Second Quarterly 2014
Longtrip E-Newsletter
Updated: 7 June 2014
MEMORIAL DAY 2014
God bless our fallen and their families and friends.
HONOR ROLL: (Empty)
FOUND LONG TRIPPERS: (21 May)
- Barry Sparks, Longtrip pilot, 1969–70
- Gary Sneary, Beech Rep, 1971–72
Wow this is a great site. I am 73 years old and had just finished looking at my copy of the 1971 CAC yearbook. I was the Beech Rep from March 1971 until September 1972 and was surprised to find my picture in the roster. I see so many of the people I knew very well during that time.
I stayed with Beech or its follow on companies Beech Aerospace Services Inc. (BASI), Raytheon Aerospace Services, Vertex and finally L-3 Vertex. During the mid 1970's I was heavily involved in the initial proposal effort for the Army and Air Force C-12 Program with firm fixed price "total contractor support" that accompanied the aircraft. The Navy C-12 followed later. In the 1980's was instrumental in proposing and implementation for conversion of the Army U-21 to total contractor support under BASI.
I worked successful proposals for acquisition with total contractor support for the Navy T-34C and T-44A in the early 1970's and became the site manager for Beech at NAS Whiting Field when the T-34C Trainer was introduce. Was heavily involved in the proposal efforts for the Air Force T1A Trainer acquisition with total contractor support and the Air Force and Navy T-6A trainer aircraft acquisition with total contractor support.
I became an officer of the company in 1989 (VP Materials) and retired in 2006 after 36 years in Aerospace Defense.
Gary Sneary [Gary Sneary and Barry Sparks are now on the roster]
DEAR EDITOR: (15 April)
Don, First of all I would like to thank you for the work you are doing with the website. I would like my name and info added to the roster if possible. I was in the CAC from Jan 69 until Jan 70 [Contact information provided]. I was a Captain, AR and a pilot while in the CAC. I retired in 2010 after 34 years as a Corporate pilot. I will try to go through some of my old photos to see what I can possibly add to your site. It has a been a real pleasure to look at the site and see all the names and faces from our unit. In the photo taken of Mike Knight in the club I noticed that I was the tall skinny guy with his back to the camera directly behind Mike. I went through flight school with Dick Eklund and I roomed with Ron Roe. Again, thanks for what you do, and if I can help in any way you have my number. Barry Sparks. [Editor: Barry is now added to the unit roster.]
1LT MICHAEL KNIGHT, DECEASED 1970, CAC PILOT, WILL NOW BE ADDED TO THE VIETNAM WALL:
Anyone with a photograph of 1LT Michael Knight from year 1969 , please send it to the editor.
There is a tragic but soon to be corrected error in casualty accounting, reporting, and obvious failure of the individual’s command to follow up that is now slowly coming to light. For the family, this is something of a relief that the facts are now being investigated, written and published—specifically that closure is possible for a lost loved one, who in due time will receive national attention—and appropriate status on the Vietnam Wall and casualty listings.
The story is best introduced by someone who knew Mike Knight–his friend and fellow pilots, Jack Watson. The rest of the story is certainly coming, too:
When I processed going into Vietnam I went thru Long Binh. I was sent to Long Than North via a plane ride from Long Binh, Sanford to Long Thanh North. Captain Dick Eklund (Aircraft Commander as of that day) and 1LT Mike Knight his pilot picked me up in a CAC U–21 and flew me back to LTN.
Mike and I became good friends before he went on R&R to Honolulu months later. I flew Mike to Saigon where he left on his one way R&R, trip. I can't remember if I was Aircraft Commander, or pilot on that trip.
Mike was excited about the prospect of getting married and like most of was happy to leave Nam on R&R, if only for a short time.
A few days after Mike left for R&R, I passed LTC Bayne on the parade ground separating his office from the Officers quarters. He stopped me and told me that he had just gotten word Mike had died of heart complications in Honolulu. I was devastated.
I think I have a photo of Mike at our O’Club at Long Thanh. I will swear before congress Mike was in our unit and I can remember (like it was yesterday) when our CO stopped me as I was returning from the LTN mess hall and told me of Mike's death.
We had an “Empty Boot” memorial service at LTN for Mike a day or so later. I remember it all—just like it was yesterday. Mike served in Nam, had orders for R&R, I flew him to Saigon for the R&R, flight, and he should definitely be remembered on the wall. A lot of strange things happened to those serving in Nam.
