     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     .                                  __                           .
     .                             ____/  \_                         .
     .  -*-  N A M   V E T  -*-   (      *  \                        .
     .                            \    Quang Tri                     .
     .       G. Joseph Peck        \_/\       \_ Hue                 .
     .       Managing Editor           \_Ashau    Phu Bai            .
     .                                   \_*       \_                .
     . Bob Morris         Jerry Hindle     \      *  )               .
     .     Distribution Managers          /    Da Nang               .
     .                                   (            \_             .
     .        Section Editors             \_    ------- \__          .
     .        ---------------               \_  I Corps    \         .
     . PTSD:  Kathleen Kelly, Ph.D.           \ -------     !        .
     . AGENT ORANGE:   Martin J. Kroll, Sr.  /\_____        !        .
     . MIA-POW:   Glenn Toothman            /       !        \       .
     . HOMELESSNESS:  Lefty Frizzell        !       !___      \      .
     . FEDERAL BENEFITS:   Jim Hildwine     !           \/\____!     .
     . INCARCERATED VETS:  Todd C. Looney   !                 !      .
     .                     Joyce Flory     /  Dak To          !      .
     . MEMORIALS:  Aaron Schmiedel        /     *            /       .
     . MEMORIES:   G. Joseph Peck         !                  \_      .
     . CHAPLAIN:   Rev. Ed Brant          !             Phu Cat\     .
     .                                     \    *            *  )    .
     .   -**-  N A M    V E T   -**-        \ Pleiku            )    .
     .                                       \                  \    .
     .                                       /                  /    .
     . "In the jungles of 'Nam, some of us  (       --------    !    .
     . were scared and wary, but we pulled  _\      II Corps    !    .
     . one another along and were able     /        --------     \   .
     . to depend on each other.  That has  \                      \  .
     . never changed.  Today, free of the   !                 *  /   .
     . criticisms and misunderstandings   _/          Nha Trang /    .
     . many veterans have endured,      _/                     /     .
     . NAM VET is a shining beacon,  __/                       !     .
     . a ray of hope, and a    _  __/  \                       !     .
     . reminder that the _____( )/      !              Cam Ranh Bay  .
     . lessons learned  /               !__                    !     .
     . at such a high  /                   \                  /      .
     . price shall not \          Bien Hoa  \                /       .
     . be forgotten  -  !  Chu Chi       *   \            __/        .
     . nor the errors    \_   *   ---------   \       ___/           .
     . repeated!!!"  ____  \      III Corps    \    _/               .
     .       / \_____)   )_(_     ---------     !__/  Duplication in .
     .       !               (               ___/ any form permitted .
     .  _____!                \__      * ___/      for noncommercial .
     . !                          Saigon/             purposes only. .
     .  \___   --------           /  \/                              .
     .      \  IV Corps          /        For other use, contact:    .
     .       ) --------         /   G. Joseph Peck, Managing Editor  .
     .      /                   !  P O Box 2056 Pittsfield, MA 01202 .
     .     /               ____/            (413) 442-1660           .
     .    /         Mekong/                                          .
     .    !         Delta/  This newsletter is comprised of articles .
     .    !        ____/     and items from individuals and other    .
     .    !       /       sources.  We are not responsible for the   .
     .    !      /      content of this information nor are any of   .
     .    !   __/        NAM VETs contributors or Section Editors.   .
     .     \_/                                                   gjp .
     .                                                               .
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                      Page    i
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     

     =================================================================

                     T A B L E   O F   C O N T E N T S

     
     1.  EDITORIALS
          Do the best ya can with what ya got! ....................  1
          An Urgent Search for a Veteran ..........................  3

     2.  Missing!!!
          MIA's Listed: F through M ...............................  4
          MIA/KIA DataBases Now Available! ........................ 15
          They haven't forgutten US!!! ............................ 16

     3.  Noteworthy!
          Cracks in the Wall??? ................................... 17
          Wall Street Wannabee .................................... 18
          "In-Touch" ... Can it help? ............................. 19
          "In-Touch" Project Summarized ........................... 22
          Locating Military Personnel ............................. 25

     4.  Remember Them!!!
          Working for the Incarcerated Veteran .................... 26
          A visit or note once in awhile? ......................... 28

     5.  The NamVet Chaplain's Corner
          The Chaplain at NamVet .................................. 29
          The Electronic Chapel ................................... 32

     6.  IVVEC Reviews "Born on the 4th"
          Sharp as Bayonets ....................................... 33
          IVVEC looks at "Born on the 4th" ........................ 36

     7.  Veteran Benefits & Info
          Dobson to Lead VA National Salute ....................... 40
          Questions answered by a VA Counselor .................... 41
          Vietnam-Era GI Bill Benefits Ending ..................... 42
          VA Cites Small Business Gains ........................... 43
          VA in Retirement Home Partnership? ...................... 44

     8.  Hearts n' Minds
          Recovery Phases of PTSD ................................. 45
          Finally Here!!! ......................................... 52
          Helping our Women Veterans .............................. 53

     9.  Dealing with 'Nam
          Vietnam Helicopter Pilots! .............................. 64
          Puttin' away the Ghosts ................................. 66

     10.  And So It Was...
          Khe Sanh Remembered... .................................. 68
          BEGINNING OF TET ........................................ 70

     11.  Concentrated Service
          NamVet/IVVEC Concentrated Service ....................... 78
          Knockin' on the Domed House ............................. 79
          Break out the Clearsil <tm>! ............................ 80
          IVVEC & NAMVET Reach out to YOUR area! .................. 81
          TET! .................................................... 83

     12.  Subscribe Now!
          Subscribe to Nam Vet .................................... 92

     13.  IVVEC & NamVet - WHERE?
          NAMVET - Where can it be found? ......................... 93
          Where did the messages come from? ....................... 95
          IVVEC Parameters & Nodelist ............................. 97
          Some Gave All... ........................................ 102










































     NAM VET Newsletter                                      Page   ii
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                            E D I T O R I A L S
     =================================================================

                   Do the best ya can with what ya got!
     
                            by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                        VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
     Whew!!!  Another issue finally put to bed! Now its time to start 
     on the next one <arghhh!!!>  
     
     The field of fire here in Massachusetts has been pretty narrow and 
     tight since about the beginning of the New Year when first NamVet 
     and IVVEC began tackling areas of direct service.  Whether we're 
     dealing with a bunch of STRACK civvy personnel or not, only time 
     will tell.  (I STILL hear a lot about crossing T's and dotting I's 
     - and double-checking to make SURE the watermark on the paper 
     we've written on is facing the right way!!!)
     
     Some of the areas we've tried have had positive results (see the 
     NamVet/IVVEC Concentrated Service section).  Others have resulted 
     in only silence.  Oh well... ya win some, ya lose some.  Maybe 
     <grin> the "silence" is NOT the lull before the storm but, 
     instead, indicative of the fact that there's some "behind the 
     scenes" work goin' on (government and bureaucracies DO work that 
     way, ya know <deja vu shrug o' the shoulders>).  On a personal 
     level (where my computer kept givin' up the ghost and I was always 
     havin' to do some emergency resuscitation to barely make deadline-
     time for NamVet), we've received some help almost beyond even our 
     dreams.  (Thanx again, Lefty n' Bob!!!)
     
     NamVet, for me, has been a lifesaver, many times over.  Just about 
     the times I've almost totally convinced myself that I AM lazy and 
     that I really DON'T want to work or some other not-positive thing, 
     I get involved in producing the next month's issue and discover 
     that, yup, there IS somethin' I CAN still do my best at - gettin' 
     the word out to each of you about veteran service and new 
     developments anywhere along the spectrum.
     
     Its really been an honor, and I'm sincerely grateful.  THANK YOU, 
     each and every one, for the articles you submit; the VOICE 
     telephone calls, the cards n' letters; the wishes for a successful 
     resolution to the difficulties I've created here for m'self,  n' 
     all the other things.  Like I said, "It's REALLY been an honor!" 
     ('course ONE of ya that got me to admit that I'm uncomfortable 
     TAKING help rather than GIVING it... <grin>)
     
     Movin' right along...
     
     Last Friday night (9 Feb 90) I had the very welcome opportunity of 
     meeting with the State of Georgia's candidate for 1991 National 
     Commander of the American Legion, Bob Turner.  Bob presently works 
     as a counselor with the Claims Division of the Georgia Department 
     of Veterans Service in Atlanta and his background includes 1966-68 
     Vietnam service as well as Presidential recognition for his many 
     outstanding contributions to his community.  When asked about 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  1
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     Agent Orange; Unemployment among Vietnam and other veterans; and, 
     what he would do to help stem the tide of VA hospital closings and 
     reductions if offered services, Bob made it crystal clear that 
     accomplishing anything as a National Commander is not a job that 
     one person can do alone.  "It requires teamwork and the many of us 
     pulling in the same direction."
     
     Teamwork... doing the best we can... all pulling in the same 
     direction.   Sounds almost like he could have been talking about 
     us here in NamVet/IVVEC world!  
     
     I'll be writing Bob Turner soon on IVVEC stationery and asking him 
     for input that can be shared with you all here.  Stay tuned!
     
     Looks like, for now, tha's just about it for this issue.  
     Hopefully our next will be out on time:  March 4th - the ONLY day 
     of the year that's a command to GO FORWARD!!!  Would sure like to 
     have one of YOUR articles in here.  Let's KEEP doin' the best we 
     can with what we've got.  With NamVet and its readers, we've got a 
     lot!!!
     
                              'til next month
                     Show a brother or sister veteran
                               That YOU care
     
                              Ci'ao for Ni'ao
     
                                   -Joe-
     






























     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  2
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                           Urgent Veteran Search
     
                          Input by: Mark Burfeind
                                at: VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                                    (413) 443-6313
     
      I'm  trying  to find a native of WINONA MN by the name of  MERRIL 
     HAASE. Reason for this search is he has a cousin -  NEIL LUHMANN - 
     that has been diagnosed with terminal cancer about 5 weeks ago and 
     is rapidly fading. (Completely bedbound already)
      MERRIL  is  approximately 45 -  50 years old.  He spent about  16 
     years  in U.S.  NAVY --  late 50's to mid 60's.  His last  assumed 
     whereabouts  were either somewhere in TENNESSEE or OHIO.  After he 
     left  the  service he was known to seek employment as  manager  or 
     custodial  operator  of various trailer parks or camp grounds  for 
     employment.  He  is  also quite adept as a cabinet maker  and  was 
     known  to support his income with sales of wood craft and toys  he 
     made as a side line.
      If  this description fits anybody you might know please have  him 
     call 1-507-689-2064 (NEIL's home phone).  Also if anybody has seen 
     MERRIL  in  the last two years would you please call if you  think 
     any information you have might be helpful in the search.
      Thanks in advance to whoever might be able to help.
      
                                      SEMPER FI -- MWB
      
     P.S. To any SysOp who reads this message.  Please reload this into 
     all  local  message  bases  to get as a large  a  distribution  as 
     possible.
       Also  all ECHO moderators I would appreciate it if this  message 
     can be added to your respective ECHO.
     



























     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  3
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                            M i s s i n g ! ! !
     =================================================================

            Listing of MIA's - Last Names ending in F through M
     
                         Input by: Charles Harper
                     Classic City Node-2 - Athens, GA
                              (404) 548-0726
     
     "I got the file off of PC-EXEC in Milwaukee but since then I have
     seen a few messages in reference to POW BBS on a few boards."
                                          - Charles Harper -
     
     (Note from Joe:  The list is BIG! and includes info on Biographies
     on the individual MIA's.  This is part two of three parts.  Part 3
     will be published in a subsequent issue.)
     
                       From: *** The POW Network ***
                              319-386-7697
     
                          List of Available Bios
                             December 8, 1989
     
                         *** The POW Network ***
                              319-386-7697
     
                          List of Available Bios
                             December 8, 1989
     
     Bio#  Lastname         First Mid.     Br/Rank  Incident  Country
     ====  ========         ==========    ========  ========  =======
     
