My Stories
My Photos
My Guest Book
4ID Unit Pages  Veterans at Peace
Glossary
Links
Reunions
Vet Needs Your Help
Site Map |
|
My Stories
My Photos
My Guest Book
4ID Unit Pages Veterans at Peace
Glossary
Links
Reunions
Vet Needs Your Help
Site Map |
 |
|
To See Homer Today |
"Thou Shalt Not Kill."
Someone I deeply regret KILLING, was a young NVA
Medic, Hoàng Ngọc Đảm.
Nation Books released
Wandering Souls: Journeys With the Dead and the
Living in Viet Nam late in September 2009. On March 19, 1969,
then young First Lieutenant Homer R. Steedly, Jr., shot and killed a North
Vietnamese Medic, Hoàng Ngọc Đảm, when they met on a jungle trail. Nearly forty
years later he returned to locate and bury Dam's remains in the village cemetery.
This book tells that emotional journey with details from both sides. It is a
captivating story written by Wayne Karlin, a former Marine Corp helicopter door
gunner in Vietnam, who has written extensively on the Vietnam War and visits the
country often. The "Thou Shalt Not Kill" section above tells of his aid
in my journey. My version of the story pales in comparison to Wayne's.
Everyone should read this story. It
will touch your very soul. I spent Veteran's Day 2009 doing an interview about the book
for Carly Yuenger's program "Here
on Earth: Radio Without Borders" on Wisconsin Public Radio. Just click
Listen next to Wandering Souls entry for November 2009.
To read my complete story, click My Combat Stories.
To read about the other units, who served with me in the 4th Infantry in
Vietnam, click on 4ID Unit Pages. These
links also appear on the floating menu for Java equipped browsers.
Any of you who served with me, please contact me and tell me what you remember of these
events. I can't be sure my memories are accurate after over all this time and I
know each of you have different viewpoints and memories. You
all have stories to tell, many that I was too busy to even notice. Write,
email, send photo's, video, audio tapes. I will incorporate all stories into this site's
guestbook and return your precious materials to you safely.
I want to tell our story from all our perspectives. It's time everyone found out about
us and what we did over there. Not all heroes got medals, in fact most
did not. I do not remember all your names, but I do remember your
courage every day, when I wake up alive and free, and again every night before I
fall asleep. Help me to keep the memories of those we left behind alive
for future generations. As John Lennon so aptly said in his 1969
single, lets just "Give Peace a Chance".
Anyone who served with, or in support of the 4th Infantry in Vietnam is
welcome to contribute to this site. That includes the family members of
those who served. Your story about how their service changed them and your
lives is just as significant as the tales of your loved ones service overseas.
We were all changed by the Vietnam experience.
Click Here for more information about how to help me build this
site and tell the complete story....
Where are all you support and service troops??? We grunts would never have made
it without you. I know you have stories to tell...we want to hear them
also.
Never Forget The Price Paid by Veterans For Our Freedom
Honor in the Valley of Tears, a documentary about A/1/8 Infantry now playing on Military Channel. If you haven't seen this powerful video...please take this opportunity. It is a tribute to the "Nine Days in May" battle, Medal of Honor recipient David H. McNerney, and the men of Alpha Company.
Click on my nose ...