GUESTBOOK
2012
Thank you for visiting The Battle of Kontum. And please feel free to add a comment to the Guestbook.
Jack, By the way Jack, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) has issued a call for photos to obtain a photo to match with every one of the 58,272 names on the Wall on our National Mall. Now they have also launched a fund drive to raise the money they need to build an Education Center near the Wall. For more information check out this link.
Thanks for all you are doing to help market my book “KONTUM: The Battle To Save South Vietnam”.
Here is a link to the online flyer for my book which is almost exactly what is on the dust jacket:
View Online Flyer
Those interested in purchasing the book online can visit the Amazon.com website:
Buy at Amazon.com
Jack, I really appreciate all you have already done to promote this book.
Tom McKenna - Senior Adviser to 44th ARVN Regiment during the Battle of Kontum
Vermont USA - Friday, August 19, 2011 at 16:16:46 (EDT)
Great Book... Was the crew chief on the huey that picked up Mr. Vann April 24, 1972. ac 773 , 361 AWC...
SP5 JIM SHOOKWALBRIDGE, OHIO USA - Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 23:52:58 (EST)
Tow Team Missile Vet Passes Away -
It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that Roy Sudeck, a member of the 1972 Battle of Kontum Tow Missile Team passed away on Nov. 16, 2013. Roy's burial was held at Arlington on Feb. 4, 2013.
- Friday, February 15, 2013 at 22:12:07 (EST)
I was a GCA operator in Kontum in 1972 and never really knew all that was happening around me. This is very interesting.
Steve Ihde <sihde3@live.com>Eloy, AZ Usa - Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 00:26:52 (EST)
Looking for any one who know of woodrow w Bradley served Charlie battery 4th battalion 60th artillery group 1st field force usarv nick name they call him sonny 1967-1968 nov-01 kill jeep went off cliff Any pictures of him are his company
Johnny mayhew <www.j56202@yahoo.com>Statesville, Nc Usa - Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 12:41:59 (EST)
Jack, I just mailed you a letter that asks for your phone number. The reason is because I was the District Advisor at Dak To when the Tan Can Compound was overrun by the NVA in April 1972. I am interested in chatting with you about my experiences along with yours. I have just finished a draft on my memoirs about my two tours in Vietnam . I look forward to hearing from you.
See my comments in the Memories Book
Junction City, Kansas USA - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 13:05:23 (EST)
Dear Jack,
I hope this finds you well. I just read your Battle of Kontum material. Outstanding.
I was the 'juniorest' civilian on the CORDS team when the NVA hit. Two years later, was Gen. John Murray's Civilian Special Assistant at DAO. If you're interested, I have a couple of Kontum stories you might be interested in. I plan to go there for my first visit since the war, next week. Let me know if you want any particular photos taken.
Thailand - Friday, November 02, 2012 at 15:04:59 (EDT)
Links to Rob Schwab's Memories Book entries:
Crash of the VNAF Chinook Carrying Montagnard Dependents from Ben Het
ASA, "Two Corps Red," and the Chinook Nets
What a great, well run, researched website/book. Its amazing. Thank you for your service to our country and to the web.
Ray <Raymyat@gmail.com>Detroit, MI USA - Friday, October 19, 2012 at 16:18:45 (EDT)
I was with the group from the 82nd Airborne that introduced the TOW ground mount/M-151C mount during the Easter Offensive of 1972. Operated from the MACV base in Pleiku. Had deployment in Kontum a well as Quan Tri area during this period as well as other remote areas. Trying to locate anyone with knowledge of or participation in these missions. Spc-4 Stephen M Thompson aka "TowBoy"
Stephen M Thompson <smt1953@windstream.net>Eastanollee, Georgia USA - Sunday, October 07, 2012 at 09:22:36 (EDT)
Looking for a Captain Hulin or Hullen, Ops MACV Team 21 circa 71-72. I have located Troung Van Phong, interpreter in Kontum 1971-1972.
Williamsport, TN USA - Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 15:23:48 (EDT)
Jack,
Thank you for your presentation at the VHPA reunion. I was also very happy to hear your comments of the work of the CH47 crews during this battle, not that the effort of ALL of the helicopter crews was nothing short of wonderous. The forward controller Rick Vycital spoke of the 47 crew that was picking up panicking civilians; it was sad to say that was my crew. We did our best to save lives, however, in the panic some were lost. We tried our best to save as many as possible. So again thanks for your time and service for all of us that were there.
