Centaur Website Newsletter - February 2025

INDEX: News, Checking In, Corections , MyPages, War Stories & Photos , Deceased, Reunions/Events

--- News ---

emails that didn't go through on i Feb 2025: James Starling, Mackie A. Webb,

Donald E. "Don" Borey, Cobra pilot, Centaur 43, honored at Flag Ceremony:
"Every day at the Magic Kingdom in both Disney World and Disneyland they bring the flag down from the flagpole on Mainstreet. This is pretty much the same as what is done on military posts in the U S military. First retreat is broadcast over the loudspeakers. The National Anthem is played and America the Beautiful. Everyone is encouraged to sing along. The purpose, besides to bring the flag down for the night, is to honor veterans. The flag detail folds the flag and hands it to the veteran who has been randomly selected to represent all military veterans for all the services. The veteran's name and rank is announced. The band plays a medley consisting of each service song. The band then leads the march down Main Street to the point where the detail disbands on a side street. I was presented a certificate and a special pin recognizing me and the day. Then all the cast members, as the employees are called, involved in the retreat lined up and came by to shake my hand and thank me for my service. The last part made me quite teary eyed." Don
"Be sure to wear your Centaur Hat when you go to The Magic Kingdom"

 

Webmaster Special Request to all: Take a minute sometime soon and do this:

1. Go to Google Search, or the Search Engine of your Browser, and type in site:centaursinvietnam.org

2. Add a space then type a word, name or phrase that pertains to something you are interested in on our huge website. Example site:centaursinvietnam.org flechettes

3. Review the findings. Email the webmaster with any comments, questions, notes, corrections or needed updates that you find or that occur to you.

This will greatly help us to continue our quest of producing a Centaur Legacy that is very detailed, honest and accurate (to the best of our knowledge).

 

 

Veterans Legacy Memorial: Some of you might be interested in this website that Stretch Harrison located.

 

 

 

 

David Cox (A Trp, 3/4 Cav) will be retiring this September from the many years that he and Diana have devoted to the great 3/4 Cavalry Reunion Team and the 3/4 Cav Newsletter. We thank them both and hope they have a long and happy retirement.

 

 

 

Our great Centaur Friend Rex Gooch is writing another book. It will be called "Cav Hat". He seeks our input.

"I’m writing a new book titled Cav Hat. In this book, I’ll trace the history of the Cavalry hat from the Cavalry’s inception in 1855 to the Cav hat’s reemergence during the Vietnam War. In the latter half of the book, I’ll share fascinating stories about the Cav hat in Vietnam, the Middle East, and modern-day cavalry units. I’ll also highlight the various colors and decorations of the hat.

I’m looking for stories and high-quality photos to include in my book. If you have any Cav hat stories or photos of troopers wearing Cav hats, please share them with me. Alternatively, if you know of anyone who might have such stories or photos, please let me know.

For Centaurs: Does anyone know the story of Cavalry trooper Lonnie Weck (as I recall) getting out of a Huey to assist a downed Scout pilot. Someone yelled, “You forgot your Cav hat” and Lonnie returned to the Huey, donned his Cav hat and then ran to assist the scout pilot - all while under hostile fire. I would love to include this story in the book and need more detail. Thanks for the assistance." Rex Gooch <lk23@mac.com>

Steve Suiter, Pete Holmberg and Don Borey are already providing Cav Hat stories to Rex.

 

--- Checking In---

David Cox.......Bob Forringer......Larry Patterson......Dwight Birdwell......Beetle Bailey......Lowell Kennedy.....
Fred Reese......Tom Hamilton.......Gilbert Fluhr.......John P. Carter.......James Turner.......Eddie Coppage......
Herman Witt......Dan Keirsey.......Brian Harrison........Frank Walker........Steve Suiter........Eric Brethen.....
Don Borey........Pete Barber........Dennis Rogers.......Angela Poulos.......Jan White.........Rex Gooch......
Matt Jackson.....

