The
reunion weekend in Sacramento this Memorial Day, was a great success. Lots of
fellowship and emotions - and soon - lots of photos too! We all had a great time
of it. The local chapter of the VHPA really were wonderful in all the
help they rendered to our group. The BBQ, the bus rides, the mobile Officer's
Club, the videos, the fellowship and much more !
I believe that all of us who attended will never forget each other. There was
a special bonding together. We had 9 men there, 6 wives, one child, and two
friends of the Tomahawks. We were also joined by about 25 members of the North
VHPA at the BBQ and party on Saturday afternoon.
The memorial service at the Vietnam Veteran's Monument was very
special and moving as we read all the names of those Tomahawks who had fallen in
battle. A couple of interesting things happened at that service - one was when I
finished the prayer - all the church bells around Sacramento began to ring and
that lasted for almost a minute. It brought chills to you just hearing the
church bells coordinated with our service like that. Then when we had almost
finished reading of all the names - a helicopter flew over the monument, as if
on cue from above. We never saw another helicopter the whole weekend - either
before or afterwards.
Details of all that happened will be posted on the Tomahawk web site soon -
along with photos.
Those who attended made the decision to have the next reunion in August 2002
- in New Orleans. Don Baca will be hosting it. It was also
decided to open it up to all units of the 11th CAB (Tomahawks, Robin
Hoods, Black Cats etc.). Details for that reunion will be out in the
next few months.
To all who attended - many thanks. It was great to finally meet you face to
face. Special thanks to those who have helped make this all happen and maintain
the web site for the unit - salutes to Roosevelt Wilson, Fred
Harris, Bobby McBride, and Chuck Olson.
Your financial aid is allowing us
to use DSL, so we can download more photos and information much quicker. I would
not be able to do the work I have done without your generous and support this
past year.
From: Dana Evans K7OBB@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001
Glad to hear that the reunion was a success. Sorry I was unable to make it
but I felt that I was there in spirit.
Dana Evans
Tomahawk 18
'66-'67
From: Jim Barger BargerTeriandJim@aol.com
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2001
Thank you for returning my email with an answer. I heard about this reunion
last Summer at the Washington, DC VHPA Convention so I have been looking
forward to making some kind of connection with former members of the 128th.
I live on the east side of Elk Grove ….
My Wife, Teri has gone into your Web site and printed up the Reunion pages,
so I know what Hotel is base of operations and will try and get there on
Friday night just as soon as I finish working for the Sacramento River
Cats in
the parking lots. I Retired from Fedex after 20 years, but now I work
part-time for the River Cats. I am working some games on the Memorial Day
Weekend, but I will be able to attend the ceremony at the California Vietnam
Memorial.
Again I was a First LT in Vietnam from June 69-June 70, 365 days and all
of
them were with the 128th AHC at Phu Loi, Vietnam and I still have a few
photos and slides from my time there. I also found a Video of a Gunslinger
who was there a year before I was and it reminds me of what I found when I
was there. I look forward to meeting and talking with you.
Jim Barger,
Tomhawk One, 128th AHC
From: Doc Daugherty gs34doc@hotmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001
I'm sorry to say that I will not be attending the reunion, due to
family commitments that I can not avoid.
I wish to thank you, and all those that worked to put this reunion
together. I think it is wonderful, and I'm sure there are many others that
are equally pleased. We are fortunate to have people that care enough about
the unit to devote the time and effort it takes to put something like this
together.
Just wanted to take a minute to let you know that I'm thinking of
you guys and will be with you in spirit this weekend as you join together to
renew old friendships, and honor those from our ranks that made the supreme
sacrifice those many years ago.
I am proud to have been a part of the 128th, first as a Slick driver
with the 1st Platoon, then as a member of the Gunslingers. I have never
served with any group that worked as well together or were closer than the
Tomahawks were. I think the very fact that so many of us have remained in
contact and maintained our friendship for over 30 years bears witness to
that.
Thanks again,Bill, and I will be looking forward to hearing all
about the weekend.
Richard"Doc"Daugherty
67 - 68
Gunslinger 34, 128th AHC
Irwin,Pa
(724)864-2706
From: Larry Talley ltalley1@midsouth.rr.com
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 10:58 AM
TODD BANKSON DRACHMAN: RA-11-805-089. SSN-047-44-4797. DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 20, 1951. ENTERED SERVICE FROM NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.
Bill should either drop him from email and see what happens, but perhaps the
right thing to is simply ask him for a copy of anything indicating he was
assigned to the unit. If he was there you can bet someone will remember
him. he can also send an email to everyone but Drachman and it should
start
with.... "please note that "Todd Bankson Drachman", who is
on our email
address, is not an addressee on this particular email to you. The reason
for this is, I have received some information that this person may not have
been a member of the 128th. Is their anyone in our membership who can
enlighten me on Mr. Drachman?
T-Hawks & Gunslingers
I have been in touch with someone who should know and he says that there is
a strong possibility that Drachman is not who he says that he is.
So can ANYONE confirm or deny this fact? Or can you confirm any of his
"stories" about being in the 128th?
Larry J. Talley
From: Bob Harris BHarris@logicon.com
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 12:51 PM
I was with the Co of the 285th Signal Det (From Aug 66 to Aug 67)
attached to
the 128th. I was a 1st Lt at the time. I am in the process of placing the
slides I took during my tour on to CDs. It will take some time to get the
project finished. If you want, I will send you some of them for your use.
Just let me know.
By the way, I went to Command and General Staff with Troy Burrow in 1978.
He was a 1st Lt slick driver and then switched to the Gunslingers. We
were
both Majors then and I guess he has since retired also.
I meet Dave Menig in Nha Trang in 1971. He was in The 128th in
66-67 time
frame also.
Bob Harris
ltcusart@aol.com
From: Pat Richardson
TOMAHAWK29@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001
I was a CPT. My Tomahawk tour was Jun 69 - Feb 70. I then went to 11th
Bn to replace Clarence Gibson as liaison to 1st Inf Div (later 5th ARVN
Div). Gibson returned to the Tomahawks to complete his tour. He is listed twice
on the roster.
Larry (probably Lawrence) Higa was a WO1 in 69-70. He was from Hawaii; I
don't have any other info on him.
I believe MAJ Knudston replace MAJ Luther as CO.
Stan Whitman was a CW3 in 69 -70; also, he was a WWII Army Air Corps
bomber pilot who bombed Phu Loi when it was a Japanese airfield. He DAT from
cancer.
Lloyd Buchanan was a CPT. I believe he retired as a LTC. John Bowen
retired as a LTC.
I'll try to send you more updates as I have time.
Pat Richardson
Tomahawk 29
From: Buchanan, Lloyd - COL Lloyd.Buchanan@nc.ngb.army.mil
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001
I was a 2Lt with the 128th AHC stationed at Phu Loi, VN from September 69 to Oct
70. I started in the White Flt lift platoon while also serving as the unit
supply officer. While in the lift platoon I roomed with CW2 Leo Travis and then
CW2 Cunningham. After making 1Lt I moved to the gun platoon in Jan 70 and stayed
with the "Gunslingers" until my DEROS.
Best Regards,
Colonel Lloyd "Buck" W. Buchanan, Jr.
US Army
Senior Army Advisor
North Carolina National Guard
4105 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607-6410
919-664-6145/46/29
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