Email Correspondence from VCM
Brothers
Date: 03/02/06
12:12:38
Subject: Re: Good
Morning you two.
Bill,
Thank
you for the information on the Life magazine article. If you
could send me a copy, I would greatly appreciate it. My address is
Martin Cannon, 101 Belvedere Avenue, Belvedere, CA 94920.
I
assume the picture in the email you sent us is of you - is it?
We have all changed so much that it is hard to recognize much.
You
are very kind to send you thoughts and feelings to us.
Best
to you.
Martin
Cannon
Date: 03/01/06
08:18:16
Subject: RE:
[Spam Check]: Re: [Spam Check]: Vung Chua Mtn
Martin,
Don't
remember Captain Carzolli. Seems like the 232nd. was in
between CO's at the time that I arrived. I was a scared young kid then
and don't remember too much about the first couple of months.
I
took the liberty of forwarding a couple of emails that I have
received. Bill Curran worked in the orderly room for Jim Balkcom and
Gary Auchard was our radio repairman. There is also a web site for the
362nd. Tropo guys ("Hang Loose With The Deuce"). Check out that
guestbook. Seems to have hundreds of entries.
Unlike
the rest of you guys, I am not yet lucky enough to be
retired. I'm currently working on a project in Ft. Lauderdale which
isn't all bad this time of year considering that I live in Minnesota.
Take
Care and Have A Good One -
Jim
Simpson
________________________________
From:
Cannonml@aol.com
[mailto:Cannonml@aol.com" title="mailto:Cannonml@aol.com"
title="mailto:Cannonml@aol.com">Cannonml@aol.com
[mailto:Cannonml@aol.com">mailto:Cannonml@aol.com"
title="mailto:Cannonml@aol.com">Cannonml@aol.com
[mailto:Cannonml@aol.com]
Sent:
Wed 3/1/2006 1:13 AM
To:
Simpson, Jim
Subject:
[Spam Check]: Re: [Spam Check]: Vung Chua Mtn
Jim,
Thanks
for the response. We were definitely there the same time,
as Lt Kline was directly across the hall from me in the BOQ along with
Lt. Johnson, I think that was his name. You must have know Captain
Carzolli also. Do you keep up with anyone else from your time there?
Jim Balkcom and I have stayed in touch since those days, and I just
went to his 60th birthday party last year. I came to Vung Chua on 2/70
and was there till I was sent to battalion HQ down in Quin
Nhon. I remember when Sgt. Simon was killed when he was a
bit out of control, stole a deuce and a half, and had an accident as he
went down the mountain. I was on R&R then and it was horrible news
to come back to.
It
is amazing how much has happened in our lives and the world
since that experience. Kids today do not even know where Vietnam is,
more less care. The experience in Iraq seems so different, but fear is
still fear no matter where it is. I remember guard duty and driving up
the hill in the evening in those deuce and a half's and being
terrified. We were lucky we were never attacked directly.
I
think we all did a lot of growing up there, and were better
people for it. It taught me freedom is not free.
I
am retired living outside San Francisco, trying to squeeze in a
little golf, taking care of kids and doing as much reading as I can.
Try
going on Google and entering "Quin Nhon, Vietnam" and see if
you see anyone you know from the results. That is how I came across
your name. There seems to be a pretty good log from guys who were in
the 362nd Signal Company. I am going to forward this message and yours
onto Jim Balkcom as he is trying to collect names of people who were
there. Do you remember Leonidas Lake or Sgt. Frederick Rohaley?
Best
to you and your family.
Martin
Cannon
Date: 03/01/06
07:59:40
Subject: FW:
[Spam Check]: Re: Hello Jim!
________________________________
Sent:
Fri 2/24/2006 11:58 AM
To:
Simpson, Jim
Subject:
[Spam Check]: Re: Hello Jim!
Welcome
Home to you to Jim,
Yep,
that's me...."Ever Tortured Bugs?" I don't know
where they came up with that one, but I guess it fit.
I'm
not sure if you can call me normal or not. I guess
you would have to define that term. We sure did have a few
psycho's on VCM but as a whole, they were not bad people and you could
trust them.
That's
great you're working for an electrical engineering
company. Just goes to prove not all returning Vietnam Vets
were pot heads and hung up on drugs. I never got into that
scene and couldn't understand those that did I guess.
