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Was I there..? Thank you for asking.

Yes, I was there in that Valley of Death known as the IA DRANG Valley of November 1965: Headquarters/Headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment of General CUSTER Fame.

I was Lt. HAL G. MOORE's (played by MEL GIBSON in "WE WERE SOLDIERS") 1st Radioman/Driver/Orderly/Altar Boy in Vietnam.

During our 7th Cavalry's November 1965 IA DRANG Campaign I was HAL's IA DRANG S-1 Personnnel Clerk. I was at IA DRANG's Landing Zone Falcon 3 air minutes out from the fight at Landing Zone X-Ray, thank GOD. See my IA DRANG Photos I've posted at Post No. 4 on this outstanding Thread.

There I carried our hero killed and wounded SkyTroopers off Huey helicopters fresh from LZ X-Ray and onto others headed back to Pleiku Airstrip, including a suddenly dead Capt. TOM METSKER who suddenly went face down after being hit in the back while helping someone else on board at LZ X-Ray. I was a true 'Witness to the Heroism of Many' that week in that Valley of Death which I write about in the Book:

See: 'MODERN DAY HEROES: In Defense of America'

http://www.ModernDayHeroes.com/aloha

Hit: 'Resource Center'

Hit: 'Aloha Ronnie'

As depicted in "WE WERE SOLDIERS" ...after our IA DRANG Battle Lt. Col. HAL G. MOORE hand wrote out his Letters of Condolances to the loved ones of our many 7th Cavalry casualties, which numbered about 500. HAL hand wrote them out, I then typed them out for mailing back home ..some going first thru Mrs. JULIE MOORE at Columbus GA for her hand delivery to widows then living just outside Ft. Benning GA.

In April 2004 I was blessed to attend JULIE's Burial at the Ft. Benning GA Post Cemetary, just to be there for her mourning adult "Kids." Turns out I was to be their release after their having said their last goodbyes to their loving mother.

See: HAL G MOORE: The Legacy and Lessons of an American Warrior

http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14752

Was I there..? I was indeed, my Friend, I was indeed.

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