     F057  FALLON           PATRICK M.     USAF O6  04-Jul-69 LAOS
     F002  FANNING          HUGH M.        USMC O3  31-Oct-67 NVN
     F001  FANNING          JOSEPH P.      USAF O2  13-Dec-68 LAOS
     F065  FARLOW           CRAIG L.       ARMY W1  16-May-71 SVN
     F087  FARRIS           WILLIAM F.     USN  E4  06-Feb-68 SVN/OW
     F062  FEATHERSTON      FIELDING W.    USAF O3  30-Dec-69 LAOS
     F351  FEGAN            RONALD J.      USN  O1  09-Apr-65 CHINA
     F025  FELLENZ          CHARLES R.     USAF E5  24-Nov-69 LAOS
     F006  FELLOWS          ALLEN E.       USAF O4  20-Mar-68 LAOS
     F352  FENELEY          FRANCIS J.     USAF O3  11-May-66 NVN
     F061  FERGUSON         DOUGLAS D.     USAF O2  30-Dec-69 LAOS
     F054  FERGUSON         WALTER JR.     ARMY E8  23-Aug-68 SVN
     F010  FIESZEL          CLIFFORD W.    USAF O3  30-Sep-68 NVN
     F354  FINGER           SANFORD I.     ARMY E6  26-Oct-71 SVN/OW
     F011  FINLEY           DICKIE W.      ARMY E3  21-Oct-68 SVN
     F013  FINNEY           CHARLES E.     USMC O3  17-Mar-69 LAOS
     F015  FISHER           DONALD E.      USAF O5  29-Dec-67 NVN
     F064  FISHER           DONALD G.      USAF O4  22-Apr-70 LAOS
     F017  FITTS            RICHARD A.     ARMY E5  30-Nov-68 LAOS
     F018  FITZGERALD       JOSEPH E.      ARMY E3  31-May-67 SVN
     F019  FITZGERALD       PAUL L. JR.    ARMY E5  17-Oct-67 SVN
     F356  FIVELSON         BARRY F.       ARMY W1  15-Feb-71 LAOS
     F058  FLEMING          HORACE H. III  USMC O2  10-May-68 SVN
     F601  FLYNN            SEAN L.        CIV      06-Apr-70 CAMB
     F023  FOLEY            BRENDAN P.     USAF O4  24-Nov-67 LAOS
     F359  FOLEY            JOHN J. III    USMC E3  11-Jun-67 SVN
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     F360  FORAME           PETER C.       ARMY O2  19-Dec-71 CAMB
     F361  FORD             EDWARD         ARMY E5  09-Dec-68 SVN
     F026  FORMAN           WILLIAM S.     USN  O3  22-Jan-66 NVN/OW
     F027  FORS             GARY H.        USMC O3  22-Dec-67 LAOS
     F028  FORTNER          FREDERICK J.   USN  O2  17-Oct-67 NVN
     F059  FOSTER           MARVIN L.      ARMY O4  16-Mar-69 SVN
     F029  FOSTER           PAUL L.        USAF E5  29-Dec-67 LAOS
     F362  FOSTER           ROBERT E.      USAF E5  09-Mar-66 SVN
     F031  FOWLER           DONALD R.      ARMY E4  01-Aug-68 SVN
     F074  FOWLER           JAMES A.       USAF O4  06-Jun-72 NVN
     F088  FOWLER           JAMES J.       USN  E2  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     F089  FOWLER           ROY G.         USN  E4  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     F055  FRANCISCO        SAN D.         USAF O2  25-Nov-68 NVN
     F033  FRANK            MARTIN S.      ARMY E5  12-Jul-67 SVN
     F034  FRANKLIN         CHARLES E.     USAF O3  14-Aug-66 NVN
     F364  FRANKS           IAN J.         ARMY E4  23-Mar-68 SVN
     F035  FRAWLEY          WILLIAM D.     USN  O3  01-Mar-66 NVN/OW
     F365  FRAZIER          PAUL R.        ARMY E5  03-Sep-68 SVN
     F036  FREDERICK        PETER J.       USAF O5  15-Mar-67 NVN
     F037  FREDERICK        WILLIAM V.     USAF O3  05-Jul-67 NVN
     F091  FRENG            STANLEY J.     USN  E5  17-Jun-66 SVN/OW
     F038  FRENYEA          EDMUND M.      USN  E3  22-Jan-66 NVN/OW
     F072  FRINK            JOHN W.        ARMY W1  02-Apr-72 SVN
     F066  FRISHMANN        ROBERT F.      USN  O2  24-Oct-67 NVN
     F082  FRITS            ORVILLE B.     ARMY E7  20-May-67 SVN
     F086  FRITSCH          THOMAS W.      USMC E3  10-May-68 SVN
     F600  FRITZ            JOHN J. JR.    CIV      08-Feb-69 SVN
     F063  FRYAR            BRUCE C.       USN  O3  02-Jan-70 LAOS
     F040  FULLAM           WAYNE E.       USAF O4  07-Oct-67 NVN
     G001  GAGE             ROBERT H.      USMC E4  03-Jul-66 SVN
     G119  GALLAGHER        DONALD L.      USN  E7  06-Feb-68 SVN/OW
     G003  GALLAGHER        JOHN T.        ARMY E6  05-Jan-68 LAOS
     G350  GALLANT          HENRY J.       ARMY E8  13-Jul-65 SVN
     G004  GALVIN           RONALD E.      USN  E2  08-Mar-67 NVN/OW
     G120  GAN              LEONARDO M.    USN  E7  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     G026  GANLEY           RICHARD O.     USAF O3  24-Nov-69 LAOS
     G072  GANOE            BERMAN JR.     ARMY E4  24-Mar-70 CAMB
     G351  GARBETT          JIMMY R.       ARMY E4  09-Oct-69 SVN
     G115  GARCIA           ANDRES         USMC E3  15-May-75 CAMB
     G081  GARCIA           RICARDO M.     ARMY E5  19-Mar-71 LAOS
     G352  GARDNER          GLENN V.       ARMY E2  25-Nov-66 SVN/OW
     G005  GARDNER          JOHN G.        USMC O3  03-Jun-67 LAOS
     G353  GARNER           JOHN H.        USN  E4  29-May-67 SVN
     G354  GARRETT          MAURICE E. JR. ARMY O3  22-Oct-71 SVN
     G355  GARSIDE          FREDERICK T.   USAF E3  23-Mar-61 LAOS
     G047  GARWOOD          ROBERT R.      USMC E2  28-Sep-65 SVN
     G356  GASSMAN          FRED A.        ARMY C5  05-Oct-70 LAOS
     G007  GATES            JAMES W.       ARMY O4  06-Apr-66 LAOS
     G094  GATWOOD          ROBIN F. JR.   USAF O2  02-Apr-72 SVN
     G358  GAULEY           JAMES P.       USAF O3  10-Jan-67 LAOS
     G114  GAUSE            BERNARD JR.    USN  E5  15-May-75 CAMB
     G079  GAUTHIER         DENNIS L.      ARMY E3  31-Oct-69 SVN
     G010  GEIST            STEPHEN J.     ARMY E4  26-Sep-67 SVN
     G011  GEORGE           JAMES E.       ARMY E4  08-Feb-68 SVN
     G600  GERBER           DANIEL A.      CIV      30-May-62 SVN
     G012  GERVAIS          DONALD P.      ARMY E5  01-May-68 SVN
     G013  GETCHELL         PAUL E.        USAF O3  13-Jan-69 LAOS
     G014  GIAMMERINO       VINCENT F.     ARMY E3  27-Jun-68 SVN
     G095  GIANNANGELI      ANTHONY R.     USAF O5  02-Apr-72 SVN
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  5
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     G359  GIERAK           GEORGE G JR.   USN  O2  13-Jun-66 SVN
     G098  GILBERT          PAUL F.        USAF O2  18-Jun-72 SVN
     G015  GILCHRIST        ROBERT M.      USAF O2  07-Oct-66 NVN
     G075  GILLEN           THOMAS E.      USAF O4  18-Feb-70 LAOS
     G050  GILLESPIE        CHARLES R.     USN  O5  24-Oct-67 NVN
     G363  GINN             DAVID L.       ARMY E3  03-Nov-70 SVN
     G104  GIROUX           PETER J.       USAF O3  22-Dec-72 NVN
     GLS01 GISH             HENRY G.       USAF E4  11-Mar-68 LAOS
     G365  GLANVILLE        JOHN T JR.     USN  O4  13-Jun-66 NVN
     G017  GLASSON          WILLIAM A.     USN  O4  12-Apr-66 CHINA
     G018  GLOVER           CALVIN C.      USAF E5  22-May-68 LAOS
     G019  GLOVER           DOUGLAS J.     ARMY E6  19-Feb-68 LAOS
     G052  GODWIN           SOLOMON H.     USMC W1  05-Feb-68 SVN
     G066  GOFF             KENNETH B. JR. ARMY O2  24-Aug-67 SVN
     G370  GOLZ             JOHN B.        USN  O2  22-Apr-70 LAOS
     G074  GOMEZ            ROBERT A.      USAF O2  23-Apr-70 LAOS
     G022  GONZALES         JESUS A.       ARMY E5  19-Apr-68 SVN
     G372  GONZALES         JOSE J.        USMC E3  11-Jun-67 SVN
     G375  GOPP             THOMAS ALAN    USMC E4  03-Aug-67 SVN/OW
     G122  GORE             PAUL EDWIN     USN  E6  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     G123  GORSUCH          WILLIAM D.     USN  E4  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     G070  GOTNER           NORBERT A.     USAF O4  03-Feb-71 LAOS
     G067  GOURLEY          LAURENT L.     USAF O3  09-Aug-69 LAOS
     G027  GOVAN            ROBERT A.      USAF O4  01-Apr-67 LAOS
     G068  GRACE            JAMES W.       USAF O3  14-Jun-69 LAOS
     G076  GRAF             JOHN G.        USN  O4  15-Nov-69 SVN
     G071  GRAFFE           PAUL L.        ARMY O2  03-Oct-69 SVN
     G102  GRAHAM           ALAN U.        USAF O2  17-Oct-72 NVN
     G028  GRAHAM           DENNIS L.      USAF O3  28-Mar-68 NVN
     G380  GRAHAM           GILBERT J.     USN  E5  28-Sep-67 SVN
     G381  GRANIELA         JOSE A. JR.    ARMY E3  16-Aug-68 SVN
     G382  GRANTHAM         ROBERT E.      ARMY E4  08-Mar-71 SVN
     G383  GRAUERT          HANS H.        USN  O2  03-Nov-67 SVN/OW
     G384  GRAVES           RICHARD C.     USN  O1  25-May-67 NVN/OW
     G385  GRAVITTE         CONNIE M.      USAF O3  17-Jun-66 SVN/OW
     G077  GRAZIOSI         FRANCIS G.     ARMY E4  10-Oct-70 SVN
     G389  GREEN            GEORGE C. JR.  ARMY E5  04-Dec-70 SVN
     G391  GREEN            JAMES A.       ARMY E3  18-Jun-70 CAMB
     G392  GREEN            LARRY E.       USMC E4  26-Mar-68 SVN/OW
     G029  GREEN            NORMAN M.      USAF O5  09-Jan-68 LAOS
     G394  GREEN            THOMAS F.      ARMY E2  26-Oct-71 SVN/OW
     G124  GREENLEAF        JOSEPH G.      USN  O3  14-Apr-72 SVN/OW
     G099  GREENWOOD        ROBERT R. JR.  USAF O4  02-Sep-72 LAOS
     G031  GREER            ROBERT L.      USMC E2  07-Jun-64 SVN
     G058  GREGORY          ROBERT R.      USAF O3  02-Dec-66 NVN
     G032  GREILING         DAVID S.       USN  O4  24-Jul-68 NVN
     G397  GRELLA           DONALD C.      ARMY E5  28-Dec-65 SVN
     G073  GREWELL          LARRY I.       USAF E5  24-Nov-69 LAOS
     G080  GRIFFIN          RODNEY L.      ARMY E4  02-May-70 CAMB
     G034  GRIFFITH         ROBERT S.      ARMY E5  19-Feb-68 LAOS
     G093  GRISSETT         EDWIN R.       USMC E4  22-Jan-66 SVN
     G035  GROSSE           CHRISTOPHER A. ARMY E5  28-Mar-68 LAOS
     G036  GROTH            WADE L.        ARMY E4  12-Feb-68 SVN
     G037  GRUBB            PETER A.       USAF O2  17-Sep-67 NVN
     G601  GRZYB            ROBERT H.      CIV      10-Dec-67 SVN
     G400  GUERRA           RAUL A.        USN  E3  08-Oct-67 SVN
     G039  GUILLERMIN       LOUIS F.       USAF O3  30-Apr-68 LAOS
     G040  GUILLET          ANDRE R.       USAF E3  18-May-66 LAOS
     G041  GUILLORY         EDWARD J.      ARMY E7  18-Jun-67 SVN
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  6
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     G401  GUILLORY         HUBIA J.       ARMY E3  25-Apr-68 SVN
     G402  GUMBERT          ROBERT W. JR.  ARMY E3  22-Jun-70 SVN
     G042  GUNN             ALAN W.        ARMY W2  12-Feb-68 SVN
     H001  HACKETT          HARLEY B.      USAF O3  24-Jul-68 NVN/OW
     H351  HACKETT          JAMES E.       ARMY E4  11-Jun-72 SVN
     H352  HAGEN            CRAIG L.       ARMY E5  10-Jun-65 SVN
     H353  HAIGHT           STEPHEN H.     ARMY E4  09-May-70 SVN
     H354  HALE             JOHN D.        ARMY O2  08-Mar-71 SVN
     H005  HALL             FREDERICK M.   USAF O2  12-Apr-69 SVN
     H173  HALL             GARY L.        USMC E3  15-May-75 CAMB
     H168  HALL             HARLEY H.      USN  O5  27-Jan-73 SVN
     H006  HALL             JAMES S.       USAF E2  29-Jul-66 NVN
     H355  HALL             WALTER L.      ARMY O2  10-Jun-65 SVN
     H356  HALL             WALTER R.      ARMY E4  22-Mar-71 LAOS
     HLS01 HALL             WILLIS ROSELLE USAF E6  09-Aug-68 LAOS
     H007  HALLBERG         ROGER C.       ARMY E6  24-Mar-67 SVN
     H146  HALPIN           RICHARD C.     USAF O3  29-Mar-72 LAOS
     H008  HAMILTON         DENNIS C.      ARMY W1  05-Jan-68 LAOS
     H012  HAMM             JAMES E.       USAF O2  14-Mar-68 SVN
     H098  HAMMOND          DENNIS W.      USMC E4  08-Feb-68 SVN
     H013  HANDRAHAN        EUGENE A.      ARMY E4  10-Oct-68 SVN
     H602  HANGEN           WELLES         CIV      31-May-70 CAMB
     H014  HANLEY           TERENCE H.     USN  O4  01-Jan-68 NVN/OW
     H015  HANNA            KENNETH        ARMY E7  07-Feb-68 SVN
     H358  HANRATTY         THOMAS M.      USMC E2  11-Jun-67 SVN
     H106  HANSEN           LESTER A.      ARMY W2  13-Aug-69 SVN
     H079  HANSON           ROBERT T.      USN  O2  03-Feb-66 NVN/OW
     H016  HANSON           STEPHEN PAUL   USMC O3  03-Jun-67 LAOS
     H127  HARBER           STEPHEN J.     ARMY O4  02-Jul-70 SVN
     H174  HARGROVE         JOSEPH N.      USMC E3  15-May-75 CAMB
     H019  HARGROVE         OLIN JR.       ARMY E3  17-Oct-67 SVN
     H100  HARKER           DAVID N.       ARMY E3  08-Jan-68 SVN
     H020  HARLEY           LEE D.         USAF O3  18-May-66 LAOS
     H124  HARNED           GARY A.        ARMY E5  24-Mar-70 CAMB
     H360  HARPER           RICHARD K.     ARMY W3  19-May-65 SVN
     H133  HARRIS           BOBBY G.       ARMY E4  17-Mar-71 CAMB
     H081  HARRIS           CARLYLE S.     USAF O3  04-Apr-65 NVN
     H022  HARRIS           GREGORY J.     USMC E4  12-Jun-66 SVN
     H361  HARRIS           HAROLD L.      ARMY E3  22-Oct-66 SVN
     H023  HARRIS           REUBEN         USN  E2  12-Apr-66 CHINA
     H119  HARRIS           STEPHEN W.     USAF E5  22-Apr-70 LAOS
     H107  HARRISON         DONALD L.      ARMY O3  29-Oct-68 NVN
     H364  HARRISON         LARRY G.       ARMY E6  26-Feb-71 CAMB
     H151  HARRISON         ROBERT H.      USAF O4  18-Jun-72 SVN
     H164  HART             THOMAS T. III  USAF O3  21-Dec-72 LAOS
     H025  HARTNESS         GREGG          USAF O3  26-Nov-68 LAOS
     H162  HARVEY           JACK R.        USAF O2  28-Nov-72 SVN
     H109  HARWOOD          JAMES A.       ARMY E2  15-Jan-71 SVN
     H027  HARWORTH         ELROY E.       USAF E3  31-May-66 NVN
     H028  HASENBACH        PAUL A.        ARMY E3  21-Apr-67 SVN
     H029  HASSENGER        ARDEN K.       USAF E5  24-Dec-65 LAOS
     H030  HASTINGS         STEVEN M.      ARMY E5  01-Aug-68 SVN
     H369  HATTORI          MASAKI         ARMY O4  22-Mar-68 SVN
     H370  HAVRANEK         MICHAEL W.     USMC E3  11-Jun-67 SVN
     H372  HAYDEN           GLENN H.       USN  O5  17-Feb-68 LAOS
     H118  HEFEL            DANIEL         ARMY E4  05-Feb-70 SVN
     H165  HEGGEN           KEITH R.       USAF O5  21-Dec-72 NVN
     H036  HEITMAN          STEVEN W.      ARMY E5  13-Mar-68 SVN
     H037  HELBER           LAWRENCE N.    USMC O1  24-Jan-66 SVN
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  7
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     H377  HEMMEL           CLARENCE J.    USAF O3  21-Oct-67 SVN
     H176  HEMPEL           BARRY L.       USMC E2  10-May-68 SVN
     H148  HENDERSON        WILLIAM J.     USAF O2  03-Apr-72 SVN/OW
     H157  HENN             JOHN R. JR.    ARMY W2  24-May-72 SVN
     H104  HENRY            NATHAN B.      ARMY E4  12-Jul-67 SVN
     H120  HENSLEY          RONNIE L.      USAF E5  22-Apr-70 LAOS
     H379  HENTZ            RICHARD J.     ARMY E5  04-Mar-71 NVN
     H380  HEPLER           FRANK M.       USAF E5  12-May-68 SVN
     H381  HERNANDEZ        FRANK S.       ARMY E5  06-May-70 SVN
     H158  HEROLD           RICHARD W.     USAF O3  02-Sep-72 LAOS
     H042  HERREID          ROBERT D.      ARMY E2  10-Oct-68 SVN
     H111  HERRERA          FREDERICK D.   ARMY E3  25-Mar-69 SVN
     H115  HERRICK          JAMES W.       USAF O2  27-Oct-69 LAOS
     H043  HERRIN           HENRY H. JR.   USN  O1  01-Jan-68 NVN/OW
     H044  HERROLD          NED R.         USAF O2  31-May-66 NVN
     H045  HESFORD          PETER D.       USAF O2  21-Mar-68 LAOS
     H046  HESS             FREDERICK W.   USAF O2  29-Mar-69 LAOS
     H383  HESS             GENE K.        USAF E5  17-Jun-66 SVN/OW
     H132  HESTAND          JAMES H.       ARMY W1  17-Mar-71 CAMB
     H048  HESTLE           ROOSEVELT L JR USAF O4  06-Jul-66 NVN
     H180  HEYNE            RAYMOND T.     USMC E4  10-May-68 SVN
     H112  HICKS            PRENTICE W.    ARMY E3  25-Mar-69 SVN
     H387  HIEMER           JERRY A.       ARMY E4  17-Nov-65 SVN
     H126  HILBRICH         BARRY W.       ARMY O3  09-Jun-70 SVN
     H051  HILL             BILLY D.       ARMY E6  21-Jan-68 SVN
     H390  HILL             JOHN R.        ARMY O3  27-Apr-70 SVN/OW
     H391  HILL             JOSEPH A.      USMC E3  28-May-68 SVN
     H184  HILL             RAYFORD J.     USN  E4  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     H052  HILL             ROBERT L.      USAF E6  18-Oct-66 NVN/OW
     H394  HILTON           ROBERT L.      USAF E4  14-Mar-66 NVN
     H395  HINES            VAUGHN M.      ARMY E3  08-Nov-67 SVN/OW
     HX01  HIRONS           ALAN           CIV      26-Apr-72 CAMB
     H160  HOCKRIDGE        JAMES A.       USAF O3  17-Oct-72 NVN
     H053  HODGSON          CECIL J.       ARMY E7  29-Jan-66 SVN
     H398  HOEFFS           JOHN H.        ARMY E4  28-Nov-66 SVN
     H117  HOFF             MICHAEL G.     USN  O1  07-Jan-70 LAOS
     H054  HOFF             SAMMIE D.      USAF O2  30-Aug-66 NVN
     H131  HOLGUIN          LUIS G.        ARMY W1  03-Jan-71 SVN
     H189  HOLLAND          MELVIN A.      USAF E6  11-Mar-68 LAOS
     H402  HOLLINGER        GREG N.        ARMY O3  14-Dec-71 SVN/OW
     H403  HOLLINGSWORTH    HAL T.         USN  O1  16-Jan-66 SVN/OW
     H404  HOLM             ARNOLD E. JR.  ARMY O3  11-Jun-72 SVN
     H405  HOLMAN           GERALD A.      USN  O2  14-Dec-66 SVN/OW
     H059  HOLMES           DAVID H.       USAF O3  15-Mar-66 LAOS
     H061  HOLT             JAMES W.       ARMY E7  07-Feb-68 SVN
     H062  HOLTON           ROBERT E.      USAF O3  29-Jan-69 LAOS
     H407  HOLTZMAN         RONALD L.      ARMY E4  24-Aug-67 SVN
     H064  HOPPER           EARL P. JR.    USAF O2  10-Jan-68 NVN
     H123  HOSKEN           JOHN C.        ARMY W1  24-Mar-70 CAMB
     H130  HOSKINS          CHARLES L.     USAF O2  16-Feb-71 LAOS
     H413  HOSKINS          DONALD R.      USAF E6  26-Apr-72 SVN
     H065  HOSKINSON        ROBERT E.      USAF O3  29-Jul-66 NVN
     H414  HOUSE            JOHN A. II     USMC O3  30-Jun-67 SVN
     H066  HOUSH            ANTHONY F.     ARMY E6  19-Apr-68 SVN
     H129  HOWARD           LEWIS J.       ARMY E4  07-Jul-70 SVN
     H415  HOWARD           LUTHER H.      ARMY E4  30-Jun-67 SVN
     H145  HOWELL           CARTER A.      USAF O2  07-Mar-72 LAOS
     H116  HOWES            GEORGE A.      ARMY W1  10-Jan-70 SVN
     H102  HRDLICKA         DAVID L.       USAF O3  18-May-65 LAOS
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  8
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     H156  HUARD            JAMES L.       USAF O2  12-Jul-72 NVN
     H416  HUBBS            DONALD R.      USN  O5  17-Mar-68 NVN/OW
     H122  HUBERTH          ERIC J.        USAF O2  13-May-70 CAMB
     H067  HUDDLESTON       LYNN R.        ARMY O2  26-Sep-67 SVN
     H134  HUMMEL           JOHN F.        ARMY W1  06-Mar-71 LAOS
     H182  HUMPHREY         GALEN F.       USMC E7  01-Feb-66 NVN
     H068  HUNEYCUTT        CHARLES J. JR. USAF O2  10-Nov-67 NVN
     H422  HUNSICKER        JAMES E.       ARMY O2  24-Apr-72 SVN
     H069  HUNT             JAMES D.       ARMY O3  13-Oct-68 NVN/OW
     H152  HUNT             LEON A.        USAF E7  18-Jun-72 SVN
     H070  HUNT             ROBERT W.      ARMY E4  28-Feb-68 SVN
     H071  HUNT             WILLIAM B.     ARMY E6  04-Nov-66 SVN
     H424  HUNTER           JAMES D.       ARMY E3  29-Oct-68 SVN
     H072  HUNTER           RUSSELL P. JR. USAF O3  10-Feb-66 LAOS
     H426  HUNTLEY          JOHN N.        ARMY E3  27-Sep-69 LAOS
     H185  HUSS             ROY A.         USN  O2  06-Feb-68 SVN/OW
     H073  HUSTON           CHARLES G.     ARMY E5  28-Mar-68 LAOS
     I350  IANDOLI          DONALD         ARMY E5  19-Nov-67 SVN
     I002  INNES            ROGER B.       USN  O2  27-Dec-67 NVN
     I005  IRELAND          ROBERT N.      USAF E7  22-Apr-70 LAOS
     I003  IRSCH            WAYNE C.       USAF O2  09-Jan-68 LAOS
     IX01  ISHI             TOMOHARA       CIV      31-May-70 CAMB
     I008  IVAN             ANDREW JR.     USAF O3  10-Sep-71 LAOS
     J350  JABLONSKI        MICHAEL J.     ARMY E3  27-Jun-69 SVN
     J351  JACKSON          CARL E.        USAF O3  27-Jun-65 SVN
     J033  JACKSON          JAMES W. JR.   USMC E3  21-Sep-69 SVN
     J036  JACOBSON         TIMOTHY J.     ARMY E4  16-May-71 SVN
     J053  JACQUES          JAMES J.       USMC E2  15-May-75 CAMB
     J001  JAKOVAC          JOHN A.        ARMY E5  31-May-67 SVN
     J032  JAMERSON         LARRY C.       ARMY E4  21-Apr-68 SVN
     J051  JAMES            SAMUEL L.      USAF O3  18-Apr-73 CAMB
     J357  JANOUSEK         RONALD J.      USMC O2  09-Aug-69 SVN
     J003  JEFFERSON        JAMES M.       USAF O2  12-May-67 NVN
     J004  JEFFERSON        PERRY H.       USAF O3  03-Apr-69 SVN
     J005  JEFFORDS         DERRELL B.     USAF O5  24-Dec-65 LAOS
     J358  JENKINS          PAUL L.        USAF E7  30-Jun-70 LAOS
     J359  JENNE            ROBERT E.      ARMY E4  08-May-68 SVN
     J006  JENSEN           GEORGE W.      USAF O4  15-May-66 LAOS
     J360  JEROME           STNALEY M.     USN  E8  18-Feb-69 NVN/OW
     J007  JEWELL           EUGENE M.      USAF O2  04-Sep-65 NVN
     J362  JIMENEZ          JUAN M.        ARMY E4  11-May-68 SVN
     J009  JOHNS            VERNON Z.      ARMY E3  03-Feb-68 SVN
     J363  JOHNSON          AUGUST D.      USN  E3  03-Feb-67 SVN
     J010  JOHNSON          BRUCE G.       ARMY O3  10-Jun-65 SVN
     J049  JOHNSON          EDWARD H.      USAF O2  21-Dec-72 NVN
     J011  JOHNSON          FRANKIE B. JR. ARMY E2  21-Apr-68 SVN
     J365  JOHNSON          GARY L.        ARMY E4  18-Feb-71 LAOS
     J366  JOHNSON          JAMES R.       ARMY E3  21-Aug-66 SVN
     J035  JOHNSON          RANDOLPH L.    ARMY E5  20-Feb-71 LAOS
     J013  JOHNSON          WILLIAM D.     ARMY E3  19-Jan-68 SVN
     J371  JOHNSTONE        JAMES M.       ARMY O3  19-Nov-66 SVN
     J045  JONES            BOBBY M.       USAF O3  28-Nov-72 SVN
     J373  JONES            GRAYLAND       ARMY E3  23-Nov-69 SVN
     J014  JONES            JAMES E.       ARMY E7  03-Oct-66 LAOS
     J041  JONES            JOHN R.        ARMY E5  05-Jun-71 SVN
     J376  JONES            JOHNNY M.      ARMY O2  24-Apr-72 SVN
     J015  JONES            LOUIS F.       USAF O4  29-Nov-67 LAOS
     J055  JONES            THOMAS P.      USN  O3  06-Feb-68 SVN/OW
     J018  JORDAN           LARRY M.       USN  O2  12-Apr-66 CHINA
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page  9
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     J378  JUDD             MICHAEL B.     USN  E4  30-Jun-67 SVN
     J379  JURECKO          DANIEL E.      ARMY E4  08-May-68 SVN
     K052  KAHLER           HAROLD         USAF O4  14-Jun-69 LAOS
     K600  KALIL            TANOS E.       CIV      08-Feb-69 SVN
     K350  KANE             BRUCE E.       USMC E4  09-Aug-69 SVN
     K001  KARINS           JOSEPH J. JR.  USAF O3  11-Mar-67 NVN
     K002  KARST            CARL F.        USAF O4  16-Nov-68 SVN
     K355  KASCH            FREDERICK M.   USN  O2  02-Jul-67 NVN
     K004  KEIPER           JOHN C.        USMC E4  15-Nov-66 SVN
     K005  KELLER           JACK E.        USN  O4  21-Apr-66 NVN
     K006  KELLER           WENDELL R.     USAF O4  01-Mar-69 LAOS
     K358  KELLEY           DANIEL M.      ARMY E4  25-Apr-68 SVN
     K359  KEMP             FREDDIE        ARMY E2  17-Aug-66 SVN
     K058  KENNEDY          JAMES E.       ARMY E4  22-Dec-69 LAOS
     K370  KENNEDY          JOHN W.        USAF O2  16-Aug-71 SVN
     K009  KERNS            GAIL M.        ARMY E5  27-Mar-69 SVN
     K362  KERR             ERNEST C. JR.  USMC E3  26-Mar-68 SVN/OW
     K012  KERR             MICHAEL S.     USAF O4  16-Jan-67 NVN
     K015  KIEFEL           ERNEST P. JR.  USAF O3  10-Feb-66 LAOS
     K065  KIER             LARRY GENE     ARMY E3  06-May-70 SVN
     K366  KILLEN           JOHN D. III    USMC E3  30-Jun-67 SVN
     K056  KIMSEY           WILLIAM A. JR. ARMY W2  21-Jan-68 NVN
     K019  KING             CHARLES D.     USAF O4  25-Dec-68 LAOS
     K020  KING             DONALD L.      USAF O3  14-May-66 NVN
     K089  KING             GERALD E.      USMC E4  10-May-68 SVN
     K368  KING             MICHAEL E.     ARMY E4  05-Mar-71 LAOS
     K369  KING             PAUL C. JR.    ARMY E3  04-May-68 LAOS
     K371  KINSMAN          GERALD F.      ARMY O2  15-Jan-71 SVN
     K022  KIPINA           MARSHALL F.    ARMY E4  14-Jul-66 LAOS
     K081  KIRBY            BOBBY A.       USAF O4  21-Dec-72 NVN
     KLS01 KIRK             HERBERT A.     USAF E6  11-Mar-68 LAOS
     K372  KIRKSEY          ROBERT L.      ARMY E3  01-Jan-66 SVN
     K373  KITCHENS         PERRY C.       ARMY E4  03-Nov-70 SVN
     K060  KLIMO            JAMES R.       ARMY E4  04-Nov-69 SVN
     K077  KLINKE           DONALD H.      USAF E5  18-Jun-72 SVN
     K379  KMETYK           JOHATHAN P.    USMC E3  14-Nov-67 SVN
     K380  KNAPP            FREDRIC W.     USN  O2  02-Nov-67 NVN
     K031  KNEBEL           THOMAS E.      USAF E3  22-May-68 LAOS
     K032  KNIGHT           HENRY C.       ARMY W1  20-Oct-68 SVN
     K034  KNIGHT           ROY A. JR.     USAF O4  19-May-67 LAOS
     K382  KNOCHEL          CHARLES A.     USN  O3  22-Sep-66 NVN/OW
     K383  KNUCKEY          THOMAS W.      ARMY O2  27-May-71 CAMB
     K384  KNUTSEN          DONALD P.      ARMY E4  22-Mar-71 LAOS
     K084  KNUTSON          RICHARD A.     ARMY W1  08-Jan-73 SVN
     K063  KOBASHIGAWA      TOM Y.         ARMY E5  05-Feb-70 SVN
     K385  KOENIG           EDWIN LEE      USN  O4  14-Dec-66 SVN/OW
     K091  KOHLER           DELVIN L.      USN  E4  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     K036  KOMMENDANT       AADO           USAF O2  08-Aug-66 SVN
     K387  KONYU            WILLIAM M.     ARMY W1  16-Apr-69 SVN
     K388  KOOI             JAMES W.       USMC E3  11-Jun-67 SVN
     K071  KOONS            DALE F.        USAF O2  26-Dec-71 NVN
     KCV01 KOSIN            BEATRICE       CIV      27-Oct-72 LAOS
     K092  KOSLOSKY         HOWARD M.      USN  E3  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     K389  KRAVITZ          JAMES S.       USN  O2  17-Feb-68 LAOS
     K039  KROMMENHOEK      JEFFREY M.     USN  O3  25-Oct-67 NVN
     K040  KROSKE           HAROLD W. JR.  ARMY O2  11-Feb-69 CAMB
     K068  KRUPA            FREDERICK      ARMY O6  27-Apr-71 SVN
     K395  KRUSI            PETER H.       USN  O4  03-Nov-67 SVN/OW
     K074  KULLAND          BYRON K.       ARMY O2  02-Apr-72 SVN
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 10
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     KX01  KUSAKA           AKIRA          CIV      06-APR-70 CAMB
     K051  KUSHNER          FLOYD H.       ARMY O3  30-Nov-67 SVN
     K396  KUSICK           JOSEPH G.      ARMY E5  08-Nov-67 SVN
     K095  KUSTIGAN         MICHAEL T.     USN  E2  06-Apr-68 NVN
     K397  KUYKENDALL       WILLIE C.      ARMY E3  18-Aug-71 SVN
     L001  LA BOHN          GARY R.        ARMY E4  30-Nov-68 LAOS
     L351  LA GRAND         WILLIAM J.     ARMY W2  05-Sep-65 SVN
     L002  LACEY            RICHARD J.     ARMY E5  31-Jan-68 SVN
     L004  LAFAYETTE        JOHN W.        ARMY O3  06-Apr-66 LAOS
     L353  LAKER            CARL J.        ARMY E4  17-Jun-70 CAMB
     L354  LAMBTON          BENNIE R.      USN  E7  13-Jun-66 NVN
     L005  LANCASTER        KENNETH R.     ARMY E4  03-Jan-68 SVN
     L007  LANE             GLEN O.        ARMY E7  23-May-68 LAOS
     L009  LANEY            BILLY R.       ARMY E7  03-Jun-67 LAOS
     L010  LANNOM           RICHARD C.     USN  O2  01-Mar-68 NVN/OW
     L357  LAPHAM           ROBERT G.      USAF O4  08-Feb-68 SVN
     L011  LAPORTE          MICHAEL L.     USN  E2  05-Sep-67 SVN
     L079  LATELLA          GEORGE F.      USAF O2  06-Oct-72 NVN
     L012  LATIMER          CLARENCE A.    ARMY E4  30-Mar-69 SVN
     L358  LAUREANO-LOPEZ   ISMAEL         ARMY E4  20-Feb-68 SVN
     L090  LAUTERIO         MANUEL A.      ARMY E5  08-Jan-73 SVN
     L359  LAUTZENHEISER    MICHAEL        ARMY E5  26-Oct-71 SVN/OW
     L361  LAWS             DELMER L.      ARMY E7  29-Jul-66 SVN
     L364  LAWSON           KARL W.        ARMY E4  09-Apr-68 SVN
     L083  LE BLANC         LOUIS E. JR.   USAF E7  22-Dec-72 NVN
     L037  LE FEVER         DOUGLAS P.     USAF O3  05-Nov-69 LAOS
     L365  LEAVER           JOHN M. JR.    USN  O5  08-May-72 NVN/OW
     L366  LEDBETTER        THOMAS I.      ARMY O3  19-Jun-64 SVN
     L015  LEE              LEONARD M.     USN  O4  27-Dec-67 NVN
     L019  LEEPER           WALLACE W.     ARMY W2  02-Dec-67 SVN
     L368  LEESER           LEONARD C.     USAF O3  28-Jan-70 NVN
     L016  LEETUN           DAREL D.       USAF O3  17-Sep-66 NVN
     L069  LEHRKE           STANLEY L.     USAF E4  18-Jun-72 SVN
     L370  LEMCKE           DAVID E.       ARMY E4  21-May-68 SVN
     L054  LEMMONS          WILLIAM E.     ARMY O2  18-Jun-67 SVN
     L063  LEMON            JEFFREY C.     USAF O3  25-Apr-71 LAOS
     L371  LEONARD          MARVIN M.      ARMY W2  15-Feb-71 LAOS
     L100  LEONARD          ROBERT B.      USN  E5  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     L084  LERNER           IRWIN S.       USAF O3  20-Dec-72 NVN
     L074  LESTER           RODERICK B.    USN  O2  20-Aug-72 NVN/OW
     L101  LEVAN            ALVIN L.       USN  E3  25-Oct-66 SVN/OW
     L066  LEVIS            CHARLES A.     USAF O5  02-Apr-72 SVN
     L020  LEWANDOWSKI      LEONARD J. JR. USMC E3  19-Oct-66 SVN
     L374  LEWIS            CHARLIE G.     ARMY E7  17-May-67 SVN
     L044  LEWIS            EARL G.        USN  O2  24-Oct-67 NVN
     L022  LEWIS            MERRILL R.     USAF O3  20-Jul-66 NVN
     L050  LEWIS            ROBERT III     ARMY E4  05-Jan-68 SVN
     L376  LILLY            LAWRENCE E.    ARMY O2  17-Mar-71 CAMB
     L102  LINDAHL          JOHN C.        USN  O3  06-Jan-73 NVN/OW
     L025  LINDEWALD        CHARLES W. JR. ARMY E7  07-Feb-68 SVN
     L028  LINEBERGER       HAROLD B.      USAF O4  29-Jan-71 CAMB
     L027  LINK             ROBERT C.      ARMY W2  21-Apr-68 SVN
     L060  LINT             DONALD M.      USAF E2  22-Apr-70 LAOS
     L379  LITTLE           DANNY L.       ARMY E6  23-Apr-70 SVN
     L103  LIVINGSTON       RICHARD A.     USN  O3  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     L380  LLOYD            ALLEN R.       ARMY E5  18-Feb-71 SVN
     L087  LOCKHART         GEORGE B.      USAF O3  21-Dec-72 NVN
     L029  LOHEED           HUBERT B.      USN  O5  01-Feb-66 NVN
     L088  LOLLAR           JAMES L.       USAF E5  21-Dec-72 NVN
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 11
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     L384  LOMAX            RICHARD E.     ARMY E4  26-Mar-68 SVN
     L093  LONEY            ASHTON N.      USMC E3  15-May-75 CAMB
     L386  LONG             GEORGE W.      USAF E2  12-May-68 SVN
     L030  LONG             JOHN H.        USAF O2  18-Oct-66 NVN/OW
     L031  LONG             JULIUS W. JR.  ARMY E4  12-May-68 SVN
     L055  LONO             LUTHER A.      USMC O4  29-Sep-69 LAOS
     L387  LOPEZ            ROBERT         ARMY O5  06-Mar-68 SVN
     L097  LOPEZ            ROBERT C.      USMC E2  10-May-68 SVN
     L033  LORD             ARTHUR JAMES   ARMY O3  19-Apr-68 SVN
     L388  LOVEGREN         DAVID E.       ARMY E4  01-Mar-69 SVN
     L389  LUCAS            LARRY F.       ARMY O3  20-Dec-66 SVN
     L061  LUCKI            AUBIN E.       USAF O3  23-Apr-70 LAOS
     L098  LUKER            RUSSELL B.     USMC E4  01-Feb-66 NVN
     L072  LULL             HOWARD B. JR.  ARMY E7  07-Apr-72 SVN
     L064  LUTTRELL         JAMES M.       ARMY E6  10-May-71 SVN
     L089  LYNN             ROBERT R.      USAF O3  21-Dec-72 NVN
     L038  LYON             DONOVAN L.     USAF O4  22-Mar-68 LAOS
     L058  LYON             JAMES M.       ARMY O3  05-Feb-70 SVN
     M001  MAC CANN         HENRY E.       USAF O4  28-Mar-68 NVN
     M184  MAC DONALD       GEORGE D.      USAF O1  21-Dec-72 LAOS
     M002  MAC KEDANZ       LYLE E.        ARMY E6  21-Apr-68 SVN
     M003  MACKO            CHARLES        USAF O4  22-Feb-69 LAOS
     M006  MADISON          WILLIAM L.     USAF E5  15-May-66 LAOS
     M150  MAGEE            PATRICK J.     ARMY E6  03-Jan-71 SVN
     M352  MAGEE            RALPH WAYNE    USAF O2  23-Mar-61 LAOS
     M353  MAGERS           PAUL G.        ARMY O2  01-Jun-71 SVN
     M007  MAGNUSSON        JAMES A. JR.   USAF 03  04-Apr-65 NVN
     M140  MALLON           RICHARD J.     USAF O3  28-Jan-70 NVN
     M154  MALO             ISRAKO F.      ARMY E3  24-Apr-71 SVN
     M009  MALONE           JIMMY M.       ARMY E2  04-May-66 SVN
     M010  MAMIYA           JOHN II        USAF E6  29-Jul-66 NVN
     M357  MANCINI          RICHARD M.     USN  E5  11-Jan-68 LAOS
     M011  MANGINO          THOMAS A.      ARMY E4  21-Apr-67 SVN
     M358  MANGUS           ARLIE R.       ARMY E4  03-Nov-70 SVN
     M201  MANNING          RONALD J.      USN  E3  15-May-75 CAMB
     M603  MARK             KIT T.         CIV      30-May-70 SVN
     M364  MARKER           MICHAEL W.     ARMY O3  04-Mar-71 NVN
     M200  MARSHALL         DANNY G.       USMC E1  15-May-75 CAMB
     M196  MARTIN           DOUGLAS K.     USAF O3  18-Apr-73 CAMB
     M163  MARTIN           DUANE W.       USAF O2  20-Sep-65 LAOS
     M366  MARTIN           JAMES E.       USN  E3  17-Feb-68 LAOS
     M367  MARTIN           JERRY D.       ARMY E3  03-Nov-70 SVN
     M013  MARTIN           JOHN M.        USAF O3  20-Nov-67 NVN
     M015  MARTIN           RICHARD D.     ARMY E4  01-May-68 SVN
     M369  MARTINEZ-MERCADO EDWIN J.       ARMY E3  11-Nov-67 SVN
     M370  MARVIN           ROBERT C.      USN  O3  14-Feb-67 NVN/OW
     M018  MASCARI          PHILLIP L.     USAF O2  02-May-69 LAOS
     M146  MASLOWSKI        DANIEL L.      ARMY W1  02-May-70 CAMB
     M371  MASON            JAMES P.       ARMY E5  17-Oct-68 SVN/OW
     M019  MASON            WILLIAM W.     USAF O5  22-May-68 LAOS
     M020  MASSUCCI         MARTIN J.      USAF O2  01-Oct-65 NVN
     M021  MASTERSON        MICHAEL J.     USAF O3  13-Oct-68 LAOS
     M132  MASUDA           ROBERT S.      ARMY E4  13-May-69 SVN
     M194  MATEJOV          JOSEPH A.      USAF E4  05-Feb-73 LAOS
     M374  MATTESON         GLENN          USAF O1  23-Mar-61 LAOS
     M008  MATTHES          PETER R.       USAF O2  24-Nov-69 LAOS
     M045  MAXWELL          CALVIN W.      ARMY O3  10-Oct-69 SVN
     M203  MAXWELL          JAMES R.       USMC E2  15-May-75 CAMB
     M151  MAY              DAVID M.       ARMY O2  20-Feb-71 LAOS
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 12
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     M375  MAY              MICHAEL F.     ARMY E4  02-Mar-69 CAMB
     M099  MAYER            RODERICK L.    USN  O3  17-Oct-65 NVN
     M025  MAYERCIK         RONALD M.      USAF O2  24-Nov-67 LAOS
     M376  MAYSEY           LARRY W.       USAF E4  09-Nov-67 LAOS
     M377  MC ANDREWS       MICHAEL W.     ARMY W1  23-Dec-70 SVN/OW
     M125  MC CAIN          JOHN S.        USN  O4  26-Oct-67 NVN
     M380  MC CANTS         LELAND S. III  ARMY O2  30-Dec-68 SVN
     M383  MC CLELLAND      PAUL T. JR.    USAF O3  14-Nov-65 SVN
     M157  MC CLURE         CLAUDE DONALD  ARMY E6  24-Nov-63 SVN
     M384  MC CONNELL       JERRY          ARMY E2  24-Sep-68 SVN
     M385  MC CORMICK       CARL O.        USAF O5  06-Oct-72 SVN
     M029  MC CRARY         JACK           USAF E6  29-Dec-67 NVN
     M030  MC CUBBIN        GLENN D.       USAF O2  19-May-68 NVN
     M100  MC CUISTION      MICHAEL K.     USAF O3  08-May-67 NVN
     M101  MC DANIEL        EUGENE B.      USN  O4  19-May-67 NVN
     M031  MC DANIEL        MORRIS L. JR.  USAF O4  04-Oct-67 NVN
     M032  MC DONALD        EMMETT R.      USAF O3  31-May-66 NVN
     M172  MC DONALD        JOSEPH W.      USMC O2  03-May-72 NVN
     M033  MC DONALD        KURT C.        USAF O3  31-Dec-64 SVN
     M388  MC DONNEL        R.D.           ARMY E6  25-Mar-71 SVN
     M034  MC ELHANON       MICHAEL O.     USAF O4  16-Aug-68 NVN
     M390  MC ELROY         GLENN DAVID    ARMY O5  15-Mar-66 LAOS
     M391  MC ELROY         JOHN L.        USAF O1  12-May-68 SVN
     M187  MC ELVAIN        JAMES R.       USAF O4  18-Dec-72 NVN/OW
     M035  MC GAR           BRIAN K.       ARMY E3  31-May-67 SVN
     M209  MC GONIGLE       WILLIAM D.     USMC E2  10-May-68 SVN
     M037  MC GOULDRICK     FRANCIS J. JR. USAF O4  13-Dec-68 LAOS
     M214  MC GRATH         JAMES P.       USN  E3  03-Aug-67 SVN/OW
     M395  MC INTOSH        IAN            ARMY W1  24-Nov-70 SVN
     M396  MC KAIN          BOBBY L.       ARMY W2  03-May-68 SVN
     M215  MC KAY           HOMER E.       USN  E5  06-Feb-68 SVN/OW
     M039  MC KENNEY        KENNETH D.     USAF E5  15-May-66 LAOS
     M217  MC KINNEY        CLEMIE         USN  O3  14-Apr-72 SVN/OW
     M040  MC KITTRICK      JAMES C.       ARMY O3  18-Jun-67 SVN
     M188  MC LAUGHLIN      ARTHUR V. JR.  USAF E7  20-Dec-72 NVN
     M122  MC LEAN          JAMES H.       ARMY E4  09-Feb-65 SVN
     M402  MC LEOD          ARTHUR E.      ARMY W1  12-Feb-71 SVN
     M403  MC LEOD          DAVID V. JR.   USAF E7  14-Jun-73 CAMB
     M041  MC MAHAN         ROBERT C.      USN  O2  14-Feb-68 NVN
     M405  MC MICAN         M.D.           USN  O2  02-Jun-65 NVN
     M042  MC MURRAY        CORDINE        ARMY E5  12-Jul-67 SVN
     M043  MC MURRAY        FRED H. JR.    ARMY O2  07-Apr-68 SVN
     M044  MC MURRY         WILLIAM G.     ARMY E4  07-Feb-68 SVN
     M046  MC PHAIL         WILLIAM T.     USAF O3  22-May-68 LAOS
     M408  MC QUADE         JAMES R.       ARMY O2  11-Jun-72 SVN
     M049  MEADOWS          EUGENE T.      USAF O2  13-Oct-66 NVN
     M051  MEIN             MICHAEL H.     ARMY E4  30-Nov-68 LAOS
     M052  MELDAHL          CHARLES H.     ARMY E5  20-Oct-68 SVN
     M053  MELLOR           FREDRIC M.     USAF O3  13-Aug-65 NVN
     M195  MELTON           TODD M.        USAF E5  05-Feb-73 LAOS
     M176  MERCER           JACOB E.       USAF E7  18-Jun-72 SVN
     M055  MERONEY          VIRGIL K.      USAF O2  01-Mar-69 LAOS
     M414  METOYER          BRYFORD G.     ARMY O2  18-Jan-64 SVN/OW
     M226  MIDGETT          DEWEY A.       ARMY E2  25-Nov-67 SVN
     M061  MILLARD          CHARLES W.     ARMY W3  19-Apr-68 SVN
     M418  MILLER           CARLTON P. JR. USN  O2  06-Jan-71 NVN/OW
     M164  MILLER           CURTIS D.      USAF O3  29-Mar-72 LAOS
     M618  MILLER           GEORGE C.      CIV      12-Mar-75 SVN
     M419  MILLER           GLENN E.       ARMY E5  10-May-68 SVN
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 13
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     M420  MILLER           MALCOM T.      USN  E4  10-May-67 SVN
     M421  MILLER           MICHAEL A.     USAF O2  28-Mar-69 SVN
     M064  MILLER           RICHARD A.     USMC O3  22-Nov-65 SVN
     M143  MILLER           ROGER A.       ARMY W1  15-APR-70 SVN
     M424  MILLER           WYATT JR.      ARMY E2  13-Sep-70 SVN
     M152  MILLINER         WILLIAM P.     ARMY W1  06-Mar-71 LAOS
     M067  MILLS            JAMES B.       USN  O2  21-Sep-66 NVN
     M068  MIMS             GEORGE I. JR.  USAF O2  20-Dec-65 NVN
     M070  MISHUK           RICHARD E.     USMC E2  19-Oct-66 SVN
     M071  MITCHELL         ALBERT C.      USAF O4  25-Apr-68 NVN
     M602  MITCHELL         ARCHIE E.      CIV      30-May-62 SVN
     M210  MITCHELL         DONALD W.      USMC E3  10-May-68 SVN
     M072  MITCHELL         GILBERT L.     USN  O3  06-Mar-68 NVN
     M225  MITCHELL         HARRY E.       USN  E3  05-May-68 SVN
     M073  MITCHELL         THOMAS B.      USAF O3  22-May-68 LAOS
     M429  MIXTER           DAVID I.       ARMY E5  29-Jan-71 LAOS
     M432  MONTEZ           ANASTACIO      ARMY E7  24-May-69 SVN
     M220  MONTGOMERY       RONALD W.      USN  E5  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     M162  MOON             WALTER H.      ARMY O4  22-Apr-61 LAOS
     M433  MOONEY           FRED           ARMY E7  27-Feb-71 LAOS
     M075  MOORE            HERBERT W. JR. USAF O3  03-Sep-67 NVN
     M077  MOORE            JERRY L.       ARMY E3  16-Feb-69 SVN
     M078  MOORE            MAURICE H.     ARMY E4  12-May-68 SVN
     M436  MOORE            RAYMOND G.     ARMY E4  09-Oct-69 SVN
     M124  MOORE            THOMAS         USAF E6  31-Oct-65 SVN
     M221  MOORE            WILLIAM R.     USN  E5  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     M079  MOREIDA          MANUEL J.      ARMY E4  02-Dec-67 SVN
     M440  MOREIRA          RALPH A. JR.   ARMY W1  05-Mar-71 LAOS
     M080  MORELAND         JAMES L.       ARMY E4  07-Feb-68 SVN
     M441  MORELAND         STEPHEN C.     USAF O2  12-May-68 SVN
     M083  MORGAN           CHARLES E.     USAF O3  06-Jul-66 NVN
     M119  MORGAN           HERSCHEL S.    USAF O3  03-Apr-65 NVN
     M085  MORGAN           JAMES S.       USAF O4  10-Nov-67 NVN
     M443  MORGAN           WILLIAM J.     ARMY O4  25-Feb-72 SVN
     M139  MORLEY           CHARLES F.     USAF O2  18-Feb-70 LAOS
     M193  MORRIS           GEORGE W. JR.  USAF O3  27-Jan-73 SVN
     M130  MORRISON         JOSEPH C.      USAF O4  25-Nov-68 NVN
     M182  MORRISSEY        ROBERT D.      USAF O4  07-Nov-72 LAOS
     M222  MOSER            PAUL K.        USN  E4  02-Oct-69 NVN/OW
     M451  MOSHIER          JIM E.         USMC E4  11-Jun-67 SVN
     M178  MOSSMAN          HARRY S.       USN  O3  20-Aug-72 NVN/OW
     M452  MOSSMAN          JOE R.         USN  O2  13-Sep-65 NVN
     M453  MOWREY           GLENN W.       USMC E4  26-Mar-68 SVN/OW
     M454  MOWREY           RICHARD L.     USN  O2  14-Dec-66 SVN/OW
     M093  MUNDT            HENRY G.       USAF O2  08-May-69 LAOS
     M136  MUNOZ            DAVID L.       ARMY E3  13-May-69 SVN
     M457  MURPHY           BARRY D.       ARMY E5  18-Mar-69 CAMB
     M145  MURPHY           LARRON D.      ARMY O3  23-Apr-70 SVN
     M458  MURPHY           TERENCE M.     USN  O2  09-Apr-65 CHINA
     M460  MUSETTI          JOSEPH T. JR.  USN  E5  28-Sep-67 SVN
     M461  MUSIL            CLINTON A. SR. ARMY O3  31-May-71 LAOS
     







     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 14
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                     MIA/KIA DataBases Now Available!
     
              From: Friends Of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
     
                          Input by: Alex Humphrey
                      At VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
        The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,  a non-political, 
     non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical and 
     emotional significance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is pleased 
     to offer, on disk, two significant databases:
      
        1.   The  database  used to compile the names on  the  Memorial 
     itself, which contains the name of each KIA or MIA, branch,  rank, 
     home of record, date of birth and date of casualty.  The diskettes 
     containing  this  database  are available for  $40  per  set.   In 
     addition, for $60, the Friends has the index and searching program 
     that can be used to search by field.
      
        2.  The National Archives database,  which,  in addition to the 
     above   information,    contains   such   information   as   major 
     organizational  unit  of  each casualty,  province  in  which  the 
     casualty occurred, type of casualty (air, ground,  vehicular)  and 
     cause  of  death --  some 23 fields in all.   We are  selling  the 
     diskettes containing this database for $200.
      
        All the foregoing diskettes are MS-DOS, and we can provide them 
     on  high-density  5 1/4 and small diskettes and low-density 5  1/4 
     diskettes, depending on your hardware.  The Memorial database is 6 
     KB,  and  the  --  make that 6 MB --  and the reading  program  is 
     approximately  16  MB.   The  Archives database,  which  does  not 
     include a reading program, is significantly larger. 
     
        Please send orders to:
                           Ira Hamburg, President
                           Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
                           634 North Carolina Ave SE
                           Washington DC   20003
                           (202) 543-2836
     


















     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 15
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     
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                       " Bring them home --- NOW !!! "
     












     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 16
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                           N o t e w o r t h y !
     =================================================================

          Vietnam Memorial cracks, errors bring veterans' appeals
                               El Paso Times
                                El Paso, TX      
                             February 4, 1990
     
                           Input by: Joyce Flory
               NAM VETs Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor
                    Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM
                              (505) 523-2811
     
       WASHINGTON  (AP)  -  The veterans who built the Vietnam Veterans 
     Memorial are going back to their contributors,this time asking for 
     $376,500  to repair hairline cracks and correct errors in names on 
     the granite wall and pursue a claim against the contractors.
       The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Inc., which raised $7 million 
     from  the public to build the monument,  sent a solicitation  last 
     fall  to  100,000  addresses,  in  a mailing to  test  the  likely 
     response,  and  a  revised  mailing of  700,000  pieces  recently. 
     Further appeals are planned over the course of this year.
       "As  I  write you today,  I desperately hope that great  healing 
     spirit still exists,because we need your help urgently," reads one 
     of the appeals. It is signed by fund president Jan Scruggs.
     
































     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 17
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

           'Mad Dog' talked the talk, walked the walk
                   Laura Palmer-N.Y. Columnist
                       In the El Paso Times
                         February 4, 1990
     
                      Input by: Joyce Flory
          NAM VETs Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor
               Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM
                         (505) 523-2811
     
       Wall  Street  whiz Jeff Beck could easily have won the Medal  of 
     Honor in Vietnam.  Maybe he figured a Silver Star,two Bronze Stars 
     and four Purple Hearts were enough.
       For  years,  Beck 43,  who now works for Drexel Burnham Lambert, 
     was part of the merger mania on Wall Street,  playing for the high 
     stakes any high roller would envy.
       He  wowed  colleagues  with war stories.  Some called  him  "Mad 
     Dog,"his  nickname  from  his  two tours  of  duty  in  Vietnam,he 
     explains. Before big meetings,  he'd pump up adrenalin by shouting 
     "lock  and load."  He showed many the scar on his wrist where,  he 
     said, an AK-47 round tore into him in the Ia Drang Valley.
       It's impressive,  yes,  but what's truly astounding is that "Mad 
     Dog" Beck never went to Vietnam.  He enlisted in the Army reserves 
     to avoid the draft.
       A  woman  who knew Beck between one of his three marriages  says 
     nightmares  left  him shaking.  "The guy lied in his  sleep!"  she 
     exclaimed  to  the Wall Street Journal reporter who broke  through 
     Jeff  Beck's  facade of lies recently in a dazzling  and  detailed 
     expose.
       But  it  wasn't just the men in their wingtipped shoes  and  red 
     suspenders who bought Beck's lies. Oliver Stone,  who hired him to 
     work  as  a consultant and gave him a bit part in his  film  "Wall 
     Street,"  said  he thought he was talking to a fellow veteran  who 
     still seemed troubled by the war.
       Even  when  finally  confronted about his  lies,  Beck  remained 
     unbowed.   He   said   if   it  weren't  for   national   security 
     considerations, he could explain.
       In the '70s, people hid the fact they had been to Vietnam.  They 
     lied  on  job applications because they wanted desperately to  get 
     hired.  They lied in bars because they didn't want to get beat up. 
     They  lied  on  college campuses because they didn't  want  to  be 
     scorned.
       In the '80s, public sentiment changed. Suddenly,  it wasn't just 
     good to be a Vietnam vet,it became hot.
       Vietnam became a quick fix. Failed lives had a ready explanation 
     for  why  they couldn't get it together.  There is nothing like  a 
     whiff of combat to give a puny life a dash of bravado. Feel guilty 
     about not going?  See a few movies and say you did.
       As "Mad Dog"Beck,  a world-class Vietnam wannabe proved,  if you 
     can  talk  the talk and walk the walk,  it won't be hard  to  find 
     people who'll believe you.
       Linda  Schwartz,  45,  an  Air Force nurse who was stationed  in 
     Japan  during the war,  says she's known numerous impostors,  male 
     and female. While the fabrications reflect a welcome change in the 
     perception of veterans, she's annoyed by the flip side. "If people 
     want  to  be Vietnam veterans,  and they're not,  they are  really 
     sucking off the reputation we have built over these years."
     

