’s Office the day after I retired.  A government contractor came along and offered me the first job in Iraq.  I had major reservations about getting shot at again, but figured this would give me some fresh material to tell my grand-kids.”

In a more cogent mode, “These were exciting and rewarding assignments.  Even though I did not mention it to my contractor(s), the work was so enjoyable, I would have probably worked for free.  Living conditions were tough but working with young soldiers and foreign nationals who really want positive change makes me happy and proud.”

Stewart’s persona of giving back continues to this day.  The Guilford College graduate chaired the 2015 Piedmont Triad Red Cross Heroes Event and is on the Servant Center Board of Directors.  He leads the Steve Millikin Black Caps Veterans Group and heads up the Guilford County Veterans Memorial Committee.  He has also worked tirelessly with the Carolina Field of Honor.

STEWART RAISED ARMY FLAG FOR
GREENSBORO'S NEW VETERANS MEMORIAL

Admitting to “barely graduating,” from Smith High School, Stewart went to Elon College to play football, “That didn’t work out, in more ways than one.  At an early age, I may have been drawn to the military from seeing a huge poster with photos of over 200 Glenwood Boys in Service in my grandparents’ Grove Street Café.”  That poster is still around – in the Glenwood Branch Library at 1901 West Florida Street in Greensboro.

Fast forward to 2015 – Stewart went back to his roots when he married a former schoolmate and Glenwood girl – Nicki DiMaria. 

Whatever the motivation, Stewart proved to be a better soldier than collegian.  After basic, Advanced Infantry Training, Parachute and Ranger schools, he became an Army Ranger.  This pretty much assured him of his first deployment – to Vietnam.

AL STEWART (L) SERVED IN VIETNAM AS RANGER
ON GROUND AND AERIAL GUNNER IN THE AIR

“We operated in six-man teams on primarily long-range reconnaissance missions.  Sometimes we walked off a fire base but mostly we were inserted by helicopters.  Since we could not be re-supplied, most of our missions were six days or less – my longest was 12 days.”

During an extended tour in Vietnam and after his Ranger Company (Golf) stood down, he earned his Air Crew-member Wings.  “I was a gunner on a Night Hawk helicopter – we were flying or on stand-by all night, every night.  After dark, we were about the only game in town!”

Stewart doesn’t dwell on his year of jungle fighting as an Army Ranger, on the sizeable number of combat mission he flew, on being shot down three times in five months, or on personal decorations earned.  “The opinions and respect of the men and women I served and worked with over the years are all I care about.” 

NICKI & AL STEWART -- GLENWOODERS AT HEART

  

While Stewart disdains public recognition, he promises full disclosure to his grandchildren – one of whom is surely destined to write a book about their grandfather, Al.  

He may need more grandchildren -- theirs will not be an easy write.  I can empathize with them.  Writing about valorous service in Vietnam, distinguished police career, multiple civilian deployments to Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan, veteran advocacies, and civic leadership is certainly beyond the purview of a newspaper column.

      

       

 

 

  

ONE BRAVE MAN OF THE GREEN BERETS

Born in Oklahoma as the son of a soldier, 71-year old Mike Linnane grew up in Massachusetts and Colorado.  In 1982, he moved to Greensboro.  He has a cache of interesting stories about construction, building, gardening, travel, veteran advocacies and grandchildren.

MIKE LINNANE WEARING HIS MOST HIGHLY ESTEEMED
AWARD -- THE GREEN BERET

As a former enlisted man who retired as a Special Forces Major, he has a few Army stories as well.  Some of these, he shares – others, he maintains -- are best left untold.

One of his stories, I found on his plaque at the Special Forces Hall of Fame at Fort Bragg, into which he was inducted in 2013. 

MIKE LINNANE'S PLAQUE AT SPECIAL
FORCES HALL OF FAME

Reading from the plaque, “Linnane successfully led a small force of Special Forces, indigenous soldiers, and a U.S. tank platoon in a continuous 10-day battle against a North Vietnamese Army Battalion, which was reinforced with 10 Soviet tanks.”

For future reference, that battle was at Ben Het, and the indigenous soldiers were Montagnards.

Linnane was combat wounded in Vietnam.  He was hospitalized and convalesced for five months, “while in the hospital, they mailed me a bronze star, purple heart and combat infantryman’s badge.”  At his request, he returned to duty with Special Forces in Vietnam.

Nearly 11 years of Linnane’s 20-year Special Forces/Army career were spent overseas.  That included over nine years in Europe and behind the Iron Curtain, where he was recognized for his involvement in the Cold War.  It also included service in Belgium, England, Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Austria, France, and “other locations,” as Linnane prefers.

A LINNANE DAUGHTER CORRALLED MANY OF
HER DAD'S PERSONAL AWARDS AND MADE
THIS SHADOW BOX FOR HIS OFFICE

Special Forces personnel are recognized by their distinctive Green Beret.  Per Linnane, “I may have been the only slick-sleeved private to earn a Green Beret in 1962 – it remains my favorite award.  I was promoted to PFC the day after graduation.”  

After my first three years on an A Team overseas, I completed Officer Candidate School and became an instructor at Jump School, and subsequently qualified as a Master Parachutist, Pathfinder, and HALO.”  He explained, “HALO is an acronym for High Altitude, Low Opening – I made a number of jumps of that sort.

The HALO tactic was used typically for night infiltration from 25-30,000 feet -- today, even higher.”

Linnane has five balloon jumps to his credit, as well as dives from submarines with SEAL Team II.  He made jumps at Fort Benning as a private and as a lieutenant, “I asked why enlisted men got $55 per month jump pay, while officers were paid $110.  I should have known the answer.  Officers get twice as scared!”

When Linnane leads the discussion, he talks mostly about his family, “A brother-in-law, niece and three nephews graduated from service academies.  Several cousins served in Viet Nam.  My father and my wife’s father, and several of our uncles served in World War II or Korea.

Two of my sisters, Barbara Ryan Guest and Jeanne Love, are Gold Star Wives, having lost their husbands from Vietnam War service.  The husband of my third sister, Joan, served with the Seabees in Vietnam.  The son of my fourth sister, Carol, is a West Point graduate and has served in Iraq.  One of my brother’s daughters served as a Marine Corps sergeant in the liberation of Kuwait.”

As for 30 years of owning and operating a construction company, “I spent 20 years blowing things up and 30 years putting things together.  I probably bought, sold, built, or fixed over 300 properties in Greensboro.”

Not that Mike Linnane needed re-energizing, but the events of September 11, 2001, did just that, “I shut down the project we were on, paid the workers and told them to go home to their families.  I wrote tons of emails to my children, preparing them for survival mode.”  

Later, they suggested Linnane compile the emails into book form, which he titled, HOW I PREPARED MY FAMILY TO SURVIVE  A TERRORIST ATTACK.

Thousands of copies were printed, enough for all the Linnanes and his Special Forces buddies.  The IOSSS (Inter Operational Security Support Staff) purchased all remaining copies.

Mentioned at the outset was Linnane’s battle at Ben Het, which was supported by Montagnard volunteers.  Here is the rest of that story, “We had 400 Montagnard warriors at our small base.  They went out when we went out – we could have hardly done without them – and they needed us too.”  

In return, Linnane helped found the Save The Montagnard People Organization.  Since 1986, he has personally sponsored 13 families and 30 single warriors from Ben Het, all of whom have resettled in North Carolina.

For years, Linnane’s desk held a, “The Army Is Behind You” desk plate.  “I never knew such a simple saying could have so many meanings,” he says.

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