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>"My name is Sherry Ewing and my dad, Antonio (Tony) Ponce, served in Co C 39th Engr in Vietnam >from July 1967 to November 1967. I am trying to get in contact with anyone he
>served with. I was only 8 months old when he died in November 1967. I
>would like to talk to or meet someone who knew him. I
>was told that someone had sealed his last letter home and mailed it for
>him.
>I would love to hear from that person.
>
>Thank you for your time."
>
>Sherry Ewing (Ponce)
Click here to contact Ms. Ewing (Ponce)--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >SP4 Richard N. Robey, 3rd Platoon D Company 39th Eng Bn
> >July 4th 1967, Duc Pho RVN
> >Rick was from Spencerville Ohio, 20 years old, a truck driver for my
> >platoon. We were on a mine sweep just North of Duc Pho and Rick was
> >operating a mine detector when a explosion occured on his hip. Fragments
> >tore off his leg and much of his hip. He was alive and talking to us as we
> >put him on the chopper. His last words to us was "Tell my mother I love
> >her." He was a great worker and soldier. His name is on panel 23E Line 7
> >up at the top. His memory lives on with me.
> >
> >
> >Thanks, and see you in August at Branson. Brothers all, brothers again.
> >1st Lt. Jim Shamblen
> >(757) 838-5654
> >"TO THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM HAS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL
> >NEVER KNOW"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>James William Hudson (nickname Rock)
> Company B. Sergeant Hudson was a
>heavy
>equipment operator that was working with the third platoon out of LZ Dotty
>on a road from Highway 1 to Binh Son (between Dotty and Chu Li near the
>sea.
>On July 27, 1970, while on a lunch break one other member of the platoon,
>PFC Bordeaux (probably misspelled, was from Boston I think) stepped on a
>land
>mine that took off his leg below the knee. Sgt. Hudson was standing nearby
>and the fragments went through his flack jacket killing him instantly.
>After
>seeing how little protection they afforded I remember that was the day we
>all
>quit wearing our flack
>jackets on the road. Sgt. Hudson was from my home state of Mississippi and
>he is buried in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was a quiet good man. -- Dale Ferber--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>George William Collina and Thomas Paul Smith
>
>(Third platoon, Company B, 39th Engineers, LZ Dotty 1970)
>On September 6, 1970 Sgt. Collina and Spc. 4 Smith were killed by hostile
>fire. Sgt. Collina was the Platoon Sgt of the 3rd platoon, Company B
>operating out of LZ Dotty. We were building a road from Highway 1 to Binh
>Son which is at the end of the road near the China Sea. We had been in the
>field on this road for about a month and were within two or three days of
>being finished. Our squad had left our night defensive position and
>conducted a mine sweep of about a mile to Binh Son when we radioed back
>that
>the road was clear. Spec. 4 Smith, who was our jeep driver, Sgt Collina
>and
>our new Lt. (name escapes me) followed us down the road. Their jeep was
>ambushed about 500 yards before getting to our position and both were
>killed
>instantly. The Lt. was coptered out and I assume survived.( If anyone
>else
>can remember his name I would like to know.) Sergeant Collina was a great
>platoon sgt. who really looked out for our welfare.
>He had been in country about ten months. Spc. 4 Smith was a quiet guy who
>liked popular music. He was 20 years old from Alpena, Michigan. If anyone
>needs more information on these good men please contact me.
>Dale Ferber - daleferber@aol.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sgt George Phenney and Lt Ray Williams.
>
> On the morning of December 27, 1966 as Co B, 39th Engrs, set up camp and
>secured a perimeter, SSG George Phenney and 2LT Ray Williams tripped a booby
>trapped grenade. LT Williams died instantly. SSG Phenney died on 1
>January
>1967 in Nha Trang. Some of you that were there as I was, will recall a
>Buck
>Sergeant Graddie Guillory in disregard for his own safety work his way
>through the booby trapped area and retrieved the two wounded men.
>
>These two men should be entered to the 39th Battalion (Combat) memorial
>section and SGT Guillory should be mentioned somewhere for his actions that
>day.
>
>B. McConnell
>Co B, 39th, 1966/67
>
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>Billy Gene Smith, from Twin Falls ID, date of birth 6/9/46, killed on 11/22/67, age 21, killed by a mine at Mo Duc.
-
>Benjamin M. Brothers III, from Jacksonville,FL.date of birth 09/25/47, killed on 06/20/67, age 19, killed by a bouncing betty at Mo Duc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"I was Brothers replacement and I was on LZ Dragon only several hours when the word came down he was killed.I always question the thinking of the platoon leader why he would send him out on the road with only one day left." -- Joe Dooley
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Phillips H. Izard JR, Fulton, Miss., dob Jan 12, 1940, casuality Aug 8, 1968, C co.