     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 18
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                "In-Touch" -- Helping Vets of Then & Now
     
                      Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau
                    Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA
                              (703) 471-8010
     
     Following received from the office of the Friends of the Vietnam 
     Veterans:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------
     January 20, 1990
     
     IN TOUCH
     1350 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
     Suite 300
     Washington, D.C. 20036
     
     Sirs:
     
     I  am  a volunteer at the Vietnam Veterans Center in Sioux  Falls, 
     South  Dakota,  where  I recently saw an issue in  (missing  text) 
     newsletter. I was very interested to see the information published 
     therein concerning your organization, IN TOUCH.  For many years, I 
     have sought ways to make contact with anyone who may have known my 
     fiance,  Millard W.  Lehman,  who was killed in a mortar attack at 
     Binh Thuy AB, Viet Nam on July 8, 1966.
     
     Millard  (or  "Lee",  as he was known to his friends)  and I  were 
     engaged in the Fall of 1965 in a little town in Northern Minnesota 
     called Baudette. I was very young -- 18 years old, to his 22.  The 
     following April, he went to Viet Nam,  and was killed after just a 
     few months "in country.".  During the period of time he was there, 
     however, I have 32 letters from him. He described many things, but 
     made no mention of friends he may have made, etc....
     
     When he was killed I have little knowledge or memory of the event. 
     It  is entirely possible that some of my memories have died  along 
     with  him,  as it was very traumatic for me.  Since I began  doing 
     Volunteer work at the Vet Center in the Fall of 1988,  and through 
     the   efforts  of  the  office  manager  there  along  with   some 
     correspondence  to  Lee's parents,  I have since  discovered  some 
     things I was unaware of previously.  For instance,  I did not know 
     that  he  was  the first GI to be killed at that Base.  I  knew  a 
     memorial  made  of granite of stone had been erected in his  honor 
     (he  sounded  the alarm,  alerting the base to the danger and  was 
     awarded the Bronze Star, posthumously),  I had never seen pictures 
     of it and was really unaware as to its size and place of honor.  I 
     have  since  learned that the plaque on the memorial  bearing  his 
     name  was  sent to his parents when our government pulled out  and 
     the memorial was dismantled. As a strange coincidence, the man who 
     is the office manager at our Vet Center was also stationed at Binh 
     Thuy, although it was 2 years after Lee's death.  He recalled that 
     the  memorial  had  the Birn of Arizona (the state which  Lee  was 
     from) on top,  and was surrounded by a garden with well maintained 
     flowers.
     
     On a recent visit to Tucson,  Arizona to see Lee's parents,  I was 
     able  to obtain some photographs of the memorial;  I have enclosed 
     one  as  well  as  other  correspondence,  newspaper  or  magazine 
     clippings,  etc...Although  I  married someone else in  1967,  and 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 19
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     after  23 years with my husband and 2 children,  I have maintained 
     close  ties  with  Lee's family.  For many years  however,  I  did 
     everything I could to  avoid anything to do with Viet Nam.  I read 
     no books, went to no movies, and studiously avoided any television 
     coverage.  Finally  in the summer of 1986,  I visited  Washington, 
     D.C. and went to the Wall. It was difficult.  I went again with my 
     husband in January of 1987. Painful wounds were opened, and in the 
     summer of 1988, I found myself in the middle of what I now realize 
     was a depression. It seemed I had successfully avoided the loss of 
     Lee  for  many  years,  but  the  visit to  the  Wall  opened  the 
     floodgates  to  my emotions.  After a few months of behavior  very 
     unlike  my norm,  I decided to look for volunteer work as a way of 
     erasing my own depression and helping someone else. I had no plans 
     to go to the Vietnam Vet Center,  and yet one day as I was driving 
     to  the  library,  I noticed the storefront office and was  really 
     drawn  to go in.  I did so immediately,  before I could change  my 
     mind. Instead of the few moments I expected to be inside,  I ended 
     up speaking to a counselor for several hours. A few days later,  I 
     was  introduced to the Team Leader and permission for my volunteer 
     help was granted.  In the year and a half since I have been there, 
     I  have  found  peace.  In helping others,  I have healed  my  own 
     wounds.  (Just  this  past  summer,  the Sioux  Falls  Vet  Center 
     celebrated its 10th Anniversary and I was chairperson for a picnic 
     held in September. 1,500 Veterans and their families attended from 
     a  3 state area,  and the entire day was very rewarding.)  Bit  by 
     bit, I wrote some letters,  found a few more items of information, 
     made  a  few visits and finally went to Lee's grave in  Tucson  to 
     really say goodbye.  I still,  however,  have some strong feelings 
     about  getting  in touch with anyone who might have known  him  in 
     Viet  Nam....anyone  who might remember him.  I might add that  my 
     husband   and   children  have  been  extremely   supportive   and 
     understanding  and have encouraged me to do whatever I feel I must 
     do in this regard.
     
     I "have"  had some correspondence with (name withheld),  a man who 
     was  stationed at Binh Thuy (after Lee died)  and whose letters to 
     his  wife,  Yolanda,  were published in the book,  "Dear America - 
     letters  home from Viet Nam".  He was kind enough to respond to my 
     inquiry,  but  could not shed any additional information about the 
     memorial or about Lee.
     
     After reading this lengthy letter, I do hope there is some way you 
     can  help  me located anyone who was stationed with  Lee.  He  was 
     there from April 1966 to July 8, 1966. In one of his last letters, 
     he  told  me that he was beginning to work with training  dogs.  I 
     think   he  was  an  AP,   and  his  Rank  was  Airman  1st  class 
     (AF19669028).  He  was with the 632nd Combat Support  Group.  Many  
     times  in the past year or so I have wondered how many women  like 
     me are out there - women who were "just engaged" but not married - 
     and how their loss affected their lives.  I feel that your project  
     will be a healing device for many, many people, and I applaud your 
     efforts.
     
     Yours Truly
     
     Erlyce Pekas
     
     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     If  YOU can help:   Replies can be sent to Herndon Byte eXchange - 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 20
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     Herndon,  VA  (703)  471-8010this node and we will ensure that the 
     Friends get the copy of the message to Erlyce.
     
     Thanking you all in advance. God bless and keep the faith.
     
     Ray "Frenchy" Moreau USN (RET) but not from life........
     




















































     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 21
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                         IN-TOUCH - Project Summary
     
                      Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau
                    Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA
                              (703) 471-8010
     
     To  : Scott Summers   
     Subj: "IN-SEARCH/IN-TOUCH                       
     
      SS> This seems like a great project Ray.  I wonder if you could 
      SS> give me more information about this.  Each year (so far at 
      SS> least) we have had the "Moving Wall" here in Houston, and get 
      SS> many many questions regarding this very same subject.  
      SS> Perhaps we could get something going with the In Touch 
      SS> project that could provide these people the kinds of
      SS> assistance that we have been unable to give.
     
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
                         IN-TOUCH - Project Summary
     
     There are some 43 million people in the United States whose lives 
     were directly and irrevocably touched by the Vietnam War.
     
     Almost four million people served in Vietnam - the longest, and 
     perhaps most difficult, war in our history. More than a quarter of 
     a million were seriously wounded. 58,175 are dead or missing.
     
     Each of those who returned recognizes the true cost of war. But so 
     too do the families and friends, wives and lovers of those listed 
     on the Wall.  They too paid a tremendous price, not always 
     recognized... many still do.
     
     Though twenty years have passed, it seems that is the period 
     people have needed to get the distance necessary to begin to 
     address the unresolved, deeply personal issues that have been 
     haunting them since the war. Perhaps that is a measure of the 
     pain.
     
     But, the "healing of a nation" that was intended by the building 
     of the Memorial, has begun.
     
     In the office of the Friends, we hear them on the other end of the 
     phone on any given day, and far into the night, they call from all 
     corners of the country. "If only I could find out...," "I need to 
     find his family so I can keep my promise..." "I just want to talk 
     to someone who was with him...," "Please, can you help...?"
     
     At the Wall, we find them every day. Veterans who have not spoken 
     of their experiences even to their most intimate family members 
     are now beginning, tentatively, to seek a responsive ear.
     
     Brothers and sisters, parents and even wives who were simply never 
     allowed full expression of their grief because of the fierce 
     pressures of the time, are now coming forward, looking for someone 
     who can help with their healing.
     
     We hear from children, now 15 - 25 years old, who are searching 
     for bits and pieces of information they can assemble to help fill 
     that empty place in their lives that is the father they never knew 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 22
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     well, if at all.  And they want to talk to each other, to share 
     their special needs and the unique experience of growing up with a 
     father on the Wall. They understand each other all too well.
     
     Millions of Americans need to meet and talk because of the Wall, 
     and only the Friends can help them.
     
     Initial discussions with many other national organizations whose 
     work brings them into contact with Vietnam veterans and their 
     loved once have attested to the need for "IN-TOUCH" and their 
     willingness to help.
     
                The Program - Putting people "IN TOUCH"
     
     Simply put, the Friends will draw on its special work at the 
     Memorial, its acquired and available data bases and the commitment 
     and concern of its volunteers to place people with a common 
     association to a name on the Wall to be in voluntary communication 
     with each other.
     
     From there, we will let human nature take its good course. And let 
     the healing begin.
     
     The starting point for the data base will be the more than twenty 
     thousand names of people who have requested name rubbings from our 
     volunteers in Washington. Each will be contacted and given the 
     opportunity to participate by being listed in the central data 
     file.
     
     Confidentiality is the keyword to cooperation and "IN TOUCH" will 
     respect the integrity of all lists and records. Lists will be 
     unavailable for public use and will not be distributed for any 
     commercial purpose.
     
     By its nature, "IN TOUCH" must reach far beyond the veterans 
     community in order to be successful. With professional guidance, 
     the Friends will develop a program of ongoing articles and other 
     coverage in major media markets, highlighting the personal 
     experiences of people as they are put "in touch".  Aside from 
     bringing the program into public awareness, these articles and 
     stories will serve as a valuable tool for public education on a 
     wealth of matters relating to the Vietnam era.
     
     As a preliminary test of the "IN TOUCH" project, the Friends has 
     implemented a pilot project to test the design and demands of such 
     a program.  Several hundred requests with full background 
     information have been entered into a system designed to match 
     requester data with the existing Memorial data.  Even with such a 
     small sample, limited data and a fairly sophisticated cross-
     indexing system being designed by Electronic Data Systems, matches 
     have been made and "IN TOUCH" has produced its first real 
     connections. The results have been as profoundly moving for the 
     participants as expected.  And as gratifying for the Friends.
     
     With donations of hardware being made by Zenith Corporation, 
     Paradox by Borland International for data base, Quarterdeck Office 
     Systems for QEMM and DesQview and systems integration from EDS, 
     the system will be powerful enough to handle thousands, perhaps 
     hundred of thousands, of requests.
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 23
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     
     The initial budget projections for this program are high for the 
     first year start-up costs even with the heartful donations.
     
     The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial are looking for 
     donations from all to keep this project ongoing and to continue 
     its role in healing a scared and wounded nation.
     
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     Scott:
           The major areas of the program in regards to software and 
     methods used are still being designed.  However, your assistance 
     in gathering donations for this worthy cause would be eagerly 
     accepted.  If you or your friends intend to donate, please mail 
     your remittance to:
     
                    The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
                    1350 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite 300
                    Washington, D.C. 20036
     
                    Attention: Wanda Ruffin
                               In-Touch Project Director
     
     P.S. More to come later Scott.  Would appreciate, if available, 
     the schedule of the Moving Wall.  Have a nice day, keep the faith 
     and smile <grin>.
     
     Ray "Frenchy" Moreau USN (RET) but not from life........
     






























     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 24
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                        Locating Military Personnel
     
                              By: Rod Germain
                                  Arcadia, CA
                        Input at: VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                                 (413) 443-6313
     
     I sent you a file previously about a book called "HOW TO LOCATE
     ANYONE WHO IS OR HAS BEEN IN THE MILITARY" by Lt. Col. Richard S. 
     Johnson. I received my copy and I'm impressed with the all of the 
     different people and departments he lists. Here are few:
     
                          1) "BRAVO' Buddy Search
                           23917 Craftsman Road
                           Calabasas, Ca. 91302
     
               2) Vietnam Data Resource & Electronic Library
                       Modem Line 213-373-6597 8-N-1
                New Operating Speeds/hours (Pacific Time):
                     8pm to 9am > 300, 1200, 2400 Baud
                           9am to 8pm > 300 Baud
                       Senior Librarian Phil Coleman
                             EAST COAST ACCESS
                          Modem Line 508-831-7436
                           Librarian Dr. Ed Cole
                          (Founded July 4, 1988)
     
                             3) LZ Birmingham
                          Modem Line 205-870-7770
                              P.O. Box 130444
                              Birmingham, AL.
     
                            4) US Veterans BBS
                          Modem Line 612-522-2026
     
                          5) Fighting Country III
                          Modem Line 602-486-1833
     
                    6) USS Merrill Reunion Association
                               P.O. Box 681
                            Enka, NC 28728-0681
                         ALL ARMED FORCES REUNIONS
                          Modem Line 704-667-8021
                           300, 1200, 2400 Baud
     
     The Col. is publishing a new book right now and should be ready 
     for mailing by early spring. If anyone is interested contact " 
     MILITARY INFORMATION ENTERPRISES P.O. BOX 340081 FORT SAM HOUSTON, 
     TEXAS 78234". I passed along info about NAMVET to him, he had not 
     heard of it, and he will list it in his next book. I hope you get 
     lots of subscriptions!
     
     Well that's about it, just thought I would pass this along.
     
                      PEACE AND FREEDOM BE WITH YOU,
     
                                Rod Germain
     

     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 25
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                      R e m e m b e r   T h e m ! ! !
     =================================================================

                       Incarcerated Veterans' Update
     
                              By Joyce Flory
               NAM VETs Incarcerated Veteran Section Editor
                    Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM
                              (505) 523-2811
     
        Since I'm listed as Co-Editor, Incarcerated Veterans section, I 
     thought it was about time I let you all know what I've been doing.
        I was given my assignment about November 14, 1989. Since then I 
     have  been  sending  out  the following letter to  any  address  I 
     thought may help.
     
     To Whom it may Concern:
     
        I  am  writing  on  the behalf  of  the  International  Vietnam 
     Veterans  Echo-conference,  which runs an international electronic 
     bulletin board (via computers and a monthly newsletter).
        I am seeking any help you may be able to give me in compiling a 
     list  of  incarcerated veterans that may wish to obtain  pen-pals. 
     This  list  would  be  posted both in the newsletter  and  on  the 
     electronic bulletin board, reaching around North America and into, 
     at least, Australia.
        If  it  would  be easier to transfer the list to me  by  floppy 
     disc, I will be more than happy to send one (or more if needed). I 
     will also make the offer of paying any postal costs incurred on my 
     behalf.
        Thank you, in advance, for any information you may send my way.
                     Your's truly;
                           Joyce Flory
                           1825 Evelyn
                           Las Cruces,New Mexico 88001
                           505-524-0103
                     Fido Netmail 305/105 505-523-2811
     
        To  date, I have heard from: Amvets,which states it can't help,
     but  suggests I contact state departments of corrections (no  help 
     with addresses), Division of Veterans Affairs (state of New York), 
     that  is  forwarding my request to Veterans  Project  Assist.  c/o 
     Department of correctional services,  &  National Vietnam Veterans 
     Coalition,  which  put  me in touch with Voices  for  Incarcerated 
     Veterans and gave me the only name of a veteran I have, to date.
                     Whitmarsh Bailey #56715
                     P.O. Box R
                     Buena Vista,Colo 81211
        The  American  Veteran's Committee moved,leaving no  forwarding 
     address  and Santa Fe,  NM corrections department wanted to  help, 
     but couldn't due to the privacy act.
        Waiting  to  be  heard  from  are:    Voices  for  Incarcerated 
     Veterans,   Veterans  of  Vietnam  Inc.,   Pointman  International 
     Ministries,  Office of Commissioners of Veterans Service in Mass., 
     Veterans  Project Assist.  in N.Y.,  National Vietnam Veterans  of 
     America,  Vietnam Veterans of Canada,  Vietnam Veterans of America 
     (Berkshire  Chapter),   USS  Liberty  Veterans  Assoc.,   National 
     Incarcerated  Veterans  Network,  Alliance  of  Women's  Veterans, 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 26
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     American  GI  Forum  of  the US,  Armed  Forces  Communications  & 
     Electronic Assoc., Army &  Navy Union USA INC.,  Combined National 
     Veterans  Assoc.  of  America,  Legion of Valor of the  USA  Inc., 
     National  Assoc.  for  uniformed  Services,  National  Assoc.   of 
     Concerned  Veterans,  Regular  Veterans  Assoc.  of the  US  Inc., 
     Veterans  of Foreign Wars of the US,  Vietnam Era Veterans Assoc., 
     and Vietnam Veterans of America Inc.
        As  soon as I hear from any of the above &/or receive a list of 
     incarcerated, I'll post another update.  If anyone feels I've left 
     out a group or organization that might be able to help, contact me 
     through either the Namvet Echo or Netmail 305/105.
     















































     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 27
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

       XXXXX           XXXXX                XXXXX                 XXXX
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       XXXXX           XXXXX.::::::::::::::.XXXXX  INCARCERATED   XXXX
       XXXXX           XXXXX   ---------    XXXXX \ \ \  \  \  \ \XXXX
       XXXXX          .XXXXX   W W   I I    XXXXX.   VETERANS \  \XXXX
       XXXXX         ::XXXXX   ---------    XXXXX::.  \  \  \   \ XXXX
       XXXXX        :::XXXXX -------------  XXXXX:::.             XXXX
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       XXXXX.::'   ::  XXXXX: PREPARED TO   XXXXX  .''      ''..  XXXX
       XXXXX::'    ::  XXXXX`:   FIGHT      XXXXX.'             '.XXXX
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       XXXXX    /         |`.  :  :  .  .__________               XXXX
       XXXXX   /    ~   ~ ||.` `  : ||  \         /               XXXX
       XXXXX  /  WRITE OR VISIT AN INCARCERATED VETERAN SOON !    XXXX
       XXXXX /        ~   ||  . .'.    /          /               XXXX
       XXXXX/    ~   ~   ~||        ||/          /                XXXX
       XXXXX    ~   ~   ~ ||        ||          /                 XXXX
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       XXXXX           XXXXX                XXXXX                 XXXX
     


     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 28
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
          T h e   N a m V e t   C h a p l a i n ' s   C o r n e r
     =================================================================

                      "PTSD: Anger and Depression"
     
                            by: Rev. Ed Brant
                      NAM VETs Protestant Chaplain
                    The Landing Zone - Fall Creek, OR
                             (503) 747-9809
     
     First,  let  me say this,  that I get angry as much as any of you. 
     It's something that I have to deal with in my own life. Because of 
     this,  I sometimes feel depressed.  How about you?  It's been said 
     that  depression is often a consequence of "swallowed"  anger that 
     has never been acknowledged.
     
     Sometimes I think that it's more acceptable, in our culture, to be 
     depressed than to be angry. Because of this attitude,  a depressed 
     person  who has hidden his/her anger has the appearance of being a 
     person without a focus on life. This person is being drained,  and 
     will  soon  lie down in a bed of dejection that is  paralyzing  in 
     it's nature.
     
     Will  you believe that this is nothing less than  self-punishment?  
     We  have in our daily life everything that we need for  happiness. 
     In spite of this,  there is a certain "Poverty of Attitude"  which 
     controls a persons outlook at any given moment of time.  This type 
     of person, a Vet living a life of depression because of hidden, or 
     "swallowed"  anger,  is  a  person who is seized by  unexcitement, 
     inertia, and depression.
     
     On  the other hand,  there is another form of anger,   seen in the 
     Vet who is open and honest about how they feel. They're outspoken, 
     and candid. Swallow their anger? Not quite! They tend to cut loose 
     on the first person they meet! They don't know what depression is! 
     This  causes broken marriages,  destroys friendships.  Many of the 
     people  that they cut loose on have no idea how to relate,  become 
     scared, and run. They run because  they have no idea about what is 
     really  being  expressed.  Of all the emotions we can  express,  a 
     open,  deep anger is probably the most feared by our friends,  and 
     families.
     
     Lets  look at what God's word has to say on the subject of  anger. 
     Remember Moses? (Old Testament)  Ex 11:  He had a GREAT ANGER!  If 
     you  follow the story for a couple chapters,  you'll find that God 
     never did punish Moses for throwing down the ten commandments hewn 
     in  stone,  and breaking them.  Since God didn't punish Moses,  we 
     might consider this question: Is all anger sinful?   The answer is 
     no, it isn't. In Eph 4:26 (New Testament)  it says,  "Be angry and 
     sin not." In other words, when you get mad, don't sin!  
     
     How about that emotion you felt when...  Was God angry? 
     You be the judge. You make the decision. But here are some facts: 
     
     Anger is emotional,  True.  But it is also biochemical.  We have a 
     built in defensive system. In the field of Psychology, it's called 
     the  "Flight  or Fight"  mechanism.  Adrenalin is pushed into  the 
     bloodstream   where   it  activates  a  series   of   events,   or 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 29
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     psychological responses in our bodies.
        The heartbeat is increased.
        The  eyes  are  dilated  (so  that  our  peripheral  vision  is 
           improved)
        Our hands get sweaty.
        The mouth gets dry.
        Our muscles get a quick burst of energy.
     In short, we go from quiet to Full Alarm in a matter of seconds!
     
     Now,  I  think  it's  important to understand  something  at  this 
     point...
     
     All of this,  just as it happens,  is an involuntary response.  It 
     happens whether we want it to or not!  Because it happens,  (Fight 
     symptoms  released in our bodies)  we can't help but feel the rise 
     of emotions within us! We can't ignore the emotion, because of the 
     simple fact that it's there!   Therefore,  I believe that God gave 
     us  this system,  as it were,  for a protection procedure,  and He 
     does not condemn us when it functions correctly!
     
     The scripture says THIS: "Be angry... (An act of our will)  ...and 
     sin not."  In other words, it's o.k. to get angry! But where do we 
     stop in our anger before it becomes sin?
     
     Our reaction to the anger is deliberate,and:
        If we play the scene over and over in our minds;
         If we go about gritting our teeth,
           Clenching our fists with hostility,
             Seeking an opportunity for revenge;
         If we lash out in an overt act of violence...
     Then we have crossed the line into sin.
     
     In  Romans  12:17-21 (18)  it says `do not repay anyone  evil  for 
     evil.  If  it is possible,  as far as it depends on you,  live  at 
     peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge,  my friends,  but leave 
     room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge;  I 
     will repay,"  says the Lord.  On the contrary:   "If your enemy is 
     hungry, feed him;  if he is thirsty,  give him something to drink. 
     In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be 
     overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'
     
     Do you think that maybe Paul is telling us to play it cool, to use 
     self-control, exercise a little self restraint?
     
     We all have different backgrounds, various temperaments, levels of 
     maturity,  and  responsibility.  Therefore  it's for certain  that 
     we'll  all react to a stimulus in a different manner.  Some of  us 
     will get angry.
     
     Modern thought is "Let it all out!"   In a 6th grade classroom,  I 
     saw  a  sign that read:   "Hatred is stored up  anger.  Therefore, 
     getting mad is a loving thing."   Man!  Something is wrong in that 
     thought!
     
     If  you  have  a problem with anger interfering and  ruining  your 
     friendships,  driving family members away from you,  then read on. 
     This is for you.
     
     To  get  rid  of anger with a correct  response  involves  several 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 30
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     things.  Here are some suggestions.
       1. Go to the Lord in prayer with the matter at hand.
       2. Explain why you feel the way you do to a mature and 
          understanding third party who can advise and lead. This might 
          be a pastor, a fellow Vet, a friend. God can even use a 
          stranger in a coffee shop!
       3. Go to the offender and show a spirit of love and forgiveness.
          It sometimes helps me to remember that tomorrow will still 
          come, that my anger won't necessarily add or subtract from my 
          physical life. So what's the use of getting angry, and 
          staying that way? Besides, many times, the guilty one doesn't 
          even know that they've "pushed our button" until it's too 
          late!
       4. Understand that sometimes God, in His infinite wisdom, allows 
          situations to come our way in order to help us on the way 
          towards spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity includes our 
          correct response to the anger stimulus.
       5. In all out guilt, God has forgiven us. Can we do any less to 
          those who cause the defense mechanism to rise up in us?
     
     God  leads  us along until we come to the point where  He  demands 
     "Are you going to Obey me, or not?"  If we obey, Our growth toward 
     spiritual, and emotional maturity is assured, and  we'll be on the 
     road to deliverance from our anger, and it's adverse affects.
     
     --Next month  PTSD: Anger (fear, Manipulative, Withdrawn, Numb)
     
                                  Rev. Ed
     






























     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 31
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

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                XIII  III       III  IIIX      (8 8 8 88 88 88 8 888)
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      The Vietnam Veteran XII          IIXXXXXXXXXXXXX         XXXXXXX
       has relatives in the  III        IIIXXXXXXXXXXXX         XXXXXX
       Old and New Testaments   III        IIIXXXXXXXXXX         XXXXX
       who also experienced loss   II         IIXXXXXXXXX          XXX
       and grief, guilt and shame,   II         IIXXXXXXXXX         XX
       rejection and betrayal,         I          IXXXXXXXXX
       alienation and estrangement,    I          IXXXX  XX
       isolation and withdrawal.        II          IIXXXX
                                          II          IIX
      Adam and Eve tried to hide from God; II          II
      Moses, born Hebrew and raised Egyptian IIII        IIII
       searched long and hard for his real self; II          II
      Job, losing his children and all he owned,   II          II
       became sorely diseased;                       IIII        III
      Biblical Joseph was rejected by his brothers,      II         II
       lied about and imprisoned;                          I
      Peter denied Jesus.                                    II
                                                                I
      "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"
                           Matthew 28:20
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 32
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
       I V V E C   R e v i e w s   " B o r n   o n   t h e   4 t h "
     =================================================================

              MEMORIES SHARP AS BAYONETS FOR BERKSHIRE VETS, 
                           MOVIE EVOKES VIETNAM
     
                            THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
           PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS  WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31, 1990
                             By Linda Burchard
                           Berkshire Eagle Staff
     
                         Input by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                        VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
     PITTSFIELD (MA) -  Memories, sharp as bayonets, vivid as shell-
     bursts, engulfed a group of Vietnam veterans who viewed "Born on 
     the Fourth of July" this week.
       As the story of Ron Kovic, paralyzed when he was wounded in 
     combat, unfolded on screen, one veteran dashed away the tears that
     brimmed in his eyes; another's hand reached out to grasp a buddy's 
     shoulder.
       The film chronicles Kovic's progression from an all-American 
     boyhood in a small town on Long Island, pervaded by the patriotism 
     of his working-class, Roman Catholic parents, to enlistment in the 
     Marine Corps, the confusion and horror of battle, and the night-
     marish physical and psychic suffering of a veterans' hospital.  
     Battles of the soul and spirit lie ahead.  Kovic, portrayed by Tom 
     Cruise, is transformed, through his realization of official 
     perfidy and indifference, into an anti-war activist.
     
     TOO LATE?
       "It was a film that should have been made in 1965," when it 
     might have helped save American lives, said Tyrone Belanger of 
     Lanesboro (MA).
       "It brought out a lot of points about the U.S. government that 
     I've been saying for a long time," said Belanger, who served as a 
     Marine in I Corps in the northernmost part of the country, in 
     1965-66.  He works now as a mail carrier for the Postal Service in 
     Pittsfield.
       "In the 1960s and early 1970s, the Vietnam War practically 
     destroyed the country.  It split families.  Fathers and sons were 
     pitted against one another," he said.  "And the war was fought 
     primarily by guys from poor and working-class families."
       Belanger contrasted the rippling flags and cheering crowds of 
     the Fourth of July parades of Kovic's boyhood with the sparse 
     turnouts of his return.
       Belanger voiced outrage that veterans, who served their country 
     at the cost of injuries and anguish, have difficulty obtaining 
     benefits and decent, competent and compassionate medical care.
       He was one of about a dozen, of the 19 veterans who viewed the 
     film Monday, who gathered afterward at the Vietnam Veterans of 
     America Chapter 65 chapter house on First Street, and talked about 
     their reactions to the film.
       The veterans had the theater virtually to themselves, because 
     the winter storm Monday night kept most people at home.
       Jim Callahan of Pittsfield, who was an Army medic decorated for 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 33
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     heroism, said, "I know what Kovic felt finding the kids who had 
     been hit by U.S. fire.  I've been into villages and seen kids like 
     that, too."
       In certain scenes, "I was almost crying," said Callahan.  "It 
     was scary," he said.  "When he flashed back, I flashed back."
       Just as in the film, said Callahan, "I had to land in battle and 
     load people on choppers.  I saw what it was like.
       "They did a great job on the combat scenes," said Callahan, 
     saying the confusion was accurate.  "The John Wayne movies just 
     weren't true.  The enemy would come in and jump you.  You never 
     knew when.  One minute it would be perfectly quiet, and the next 
     minute all hell would break loose.  People would be falling down 
     and blowing up right next to you."
       "Even I sent home letters saying things about how we were going 
     to save the country from communism, things I don't believe 
     anymore," said Callahan.
       Callahan's picture, giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a 
     mortally wounded soldier, was in newspapers and on television 
     coast to coast.  Callahan formerly worked for the city Department 
     of Public Works and is now a toll collector for the Massachusetts 
     Turnpike Authority.
     
     'IT MAKES YOU MAD'
       "If the scenes with the rats in the Bronx VA hospital were true, 
     every veteran ought to march on Washington," he said.  "It makes 
     you mad.  Mad at the VA.  Mad at the government."
       For chapter president George Winters, who was wounded in 
     February 1966 in combat in I Corps, the correspondences between 
     his experiences and background were strikingly similar.
       "He was from a small town.  I'm from Pittsfield.  He enlisted in 
     the Marines.  I enlisted in the Marines.  I went along with the 
     whole spiel.  I fell for the whole deal.  I went over there to 
     save the world from communism," said Winters.
       Winters, who retired with the rank of sergeant, said, "I'm over 
     60 percent disabled, with 10 percent post-traumatic stress 
     disorder.  I have nightmares like he did.  A lot of my insides are 
     missing.
       "There was a grenade in the bottom of a foxhole, and just as I 
     kicked it, it went off," he said.
       Shrapnel ripped apart his left ankle, shattered his leg and hip; 
     he also had a gunshot wound in the stomach and left arm.  He was 
     one of 10 to survive out of a platoon of 30-some Marines.   
       Winters battled hospital doctors to save his foot from 
     amputation, just as Kovic fought to save one of his paralyzed 
     legs.
       Seeing the movie was "very, very heavy," said Winters.  "I could 
     really relate to this guy."
       Paul Cohen of Pittsfield had seen the film two weeks ago when he 
     traveled to New Jersey to take his two older sons, ages 18 and 15, 
     to see it.
       "I wanted the movie to show them what I couldn't tell them in 
     words," said Cohen.
       Six months after being sent to Vietnam, Cohen, a point man with 
     the Marine 1st Infantry Division in the Iron Triangle northwest of 
     Saigon, walked into an ambush and was shot from behind from 50 
     feet away.
       Hospitalized and returned to the States, he, like Kovic, found 
     war protests and hostility.  Cohen, who was hospitalized at the 
     Veterans Administration Hospital in Northampton for treatment of 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 34
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     post-traumatic stress disorder, was recently accepted to the Smith 
     College program leading to a master's degree in social work.
       Cohen said his background and Kovic's were eerily similar.   "He 
     was from Massapequa.  I'm from Seaford, the next town over.  He 
     graduated from high school in '65, I graduated the next year, in 
     '66.  He didn't go to his prom, I didn't go to my prom.  He went 
     to Vietnam in 1967.l  I went to Vietnam in 1967.  He was wounded 
     in 1968, I was wounded in 1968.
       "It was really a poignant movie for me.  I played war in the 
     woods when I was a kid.
       "That movie should be required viewing, right after guys hear 
     the talk by the recruiting sergeant," said Cohen.  "It's a shame.
       They make the great movies after the wars, and we don't seem to 
     learn from them."
     












































     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 35
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

              VIETNAM_VETS Looks at "Born on the 4th of July"
     
     Compiled from messages in the Vietnam Veterans International Echo 
     
                             by G. Joseph Peck
                         Nam Vets Managing Editor
                        VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA 
                              (413) 443-6313
     
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
     Date: 23 Jan 90 09:52:00
     From: Gjoseph Peck
     To  : Tom Martens
     Subj: born on the 4th of july
     
      > just want to ask you guys is the movie worth seeing from a
      > vet point of view
     
     Yo Tom!!!
     
     From the time teeny-bopper Kovics says "Wanna see how many pushups 
     I can do" to the point where he's rememberin' the words of his 
     mother just before he went into the Marines "I had a dream last 
     night, Tom.  Like John F. Kennedy, you were sayin' something very 
     important to all America" - the veteran and non-veteran alike have 
     their emotions and youthful memory-banks of hopes and dreams for 
     the future triggered. (How many of us DON'T have recollections of 
     Senior Proms n' dances when Pat Boone's "Moon River" is played?)
     
     There's an accuracy almost too-real when the VA hospital scenes 
     are shown... "too-real" cause its d*mned near truth at many of the 
     facilities.
     
     I really surprised myself when, alone, I went to see it... Theatre 
     was dark and quiet.  Near the final scenes, tapes are shown of one 
     of Nixon's '72 speeches at the Republican convention. He's saying, 
     in effect, "America has kept her promises to the veterans of other 
     World Wars.  I think we should continue with these newer 
     veterans.." I guess you could say I really got into it <embarassed 
     grin>... Surrounded on almost all sides by at least 10 empty 
     seats, I shouted to the screen "Ohhhhh, Bull-ll-ll-SH*T!!"  (Glad 
     it was dark in there!)
     
     I remember ex-Marine, discharged-from-the-VA-hospital Kovics being 
     shown ALTERNATIVE ways of dealing with disabilities - his refusal 
     to accept his plight and the treatment he'd received after comin' 
     back from 'Nam, and his determination to DO something about it.
     
     Personally speaking, "Born on the 4th", to me, is a movie that 
     shows the HUMAN side of war - ANY war; pits disabled veteran 
     against non-veteran in an economic self-centered contest and has 
     the disabled veteran, predictably so, come out the loser while the 
     non-veteran emerges with the most "toys"; says very few POSITIVE 
     things about the backbone that IS America - those who would not 
     hesitate to bear arms in her defense; came close to the 
     "Apocalypse now", "Baby Killing", drug-using stereotypical 
     thinking and media view of the Vietnam Vet of the early '70s; and, 
     above all, re-cements the bond that can ONLY exist between 
     brothers and sisters in service: We're all in this together. 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 36
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     (Kovics, just about to be arrested at a political convention, 
     knocked out of his wheelchair, calls for help from his comrades-
     in-arms.  Many non-veterans I've seen would have just shrugged, 
     given up another one to law enforcement, and searched for easy 
     escape for themselves.  NOT SO with a veteran!  Kovics' brothers 
     did not abandon him!)
     