Andy Gerrie......"Still hanging in there. staying active with Tai Chi and doing pretty well but not traveling much these days."

Stephen Gormely: ....Our readers may find this research website interesting. https://vva.vietnam.ttu.edu/
(Note from Webmaster: Please let me know if you find anything on this confusing (to me) website that we can use).

Stephanie Pullen: "I'm Stephanie and Steve Pullen is my father. I now answer his emails. He no longer has long term memory and his short term memory gets worse with each passing day. He has more bad days than good. I do know he was in F Troop for a very short time before being badly wounded. This happened before I was born.

Many years ago at a VHPA reunion in Florida we ran into a F Troop pilot that picked him up when he was shot down. I don't remember his full name but my father introduced him to me as "Pappy." They went into a hotel room just the two of them, closed the door and talked for almost an hour.

My father left Vietnam after his first tour in May 1971. He got into some trouble at Ft. Bragg and his commander worked some deal and my father was sent back to Vietnam in February 1972 to the same unit he left in May 1971. Upon arrival he was informed the 101st Division was leaving Vietnam and going to a base in either Kentucky or Tennessee. He thought he would immediately be going back to the states. So he called my mother and told her so. Shortly after making that call my father and several other pilots were reassigned to other aviation units remaining in Vietnam.

When I was growing up he never talked about his Vietnam experiences except at reunions. After each reunion he was basically a basket case and eventually stopped going. I think he has survivor guilt. Vietnam must have been a terrifying experience for all of you.

Thanks for reaching out and contacting him. I learned more from his taped interview (2014) than I ever knew. I wish my mother could have seen it. I think I have a better understanding now why he did not want to talk about his Vietnam experiences. I showed him your web page but got no response.

Thanks for your military service and for keeping the veteran's of F Troop connected. May god bless you"

John P. Carter SSG Avionics F Troop 1972. "....I am now 100% disabled and have had the VA provide home nursing service.
I am now slowly declining. The agent Orange has caught up to me! Major problems are Parkinsons, Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure and Prostate Cancer with old age (79). We plan to keep our existing home for Tokie in Augusta which will be my permanent address. I will send you mypatient address when assigned on 30 Jan 2025. I will not have to pay for services which will be provided by VA. The GWVNH is staffed by
the Medical College of Georgia with assistance of the VA Medical Center and the Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
I hope you will come to visit me. The GWVNH has guards at front and rear entrances with a sign-in/sigh-out desk. With permission I can be signed out to leave the facility. The facility is maintained as a military barracks with similar rules. The medical care is excellent, far better than the civilian world. My affairs are in good order. There is a large black binder in my office labeled "casualty reporting" it has all papers such as life insurance, funeral, cemetery lot will, power of attorney etc.
My heart is in sorrow for the love of my life. My wife Tokie who is 82 and has mobility difficulty. My big request is that you will stay in touch with her and assist her. She is not computer literate. She can be reached by mail and phone"

Michael Banks: "...I'm living in an independent senior housing complex now, feeling the loss of skills so long maintained and savored. Still driving autos but needing lots of assistance to basic care....."

John Wayne Poston SP5 UH-1H Mechanic 1971-72 still has not responded to emails. He has a Facebook account that hasn't been active for some time. Might you know more or be in contact? powellcentaur@gmail.com

Bill Comeau A/2/12 Infantry, 4th ID shares some Centaur Articles in his Jan 2025 Newsletter.

Matt Jackson: "Always enjoy reading your newsletter. Probably one of the best out there. We are making progress, slowly on getting our motion picture project to Hollywood. We are putting the final touches on the ad package that goes to the studios and getting an agent to represent us. The Cost of Valor pays tribute to all those that flew helicopters on Nam."

