September 2001 Newsletter

58,226 Dog Tags Suspended From The Ceiling at The National Vietnam Arts Museum—Chicago

Gen. Peter Pace Nominated as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (excerpts from American Forces Press Service)

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) Aug. 24, 2001 — President Bush on Friday nominated Air Force Gen. Richard Myers to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saying the former head of the U.S. Space Command will help the military meet "the changing threats of tomorrow."

If confirmed by the Senate, Myers, 59, will replace Army Gen. Henry H. Shelton, who steps down Sept. 30.

Bush also announced that Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, 55, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, would become vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing Myers.

File written by Adobe Photoshop® 5.0
Gen. Peter Pace, U.S. Marine Corps DoD photo by Lisa D. Luse'

Bush called Myers, who has served as vice chairman since March 2000, an officer "of steady resolve and determined leadership" who "understands that the strengths of America's armed forces are our people and our technological superiority.

"And, we must invest in both," he added. Pace "represents a new generation of leadership and military thinking," Bush said, adding that he has spent "a substantial amount of time" working with both men and "is convinced they are the right people to lead our military into the future."

Currently the commander of U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Pace is the first Marine to serve as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

In making his announcements, Bush was accompanied by (Secretary of Defense Donald) Rumsfeld, in Texas for force review and defense budget consultations, nominees Myers and Pace, and their wives.

Myers was a fighter pilot in Vietnam, is a former commander of U.S. Space Command, and was the assistant to former JCS Chairman Army Gen. John Shalikashvili. Rumsfeld characterized Myers' military career as "the embodiment of the transformation with which he will be charged as chairman as the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

Pace, a former deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan, has extensive experience, having served "from the jungles of southeast Asia to the streets of Mogadishu," Rumsfeld said. "General Pace has fought the country's fights, small and large, and demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for leadership along the way," he added, noting that Pace's "background, expertise and insight" would complement Myers'.

Under the leadership of Myers and Pace "the men and women of the U.S. armed forces are in fine hands," Rumsfeld said.

The secretary also used the occasion to thank Shelton, the outgoing chairman, for "his outstanding and his courageous service" and professionalism.

Shelton himself noted in a Aug. 24 statement that he was pleased with Myers' and Pace's nominations, describing Myers as "a crucial and indispensable part of the national security team for the past two years," and praising Pace's "wide-ranging operational and joint experience."

Both nominees said being chosen humbled them. Myers noted that he had learned a great deal under Shelton's tutelage, adding he has "figuratively and literally enormous shoes to fill."

Pace said he and Myers "would work to take great care of the wonderful young men and women who serve this country in uniform."

General Myers made the following comments relative to Gen. Pace’s nomination: "I'm absolutely delighted to have Gen. Pete Pace join us as vice chairman. Pete and I have worked together before. And I can tell you from personal experience, that Pete will bring tremendous talent, skill and leadership to the vice chairman's position. Pete and Lynne, we look forward to working closely with you again. And I think you will all agree that we are fortunate to have him.

The Senate must confirm both nominations.

On behalf of the Golf 2/5 Association, we want to express our heartfelt congratulations to Gen. Pace upon his nomination as vice chairman of the JCS and to wish him continued success in his very distinguished career and service to the country.

(Thanks to Tony Cartlidge for providing me with the website detailing Gen. Pace’s nomination--the editor.)

A Word from the Sec./Treas.

Gentlemen:

Hope all you Marines have had a good summer. Nancy and I have hid out at the beach to avoid the summer heat of Phoenix. For those at the last reunion, I am out of the neck brace having had the disc fused right after the reunion and all extremity strengths have returned to normal. The weather on the beach is much better for my Myasthenia Gravis and it is still in remission. Being in LA, I see Jim Lewis from time to time, which is always great. Have heard from some of the guys, on occasion I have the honor to hear from the "Prince of Arkansas" Wild Bill Rogers, who seems to be muddling along as usual.