     I came home p*ssed, Tom, REALLY p*ssed - kicked my dog, drank my 
     wife's beer... sent my kids to bed ... <grin>...
     
     If ever you proudly stand in military uniform and salute Old 
     Glory; if ever a tear traces its crooked path across your face 
     while Taps are played as they lower your friends body into the 
     ground; and if ever you visit a veterans' hospital and see another 
     face of the freedom so many take for granted... you, too, might be 
     a little p*ssed at the VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against the War) 
     message brought out in "Born on the 4th of July" ...
     
     "For those who fought for it, FREEDOM has a taste the protected 
     will never know."
     
     Ci'ao for Ni'ao
     
          -Joe-
     
     Origin: VetPoint 707 "VetCenter on a Floppy Disk!" (1:321/203.707)
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
     Date: 25 Jan 90 14:25:00         
     From: Gjoseph Peck      
     To  : Tom Martens       
     Subj: Re: Introduction                          
     
      >  I just wanted to say hello also you have Tom Martens here
      > from East Rutherford nj six miles or so out of NYC I was with 
      > the Big Red One in 67,68    and as was said before welcome and 
      > keep the faith
     
     Yo Tom!!!
     
     Glad to have ya with us!!!
     
     Please forgive the "tone" of my reply to your "Born on the 4th of 
     July" message askin' if it was worth seein' from a vets point of 
     view... ESPECIALLY the end of the message (If ever...) ...
     
     Not knowin' where ya were comin' from, I responded  as if I were 
     speakin' to someone who was considerin' military service... 
     Hell... you been there, bro' - you know what it was.  You know 
     about the things I ended my message with.  Aint no need for me to 
     tell YOU...
     
     Re: the movie:  Its worth seeing - but take an understanding 
     brother/sister veteran with you (you'll be able to help THEM, too 
     <smile>) - or at least someone close.  If you're like me a bit, 
     you'll probably emerge at movie's end a little p*ssed at what its 
     told ya...
     
     Ci'ao for Ni'ao
     
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 37
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

          -Joe-
     
     Origin: VetPoint 707 "VetCenter on a Floppy Disk!" (1:321/203.707)
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
     Date: 24 Jan 90  14:57:00 
     From: Kathleen Kelly
     To  : Gjoseph Peck 
     Subj: Re: BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY          
     
       Joe -- re "Born on the Fourth of July" --  I think the editing 
     was a bit odd.  
     
      So many minutes of the early portions, painting the background 
     that was Kovic's formative years in All-White Small Town America 
     (Massapequa, Long Island) in the 1950s.  Kovic begins his book 
     with the Kennedy inauguration speech (a scene shown in the movie 
     too), and tells how it impressed him deeply when JFK told us to 
     "Ask not what your country can do for you..." 
     
       But, I thought that we all got the point in 15 minutes, and we 
     didn't need 45 minutes of ye olde home town innocence -- 
     especially because the last part of the film is so abruptly and 
     choppily edited:  We go from the 1972 Republican Convention (where 
     Kovic was assaulted by the gendarmes and relieved of his wheels) 
     to -- wham! -- 1976 where Kovic was invited to speak to the 
     Democratic National Convention. And the film ends. We know nothing 
     of Kovic's life after 1976, and the movie ends on a sort of high, 
     Kovic being lauded by the Jimmy Carter Democrats.  Unless we hear 
     interviews done recently, we don't know that Kovic still feels 
     lost, that he wandered around aimlessly for years after his book 
     was published in 1976, and that aside from sporadic involvement in 
     a few political efforts, he still hasn't really found what he 
     wants to do and hasn't been able to make peace with his own past 
     or its consequences.  
     
       The most devastating part of the film was the portrait of 
     Kovic's family -- his passive but loving father and especially his 
     over-controlling, prim and proper Catholic mother, who was too 
     prudish to tolerate Playboy in the house and who almost has a 
     stroke when, back from Nam and hospital horrors, Kovic comes home 
     drunk one night and finally releases some of the anger and grief 
     he feels when contemplating his future.  "Don't you DARE say 
     `penis' in THIS house!" she screams, and tells him to leave the 
     family home.  Here's a portrait of *Mom* that Philip Wylie could 
     have written:  pushing the son to attain great things, burdening 
     him with the need to satisfy HER expectations, the terrible 
     disappointment she shows when he fails to be macho enough to win a 
     wrestling match in high school, her complete horror when he buys 
     soft porn or grieves because he is paralyzed and therefore 
     impotent (although his physical and psychological wounds seem not 
     very troubling to her at all).  
     
       Several people said in 1986 that "Platoon" should be seen by 
     every draft-age male in the country, and this Oliver Stone 
     production should probably be seen by every PARENT of those kids 
     in the country -- at least the *Moms*.  
     
       I thought the scenes with Willem Dafoe (in Mexico) and with 
     Kovic's hometown friend who returned from the war when Kovic did 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 38
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     were the most affecting and moving of the film -- they really 
     conveyed the sense many have that only those who were there can 
     truly understand what it meant, and only they can really care for 
     one another.  
     
       As we left the theater, one of the people I went with said, 
     "Wow. I guess Kovic must REALLY hate his mother!" 
     
     Origin: US Hands Off Central American ~No More Vietnams (1:1033/1)
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
     Date: 27 Jan 90 11:58:00
     From: Ray Moreau
     To  : Kathleen Kelly  
     Subj: BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY
     
     I felt for Kovic what he went through with Mom...as I did when 
     first comming home after my fourth tour.  I didn't really hate 
     (which showed externally) but internally and needed the hug and 
     holding.  Years have gone by..and Mom being 83 now, left after two 
     week visit.  God how I love her..her upbringing ..very 
     catholic..mine just a little.  
     
     The 45 minutes at the beginning of the movie set the stage.. We 
     all share opinions that's what make this country great...not all 
     of us think alike.
     
     I am extremely happy that finally a film was made, without Jane 
     Fonda, which shows what it was like to come home to an uncaring 
     nation. With the love of a wonderful wife of 32 years, the 
     strength I needed came from her and later from Mom.
     
     Yes, at first I did hate my Mom...as I said it was external in 
     appearance.
     
     Geez, rambling on....CUL and keep the faith.
     
     Ray "Frenchy" Moreau USN (Ret)....but not from life.
     
     Origin: HBX/EDS VVM Memorial Name Search Point (TComm 1:109/316.1)
     



















     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 39
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
               V e t e r a n   B e n e f i t s   &   I n f o
     =================================================================

             KEVIN DOBSON TO LEAD VA NATIONAL SALUTE
     
                     Input by: Jim Hildwine
            NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor
               VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47
                         Shady Side, Md
     
                        January 29, 1990
     
        Kevin  Dobson,  star of TV's "Knots Landing,"  will serve again 
     this  year  as  national  chairman of  the  annual  Department  of 
     Veterans Affairs National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.
        Held during the week of Valentine's Day,  the Salute encourages 
     the   public  to  visit  hospitalized  veterans,   remember  their 
     sacrifices  and honor their service.   VA's 85.000 volunteers host 
     visits  by dignitaries,  students and citizens to 172 VA hospitals 
     across the country.
        "Few  people have been as effective as Kevin in focusing public 
     attention on our hospitalized veterans,"  said VA Secretary Edward 
     J. Derwinski in announcing Dobson's appointment.  "He visited over 
     a  dozen VA medical centers as our 1989 chairman,  highlighted  VA 
     volunteer  opportunities during appearances on national television 
     and even included reference to volunteering at VA hospitals in his 
     television series."
        Dobson  came  into  national prominence as a  police  detective 
     Bobby Crocker in the long running "Kojak" television series.  Next 
     month  (Feb  3)  he  recreates  the Crocker role in  a  new  Kojak 
     television movie.
        An Army veteran, Dobson will serve as national spokesman for VA
     Voluntary Service and other veterans programs throughout 1990.  He 
     was   recognized  for  his  public  service  work  in  behalf   of 
     hospitalized  veterans last year by President Bush during a  White 
     House visit.
        "The  more  VA  hospitals  I visit and  the  more  hospitalized 
     veterans I meet,  the more I want to encourage people to recognize 
     their  contributions  and their needs,"   Dobson said.   "it's  an 
     honor to be part of the VA team."    Organizations and individuals 
     interested  in  participating  in  the  1990  National  Salute  to 
     Hospitalized Veterans,  Feb.  11-17,  should contact the Voluntary 
     Service of their nearest VA medical facility.
     
                       Federal Benefits?  Ask me!!!
     
                                  - Jim -
     










     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 40
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

       THE FOLLOWING ARE REPRESENTATIVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED DAILY BY VA
         COUNSELORS.  FULL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT ANY VA OFFICE.
     
                          Input by: Jim Hildwine
                 NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor
                    VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47
                              Shady Side, Md
     
     Q. Can a female veteran claim her husband as dependent?
     A. Yes.  When receiving compensation, pension or education 
        benefits from VA, a female veteran may claim her husband as a 
        dependent.
     
     Q. I just got married.  Does my husband automatically become the
        beneficiary of my VA insurance policy?
     A. No.  You must notify VA that you wish to make a change and 
        provide complete identification of the new beneficiary.
     
     Q. Can I use my VA-Guaranteed home loan to buy land I plan to 
        build a house on in the future?
     A. A VA guaranteed loan cannot be used to buy undeveloped land 
        unless it is part of a package that includes the building of 
        your home.
     
     Q. What type of income should I report on my annual eligibility 
        verification report to continue my VA pension benefits?
     A. Income from all sources must be reported.  VA will determine
        what sources and amounts will be counted and the amount of 
        income to be excluded.
     
     Q. Can I get a release of liability from the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs if a non-veteran assumes my VA-guaranteed home 
        loan?
     A. If the buyer meets the VA approval, you may be released from
        liability.
        
     Q. If I encounter legal difficulties while purchasing a home using
        my VA home loan benefit, will the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs provide or pay for any legal assistance I may need?
     A. No.  The Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide legal
        assistance or advice; nor can the Department pay for legal 
        assistance a veteran obtains to deal with troubles encountered 
        in the purchase or construction of a home
     
                       Federal Benefits?  Ask me!!!
     
                                  - Jim -
     











     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 41
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                    VIETNAM-ERA GI BILL BENEFITS ENDING
                          DATED 29 NOVEMBER 1989
                              VA NEWS RELEASE
     
                         Input by: Jim Hildwine
                NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor
                   VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47
                             Shady Side, Md
     
        The  nation's  most widely used GI Bill education benefits  are 
     coming  to  an  end.   After nearly 24 years of helping  some  8.2 
     million  Vietnam  era veterans with school and training  expenses, 
     the  Department  of  Veterans Affairs (VA)  will  be  mailing  the 
     program's final checks at the end of December.
        Some   60,000  veterans  currently  enrolled  in  schools   and 
     receiving  assistance have been notified that their payments  will 
     be  stopped  when the Vietnam Era Veterans GI Bill expires on  Dec 
     31,  1989.   The  program's  termination date was spelled  out  in 
     legislation passed in 1976, and has been widely publicized by VA.
        Educational  benefits for Post-Korean Conflict and Vietnam  Era 
     veterans  were  earned by serving on active duty between  Jan  31, 
     1055, and Jan 1 1977, and were available 10 years after discharge, 
     but no later than Dec 31, 1989.
        Many  of  these veterans,  however,  will be eligible to  begin 
     receiving benefits starting Jan. 1, 1990,  under the Montgomery GI 
     Bill.   Those  qualifying  are veterans who served until June  30, 
     1988.   Also  eligible  are  veterans who  were  discharged  under 
     qualifying circumstance before June 30,  1988,  but after June 30, 
     1985.
        The qualifying discharges are hardship, disability, convenience 
     of  the government with at least 30 months service after June  30, 
     1985, and -- in certain cases -- military reductions in force.
        The  Vietnam Era GI Bill is the third"readjustment  assistance" 
     act  passed by the Congress to assist former military members with 
     service during hostile-fire periods.  The GI Bill for World War II 
     provided  training for 7.8 million veterans.   Participants in the 
     Korean Conflict GI Bill totaled 2.8 million.
        In total, the VA delivered more that $70 billion in educational 
     and   training  assistance  to  more  than  20  mission  veterans, 
     dependents, and active duty members and reservists since the first 
     GI Bill was approved by Congress in 1944.
        Not  affected  by  the  Dec 31 expiration   date  are  veterans 
     enrolled  in other VA education programs,  including those in  the 
     Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)  and Montgomery GI 
     Bill  for  active  duty,  reserve and national guard  members  who 
     served after June 30, 1985.
        Veterans, servicepersons, reservists and dependents of veterans 
     in  doubt  about their eligibility for education  benefits  should 
     contact the nearest VA Regional Office.
     
                       Federal Benefits?  Ask me!!!
     
                                  - Jim -
     





     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 42
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                       VA CITES SMALL BUSINESS GAINS
     
                          Input by: Jim Hildwine
                 NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor
                    VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47
                              Shady Side, Md
     
        The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)  reports another record 
     breaking  year  in awarding contracts to Vietnam era and  disabled 
     veteran-owned  small business.   Total dollar value for the 17,678 
     contacts awarded in fiscal year 1989,  to veteran-owned businesses 
     is  over  $36.5 million,  up nearly 29 percent from  the  previous 
     year.
        VA outreach efforts to veteran-owned business include: creating 
     awareness  among  the veterans business community  of  procurement 
     opportunities  with  VA;  coordinating  outreach  activities  with 
     national  veterans  service  organizations;   sponsoring  business 
     workshops  at  veterans conferences;  publishing  a  veteran-owned 
     small   business  resource  list  and  periodically  updating  and 
     distributing the list to VA contracting facilities; and developing 
     news  releases  aimed  at veterans in business.  VA's  message  to 
     veterans in business is:  Look at VA as a possible customer if you 
     are  a  Vietnam  era or disabled veteran who owns and  operates  a 
     small  business.   To assist veteran-owned small firms who want to 
     do  business  with  VA,  the pamphlet,  "Doing Business  with  the 
     Department  of  Veterans Affairs,"  provides guidance  to  veteran 
     entrepreneur interested in marketing to VA.
        The pamphlet and information on the VA Vietnam Era and Disabled 
     Veteran-Owned  Small Business Outreach Program is available  from: 
     Department  of Veterans Affairs Office of Small and  Disadvantaged 
     Business   Utilization   (005SB),   810  Vermont   Avenue,   N.W., 
     Washington, D.C. 20420. Telephone (202) 376-6996
     
                        Federal Benefits?   Ask me!
     
                                  - Jim -
     






















     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 43
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

           VA OUTLINES PROPOSAL FOR BALTIMORE HOSPITAL PROPERTY
     
                          Input by: Jim Hildwine
                 NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor
                    VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47
                              Shady Side, Md
     
        The  Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it will  seek 
     legislative  authority to develop a unique federal-private nursing 
     home  and  retirement  partnership  at the  site  of  the  present 
     Baltimore  VA  Medical  Center.   A  new  hospital  is  now  under 
     construction  in  downtown Baltimore and is scheduled to  open  in 
     1992.
        Located  on Lock Raven Boulevard in a residential area north of 
     Memorial Stadium, the 15-acre site contains a multi-story, 291-bed 
     hospital  and numerous auxiliary building.   The VA proposal would 
     invite  bids  from  private developers to lease and  renovate  the 
     medical  center  campus  for use as a nursing  home,  offices  and 
     retirement residences.  VA would place some of its current nursing 
     home  patients  in  the  complex and would  move  its  Prosthetics 
     Research  and Development Center from a downtown federal  building 
     to the Loch Raven site.
        VA Secretary Edward J. Derwinski said the project - which would 
     be  the first of its kind in VA -  offers tangible benefits to all 
     affected  parties.   "The  veterans of Baltimore",  taxpayers  and 
     community  residents  all  win  with this  type  of  arrangement," 
     Derwinski  said.  "We gain the use of facilities for nursing  home 
     patients,  the  property  increases  in value at no  cost  to  the 
     government,  the  residential  environment of the neighborhood  is 
     preserved, and the community gains an economic asset."
     
                       Federal Benefits?  Ask me!!!
     
                                  - Jim -
     
























     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 44
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                       H e a r t s   n '   M i n d s
     =================================================================

                  VIETNAM VETERANS: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
       by Joel Osler Brende, M.D. and Erwin Randolph Parsons, Ph.D.
                              Copyright 1985
     
                      Input by: Kathleen Kelly, Ph.D.
                       NAM VETs PTSD Section Editor
                 The New York Transfer - Staten Island, NY
                              (718) 448-2358
     
                              RECOVERY PHASES
      
     PART II.  (Continued from last month)
     --------
     
     During   our  counseling  experience,   we  have  found  that  the 
     educational  aspect  of treatment is of supreme importance in  all 
     phases.  Learning  about  PTSD from articles and books and from  a 
     knowledgeable therapist is very helpful.  But this education about 
     the  nature  of PTSD symptoms ought to include  the  understanding 
     that  the veteran is not the only person suffering from them.  For 
     that reason, we also use educational groups, which provide support 
     and  shared knowledge from one another.  In our educational  group 
     sessions with patients,  we have gone so far as to focus on topics 
     of  educational  value and elicit discussion about questions  such 
     as:  What  are the common PTSD symptoms?   Why do Vietnam veterans 
     use drugs?  Why do Vietnam veterans have problems with power? What 
     are  the  definitions of words  like  secret,  conscience,  anger, 
     helplessness, receiving help, love,  and trust?   After completing 
     the groups, veterans not only have developed considerable trust in 
     their  knowledgeable group leaders but have received a  "cognitive 
     anchor" that will help them continue through subsequent phases of
     the recovery process.
     
     Educational  groups  take  on therapeutic  overtones  and  develop 
     specific  phases  and  dynamics of their  own,  similar  to  other 
     therapy  groups.  One  of us conducted a  successful  educational-
     therapeutic  group lasting 16 sessions.  It spontaneously  evolved 
     into four phases:
       First,  the  members  began  to break  through  their  emotional 
     detachment and share vivid traumatic experiences, current problems 
     with jobs, problems with relationships, drug and alcohol abuse.
       Second,  during a phase of revelation of the brutalities of war, 
     they described acts of violence,  combat-related deaths,  killing, 
     their loss of moral values, and their feelings of victimization.
       Third,  they  focused  on the depression related to feelings  of 
     being dead or partly dead. They also concentrated on their loss of
     values  and their insensitivity to others.  Fourth,  they began to 
     grieve  together  and earnestly help each other manage  to  become 
     survivors   rather   than  victims.   These  sessions  seemed   to 
     encapsulate  similar phases,  although spanning a relatively short 
     period  of  6  weeks,  to  those found  in  long-term  individual, 
     combined individual and group,  and long-term therapy,  making the 
     time spent very profitable indeed.
     
     Not only outpatient therapy but therapy provided within a hospital 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 45
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     setting,  in special PTSD Units,  seems to proceed through phases.  
     For  example,  the  VA  Medical Center PTSD Unit  in  Northampton, 
     Massachusetts,  has a treatment program with three phases.  During 
     the  20  weeks  of  the program,  the  initial  phase  focuses  on 
     stabilization   of   symptoms   and  helping   participants   feel 
     comfortable  enough so that they can be less guarded.  The  middle 
     phase  focuses  on  confronting and helping  participants  uncover 
     hidden problems, grieve, accept the traumatic things that happened 
     to  them,  and  learn  to  become  more  comfortable  with  family 
     interaction.  The  third  or transition phase focuses  on  helping 
     veterans  develop useful skills and preparing them for responsible 
     social interaction.
     
     Perhaps  the treatment most widely used by patients and prescribed 
     by their doctors,  even though not necessarily most helpful in the 
     long  run,  is  chemical.  Medications  can be very  effective  in 
     controlling  many  of the target symptoms of Phases 1,  2  and  3. 
     Vietnam  veterans  using alcohol and certain  drugs,  particularly 
     marijuana, have known for years that they can temporarily suppress 
     most   target   symptoms.   In  an  article  published  in   1980, 
     psychiatrists  reported:  "The  acute  administration  of  alcohol 
     relieves many of the symptoms of classical traumatic neurosis.  It 
     is  effective  in inducing sleep and suppressing anxiety  and  can 
     ease  muscle  tension and sometimes depression,  irritability  ... 
     agitation ...  [and]  terrifying dreams."  They also reported that 
     when  patients  withdraw from alcohol,  they will likely have  the 
     same symptoms.
     
     We  have found that 66%  of Vietnam veterans seeking treatment for 
     drug  and  alcohol  addiction suffered from recurrent  dreams  and 
     traumatic  imagery one or more times a week,  for which they  used 
     "downers"  such  as alcohol,  sedatives,  or minor  tranquilizers. 
     Sixty-six  percent were found to suffer from emotional detachment, 
     risk-taking behavior, and aggressive outbursts and used substances 
     to control these symptoms.  Thirty-three percent used marijuana to 
     control  aggressive outbursts and 33%  used alcohol or  stimulants 
     such  as cocaine,  Ritalin,  or amphetamines to heighten emotional 
     experiences. However, it has also been commonly found that Vietnam 
     veterans  who continue to use alcohol over a period of years  have 
     more  problems  with  intrusive traumatic  images  and  unpleasant 
     memories,  particularly a few hours after stopping their drinking. 
     Furthermore,  those  who  have had aggressive outbursts  are  more 
     likely  to  get into fights after they have been drinking  even  a 
     small  amount of alcohol.  For that reason,  we advise all of  our 
     patients to abstain from alcohol.  Those who do not are at risk to 
     lose control over their aggressive tendencies.
     
     Yet,  many  veterans  claim that marijuana does not  worsen  their 
     symptoms but rather suppresses them.  Psychiatrist John Yost,  who 
     had  helped  soldiers  in Vietnam,  is now  involved  in  treating 
     Vietnam  veterans.  He reports that many used marijuana as a self-
     medication  to control anxiety,  recurrent traumatic  dreams,  and 
     flashbacks.  Although not advocating its use,  many psychiatrists, 
     hearing similar accounts from their Vietnam veteran patients,  may 
     not  condemn  marijuana use unless their patients are admitted  to 
     the hospital. Interestingly,  they usually discover their patients 
     will  spontaneously  stop using marijuana as a self-medication  as 
     their symptoms diminish through therapy.
     
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 46
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     Hospital-based treatment programs do not permit the use of alcohol 
     or  nonprescribed substances,  including marijuana,  at any  time, 
     whether  on the premises or on weekend passes.  And many  veterans 
     find  abstinence  from marijuana to be extremely difficult.  As  a 
     patient  said,  "Marijuana mellows me out and keeps me from losing 
     control. When I get so angry that I'd just as soon kill someone, I 
     just  smoke a joint and it calms me down;  it's better than what I 
     get  from the doctor."  Some newly hospitalized patients  strongly 
     object  to the rule of being discharged when evidence of marijuana 
     use  is found in their urine tests;  they complain that the  staff 
     does  not understand the anxiety of giving up their former methods 
     of   controlling  PTSD  symptoms.   Thus,   while  mental   health 
     professionals ask their patients to give up using such substances, 
     veterans ask their psychiatrists to be patient whilethey learn new 
     ways to cope.
     
     Medications  have  become  a mainstay of PTSD  treatment  in  many 
     cases,  particularly  for hospitalized patients.  They are used to 
     control  specific target symptoms,  but should be discontinued  as 
     soon  as  the  symptoms are controlled through  other  therapeutic 
     means. 
     
     Valium and other similar tranquilizers of the benzodiazepine group 
     have been prescribed widely for veterans with PTSD symptoms.  They 
     hold several dangers, however. Patients often develop a tolerance, 
     and  soon find themselves needing increasingly higher doses of the 
     drug,  and  will  even  frequently  develop a  dependency  on  it. 
     Moreover,  many  veterans who have used one of the benzodiazepines 
     to  control rage attacks find themselves becoming more  vulnerable 
     to   aggressive   outbursts   rather  than   remaining   tranquil. 
     Furthermore,  if a Vietnam veteran discontinues taking one of this 
     group  after  constant use,  he might be plagued  with  withdrawal 
     symptoms such as seizures, anxiety, restlessness,  muscle tremors, 
     and  sleep disturbance.  Doctors have sometimes prescribed one  of 
     the  "major  tranquilizer"  group  such as the  phenothiazines  or 
     thioridazine (Mellaril), mesoridazine (Serentil),  or perphenazine 
     (Trilafon)  for  the veteran with more severe symptoms of confused 
     thoughts,  agitation,  severe  recurrent  flashbacks,   and  sleep 
     disturbances which do not respond to other medications.  Yet there 
     is a risk here too of side effects, the most common being rigidity 
     and  abnormal  muscle  movements.  Hence,   they  should  be  used 
     sparingly.
     
     Recent  research  has  found  a group of  medications  called  the 
     adrenergic [beta]  blockers helpful for some Vietnam veterans with 
     PTSD, particularly those who suffer conditioned physical reactions 
     to fear such as rapid heart rate,  increased respiration,  and the 
     "sweats."  Two  of these medications,  clonidine and  propranolol, 
     prescribed in high doses,  have been found to relieve the symptoms 
     and also improve some veterans' sense of self-esteem.
     
     Those veterans suffering from disturbing dreams,  depression,  and 
     sleeplessness have responded quite well to antidepressants such as 
     the  tricyclic  group,  trazedone (Desyrel),  one of the  monamine 
     oxidase   [MAO]   inhibitors  such  as  phenelzine   (Nardil)   or 
     carbamazepine  (Tegretol),  normally  used as  an  anti-convulsion 
     medication. As a result, some patients using them under a doctor's 
     care may have fewer panic attacks, depressed states, anxiety,  and 
     nightmares.  Other  patients,  with blocked memories and emotions, 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 47
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     have  recalled  traumatic  experiences  and  distressing  emotions 
     within a few days after beginning phenelzine.
     
     Vietnam   veterans   suffering  from  rapidly  changing   emotions 
     sometimes  feel  more  regulated  after  taking  Lithium.   Recent 
     research has also found that Lithium has sometimes helped patients 
     who are frightened of losing control over aggressive outbursts. 
     
     Continuing  research  may  point  to  increasingly  more  specific 
     treatment of PTSD symptoms.  For example,  one of us has conducted 
     preliminary  research  involving measurements of skin  conductance 
     (electrical  energy  on the surface of the skin)  as  an  indirect 
     indicator  of  brain functioning.  Preliminary findings show  that 
     trauma  victims use each side of the brain differently,  either to 
     recall  or  control  the memories of traumatic  events.   In  some 
     trauma  victims,  the right side of the brain may store  traumatic 
     memories  while  the  left  side of the brain  may  control  them. 
     Researcher   Dr.  Claude  Chemtob  has  made  similar  preliminary 
     findings using more direct measurements of brain activity. Perhaps 
     trauma  victims experience the posttraumatic defense of  emotional 
     numbing  or  detachment  with a  temporary  physiological  barrier 
     between the right and left sides of the brain. Possibly intrusive, 
     disturbing  memories result from a breakdown of that barrier.  Our 
     beginning  research also suggests that if a victim who suffered  a 
     recent  traumatic incident relives the agonizing experience during 
     hypnosis,  the  structure  of  the physiological  barrier  may  be 
     altered.  For instance,  we measured a patient's responses 2 weeks 
     after  a  severe  beating when he suffered  recurrent  frightening 
     dreams,  fear  and depression alternating with emotional  numbing, 
     and  each  side responded in a different way.  Two  months  later, 
     after receiving hypnotherapy and group therapy, his acute symptoms 
     were  markedly  improved and the measurements suggested that  both 
     sides  of  the brain were working together once  more,  suggesting 
     that  he  was  no  longer using  physiological  and  psychological 
     defenses  to  control intrusive unacceptable  emotionally  charged 
     memories. 
     
     Since  over a century ago,  it has been known that hypnosis can be 
     used  to  enable a victim to reexperience a  disturbing  traumatic 
     event,  after  which  time  he  or  she  appears  to  be  free  of 
     posttraumatic  symptoms,   although  sometimes  only  temporarily. 
     Hypnotically  induced recollections are merely reenactments of the 
     original traumatic experience, but in contrast to the uncontrolled 
     nature  of posttraumatic reenactments ("flashbacks"),  those  that 
     occur during hypnotic treatment are controlled. 
     
     Historically,  the  word  "abreaction"  was used to  describe  the 
     hypnotically   induced,   emotionally  charged  reliving  of   the 
     traumatic event. The hypnotherapist guides the patient through the 
     horror  of  the experience and helps him to remember it in  a  way 
     that  is less disturbing for him later.  The hypnotic reexperience 
     reduces  the  patient's compelling need to repeatedly  recall  the 
     emotionally  disturbing  traumatic  event,   since  it  eventually 
     becomes integrated into the conscious mind.
     
     Hypnotic  abreaction,  used earlier to treat World War II veterans 
     shortly after developing symptoms, has not been found as effective 
     for   the   delayed   symptoms  typical   of   Vietnam   veterans. 
     Consequently,  there  have only been limited reports of successful 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 48
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     application  of hypnosis as a treatment.  Instead,  we,  like some 
     therapists, have found that intensive psychotherapy,  with no more 
     than  occasional  use  of hypnosis,  has more  healing  power  and 
     because  it  permits  the  therapist a  more  active  empathy  and 
     "sharing" of patients' guilt or grief-ridden experiences. As Sarah 
     Haley, an experienced social worker and therapist,  has described, 
     this  may  be a painful experience for the therapist,  who may  be 
     "dragged,  kicking  and screaming for release,  down every  jungle 
     trail,   burned-out   village,   and  terrorizing  night  patrol." 
     Nevertheless, the veteran experiences a positive change within him 
     because of the continuing presence, love, and understanding of the 
     therapist.
     
     Nevertheless, hypnosis has been used and apparently effectively in 
     the hands of certain professionals. In one study, it was effective 
     as  part  of  a 6-  to 9-month-long treatment program  when  video 
     recordings of the abreaction were replayed at a later time for the 
     patient   when   he  could  view  them  in  a  normal   state   of 
     consciousness.  In  this way,  the hypnotized patient was able  to 
     observe  his  prior emotional experience and could  understand  it 
     better. 
     
     We have found that recollections of traumatic experiences, induced 
     not  only by hypnosis but by other techniques as  well,  generally 
     promote the recovery process.   This is particularly true when the 
     trauma victim vividly recalls the event and reexperiences not only 
     the  original  emotion associated with the  experience,  but  also 
     other  emotions  such as guilt and grief that had been blocked  at 
     that time and since. Those most likely to benefit from this method 
     are  recent  trauma victims still suffering from  acute  emotional 
     distress,  Vietnam  veterans suffering the effects of a recent and 
     unrelated  emotionally  disturbing  event,   or  Vietnam  veterans 
     developing  new symptoms or emotions associated with the  original 
     trauma.
     
     Ted,  a  Vietnam veteran,  was admitted to the hospital after  his 
     wife  suddenly left him.  The enormity of his feelings of loss for 
     his marriage triggered a flood of memories and emotions related to 
     a  painful loss that occurred in Vietnam.  During one of the first 
     therapy  sessions,  the  therapist  asked him to  talk  about  his 
     experiences  in that country.  When he did,  the memories released 
     strong emotions of grief. The therapist then asked him if he saw a 
     picture   of  the  specific  traumatic  event  eliciting  such  an 
     emotional  response  in  his mind,  and if so,  whether  he  could 
     describe   it  in  detail.   The  veteran,   now  grieving  nearly 
     uncontrollably,  began  to  relive vividly,  without the  help  of 
     hypnosis,  the  traumatic  experience  of nearly being  killed  in 
     Vietnam. 
     
     It is more common that a Vietnam veteran's emotional recovery will 
     be  enhanced  dramatically when he relives an emotionally  charged 
     traumatic  event  after first developing a  trusting  relationship 
     with  the therapist,  sometimes taking 6 months or more.  Then,  a 
     change  in  the nature of the patient-therapist  relationship  may 
     become the emotional pathway to a unique traumatic experience.  In 
     the  case  of one Vietnam veteran,  the 12th month of the  therapy 
     process  was marked by his developing anxiety about being a victim 
     at  about the same time that the therapist suggested that he would 
     benefit from being a hypnotic subject.  The anxiety was associated 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 49
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     with  dreams wherein he was a victim enveloped by flying blood and 
     brain  fragments  from  a dead VC  soldier.  During  the  hypnotic 
     session,  the  therapist asked the veteran to go back in time  and 
     relive any past experience associated with his dream.  The veteran 
     began  to relive a very traumatic experience of shooting an  enemy 
     soldier  at point-blank range in the head and feeling fragments of 
     the brain hit himself over the head and face.
     
     Every  Vietnam  veteran has a unique group of traumatic  memories, 
     each  of which should be specifically uncovered and treated.  Some 
     veterans  have  been subjected to scores of traumatic  experiences 
     and  as  they  proceed through the phases of  recovery,  they  are 
     likely  to  relive different traumatic experiences and  associated 
     emotions at various times.  A dramatic example occurred during the 
     last 5 months of an 18-month-long therapy process. Within the span 
     of 5 months,  the Vietnam veteran relived,  during hypnosis,  five 
     different traumatic experiences,  each associated with a different 
     and more intense emotion related to fear, anger, grief, and guilt.
     
     We have often found,  however,  that veterans may recall different 
     traumatic  memories  more  readily when  specifically  exposed  to 
     precipitating  events.  As we mentioned earlier,  when a group  of 
     hospitalized  Vietnam veterans traveled together to a cemetery for 
     the   funeral   of  their  friend  who  had   committed   suicide, 
     considerable  emotions and memories relating to death were evoked. 
     As one of them said later, "I started crying at the cemetery and I 
     couldn't  stop.  I wasn't just crying for [his]  death but for all 
     the dead buddies I left behind in Vietnam.  And that was the first 
     time I have cried since I got back."
     
     While  the  pathway to a traumatic memory is the patient's  common 
     emotion  at  the time of therapy and at the time of  the  original 
     trauma, his abreaction of the past traumatic experience is not the 
     path's  final destination.  That occurs only when the patient  and 
     therapist    can   traverse   the   problems   and   interpersonal 
     difficulties, including those with the therapist, and then to find 
     in  the  event  a  new meaning so that the patient  can  make  the 
     emotionally charged experience an acceptable memory.
     
     Recovery  is  a  process  that  may take  many  years  for  combat 
     veterans,  sometimes  occurring  spontaneously and at other  times 
     with  the help of treatment.  Yet,  whether spontaneous or through 
     treatment,  getting  better  follows a progression of  predictable 
     phases.  For  those receiving treatment,  medications,  relaxation 
     training, educational approaches,  desensitization,  psychotherapy 
     groups,  and  hospital treatment have been used at specific  times 
     with varying success,  particularly for the distressing intrusive-
     repetitive symptoms, rage, and emotional detachment characteristic 
     of the early phases. 
     