 

--- Website Corrections/Updates---

Pete Barber has provided captions for his great Slide Show of photos. We intend to eventually convert this show to a Photo Album. Help us with the captions: email powellcentaur@gmail.com
....Who had the burned out rocket pod at photo PB014?
....Who is flying this LOH (PB015)?
....Anybody remember "Shit Beach"? (PB017 & 018). Is there a story there?
,,,,Photo PB040 on left side in background is Francis E. Lewandoeski SSG (LOH Crewman we assume). Do you remember him, have any information or maybe contact?
....Can you help out with PB109?
....We have no contact with CPT William B. Miller. (PB124) Any help?
....Remember moving day? Comments? PB131

Do you have captions on all your photos? Makes them more meaningfull. email powellcentaur@gmail.com

Bob and Dee Forringer have an updated home address in Belton, Texas.

Easter Offensive Stories by Woods and Mick added to Hayden "Pappy" Jones deceased MyPage.

Tom Fleming added comments to Bob Bigalow's Infosheet: Bob was my Maintenance Technician and leader of the Maintenance Section of the Service Platoon from March 1967 until he DROSed in July of 1967. He was a highly trained & experienced aircraft maintenance technician and test pilot. He was my right hand man and responsible for the high aircraft maintenance availability and mechanical safety record. A man of faith and understanding .

Bruce K. Carroll CE on Slick 69-16862 for a while in 1972 has his Deceased MyPage upgraded to the proper format and an InfoSheet added with his deceased info. Gary Chestnut provided the initial info, but we have no contact with him.

Bill Witt adds InfoSheet/Obit, with Find A Grave link, to Chris Hilsenbeck Deceased MyPage.

 

Repaired bad video links on Powell Articles page, mostly the videos of the Squadron Question and Answer Session at the D Troop Conference Room at Schofield Barracks, 25th inf Div in Hawaii.

Our huge Centaur Glossary is updated with "Elephant Grass" and "Rice Paddy Dike", Triple Canopy Jungle, FOP, SA-2 and Basket Boats. Have we missed anything?

 

--- MyPages --

 

Harold A. Ehrhard SP5 Aerorifle Platoon 1967 to 1969 now has a MyPage and several MPs.

His Grandson Evan Strickland and Bill Witt have been providing photos and information.

Harold is not doing well at this time.

 

 

 

Clay Maxwell WO1 Cobra Pilot 1968 - 1969 now has a new MyPage with a current photo and his wife's name Linda shown. Clay was one of the original Centaur Cobra Pilots. See a bigger photo of the group pic at Clay's MP2.

He and Linda plan to visit Schofield Barracks, Hawaii soon and visit the Centaur Conference Room named in honor of the Centaurs In Vietnam.

 

 

Can you help us locate the two unidentified original Cobra Crew Chiefs, shown on the lower right of this group photo?

We do not even have their names. powellcentaur@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

--- War Stories & Photos---

Video Interview of CPT Stephen R. Pullen taken from the 45min version of his Veterans History Project Video (2014), 45 min long, and edited down to under 7min for our Centaur Website.

His first Vietnam tour was with the 2/17th Cavalry in the 101st Airborne Division as the Aerorifle Platoon leader then as an OH-6 Scout Pilot.

His second tour with our F Troop as an LOH Scout was cut short when he was shot down and seriously wounded and burned in April 1972. see the 45min version.

 

 

Dennis Rogers remembers that in May or June of 1969 a Centaur officer, assumed to be a Cobra Pilot, had the Hunter Killer Team patch designed and approved for our LOH and Cobra Crewmembers. Who was that?

Is there more information of the evolution of this patch as D Troop became F Troop? When did other units begin getting the patch?

 

 

 

White Team & Naval Gunfire Mission: Brian Harrison, Dan Keirsey and Terry Young provide this story of when F Troop supported Naval Gunfire Missions in 1972.

