Merry Pennsylvania Christmas

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Pumkin Pie

TO ALL VETERANS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Today is your day. I hope you have an enjoyable one.

Gary

LYNN 'Swede' JACOBSON

I got an email from Lynn's daughter Julie the other night letting me know that Lynn is in a tough battle with cancer right now. She believes that some cards and letters from his Nam buddies as well as thoughts and prayers from all the brothers will help him win this battle. Lynn did a full tour with the 3rd platoon march 68-69.

His daughter is all he has right now so please let him know we're here for him too. You can be sure it will be appreciated. The mailing address is:

5726 North 34th Dr.

Phoenix, AZ. 85017

You can also email julie here: eplingj@comcast.net

Lynn is the tall blond dude in this pic from early 69.

Thanks, Joynt

The Kokomo Experience

The 28th Annual HCVVO all services Vietnam Veterans Reunion in Kokomo, IN is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the US. I've been attending since 1992 and looking forward to another good time starting September 16th.
I've put together a photo album of some of those good times over the years and I hope you enjoy it. I also hope to see you in Kokomo sometime.
CLICK HERE

P.S. To learn more about this popular reunion Click Here

It's That Time Again

When we all take a brief time out to reflect on the sacrifices so many have made to keep this country free and strong. I've never really felt comfortable with saying "Happy" Memorial Day though. I'm gonna be grilling and drinking some beers and enjoying the Indy 500 and stuff but somewhere along the line in the next 48 hours I'm gonna break down and cry. I know it's coming, I just don't know what will trigger it.
Earlier this week I visited the "We Remember" page and I noticed something that I never picked up on in the ten years that page has been on the internet. The bulk of all A 1/501 casualties happened during the months of January through August. In 1968 the last casualty of the year was Alan J. Meisheid on September 10th. Then there was an almost unbelievable stretch of eight months before Lloyd W. Jones was KIA on April 18, 1969. With the NVA, VC, booby traps, accidents and disease all around us that's quite remarkable. Lloyd's death was followed by two more on May 25th, two more on June 7th, another on June 9th and two more in August. Then none until January 1970. David L. Womble was the last KIA of 1970 on July 7th. Once again all was quiet until January 1971. Interesting how that played out.
Check it out here WE REMEMBER

I hope all of you have a safe and enjoyable holiday with family and friends. I'll be thinking about you.

later, Joynt

A Return To Vietnam

About a month ago I got a CD in the mail from an old A 1/501 buddy Terry Huff. Terry was with the original A co when they arrived in Nam mid december 1967. I finally got around to editing the over 300 pics and have added Terry's album to the "In The AO" page at the website.
There is a bit of a twist here though as Terry took these photos in 2007. Terry is friends with a couple that live in Vietnam and he payed them a visit. They took him under thier wings and showed him a real good time.
I think we all have memories of Vietnam being a beautiful country but we just didn't have time to enjoy it much. A lot of Terry's pics will jog your memory. Here's a direct link to his album

Thanks Terry

HAPPY EASTER

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF MY BROTHERS OF CO. A

BROTHERS FOREVER

BARRY

Sandy (Sandman) Berger

Just received word that Sandy (Sandman) Berger is in the hospital. He had chest pains and was short of breath. The doctors put two stints in him and he is doing fine. He can't take calls right now but next week he can.

"Update" Tim (Yancy) Derringer

On the afternoon of December 10, Tim fell in the bathroom and hit his head on the shower door stall (I think) resulting in a huge and deep cut along the line of his biopsy surgery 5 years ago, plus a cut on his lower lip and other small places. By the time I ran to the room, blood was already pooled around him. He was face down and stopped breathing three times before EMS arrived. I could lift his shoulder up, and he began breathing again the first two times. His heart had also stopped when they arrived. We had almost zero hope of survival. We learned in addition to the cuts, he had a mild heart attack, a stroke, and he developed pneumonia--unsure on the sequence of events, except the pneumonia, of course. However, when they removed the ventilator Friday afternoon, December 11, he continued to breathe on his own. On December 12 he was sitting up, talking and making jokes. He was moved out of intensive care December 16. On December 21 he was transferred to Jewish Hospital where he had two stents placed in his front artery and balloon angioplasty in a smaller artery in the back. He was transferred to HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Elizabethtown on December 23, as he was a prime candidate for stroke victim rehabilitation. Medical staff in all three hospitals refer to him as “the miracle man”. Our church calls him “our Christmas miracle”. A cardiologist, Dr. Prince, said he had only seen one other case like his; a nurse said Dr. Prince put in his notes, “Wow!” We returned home on January 5, and he began outpatient rehabilitation on January 8, primarily for continued improvement in memory and balance. After his first trip as an outpatient, he no longer requires occupational therapy. He will continue speech and physical therapy three times a week. So we have had our second miracle (the first almost six years ago following his brain tumor diagnosis)! Tim joked and said, "And that's enough."

We are so thankful and wish all of you a Happy New Year and God’s blessings.

Diana

Robert E. Tavitas (Buddha)

Just a couple weeks ago (dec. 20th) I posted here that I had gotten contact info for "Buddha" from Harold "Smokey" Smith. I'm sorry to report that Bob Tavitas passed away December 29th 2009 after a long hard battle with cancer.

If you have any pics or stories about Buddha or just want to pass on your condolences you can email his wife Anna here: General60101@hotmail.com
You can also post something here in the blog if you like by clicking on "comments" below.