     Paramount  to the recovery process is the therapeutic relationship 
     between  veteran  and therapist.  Whether occurring in  individual 
     therapy,  group  therapy,   or  hypnotherapy,   this  relationship 
     provides  the nucleus for the recovery process.  Particularly  for 
     those veterans who have developed longstanding personality changes 
     following their return from Vietnam,  their trusting relationships 
     enable  them to reveal hidden traumatic memories and emotions more 
     easily.  Specific techniques,  including hypnosis,  can be used at 
     such  times  by  the therapist to elicit  vivid  recollection  and 
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     "abreaction"  of  traumatic  events and later to help the  veteran 
     understand their relationship to specific posttraumatic symptoms. 
     
     Bringing  to  light the hidden traumatic memories associated  with 
     different  emotional states of fear,  anger,  guilt,  and grief is 
     crucial  in  giving  a  momentum and  direction  to  the  recovery 
     process. Finally,  it is most important for the patient,  with the 
     help of the therapist, to integrate his past experiences, find new 
     meaning, new ways of coping, "atoning," and new directions for his 
     life. 
     
     Many  veterans,  morally  and spiritually changed by their  combat 
     experiences  and alienated from God (as individually  understood), 
     respond  only  partially to traditional treatment techniques  used 
     during  early  recovery phases.  For those who are open minded  to 
     resolving  "spiritual  numbing"  ...  we have developed a  12-Step 
     program, patterned somewhat after the 12-Step Alcoholics Anonymous 
     program, outlined as follows: 
     
       Step One:    Understanding power and victimization
       Step Two:    Seeking meaning in survival
       Step Three:  Trust vs. shame and doubt
       Step Four:   Self-inventory
       Step Five:   Understanding anger and direct it constructively
       Step Six:    Understanding and overcoming fear
       Step Seven:  Understanding and resolving guilt
       Step Eight:  Grief and healing
       Step Nine:   Death vs commitment to life
       Step Ten:    Revenge vs forgiveness
       Step Eleven: Finding meaning through "surrender"
       Step Twelve: Giving and receiving love
     
     With  the  help  of these 12 steps,  survivors are  guided  toward 
     pursuing  the phases of recovery at a pace they can  manage,  with 
     the  support of 12-Step Group participants.   In addition to their 
     participation  in  group discussions,  they are given extra  study 
     materials  to  read  at  their  leisure.    Encouraged  to  expect 
     spiritual  renewal  as part of recovery,  they may seek  spiritual 
     counseling  as  well.  Some,  like John,  have  found  significant 
     improvement  after  spiritual renewal:  "Since I have found  peace 
     with God, my life has changed. Now I feel emotions. I'm glad to be 
     alive for the first time,  and I want to help other vets like I've 
     been helped."
                                  * * *  
      ---------------
     From: VIETNAM VETERANS: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY 
     by Joel Osler Brende, MD and Erwin Randolph Parsons, Ph.d.  
     New York: New American Library, 1986. Signet paperback edition. 
     Chapter 9: "Recovery Phases," pp. 217-236.
     









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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     It's finally here - a patch which acknowledges the other side 
     of the Vietnam Veteran:  His wife!
       Hardly needing any explanation, it is multicolor with Red,
     White, Blue, Green and Gold for the Map of Vietnam. 
       While the text drawing below doesn't really do it justice, I
     think if you run it out on your printer, you'll sorta get the 
     idea of how special this unique patch is.
       They are available for $5 each from VETLink #1 - Dept. 65
     P O Box 2056  Pittsfield, MASSACHUSETTS 01202 
         (Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery)
     
                   @@@@@@@@@@              @@@@@@@@@@
                @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@          @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
             @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@      @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
           @@@@@@@@         @@@@@      @@@@@         @@@@@@@@
          @@@@                 @@@    @@@                 @@@@
         @@@@                     @@@@@                    @@@@
        @@@@                                                @@@@
       @@@  V  I  E  T  N  A  M    V  E  T  S     W  I  F  E  @@@
      @@@                                                      @@@
     @@@           :@@@@@@@@@@@:        :@@@@@@@@@@@:           @@@
     @@@          @.............@      @.............@          @@@
     @@@         @...............@    @...............@         @@@
     @@@        @.................@  @.................@        @@@
     @@@       (...................@@...................)       @@@
     @@@       @.............             ..............@       @@@
     @@@       @.............. MAP OF USA ..............@       @@@
     @@@       @.................      .................@       @@@
     @@@       @................. WITH .................@       @@@
      @@@       @..............         ...............@       @@@
      @@@       @............... MAP OF ...............@       @@@
       @@@      (........                       .......)      @@@
        @@@      @......  VIET NAM SUPERIMPOSED ......@      @@@
         @@@      @........                 .........@      @@@
          @@@      @..........  OVER IT ............@      @@@
           @@@   I  @ ............................ @  N   @@@
            @@@      @............................@      @@@
             @@@      @..........................@  A   @@@
              @@@   S  @........................@      @@@
               @@@       @....................@  M    @@@
                 @@@  T   @..................@      @@@
                  @@@      @................@      @@@
                   @@@  A    @............@  Y    @@@
                    @@@       @..........@       @@@
                     @@@  N     @......@   M    @@@
                      @@@         @..@         @@@
                       @@@  D      @@         @@@
                        @@@                  @@@
                          @@@    B   Y     @@@
                           @@@            @@@
                            @@@          @@@ 
                             @@@        @@@
                               @@      @@
                                @@    @@ 
                                 @@  @@
                                   @@
                (c) 1988 VVA Chapter #65  Pittsfield, MA
     

     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 52
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                              WOMEN VETERANS
     
                             by: Rose Sandecki
      in: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS: a handbook for clinicians
                  Published by Disabled American Veterans
     
                         Input by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                        VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
     BACKGROUND
     During the Vietnam conflict (1964-1975),  between 8,000 and 10,000 
     women  served  in Vietnam (out of some three million Americans  in 
     total).   Most of these women served as nurses,  but others worked 
     in various other supportive services such as logistics, personnel, 
     and  finance.   In addition to the women who served with  military 
     units,  a  large  number  of civilian women  served  with  support 
     organizations  such  as  the USO,  American  Red  Cross,  American 
     embassy  staff,  and the USAID.   This chapter will focus on  what 
     happened to these women.  Because much of what they experienced is 
     best  expressed  in their own words,  I have chosen to quote  them 
     extensively  (while  maintaining their anonymity unless they  gave 
     specific permission to use their names).
     
     My knowledge of the trials and traumas that so many of these women 
     faced  during  and  following  their service in  Vietnam  is  both 
     personal  and professional.   I served in Vietnam as an army nurse 
     in  1967  and  1968.   In 1981 I became the  first  woman  Vietnam 
     veteran  in charge of a Veterans Administration Vet  Center.   The 
     Vet  Centers are outpatient mental health clinics specifically set 
     up to provide psychological counseling,  nationwide,  for Vietnam-
     era veterans.  As one of the few Vet Centers with women veterans o
     n staff, we have been very active in outreach and therapy for this 
     too-often-forgotten group of veterans.
     
     DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE VETERANS
     While   there   are  obviously  many  similarities   between   the 
     experiences  of  male  and  female  Vietnam  veterans,  there  are 
     important differences as well.   Most men who went to Vietnam were 
     drafted.   The  majority  of  the women volunteered  for  duty  in 
     Vietnam.   The  average  age  of males during the war was  19  (as 
     compared with 27 in World War II).   Women veterans were generally 
     older,  ranging  in  age  from 21-30.   Most of  these  women  had 
     completed  several  years  of  college or  nursing  school  before 
     joining  the military.   It has been my experience that women  who 
     joined  the  military so they could get financial  assistance  for 
     education,  that  is,  the  younger ones,  developed  more  severe 
     symptoms  of  post-traumatic  stress disorder  (PTSD)  and  remain 
     somewhat  easier  to  identify.   The women  who  completed  their 
     professional  training  or  college and worked for  several  years 
     before volunteering for Vietnam appear to have less difficulty (or 
     are  at  least  less likely to seek help).   While  most  of  this 
     chapter  deals with the forgotten minority of women in the nursing 
     profession,  there  is still a smaller minority who are even  less 
     recognized.   These  are  the women who served in service  support 
     roles  such  as air traffic control,  administrative support  with 
     major headquarters, and other "noncombat" roles.
     
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     GENDER-RELATED ISSUES
     Women  tend  to  identify themselves  as  nurturers,  as  offering 
     maternal comforts.  Women who were nurses in Vietnam felt strongly 
     about  taking care of others,  and this was especially true of the 
     women  taking  care  of the young men (often referred to  as  boy-
     soldiers) in the Vietnam conflict.  I often felt I represented the 
     mothers  of  those  young men at the time of their death  in  this 
     foreign  land.   Mothers are responsible for bringing us all  into 
     this  world  and we generally think about our mothers at the  time 
     our  life is ending.   "It was my joy,  I had to be strong for  my 
     patients,  ...for  my junior nurses and enlisted men.   If I would 
     fall  apart  when an eighteen-year-old came in with both his  legs 
     amputated,  I  wouldn't  be able to help the countless numbers  of 
     casualties  who  would be following  him"  (Sandecki,  1982).   As 
     nurses, we were taught to take care of others: the patients always 
     came first.  Those working in hospitals in Vietnam were instructed 
     to  protect their patients before seeking their own shelter during 
     the  frequent shelling or mortar attacks.   Even though the Geneva 
     Convention  had identified hospitals as being neutral  zones,  the 
     enemy  frequently  directed their mortars and rockets towards  the 
     airfields, which were usually located close to the hospitals.  The 
     hospital  compounds were under indirect though real attack by  the 
     enemy.
     
     Another important gender difference is that women generally do not 
     think  of  themselves as veterans.   Very few of them  have  taken 
     advantage of their G.I. Bill, home loans,  or medical care through 
     the  Veterans Administration.   They learned to keep their  horror 
     stories  to  themselves  for many years and continue  to  silently 
     suffer.   It  was  even more difficult for the women  to  identify 
     themselves  as  being  Vietnam veterans because  of  the  negative 
     images  the country had about women who served in the military  of 
     the  late  1950s and early 1960s.   It was a common belief that  a 
     woman joined the service then only because she could not make a go 
     of  it  in  the outside world;  she was commonly thought of  as  a 
     lesbian  or prostitute.   Add to this the extremely negative image 
     of the Vietnam veteran as a loser,  or worse,  and it is no wonder 
     that  these  women would not identify themselves and risk  further 
     criticisms and humiliation.
     
     The  general  public had a false impression that these women  were 
     safe in Vietnam.  They were led to believe that women never served 
     in  a  combat situation.   The Department of the  Army  classified 
     women serving in Vietnam as "noncombatants."
     
        It   seems  most of the nurses I know have one horror story  
        that represents Vietnam to them.    Mine happened one night 
        we'd  been in the  operating  room about sixty hours.    We 
        were fatigued  beyond words.    We'd  stretch out under the 
        operating  table  on  the  floor for five  or  ten  minutes 
        between cases.
     
        The  operating  rooms  were in round-topped  quonset  huts.  
        There were little  cubicles inside separated with shoulder-
        high partitions to make  operating  rooms.    We were being 
        hit  pretty heavily at  the time.    A  mortar  round  came 
        in and hit the front  part  of  the building  and blew away 
        our  scrub sinks.    We were running out  of supplies   and  
        didn't   see  how  we  would be able  to  take   any   more 
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

        casualties  that night.    And then another chopper came in 
        to  the pad - it  was  about two in the morning -  and they 
        brought  this   guy off  the chopper.    We could hear  him 
        even  above the noise of  the rotor  blades,   screaming...   
        We   could   hear  him  coming   in   our  direction  on  a 
        stretcher,   coming  up  the  concrete  ramp,   up  to  the 
        operating   room.    He had stepped on a land mine and  had 
        both  arms  and  legs blown off right at the  trunk.    His 
        eyes  had  been  blown away,   but  he was still alive  and 
        screaming all the way down  the ramp.    They  wheeled  him 
        past us,  put him down at the back  and tried  real hard to 
        find a place to start an I.V.,   and to put him to sleep so 
        they  could try to save him in some way.   All the while he 
        was screaming, "Let me die,  let me die!"    We listened to 
        that  for   it   seemed like thirty minutes  until  finally  
        everything  got real quiet and we knew he had died.
     
        Somebody had a portable radio on a shelf.   Bing Crosby was 
        singing  "Don't   Fence  Me  In."    After a  little   bit,  
        everybody   in   the operating room started singing  along, 
        "Don't  Fence  Me In."   All of us  in  our  cubicles  were 
        crying,   the doctors  and  the  nurses.   Everybody up and 
        down that place was just totally wiped out by the incident.
     
        I  think  from that point on I just simply  did  not...  it 
        wasn't  that I didn't care,  but the only way I could  deal 
        with  it  was to simply shut  everything out and  not  feel 
        anything.    I  brought  that   home with me  when  I  left 
        Vietnam. (White, 1983)
     
     Women  were  not issued weapons or given infantry  duty,  but  the 
     combat situation in Vietnam was unlike that of any other war.   No 
     military  installation  in  Vietnam was safe  from  enemy  attack.  
     Because  of this,  most of the doctors and all of the medics  were 
     issued individual weapons.  Nurses were very much discouraged from 
     obtaining  or carrying weapons (although male nurses sometimes had 
     them).   Female  nurses were dependent on the men in the  hospital 
     compound to protect them.  This cause a sense of vulnerability and 
     role  confusion;   on one level the nurse was expected to  exhibit 
     unwavering  strength  and act as a role model,  while  on  another 
     level she was expected to depend on the men around her to save her 
     life  should the need arise.   As one of my women veterans put it, 
     "...it was different for the men, at least they had guns and could 
     'off'  someone  or something to vent their frustration.   The  men 
     would protect us.  Ha!"
     
     Ironically,  while female nurses are not recognized as having been 
     in  combat (see Shovar,  this volume),   male nurses (who made  up 
     approximately 25 percent of the nurse corps in Vietnam)  generally 
     are.   When  they  report the classic symptoms of PTSD,  they  are 
     usually  taken seriously.   That male nurses who served in Vietnam 
     understand  how  women veterans feel about this issue was  brought 
     home  to  me  in a conversation I had with a highly  skilled  male 
     nurse   who  became  unable  to  walk  into  a  hospital   without 
     experiencing  intense anxiety following his tour in Vietnam.   "If 
     during TET of 1968 I was blown out of bed by Chicom rockets, fired 
     on with automatic weapons,  and didn't know from one minute to the 
     next  if  I  would  be killed while working  in  triage,  and  the 
     government  says  I served in combat,  then the WOMEN  WHO  WORKED 
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     BESIDE ME WERE ALSO IN COMBAT."
     
     Gender-related role confusion, however,  extended beyond issues of 
     survival.   As  one  of very few women in a totally  male-oriented 
     environment,  a woman in Vietnam was subjected to the most extreme 
     forms  of  sex-role stereotyping.   She tended to  be  alternately 
     treated  as princess or prostitute.   Male members of the  medical 
     team  referred  to this as the "queen for a year  syndrome."   Any 
     western female was placed on a pedestal and subject to exaggerated 
     attentions  by  men starved for affection from women of their  own 
     culture.   As  a  result of these unrealistic attentions by  males 
     (who  expected the women to function as super professional  nurses 
     one minute and super sweet and pliable nurturers the next), a real 
     conflict was established.  Junior female officers with very little 
     experience  suddenly  had their limited off-duty time occupied  by 
     male  senior  officers  with significantly more  life  experience.  
     These women had been trained and educated to respond to the senior 
     officer  in a subservient role.   The attentions of  "authorities" 
     were often more than the inexperienced young women should or could 
     be expected to deal with.  Young, and often frightened,  is it any 
     wonder  that  these women would turn to someone who could  provide 
     them with comforts,  information,  and some degree of the security 
     that  had  been left behind with their families?   Even  nurturers 
     require  a certain amount of nurturing,  and for a few hours at  a 
     time  this  could be obtained through relationships with the  more 
     experienced men of senior rank.
     
     Unfortunately,  the  vast  majority of these men had  families  of 
     their  own  back  home,  so  when  they  rotated  home,   or  were 
     reassigned,  these  young  women were left to find another  senior 
     officer; these relationships, born to provide comfort for both the 
     men and the women during the war,  could not endure beyond the war 
     zone.
     
     For those who got involved in these fleeting but vitally important 
     relationships, the return home was sobering on two counts.  First, 
     the  women  were  afraid  to  allow  themselves  another  possibly 
     transitory attachment with its attendant hurt.  Second, women were 
     no  longer  in  short  supply  in  the  states,   and  facing  the 
     competition  for  men was a rude awakening for those who had  been 
     the  center  of  unending masculine  attention  in  Vietnam.   The 
     effects  were often devastating,  setting the stage for even  more 
     emotional  numbing and distancing when they would later  establish 
     their  own families.   Even for the minority of women veterans who 
     did  not  involve themselves in such  relationships,  the  intense 
     pressure  to  socialize with male officers during  their  off-duty 
     hours  was  a  continual  source of stress  and  role  confusion-- 
     engendered by the expectations that they would "switch hats" (from 
     hard-nosed  professional  to softly feminine)  without  missing  a 
     beat.  These problems followed many home.
     
     The  demographic and gender-related issues discussed above must be 
     kept  in  mind  by  the therapist in attempting  to  establish  an 
     initial  rapport with a female Vietnam veteran.   If she sees that 
     the   therapist  already  knows  or  understands  some  of   these 
     background  issues,  a sense of trust can begin to develop without 
     the  client's  having to educate the therapist.   (It has been  my 
     experience  that women Vietnam veterans trust me because I was one 
     of them, thus eliminating the need for them to enlighten me.)   It 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 56
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     is  also  important  for  therapists to  examine  their  attitudes 
     towards  female Vietnam veterans;   this means examining attitudes 
     related to gender and those about the Vietnam war in general.
     
     SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
     The  signs and symptoms of PTSD in the female Vietnam veteran  are 
     similar  to those in the male veteran (particularly men who served 
     in   the  medical  evacuation  chain).    These  symptoms  include 
     flashbacks,  nightmares,  startle  response,  emotional  numbness, 
     etc.,  and are well covered in other chapters.   I will attempt to 
     highlight   some  of  the  aspects  of  these  symptoms  from  the 
     perspective of women Vietnam veterans.
     
     Substance Abuse
     A  great  many  Vietnam veterans turned to alcohol or  drugs  upon 
     their  return  from  Vietnam in an attempt  to  alleviate  painful 
     memories  of  the  war,  and to counter  disappointment  of  their 
     reception at home.   Many women were among them.   I would like to 
     quote  from one such woman's story at length,  because it typifies 
     many of the symptoms and experiences of women Vietnam veterans.
     
        I'm  a  Vietnam  veteran.   No,  I wasn't  a  young  combat 
        soldier.  I am part of the "forgotten minority" --   women.   
        No  I wasn't a nurse.   Within the forgotten minority,   is 
        another  minority.    There was a small    contingency   of   
        WAC     personnel    performing    various   administrative 
        functions who also served in Vietnam.
     
        I   was  one of two WACs assigned to USARV   Communications  
        Center,  working  on  shifts  with about 40 male  soldiers.   
        We  worked  a minimum of 6 days a week,  on 12-hour shifts;  
        30  days  on  days  and 30  days  on  nights.    Mostly  we 
        processed  casualty  reports  and  some  highly  classified 
        information about troop movements.
     
        I   was   twenty  years old when I went  to   Vietnam.    I  
        volunteered  because  of  a strong sense of patriotism  and 
        because  I   had  been raised  to  believe that along  with 
        freedom  and  its   benefits,   go  responsibilities.     I  
        wanted  to  fulfill  my  obligation  to  my country,  and I 
        wanted  to do something really important,   something  that 
        mattered.  I knew every job in a war zone was critical, and 
        I knew how respected war veterans were.
     
        The first thing I learned was there is NO BEHIND THE LINES,  
        there was no front line as there had been in WWI, WWII, and 
        Korea.  The  next  thing I learned was that emotions  don't 
        belong.   The   first  casualty  I saw  nearly  gagged  me.  
        Injuries  on television and in the movies  were  always  so 
        clean and neat.   But I was told  that  I shouldn't  react,  
        and  that  I'd "better  learn  to  control"  my emotions or 
        I'd never make it.
     
        DURING  THE  NEXT YEAR I LEARNED  TO  DRINK,  HEAVILY,   TO 
        "CONTROL THE EMOTIONS."   Friends  and  I  would also sneak  
        off   the   compound  occasionally to the  infantry  "stand 
        downs."   Stand  downs  were get-togethers  with   "grunts"  
        who  had just come from combat  in  the fields.   All  they  
        wanted  was to have a few drinks,   talk  to  a woman,  and 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 57
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

        sometimes  dance.    We  would also go to parties with  the 
        helicopter  pilots who flew the "dust-off"  choppers  which 
        brought  in  the   wounded.    We  knew that  at  the  next 
        gathering  some  of  them would  be  missing.    We'd go as 
        often  as  we could even though  we invariably drew  sniper 
        fire along the way.
     
        For one year,  three-hundred-and-sixty-five days,   I stuck 
        it  out.   Finally,  my year in hell was over.    Finished.   
        Thank God,   I had survived.   But it wasn't really over --  
        a whole different kind of war was just beginning...
     
        Back home... back to "the world"  ...to rejoin the everyday 
        routine  but  with a new pride and sense of accomplishment.   
        I  had  done my job,   and  done  it well in an  incredible  
        situation,  under  dire stress,  and was now coming home to 
        my family and friends.
     
        But   there  were no congratulations or pats on  the  back.   
        Instead, there were insults, anger,  isolation,   and crazy 
        accusations.    My high  school  chums were now in colleges 
        and   universities   either actively or quietly  protesting 
        against  the  war  I had just  returned  from.   And,  they 
        protested me - by arguing with me,  rejecting my reasoning, 
        discounting my experience,  and finding me deserving of all  
        the  horrors I had endured for having been "stupid  enough"  
        to volunteer.   My  family  tried to be protective and felt 
        that    any  conversation   of  the  war  was  unnecessary,  
        morbid,   and should  be forgotten  since it was all behind 
        me  now.    I  should get on  with  life...  with  reality.  
        Reality?   I  began to feel that Vietnam with its  everyday 
        life  and death situations was far more real.   I began  to  
        feel   that  Vietnam  with  its  everyday  life  and  death  
        situations was far more real.    I began to resent people's 
        problems  that they felt were so important.    I felt  they 
        wanted  nothing to do with me since they were ignoring such 
        an important part of my life,  and so I wanted little to do 
        with them.   Drinking continued to be a good way to cope.
     
        (After   a  year and a half of this),   I made a  decision.   
        I   had survived hell,  I could survive this.   I had  been 
        good  at  my  job so I  found a job in  communications  and 
        started  a new survival  game.   I  even  joined  the  Army 
        Reserves  hoping to find some  lost  part within   me.    I  
        did  however,   tell a friend that I was  going  to  commit  
        suicide,  but not in a conventional way -   I would die  of 
        cirrhosis of the liver before my 35th birthday.
     
        For the next nine years things were fairly normal.
     
        Oh,  I  changed jobs three times,  drank a little too  much 
        sometimes, still  jumped  at sudden noises and got knots in 
        my   stomach  when helicopters were overhead,  had a sudden 
        violent temper,   generally mistrusted everybody,   and had 
        occasional nightmares,  but for the most part,  things were 
        fine.   I  was impulsive too,  and would think nothing   of  
        jumping   into  my  car for long   unplanned   drives.    I 
        needed to get away a lot.
     
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

        Then,   in   1981,   one   of   the  guys  on  my   company  
        softball   team  mentioned  he also played on a Vet  Center 
        team.   I told him I was also a Vietnam veteran.  We talked 
        a  bit,  and I called and went to the  Vet   Center.    The 
        group  leader felt I was showing  signs  of delayed stress.  
        I left.  I was fine.   I wasn't in combat,  and I wasn't  a 
        nurse,   how  could I be having problems?    I got furious, 
        how  dare he think I was having problems;,  everything  was 
        fine...
     
        The nightmares increased;  so did the drinking.    Then one 
        night  it  happened.    I   was startled out of  bed  by  a 
        repetitious  nightmare and there, above me,  in my bedroom,  
        was  a  helicopter  loaded with wounded...  I  didn't  know 
        exactly  how,  but I managed to reason that there  was   no  
        plaster  from the roof around me,   so  it  couldn't really 
        be there.  I looked again and it was gone.   I went back to 
        the Vet Center.
     
        Now,  twelve  years after Vietnam,  I'm in private therapy,  
        an early sobriety rap group as a recovering alcoholic,  and 
        looking  forward  to   starting in a Vietnam  veterans  rap 
        group.    I can't speak  for anyone else,  but THIS Vietnam 
        veteran is scared, angry, very hurt, tired,  confused,  and  
        trying desperately to come back home  from Vietnam.
     
           (Anonymous, published with permission of the author)
     
     For a woman who served as a nurse in Vietnam and who has continued 
     in  the  profession  upon her return,  substance abuse  can  be  a 
     particularly  difficult  issue.   She probably has easy access  to 
     medication at work,  which can lead to a drug abuse problem.   Yet 
     she  is  likely not to seek treatment for fear of losing her  job.  
     The  stresses  of  her  job  are  likely  to  resemble  those  she 
     experienced in Vietnam,  exacerbating her PTSD symptoms.   She may 
     use  alcohol  at home to "self-medicate."   Several of my  clients 
     talk  about drinking several glasses of wine at night to stop  the 
     nightmares  or  recurring dreams.   She is probably  a  workaholic 
     trying  to recreate the adrenaline rush she experienced years  ago 
     taking  care  of  the wounded.   If she is still  in  the  nursing 
     profession,  she most likely continues in the most stressful types 
     of nursing, such as emergency room or intensive care unit work.
     
     Survivor Guilt
     This is a common symptom in the male vets (see T.  Williams,  this 
     volume).   In  the  female vets,  it is not so much the  sense  of 
     having  survived  when others did not as it is feelings  of  guilt 
     over   not  having  done enough to save more of the  casualties  - 
     wounded men whose conditions were far worse than anyone would have 
     imagined.   (Due  to the advanced medical technology of the  1960s 
     and employment of helicopters to transport the wounded,  the types 
     of casualties in vietnam were beyond the expectations anyone could 
     possibly imagine:   multiple traumatic amputations,  severe burns, 
     multiple fragment wounds, etc.)   Even though vets in combat units 
     saw  much death and suffering in Vietnam,  they did not deal  with 
     the numbers and recurrences of casualties on a daily basis seen by 
     the people in the medical evacuation chain.   At times,  a lack of 
     supplies (medicine, blood, or IV fluids)  resulted in the death of 
     a young man who otherwise might have lived.
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     
     Many  nurses  returned  from Vietnam with a sense of  guilt  about 
     their  anger  and hatred toward the Vietnamese civilians who  also 
     were treated in U.S. hospitals.   I remember my own confusion over 
     the Vietcong POW who was in the same ward (opposite bed)  with the 
     young  18-year-old G.I.  with a bilateral amputation of both legs.  
     They  were  both  human beings who were in need of  medical  care, 
     despite the politics of the war.  Many of these women feel a sense 
     of  guilt for mistreating the Vietnamese patients and  yet,  still 
     refer  to  them as "goo ks"  today.   It was not uncommon for  the 
     nurses  to mistreat the Vietnamese patients and do it with a sense 
     of humor (bouncing patients onto the operating room table, shaving 
     the goatee of the local village chief, etc.).
     
     Isolation
     Isolation is one of the most prevalent PTSD symptoms;   the female 
     Vietnam  veteran  feels  alone.    No  one  could  understand  the 
     nightmares, guilt feelings, and anger she experiences.  After all, 
     she  was a nurse and nurses don't suffer any psychological  trauma 
     themselves;  they  are responsible for taking care of others.   If 
     she is currently employed and seeks mental health assistance,  her 
     job  may be at stake.   Women who are single parents and dependent 
     on  their work for themselves and their families will be even more 
     resistant to seeking treatment.
     
     The  female  veteran  also  exhibits feelings of  anger  and  rage 
     related  to  her experiences in Vietnam,  but these  feelings  are 
     often displaced.  "I couldn't get along with my family, I couldn't 
     get along with my fellow workers, and I couldn't get along with my 
     friends.   I  was  angry and I don't know who or what I was  angry 
     with" (White, 1982).   Male veterans with PTSD may vent their rage 
     in  impersonal ways such as barroom brawls.   Even though  society 
     does  not condone public displays of aggression,  such behavior is 
     somehow acceptable for men, but not for women.  Thus, instances of 
     rageful  outbursts  in women more often take the form  of  abusing 
     their  own  children,  partners,  or  themselves  (e.g.,  suicidal 
     gestures, self-destructive behavior).
     
     Emotional Numbing
     Medical training teaches clinical detachment.  Due to this and the 
     unique  nature  of  their  work,  these women  became  experts  at 
     shutting  off  the feelings in Vietnam.   Picture a scene  of  the 
     chaos  involved  in  working  with  numbers  of  severely  wounded 
     casualties  needing  immediate medical  treatment,  screaming  and 
     moaning, several of whom will die in front of you,  or perhaps are 
     already dead.   A young nurse becomes responsible for deciding who 
     will  be treated first,  and who will be left to die,  because the 
     doctors  are  all occupied in operating on or resuscitating  those 
     who  are already receiving treatment.   This woman has little time 
     to feel shock, depression, anger, or anything at all.  She becomes 
     an automaton, shuts down her emotions and works off the adrenaline 
     pounding  through  her  veins.   This numbing,  which  helped  her 
     survive  Vietnam,  continues for many years upon her return  home.  
     SHE  IS  PROBABLY AN EXPERT AT IT TODAY AND AS A RESULT  WILL  NOT 
     SEEK  TREATMENT  FOR HER PTSD.   As one nurse expressed it  "...it 
     wasn't  that I didn't care,  but the only way I could deal with it 
     was  to  simply  shut everything out and not  feel  anything.    I 
     brought that home with me when I left Vietnam."
     
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     TREATMENT ISSUES
     Like their male counterparts,  most women Vietnam veterans were in 
     crisis  when  they first contacted a therapist.   Perhaps she  has 
     recently  read  something  about Vietnam or seen a film  that  has 
     activated  some painful memories.   It has been my experience that 
     the  recently  published book,  HOME BEFORE MORNING by  Lynda  Van 
     Devanter,  propelled  many  women  veterans  to  seek  assistance.  
     Several  of  my clients reported that they couldn't get  past  the 
     first chapter without crying.
     
     Once  the  female  Vietnam  veteran  identifies  herself,   it  is 
     important that the therapist work to gain her trust.   These women 
     have  only  recently begun to admit their  veteran  status.   They 
     probably  are at the stage where the male Vietnam vets were in the 
     late  1970s  when  the first outreach program in the  country  was 
     started by the Disabled American Veterans.
     
     The initial phase of her treatment is individual therapy.   If the 
     therapist  is not a Vietnam veteran her/himself,  it is  important 
     that  the  client  be informed about this  nonveteran  status.   I 
     recommend  the  nonveteran  clinician become  informed  about  the 
     women's role in Vietnam by reading what literature is available.
     
     Trust is one of the most important factors in the treatment of any 
     Vietnam  veteran.   Transference issues are an important aspect of 
     the  therapy,  especially if the therapist is male and the  client 
     female.   For  the female veteran,  INTIMACY and TRUST will be the 
     most   difficult  areas.    Similar  to  her  male   counterparts' 
     experiences,  those  to whom she became close in Vietnam left her.  
     They  died,  were  evacuated from her  hospitals,  transferred  to 
     another command, or were simply rotated out of country.
     
     Military  regulations  forbid  nurses,   as  officers,   from  any 
     fraternizing  with the enlisted personnel with whom they worked so 
     closely,  yet they were expected to be available during their off-
     duty time to socialize with male officers.   Any woman who was not 
     part  of the group that partied at the local Officers Club  became 
     the  target  of  vicious hospital rumors.   REJECTION  in  Vietnam 
     continues  to  be  an issue for her many years,  and  one  of  her 
     primary  concerns may be that once she finally starts to seek help 
     for her PTSD, her therapist will also reject her.
     
     Due  to  the intense bonding in Vietnam,  many of these women  may 
     have or still might be involved with other women.  How do you as a 
     therapist feel about gay or lesbian clients?  Are you able to work 
     through  your own judgements or attitudes?   If there is the least 
     bit  of  homophobia or discomfort present,  I recommend  that  you 
     refer  the  client  elsewhere,  because  she  will  perceive  your 
     attitude and trust will never develop between you.
     
     Individual therapy should continue for at least 6-8 sessions.   If 
     the   female  veteran  is  involved  in  a  relationship  (whether 
     heterosexual  or  homosexual),  couples counseling may also be  in 
     order.   After  individual therapy is completed,  the treatment of 
     choice  for the female veteran is group therapy.   The ideal group 
     consists of other women who served in Vietnam, but few such groups 
     exist.   If  a woman veterans group is unavailable,  she should be 
     placed in a group of medical personnel,  medics,  lab technicians, 
     air evac flight crew members, dust-off pilots, etc.   If this type 
     
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     of group is not available,  then the combat vets group is the next 
     choice.   It  is also important that both the individual and group 
     agree to her being part of the group.
     
     It  is  imperative  that the therapist guard  against  the  female 
     veteran's  falling  into certain "traps"  related to  her  Vietnam 
     experiences.    The  therapist  must  avoid  group  or  individual 
     situations  where  men  place  the  woman  again  in  a  caretaker 
     situation  by bombarding her with their war stories and trauma and 
     expecting her to ONCE AGAIN take care of them.  It is not uncommon 
     that  the  female  vet in an all-male group will also  attempt  to 
     place  herself in the helper role,  thus avoiding her own  issues.  
     If a woman veteran can come to grips with this issue, she,  like a 
     woman in one of my groups,  is likely to say:  "I'm tired of being 
     the  caregiver.   I want to be cared for sometimes.   I want to be 
     held and comforted.  I need it."
     
     NEVER  place  a female Vietnam veteran in a group  of  significant 
     others, partners,  or wives of veterans.   After all the energy it 
     has  taken  for  her  to finally identify  herself  as  a  Vietnam 
     veteran,   it   would  deny  her  the  opportunity  to  share  her 
     experiences  with other veterans,  the very people who can provide 
     the vital context for healing her wounds from Vietnam.
     
     Encourage  the  veteran to outreach to other women  veterans.   My 
     personal philosophy is that those veterans who have healed through 
     therapy have an obligation to help others recover.  I encourage my 
     clients  (both  female and male)  to speak to local high  schools, 
     nursing  schools,  and  other  groups about their  experiences  in 
     Vietnam, especially around holidays like Veterans Day and Memorial 
     Day.  The news media are always looking for veterans to tell their 
     stories.    Encourage   her   involvement  with   local   veterans 
     organizations.   Even  though  several  of the  national  veterans 
     organization still prohibit women from joining, organizations like 
     the  DAV  and  the Vietnam Veterans of  America  encourage  female 
     membership.
     
     As discussed previously, substance abuse is a common problem among 
     Vietnam  veterans.   Always  ask the veteran about her patters  of 
     substance use at some point during your initial sessions.   If she 
     is  currently abusing alcohol or drugs,  it is important that  she 
     seek  treatment specifically for that problem.   It is possible to 
     work  with a client who is in concurrent treatment as long as  the 
     program  or individual therapist who is assisting in the substance 
     abuse  treatment is aware of her treatment for PTSD.   Premilitary 
     history can also be very helpful in guiding treatment.   A history 
     of  alcoholic  parents,  physical abuse as a child,  or  a  broken 
     family  usually indicates that issues other than Vietnam also need 
     to be addressed (see Newman, this volume).
     