Can you add comment/notes/photos? Please contact Stretch "Harrison, Brian" <briankn4r@gmail.com>

 

 

---Deceased ---

 

Charles A. Chuck" Poulos CW2 LOH Scout Pilot 1970 died 27 December 2024. Thanks to his daughter Angela Toller for letting us know. His Deceased MyPage is posted.

See the War Story "Cambodia Crash & Rescue 10 May 1970"

There will be a celebration of life for Chuck, with military honors, at their family property in Montana over Memorial Day (26 May 2025).

 

 

Richard Lee "Rich" Williams SP4 Aerorifle Platoon September 1966 to September 1967 died on 27 April 2024. He is mentioned in the "Quagmire" & Falling in the Well War Stories.

Andy Gerrie remembers that he was a SP4 in the Aerorifles in 1967. Other notes indicate he may have also been a LRRP and eventually a CW3 pilot. However he is not listed with VHPA. Please let us know if you have more information.

 

 

Richard John "Dick" Dreiman CPT Cobra Pilot 1969 to 1970 died 25 December 2014. Dick was born in Riga, Latvia in 1942. He was a war refugee in an internment camp in Germany where he attended first and second grade. His dad found his mom and him in the camp after being separated for three years.

We need any photos or notes you might have of him. powellcentaur@gmail.com

 

 

Orville T. "OT" Failen CW2 Centaur Cobra Pilot January 1969 to November 1969 died 5 August 2022. He flew OH-6 Scouts for his last few days in Vietnam.

He was 83 years old.

See his InfoSheet/Obituary

 

 

-- Reunion/Events ---

Centaur Vets Reunion November 2025 - Maybe

Jan White: "With deep regret Trudy and I will not be able to host 2025 reunion. We have too much going on. There was some talk about having it in Ohio but not sure who I talked to about that and who will want to take charge of getting that done."

If you are even remotely interested in hosting the Centaur Vets Day Reunion in November 2025 please talk to Jan and Trudy White (jancwhite@msn.com) with your questions. They know how it is done and have items and money left over from the last reunion that are available.

Know that the person that Volunteers to take this job has full autonomy, calls all the shots as they see fit, with no oversight from the Centaurs In Vietnam Organization; only help and assistance as requested.

Those that have performed this job all say that it was a lot of work, but an extremely rewarding life's experence.

 

3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion September 2025

 

The next 3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion will be 14 to 18 September 2025 in Nashville, TN

Click here for detailed information.

 

 

 

For the CIVO Board of Directors,

Bruce
Bruce Powell, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster of centaursinvietnam.org
email: powellcentaur@gmail.com
1031 E Highline Drive, Payson, AZ 85541 (Summer)
11875 S Ironwood Drive, Yuma, AZ 85367 (Winter)

 

 

 

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Centaur Website Newsletter - January 2025

INDEX: News, Checking In, Corections , MyPages, War Stories & Photos , Deceased

--- News ---

NOTICE: There have been problems with Newsletter Distrubution. It was not known that Google Gmail limits the number of Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) addresses to 500 (unless we go commercial - which will never happen). Because of this some of you may not have received the Nov and Dec Newsletters. They always go out within the first couple days of each month. If you didn't receive one each month then there may be a problem with your email. Let me know.

To reduce this problem the Newsletter Distribution List is being purged of those who have not checked in for 3 years or more. Here is a list of the emails deleted so far: "Aranda, Julian C", "Chesnut, Gary", "Cichon, Brian", "Cleckler,David","Costillo, Oscar","Collins, Britt Taylor","Conway, John","Cranney, Lee","Crha, Joe", "Cunningham, Johnny","Dawson, Greg","Dell, Fred","Dismer, John D","Doiron, Nicholas", "Draganjac,Bruce", "Ennis, Marin","Fleming, Richard","Fluhr, Gilbert","Fowler, James", "Poole, Ferris" <farris@studio10photo.com>, "Williams, Richard" <rich3946@hotmail.com>

2025 Vets Reunion: So far no one has volunteered to do the 2025 Centaur Veterans' Day Reunion. A big but rewarding job. Think about it!

