Links to Some Relevant Pages For Vietnam Veterans.

http://ashvva124.org/index.phphttp://ashvva124.org/index.php

This is the link to the local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 124 here in Asheville, NC.  I recently joined them and am glad I did. 

http://www.ivydragoons.org/Files/DakTo/dakto_narrative.htm#chron

An excellent recounting of the Battle of Dak To,  3-21 November 1967, on the excellent 3/8th website.


http://www.vietnamexp.com/morestories/MarthaRaye.htm

Just one of many tributes to Martha Ray...Colonel Maggie.  She was one of us.

http://memoirsfromnam.blogspot.com/2011/12/whats-vietnam-vet.html

This is a great site and this description of the Vietnam Vet is dead on....http://www.v-prod.com/trailer_vietnam.html

This link is to a touching tribute to Vietnam Veterans and the thousands of Michigan State soldiers who died in that war.

http://www.amazon.com/Honor-Valley-Tears-Eric-Dow/dp/B004EKZMT6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1291845499&sr=1-1

The story First Sergeant David H. McNerney, Medal of Honor recipient and A/1/8th Infantry in Vietnam. Very powerful telling of the story of Top and his men !!! This documentary give in depth insight into the story of Alpha Company and their First Sergeant David H. McNerney, Medal of Honor recipient and a true American Hero.  Buy the DVD and share it with family and friends...these are the kinds of people who gave us the freedoms we enjoy every day.

 Homer's,  personal recommendation.

http://www.veteranprograms.com/index.html

This is a very useful page about VA Compensation Programs with helpful "how to" sections.  Check it out, you may be surprised.

If you have been exposed to asbestos, these pages on mesothelioma might be of interest...

http://www.weitzlux.com/mesothelioma-treatments_28930.html

http://www.maacenter.org/

http://www.mesotheliomaguide.com/

http://www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com/

http://www.asbestos.com/veterans/

This site is mainly for the 4th Infantry, not Naval Veterans, but since Mesothelioma is so serious, I place it here for those great guys on the Navy ships who fired in support of me in the central highlands, when no other guns could reach me.  Asbestos exposure is still claiming many of them.

http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org/what.html

Combat veterans, peace-time veterans, in-country or mainland, any time or engagement. Any veteran, male or female, still feeling emotional pain connected to military service is welcomed to the Vets Journey Home.

http://www.enlisted.info/field-manuals/

This link takes you to a page with all the US Army Field Manuals.

http://rlhtribute.com/

This is a website devoted to Robert L. Howard.  He wasn't in the Fighting Fourth, but MACV-SOG.  He received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, all for Valor.  He received numerous other lesser decorations to include eight Purple Hearts.  It makes me proud to read of his service...

http://mophchapter125.com/Agent%20Orange%20and%20Heart%20Conditions.htm

VA to publish a new rule soon, that will make almost any veteran who set foot in Vietnam and is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, B cell leukemia or ischemic heart disease (known also as coronary artery disease), eligible for disability compensation and VA medical care.

http://www.dtic.mil:80/dpmo/

This link is to the Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office site. If you were in combat with a comrade, who was subsequently declared missing or taken prisoner, your memories of the place and details may help them resolve the case. 

http://www.militaryhandbooks.com

Richard Lysinger sent this to me.  FYI>>>

2008 Military Handbooks Now Available

ARLINGTON, VA - June 16, 2008 - Military Handbooks has announced the release of its latest 2008 FREE handbooks for military personnel.
The response to these handbooks has been great.

These handbooks, written specifically for military service members, include a variety of information about pay, benefits, education and transitioning
from the military. To receive your own copies of these handbooks, simply go to our Web site - www.militaryhandbooks.com. Don't forget to tell all of
your military colleagues about these free handbooks too!

2008 Military Handbooks - Now Available

- 2008 BASE INSTALLATION DIRECTORY (NEW!)
- 2008 U.S. MILITARY RETIRED HANDBOOK
- 2008 GETTING UNCLE SAM TO PAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE
- 2008 BENEFITS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS HANDBOOK
- 2008 MILITARY CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP HANDBOOK
- 2008 U.S. MILITARY HANDBOOK

2008 BASE INSTALLATION DIRECTORY (NEW!)

The Base Installation Directory, our newest handbook, provides contact
information for every military installation in the United States. From
information about military housing to the commissary to the base dental
clinic, you'll find the contact numbers and addresses you need in one easy
to access guide.

2008 U.S. MILITARY RETIRED HANDBOOK

The United States Military Retired Handbook is designed to assist all U.S.
Military personnel who have retired or who are planning to retire. This
unique guide covers everything from the nuts and bolts of computing your
Retirement Pay to the detailed explanations of retired military health care,
TRICARE, Social Security, VA, SBP, taxes, insurance, travel, and survivor
benefits.