I want to thank all of you that have sent your dues in, the Treasury is looking much better and should be up to snuff by the next reunion. Be sure to send Larry your thoughts on where you would like to have it. I know you will all volunteer to help like good Marines. Please note the new address as we seem to be spending most of our time here:

Golf 2/5 Association

c/o Lance Machamer

4 Lighthouse Street, #10

Marina del Rey, CA 90292

310-578-9061 fqbandg@aol.com

If anyone gets down this way give me a call,

Semper Fi, Lance

Next G 2/5 Reunion—Summer 2002!

I have received several suggestions as to where our next Golf Co. reunion should be held. The following location suggestions were received (and are not listed in any significant order):

· I would cast my vote for Parris Island—Tony Cartlidge

· My vote is for Kansas City or Memphis—Dennis Studenny

· Hey can you " HOOK US UP " in SANTA FE? I would not mind going there for the Reunion. Or maybe " Mr. ROGERS " could line some things up in MEMPHIS??—Barney Barnes

· I’d also like to throw out Albuquerque as a possibility. Aside from it being only 60 miles from Santa Fe where I grew up, it’s a fairly large city with a lot of things to do, is sort of centrally located and has a good airport—Larry Ortiz

· How about Washington, DC?—“Duke” Ducasse

· Branson, Missouri—Danny Cholewa

· My suggestion on the site of our next reunion is New York City—George Haught

These are all the suggested locations I’ve received and now the membership needs to speak out and make your choice known! For the last 3 reunions, Golf Co. has combined our reunion with that of the 1st Marine Division reunions. The 2002 1st Mar. Div. reunion will be held in New York City so we could piggyback onto theirs again. I think there should be plenty of things to do in the Big Apple. (Note: NYC was discussed at last year’s San Diego reunion and due to few members being in favor of holding it there, it was not decided on at that time—but here’s an opportunity to reconsider).

Danny Cholewa makes a good case for Branson, MO. He picked up a “bunch” of brochures for Branson that he sent to me that I haven’t had a chance to look at yet. He suggests lining up some cabins near Branson where we could be close to all the great entertainment in Branson and stay near Branson at some cabins near a lake for swimming, fishing and talking about old war stories. (This suggestion has real possibilities. . .)

When voting on a location of your choice, also indicate which month you’re in favor of. My personal preference would be after Sept. 15^th as the tourist traffic should have tapered off and it shouldn’t be as hot as earlier in the summer—but let me know your preference.

So, those are the suggested choices. Please contact me as soon as possible and let me know your choice. We’d like to pick a place that is convenient for as many as possible and that would facilitate as large a turnout as possible—the editor.

Lest We Forget. . .!

L/Cpl. Larry Williamson KIA 3/11/70

SSgt. Allen Kellog KIA 3/11/70

Sgt. Roger Jackman KIA 5/66

In Our Thoughts and In Our Prayers:

· In the Vet Newsbriefs section below, I reported on Ben Gerow making contact after having discovered our website. Ben also said he had gotten to Hue City with several replacements including Steve Sly. Steve was a gunner in my gun team with 3^rd platoon and received 3 Purple Hearts and left Nam in July ’68. Ben and I corresponded about Steve and Ben was able to track down Steve’s uncle and brother in New York State.

Ben discovered that Steve was tragically killed in 1992 in Florida. I have attempted to contact Steve’s brother before I provide any details on Steve’s death and if it is all right with him, I will provide the details in the next newsletter.

L to R: Steve Sly, Larry Ortiz, Jerry Poling At Hill 190—May/June 1968

God Bless you Steve, We miss you and love you— Rest In Peace

Sit Reps

Vet Newsbriefs:

· A couple of months ago I was contacted via e-mail by another G 2/5 vet by the name of Ben Gerow. Ben wrote that “I have just stumbled across the 2/5 website and have been sitting here reading the old newsletters. I joined 3rd. platoon in Hue as an 0331 with a fellow named Steve Sly and was assigned to Freddy Camarillo team.” As I said earlier, it’s amazing how many G 2/5 vets have discovered the Association by coming across our website—isn’t technology great? (Ben was also interested in contacting Freddy “Pache” Camarillo’s family and I was able to provide the address for Pache’s sister in San Antonio).