--- Checking In---
Thanks for checking with us once in a while

.....Bruce Wywitzke....... Bob Jones ......Tom Dooling.......John Evans.......Mike Peake........Marty Jenkins.......
.....Simon Collins......Clay Maxwell.........Karl Kaufman.....Randy Jones......Joe Bowen.....John Jones.......
.....Larry Welch....Bill Carroll...Lloyd Goldsmith....Russ Ray....Gene Yonke....Brian Harrison....Greg Jessup
.....Jim Kirker......Gary Jones......Gordon Eatley......Angie M. Koll.....Tim Walsh.....Marshall Huckaby.....
.....John Moore......Frank Dillon......Criner, Roger "Pete"......Lowell W. Kennedy......

Susie Hooper (Wayne's Wife) checks in: "Bruce this is Wayne's wife Susie, please keep sending your newsletter. Wayne has been going thru some physical struggles for the last six months resulting in the amputation of a good portion of his left leg. He does have the onset of dementia but as of late has had a enormous come back. The VA here in Miami have taken very good care of him. This VA has a special Spinal Cord ward of which there are only about 24 I believe in the U.S. It breaks my heart to see many of the vets on the ward that have absolutely no one to come see them ever and most spend months at a time when they are admitted. May your holidays be jolly and thank you for all the effort you put out for our soldiers.  Thank you for your service doesn't seem to be enough, thank you for my freedom." - Sincerely Susie Hooper

Gary Haverdick Aerorifles 1971 assigned to camp Frenzell Jones, is not currently listed on our Rosters. We are still seeking more information through his niece Angie M. Koll. John Moore found a 1971 news article says SGT Haverdick was a Team Leader and has received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with V), the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal. If you remember anything about him please email the Webmaster powellcentaur@gmail.com

John Jones sends update of his eBook: "I did complete a separate work on military signage / artwork that appeared during the war. Ever changing as units came in and out, switched locations and moved bases. Their mostly wood and painted construction often saw a short lifespan In the tropical climate, but were captured in photo images, by the soldiers that crossed their path"

 

--- Website Corrections/Updates---

Added couples pic to Ron Holmes Infosheet.

Mike Peake does a total remake of the Centaur Call Signs page with signifantly new information.

Bac Ha's Orphanage Christmas - Dec 68 is updated and now listed on the War Stories Essay page.

Flare Ship and Twenty Minute Fuel Light added to Glossary

Jim Kreil LOH Crew Chief April to October 1969 has posted his InfoSheet. (Linked to from his MyPage)

Thomas J. "Budda" Sinclair LOH Scout Platoon Leader in 1969 now has a link on his MyPage to his Biography. Tom was a CPT with the Centaurs and retired as a Full Colonel. He is highly decorated and a very storied character. Jim Kreil and Tom Fleming both talk about him.

Russell "Russ" Mattison CW2 Flare Ship (Huey) and Cobra Pilot War Story Night Rescue Crashed Cobra Crew - Aug 1968 has that link added to Meeks Video page of that story and MyPages of Marcinkowski and Gabreilson.

Reunion Section update of links to old reunions is now updated. New links for Cav (1998 - 2004 - 2014 - 2016 - 2022 and the long lost movies of 2018 ). New Centaur links (2024). Still more to go. Do you have any input?

 

--- MyPages --

 

Robert "Bob" Tegelman Aerorifleman from April 1965 to November 1966.

Bob has updated his MyPage with a new Current Photo. Bob and Lu attended the Panama City Beach Reunion this year.

He is applauded for his hard work as a Centaur Director.

 

 

 

Lloyd Goldsmith 1LT Cobra pilot June 1971 to March 1972 has a new MyPage using photo from the 2024 Centaur Reunion.