I
retired from the Xerox Corporation about 20 months ago after 32
years. Had a very successful career staying in the
electronic end of things and ended up the last 22 years there as an
instructor teaching the repair and operation of all the different
equipment. My wife works there too and will retire in two
years with 30 years tenure. She's in charge of all of the
laptop computers, pagers, cell phones and Blackberry's the technicians
use.
Like
you, I've had a couple of wives. This is my second
marriage and it has lasted over 25 years so I guess I'll hang on to the
old gal after this long She's pretty good and puts up with
me so that's not bad. Sure beats the hell out of the first
one.
I
used to make trips to Minnesota with Xerox for meetings in the
twin cities area. Too bad I didn't catch up to you
sooner. We could have met then and had a beer or dinner.
I'm
glad you mention SP4 Lee's first name. I couldn't
remember what it was. He was getting a bit odd there towards
the end and I was glad to see him get to go home. I liked
him and we got along pretty well.
I
never got into the motorcycle thing. I thought about
it, but elected to not make that another hobby I would spend a lot of
money on. My current hobbies are Ham Radio, Bluegrass music,
woodworking, Garden Railroading and hot air balloons.
We
just returned from a trip in January to a place called Bluff
Utah. Not much there in the way of a town, but the area is
beautiful. We flew for three days and had a great
times. We also fly in Raton N.M. over the 4th. of July and
Albuquerque in October for the big balloon fiesta held there every year.
Last
year in Raton, one of our pilots is a Vietnam vet and he took
another old Vietnam vet friend of mine up for a ride on the 4th. of
July. Our balloon is red, white and blue stripes so that's
about as patriotic as you can get This Vietnam friend was
from another unit I was assigned to after leaving the
232nd. In May of 1971 I was transferred to the 175th.
Assault Helicopter Company down in Vinh Long at the Army airfield
there. I ended up working on helicopter radios for the final
few months of my tour in Vietnam. I still keep in touch with
two friends from that unit.
Finding
you now makes 4 guys I've located from the 232nd. Signal
Company. The last one was Harold Eubanks from
Oklahoma. I don't know if you remember him or
not. He was a real young kid of about 18 and was from
Muskogee Oklahoma. He ended up working over at the VHF site
at Market Time. He's also into motorcycles.
I'm
like you....I have three kids, 5 grandkids and now 2 great
grandkids. Damn I'm feeling old before my
time. One daughter lives in Montana so we get to make trips
up there a couple of times a year and that's great. My wife
and I like to hike, travel and see new places so we are gone a lot when
she can get away from work.
That's
enough about me. I'd better let a working man
get back to work.
I
hope sometime we can all get together and drink a beer
again. That would be great.
Keep
in touch and take care. It's great to hear from
you again. Don't get lost.
Gary
Auchard
34058
167th. Street
Leavenworth,
Kansas 6048-9473
913-772-7350
-----
Original Message -----
Sent:
Friday, February 24, 2006 9:42 AM
Subject:
RE: [Spam Check]: Hello Jim!
Welcome
Home Gary!
As
soon as I saw your name, I could
visualize that picture of you, "Ever Tortured Bugs?"
Of
course I remember you. You were the
normal one, not a psycho like the rest of us. That's a compliment!
Bill
and I have emailed quite a bit and I
talked to him on the phone once. Seems to be doing well.
I
am currently working for an electrical
engineering company, designing control systems for production lines and
such.
I
enjoy the work and I get to travel
around some. This year I have spent 3 weeks in Houston and 3 weeks in
Ft. Lauderdale.
Nice
break from the Minnesota winter!
I
also remember Raymond Lee. We were good
friends for quite a while but then he got kind of weird. Too much time
on the mountain with no R&R.
About
5 years ago, I bought myself a
motorcycle and have been going to hell in a hand basket ever since!
Life
is good. Kids, grand kids and a
couple of wives (not at the same time).
Well,
I'm not retired yet so I had better
get back to work. Keep in touch.
Have
A Good One -
Jim
Simpson
Wunderlich-Malec
Engineering, Inc.
5501
Feltl Road
Minnetonka,
Minnesota 55343
952-933-3222,
Ext. 160
Cell:
952-290-0715
________________________________
Sent:
Thursday, February 23, 2006 4:17 PM
To:
Simpson, Jim
Subject:
[Spam Check]: Hello Jim!