Ben is from Guyton, Georgia. He also remembered Danny Cholewa and getting hit in Hue City at the same time Danny was hit. I’ve given Danny’s phone number to Ben and the two have reconnected after 33 years. Ben, welcome to the Golf 2/5 Association!

· Barney Barnes writes that he has found two more MARINES, Mike ERVIN & Kevin ENGLISH in the last two months. Barney also writes that he found Mike Ervin through the website www.AMERICAFIND.com and got an answer back in 36 Hrs.!! A fee is involved for trying to find people through the AmericaFind website—but Barney says it was well worth it. Mike and Kevin, welcome to the Golf 2/5 Association!

To make a web search, a Social Security Number is required. I have a roster with names and SSNs for guys who served with Golf Co. If any of you are interested in trying to get hold of another Vietnam Vet, let me know the name and I’ll provide the SSN if he’s on our list—the editor. (I’m going to give it a try and try to locate another G 2/5 vet from 3^rd platoon, Richard Flores—I’ll report on how it turns out in the next newsletter).

· George Haught has been the Commander of the Monaca, PA VFW Post 4653 for almost two years now. After taking first place in his district, George’s VFW post had high hopes of taking top honors at the State convention. George reports, “Unfortunately we did not get the top post in the state award we finished second. The post that came in first beat us out because they consolidated two posts into one and that was the only reason why. I still made the All-State team of commanders and did receive some other special awards from the state, and was told that I will be getting a special recognition award from the national also.” Congratulations, George!

George also reports that he was very involved with the “Beaver County Flags Across America Chapter” and this year’s Flag Day ceremonies (June 14^th). “This diverse group of Patriotic and civic-minded county citizens are devoted to encouraging love and pride of our country and the United States Flag. The chapter has erected a 120’ flagpole to fly a 30’ x 60’ US Flag. The site we chose is highly visible and easily accessible to all county citizens and visitors. . .on a parcel of land on the riverfront in Rochester. The plaza will include a granite wall (below) which will educate our youth on flag history and etiquette.”

Flag Day, Beaver County, PA

The Plaza's Granite Wall

Missing In Action

We have lost touch with the following G 2/5 vets. Their last known city of residence is also provided below. If anyone knows their current address, please forward that information to me—the editor.

· Baker, Ferrall L.— Laguna Niguel, CA

· Dillenburg, Clyde – St. Joseph, MN

· Dima, G. E. – Spokane, WA

· Graham, James M. – Gibsonia, PA

· Gruner, John M. – Ft. Collins, CO

· McColloch, James H. – Charleston, SC

· Moore, Dave H. – Herndon, VA

· Moore, John H. – Payson, AZ

· Tant, William – Tuscaloosa, AL

· Zachary, Reid B. – Sultan, WA

Little Joe Arnold

By Mike Ervin

It’s September 1999, and I sit here gazing at the different icons on this Compaq system’s CRT and begin to scroll through the little window boxes of my past. One might wonder what has stimulated me to this point, as mundane as staring at a computer screen might seem, but if you were to watch my eyes you could possibly detect that I’m into a different time zone.

If you know what I’m talking about then you know [the look]. It’s [that] distant gaze that takes me back, far and away, to unanswered questions of betrayal, to youthful warriors, and to the death of superman.

One visit to the Vietnam Memorial would produce untold stealth veterans, standing like shadows in the foreground, still unable to touch the ebony stones engraved with so much blood. Their nightmares still rage most likely bordered by two thoughts: If I had only….. and WHY?

I’ll be fifty-three this December. You might think that after thirty-one years some things might fade. You might suppose that feelings stemmed by long ago memories should be dulled. However, from where I sit, a memory like the texture of torn flesh now resembling jello keens sharply. I feel I haven’t really talked with anyone that might understand how I feel. Maybe that’s the real issue [for me]. I want some one to be [me]. Then I’d know they understood.