As I remember, Colonel Bayne told me that he received a report that Mike had complained of chest pains to his wife on about day 2 or 3 (can't remember that detail) of his R&R. They checked into Tripler Army Hospital, Oahu, Hawaii, and within a few hours Mike expired. I can still remember his face, his smile and voice like it were yesterday. If I remember correctly he was bunking with our Flight Surgeon and was in the hooch between mine (that I shared with Bob Jamison) and Dave Barlow's hooch (two down from mine).
I can indeed attest he was there, as I’m sure Captain Eklund could as well.
It’s funny—Mike (and Dick) brought me in-country for the first time and I took Mike out of country for his last departure from NAM. Hell of a guy, honor to have known him. He’ll remain in my thoughts forever.
Jack Watson
UPDATE: 1 April:
From a personal letter from Mike’s daughter to Jack Watson we learned that the family situation was taken care of by the army:
“My mother actually did get benefits from the VA and I actually attended college on the GI Bill in the late 80s ( Univ. of Alabama- Roll Tide!)
They promoted my dad to Captain shortly after his death but my mom said the benefits were kept at his Lt status. My parents were married in Hawaii in 1969. ”
CAC NEWSLETTER ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2014:
The Longtrip E–Newsletter will continue until 30 September 2014, unless we have a volunteer to continue the work. After the 2014 Reunion at Port Aransas is completed, I will post a reunion report from information and photos received from participants.
The CAC web site will remain posted and available for those searching/researching and will have a yearly Longtrip Continuous Newsletter for special announcements and new contacts only, as I am able. I will do my best to also post important historical discoveries.
Henceforth, bulk emails will only be delivered via MailChimp Email Service through the end of December, and then the service will be terminated. Don Ricks.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
As the ditor, I receive a lot of email along with some interesting stuff when you have time to look it over. It seems impossible to read everything, like books stacked in my man cave waiting to be read, but sometimes the photo that accompanies the link causes me to just click on it. Here are a few I recently viewed that seem well worth viewing:
UPDATE ON LONGTRIP 6, ROBERT MCKENZIE: (30 May 2014)
Yes, I got released today [Yeah!] and I am at home with some special attention from a special person.
I want to thank you for your prayers, cards, phone calls, and hopes that I would make it. Still can not bend the right leg all the way so some problems moving around.
Thanks again
Bob
Update, 7 April:
About 50 yards further it goes almost straight down. Yes, the Lord was watching out for me.
These photos were sent to me by my daughter, and her husband went to get the machine out if they could. Neighbors, a chain saws a a tractor got it out.
Thanks for your prayers and cards
Bob
MICHAEL STAFFORD BYINGTON, SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE, DECEASED, 11 APRIL 2014:
Today I received an email from Bill Ipock regarding his friend, Captain Michael S. Byington, Command Aircraft Company, 1971, who died just a few days ago. This is a recent message from his wife, Tommye, and the contact information for the attending funeral home:
I am so sad to tell you that Mike died Friday night. He was here at home and had a sudden but peaceful passing. In the last few years, his physical abilities had decreased due to lots of ‘structural’ problems with osteoarthritis. He was in chronic pain and had very little enjoyment in life.
You knew Mike when he was quick witted and had a great sense of humor, when he enjoyed fishing and golf, and when he was at his best when he was with soldiers. I hope you will hold on to those memories and think fondly of him and your friendship.
Our daughters will be here today – they are driving up from Florida. Mike’s brother and two sisters will also be coming into town next week as will be some of his nieces and nephews. We don’t have any dates or times for his memorial service yet at our church but I do know his burial will be at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga among fellow soldiers.
I covet your prayers.
Love,
Tommye
A brief statement is all we have regarding funeral arrangements and an obituary:
Michael Stafford Byington, 71, of Signal Mountain, died on Friday, April 11, 2014.
Arrangements will be announced by :
Lane Funeral Home (Coulter Chapel)
601 Ashland Terrace
Chattanooga, TN 37415
Telephone: (423) 877-3524
Email: wecare@lanefh.com
Lane Funeral HomeUPDATE: 14 April:
Mike’s burial will be at the Chattanooga National Cemetery where he will rest in the fine company of other soldiers where the American flag, under which he served so proudly, flies 24/7.
His memorial service will be this Friday (Good Friday) at 2:00 PM at our church, Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church; James Boulevard; Signal Mountain, TN. Our family will greet friends in one of the fellowship halls of the church following the service. Our daughters and I will be writing Mike’s obituary for the Chattanooga Times Free–Press tonight. It will be online at the newspaper’s website this Wednesday and Thursday.
Our daughters and I will be blessed by your prayers.
Fondly,
Tommye Byington
940 Clear Brooks Drive
Signal Mountain, TN 37377
OBITUARY:
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE:
Don, my name is Barry MacInnis and I was an air traffic controller at LTN from 8/69 until 12/70. I got your email address from the wonderful CAC (longtrip.org) web site that you edit.