Jim,
I
hope this is you're current email
address. I found it on a website on the internet.
I'm
hoping you remember me from Vung Chua
Mountain. We were both in the 232nd Signal Company in the
VHF section.
I
was the guy that repaired all of the
TRC-24 equipment and had a repair shop at the entrance to the building
housing the VHF equipment.
I
also slept across the hall from you and
shared bunk beds with SP4 Lee.
If
you have the unit book published at the
time we were there, my picture is in it along with several of yours.
I
found Bill Curran last fall and I'll be
visiting him sometime late this summer.
Hope
to hear from you soon and wonder what
you're doing these days.
I'm
retired and taking life easy now.
Gary
Auchard
Leavenworth,
Kansas
913-772-7350
Date: 03/08/06
20:43:59
Subject: Re: Holts
Capt.
Jim, yours to keep.
Not a worry. Sign up with our post, I wont make ya attend a meetings,
not to worry. Ive been talking to our web master for the VVNW. she said
she would be game to help creat/manage a VCM web page. Any thoughts?
She's good but only as good as the information she receives. I think it
would work. We could ask for a donation from our VCM members to support
the page. Just Brain storming at this point.
Capt. I will tell you, first of all, it's hard for me to except
complements. Second of all, you helped to make me the way I am. What
would have happened if you declined the fund rasing for Holts, I could
have went down hill real fast, no pun intended (VCM hill). But no, you
supported me in every way in addition to copying the letters and news
clippings and giving them to me. I would have never had them other
wise. You didn't have to do that being busy with VCM but you did. For
this, Bill Curran is who he is. Thank you.
IM headed for Vegas with Sue at 5:00 PM tomorrow, wont talk to ya till
we get home next week. They are calling for 60 tomorrow here in Ohio, I
heard 50 out west. Still, cant wait.
Let me know what ya think of the VCM web page. I haven't talked to
anyone else about it.
Take care Jim.
Bill
Date: 03/08/06
20:07:23
Subject: RE: Holts
Bill,
Just
received and read your mailing about an hour ago.
So sad about
VCM in the Life mag.
I thought we
were pretty strac and took pride-remember when we won
the 1st
Signal BDE Site of the quarter. I thought our security was pretty good.
I know we
blew anything away that even smelled of a penetration, not to
mention
firing on our sensors. What a shame!!
You have
been a great patriot and humanitarian.
God Bless
you and your BIG heart.
Would you
like any of these items back?
You tell Sue
she is married to one of America’s best.
Thank you
for all you
do, and for the soldier you were on Vung Chua.
Jim
-----Original
Message-----
From: Curran46@aol.com
[mailto:Curran46@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March
08, 2006 7:06 PM
To:
jrbalkcom@mindspring.com
Subject: Re: Holts
Hey Capt., did you get
the mailings? Sue and I are leaving for Vegas tomorrow. I'll be home
Monday night. Headed for NASCAR race. I hope you think all the things
were cool.
Bill
Date: 03/08/06
21:17:22
Subject: RE: Holts
Great
picture.
I am a
technical midget and have no idea what a web page would entail or cost,
but I’m all for it.
Have fun in
Vegas.
“Good night
from Vung Chua Mountain.”
Jim
-----Original
Message-----
From: Curran46@aol.com
[mailto:Curran46@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March
08, 2006 8:44 PM
To:
jrbalkcom@mindspring.com
Subject: Re: Holts
Capt. Jim, yours to keep.
Not a worry. Sign up with our post, I wont make ya attend a meetings,
not to worry
Date: 03/02/06
16:06:25
Subject: RE:
[Spam Check]: Re: Sgt. Nipple
Gary,
One night, I rode shotgun on a deuce and a half with Deweese
(can't remember first name) driving. He's the guy who took care of the
electronic sensors on the side of the mountain. We took the maids down
the mountain and came back up with a load of "girls". We stopped at the
main gate and waited for the guard to open it. As we started to pull
forward, the truck slipped out of gear and we rolled backwards stopping
just short of crashing down the mountain We ended up taking our cargo
back down to the village and then returned empty. All kinds of people
were mad at us because they had to have sex with themselves that night!