Mesa, Arizona United States of America - Monday, August 06, 2012 at 17:16:12 (EDT)
I have had a reunion with one of my Vietnamese friends thanks to the Battle of Kontum site run by Jack Heslin. I was assigned an ARVN SFC Hieu as an interpreter, and lacking any other US staff, I relied on him greatly, and he was competent, ever present, and did not shirk any assignments of mine. He is a stand up guy. After the Americans left, he had a brief assignment as an interpreter with the cease fire teams of Polish and Canadian observers, then was sent back to a regular regiment. When the country began to fall, his father burned all their photos, especially military, for fear of reprisal. Hieu was sent to a re-education camp. I have sent him some 35 of mine from that year. He and his father spent all of their money in 1977 to escape Viet Nam. He and his wife and four children ended up in the south of France, he just retired after 35 years from Michelin Tires, where he was an RD specialist for formula one vehicles. His youngest son was named after me, and is in the Republican Guard, and recently deployed to Libya to protect the French embassy there. We have been corresponding, and I was told that the way I was located is that Hieu found my letter in the guest book on Jack's Kontum site. Of all the folks I knew in Kontum that year, Hieu is one that was at the top of my list, and I am glad to find that he escaped and has had a decent life with the same wife, four kids, and seven grand children!
Added August 6, 2012- In reference to my posting of July 31st last, I have been in touch with former SFC Hieu in France, and he informs me that CPT Nguyen Thanh Long, an ARVN officer assigned to the Province S-3 CPT Duong, with whom Hieu was in touch, and now has lost contact. CPT Long was last known to be in Hawaii. If any of the visitors to the site know this man or his whereabouts, we would like for him to recontact us. Thanks for your support of all of us who were there in 1972!
Richard Montgomery <Prontomonty@aol.com>- Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 08:54:28 (EDT)
Jack, you won't remember me, I ordered your book some time ago. I am a Citadel classmate of Joe Eubanks. We spent 4 years together in college and several months sharing a tank at Armor School. He was a loyal friend, the kind of friend I hope I am. You should know that on the anniversary of his death my classmates paid a tribute to him on our Citadel Class of 69 website. We toasted his life that day and remembering him brought both happiness and sadness. Please know that as I re-read your book, your dedication and personal message to me make it one of my prized possessions. I don't think a week goes by that I don't think of Joe. My classmates and I miss him at every Reunion and he is honored for his courage and sacrifice. I was stationed at the III Corps TOC and left Viet Nam to come home just prior to the Battle of Kontum. Most of my Intel Detachment ended up being deployed to the battle. To this day I feel a sense of guilt for not being there. I knew a few helicopter pilots from the 11th Cav and the 1st Air Cav. and a good friend of mine, Frank Carriola was an instructor in country. In my opinion you guys were the bravest of the brave. I don't know how you faced the danger and horror every day. I will never forget.
Thank you for your tribute to Captain Joseph W. Eubanks, Citadel Class of 1969.
Fondly,
Joel Kipphut,
USA - Monday, June 18, 2012 at 15:45:39 (EDT)
I am looking for people who knew my cousin. James Dale Peoples Jr. People who served with him. I was 2 when Jimmy died and did not know him. Wish I did. I want to know what kind of guy he was. What did you find funny about Jimmy.
Vickilynn Erhard <crimsonvirgo830@yahoo.com>Vandergrift, PA USA - Friday, June 08, 2012 at 06:16:41 (EDT)
My name is Cary Louderback. Best I can recall, it was April thru June of 1972 when I was on several missions to Kontum Airfield with an 8th Aerial Port Sq. Mobility Team. I'm looking for anyone that remembers me or maybe Steve "Big Willie" Williams. We handled lots of aircraft, mostly C130s, moved lots of ARVN & ROKs in & out, and tried our best to evacuate refugees. Took a helluva lot of rockets & mortars along with some small arms fire. Need some help. Thanks.
Cary Louderback <cary.louderback@yahoo.com>Rising Sun, IN USA - Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 08:34:52 (EDT)
Dear Mr. Heslin:
A few weeks ago, I had heard the name, Captain Raymond H. Dobbins, from my father's subordinate. While I searched online for the name, Captain Raymond H. Dobbins, it led me to your website, "The Battle of Kontum". If you know Mr. Dobbins, then would you please forward this email to him?
I'm sincerely grateful and thankful for your services in Vietnam. With all of my respect and gratitude, I salute you.
Sincerely,
Thang Nguyen
Dear Mr. Heslin and Mr. McKenna:
Thank you for your valuable time trying to help me get in contact with Mr. Dobbins.
Yesterday, I was finally able to talk with Mr. Dobbins via phone and now, we're exchanging some emails and will keep in touch. This is truly a great healing medicine for our family. In addition, it's an indescribable feeling when I received your reply message, and was finally able to talk with Mr. Dobbins. I mean I'm so happy that there are people who do care! It's worthy for my close cousin to continue to serve this wonderful country, and I do approve his courage of willing to sacrifice his life for this great nation if needed. He's currently serving as a colonel in the U.S Army. He graduated from West Point in the class of 1986, and will attend the US Army War College in the fall.
Again, I thank you for everything, especially for your service and scarifies in Vietnam far away from your loved ones.
Best regards and sincerely,
Thang Nguyen
- Friday, May 25, 2012 at 11:09:04 (EDT)
Jack- thanks for the great work on the website and for the conversation we had about my father, COL John Todd. I really appreciated some of the stories and memories you provided about your time working with him during the battle. If anyone who served with him or my brother, 1LT John "Andre" Todd would like to contact me, email is provided below.