2008 GETTING UNCLE SAM TO PAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE

This guide, written for active duty military personnel, covers everything
you need to know military education benefits: the G.I. Bill, Tuition
Assistance, scholarships, veteran benefits, student aid, military-friendly
schools, and tips on staying ahead of the curve.

2008 BENEFITS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS HANDBOOK

This complete benefits handbook covers: health care benefits, disability
compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation and employment, education
and training, home loan guarantees, life insurance, burial benefits,
survivor benefits, overseas benefits, workplace benefits, miscellaneous
programs, and more.

2008 MILITARY CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP HANDBOOK

A college degree has become the essential tool to unlock doors for future
success. This handbook contains all the latest information about getting a
college degree, including: types of higher education, resources for finding
the right college, entrance exams, financial aid resources, paying for
college, applying for federal student aid, Pell Grants, Direct and Federal
Family Education Loans, and PLUS loans.

2008 U.S. MILITARY HANDBOOK

The United States Military Handbook is designed to help all active duty
military personnel by giving them the most accurate and complete information
available anywhere on pay, allowances, taxes, health care and TRICARE
benefits, Veterans and Social Security Benefits, travel, transportation,
SBP, retirement, Space-A and more.

To reserve your own FREE copies of the 2008 Military Handbooks, please
visit: http://www.militaryhandbooks.com.

"We are very happy to offer these free handbooks to the military community,"
said Johanna Altland, editor of Military Handbooks.  "The military does so
much for our country, and offering these handbooks at no cost is just one
small way to give back."

Please forward this press release to any military service member (Active and
Retired) you think might be interested in getting their own FREE copies of
the 2008 Handbooks.
 

http://david.brubakers.us/Vietnam/index.html

This website has great photo's of most of the field gear we used in Vietnam.

http://www.vietnamveteranministers.org/chaplain/veterans.htm

Jack Day was my chaplain in Vietnam.  He held services on several firebases for us.  His Central Highlands Diary brings back many memories of the Highlands.

http://www.vba.va.gov/

The Department of Veteran's Affairs, Veteran's Benefits Administration Page.

http://www-static.cc.gatech.edu:80/fac/Thomas.Pilsch/Vietnam.html

This site at Georgia Tech in Atlanta has a page from Thomas Pilsch, which has some really great links to Vietnam War Resources.

http://www.virtualarchive.vietnam.ttu.edu/

This website at the Texas Tech University, Vietnam Center and Archive, is great.  Do check it out.  It is unfortunately fairly slow loading, because of the high traffic volume, but the wait is well worth it.  If you want some tactical maps of your old AO, they have scanned for download all the 1:50,000 topo maps of Vietnam.  On the Home Page, click these links:click the button on the left that reads Virtual Vietnam Archive
click the button on the left that reads Search the Vietnam Virtual Archive
click the buttons to select Maps, English, and Limit to Items Available Online
Type in under Collection Title: enter Vietnam Archive Map
At this point, if you click the Start Search button on the top left, you will select all 914 maps for Vietnam.
If you want only those maps for II Corps, enter into the Keyword/Item #: field the words II Corp
This will select from the Vietnam Archive Map collection, only the 137 maps for II Corp.

Be Patient!  Rush the site by going back and forth before the previous transaction has completed may lock your session up.  Please use the End Search Session button when finished.  It too, will take quite awhile to respond, but keeps the server running efficiently for other users.

You may also enter the actual map number, instead of II Corp to get only the map you need.  For instance, if you enter into the Keyword/Item #: field the number 6538-2, you will get the map sheet containing Dak To.

http://www.vhpa.org/

 This is a great site about those incredible helicopter pilots, who flew for us in South East Asia.
 

http://1-22infantry.org/pics2/shyabtitle.htm

Some great memory jogging photos here from Charles "Doc" Shyab Company C/1/22 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, November 20 1967 - April 28 1968

http://www.shakenbakesergeant.com/

Great website about a "Shake-n-Bake", NCO from A/1/8.  His book is a great read and will bring back many memories to those of us who were there.  This link gives a summary and links you to a site where you may obtain his book and read an good article about these so called "Instant NCO's"

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10017.html#extra

If you served in the military from 1957 through 1977, you are credited with $300 in additional Social Security earnings for each calendar quarter in which you received active duty basic pay

http://www.womensmemorial.org:80/

Site about the Women In Service to our Country Memorial at Arlington.  Lets give them some support in getting more of their stories preserved.

www.landscaper.net/discharg.htm

SPN Number on Discharge Papers.