Remember our dog named Sue? She had some puppies that we named
Beefeater, Airborne, can't remember the rest of the names. I have
pictures of her in a cardboard box with the newborns. One of the pups
ended up with Bill Curran. Damn thing kept running away so we would tie
him to the bumper of a deuce and a half. Bad part is someone drove that
truck all the way down the mountain with the puppy still attached.
How about the monkey, Hank. I also have several pictures of him.
We were waiting for a chopper that was bringing Miss America (I think
that's who it was) up to the mountain and I was teasing Hank with a
stick of Juicy Fruit gum. He crawled all over my head trying to get the
treat. I sent a set of pictures to Bill and I will send some to you if
I ever get home again!
Gotta Go -
Jim S.
________________________________
Sent: Thu 3/2/2006 12:00 PM
To: Simpson, Jim
Subject: [Spam Check]: Re: Sgt. Nipple
Jim,
Yes, I do remember that guy. I wasn't there long before
he shipped out, but
you can't forget someone I would classify as one of mother natures
major
screw-ups. He needed to be removed from the human gene
pool. :-)
I'm trying to remember the name of the E6 that moved in after he
left. He
worked in our VHF section along with SFC Chaco.
I received an email note from Jim Balkcom a few days
ago. It was really
great to hear from him and others in our company. You
always wonder what
happened to some of these people and it's always interesting to
see how many
are still around and how they ended up. It sounds like
you're doing fine
and that's great news.
Were you still on VCM when the mess hall truck brake failed one
morning and
rolled down the hill with a bunch of whores in the
back? How about the time
when we had to medivac SGT. Waters off the mountain one
night. He had
gotten drunk at the bar and fell over a 55 gallon barrel and cut
his head
pretty bad. I remember Cpt. Balkcom standing there
watching me help load
him into the Huey. I bet the Captain got an ass chewing
for sending SGT.
Waters down the mountain in that kind of shape. I was
watching a video on
TV one night when they were dedicating the Vietnam Memorial in
Washington
D.C. It was put on by Nightline I think. It
had Jessica Savitch
reporting. She died in a car wreck shortly after that
presentation. In the
video the news crew was going around to the different hotels in
D.C. and
showing the Vietnam Vets and listening to their
conversations. There in one
of the pictures was former SGT. Waters. I would
recognize that drunken
stance of his anywhere. At least he made it home and
lived through 1982.
He lived in Sapulpa Oklahoma but I've never been able to find
him. Leroy
Meyers lived in Hastings Nebraska. I haven't been able
to find him either.
Do you remember when one of the guys that was supposed to be going
on guard
duty one night was refusing to do so. His SGT. chase
him around our hooches
and finally the guy shot the SGT. in the knee.
I bet we could come up with hundreds of stories like
these. We need to have
a reunion for sure. Our wives would think we were a
bunch of nuts after
listening to some of our stories I'm sure.
Take care and keep in touch Jim. Stay warm.
Gary A.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 9:36 AM
Subject: Sgt. Nipple
Hello Again Gary,
Do you remember a guy who worked in VHF named Sgt. Nipple. He was
about the
ugliest human being that I had ever seen. He hated life and
everything about
it. Part of the problem was that he had been in the Army for 18
years and
had only made it to the rank of E5. Anyway, he had his own room in
our hooch
near the front door. I usually worked nights so one of my duties
was to wake
the guys up each morning. I'd walk up to his door, pound on it and
yell
"Come on Tits, time to get up". He'd yell back at me and then I
went on my
way. One morning though, I yelled at him and then I heard him lock
and load
his M16. I think I set a world record for the 100 yard dash!
Have A Good One -
Jim Simpson
hey thanks Larry, it was cool talking to you too. KitKat is our web
master,
I am copying her in order to post your info.
Thanks
Bill
Bill,
It was good talking to you the other day.
I got a chance to look at your v v n w web site. Pretty interesting. I
enjoyed it.
Since I think your the most likely person to have contact with any Vung
Chua
Mtn Vet I'm going to give you my home address for your archives in case
anyone
should look for me. In particular the guys from the Tandem Switch, Vung
Chua
Signal Support Detachment.
Larry E. Winter
N7796 Raspberry Road
Wittenberg, WI 54499
715-253-2282
Larry E. Winter
lwinter@netnet.net
Wittenberg Telephone Co. / Niagara Telephone Co.
715-253-2114