Posted on 08/18/2021 6:23:00 PM PDT by Towed_Jumper
Longtime American foreign correspondent Joseph L. Galloway, best known for his book recounting a pivotal battle in the Vietnam War that was made into a Hollywood movie, has died. He was 79.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicago.suntimes.com ...
Rest in Peace.
We were Soldiers ping
RIP
I love that when we visit friends in L.A. (that would be Lower Alabama), we travel down the Gen. Hal Moore Highway.
Rest In Peace
RIP. Such a good book (and tragic). Great movie too. The book goes into the debacle of getting the troops out of the valley that the movie didn’t get into.
Requiescat in Pace
Good book. Good journalist.
RIP
RIP. Another prolific Vietnam war writer, Eric Hammel, died last year.
may God bless
Too Tall and Snakesh*t each being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions in that battle.
Perhaps of a broken heart after seeing it happen again in Afghanistan.
Was awarded Bronze Star for rescuing some US trrops caught in a misdirected napalm strike
I studied his and Colonel Moore’s book in OCS. Great men, valiant soldiers.
I heard him speak at Fort Irwin a few years ago. Still going strong. It was for Vietnam Veterans day.
A fine man and a real journalist. May be RIP.
RIP. Seemed like a good guy. Told the story.
https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/ed-w-freeman
Ed Freeman (Too Tall)
“...When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone due to intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water, and medical supplies to the besieged battalion....”
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https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/bruce-p-crandall
Bruce Crandall (Snake Sh*t)
“...Major Crandall then decided to adjust his base of operations to Artillery Firebase Falcon in order to shorten the flight distance to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. While medical evacuation was not his mission, he immediately sought volunteers and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, led the two aircraft to Landing Zone X-Ray. Despite the fact that the landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire, Major Crandall landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard the aircraft. Major Crandall’s voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled in the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft, and in the ground forces the realization that they would be resupplied and that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated. This greatly enhanced morale and the will to fight at a critical time....”
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And, a short account of the battle of LZ Albany which happened as the relief soldiers were leaving the initial battle of la Drang Valley:
https://www.army.mil/article/213669/the_tragedy_of_lz_albany_teaching_the_lessons_of_a_battle_lost
They were unaware that two battalions of fresh PAVN soldiers had been camped out along the Ia Drang River on the other side of the landing zone.
Excerpt: The men were still in an administrative maneuver, so when the word to halt came they plopped down where they were. Some of the men who hadn’t slept for close to 48 hours closed their eyes, others smoked or ate. No one pulled security.
“When things started it just erupted,” Lawrence said. “They (the PAVN) were everywhere on our right flank, even in the trees. We were caught inside of what was essentially an L-shaped ambush.”....
Crandall’s actions providing aid and moral support are a lesson for Kabul today. And the LZ Albany account should have been a reminder for Afghanistan - don’t think you are out of the fight too soon.
And of course Free Republic’s own Aloha Ronnie on the cover (or back cover?) of the book. RIP Ronnie
RIP.
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