I have had contact with some of your members in an attempt to help a U–21 crew chief (Karl Carter) from the 70th Avn. Det. (Korat, Thailand) prove to the Veterans Administration that he was “boots on the ground” in Vietnam. Karl is very sick with Parkinson’s and needs some help proving his monthly and sometimes twice a month trips to LTN and Ton Son Nhut aboard Army 67–18055 as its crew chief.
Karl acquired his pay records from that period of his service and it does show that for seven of his twelve months at Korat, he received HFP pay; monies that only would have been paid to him for spending at least one day (or more) in Vietnam. For his initial claim, VA is saying that they want more proof.
Rob Tommasone has been very helpful in getting us information about Rob's aircraft (18055). He found it in Virginia, renumbered as N7069F and still operational. I'm trying to get copies of maintenance records that show that work was performed on 18055 at LTN.
Just this week I was able to locate CPT Gerald Ragland, who was 18055’s AC back then. When he gets out of the hospital he plans on writing a letter in support of Karl’s claim of multiple trips to LTN on 18055.
I now ask for your help. In checking your roster list of members I see there is an Alan Meyer who also flew U–21s with the 70th Avn. Det. during the time Karl was there. Could you please forward this email to him and ask him to contact me.
Thanks,
Barry MacInnis
Sgt., GCA Chief (MOS: 93J40)
365th ASD / 165th Avn. Bn
1st Avn. Brgd.
LTN, AAF, RVN, 69/70
[Contact info on file]
BROTHERS FOREVER.ORG VIETNAM TOUR 2015
Fellow Veterans:
I want to let you know the Return to Vietnam 2015 tour, starting in Saigon on 22 Jan 2015, details are available atBrothersForever.org. There is a printable detailed itinerary link on the itinerary page. Makes a nice poster. Please pass this information on to those who might want to go.
Also, with my non-vet groups, we will be doing a Mekong Riverboat Cruise starting 4 Jan 2015. Let me know if anyone is interested.
Brothers Forever,
George DeSerres
[georgedese at comcast.net]
LONG THANH NORTH REUNION, OCTOBER 2014 UPDATE: (25 APRIL)
Below are links to our 2014 LTN Reunion Committee Briefing and the Sandcastle Conference Center Registration Information web page. Please read carefully. Reservations can only be made by phone and be sure to use the ID given. Feel free to forward to anyone we might have missed. We will get options out there for fun and games in the next week or so!
See ya there, Troops! Thanks,
Lee and Pro
PS: If any link doesn’t work, copy and paste the link into your web browser.
2014 LTN REUNION COMMITTEE BRIEFING DOCUMENT
PORT ARANSAS LONG THANH NORTH REUNION INFORMATION
WELCOME OUR LATEST FOUND LONGTRIP MEMBER:
Having just returned from a tour to Vietnam I hit the ground running fast last evening. There is much to catch up with. One is an email from Longtrip Beech Rep Gary Sneary:
Wow this is a great site. I am 73 years old and had just finished looking at my copy of the 1971 CAC yearbook. I was the Beech Rep from March 1971 until September 1972 and was surprised to find my picture in the roster. I see so many of the people I knew very well during that time.
I stayed with Beech or its follow on companies Beech Aerospace Services Inc. (BASI), Raytheon Aerospace Services, Vertex and finally L–3 Vertex. During the mid 1970's I was heavily involved in the initial proposal effort for the Army and Air Force C-12 Program with firm fixed price "total contractor support" that accompanied the aircraft. The Navy C–12 followed later. In the 1980's was instrumental in proposing and implementation for conversion of the Army U–21 to total contractor support under BASI.
I worked successful proposals for acquisition with total contractor support for the Navy T–34C and T–44A in the early 1970's and became the site manager for Beech at NAS Whiting Field when the T–34C Trainer was introduced.
Was heavily involved in the proposal efforts for the Air Force T1A Trainer acquisition with total contractor support and the Air Force and Navy T–6A trainer aircraft acquisition with total contractor support.
I became an officer of the company in 1989 (VP Materials) and retired in 2006 after 36 years in Aerospace Defense.
Welcome to our group, Gary, and if you will—see the above information regarding a reunion planned for September.
OBITUARY, MAJOR DALE L. MICHELSON, DECEASED 8 JUNE 2007:
As I returned from a tour back to Viet Nam, a welcomed package await in my stuffed mailbox from Mrs. Marie Michelson, widow of Dale Michelson. Also included in the package were two photos of Dale which Marie discovered during a recent vist at the home of his daughter. Dale’s obituary is also linked from his roster line. It was a pleasure to have personally served with this well–respected officer. Don Ricks:
A MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE BY HARRY PUNCEC!