     It  is possible that a client will need to be hospitalized for her 
     PTSD.   There  have been a number of specific PTSD inpatient units 
     established  in  VA Medical Centers around the country and all  of 
     them treat women veterans.  If she is hospitalized for PTSD, it is 
     important  that she follow through immediately upon discharge with 
     supportive treatment with a therapist who understands her issues.
     
     Individual therapy is necessary to assist her in talking about the 
     painful  experiences she has numbed for so long.   Talk about  the 
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     types of casualties she can still describe in detail.  She will be 
     watching  your reactions and nonverbal responses.   Talk about the 
     good  as  well  as  the bad;  the fun times as well  as  the  mass 
     casualties.   Talk  about  how  she feels towards  the  Vietnamese 
     civilians  and  the  enemy.   Talk about the support  or  lack  of 
     support  she had from home (families and friends,  etc.):  was she 
     ostracized  because  she  joined  the  ;military?   What  was  her 
     homecoming like?
     
     Perhaps  she  can validate her experience by visiting the  Vietnam 
     Memorial in Washington,  D.C.,  or the DAV memorial at Angel Fire, 
     New mexico, or any of the several Vietnam memorials throughout the 
     country.     Another   restorative   process   is   doing   public 
     presentations about her experiences in Vietnam,  thereby taking an 
     active positive approach to healing.  It is through the efforts of 
     the  caring  therapist that the female Vietnam veteran  will  feel 
     good about herself and her role in Vietnam.
     









































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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                     D e a l i n g   w i t h   ' N a m
     =================================================================

                 VIETNAM HELICOPTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION -- 
                  PRIDE AND FELLOWSHIP FOR "UNIQUE GROUP"
     
                             By Ruth E. Thaler
                           June 1987 VVA Veteran
     
                          Input by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                       VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
     [Note  from Joe:   I've run this article in this issue due to  the 
     many  questions I've seen in the VIETNAM_VETS EchoConference about 
     our helicopter pilots.  Hopefully, to those who've asked,  it will 
     be helpful to you in your search to locate your friends & fellow 
     servicemen.]
     
       More  than  2,000 Vietnam veterans have found a way to focus  on 
     the  positive  contributions resulting from their wartime  service 
     and  are  putting  the war behind them through a  kind  of  alumni 
     association.
       The  Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association started in 1985  with 
     66  members.   Today  (6/1987),   thanks  to  word  of  mouth  and 
     advertising in military, veterans'  and aviation publications,  it 
     has 2,400 members and already has its third reunion planned.   The 
     group  meets  once a year in the summer to reconnect with  buddies 
     who survived the war and to remember those who did not survive.
       "We try to remember the good times [but] we have a special place 
     for our missing comrades," said current president Mike McDonald of 
     Mesa, Arizona.  "We celebrate the fact that we are here."
       The helicopter pilots are recognized throughout the military and 
     in   civilian  areas  such  as  hospitals  and  police  and   fire 
     departments for having contributed something unique to the war 
     effort that carries over into civilian life.  At the association's 
     1986  reunion  in Washington,  DC,  guest speaker General  William 
     Westmoreland cited them as "one of history's great,  unique groups 
     in combat,"  saying that no concept changed warfare as much as the 
     helicopter  except the horse.   That concept has been found useful 
     in civilian life as well.
       "We take pride in the fact that the helicopter ambulance concept 
     that saves so many lives today was perfected in Vietnam," McDonald 
     said.  "It started in Korea, but we perfected it.   That technique 
     may be the only good thing to come out of that war."
       The pilots were all volunteers.  "You may have been drafted, but 
     you had to be a volunteer to fly,"  said McDonald.   He had always 
     wanted  to  be a pilot and said he made a deal with  the  military 
     when he was drafted - "they would teach me how to fly, and I would 
     go to Vietnam."
       The  association and its reunion serve a very personal  purpose, 
     McDonald added.
       "We  feel we have a special relationship with each other.   Once 
     you've  flown  in combat with people,  they become  family.   It's 
     important  to  stay  in touch.   Through  the  association,  we're 
     remembering our youth, too.  That's another bond."
       The  reunions  play  a key role in  helping  Vietnam  helicopter 
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     pilots  cope  with aftereffects of the war,  McDonald  said,  even 
     though "we probably were the least affected."   The pilots tend to 
     feel  "very  little hostility"  about the war and  may  experience 
     fewer incidents of post-war stress, drug and alcohol problems than 
     other veterans because of their type of service,  McDonald claims.  
     At the reunions,  "we can see how we're doing compared to others," 
     McDonald  said.   "We try to help each other.   That's what  we're 
     there for."
       Coming  to an association reunion,  McDonald said,  "can be very 
     hard to do.   It digs up a lot of bad things.   There is a process 
     involved  that  we all go through:   first you feel the thrill  of 
     seeing all the guys, all your buddies.   Then you realize that you 
     are there and your buddies aren't;  you have to deal with the guys 
     who died.  Then you're calm.   You accept that you are there,  and 
     you made it.  It can be tough."
       The  1986  reunion  was the first opportunity for  many  of  the 
     pilots to see the Vietnam Veterans memorial,  McDonald noted.   "A 
     lot  of us hadn't seen it before,  and a lot still haven't -  they 
     couldn't face it.   The WALL itself is the most profound statement 
     [about war] ever made,  it has the most impact.   As I said at our 
     1986 reunion, this - the WALL - is where the war ends for us."
       The  association  is working on updating Department  of  Defense 
     (DOD) statistics on their contributions and efforts in Vietnam.
       "Some  of  our records are more accurate than  the  military's," 
     McDonald  said.   The  group's  "best guess"  is that  20,000  men 
     trained  as helicopter pilots between 1961 and 1975.   About 1,100 
     were killed in action, but those figures do not reflect pilots who 
     died 24 hours or more after being wounded.
       Few  of the Vietnam helicopter pilots are still in the  service, 
     McDonald  said,  partly  because  anyone who served in  the  early 
     1960's  has reached military retirement age.   A "vast proportion" 
     are  in  National Guard units throughout the country.   Many  have 
     stayed in aviation as an occupation.
       "We  are a unique organization for unique people who have done a 
     unique thing," McDonald said.
       For membership information call: 316/946-4047.  The 1987 reunion 
     will be (was) held July 2-5 on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.
     





















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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                   TRIP TO VIETNAM 'PUTS GHOSTS TO REST'
     
                             By Linda Burchard
                           Berkshire Eagle Staff
                            The Berkshire Eagle
                   Wednesday, January 31, 1990   Page B4
     
                         Input by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                       VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
       Twenty years after they left war-torn Vietnam, two Berkshire
     County veterans have returned from a second journey to that
     country designed to heal the war's psychological scars.
       "I could put to rest the ghosts," said Martha Green of Peru, a
     former Army nurse.  "The memories I brought back this time were
     happy memories."
       Daniel Denault of Adams, director of the Veterans' Outreach
     Center in Pittsfield, found viewing the memorials at My Lai the
     most powerful experience of the trip.
       "You can read about it and you can hear about it," said Denault, 
     but "to actually go there, and experience their version was 
     unreal," he said.
       Green and Denault were among 12 veterans, 10 men and two women,
     whose return trip to Vietnam was sponsored by the William Joiner
     Center, a UMass at Boston group that studies war and its 
     aftermath.  They spent three weeks there, flying back to Boston
     late Saturday night.
       For Green, the journey to the scene of former strife and 
     devastation was therapeutic.
     
     'VERY HEALING' EXPERIENCE
       "I found it to be very healing.  I had a wonderful time as 
     well," said Green, who is northeast coordinator of the Women 
     Veterans Project.  The project aims to erect a statue of a female
     veteran near the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 
     Washington, D.C., and also to organize female veterans.
       "It settled things," said Green.  "I think it's time to put the 
     past behind us."
       Denault and Green were both affected by the My Lai visit, where
     they said not only is one large memorial erected, but other 
     memorials are laced around the village, with names and ages, at 
     the site where the victim was killed.
       "They tried to make you feel guilty," said Denault.  "And almost 
     everybody did."  My Lai was the site of an American massacre of 
     Vietnamese civilians.
       But in most places, the two said they were met with cordiality.
       They found the country greatly changed in the 20 years since 
     they left.
     
     COUNTRY GREATLY CHANGED
       Nothing, for instance, remains of the 91st evacuation hospital 
     at Chu Lai where Green nursed.  It was swept into the sea by a
     typhoon.
       Former American military installations, including hangars and
     acres of concrete, had been demolished, she said.
       And Saigon's rowdy nightlife has been replaced with Ho Chi Minh
     City's deserted streets at 10:30 p.m.  "I kept calling it Saigon," 
     
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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     said Denault.
       A mountainous site, formerly heavily wooded, is now barren. 
     "Just rocks," said Denault, who said he believes saturation with
     the defoliant Agent Orange has kept it bare.
       War memorials were plentiful.  However, they saw almost no 
     evidence of the former American presence, no airplanes, no jeeps.
       But, said Denault, "the old GMC trucks are still running.  
     Thestreets are full of 'em."
       The group toured by minibus, with a driver who was a North 
     Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunner.
     
















































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     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                      A n d   S o   I t   W a s . . .
     =================================================================

                          Khe Sanh Remembered
     
                         by: William "Bill" Plude
                    Written at Khe Sanh, R.V.N. Nov '68
                            Pittsfield, MA
     
     How can it be that one Air Force Pilot
       lies rotting from malnutrition and torture 
         in a prison camp deep in North Vietnam
           because he refused to be turned against the Flag 
             for which his forefathers had died
      While another man in New York City
        mutilates the same Flag that the pilot is suffering for?
     
     How can it be that one U.S. Soldier
       lies sightless in an Army hospital 
         from Communist-inflicted face wounds
      While another man in Los Angeles uses a Communist Flag 
        to drape himself in defiance of the ideal 
          that the soldier is now suffering for?
     
     How can it be that one Navy doctor 
       begins his Thirteenth hour standing over an operating table in 
         pursuit of a life almost lost while serving our country
      While another man of medicine in Georgia
        implores crowds of young men to refuse to serve our country?
     
     How can it be that one Marine 
       lies in a coffin beneath the ground because he believed 
         in duty to his country -
      While another man lies on a cot in Berkley 
        giving blood for the enemies of our country?
     
     How can it be that one Chaplain 
       shields a wounded man from an enemy bayonet with his own body 
         and is himself killed -
      While another man of God in Milwaukee uses his cloth 
         as a shield to preach hate, dissension, and lawlessness?
     
     How can it be that one Black
       holds the remains of his white comrade in his arms 
         and cries pitifully in a dirty mud hole in Vietnam
      While another Black
        screams with hate against his white brother 
           in the streets of Detroit?
     
     How can it be that young men
       start their fourth sleepless night making a supply route to 
         their comrades at the beseiged combat base known as Khe Sanh -
      While two parents
        discuss the deterioration of the younger generation?
     
                           My God How Can It Be?
     
           Permission to duplicate, with credit, herein granted.
     
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          NO DAMN DINBINPHOO!  KHE SANH AND THE U.S. HIGH COMMAND
     TWENTY YEARS AGO VO NGUYEN GIAP DANGLED THE BAIT THAT LED TO TET.
     
                              By John Prados
                           June 1986 VVA Veteran
     
                         Input by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NamVet's Managing Editor
                        VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
       Route  9 begins at Dong Ha near the Vietnamese  coast.   Hugging 
     the  Mieu  Giang  past  Cam Lo,  the road heads  west  toward  the 
     mountains.   As  it ascends the Annamite chain to cross into Laos, 
     Route  9  becomes  little more than a  one-lane  dirt  road.   The 
     encroaching tropical vegetation beyond its shoulders has to be cut 
     away periodically just to keep the passage open.   Perched astride 
     the  road a few miles before Route 9 enters Laos is the village of 
     Khe Sanh,  which the accidents of war made the scene of one of the 
     climactic battles of Vietnam.
       Khe  Sanh was a battle of images warring for the  mind.   Images 
     clashed  not only on the plateau and in the hills surrounding  the 
     combat base, but in Saigon and in Washington,  DC.   One image was 
     brave  Marines  holding an isolated position,  another the  unseen 
     enemy.  Each man at Khe Sanh carried away images uniquely his own.  
     The  story  of the battle at that place has been told  from  these 
     points of view - by journalists who covered the battle, by Marine, 
     Air  Force,  and  other  historians,  and by participants  in  the 
     campaign.   Much  less  known is the story of Khe Sanh at  command 
     levels, from the perspectives of the men at MACV and in Washington 
     who  made the decisions that sent men into action at Khe Sanh  and 
     sent others to support them.
       What  follows is an account of the command decisions surrounding 
     Khe Sanh, assembled from the documentary record, memoirs, official 
     histories, and other accounts of the battle.  The focus is on what 
     the command felt and thought, on MACV commander General William C. 
     Westmoreland and his boss,  President Lyndon Baines Johnson.   the 
     aim is to lay out the strategic context in which the battle at Khe 
     Sanh occurred.
       Khe  Sanh became important precisely because of its location  on 
     Route  9 near the Laotian border.   In the early years of the war, 
     Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV)  followed a strategy of 
     border  surveillance and denial,  using detachments of  U.S.  Army 
     Special   Forces  to  organize  and  train  Vietnamese  Montagnard 
     tribesmen.   The  Khe Sanh border camp,  opened in July 1962 at  a 
     time  when  the  CIA  ran  this  program,  actually  predated  the 
     assumption  of  command responsibility by MACV.   It was still  in 
     place in 1965, when U.S. Marines came to the northern provinces of 
     South Vietnam, the I Corps Tactical Zone (I CTZ), making that area 
     a Marine preserve.  There was little fighting at Khe Sanh in those 
     years.   Only  in  January 1966 was the camp subjected to a  heavy 
     mortar barrage by the enemy for the first time.
       Marines  came to Khe Sanh in April 1966 when the 1st  Battalion, 
     1st Marines,  moved in to conduct Operation VIRGINIA.   The Marine 
     command  for  I  CTZ,  III  Marine  Amphibious  Force  (III  MAF), 
     subsequently  decided  to  garrison Khe Sanh  on  its  own,  after 
     operation PRAIRIE that September,  and the Special Forces camp was 
     moved  a  few miles west to the vicinity of Lang Vei,  where  Navy 
     
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     seabees   constructed   reinforced   concrete  bunkers   for   the 
     Montagnards.   Special  Forces Detachment A-101 moved to the  camp 
     with  its Bru tribesmen toward the end of the year.   Lang Vei was 
     declared  operational on 21 December 1966.   Lang Vei was the only 
     hardened Special Forces camp in I CTZ.
       During these years of intensifying warfare, the North Vietnamese 
     across  the border in Laos worked around the clock to improve  and 
     expand the road network known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.   With the 
     trail   work  and  the  growing  utilization  of  this  route  for 
     infiltration came North Vietnamese Army (NVA)  units to defend it.  
     The presence of these NVA forces provided a built-in capability to 
     surge  NVA  troops onto the Khe Sanh plateau and  the  surrounding 
     mountains if the enemy wished to challenge American control of the 
     area.
     
     THE BATTLE FOR THE HILLS
       An  early  indication  that Khe Sanh was  becoming  a  sensitive 
     sector  was a series of engagements in the spring of 1967 known as 
     the  "Hill  Battles."   That February the Marine battalion at  the 
     base  was replaced by a company with the mission of defending  the 
     airstrip  and patrolling the surrounding area to a depth of 15,000 
     meters.   There  were  patrol contacts in late  February  1967,  a 
     squad-size  NVA  probe of the combat base from the northwest on  5 
     March,  and  a series of ambushes on the slopes of Hill 861 on the 
     16th.  III MAF shuttled companies through the base,  deployed some 
     armor,  anti-tank  sections,  and two Army heavy weapons sections, 
     and  kept up vigorous patrols leading to another ambush battle  on 
     23 April.  In the early morning of 4 May,  a reinforced company of 
     the  NVA  325C Division attacked Lang Vei and escaped  with  light 
     losses.  By then more than a battalion of Marines were in position 
     and  another was added to conduct assaults that cleared Hills 861, 
     881  South,  and 881 North.   Intelligence indicated that the  NVA 
     then withdrew and the Khe Sanh sector became quiet again.
       In the summer and fall of 1967, III MAF's attention was drawn to 
     the  area  south of the Demilitarized Zone  (DMZ)  that  separated 
     North  from South Vietnam.   Following directives from Washington, 
     General  Westmoreland  had ordered the emplacement of a  fortified 
     line  to  prevent  the NVA from moving upon Don Ha or  Quang  Tri.  
     There  was fierce fighting around Con Thien and north of Dong  Ha. 
     Near  the end of 1967,  intelligence began to discover signs  that 
     the  enemy  might attempt some major offensive action in  the  new 
     year.   The  NVA had not forgotten Khe Sanh -  Marine patrols that 
     December  found  evidence of two full enemy divisions moving  into 
     position nearby,  325C to the north of the combat base and the NVA 
     304th Division and another regiment of the 324th.
       General  William  Westmoreland had also not forgotten Khe  Sanh. 
     Indeed the MACV commander had been concerned about the base from a 
     very early date,  and not just because the NVA might pose a threat 
     to it.  "Westy" did worry about that - as early as September 1966, 
     visiting  III  MAF  to  review the results of a  war  game  Marine 
     General   Lew   Walt  had  conducted  at  the  request  of   MACV, 
     Westmoreland  became  convinced  that III MAF  "were  particularly 
     underestimating an enemy threat to the CIDG-Special Forces camp at 
     Khe   Sanh."    This  recollection,   in  Westmoreland's  memoirs, 
     dovetails  neatly  with the rationale for the defense of Khe  Sanh 
     given  in the June 1968 CINCPAC-MACV REPORT ON THE WAR IN VIETNAM, 
     which  states that "were we to relinquish the Khe Sanh  area,  the 
     North  Vietnamese  would have had an unobstructed  invasion  route 
     into the two northernmost provinces from which they might outflank 
     
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     our positions south of the Demilitarized Zone."
       But  Khe  Sanh was also important in basic MACV ground  strategy 
     for a second reason, an offensive one.   The plateau was seen as a 
     base  for special operations into Laos and as a take-off point for 
     reconnaissance planes.  Further,  Westy writes in his memoirs,  "I 
     still hoped some day to get approval for a major drive into Laos."  
     These  intentions  go  unmentioned in  the  official  CINCPAC-MACV 
     report,  but  they  were arguably at the heart  of  Westmoreland's 
     strategy.   In  the  early  years  of  U.S.   combat  involvement, 
     deployments first focused on stabilizing the overall situation and 
     then  began  to shift north toward I CTZ.   MACV had plans for  an 
     offensive into Laos by early 1966.
     
     ESCALATION
       One  effect  of Westmoreland's strategy was to insert  the  U.S. 
     Army into what had been a Marine preserve.  III MAF commanded in I 
     CTZ,  but  if the force levels were to continue going up while the 
     number  of Marines remained limited,  there was no alternative  to 
     "grunts."   The  closest MACV could come to getting Marines was  a 
     South  Korean marine brigade,  which went to Chu Lai in 1966.  The 
     first Army battalion (from 173rd Airborne Brigade) went north that 
     same year, followed in 1967 by the division-size Task Force OREGON 
     (Later  to become the Americal Division).   In mid-1967 MACV began 
     planning   for   the  commitment  of  the  1st  Cavalry   Division 
     (Airmobile) in I CTZ as well.
       In  cables  to  Washington on 27 and 28  September  1967,  Westy 
     explicitly  used  the  justification of  "improving  the  military 
     situation  in  the  DMZ"  for a series of  further  requests.   As 
     Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara reported to President Johnson 
     on  4 October,  these included accelerating deployment of the 11th 
     Infantry  Brigade,  (which became part of Americal)  from February 
     1968  to  December  1968;  accelerating deployment  of  the  101st 
     Airborne Division to close all major elements prior to 20 December 
     1967  (an  objective  not  entirely  met),   retaining  in-country 
     elements of the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade,  and increasing the 
     level of B-52 ARC LIGHT sorties from 800 to 1,200 per month.
       This  program of activity antedated the major NVA threat to  Khe 
     Sanh and the Tet Offensive.   The I CTZ buildup was NOT a response 
     to  those enemy actions.   Planning for displacement north of  the 
     airmobile "CAV" was already in hand, MACV had ordered acceleration 
     of  logistics improvements in I CTZ,  while other new troops  were 
     flowing  in as well.   Further,  Westy projected a series of  four 
     operations  for 1968,  code named YORK,  that would have swept the 
     Vietnamese  side of the Laotian border and set up the  possibility 
     of  an offensive from Khe Sanh into Laos.   The contingency  plans 
     for a Laotian offensive were updated in early 1968, by deputy MACV 
     General  Bruce Palmer with the code names EL PASO I and II.   Both 
     YORK  and the EL PASO actions were recommended by Westy in  cables 
     to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on 6 and 8 January 1968.
       General   Westmoreland's  own  strategic  intentions  made   him 
     especially  sensitive  to any threat to Khe Sanh,  the  inevitable 
     jumping  off  point for his own Laotian  offensive  plan.   Though 
     intelligence  discovered indications of enemy offensive intentions 
     against South Vietnam's cities, which were reported to Washington, 
     it  was  the  threat to Khe Sanh that seemed  salient.  Thus  Walt 
     Rostow,  President Johnson's national security  adviser,  reported 
     "increasingly solid evidence [of a] major North Vietnamese buildup 
     against  I  Corps  area."   This 5 January 1968 cable  added  that 
     "Westmoreland's best estimate is that [the]  North Vietnamese Army 
     
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     [is]  massing  for another major offensive in this  area,  perhaps 
     targeted this time on Khe Sanh."
       Westy's stated reasoning for a defense of Khe Sanh, given to JCS 
     chairman  General  Early Wheeler a week later,  remained that  the 
     combat  base was the western anchor of the DMZ defenses,  that its 
     loss  would allow the enemy into areas contiguous with the heavily 
     populated coastal zone,  and that its abandonment would be a major 
     propaganda victory for the enemy.
       Defending Khe Sanh meant reinforcing it.  Under Colonel David E. 
     Lownds's  26th  Marine Regiment,  the forces in place in  December 
     included artillery and weapons units, his 1st Battalion, a 100-man 
     Vietnamese  Regional Force company,  and the four-company Bru CIDG 
     force at Lang Vei.  The 3rd Battalion,  26th Marine Regiment,  the 
     forces  in place in December included artillery and weapons units, 
     his  1st Battalion,  a 100-man Vietnamese Regional Force  company, 
     and  the  four-company  Bru  CIDG force  at  Lang  Vei.   The  3rd 
     Battalion,  26th  Marines was added in December.   In January came 
     the  regiment's 2nd Battalion (the first time the regiment's three 
     battalions  had operated together in Vietnam),  the 1st Battalion, 
     9th Marines,  more artillery,  and then the 37th Vietnamese Ranger 
     Battalion.  There was also a covert action group, about 450 men of 
     Forward  Operations  Base  3.   Total strength in the area  on  23 
     January   1968  amounted  to  almost  5,800  Marines,   228  naval 
     personnel, about 75 from the Army,  and perhaps 700 Vietnamese and 
     CIDG tribesmen.   These forces held the Khe Sanh Combat Base,  Lan 
     Vei, and outlying positions on Hill 881 South, Hill 861, Hill 556, 
     Hill 861A, Hill 950, and the Rock Quarry.
       Colonel  Lownds  soon saw indications that the North  Vietnamese 
     also had an abiding interest in Khe Sanh.
       The  day after New Years five enemy officers,  including an  NVA 
     regimental   commander,   were  killed  while  making  a  personal 
     reconnaissance  of  the  combat base  perimeter.   They  had  been 
     wearing  Marine  uniforms.   On the 17th a patrol moving north  in 
     heavy  fog ran into an NVA ambush.   On 20 January another  patrol 
     from  3/26,  probing  out  of 881 South,  encountered  a  strongly 
     defended bunker line.   An NVA anti-aircraft company commander who 
     surrendered  that  day gave the Marines information  that  attacks 
     would  be made that night on 881 South and Hill 861.   The  latter 
     strongpoint was indeed attacked,  followed on 21 January by probes 
     against  Khe  Sanh village and rocketing of the combat  base  that 
     destroyed a helicopter fuel dump and the base's largest ammunition 
     dump.   The historical "battle"  of Khe Sanh is considered to have 
     begun that day.
     
     DINBINPHOO
       The Marine regiment immediately hunkered down in anticipation of 
     what  was to come.   The Vietnamese Regional Force company  pulled 
     back  to  join  FOB 3 in the  combat  base.   1st  Battalion,  9th 
     Marines,  arrived  the  next day and the last  reinforcement,  the 
     Vietnamese 37th Rangers, on 27 January.
       Patrols into the hinterland were discontinued.   There was a big 
     push to improve the defenses with better bunkers and trenches,  an 
     effort   that  was  hampered  by  scarce  engineering   materials, 
     especially lumber.  Khe Sanh base had originally been laid out for 
     a  single battalion;   its rapid reinforcement drove the necessity 
     for  additional fortification.   Constant enemy shelling confirmed 
     the wisdom of the effort.
       The  Marines refused to consider the Khe Sanh battle a  "siege." 
     Lownds  even professed ignorance of the earlier  Franco-Vietnamese 
     
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     siege  of Dien Bien Phu,  notes reporter Michael Herr,  at a  time 
     when many among the press corps in Vietnam, struck by the analogy, 
     were  busily studying books on that 1954 French defeat.   The Dien 
     Bien  Phu analogy was not lost on Saigon and Washington,  however.  
     At  MACV Westy even formed a panel of staff officers  specifically 
     to  study the similarities.   Lyndon Johnson had played a  central 
     role  in  determining U.S.  policy in the earlier crisis  and,  in 
     Washington,  turned to his military advisers exclaiming,  "I don't 
     want no damned Dinbinphoo!"
       LBJ  closely followed events at Khe Sanh,  ordering up  detailed 
     reports, including daily situation reports from Westmoreland
     himself.   The  White  House situation-room wall was hung with  an 
     aerial  mosaic  map  of Khe Sanh while the Pentagon  provided  the 
     president  with  an  elaborate  terrain  model  of  the  base  and 
     surrounding area.
       Johnson's  concern led to the best-known instance of  high-level 
     attention given to Khe Sanh -  his insistence on a memorandum from 
     the JCS, "signed in blood," promising defense of the combat base.
       In fact that memorandum, dated 29 January 1968,  really amounted 
     to little more than a two-page summary of a Westmoreland telephone 
     conversation with Earle Wheeler that morning.  Westy asserted that 
     all  possible  preparations  had  been  made,  that  everyone  was 
     confident, and that Khe Sanh could and should be held.
       The  entire  JCS  contribution to this memo was  a  two-sentence 
     addition:   "The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reviewed the situation 
     at  Khe Sanh and concur with General Westmoreland's assessment  of 
     the  situation.   They recommend that we maintain our position  at 
     Khe Sanh."
       In  fact,  Westmoreland  was quite correct about  his  extensive 
     preparations.   Not  only  had  Khe Sanh been reinforced  by  U.S. 
     maneuver battalions,  American troops in all of the I CTZ had been 
     increased  by almost two division equivalents,  to 38  battalions, 
     about  40  percent of MACV's total strength,  so many that a  MACV 
     forward  headquarters  under  General  Creighton  W.   Abrams  was 
     established  to  supplant  III MAF.   The equivalent  of  an  ARVN 
     airborne division was also slated for movement within the next few 
     days.   Air  support had been reorganized under MACV's deputy  for 
     air  operations and increased since 17 January to an average 40 B-
     52  and  500 tactical air sorties into the NIAGARA area,  the  air 
     designator for Khe Sanh and its environs.   Around Khe Sanh itself 
     a  sophisticated electronic sensor system code named MUSCLE SHOALS 
     had  been emplaced between 19 and 25 January,  helping offset  the 
     loss of tactical intelligence from patrolling.
       With  so  many  eyes  on  Khe Sanh,  on  31  January  the  North 
     Vietnamese  and  Vietcong suddenly unleashed a series of  powerful 
     assaults throughout South Vietnam, including celebrated battled in 
     Saigon  and  Hue,  which  collectively  became known  as  the  Tet 
     Offensive.
       But at Khe Sanh nothing happened.
     
     DIEN BIEN PHU:  IN REVERSE
       While  fierce fighting continued throughout South  Vietnam,  Khe 
     Sanh  stayed  quiet.   LBJ remained concerned,  and presses  "Bus" 
     Wheeler  about  the  Dien  Bien Phu analogy on the  evening  of  2 
     February.   General  Wheeler replied,  based on another talk  with 
     Westy, in his memorandum CM 2944-68 the next day.   Wheeler quoted 
     Westmoreland to the president:  "although not ideal,  the tactical 
     situation  at  Khe Sanh as well as our improved combat  techniques 
     and  capabilities  are considerably different from those  at  Dien 
     
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     Bien  Phu."   Nevertheless,   Westy  asked  for  additional  C-130 
     transport   aircraft,   and  expedited  delivery  of   replacement 
     helicopters and U.S.  issue small arms (M-16 rifles;  M-60 machine 
     guns, M-29 mortars) to the South Vietnamese.   It was also in this 
     conversation that Westy raised the question of the use of tactical 
     nuclear  weapons or chemical agents which "should not be required" 
     but would be "active candidates" if "the situation in the DMZ area 
     change[d] dramatically."
       Though  Khe  Sanh  had  not been attacked  that  was  still  the 
     expectation.   On  4 February Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker reported 
     the  enemy  "apparently preparing momentarily to launch  extremely 
     heavy [attacks]  in Northern First Corps."   That day at the White 
     House  an  NSC military staffer LBJ  trusted  implicitly,  General 
     Robert N. Ginsburgh, reported that "we might expect the battle for 
     Khe  Sanh  to  start  within  the  next  three  days."   Ginsburgh 
     speculated that B-52 and tactical air attacks might have upset NVA 
     timing  or that the NVA might be intending to coordinate Khe  Sanh 
     attacks  with  a second round of city attacks.   NCS advisor  Walt 
     Rostow  asked  wheeler to begin filing daily reports and  arranged 
     for General Ginsburgh to be on duty that night.  Meanwhile 39 B-52 
     ARC  LIGHT sorties in four strikes code named UNIFORM were laid on 
     for that day.
       Fighting  near Khe Sanh DID begin on 5 February with elements of 
       the NVA 325C Division attacking Hill 861 in conjunction with a
     four-hour rocket, mortar and artillery barrage on the combat base.  
     The  Marines replied with 7,788 mortar and artillery  rounds,  and 
     there  were  33  B-52 sorties,  bringing the total  of  ARC  LIGHT 
     sorties in the 861 area to 654 since 15 January.   Rostow spoke to 
     Westmoreland  on the phone early on February 6th (Washington time) 
     and  reported  MACV  "had nothing spectacular  to  report."   Soon 
     afterwards  (7 February in Vietnam)  the 66th Regiment of the  NVA 
     304th began a massive assault on the Lang Vei Special Forces camp.
       For  the  first  time in the history of the war the  enemy  used 
     armor in its attack.
       Lan  Vei  resisted heroically,  but was overrun -  of  24  Green 
     Berets 13 were wounded with 10 reported missing and presumed dead.  
     Three-quarters  of the Bru CIDGs were unaccounted for when the CIA 
     sent  a spot report to the White House.   Survivors moved into the 
     FOB  3 compound at Khe Sanh where inquisitive Marines were  turned 
     away  at  gunpoint.   the  next day came a daylight  attack  on  a 
     platoon  of the 1/9 Marines near the Rock Quarry,  countered by  a 
     relief force of two reinforced companies with two Marine tanks.
       Everyone now believed the climactic phase had come.   Commenting 
     that  day  on  Hanoi's  position in  possible  peace  negotiations 
     Ambassador  Bunker  cabled  "what  their final  position  will  be 
     remains  to  be  seen,  and indeed may not be  determined  pending 
     further developments -  Khe Sanh for instance."   South Vietnamese 
     president Nguyen Van Thieu's opinion,  according to a Bunker cable 
     on the 8th,  was that "the enemy will endeavor to keep up pressure 
     throughout   the  summer  in  the  First  Corps  and  the  Central 
     Highlands."    Westmoreland's   cable  MAC  01858  on  9  February 
     predicted  that "the third phase [of the Tet Offensive],  which is 
     yet  to  begin,  would involve consolidation of his  position  and 
     strong  attacks  across  the  DMZ and against Khe  Sanh  with  the 
     objective  of establishing military control over the two  northern 
     provinces."   This "third phase"  offensive,  Westy asserted in an 
     "eyes only" cable (MAC 01975)  to CINCPAC and CJCS on 12 February, 
     "has just begun."  It would be "a maximum effort by the enemy" and 
     MACV stated "I desperately need"  reinforcements to avoid a "major 
     
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     risk" throughout the South as he sent troops to I CTZ.
     