My first wife, who lost a brother to Vietnam, never really knew or understood. And I can’t say I imparted any real information to her that would have promoted a better understanding. But, to give her full credit for whatever she did feel, she did tell me, about the time we were separating, that she didn’t think I had it all that bad. I felt sorely vilified. And she further related some war story of some other vet she [knew] and expressed genuine sorrow at his plight. I think his name was Jody.

My second wife has read different passages of my life as I’ve placed much in written form. However, whenever I reach a certain [stage] with respect to past Vietnam issues, she begins to ask questions, not of the war itself but of me: my psyche. My instinct is to pull away. I feel like she trespasses. I am able to relate a story but I can’t relate a feeling other then this instinctual sense of trespass.

I think my problem really resides with my ego. These memories are all mine. No one knows how I feel. No, not what I’ve experienced, but how I feel inside! That piece of me that even I can’t touch. That part of me that I can’t give away. That part of me that I can’t share. That part of me that still says I’m to blame.

In talking about the Vietnam experience, I’ve seen other people, like myself, whom I felt and believed to be really “out of it”. However, rationally I’ve come to understand that maybe their grief was something I’ve put aside. Mine just leaks out, literally leaks out, one drop at a time. And then, again, I set it aside until, like tonight, when I accepted an invitation to a Vietnam Veterans function and, as the guest speaker details his personal experiences, I begin to relive an earlier life.

There are several people that stand out in my life during my Vietnam experience. There was Barney Wayne Barnes from Birmingham, Alabama. We hung tight the whole tour. We even found each other stateside and we visited my home although I never had the opportunity to meet his family. I’ve lost him for the time being but I’m still looking. (Since Mike wrote this article, he and Barney have re-connected—the editor) Then there was Don Davis, Bob Setlak and Michael [Chubby] Hale from Chicago, Michael Witt, Salvatore Albano from Springfield Mass, and Little Joe Arnold from Chicago.

Three of these men would come home in body bags. The rest would come back stateside. Whether they have ever really been able to make it [home], I can only pray. Although I have memories of them all, and more, one of them still piques at me when I least expect it: Little Joe.

My 395-day tour of South Vietnam spanned the period of November 1967 through November 1968. I was a grunt marine attached to 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in some little spot on the map called An Hoa, which was 24 miles southwest of Da Nang. On my flight there, looking down on the pockmarked countryside, I now believe some of the craters in the rice paddies below may have been bigger than An Hoa.

Our area of operation in I Corps spread from Antenna Valley on Operation Essex to as far north as the Provincial Capital of Hue City during the Tet Offensive of 1968. There were 14 operations in all with my last being Operation Mameluke Thrust. My last official role was watching my entire unit, what friends were left, board the CH46s, and liftoff in search of Charlie.

As most of you probably remember, friendships were developed early on. FNGs became friends with other FNGs. The old Salts hung to themselves and really only took time to personalize with other Salts. One didn’t know it at first but you made close friends and you lost close friends. Eventually you stopped making friendships. It didn't hurt as much when someone you didn’t really know went down. I remember a Boot Lieutenant who was there maybe nine days and took a round. I’m not sure if even his Platoon Sergeant knew his name!

Little Joe came into my platoon within weeks after I arrived. I’m not sure how we ever became friends. And, it might have just been my own perspective that we were but I, along with others, loved Little Joe. Of course, I say that now! I understand it’s full meaning now too! Back then, we would just say we were tight.

Little Joe was an imp: a real clown. Not a show-off but a funny, impish, clown. He was about 5 foot 4 inches tall and maybe weighed 140 pounds with two, one hundred round bags of gun ammo strapped to his waist. He was missing a digit of his small finger right hand. As to how it got missing, I think he related some story of childhood mischief in black Chicago. He also had a scar across one of his shoulder blades. I don’t know if that was pre or post entry to Vietnam. It could have been the wound scar from the 1968 Tet Offensive in Hue City the day he danced with me.