Amen!
I would observe that the time in service was the most intense three years of my life. I have more day-to-day memories from that period than from any other equally long stretch in my life, I grew so much that the guy who was discharged on 23 April 1962 resembled not at all that sad sack who reported for induction in March of ’59, and I remember the names of more guys from then than I do from my high school class because, frankly, they were more important.
I have people come up to me and thank my for my service when I’m wearing one of my Vet hats, and I always feel a bit guilty for accepting it. Yes, it was three years out of my life, but in reality it proved essential to creating the adult me. It was an education superior to college and the lessons taught still help me today.
Finally, I feel a thief to accept the gratitude of civilians for credit earned by those who really paid. Just about every vet I’ve met points to the other guy as having done more. I accept the thanks offered but only in the name of those who didn’t live to hear it or who suffered terrible wounds. They’re the real heroes.
Harry Puncec [97th Engineers]
DICK EKLUND, 70TH BIRTHDAY, JUNE 10:
As some of you might know, Dick is undergoing medical treatment and has had a difficult time since the turn of the year. His wife, Lydia, and his close family have all been very supportive. If you get a chance, drop Dick a line , card or email wishing him well and anything else you might want to say. Please remember his caregiver. Dick is currently in remission from the previously disgnosed and treated acute myeloid leukemia. Don Ricks:
DICK EKLUND WILL BE 70 YEARS YOUNG ON JUNE 10!!!
Dick will be turning 70 next week, and I thought it would be great if you can send him cards and/or emails. He and Lydia will be attending a very special dinner sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital honoring, among others, his Leukemia Specialist Dr. Fathi, on his (Dick’s) birthday!!!
To all of you Walpole, West Point, Army, Delta, ALPA, etc., friends of Dick, kindly pass this along in case I missed anyone.
Address: 243 Woodland Road, Hampton, NH 03842
Email: deklund123@comcast.net
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Deb (Eklund) Costa
“The Sister”
D-DAY, SEVENTY YEARS AGO TOMORROW: (5 June)
On June 5, 1944, I was almost a year old (born 27 June 1943, at the old Fort Dix hospital), and considering the many brave men and women from World War II who were killed in action or are classified as missing in action, my four other siblings were fortunate to have been born after the war. As we review my father’s service record and my birth certificate, we see that my mother made a trip from Wedowee, Alabama, to Fort Dix, New Jersey, to be with my father as he helped prepare Headquarters and Service Company, 1st battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, for its participation in World War II.
My father was a First Sergeant (E-7) during initial training events but was later promoted to Master Sergeant and thereafter appointed the Regimental Supply Sergeant. He moved with his unit to Devonshire County, England, for combat training and departed from England on this day seventy years ago for the assault on Utah Beach on June 6. He and his unit then fought through five major battle campaigns, as well as the Saint Lo Breakthrough (for which his unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation). This Greatest Generation still has over 73,000 American military personnel declared missing in action in World War II that have not been recovered. I cannot imagine the suffering endured by the many families represented in the previous statement, but with regard to the many who returned to continue their lives I am both thankful and proud of my family’s military heritage and honor all who continue to take an active part in the preservation of our liberty and way of life.
Just to be able to mention my father’s service is an honor, and many others could state the same. Tomorrow as we celebrate D–Day, we American and Allied families owe as least a moment of silence to those who endured the challenges of the war that should have ended all wars. It has not played out that hopeful way in reality, as the real reality is that we have a continuous line of men and women who bravely serve throughout the world, even in harms way. Thanks to those who dare stand in that long line of courage and do so voluntarily, with faith and trust in the wisdom and courage of our leaders to also stand tall as they decide our destiny and control the lives of our nation’s finest.
Comments:
Here in France, the local TV has aired a number of programs in the past two weeks about the D–Day invasion. The nightly news is also making quite a bit over this anniversary, too. The older French certainly haven’t forgotten and this looks to be a pretty good education for the younger ones.
Saw D–Day, the movie, last winter. Seems to me I recall a snippet in there which Reagan referred to about the British reinforcements announcing their arrival with bagpipes to take a bridge with one Brit saying, “Sorry we’re late.” Excellent movie.
In 1984 President Reagan spoke at Normandy (speech and photo attached). As speeches go, it was not a long speech.
Tomorrow, D-Day plus 70 (Years), there will be more speeches there. I wonder what they will say about the generation of 1944 as their memory slips further into the past: Jan Smith [Catkiller]