     UNEASE AT THE TOP
       Westmoreland's  views  only added to the considerable unease  in 
     Washington.  General Maxwell D. Taylor, former CJCS and ambassador 
     to Vietnam, who had been called upon by LBJ for advice,  remembers 
     a  luncheon  meeting  on  3 February at which "an  air  of  gloom" 
     surrounded  the discussion.   Taylor "tried rather feebly to  make 
     the  point  that Khe Sanh was only an outpost,  and no one  should 
     expect an outpost to be a Verdun."
       Others  accepted that the U.S.  itself had done much to build up 
     the  psychological importance of Khe Sanh,  and meetings on 11 and 
     12 February agreed to emergency augmentation of MACV forces.   LBJ 
     meanwhile,  asked  Taylor to review Westmoreland's cables.   In  a 
     memorandum of 12 February Taylor agreed that MACV augmentation was 
     necessary,  but warned "there is a real danger that the defense of 
     Khe Sanh will require resources better used elsewhere."
       In  a second memorandum two days later General Taylor went  even 
     further:  "my review of Westy's cables does not convince me of the 
     military importance of maintaining Khe Sanh at the present time if 
     it is still feasible to withdraw.  Whatever the past value of this 
     position, it is a positive liability now.... My present opinion is 
     that  Khe Sanh probably can be held but that it will be at a heavy 
     price  in casualties and in terms of other ground troops necessary 
     to support and reinforce it.  I have real doubt that we can afford 
     such  a defense."   Taylor stated he would feel "greatly relieved" 
     if the JSC saw fit to give MACV guidance along these lines:   "Khe 
     Sanh  appears  to  the  Joint Chiefs of Staff  to  be  an  exposed 
     position  difficult  to  supply  by air and  expensive  to  supply 
     overland.... it is less clear that [Khe Sanh's]  present value now 
     justifies the cost of an all-out defense... the effect of a costly 
     defense  absorbing forces badly needed elsewhere could in the  end 
     be far more disadvantageous to our cause than a withdrawal now."
       Taylor  recommended  leaving  the final decision  up  to  Westy, 
     framing  his  suggested JCS message as an opinion rather  than  an 
     order,  but  he wrote "in full realization of how wrong one can be 
     at  a distance about a military situation such as  this."   Taylor 
     also noted that it could be too late to do anything about Khe Sanh 
     and that,  if so,  "we should put all doubts behind us and prepare 
     for the fight."
       General  Taylor  provided this striking commentary at  the  very 
     moment President Johnson was considering emergency augmentation of 
     MACV,  an  augmentation in which Taylor concurred.   What is  most 
     curious,  however,  is  that these deliberations in Washington and 
     fears for Khe Sanh occurred at a time when the fighting around the 
     base had once again fallen off.   For two weeks after the Lang Vei 
     and  Quarry engagements,  enemy shelling and aerial resupply  were 
     the  dominant  concerns at Khe Sanh.   Not until 21  February  was 
     there  another ground attack,  and then it consisted of a company-
     size  NVA  probe  against  the perimeter held  by  the  ARVN  37th 
     Rangers.   On  the  22nd  the  combat base was  subjected  to  the 
     heaviest  shelling  of  the battle -  1,307  rounds  (the  Marines 
     themselves fired an average of 2,063 rounds per day throughout the 
     battle,  during  March  the  NVA managed an average  of  only  150 
     daily).
       A  major NVA attack finally occurred on 29 February,  with three 
     reinforced  battalions striking again at the ARVN  Rangers.   Once 
     again  Colonel  Lownds's  tactical intelligence  furnished  timely 
     warning,  while  ARC  LIGHT  strikes devastated the  NVA  assembly 
     
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     areas.   The  enemy proved unable even to breach the wire and left 
     78  bodies  behind  when they  retreated.   Bru  patrols  reported 
     hundreds more bodies left in the assembly areas.
       The  NVA  assault  on  the Rangers proved to  be  the  climactic 
     episode  of  the Khe Sanh battle and THE ONLY MAJOR ATTACK ON  THE 
     COMBAT  BASE ITSELF.   It too was anticipated at the White House - 
     LBJ  asked JCS chairman Wheeler about Khe Sanh after breakfast  on 
     the 28th (29 February, Vietnam time).  The CJCS maintained the NVA 
     would  pay  "a  terrible  price"  to take the  base  and  declared 
     Westmoreland was confident he could hold it.  A few days later the 
     president  received intelligence reports that some NVA forces were 
     pulling back from around Khe Sanh,  and on 9 March the enemy force 
     was judged down to 6,000-8,-00, about half the previous level.
       Throughout  March  artillery  bombardments and  aerial  resupply 
     dominated  Lownds's concerns at the base.   The Marines replied in 
     kind, greatly overmatching enemy firepower.   The supply situation 
     was  so  good the Marines considered they had  excess  ammunition; 
     they  celebrated  Saint Patrick's day by firing off 300 rounds  of 
     green  smoke.   The  Air Force developed  low-altitude  parachute-
     extraction  methods  to improve supply further while  the  Marines 
     utilized  new  "supper gaggle"  helicopter tactics to  supply  the 
     hilltop  positions.   Westy  continued his I CTZ  buildup,  to  54 
     battalions  on  14  March,  a little over 50 percent of  all  U.S. 
     maneuver battalions.  Two weeks later, the 1st Marines and an ARVN 
     airborne task force began Operation PEGASUS,  which reopened Route 
     9 and relieved Khe Sanh on 9 April.   The battle was over.  Later, 
     in the summer of 1968, Khe Sanh was quietly abandoned.
                               *     *     *
       The  defense  of  Khe  Sanh is a credit to  the  tough  Marines, 
     Special Forces, and Vietnamese troops who fought there.   American 
     losses  amounted  to 205 killed,  852 medevaced,  and  816  others 
     wounded.   Air  power  also  deserves a good share of  credit  for 
     evacuating casualties,  bringing in replacements,  delivering over 
     14,000  tons of supplies,  plus almost 85,000 tons of ordnance  on 
     the  enemy,  to  account  for  a good proportion  of  its  losses. 
     Lownds's forces found 1,602 enemy bodies and estimated over 10,000 
     NVA  wounded,  though LBJ was told in late April that calculations 
     using  three different methodologies estimated NVA losses  between 
     14,600 and 28,900.
       For  all  their losses,  however,  the enemy achieved  something 
     significant at Khe Sanh.
       The  North Vietnamese made the combat base a sensitive  position 
     that  fixed  the  attention of the  American  command,  mesmerized 
     Washington,  and  flung the Americans into a previously  unmatched 
     state of uncertainty.   Westmoreland moved half his U.S.  maneuver 
     battalions into I CTZ but still felt obligated to cancel a planned 
     offensive  into the Ashau Valley in favor of PEGASUS.   As late as 
     13 March, after the NVA began to pull back, the CIA was predicting 
     "the  large North Vietnamese forces in I Corps WILL seek a  clear-
     cut  victory  against  ours  in  the weeks  and  months  ahead  in 
     something like conventional warfare."
       While   Washington   waited  for  massive  attacks  that   never 
     materialized,  and  could not explain why they did not,  the enemy 
     felt free to pursue its Tet Offensive throughout South Vietnam.
     




     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 77
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
                  C o n c e n t r a t e d   S e r v i c e
     =================================================================

                 NamVet/IVVEC Concentrated Service Report
     
                            by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                        VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
     To keep you abreast of HOW NamVet/IVVEC Concentrated Service is 
     doing, we'll try to run a report every month of the status of 
     efforts currently underway and, if appropriate, apprise you of 
     positive or negative results.
     
     So far:
     
     Letter dated 1/1/90 to Massachusetts' DAV Commander, with text-
     file copy in IVVEC: 
       To date:  NO response - VERBAL or WRITTEN
     
     Copy of above letter dated 1/1/90 to DAV National Commander, with 
     text-file copy in IVVEC:
       To date:  NO response - VERBAL or WRITTEN
     
     Letter dated 1/13/90 to Congressman Silvio O. Conte, with text-
     file copy in IVVEC:
       To date: NO response - VERBAL or WRITTEN
     
     Letter(s) dated 1/21/90 to Commissioners and Directors of Veterans 
     Affairs in 50 states and 2 Territories, with text-file copy in 
     IVVEC:
      To date: 23 positive and helpful responses w/literature;
                7 letters returned ADDRESSEE NOT HERE UNABLE TO FORWARD
     
     
     I am VERY pleased with the quick, helpful responses we've received 
     from Directors' and Commissioners' of Veterans' Affairs throughout 
     the U.S. and territories and the information they're providing.  
     In fact, if you're in THEIR state, you've got some terrific people 
     looking out for you!!!
     
     I will keep you posted here and in the VIETNAM_VETS echo as to 
     continuing developments on any of the above issues.
     













     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 78
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                              31 January 1990
     
     The Honorable George Bush
        President of the United States of America
     The White House - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
     Washington, D.C.  20500
                                Re: No response to P 042 449 54(?)
     
     Dear President Bush:
     
      According to the return receipt, certified letter P 042 449 54(?)
     (last number overwritten by USPO stamp marking) dated 6 Nov 89 was 
     accepted at The White House 14 Nov 89.  Subsequently made public 
     and published 11 Nov 89 (Veterans Day) in the Second Anniversary 
     edition of our electronic newsletter NAM VET, the letter was from 
     Agent Orange Section Editor and Vietnam veteran, Martin H.  Kroll, 
     Sr.  Basically, he proposed an across-the-board tax exemption of 
     some form for all Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
       As you well know, the Vietnam War was a very dark and troubled
     time in our nation's history - seconded only perhaps by the great
     Civil War.  In many instances its returning warriors were 
     discriminated against, denied employment, booed and hissed at, and
     generally treated as social outcasts and misfits.  Many of the 
     soldiers, finding it difficult to cope with paralyzing memories 
     and nightmares of their service in that little country tucked far
     away in Southeast Asia, either denied their proud service or found
     release from this sometimes cruel and inhuman treatment by the 
     American public in drugs, alcohol, and dangerous activities.  Many
     more, continuously exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange, found 
     themselves embroiled in battles with the Veterans' Administration
     and chemical manufacturers or consoling a spouse when their child
     was born with birth defects.  They - or their survivors - continue
     struggling today with a bureaucracy intent on remaining deaf to 
     their plight.  According to CBS's Dan Rather, of the 2.3 million
     men and women who served in the Southeast Asian theater, 110000
     have taken their own lives.
       It is only in recent history that we, as a nation, have come to
     understand and appreciate the terribly high prices exacted from
     these defenders of democracy.  Since its publication in NAM VET,
     veterans around the globe have been awaiting your response to
     Editor Kroll's 6 Nov 89 letter.  Could you please ask the
     Correspondence Section whether or not the letter should be resent
     because, surprisingly, as of the above date, neither yourself nor
     any Department Head to whom you might have referred the letter has
     responded.
     
             Yours, in Service to America ... and my fellow man
                     In kindness, honesty and good faith
     
                       G. Joseph Peck, Managing Editor
                        NAM VET Electronic Newsletter
                 President, Berkshire Veterans' Center, Inc.
     
     GJP/jct
     cc:   Martin H. Kroll, Sr.
           Files
     


     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 79
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

          
          
                       _     ______   _______  __    _  _______
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              ______    ______      _     __    _  ______   _______
              H     H  H     /)    /\\    H\\   H  H    M   H
              H     H  H____//    /  \\   H \\  H  H        H
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              H_____H  H    \\  /      \\ H   \\H  H_____M  H______
          
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                        -   .   .           .    -  -  -.
                      - .            . .  .    .   .  . -.
                    -.    .  .     .   U   S .  -        -.
                   -     .      .     .  .  -    .  . -   -.
                  -  .        .   .  -  -   .         .   -.
                  - .  .. V I E T N A M  V E T E R A N  . _ -
                 -   .   .    .    _ _   _ . _-_ .    -     -
                 - .            - -   -_- -_-xxx _ -.  . - .-.
                  - . .  .  .  - XXXXXxxXXXXXXXXXXXx -. - .- .
                  -    .  . XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-.  .--.
                  - .-   XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -.- -
                   -.-  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -.  -.
                    -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx .g -.
                     -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX .- j.
                     .- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX  .  p
                    .-.  XXXXXXXX   ]XXXXXXXXX  ]XXXXXXXX  .-  -
                     -.   XXXXXX       XXXXX      XXXXXX    -.- -
                    --      XXXXXX     XXXXXX    XXXXXX     --
                    -         XXXXXXXXX X'`XXX XXXXXXX      Y
                    Y          XXXXXXXXX    XXXXX XXX
                                XXXXXXX X X XXXXXXXX
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               "  I t ' s    o n l y    t e e n a g e    a c n e !  "
                                                   -Robert Nimmo-
          
          
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     


     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 80
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                             We're doin' it!!!
     
                             by G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                       VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                             (413) 443-6313
     
     The following letter, on IVVEC/NamVet Stationery,  has been mailed 
     to every Veteran Director or Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs in 
     all 50 states of the U.S. and a number of its territories:
     ------------------------------------------------------------
                             January 21, 1990
      
     (First name) (Last name) -  (Position)
       Office of Veterans' Affairs
     (Address)
     (City), (State)  (Zip)
     
     Dear Director/Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs:
     
     Since 1986 a national and international subculture of computer-
     using veterans has been rapidly growing and expanding.  During 
     many hours when you and I slept, international telephone lines 
     carried information concerning veterans' benefits and entitlements 
     - and camaraderie - to housebound and abled veterans around the 
     world.  I am pleased to have been a part of the process that has 
     educated and empowered our veterans and expanded the horizons of 
     many who once thought themselves confined to only their homes and 
     an all-too-occasional hospital.
     
     As the International EchoMail Coordinator of VIETNAM_VETS and 
     Managing Editor of NAM VET - the worlds first electronic 
     newsletter by, for, and about veterans and the issues that concern 
     them - I often field questions from veterans and their dependents 
     concerning veterans services, job preferences and various veteran 
     entitlements in (State).
     
     Berkshire Veterans' Center, Inc., VETLink #1, and Nam Vet are 
     presently in the process of compiling a database of services 
     available for veterans throughout the U.S. and its territories.  
     Rather than provide information and guidance based on assumptions, 
     generalities and comparisons to federally-based Veterans 
     Administration benefits, I would prefer quoting directly from 
     material released by your office and with your authorization.
     
     By return mail, could you please provide us with (State)-oriented 
     veteran benefit, entitlement, job preference pamphlets and 
     booklets, and any other information you feel a veteran within 
     (State) might need to know?
     
     Hoping to hear from you soon, I am
     
            Yours, in Service to America ... and my fellow man
                   In kindness, honesty, and good faith
     
                         G. Joseph Peck, President
                     Berkshire Veterans' Center, Inc.
                       System Operator - VETLink #1
     
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 81
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     GJP/jct
     cc    Files
     ------------------------------------------------------------
     To date, we've received replies from:
       ALABAMA (Frank D. Wilkes, Director)
       ALASKA (Charles T. Borg, Director)
       CALIFORNIA (Jesse G. Ugalde, Director)
       CONNECTICUT (Joseph C. Barber, Deputy Commissioner)
       FLORIDA (S. F. Stover, Director)
       GEORGIA (Pete Wheeler, Commissioner)
       ILLINOIS (John W. Johnston, Director)
       INDIANA (S. Jeanne Loveless, Program Coordinator)
       IOWA (Dale Renaud, Director)
       LOUISIANA (Printice A. Darnell, Executive Director)
       MINNESOTA (Terrence A. Logan, Director, Agency Relations)
       MISSOURI (William V. Haynes, Director)
       NEW HAMPSHIRE (Conrad V. Moran, Director)
       NORTH CAROLINA (Charles F. Smith, Assistant Director)
       OHIO (Col. John P. Seimer <Ret>, Director of Veteran's Affairs)
       PENNSYLVANIA (Joseph R. Clelan, Director)
       RHODE ISLAND (Michael F. Gallagher, Casework Supervisor)
       SOUTH CAROLINA (Bill J. Sams Director)
       TEXAS (Texas Veterans' Commission/ Garry Mauro - Land Board)
       VERMONT (Ms. Lyn Boisjoli, Director - State Veterans Affairs)
       VIRGIN ISLANDS (Verne I. Richards)
       WEST VIRGINIA (G. L. Harper, Veterans Affairs Chief)
       WISCONSIN (John J. Maurer, Secretary of Veterans' Affairs)
     
     We presently have on-file (but not on-line) state veteran 
     information from Massachusetts and New York, in addition to copies 
     of Title 38, USC and many veteran organization Service Officer 
     manuals and pamphlets.
     
     If you live in any of the states/territories listed below -OR- 
     know the CURRENT Director/Commissioner's Address, PLEASE let us 
     know so that we can get a letter off to 'em and collect the 
     information a veteran may need in the near future:
     
     RETURNED - We need CURRENT Names & Addresses for:
        ARIZONA: Arizona Veterans Service Commission -
            Last known to be in Phoenix, AZ 85013
        NEVADA:  Commission for Veterans' Affairs -
            Last known to be in Reno, NV 89502
        NORTH DAKOTA: Department of Veterans' Affairs
            Last known to be in Fargo, ND 58107
        MISSISSIPPI: Veterans' Affairs Commission - 
            Last known to be in Jackson, MS 39205
        UTAH: Administrator of Veterans' Affairs
            Last known to be in Salt Lake City, UT 84115
     
     We are STILL trying to find names and addresses for:
        PANAMA: No Director/Commissioner address found 
        WYOMING: No Director/Commissioner address found
     





     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 82
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                                   TET!
           HISTORY SHOWS VC/NVC DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH MILITARY GOALS
     
                              By John Prados
                         February 1988 VVA Veteran
     
                         Input by: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                       VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                             (413) 443-6313
     
     Vietnam  was a war of novel places,  names,  and things,  often so 
     exotic  that  GI's  shared  experiences  more  by  comparing  unit 
     assignments than by asking each other where they had been.   There 
     were a few moments in the war, however,  that so seared themselves 
     into  the collective consciousness that everyone,  even those  who 
     had  already left "the Nam,"  remember exactly where they were and 
     what  they  were doing when it happened.   The greatest  of  those 
     moments  was  Tet  in  1968,  when  the  Vietcong  and  the  North 
     Vietnamese  unleased a countryside offensive and abortive  general 
     uprising.  What follows is a reconstruction (excluding the vicious 
     battle for Hue), of some of the main actions of the offensive.
       Tet,  of  course,  was  a time for the Vietnamese to  relax  and 
     celebrate  the  lunar  New Year,  a sort of high  holiday  season, 
     indeed  Christmas,  New  Year's,  and Easter all rolled into  one. 
     Fighting traditionally took a back seat at Tet.  In 1967, in fact, 
     both sides declared, and largely observed,  cease-fires during the 
     holiday.   But  1968  would be different,  although,  once  again, 
     cease-fires were set for the occasion.
       Having  made their decision to launch an offensive in the summer 
     or  fall  of 1967,  the North Vietnamese knew what was coming  and 
     made  slightly different arrangements for their own celebration of 
     Tet.  North Vietnam moved the date ahead a day so their that their 
     Tet  would commence at midnight of January 29/30.   Only in  South 
     Vietnam  would the most important initial hours of the festival be 
     disrupted.
       Vietcong  and  North  Vietnamese troops made many  more  careful 
     preparations for the offensive.   Units and equipment were quietly 
     moved  into position near their objectives,  detailed intelligence 
     information was gathered, and battle plans were drawn up.  The NVA 
     and VC fought several pitched battled in late 1967,  drawing South 
     Vietnamese and allied troops away from the cities they intended to 
     attack.   For  the Americans of General William C.  Westmoreland's 
     Military  Assistance  Command Vietnam (MACV),  the NVC  created  a 
     diversion  by  massing forces to threaten the combat base  at  Khe 
     Sanh.   As  the  time  for action  approached,  the  VC  carefully 
     smuggled  weapons into heavily guarded cities like Saigon and Hue.  
     The  preparations were thorough and intense,  down to instructions 
     to  manage  the mass uprising of South Vietnamese citizens the  VC 
     hoped to elicit.
     
     THE SURPRISE THAT WASN'T
       Although  this  isn't the place for a detailed analysis  of  the 
     intelligence  picture  preceding Tet,  it is necessary to  observe 
     that the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)  and MACV were not 
     completely  surprised  by what occurred.   In the days  and  weeks 
     before  Tet,  the  allies  gained glimpses of  VC/NVC  intentions, 
     though  they were unable to assemble a complete  picture.   Still, 
     ARVN  and  MACV  officers,  often on their  own  initiative,  took 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 83
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     certain  precautions that would prove important in countering  the 
     VC and NVA attacks.
       The Tet Offensive came on a truly massive scale throughout South 
     Vietnam.   North  Vietnamese  and  and  Vietcong  units  committed 
     between 67,000 and 84,000 troops in attacks on 39 of 44 provincial 
     capitals,   71   district   seats,   Saigon,   every  ARVN   corps 
     headquarters,  several major air bases,  totalling some 166 cities 
     and towns altogether.
       Although  the degree of coordination the VC and NVC achieved was 
     impressive,  perfection  eluded the enemy -  especially given  the 
     scope  of  the undertaking.   In the ARVN I and II Corps  tactical 
     zones,  which  corresponded  respectively to the U.S.  III  Marine 
     Amphibious Force and I Field Force zones, VC or NVA units attacked 
     eight cities or towns one day early, on January 30.  This provided 
     MACV  and  ARVN with a final warning and an opportunity to  cancel 
     the Tet cease-fire and alert their formations.
       Actions  began  at  Nha Trang on the central  Vietnamese  coast. 
     There,  at  0035  on  30 January,  the VC opened  an  attack  with 
     mortars, firing six shells at the Vietnamese Navy training center.  
     The mortars missed the target;  moreover,  a planned ground attack 
     was  unaccountably delayed and began only at 0200.   The Nha Trang 
     attack  has  to  be viewed more as harassment than  as  a  serious 
     effort,  for  the  NVA B-5 Front committed to it only elements  of 
     five sapper companies, plus 100 locals from the VC infrastructure.  
     This was very little for a city with a population of 119,000.
       The  Nha  Trang  attack was parried  successfully.   Alert  ARVN 
     guards  caught  some  of  the enemy parties  before  they  reached 
     assembly positions, and an ARVN Ranger battalion, returned from an 
     operation  earlier  in  the day,  quickly intervened at  the  main 
     points of effort.  Three Special Forces detachments (Nha Trang was 
     headquarters  for both U.S.  and Vietnamese Special  Forces)  also 
     engaged the enemy in the city.   Nha Trang was cleared in 12 hours 
     of fighting, by mid-afternoon.  ARVN claimed to have killed 377 of 
     the enemy,  captured 77,  and taken one CHIEU HOI;  it admitted to 
     losses of 88 killed and 220 wounded.   There were also 32 civilian 
     deaths  and 187 wounded,  while 600 homes were destroyed,  leaving 
     3,192 homeless.
     
     THE OFFENSIVE BEGINS
       Meanwhile,  at  0135 on the 30th,  the fighting spread to Ban Me 
     Thuot at the southern edge of II Corps.  Here, too,  the harbinger 
     was  a  barrage of mortars and rockets,  but it was followed by  a 
     ground attack of two battalions' strength.  At the time, northwest 
     of Pleiku, a battalion attacked Tan Canh, a district town near Dak 
     To.   Three more battalions moved against Kontum at 0200.   On the 
     coast of Hoi An, another ground attack went in at 0255.
       The  ARVN  II  Corps  and  U.S.  I  Field  Force  quickly  found 
     themselves  fully engaged.   In fact,  headquarters at Pleiku came 
     under attack by the VCH-15 Battalion at 0440.  Here, troops of the 
     American  Fourth  Infantry  Division had been on  alert  since  26 
     January  when  their commander,  Major General Charles  P.  Stone, 
     ordered  full  precautions.   Two  days before  the  attack,  ARVN 
     security  forces had apprehended 11 VC agents at a local safehouse 
     and had captured a tape recording exhorting the population to take 
     part in a full uprising.  Colonel Le Trong Tuong, II Corps'  chief 
     of staff, then put some forces on alert also, and, on the night of 
     29/30 January,  he ordered a section of tanks onto the city,  "Tet 
     or no Tet," as he told the reluctant unit leader.
       The VC were readily defeated at Pleiku and Hoi An,  but fighting 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 84
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     sputtered on for several days at Kontum and Ban Me Thuot.
       In  I  Corps,  Tet opened with a bombardment of the  large  U.S. 
     airbase  at Da Nang,  plus an attack on corps headquarters at  the 
     outskirts of the city.   The bombardment killed one American,  but 
     destroyed  five aircraft and damaged 25 more.   The ground  attack 
     involved  a  company of VC infiltrators,  of whom perhaps a  dozen 
     penetrated the compound.   Overriding objections from his American 
     advisers,  the ARVN corps commander ordered air strikes with heavy 
     ordnance  close to his own position.   The VC were driven back and 
     then pursued by helicopter gunships.
       At 0410, two more VC battalions struck at Qui Nhon further south 
     along the coast.   There,  the Vietcong briefly captured the radio 
     station  but  were unable to put anything on the air  before  they 
     were driven out.
       These attacks on 30 January provided unmistakable indications to 
     MACV and ARVN that battle was impending.   At 1125 on the 30th,  a 
     MACV "flash" message cancelled the cease-fire, mandated resumption 
     of  normal operations,  and ordered a maximum state of alert "with 
     particular  attention  to the defense of  headquarters  complexes, 
     logistical  installations,  airfields,  population  centers,   and 
     billets."
     
     THE WESTMORELAND ALERT - THE EMBASSY ATTACK
       That  day Westmoreland either saw or talked on the telephone  to 
     every  senior  American commander in Vietnam.   He  discussed  the 
     likelihood  of upcoming widespread attacks.   He got home late and 
     tired,  only to be awakened at 0300 of the 31st by the shrill ring 
     of a field telephone - Tet was in progress.   That night,  five of 
     the six autonomous cities in Vietnam came under attack, along with 
     Saigon, 35 provincial capitals,  64 of 242 district seats,  and 50 
     other hamlets.
       Saigon  and the surrounding provinces in the MACV structure were 
     under II Field Force, commanded by Lieutenant General Frederick C. 
     Weyand.  This corresponded to the tactical zone of ARVN III Corps, 
     although  a  separate  special security zone with a radius  of  29 
     miles had been established around Saigon in October 1967. The ARVN 
     had had full responsibility for the special zone since 15 December 
     1967.   This  zone contained fully 75 percent of the population in 
     III Corps and 90 percent of South Vietnam's industrial facilities.  
     There  was  only one U.S.  battalion,  the 716th Military  Police, 
     within the city itself.
       General  Weyand  responded to the border battles of  late  1967, 
     especially that at Loc Ninh, by drawing down the forces within the 
     Saigon  security zone.   By early January,  there were only 14  II 
     Field  Force battalions within the zone,  but 39 outside  it.  But 
     Weyand, a former chief of Army Intelligence,  developed suspicions 
     of  an  impending VC offensive.   After speaking with Westy on  11 
     January,  Weyand cancelled a planned operation into Phuoc Binh and 
     began  to redistribute his maneuver battalions.  Before the day of 
     Tet,  Weyand  had virtually doubled,  to 27 battalions,  II  Field 
     Force strength inside the special security zone.   This would have 
     an important bearing on the outcome of the Tet battles.
       The  Tet action that received the most attention,  both from the 
     press and at the White House, was the attack on the United States
     Embassy,   four   blocks  down  Thong  Nhat  Boulevard  from   the 
     Presidential  Palace.   The  embassy attack was carried out by  19 
     sappers  of  the 250-man,  C-10 Saigon City  Sapper  Battalion,  a 
     Vietcong  special  unit consisting of men living in  Saigon  under 
     various  cover occupations.   The C-10 Battalion,  whose men  were 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 85
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     promised promotions immediately after the offensive, carried out a 
     wide  range of actions in Saigon ranging from terrorist  incidents 
     to intelligence gathering, but for Tet they came into the open. C-
     10  sappers not only attacked the embassy,  but they also attacked 
     the Presidential Palace, Vietnam Navy headquarters, and a range of 
     other targets.
       Action opened at the U.S. Embassy, according to chronologies, at 
     0315.   The  State  Department duty officer that  night,  however, 
     recalls  being  awakened  in his quarters in Room 433  by  a  loud 
     explosion  shortly before 0300.   The duty officer,  Allan  Wendt, 
     then  heard automatic weapons fire and determined the embassy  was 
     under attack, after which he phoned embassy political officers to
     inform them.
       Although  19  VC sappers might seem an absurdly small number  to 
     send against an objective as large as the embassy,  in fact the VC 
     must  have  had precise intelligence to which they calibrated  the 
     size of their commando unit.   The night contingent at the embassy 
     actually  consisted of Wendt,  a State communications  specialist, 
     one  from the Army,  one Vietnamese,  a CIA duty officer,  and two 
     communications people, plus three Marine guards.
       Outside  the building there were two American MPs on duty at the 
     main gate, plus a South Vietnamese police detachment of four men.
       The VC outnumbered the Americans, and they had a 2-1 margin over 
     the armed security men around the embassy.
       The  sapper strike began with an assault on the gate,  where the 
     MPs were shot down,  but not before taking a toll of the enemy and 
     managing  to  close the gate itself.   The VC blasted through  the 
     compound  wall  with  plastic explosives,  then they used  a  B-40 
     rocket against the main door.   This wounded the one Marine at the 
     security  post  in  the lobby and knocked down the  guard  leader, 
     Sergeant  Ronald  W.  Harper,  who  was down  the  hall  gathering 
     additional weapons from the armory.  Except for one man who popped 
     into  the  embassy  building at the first  sign  of  trouble,  the 
     vietnamese  police  disappeared  -   they  took  no  part  in  the 
     subsequent battle.   More rockets and grenades burst in the lobby, 
     then  it  became  an exchange of fire  between  sappers  sheltered 
     behind  potted  trees on the grounds and Sergeant  Harper  inside.  
     Harper's radios had been smashed by the fire,  but he was in touch 
     with Wendt on the Centrex telephone at his station.
       The sounds of battle in Saigon were unmistakable,  and the press 
     quickly  got wind of the embassy fighting,  erroneously  reporting 
     that the VC were inside the U.S. Embassy.   These reports caused a 
     flurry  of concern at the White House,  where early reports of the 
     attack  through  State had already reached the  National  Security 
     Council.  President Lyndon Johnson, always concerned over Vietnam, 
     had  been briefed about the premature Tet attacks of the 30th  and 
     was  pressing for more information.   Late in the afternoon of the 
     31st,  Westmoreland  had  had a telephone conversation with  White 
     House  Situation  Room chief Art McCafferty to update the NSC  and 
     Johnson's  information.   Only  hours  later,   when  it  was  the 
     afternoon of the 31st in Washington,  first reports of the embassy 
     attack began to arrive.
       While confusion abounded at the White House,  the embassy battle 
     developed into a stalemate with the VC on the grounds but unable
     to enter the building past Sergeant Harper.   The delay allowed MP 
     reinforcements from the 716th Battalion to arrive and surround the 
     VC  from the outside.   by 0400,  Wendt was in touch with MACV  by 
     phone  and  was  told a medevac helicopter would be sent  for  the 
     wounded Marine, and another helicopter would bring ammunition.  It 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 86
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     was the ammunition chopper that came in first, but not until about 
     0645,  and  it took off the wounded man.   The helicopter  brought 
     three  cases  of M-16 ammunition,  which was useless  to  Sergeant 
     Harper,  who  was armed with a pistol,  a shotgun,  and an Italian 
     Beretta submachine gun.  There were no M-16s in the embassy.
       At  dawn,  the MPs outside managed to shoot off the locks on the 
     main  gate,  while  another  man found the hole that  the  VC  had 
     blasted  through the compound wall.   the MPs,  reinforced by  the 
     remainder  of  the  Marine  guard  detachment,  crashed  into  the 
     compound  behind  a jeep that finally opened the gate.   At  0815, 
     almost  three  hours  after MACV's first  promises  of  air-landed 
     reinforcement,  the  first of a platoon of 101st Airborne troopers 
     under  Major Hillel Schwartz began to land from helicopters on the 
     embassy  roof.   By that time,  the VC sappers were mostly dead or 
     dying.   One darted into the house next door to the embassy in the 
     compound,  which  was  being used by colonel George  Jacobsen,  an 
     adviser  to  the CIA on pacification.   The unarmed  Jacobsen  was 
     thrown  a pistol by Marines outside,  and he got the VC as he came 
     up the stairs.  The embassy was declared secured at 0910.
     
     CHAOS IN SAIGON
       In  the meantime,  Washington,s concern continued unabated.   At 
     0545,  General  Westmoreland got a call from Joint Chiefs of Staff 
     chairman  General Earle Wheeler on a secure line directing him  to 
     call the White House and report to NSC adviser Walt W. Rostow.  At 
     the embassy,  Wendt or communications specialist James A.  Griffin 
     took  several  calls from Assistant Secretary of State  Philip  C. 
     Habib  in the White House Situations Room.   There were also calls 
     from  the  CIA.   All  were grateful to learn that  initial  press 
     reporting on the embassy attack had been inaccurate.
       For  all the attention it garnered,  the embassy attack was  but 
     one  of many actions around Saigon.   Another was an attempt by  a 
     dozen  sappers against Vietnamese Navy headquarters.   The sappers 
     rode  in two civilian cars and were stopped at a checkpoint in Lam 
     Son  Square.   The  alert  detachment at the headquarters  was  in 
     combat  position  in bunkers and immediately defeated the VC  when 
     the attack began at 0300.   At the Philippine Embassy,  an attempt 
     to  kidnap the ambassador failed when he managed to escape with  a 
     light  injury.   A  second  attempted  kidnapping  failed  at  the 
     residence  of Prime Minister Nguyen Van Loc.   A 34-man platoon of 
     C-10  sappers also opened an attack on the Presidential Palace  at 
     0130.   they  fired  B-40  rockets at the staff entrance  gate  on 
     Nguyen Du Street, and they tried to crash through the barrier. The 
     presidential guard, MPs,  police,  and two tanks drove off the VC, 
     who  holed up in an unfinished high rise across the  street.  Over 
     the next two days, the unit was wiped out.
       Though  initially  successful,  a  C-10 attack on  the  National 
     Broadcasting  Station  also  miscarried.   This  VC  element  came 
     disguised   as  police  field  field  force  troops  and   quickly 
     overwhelmed  the  police field squad defending the  station.   But 
     this  radio station contained studios only.   The transmitter  was 
     remotely  located  several  miles  away,  and  the  chief  of  the 
     transmitter  station  immediately  cut  the audio  feed  from  the 
     downtown  studios,  substituting prerecorded programming.   Saigon 
     radio  transmitted without interruption and with no indication  of 
     anything  amiss.   At 0500,  a company of the ARVN Eight  Airborne 
     Battalion  arrived  and began a counterattack that recaptured  the 
     studios, which resumed normal operations within two hours.
       A  number of Vietcong actions,  ranging from shelling to  small-
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 87
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     arms  fire,  were directed at U.S.  billets in Saigon between 0300 
     and  0613.   At  least 15 Bachelor Officers'  Quarters  (BOQs)  or 
     enlisted quarters reported these actions to the 716th MP Battalion 
     or requested assistance.  Several claymore mines were detonated at 
     the  Saigon Motor Pool.   At the Rex BOQ,  which reported fire  at 
     0321,  the majors and colonels billeted there organized themselves 
     into  scratch infantry squads.   One of them was Colonel Daniel O. 
     Graham, chief of the Combined Intelligence Center Vietnam.  It was 
     the closest he had come to being shot at in the Vietnam War.   The 
     ad  hoc  infantry  was soon relieved by 716th  Battalion  military 
     police.
       In  Go  Vap,  two VC local force battalions attacked the Co  Loa 
     artillery  base  which  they overran and where they  captured  12, 
     105mm artillery pieces.   They also captured nearby Camp Phu Dong, 
     headquarters  of the ARVN Armor Command.   the enemy had plans  to 
     use  captured artillery and tanks in other Saigon actions,  and it 
     brought  trained  tank crews along as part of the  assault  force.  
     These plans also miscarried - ARVN's tanks had been sent elsewhere 
     in November 1967 while, at Co Loa, ARVN gunners removed the breech 
     blocks of their pieces before pulling back.   Both objectives were 
     recaptured later.
     