Lloyd attended the Centaur Vets Reunion in Panama City Beach this year and did a Video Interview for us. It may be some time before we can get that video edited and up on the website.

 

 

 

Gregory A. "Greg Jessup CPT Property Book Officer in F Troop from January to October 1972.

Thanks to Stretch Harrison for finding Greg and getting his information. Greg now has a Centaur MyPage with several MP's and an InfoSheet.

 

 

 

Russell "Russ" Mattison CW2 Flare Ship (Huey) and Cobra Pilot has an upgraded MyPage.

See his War Story Night Rescue Crashed Cobra Crew - Aug 1968.

 

 

 

 

Stephen R. Pullen CPT LOH Pilot F Troop March to May 1972. Steve was Aerorifle Platoon Leader then LOH pilot during his first tour with 2/17th 101st Airborne; then to our F Troop.

He went on to serve as a Special Forces Officer, Ranger, serving in Grenada, Bosnia, Somalia and Iraq. Here is a link to a very great video interview of his career.

 

 

 

Daniel G. Nate Sr. PFC LRRP 1968-69 now has a draft Centaur Friends MyPage, an MP1 and InfoSheet.

Also see the News article he published thanking the Centaurs for rescuing the LRRPs; and his special thanks to Jim Filiatreault.

 

 

 

--- War Stories & Photos---

 

Night Rescue Crashed Cobra Crew - Aug 1968: by Russ Mattison flying the Flare Ship that rescued Meeks and Marcinkowski on 18 August 1968.

John Gabrielson was Russ's Copilot, but crew memeber names not remembered.

 

 

 

Combat Delvy story by Bill Carroll. CPT Frank Delvy was a larger than life war hero in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He saved a lot of lives and trained many Centaur Gun Pilots.

 

---Deceased --

 

Jerry D. Spicer SGT LRRP 1966 to 1967 died 9 May 2019

 

 

 

 

 

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Centaur Website Newsletter - December 2024

INDEX: News, Checking In, Corrections, MyPages, War Stories & Photos, Deceased, Reunions/Events, Hats & Shirts

--- News --- revised 5 Dec 2024

 

Our Highly Successful Centaur Vets Reunion in Panama City Florida is reported on the evening TV Channel 7 Newscast in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Click Here to play the (modified) Newscast. Be sure to use the "Full Screen" feature of your Browser!

We need someone to Host the next years Centaur Vets reunion November 2025. A significant amount of money has been raised to assist in doing that reunion. Contact Jan White for more information. jancwhite@msn.com

 

--- Checking In---
Check in with the Webmaster once in a while so we will know you are still around! powellcentaur@gmail.com

....John Moore .....Trudy White ....John Jones (his archive link)....Matt Jackson.....Jerry Kidrick SD Air & Space
.....Bruce Wywitzke..... Bob Jones ..... Jim Brothers......Tom Fleming......Dave Sale..... Tom Dooling......
.....Rennie Funderburk.....John Evans.....Fred Stuckey...... Brian Harrison......Jim Kreil...... Joe Owen.....
.....Larry Patterson....Mike Peake......Frank Dillion.....Gene Peters.....Rolland Fletcher.....Jan White.......
.... .Marty Jenkins....... Ron Holmes......Phillip Norton....... Bill Eberhartdt......Bill Carroll........Greg Jones..

William V. Carroll CW2 Update to new email address.

Ferris Poole email rejected.

Trying to contact Jose M. Casanova

--- Website Corrections/Updates---

Item 75 in the Help Section has been added answering the question "What can I do to help?"

William R. "Bill" Malloy WO1 Cobra Pilot Nov 72 to Jan 73: Brian Harrison has added two more links to Bill's MyPage for the SAR Mickey Wilson and Navy Bombs DaNang War Stories.