Some of you may already know about this but for those who don't here goes. Get out your DD214 and look in block 11. You'll see the letters SPN followed by a number. This is your SPN number. (DUH) This code gives the reason for separation from the military.
Now, to understand this code go to the link I've provided and there is a list for all the codes. Some are pretty normal but some are really out there. Interesting stuff.

http://www.themightyninth.org:80/New site about 2/9th Field Artillery, a 105 howitzer outfit that worked in out AO.  May have bailed us out from time to time.  Just started the site, so they would love to hear from anyone who worked with them.
 

http://grambo.us/atav/default.html

Good pages on Transportation units and Gun Trucks in Vietnam...they saved my butt just outside of An Khe.

http://namtour.com/wife.html

Site from a NamVet's wife...poetry that tells it all.  Sounded like my mind felt all those years...hate that the wives had to endure our pain, too.

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/

This link takes you to the National Archives and Records Administration Access to Archival Databases page.  Click the Vietnam War link to get to:  Records on Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam Conflict, documenting the period 6/8/1956 - 1/21/1998. It may help pin down some names, dates and places.

http://www.cacti35th.org/regiment/history/35thvietnam.htm

This page from the 35th Infantry contains the Operational Reports Lessons Learned from the 4th Infantry during Operation Mac Arthur 1 MAY - 31 JUL 1968.


http://a-1-8.org/Docs/grey/index.php

This is A/1/8ths webpage containing the After Action Reports for Operation Wayne Grey 28 FEB - 31 MAR 1969.

http://www.jacquelinewinspear.com/

This link will take you to a site about Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series.
If you have seen or been around combat, these stories will help you deal with it's aftermath. Even if you don't think you suffer from PTSD, read these stories. They will touch a secret place in your soul and help you heal. They are a mystery series, so the combat stuff kind of sneaks up on you.

http://1-22infantry.org/history/campenari.htm

This link discusses the naming of Camp Enari.  I found it rather interesting.

http://www.virtualwall.org/

This virtual wall site is searchable by  By Wall Panel, By State & City, By Last Name, and By Military Unit.
 

http://www.thevirtualwall.org/

If you haven't yet visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund site...DO IT!

http://www.vetsignia.org/viet.htm

Got this site from Bob Kline, USMC, WWII.  They have some nice Vietnam Vet Bumper Stickers, Small but well made.

http://www.regrettoinform.org/

Regret to Inform

I had forgotten this movie until Ben Goldberg reminded me of it.  At the time I first saw it, I was only just beginning to deal with my PTSD and could not process much of the material.  I still had too, tight a lid on my emotions and memories.  It does show war from both sides.  As Ben says, young people should see it before they decide to jump into military service.  I agree and believe all voters, who may elect politicians who send people to war by their actions or inactions, should see it also. It is the story of a widow, who heard the words "We regret to inform..." telling her that her husband had been killed in Vietnam.  She was 24 years old. Twenty years later, she traveled to Vietnam to see the place where her husband and fought and died.  Along with the story of her personal journey are interviews of other war widows, both American and Vietnamese.  It will squeeze your heart up into your throat, especially if you fought in that conflict.


http://www.wlajournal.com/18_1-2/karlin.pdf

Online journal of War, Literature, and the Arts has many interesting and informative articles about combat and society.  The current issue has an article by Wayne Karlin, the Marine who returned Hoàng Ngọc Đảm's personal documents to his family for me.

http://www.rjsmith.com/my_unit.html

Ray's website honors the 1/69th Armor and has some great maps of the area.

http://cybersarges.tripod.com/index.html

Cyber Sarge, 25th Infantry Division, A Battery 7/11 Field Arty has a great website.  Take a look at the Agent Orange page in particular.
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Army_enlisted_rank_insignia&oldid=104488178

This is a link to Wilkipedia, the free encyclopedia, which has a very good article about Enlisted Rank Insignia in the US Army.

http://www.prideofservice.com/

A great site to get those personal items that display your military service...personalized T-Shirt, Sweat Shirts, Tank Tops, Golf Shirts, Long Sleeved Shirts, Caps, Visors, Mouse Pads, License Plates, Coaster Sets, Coffee Mugs, Aprons, Boxers, Wallets, Neckties...you design it.

http://www.tibart.com/

A personal website done by my wife, Tibby and I. It gives you a feel for who I am today.  Also a great nature photography site with a deep spiritual connection, that makes you feel connected to the whole universe.

http://www.amazon.com/War-Above-Trees-Ronald-Carey/dp/1412035031

This is the story of the air crews flying support to the men of the 4th Infantry Division during Operation Wayne Grey in March and April of 1969.

http://pub6.bravenet.com/forum/484734543/

A 4th Infantry Division forum by Bob Poff, C-1-8, 1968-1969. Some of the posts on the Forum really jogged my memory and made the tears flow.  A good and growing site. Join the dialogue, sign on to the chat or post something on the forum.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Ruck-Tom-Lacombe/dp/1893846563

Tom's book about B/3/12 in 1969, reminds me of my tour with the 4th Infantry around the Cambodia/Laos border. It will bring many daily memories back into clear focus...check it out! Read this excerpt from:"Light Ruck, Vietnam 1969" by Tom Lacombe

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