     BEGINNING THE OFFENSIVE FOR REAL
       Northeast  of Saigon,  one regiment of the VC Fifth Division had 
     the  mission of attacking the II Field Force headquarters at  Long 
     Binh  while another was to assault ARVN III Corps headquarters and 
     the city of Bien Hoa, plus the nearby major air base.   Here,  the 
     VC became confused because one designated assembly point, a rubber 
     plantation,  had  been cleared by Rome plows the preceding  month.  
     In  the confusion,  the VC missed a chance to liberate a  prisoner 
     camp and diluted their main attacks.
       At  the III Corps compound,  the enemy was unable to  penetrate. 
     While  at  Long Binh,  they did no better than blowing up  several 
     ammunition  storage  bunkers.   The VC 274th Regiment was able  to 
     penetrate the eastern perimeter of Bien Hoa airbase,  reaching the 
     runway,  but  was  stalled by fire of a defending  Regional  Force 
     battalion.   Two aircraft on the base were destroyed,  and 17 were 
     damaged.   The  274th  lost 139 killed and 25 captured.   A  vital 
     199th  Brigade  force  reacting to these  attacks  was  Lieutenant 
     Colonel   John  B.   Tower's  Second  Battalion,   47th   Infantry 
     (Mechanized).   Elements  of  the  101st  Airborne  Division  also 
     defended  Bien Hoa airbase,  while the coup de grace came from the 
     11th  Armored  Cavalry Regiment (Colonel Jack  MacFarlane),  which 
     moved over one hundred kilometers in eight hours.   By the evening 
     of 1 February, the VC and NVC were completely neutralized.
       Potentially  most damaging among the VC/NVA efforts on Tet  were 
     the  several attacks at Tan Son Nhut airbase on the northern  edge 
     of Saigon.   This was not only a major airbase,  but it functioned 
     as  Saigon's  international airport and housed MACV  headquarters, 
     ARVN Joint General Staff (JGS) headquarters,  and the residence of 
     Vice  President Nguyen Cao Ky.   Defense forces here included U.S. 
     Air  Force  security  police,  Vietnamese Air Force  base  defense 
     forces, an ARVN headquarters battalion, and Ky's personal guard.
       Although its perimeter was divided into defense sectors equipped 
     with multiple wire barriers, minefields, and over 150 bunkers, Tan 
     Son Nhut had inevitable security problems.   For one thing,  there 
     was too much personnel flow to prevent VC intelligence gathering - 
     this base, designed for 3,000,  typically had a daytime work force 
     of  over 25,000 persons.   Moreover,  there could not be a cleared 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 88
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     field  of  fire  outside  the  perimeter  due  to  the  dense  and 
     encroaching  settlements  of Saigon's  population.  For  Tet,  the 
     VC/NVA  committed elements of their C-10 sappers,  plus five other 
     battalions to strike Tan Son Nhut from three directions.
       The first Tan Son Nhut attack began at 0200 on Gate No. 5, which 
     gave access to the JGS compound.  A VC support element had already 
     infiltrated the Long Hoa Pagoda just across the street. A commando 
     unit for the main assault suddenly drove up in a bus, but, just as 
     it began to unload,  a jeep of U.S.  MPs arrived at the gate,  and 
     the  VC opened fire.   This distraction gave the ARVN gate  guards 
     just  enough  time to shut the gate and reply to the fire  from  a 
     side bunker.  The gate guards were rapidly reinforced by U.S.  MPs 
     from  BOQ  No.  3  and  other  installations.   The  C-10  platoon 
     commander,  promised  promotion to battalion commander after  Tet, 
     had been tasked to occupy the ARVN general officers'  quarters and 
     capture  them or their family members as hostages.   Instead,  the 
     man himself was taken prisoner.
       The Vietcong intended to mount a simultaneous attack at Gate No. 
     4, but their Go Mon battalion was delayed in reaching its assembly 
     position until 0700.   Nevertheless,  the VC knocked down the gate 
     with  B-40  rockets  and swarmed  through,  taking  the  buildings 
     housing  the  Armed  Forces Language School and  JGS  Headquarters 
     Company.  With only the ARVN Honor Guard battalion,  plus an armor 
     troop  for the entire JGS complex,  South Vietnamese reaction  was 
     weak  and  uncoordinated.   Had the Go Mon battalion  pursued,  it 
     could be overrun the JGS building and the Joint Operations Center, 
     but  instead,  the  VC dug in to defend  a  perimeter,  mistakenly 
     believing  the  JGS building itself already in  their  hands.   At 
     0900,  ARVN  countered  with  two paratrooper companies  and  that 
     afternoon  committed a Marine battalion,  hurriedly flown up  from 
     the Mekong Delta, as reinforcement.   The JGS compound was secured 
     at  1030 on 1 February,  and VC remnants were driven back into the 
     city of Saigon.
       Perhaps  the most dangerous of the Tan Son Nhut attacks was that 
     against  the  western  perimeter  of  the  base,  closest  to  the 
     airfield.   Here,  the  enemy committed two local force battalions 
     plus one from the 271st Regiment of the VC Ninth Division.  A U.S. 
     Air  Force security man,  noticing that his buddy in the  adjacent 
     bunker  had  failed  to answer calls on the  internal  radio  net, 
     assumed  he  had fallen asleep and went to wake him up.   At  that 
     instant,  B-40  rockets smashed the bunker the man had just  left, 
     killing its other Vietnamese occupants, and the attack came across 
     the perimeter at Gates 51, 10, and 2 at 0300,  advancing about 200 
     meters.   Two platoons of Air Force security police reacted to the 
     attack  along with some of Ky's guards and managed to contain  the 
     VC  long enough to bring up its last reserve -  two more companies 
     of  the Eighth Airborne Battalion.   Despite heavy  losses,  these 
     troops held off the Vietcong until dawn.
       About 2100 on the 30th,  meanwhile,  Lieutenant Colonel Glenn K. 
     Otis,  commanding  the  Third Squadron,  Fourth Cavalry at Cu  Chi 
     (about  25  Kilometers northwest of Saigon),  had been ordered  to 
     send one troop to Tan Son Nhut in anticipation of some VC action.
       This  was  modified  at 0415 with orders to block  the  regiment 
     equivalent actually attacking the base.   Captain Leo B.  Virant's 
     Troop C was underway in 15 minutes and was in action by 0600.  The 
     unit  hit  the VC assault force from the rear but met  a  hornet's 
     nest  of  fire  though  it  cut off some  of  the  VC  inside  the 
     perimeter.  Four tanks and five APCs were quickly hit and burning, 
     with  Captain  Virant suffering a head wound.   Otis ordered up  a 
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 89
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     detached platoon of Troop C,  then Troop B (Captain Malcolm Otis), 
     which  made a 47 kilometer approach from Trang Bank in 45 minutes.  
     The reaction forces were complemented by gunships and air strikes, 
     and the VC were driven back from Tan Son Nhut.
       A  number of the VC took refuge in the nearby Vinatexco  Textile 
     Factory, South Vietnam's newest industrial plant,  where a command 
     post  and  antiaircraft positions had been set up to  support  the 
     original  attack.   This was plastered with air strikes from  0900 
     and ground attacks followed up.  Some 157 VC were killed, and nine 
     were captured inside Tan Son Nhut, about 300 bodies were left near 
     Gate  No.  51,  and  another 162 bodies later were counted in  the 
     Vinatexco  plant,  which was destroyed.   American forces lost  23 
     dead  and  86 wounded with 13 planes damaged,  while  ARVN  losses 
     amounted to 32 killed and 89 wounded. 
       There  were  other attacks in the Saigon area with  less  impact 
     while,  in  general,  efforts of the VC Seventh Division to impede 
     reaction-force  movements  throughout  the  II  Field  Force  area 
     failed.   Although  the Vietcong did not attain their  objectives, 
     enough of their forces infiltrated into Saigon to require clearing 
     operations for about two weeks after Tet.   The battle at Hue also 
     continued.   In  addition,  there  was a battle at Quang Tri in  I 
     Corps,  successfully  held by ARVN with intervention from  Colonel 
     Donald  V.  Rattan's  First Brigade of the First Cavalry  Division 
     (Air-mobile).
     
     THE BELL FOR ROUND TWO
       Expectations  of  a  second round of Vietcong  attacks  did  not 
     materialize.  Nevertheless,  Tet did inaugurate an extended series 
     of  standoff attacks on U.S.  and Vietnamese air bases  throughout 
     Vietnam.   There were 50 of these barrage attacks through February 
     and March, involving some 1,030 recorded rounds on nine air bases;  
     Tan  Son Nhut was hit 18 times,  Bien Hoa four times,  and Da Nang 
     once.  There were another 18 barrages directed at Binh Thuy.  Some 
     24 U.S. and Vietnamese aircraft were destroyed,  and 165 U.S.  and 
     71 Vietnamese planes were damaged.
       Official  statistics  for the Tet period of January to  February 
     1968 show U.S.  losses of 3,326 killed,  and 16,947 wounded,  plus 
     ARVN  losses of 7,930 killed,  18,270 wounded,  and 1,474 missing. 
     Claimed enemy battle deaths amount to 55,084.   Of these,  General 
     William  Westmoreland estimates the VC/NVA suffered 37,000  killed 
     between  29  January  and  29 February.   At  the  same  time,  he 
     minimizes  friendly  losses by restricting himself to  the  period 
     from 29 January to 11 February, for which he reports 1,001
     Americans and 2,082 Vietnamese killed.
       Based  on  casualty and prisoner figures,  and on  the  VC/NVA's 
     inability to take and hold the cities and towns,  many accounts of 
     Vietnam  hold  that Tet was a great military victory for MACV  and 
     ARVN.   Many  of  these  accounts  also concede  that  Tet  was  a 
     political victory for the North Vietnamese and Vietcong.   We have 
     not the space here to analyze the political aspects of Tet, but it 
     is  worth concluding with the words of Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker 
     reported  to  Lyndon  Johnson on 8 February  1968:   "The  primary 
     [VA/NVA]  objective  of  winning  the war in one great  series  of 
     attacks on the cities does not preclude a lesser objective.  Hanoi 
     may  well have reasoned that in the event that the Tet attacks did 
     not  bring the outright victory they hoped for,  they could  still 
     hope for political and psychological gains of such dimensions that 
     they   could  some  to  the  negotiating  table  with  a   greatly 
     strengthened hand."
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 90
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

       If  that  was  the  thinking in Hanoi,  it proved  to  be  quiet 
     correct.
     
























































     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 91
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



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     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 92
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990



     =================================================================
               I V V E C   &   N a m V e t   -   W H E R E ?
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                          The NAM VET Roll Call
     
                            By: G. Joseph Peck
                         NAM VETs Managing Editor
                       VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313
     
     The following are the current locations where the NamVet 
     newsletter and Annual editions are currently sent and, as I 
     understand it, available for Bark/Wazoo File Requests.
     
                 FidoNet & AlterNet Nodes:
                 ------------------------
     Scott McKnight   1:389/2001    Blytheville, Arkansas
     Mike Nelson      1:125/20      Burlingame, California
     Greg Peters      1:103/232     La Mirada, California
     Sam Saulys       1:141/488     Branford, Connecticut
     Bob Morris       1:320/202     South Durham, Connecticut
     John McCorkle    1:369/10      Fort Lauderdale, Florida
     Charles Harper   1:370/10      West Athens, Georgia
     Gene Clayton     1:161/414     Kauai, Hawaii
     Mort Sternheim   1:321/109     Amherst, Massachusetts
     G. Joseph Peck   1:321/203     Pittsfield, Massachusetts
     Pete Farias      1:321/210     Pittsfield, Massachusetts
     Vern Pero        1:321/212     Dalton, Massachusetts
     Jim Henthorn     1:261/1044    Baltimore, Maryland
     Bob Rudolph      1:261/0       Reisterstown, Maryland
     Wayne Parrish    1:308/20      Alamogordo, New Mexico
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     Kathleen Kelly   1:1033/0      Staten Island, New York
     Tom Mickus       1:480/114     Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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     Carrie Brown     1:130/10      Fort Worth, Texas
     Rick Edwards     1:106/113     Houston, Texas
     Bob Davis        1:106/116     Houston, Texas
     Art Fellner      1:106/437     Missouri City, Texas
     Ray Moreau       1:109/316     Herndon, Virginia
     Jim Barth        1:350/21      Brownsville, Washington
     Ralph Sims       1:350/341     Grapeview, Washington
     
                     Other Nets:
                     ----------
     Martin Kroll     MetroLink     Chatsworth, GA
     
     Lefty Frizzell   RelayNet      Houston, Texas
     
     Ed Lucas         QuickLink     Houston, Texas
     Edward Green     Shop Qbbs     Exeter, NH (603)778-1698
     
     Bob Morris       HTMSNet       South Durham, Connecticut
     
                        Areas not covered:
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 93
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                        -----------------
     
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     Australian Continent - All            European Continent - All
     
     Alabama            Alaska             Arizona
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                     Thanx for your help...
     
                       Ci'ao for Ni'ao
     
                            -Joe-
                   NamVet's Managing Editor
     




























     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 94
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                     Where did the messages come from?
                         Input by: Lefty Frizzell
                     NAM VETs Homeless Section Editor
                 The Executive Washroom - San Antonion, TX
          
              International Vietnam Veterans Echo Conference
                   Sorted ALPHABETICALLY by Origin Line
                        1 Jan 1990 to  4 Feb 1990
     
     My apologies to the Relaynet and Quicklink personnel.  I am
     working on a way to show your taglines in the NAMVET News.
     Hopefully, you will show up in a future newsletter.
          
                                   Lefty Frizzell
                                      GateHost
     
     --The AIDS Chat Line-- (1:130/55)
     Berkshire Estates *HST* 413-499-1327 (1:321/210)
     Bangor ROS ROSnet#07 *HST* Bangor, ME (1:132/301)
     BLACK BAG BBS  Newark, DE 302-731-1998 (Opus 1:150/140)
     BEAR'S LAIR BBS (1:160/205)
     Computercenter Multiuser Online Services 918-747-0250  (7104/9600)
     Commo Bunker of Karnes County Texas (1:387/801)
     Combat Arms BBS -Gun files source- 415-537-1777 (1:161/357)
     Cobra BBS! Pearland, Tx (713)996-1460 (1:106/993.0)
     Classic City Node-1  Athens, Ga. (404)548-0130 (1:370/11)
     Chicago's BIT WIZ Opus HST (AlterNet 445/689) (Opus 1:115/689)
     Canada West  Front Door Help *CANADA* (1:153/133)
     dBest In the West, LYNX & ISIS 12062418583 [HST] (1:343/25)
     Dak To Ridge Runner - VetPoint 47 (1:321/203.47)
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     Disgruntled, but still working (1:320/202)
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     Group Medical BBS (206)581-9088 (1:138/120)
     Helping Vets the best we can!  ISU BBS - Terre Haute IN (1:231/70.0)
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     KramMail, Check/Read/Reply/Quote/Download for OPUS (1:106/437)
     KIC-BBS, from the heart of Cincinnati, Oh. (HST) (1:108/89.0)
     Moderator, STRESS_MGMT Echo, PCP-CASAN 714-952-2110 (1:103/227)
     Nick's Nest (612) 490-1187, (612) 490-0341 HST (Opus 1:282/3)
     NPI III (617-592-5772) Lynn, MA USA (Opus 1:101/193)
     NCC-1701: "Beam me up, Scotty!!" (Opus 1:124/1701)
     Open Cluster Paranet Alpha-Beta(sm) (1:283/630)
     Ole Tinbrain - Charleston, SC (1:372/1)
     PIONEER VALLEY PCUG #1  Amherst, MA  (HST) 413-256-1037  (Opus
     Steves Computer BBS, Seattle Wa. , (1:343/48)
     Setpoint Incorporated              (1:106/116)
     Sentry City - The Eyes of the Eagle (1:147/26)
     SeaBat BBS - Home Of USS Liberty Veterans Association (1:160/230)
     Scholars' Lair, Maxwell AFB, AL <HST-14.4>(205)264-0316 (1:375/12)
     S.I.R.E.N. IS CALLING -SACRAMENTO, CA.-[CASAC] (916)971-0589
     Twin Towers PC-Archive -- Home of UnixLink  -- (Opus 1:231/160)
     There are only two kinds of ships, Subs and Targets *HST* (1:308/60)
     The Soldier's Bored, Missouri City, Tx, 713-437-2859, 14.4 HST
     The PainFrame BBS, Baltimore, MD. 301 488-7461 (Opus 1:261/1004)
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 95
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     The Open Cluster ParaNet(sm) Alpha-Beta HST (Opus 1:283/630)
     The NETWORK - G rated FAMILY oriented (1:129/34)
     The MailBox, Austin TX (512) 327 5376 (Opus 1:382/4)
     The Jolly Green Giant Opus\HST 9600+ (Opus 1:366/38)
     The Jimby BBS! * DB/WC/QBBS * What a Combo! (1:350/21.0)
     The Fireside Houston, Texas (713)496-6319 (1:106/114.0)
     The FLIGHT-DECK  (201)896-8718  Carlstadt, N.J. (1:107/565)
     The Desert Dolphin WOC'n New Mexico (505)523-2811 (1:305/105.0)
     The Debate Place BBS Houston, Texas (713)451-6066 (Opus 1:106/113)
     The Chai Way - KESHERnet Dallas - (214) 239-7607 (1:124/4106)
     The Buckeye Hamshack ~ Akron,Ohio (216)867-6984, 760Meg, HST
     TPTBB--That's just it, Bubba...Sic 'im MURPHY!  (1:106/116.1)
     TOY SHOP-PC BBS (904)688-9124 * 14.4 HST * (1:3601/8.0)
     TECHbooks_One, Portland, OR +1(503)760-1473 G (1:105/4.0)
     TCS (301)261-3877 [AKA 7:524/2052] ...  (Opus 109/50)
     US Hands Off Central American ~ No More Vietnams (1:1033/1)
     Vietnam Veterans Valhalla (1:143/27) 408-737-2564 (1:143/27)
     VetPoint 707 "VetCenter on a Floppy Disk!" (1:321/203.707)
     VETNET Translation BBS * VETNET <-> Relaynet * (PCBoard 1:106/449)
     Zillah's House  (1:116/3000.1)
     ZEPHYR, HST, National Capital Area, 703-620-5418 (TComm 1:109/124)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     































     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 96
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

                 Parameters of VIETNAM_VETS echoconference...
           
     This   message   will  be  placed in  the  VIETNAM_VETS   echomail  
     area  at  regular  intervals.    This  message  constitutes    the  
     parameters   regarding  the  use,    access   and distribution  of 
     the VIETNAM_VETS EchoConference.
          
     LEGALITIES:   VIETNAM_VETS  is an International  "veteran-support"
     EchoConference  that  is  privately owned and operated as  both  a
     support  mechanism  and outreach effort by  its  originator,  Todd
     Looney and G. Joseph Peck, President, Berkshire Veterans'  Center,
     Inc.
       VIETNAM_VETS  is moderated by G. Joseph Peck.
       The ECHOMAIL COORDINATOR of VIETNAM_VETS is presently G.  Joseph
     Peck - FidoNet 1:321/203; AlterNet 7:46/203 (1-413-443-6313).
       VIETNAM_VETS  is carried as a courtesy and service to  America's
     veterans on the FidoNet <tm> echomail "backbone" and through parts
     of AlterNet <tm> and other networks.
       Where  policies of FidoNet <tm>  or other networks and those  of
     VIETNAM_VETS  conflict,  every  effort  will be made to  reach  an
     amicable    solution   to   any  posed   problem.     The right is 
     herein reserved by the Moderator/EchoMail Coordinator,  G.  Joseph 
     Peck,   to  remove  VIETNAM_VETS  from  a   network   should   the  
     policies   of  that  network  prove  to  be  obstructive    rather  
     than  conducive  to  the  mission  of   this EchoConference.
          
     OVERVIEW:   For  some  Vietnam  Veterans,  every day is  a  bitter
     struggle  to survive as they try to find some way to either escape
     the  horrible  memories  of  that war or to  come  to  terms  with
     themselves  so  they and their families can begin a  normal  life.
     For  other  veterans of the Vietnam era there is often  a  fervent
     desire  for comradery with members of the military who also served
     during  that troubled time in our nations history.   Until May  of
     1986  and  the  creation  of the  International  Vietnam  Veterans
     EchoConference (IVVEC) at the Vietnam Veterans' Valhalla,  finding  
     a   way  to satisfy the needs of  these  -   the  toughest,   most  
     persistent and determined veterans in ALL of US history - as  well 
     as  give non-veterans and others a  chance  to interact  and learn 
     firsthand  from  the  Vietnam veterans about  the  war   and   its  
     complexities,   was  difficult at  best.    IVVEC  has changed all 
     that!
          
     DESCRIPTION:  VIETNAM_VETS is an "open forum"  type conversational
     conference  for the discussion of topics related to service in the
     Southeast  Asian and other theaters,  crisis support and  possible
     intervention,  state and federal benefit entitlements,  employment
     rights  and  guarantees,  discharge upgrading,  and other  veteran
     service-oriented topics.
          
     PURPOSE:    The   purpose   of  the   International   VIETNAM_VETS
     EchoConference (IVVEC)  is to be the support vehicle through which
     the  veteran,  particularly  the Vietnam veteran,  and his or  her
     family  will  have an opportunity to communicate about his or  her
     war  experiences,  often  for the first time since returning  from
     Vietnam.  Each of us -  as veterans,  significant and/or concerned
     others - participate in the IVVEC to help each other with support,
     suggestions,  ideas and comments.   Together,  as one of America's
     proudest groups, we can share resources and experiences which will
     strengthen  and  build our fellow veterans and may help provide  a
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 97
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     guide  through the labyrinth of state and federal services many of
     us have honorably earned and have every right to expect.
     
     HANDLES:  The use of "handles" in VIETNAM_VETS is allowed, only if
     the  handle that you use is the name you normally use on the board
     on which you access the conference.
     
     MESSAGE   CONTENT(S):   Personal  attacks  on  individuals   whose
     sometimes-strong  opinions  differ  from  the  IVVEC  "norm"   are
     discouraged.  The object is to learn from and support others,  not
     argue with them or "go for their throat"! <grin>
       Aside from the parameter concerning attacks upon other users, it
     is  hereby  stipulated  that messages in the conference  will  use
     tasteful language.
       Flames,  comments,  suggestions  and such should be addressed to
     the  conference moderator/coordinator via netmail at 1:321/203 and
     NOT posted in the EchoConference.
       Generally,  messages  should relate to the discussion of  topics 
     related  to  service in the Southeast  Asian and  other  theaters,  
     crisis  support  and  possible intervention,   state  and  federal 
     benefit   entitlements,    employment  rights   and    guarantees,  
     discharge upgrading,  as related to prior military service.
           
     ADVERTISING:   Advertising  of  for-profit  organizations  is  not
     allowed.    Acceptable  advertising  is  that  which  announces  a
     veteran-oriented  BBS,  supports a veteran-related enterprise of a
     veteran-member  of  the  EchoConference,  or of the efforts  of  a
     nationally recognized veterans' group or organization.
          
     DISTRIBUTION:    The   conference   is  commonly  known   as   the
     International  Vietnam  Veterans  EchoConference  (IVVEC)  and  is
     distributed  throughout America,  Canada and parts of Australia as
     "VIETNAM_VETS".   Distribution  in  America is generally  via  the
     FidoNet  <tm>  backbone which is part of the distribution topology
     currently  in  effect.   Other nets distributing the  VIETNAM_VETS
     EchoConference    are  asked  to  follow  proper  procedures   for  
     zonegating   as  established  by the  FIDONET  <tm>  International 
     Coordinator.
        All   messages  in  the echo MUST have an  ORIGIN:  line  which 
     should  contain  the  word ORIGIN:  followed  by  the  originating 
     systems name, zone,  net,  node  and point number if applicable.
        Distributing  messages  between  systems  of  various  networks
     without  authorized  zonegating  and/or changing  of  distribution
     topology  beyond  the original transfer is in direct violation  of
     the distribution topology of this conference.
     
     Fido-AlterNet Nodelist as of 02/01/90, Sorted by Area Code
     Also received on RelayNet; MetroLink; QuickLink; HTMSNet
                                                                   Max
     Net/Node               Name, City               Telephone No Baud
     =========    =================================  ============== ==
     7:520/563    3 EEE's BBS, Clifton NJ Ed Edell   1-201-340-3531 96
     107/563      EEE's BBS Clifton NJ  Ed Edell     1-201-340-3531 96
     141/488      Alice's Restaurant Branford CT     1-203-488-1115 24
     141/250      Wilton Woods Wilton, CT            1-203-762-8481 96
     124/201      Hardwired Dallas, TX               1-204-931-2987 24
     344/117      LSO QuickBBS, Everett WA           1-206-334-3088 96
     344/9        The Precedent, Everett WA          1-206-355-1295  ?
     138/35       US HDS Human Service Seattle, WA   1-206-442-8127 24
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 98
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     343/26       AFMINS BBS                         1-206-488-4309 96
     343/111      Lessor Puget TB Edmonds, WA        1-206-742-8067 24
     138/52       Burrell's Ballpark Tacoma, WA      1-206-752-4672 24
     138/4        PTC Net Mount Vernon, WA           1-206-757-5248 24
     138/49       The Cohort Puyallup, WA            1-206-848-2646 96
     138/101      Story Board Puyallup, WA           1-206-848-5317 96
     138/3        Reg17 ADVISOR EMERITUS Puyallup WA 1-206-848-9232 24
     200/200      CSULB Long Beach, CA               1-213-494-8737 12
     200/100      The Board Room Belmont Shores CA   1-213-498-6425 24
     124/117      NCC-1701 Node 1 Dallas, TX         1-214-240-8821 24
     124/106      CHAI Way II Dallas, TX             1-214-250-3323 96
     136/200      The Chai Way II Austin, TX         1-214-358-3738 24
     124/4210     Hardwired Dallas TX                1-214-437-4075 96
     124/110      Flying Dutchman Dallas, TX         1-214-642-3436 96
     124/14       Chrysalis Dallas, TX               1-214-985-9054 24
     157/501      The PC-Key BBS Girard OH           1-216-545-9205 24
     157/1        Auer Register Cleveland, OH        1-216-883-0578 24
     227/1        Michiana TechLine Mishawaka, IN    1-219-258-0286 96
     227/150      The SX Project Whiting IN          1-219-659-2711 24
     13/33        Avi-Technic Lutherville, MD        1-301-252-0717 96
     109/648      Falcon's Rock College Park, MD     1-301-345-7459 24
     261/1004     The PainFrame                      1-301-488-7461  ?
     13/30        The Futurists BBS Perry Hall, MD   1-301-529-0716 96
     109/717      Tin Badge BBS Silver Spring, MD    1-301-589-2016 12
     109/722      Ronnie's Roadies, Camp Springs MD  1-301-736-0135 12
     261/628      Liberty Hall Reisterstown, MD      1-301-833-8933 24
     261/1044     Firestation BBS, Baltimore, MD     1-301-866-8613 24
     261/1007     FINAL FRONTIER                     1-301-947-4404  ?
     104/51       P2 B2 South Denver, CO             1-303-329-3337 24
     104/28       Pinecliff BBS Boulder, CO          1-303-444-7073 24
     128/16       Firenet Leader Colorado Springs CO 1-303-591-9600 24
     104/739      The Phoenix Parker, CO             1-303-841-9570 24
     135/35       The Sober Way Out BBS Miami, FL    1-305-445-6917 24
     135/27       Bitsy's Place Miami Beach FL       1-305-865-0495 96
     232/4        Runways End OPUS Peoria, IL        1-309-691-5416 96
     115/20       North Shore BBS Evanston, IL       1-312-491-2611 24
     115/529      Elk Grove Repeater Elk Grv Vlg IL  1-312-529-1586 24
     115/761      ICS/TRIX 1 OPUS Chicago, IL        1-312-761-7887 24
     11/202       SouthSide BBS Indianapolis, IN     1-317-882-9330 12
     285/622      Friend's BBS Omaha, NE Joan Renne  1-402-896-2669 24
     370/5        Athens Forum Athens, GA            1-404-546-7857 96
     370/11       Classic City Vet's Conf, Athens, GA1-404-548-0130  ?
     370/10       Classic Quick Echo, Athens, GA     1-404-548-0726 24
     128/13       COSUG-Colorado's User Clrdo Spg CO 1-719-633-4563 24
     385/6        Bink's Barn Lawton, OK             1-405-357-2473 24
     385/4        Info-Net Lawton, OK                1-405-357-6181 24
     147/14       Dark Star TBBS Oklahoma City, OK   1-405-691-0863 96
     363/10       Midas Touch Orlando, FL            1-407-648-1133 24
     363/9        MaMaB--Mark's Bedroom, Orlanda, FL 1-407-894-0807 96
     157/506      Beacon Hill OPUS Transfer, PA      1-412-962-9514 24
     321/109      PIONEER VALLEY PCUG #1 Amherst, MA 1-413-256-1037 96
     321/203      VETLink #1 Pittsfield, MA          1-413-443-6313 24
     321/210      Berkshire_Estates Pittsfield, MA   1-413-499-1327 96
     154/200      PC-Express Greenfield, WI          1-414-327-5300 24
     139/640      Fox Valley Tech Appleton, WI       1-414-735-2513 24
     125/78       Living Sober BBS San Mateo, CA     1-415-342-2859 24
     143/20       SeaHunt BBS, Burlington, CA        1-415-343-5904 96
     143/86       Cat's Tail BBS STOP San Mateo CA   1-415-349-8245 24
     161/208      G.A.D.M. Multi-User Hayward, CA    1-415-581-3019  ?
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 99
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     125/31       Echo Coord San Francisco CA        1-415-621-5206 96
     161/56       Nat'l Family Forum Freemont, CA    1-415-651-4147 24
     161/1        Nerd's Nook Concord CA             1-415-672-2504 96
     161/509      Enterprize Pinole, CA              1-415-758-1650 24
     161/7        Mover Mouse BBS Fremont, CA        1-415-883-1644 24
     11/700       FCAU IBM Net Toronto, ON           1-416-427-0682 96
     148/120      Genetic Research Vat Toronto ON    1-416-480-0551 24
     14/703       Telen-Quest BBS                    1-417-882-5108  ?
     19/43        McScott's BBS, Blytheville AR      1-502-532-6212 96
     105/61       Shotgun OPUS Portland, OR          1-503-760-4521 24
     105/16       Net 105 EchoMail Hub Portland, OR  1-503-761-3003 24
     305/101      NASW New Mexico Las Cruces, NM     1-505-646-2868 24
     305/105      Desert Dolphin, Las Cruces, NM     1-505-523-2811 24
     381/401      Border Connection White Sands, NM  1-505-678-1318 24
     322/230      Denis's OPUS, Ayer, MA (Ft.Devins) 1-508-772-6373  ?
     382/1        Crystal Palace Lake Travis, TX     1-512-339-8037 24
     387/401      Comp-U-Gen II San Antonio TX       1-512-496-9373 24
     387/601      NCOA Intl BBS San Antonio TX       1-512-653-0409 24
     382/14       Corona Del Mar Rockport, TX        1-512-729-7026 96
     110/20       EDS Data Dayton, OH                1-513-455-2431 24
     221/156      Waterloo CBCS PUBLIC Waterloo, ON  1-519-746-5020 96
     153/130      VETSTAR (Northwest)                1-602-462-8752 24
     114/13       Corwin's Keep Tempe AZ             1-602-644-0179 24
     132/101      BBS Source Archive Nashua, NH      1-603-888-8179 24
     153/123      DAETECH Burnaby BC                 1-604-420-2641 96
     153/133      Hot Line Data Network Langley BC   1-604-533-0421 24
     220/20       Old Frog's Almanac Nanaimo BC      1-604-758-3072 24
     153/508      Ebenezer Christian BBS Mission BC  1-604-826-6607 96
     108/50       The ZOO BBS Independence, KY       1-606-283-2040 24
     108/105      Global Time Systems Cincinnati, OH 1-606-341-7910 24
     108/90       DATANET Info System Erlanger KY    1-606-727-3638 24
     150/803      Jersey Vertex Moorestown, NJ       1-609-869-0139 24
     362/1        The Mines of Moria Chattanooga, TN 1-615-344-9601 24
     362/501      Coconut Telegraph Chattanooga, TN  1-615-698-4858 24
     10/215       Silver BBS San Diego, CA           1-619-226-4502 24
     202/401      jabberWOCky Escondido CA           1-619-743-9935 24
     109/639      The RENEX BBS Woodbridge, VA       1-703-494-8331 24
     109/124      ZEPHYR National Capital Area       1-703-620-5418 96
     109/604      ShanErin Alexandria, VA            1-703-941-8291 24
     379/201      Metro Link Charlotte, NC           1-704-553-9534 96
     125/7        Survival Forum Santa Rosa, CA      1-707-545-0746 96
     125/12       The Grape Vine Santa Rosa, CA      1-707-546-4938 24
     161/502      Wildcat Benicia CA                 1-707-746-5820 24
     106/132      Fast BBS OPUS Katy, TX             1-713-392-0093 24
     106/114      The Fireside Houston, TX           1-713-496-6319 24
     106/357      TMBBS Houston, TX                  1-713-497-5433 24
     106/108      Stormy Weather I Houston, TX       1-713-644-4345 96
     106/113      The Opus Network Houston, TX       1-713-780-4153 24
     106/386      Info Center Exchange Houston TX    1-713-872-4429 24
     106/111      Shutterbug's OPUS Houston, TX      1-713-880-4329 24
     103/507      Philosopher's Log Anaheim CA       1-714-535-1258 96
     103/501      Mount Silverthorn Tustin, CA       1-714-544-3369 24
     7:441/1      Lord Frog Of Swamp                 1-715-362-3895  ?
     13/1033      NY Transfer Staten Island, NY      1-718-448-2358 24
     12/7         HPCUA Honolulu HI                  1-808-422-8406 96
     12/1         Aura Net Honolulu, HI              1-808-533-0190 24
     130/5        CUSSNET UTA Arlington, TX          1-817-273-3966 24
     366/38       Jolly Green Giant Shalimar, FL     1-904-651-3875 96
     19/5         Micro Application El Paso TX       1-915-594-9738 24
     
     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 100
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     381/201      Pro Link San Angelo, TX            1-915-944-2952 24
     161/943      Eagle's Nest Sacramento, CA        1-916-334-2822 96
     161/39       Nightline Mather AFB, CA           1-916-362-1755 24
     161/11       The Byte Boutique Sacramento CA    1-916-483-8032 24
     161/5        River City II OPUS Sacramento, CA  1-916-646-9678 96
     161/34       Now and Zen OPUS Fair Oaks CA      1-916-962-1952 96
     151/601      VMC-BBS Winston-Salem NC           1-919-744-0883 24
     151/100      NC Central Raleigh, NC             1-919-851-8460 96
     151/1000     REDCON Raleigh, NC                 1-919-859-3353 96
     632/350      Yarra Valley BBS Melbourne AU        61-3-848-331 12
     
















































     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 101
     Volume  4, Number  2                            February 13, 1990

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         Some Gave ALL ...                      Some Still Give!!!
     
     
     
               O                                      O
                O                    SOME GAVE ALL  ...
         ________O__________________________________O______________
        !         O                                O               !
        ! pow mia pow mia - BRING THEM HOME NOW! - pow mia pow mia !
        !           O                            O                 !
        ! ~~~~~ ~ ~  O~   ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~ O ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ !
        ! ~~~~ ~ ~~   O ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~  ~~~  ~~ ~O~~~ ~~~  ~ ~~~~ ~~ !
        ! ~ ~~ ~  ~~ ~ O~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ !
        ! ~~~  ~~ ~~ ~  O ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ !
        ! ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ O ~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ O ~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ !
        !  ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~  O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~  O ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ !
        ! ~  ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~  O ~_~_~_~_~_ ~ O ~  ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~  !
        ! ~~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~  O          ) O ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ !
        ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ /(O)       / O \ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~ !
        ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~  /          / O   \~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ !
        !  ~~ ~ ~  ~~ ~~ / PRISONER /       \~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~~~~ !
        ! ~  ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ /          / MISSING \~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ !
        ! ~~~  ~ ~~ ~~ /   OF     /\          \~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~ !
        ! ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~ /          /  \   IN     \~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~  !
        ! ~~~  ~~~ ~ /    WAR   / ~~ \          \  ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ !
        ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~ /          / ~ ~~ \  ACTION /  ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ !
        ! ~~ ~~ ~~~(__________/ ~~ ~~~ \       /   ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ !
        ! ~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ \     /  ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ !
        ! ~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ \   / ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~  !
        ! ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ \ /~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~  !
        ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
        !  ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ SOME STILL GIVE
        ! ~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~
        ! ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ !
        ! mia pow mia pow - BRING THEM HOME NOW! - mia pow mia pow !
        !__________________________________________________________!
     
     
     
     
     
     









     NAM VET Newsletter                                        Page 102