The Marines still used the same field marching pack from WW II and Korea. So it was a good guess there was more “stuff” lashed to the outside of the pack than what was inside. Socks, olive drab in color, [we] carried stores of C Rat cans. Then there was the E-Tool that wasn’t worth a shit other than as an anchor but then you couldn’t find one when you needed it. However, used properly they could make a heck of a weapon. Then there was at least one strand of gun ammo, a 60mm mortar round, a LAW, a gas mask, and maybe balanced out with a Claymore. We all knew we carried our body weight in some form of armament.

Little Joe was about the size of nothing. A small [marine] flak jacket was like a barrel around him. To watch him beat feet under fire was like watching a bucking packhorse shedding all paraphernalia not securely lashed down. He’d be holding onto his helmet with one hand, rifle with the other, with a periodic grab at his cartridge belt, which would inevitably slide down, because he wore it too loose and low. And all this stuff swaying, flapping, and bouncing helter-skelter made you wonder how he ever remained upright.

Little Joe was, for some reason, always right around [me] at some hot times. He was right behind me that day I danced to the tat-ta-tat-tat of an AK 47 as a hidden assassin walked Chicom 7.62 dust busters across a porch rail right beside me as I zig-zagged for a doorway. I believe he bled that day. He was with me when Chubby and Witt bought the farm. He was with superman when he caught his kryptonite bullet.

Thirty-one years ago this coming October on a dismal, dreary, rainy pre-dawn morning somewhere north of the Song Fu Bong River, 40 clicks west of Da Nang, on a hill overlooked by Charlie Ridge, Victor came to call. Little Joe was on the roll.

When I found his body, I knew he hadn’t suffered. There were two points of entry: chin and sternum. I cradled his body in my arms sitting him on my knees, shifted his weight to my right shoulder, and carried [him] off the hill. And then I wept! Later I would be asked if I was injured. When I asked why, I was told I had blood all over the back of my flak jacket. It was still wet.

I wrote to Little Joe’s mother. She even wrote me back. What amazed me about this entire episode was a Louisiana Marine named George Washington. He didn’t have time to really know Little Joe but when he found out that I wrote his mother, and got a letter back, he was astonished. How could a [white] man care for a [black] man? If only he knew!

He doesn’t remember that it was I who set up the perimeter, positioned the foxholes, and inspected the fields of fire. He doesn’t know it was I who was enjoying the safety of the perimeter being a squad leader and slept while Little Joe stood lines. He didn’t know, like myself, that when you sat down in Little Joe’s foxhole you couldn’t see over the rim of the hill. Positioned three feet further over the rim and he might have seen the enemy in time.

Every once in a while, like tonight, I see his face, that impish face smiling, and I start to leak again, one drop at a time. I sometimes wonder why. And there are the periodic nagging questions of [if only I had…and why]?

Cpl. Charles M. Ervin, USMC

2350632

A Few “More” Words From the Editor:

I want to thank Mike Ervin for sending me the article. I also want to encourage any of our members who have something they want to say, to send that information in to me. I’m always looking for more stories from our vets to include in the newsletter. Some vets have expressed hesitation because they don’t feel they write well. Don’t let that stop you if you really have something to say. Just send it on to me and I will help edit—if you would like me to do that.

Semper Fi

Larry S. Ortiz

Golf 2/5 Website Address

Sign on at http://www.2ndbn5thmarines.com

Association Officers:

President

Tom Hohmann

P.O. Box 3007

Riverside, CA 92519-3007

H (909)683-7251

E-Mail: Tomh47@aol.com

Vice President

Jack Field

490 Foster Road

Tewksbury, MA 01876

H ( )

Secretary/Treasurer

Lance K. Machamer

4 Lighthouse Street, #10

Marina del Rey, CA 90292

H (310)578-9061

E-Mail: FQBandG@aol.com

Ops. Chief

Mike Averill

420 Greenbrier Ave.

Celebration, FL 34747-4645

H (407)352-1119

E-Mail: dana.averill@celebration.fl.us

Editor

Larry S. Ortiz

7064 Scripps Crescent

Goleta, CA 93117

H (805)685-4221

E-Mail: lso.vngrunt@verizon.net

Golf 2/5 Website Address

Vice President

Secretary/Treasurer

Ops. Chief

Editor

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