-
>James Alexander Leahy, Madison, Wis., dob Jun 14, 1943, casuality Aug 8, 1968, HCC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"I know Captain Izard's driver was killed that same
day, but I can not remember his name. As more brothers arrive
someone will remember." -- John Barden--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A guy I went to high school with and
the uncle of my brother-in-law was with the 39th Eng in 68
and drown near Quang Nai during bridge work.
I do not know a lot of details. He was R. G. Cauthen." -- Smitty
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"Sgt. Jami Franklin and Sp4 Warren Johnson were in B Co. of the 39th, and both were killed in ambushes building a road south of Chu Lai in the summer of 67. There's a Stars and Stripes newspaper artical about that action
in the "Articals" section of 39thbattalion.com . -- OB--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I would like to submit some names, but I don't know their birth days or
much other information. The first guy was called Pappy, I never knew his
real name. He was KIA, by a sniper at Tuy Hoa in January 1967. The next
one is Warren Johnson, he was KIA by a sniper when B. Co. was trying to
open Robitsons Road south of Chu Li around the Me Li area. I don't
remember the date, but it was probably around Sept. 1967. The next one
is Jamie Franklin who was KIA with Warren at the same place. I would
also like to mention a guy we called Stony Burke, I never knew his real
first name. But Daniel OBrien and I were on the back of his truck when
he hit a mine and lost both of his legs as a result. ( Dan or Billy the
Greek might be able to fill in some of the missing details ). -- Roger Harmon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"Melvin Lloyd McArther from Waterford Mi., CO C. 39th Engineers, Date of birth - 7/6/47, Killed on August 8th, 1968, by mine in snipers gap, with Capt. Phillip Izard and Commanding Officer of C company 39th Engineers, and James Alexander Leahy, Stars and Strips reporter from HHC." -- Terry Rossiter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Encarnacion (Shawn) Suarez January 20, 1969 in Quang Ngai. You have
a
>picture of the 5 ton . We came in together and spent alot of time
together.
>We were in the same squad. I believe that these are things that we never
>forget. Ray--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Richard J. Key, SP-4, C Company, 39th Engr (Cbt), in an enemy
>ambush on 3 July 1969, somewhere south of LZ Max, while helping the
>Vietnamese military, who incidently vanished at the first sound of enemy
>fire, and left us by ourselves. - Stradal, Richard (James)--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambash - Tony Martinez - July 9, 1969
-Richard Michael Cummings - January 13, 1967
-Lt. Colonel Ernest E. Lane Jr. - Born July 11, 1924 - Died of wounds May 18, 1966. -
"We had flown up to C Co. at Tuy Hoa. On the way back to our base at Cam Ranh Bay, photographs were to be taken of destroyed rail and highway bridges between Tuy Hoa and Vung Ro Bay, then down to Ninh Hoa. When we were flying low at the base of Nui Ba Mtn, we came under intense automatic weapons fire. While we were fortunate to have not been shot down, the Bn. Cdr. was seriously wounded. We returned to Tuy Hoa, where we placed him on a medivac chopper for Nha Trang. He died due to brain damage caused by loss of blood. His location on the wall is Panel 07E-Row 082. The port facility which was constructed at Vung Ro Bay was named Port Lane in his memory.
I had been close to Col. Lane, having served with him at Ft. Campbell, on exercises in the Carolinas, and through the development and early days in country. I will remember all my life the fact that he ordered me to change seats with him moments before takeoff." ---
--- Pete Gianesini - HHC 39th Engr. Bn.Lt. Col. Lane was born July 11, 1924 in Kyrock, Kentucky. He was 39th Battalion's commander until his passing.
Click here to read another article by namlore.com regarding Col. Lane.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERGENT FIRST CLASS JULIAN HOOPER
SPECIALIST FOUR FARREL R. CAREW
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS EDWARD RANKIN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>"...Most of the time I read and enjoy without participating, but after--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>viewing
>the Memorial section I have to submit a name to be added to it. The
>deceased
>brother is Theodore F. Benvenuto, who died in an ambush just north of LZ
>Maxwell on August 12, 1969. (A date forever etched on my brain) I came in
>country with him, and although we were separated at first, we both
>eventually
>wound up in Charlie Company. He was a good brother and a good buddy. May he
>rest in peace."
> Thanks,
> Big Ed--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> "...My name is Phil Goudelias I was with C. Co. 39th 68 69 LZ Snoopy. Ted >Benvenuto was a 5 ton driver and I was on the 50 cal. We hit a mine in snipers gap in Aug 69 followed by an ambush Ted was killed and I was blown off the 5 ton C33. We were good friends and I think about him often."
Posted By Mike on March 29, 19100 at 16:16:47:
"The Soldier stood and faced his God, Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass.
'Step forward now, you Soldier, How shall I deal with You?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?'
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a Saint.
I've had to work most Sunday's, And at time my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep.....
Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here.
They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand.'
There was a silence all around the Throne, Where the Saints had often trod.
As the Soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God.
'Step forward now, you Soldier, You've born your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell.'"(Dedicated to all those that are serving and that have served in our Military.)
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