Michael Peake: Continues his research on finding lost Centaur Aircraft.
"In transcribing the Daily Reports of the 11th CAB, I discovered another Centaur aircraft not in our database. Also, this report mentions Rick Kline's AH-1G 100 taking rounds in the rotor system during the shoot-down of AH-1G 160. Again, this is an example of how the VHPA Goldbook data sometimes needs to be considered with a pinch of salt, or in this case, a barrel. It shows that the aircraft in question was assigned to the 334th AHC after F Troop, but that unit departed RVN 1 March 1972, a full month before the Daily Report showing it was a Centaur aircraft. Also, take note that this would have been another A/C F Troop would have received from "Blue Max" once they left country. " Mike

 

 

 

Jim Brothers updates the Bob Forringer MP1 with the three missing names of Kempson, Tonelli and Evans.

 

 

 

Mark Ponzillo MyPage has link to his 3 Part Video at lrrp.com. It was done in 2005 and much more detailed than the one he did for us at Nashvill in 2012.

Ron Holmes Mypage has been updated.

--- MyPages --

Rennie Funderburk WO1 Cobra Pilot 1972 now has a MyPage an InfoSheet and an MP1 (from Billy Malloy)

Links to Joint Military Commission, SAR Mickey Wilson and Navy Bombs DaNang have been added to his page.

He and Dennis Hogan were also in Iran together.

 

 

 

 

Farris L. Poole WO1 Cobra Pilot 1970 to 1971 now has an updated MyPage with current photo and colorized Nam photo.

Farris is a Photographer in Franklin, TN and maintains a Facebook page: No contact yet.

 

 

 

 

Ronald "Ron" Harrison LRRP 1970 to 1971 now has a draft Centaur Friends MyPage.

Ron attended the Centaur Vets Reunion in Panama City Beach November 2024 and did a Video Interview.

He last visited us at the Squadron Reunion in Nashville in 2012.

 

 

Donald E. Purdy SP4 Rifleman with the LRRPs 1969-1970 now has a draft Centaur Friends MyPage. Don did a Video Interview at the Centaur Reunion.

The Nam photo was taken of him in 1969 at Tra Cu sugar mill along the Vam Co Ding River.

Don has a distinguished military career in the Army retiring as a Command Sergeant Major.

 

 

Timothy S. "Tim" Walsh LRRP January 1970 to March 1971 now has a MyPage.

Years later Tim became the 75th Unit Representative. See his notes/articles at lrrp.com

Tim did a Video Interview at the Centaur Reunion in Panama City Beach 2024. It will be published soon. He He helped Trudy White do the Reunion Auction.

 

 

Colin Hall LRRP Platoon Sergeant May 1970 to May 1971 now has a draft Centaur Friends MyPage.

Colin came to Centaur Reunion this year with his wife Pearlie and friends. He did a Video Interview and provided great information for his yet to be published InfoSheet.

 

 

 

Bill Eberhardt LRRP from November 1968 to June 1969 now has an upgraded Centaur Friends MyPage.

Bill and Lynne joined us at the Centaur Reunion in Panama City Beach this year. Bill did a Video Interview.

 

 

 

 

Richard "Rick" Ellison SP4 LRRP October 1966 to February 1967 has his MyPage updated.

He and Georgia attended the recent Centaur Reunion. Rick did a Video Interview.

 

 

 

 

 

Robert "Bob" Byrd LRRP 1968 to 1969 now has a Centaur Friends MyPage.

Bob and Teresa attended the Centaur Vets Reunion in Florida 2024. Bob did a video interview.

 

 

 

 

John McGee LRRP May 1968 to November 1968 Unit Director for Company F 25th ID LRRP/50th INF. LRP/75th Rangers now has a Centaur Friends MyPage.

John and Fran were at the Centaur Vets Reunion with guests. Unfortunately we did not get a couples pic with them.

 

 

--- War Stories & Photos---

 

Fred Stuckey SGT LRRP December 1968 to July 1970 does an Introductory Video at the 2024 Centaur Reunion in Panama City Beach, FL.