Thanks again and God Bless-
Bill Todd, MAJ USA (Ret)
Delta Junction, Alaska USA - Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 19:40:43 (EDT)
I served with E.co1/35th 4 ID8-68-8/69. I was in the 4.2 mortar platoon. We spent a few months at Special Forces camp FOB2 in Kontum, as well as other locations in the highlands..........
Frank DeBilio <f.debilio6470@att.net>Milton, Florida.32570 USA - Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 07:55:22 (EDT)
Dear Mr. Jerrell Heron,
My name is Bich Ngoan, I live in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak pro,, Viet Nam. I get your email address via google. My father wants to find his friends who worked in Kon Tum province in 1969 - 1971 during the war. His friends are Herron (his wife is Conny), both of them are students, his wife studys French at that time), he lives in Texas and Dolley lives in Califronia. They worked at Dakbla bridge in Kon Tum province, they supervised water tanks which suppied water for USA army.
I saw your name is the same my father's friend's name. I know that this is very difficult to find them, but if you know any website or information, pls reply to me. My father's name is Nguyen Hau, he was born in 1949. His family lives in Buon Ma Thuot City.
Thanks for your time to read my email. My father will very happy if he gets any information about this. Thanks!
Best regards,
Bich Ngoan (Mrs.)
HP: 84 - 0905 480 880
Buon Ma Thuot, Viet Nam - Friday, April 13, 2012 at 09:45:07 (EDT)
I was a rifleman with C Company 1/22 4th Division. We were choppered to Kontum the night of 2/1/68. We secured the airfield and began a sweep the next day into Kontum. We had heavy contact at the old language school near the MACV compound 2/2/68 and pushed the NVA to the north. On 2/5/68 we were on a sweep to the north and at Hill 684 met with a fierce battle for 4-6 hours. I remember Kontum well especially the brave soldiers of Charlie Company who gave their lives that day.
Pasadena, California US - Thursday, April 05, 2012 at 19:14:29 (EDT)
Welcome home, I was in Kontum and AnKae 70 & 71 with an Engineer Unit. Don't remember it much, but did go back with some of my 84th Engineer buddies in 2010. Didn't recognize anything, the people treated us really nice. Montguards are still living in extreme poverty.
John Paul Joiner <jpj636@gmail.com>Jacksonville, Florida USA - Sunday, April 01, 2012 at 20:27:30 (EDT)
I was an air controller throughout the battle of Kontum. I have a lot of memories I would be glad to share. I was in Kontum city as the CH-47's tried to load wounded and civilians and I watched them fall from the sky on departure, I watched them being crushed in the loading ramp…saw the whole deal…thanks for the site and the memories. I look forward to sharing with you.
Rick Vycital <rvycital@boisestate.edu>Boise, Idaho USA - Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 22:17:38 (EDT)
I was in Kontum for Tet Of 68 at the age of 19. I was in the small compound connected to MACV. I heard small arms fire and headed for the bunker with clothes, M14, 200 rounds of ammo and 6 grenades. I gave the warning but most waited to hear the alert warning. We were pinned down by snipers for several days. I believe the count was 385 : 2 -good for everyone but 2. I'll never forget Spec Gideon and Sgt Vasques. I can still smell the rot and burning flesh.
Charles Mobley <cgmsr1@yahoo.com>Dyersburg, Tennessee USA - Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 23:53:36 (EDT)
Lost a great friend on hill 1000, March 16, 1968, Kontum, (173rd Airborne, 1/503 Inf)
Emmett Lauer <el27yanks@aol.com>Silver Spring, MD USA - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 13:41:00 (EST)
I was a Army Air Traffic Controller at Kontum AAF from Nov. 68-April 70. I always wondered about the 72 battle for Kontum and the destruction it caused. Plan on reading the book. If anyone has pics of the Airfiield...feel free to send them. I appreciate the heroics of the men who stayed and fought.
Randy Bailey <bailey.laststand@gmail.com>Sagle, Idaho USA - Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 19:51:47 (EST)
I was pleased to see Col. Thomas P. McKenna's book (Kontum, The Battle to save South Viet Nam) was reviewed in the current issue (March 2012, p. 78) of "Armchair General,." I had spoken with the editor-in-chief, Jerry Morelock, a few weeks ago, and he said he would take a look. Mission accomplished! Note that Editor Morelock served as an artillery officer in I Corps in 1972.
Best regards to all,
Richard L. Montgomery
LTC, US Army, retired
Phung Hoang/S-2 Advisor, MACV Advisory Team 41, Kontum, January 1972 - January 1973.
Tucson, Arizona USA - Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 09:26:57 (EST)
I was on MACV TM 24 during TET. I was a 1LT who along with a CPT were direced by the Senior Advisor to go to the TOC where all the communications equipment was located. He told us to run the show. In 3 days and nights, I called in over 200 Arty missons on the dug in NVA. After the battle, I was told I would receive the Silver Star medal for my TET actions. You guessed it, never got it? If you know of 1LT Frank Wiseburn's actions during TET, please let me know.
God bless and thank you,
Frank
Houston, Texas USA - Sunday, January 08, 2012 at 10:48:29 (EST)