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SPIRITUAL
WARRIOR
VIETNAM VETERAN
NEWSLETTER
Volume 2 - ISSUE 6 April 20, 2003
EDITOR - BILL
McDonald
Photo by Sarah Beal
Happy Reunion at Fort Sam Houston,
Texas 4/14/03
Richard Hock, Kathleen Epps & Donna Rowe
The last interviews are completed and the sounds of the Huey have faded away, as
the crew of the Shadow finalized the documentary on April 14th 2003. Now all
that is left is to edit and piece together the best footage from over 220 hours
of video and film. The entire crew had a reunion in Texas Sunday April 13th in
preparation for the big reunion with "baby" Kathleen (Who is now 34 years old!).
It was a very emotional LZ and it was followed up with segment on the CBS Early
Show.
The post production works now
begins in earnest. It is hoped that the film will be ready for Veteran's Day of
this year. I have seen hours and hours of video that was taken - this is going
to take some time to edit. There is just so much good stuff to choose from.
CBS Early Show - 04/18/03
The Newly Discovered Brian Wizard's "Lost Documentary"
THUNDERHAWKS
If there ever was such a thing as newly discovered "lost war
footage" this would be it - novelist and Nam Vet Brian Wizard has taken his old
war movies and put them together with a great original sound track that is the
absolutely the best of it's kind. There is footage of the crew-chief leaning out
of a moving helicopter to snatch a VC flag that is flying. I have never seen
anything like this footage. I have watched this video with awe and wonder - it
really gets you back in the old Huey with guns blazing and troops jumping off.
The video can be purchased off his website at:
www.brianwizard.com
BOOK REVIEW - Red Bird
Down by Bruce E. Carlson.
Great novel by Air Cavalry Aero-Scout
Click on book cover for information at Amazon.com
RED BIRD DOWN!
By
Bruce E. Carlson
Bruce Carlson puts you into the pilots seat in this tale of
gallantry and bravo in this novel about the air cavalry and aero-scouts in
Vietnam. It is very loosely based on parts of his own experiences in Nam. What I
like about this book was that non-pilots could read it and get the real feel
about what it was like to fly helicopter in Vietnam. He is now a retired
minister - and that is one of the things I enjoyed about this book - he didn't
have to use lots of foul words to make a point, or to tell his story. This is
the best helicopter book I have read about helicopter warfare. I rate this as
a must read book! Information on buying it can be found in the
PX section.
VETERAN NEWS
Serving the Vietnam Vet Community
http://www.VietnamVets.org/
VietnamVets.org's Weekly Newsletter
www.tvworldwide.com:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Teams With TV Worldwide.com for
Live Web Simulcast of 5th Annual “In Memory Day” Ceremony
http://www1.internetwire.com/iwire/release_html_b1?release_id=52996
TVWorldwide.com, a web-based global TV network, in cooperation with the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the National Park Service and Base Technologies,
will simulcast live via satellite and the Internet, a program commemorating the
5th annual 'In Memory Day' Ceremony at the East Knoll, Vietnam Veterans Memorial
in Washington, D.C. on April 21. The Ceremony will honor 400 American heroes
posthumously, paying tribute to these men and women who died prematurely because
of non-combat injuries and emotional suffering caused directly by the Vietnam
War but who are not eligible for inscription on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Health Central: New Estimate Doubles Agent Orange Use in Vietnam
http://www.healthcentral.com/news/NewsFullText.cfm?id=512750
The American and South Vietnamese militaries sprayed much more Agent Orange
over Vietnam than earlier estimates suggested, says a new study. That expands by
about 1.82 million gallons the amount of Agent Orange and other defoliants used
to thin the jungle. Much of this increase is attributed to spraying that
occurred before 1965. Until then, the defoliants used had a much higher
concentration of a known cancer-causing chemical called dioxin, so the new study
doubles the estimate of how much dioxin was sprayed in Vietnam.
Washington Times: Military veterans promised federal hiring
preference
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030415-94914882.htm
Uncle Sam is promising U.S. military veterans a place 'at the head of the
line' when they apply for federal employment, where their experience and service
count toward pay, amount of vacation time and retirement. Kay Coles James,
director of the Office of Personnel Management, wants veterans to be given every
consideration, and the legal preference due them, during the application and
selection process. 'It is a priority of President George W. Bush, and it is my
personal mission, to see that each and every veteran who wants to serve his or
her country as public servants be given the chance to do so,' Mrs. James says on
the OPM Web site ( www.opm.gov).
New Haven Register: Vets facing health-care shortage
The nation already is challenged to provide adequate health care to millions
of veterans, and must deal with the problem as it prepares to receive thousands
of new vets from the war on Iraq, the national commander of the American Legion
said Monday. 'We have a real crisis -- a problem throughout the whole country,
dealing with health care -- particularly at a time when we're creating new (war)
veterans,' National Commander Ronald F. Conley said at a brief meeting with
veterans and staff at the Veterans Affairs medical center. Generally speaking,
veterans who have served in a war seek treatment more often than those who have
not.
Non-Profit Foundation Honoring Roy Benvidez
Valor Remembered is a not for profit foundation dedicated to preserving the
legacy of American valor. The foundation plans to create a permanent public
sculptural memorial honoring Roy Benvidez and his brothers in arms, the
men of the 240th AHC, and Detachment B-56 of the 5th Special Forces
group. The foundation is also creating a virtual memorial on the internet
that already contains many previously unpublished articles and pictures related
to the event and to the lives of the participants. Please go visit this website
and consider providing whatever level of support you can. The website home page
is at
www.valorremembered.org
Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, USA
Medal of Honor Recipient
1935-1998
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