A newly found photo of Fred in Nam reading the Stars and Stripes Newspaper has been included.

The link for Fred's 2016 Reunion Video has been corrected.

 

 

---Deceased --

We hope that those who served with these men will send comments and stories that we can add to their InfoSheet/Deceased page.

Joseph R. "Joe" Brosh (SP4?) Armament Specialist died 16 April 2024.

His page is converted to Deceased and an InfoSheet/Obit has been added. His name is also on the Deceased Roster.

He had intended to send us some Nam pic but never got around to it. If you knew him and had contact, see if you can get the family to find the photos for us.

 

 

 

Michael E. "Rocky" Cimbrec SP5 Avionics Mechanic April 1970 to April 1971 died 8 October 2022.

His page is converted to Deceased and an InfoSheet/Obit has been added. His name is also on the Deceased Roster.

He had intended to send us some Nam pic but never got around to it. If you knew him and had contact, see if you can get the family to find the photos for us.

 

 

-- After Action Report---

Centaur Vets Reunion November 2024 - Panama City Beach, FL

Jan and Trudy White again hosted the Reunion in Florida in a most organized and professional manner. They hosted dinner for those arriving early at their amazing Restaurant "Dat Cajun Place" a short distance from the Hotel. Tell your friends about this great place.

Trudy single handedly took care of the Reunion Registrations. Very organized.

Each attendee had a room with a spectacular balcony view of the ocean and beach. A free large breakfast Buffet was provided by the hotel both Sunday and Monday mornings.

The hotel, Holiday Inn Express Inn, provided a 24/7 Hospitality Room with TVs (NFL games) and treats during our stay and it later became our Banquet Room. The Bingo session with prizes was held in the Hospitality Room.

The Duck Races were a fun event held on the "Lazy River". The small river is a feature on the Hotel grounds. Jan had tried to get little plastic helicopters for this but had to settle for plastic ducks. We loved the Ducks!

Trudy had a large scale model OH-6 helicopter made to present to Jan for all his work with the Centaurs.

John McGee, current Unit Director for the LRRPS announced that the LRRP Organization is presenting every Centaur with the official extremely high quality LRRP Challenge Coin. It was designed by Marshall Huckaby and approved by the orginal Centaur LRRP Mark Ponzillo. Also each wife will receive a specially designed Wife's Coin. Marshall Huckaby and Tim Walsh did the presentations.

After the really wonderful Buffet Banquet Trudy conducted the Raffle and Auction. Trudy was a great MC and Auctioneer as over $1300 was raised to be added to the funds used for the next Reunion.

The Hotel gratiously gave us the entire party room floor above the Hospitality Room for use by Bruce Powell and Tom Dooling to do Video Interviews. About 25 videos were shot. It will take several months to get them all edited and up on to the website. Individual photos were again done by Bob Jones.

We are desparately hoping that someone will step forward and take on the job of Hosting the next reunion in 2025. If you are interested check in with Jan White at jancwhite@msn.com

-- Centaur Shirts and Hats --

Marty Jenkins has two Loach Hats and 5 Cobra F Troop Hats, OLD style Navy Blue. Contact him directly if you are interested in this. mjenkino@gmail.com

 

 

Below are the Dale Dow designed T Shirts that are now available from Christine (Dow) Smith:

D Troop: Small  Medium  Large   XLarge   XXLarge   XXXLarge   4X Large
-----Yellow: 23 -----21 ------43------- 25 --------33---------- 3
-----Gray: ---22----- 28 ------27------- 25-----------22 -------6------ 4

F Troop: Med Large  XLarge   XXLarge  XXXLarge  4X  Large
----Yellow: --11------23------ 19------ 19 ----
----Gray------11 -----24 -------8 -------25 -------------15--------- 5

Shirts are $20.00 each including shipping costs.

Christine (Dow) Smith email at jaychris0126@live.com