Draft Newsletter Daily Worksheet for JUNE 2026Draft

Latest Update of Draft - 22 May 2026

Board & Special Guests Use Only. Not for publication
This is my worksheet during the month for the next Newsletter.
powellcentaur@gmail.com

Centaur Website Newsletter - JUNE 2026

INDEX: Checking In, News, Corrections, War Stories/Photos, Interesting Videos, Deceased, Emails, Reunions,

--- Checking In---

If you have never checked in with us please send the webmaster a note (no obligations): email powellcentaur@gmail.com ....
Tom Dooling..... .... Don Borey.. ......John Evans.........Carl Betsill.... .... Frank Dillon.......John Jones..... Tom Noss......Terry Young.........
......Dave Sale......Bob Jones...... Michael Peake....... Richard Stegner........Larry Paterson...... Joe Owen.....Rick Williams..... ..Butch Glenn......
.....Bruce Hinds......Joe DeMaio.....Bruce Wywitzke C/227/1CAV.....Harlan Sparrow....Ted Kempster (Jack's son).....Phillip John Norton....
.....Ken Hundt.....Michael Banks..... Tom Fleming..... Erick Villard...(Historian...

Mail Rejected: Charles E. Carolina and Daniel Bronte

--- News ---

Centaurs Invade the Internet: Note that more and more Centaur photos and information from our great website are appearing in posts and videos online.

.....Example is " AI Overview: In the context of the Vietnam War, "Centaur" refers to the callsign of the Air Cavalry Troops (specifically D Troop and F Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division). They did not fly a single, unique aircraft, but rather utilized a diverse fleet of helicopters and scout aircraft to fulfill reconnaissance and support missions. [1)

....or type into google search "orgin of the radio call sign centaur"

Fort Wolters recent Tornado: Rick Williams let us know about the devistating Tornado that hit Mineral Wells Texas. It destroyed 132 homes and hit the old air base and museum pretty hard. See Video 1 - Video 2 ..Any other notes or comments? Ever notice how often Ft Wolters is misspelled as Ft Walters.

Brian Harrison tells us that unfortunately our great LOH Scout Gunner Wayne Moose is in bad shape and currently in ICU at “Charlotte Main” hospital

Glossary Entries: "Cobra Hall" - "PC-6 Porter"

--- Website Corrections/Updates---

Links to Jack Kempster were repaired Tom Dooling. Kempster erroneous Deceased page removed. Kempster and Graziano MyPages linked to Establishing Cu Chi BaseCamp 1966. Kempster MP5 upgraded and also added to Michael Banks MP's

Lowell Ogletree and son pic and Obit link added to his InfoSheet

Info Sheet added for 2LT Larry D. Patterson plus names added to photos and a couple more photos found.

Awards & Decorations Issues and OOPS!! War Discussion links fixed.

Photo of Terry Young and Tom Noss added to their MyPages.

More info on Edward A. Gilmore: Army Aviation Magazine August 197 - First Army Aviator to be on standardization pilol orders at the same time for the OV-1, AH-1G, and UH-1A through UH-1H aircraft: CW4 Edward A. Try again to contact him

25th Inf Div Band: Articles indicate that the 25th Infantry Division Band was scheduled to welcome all arriving 25th Division units. It is mentioned in the Carl Burns Book. This is a bit confusing because other articles say the 25th Div Band went to Vietnam with the Division. Maybe they unloaded first.

The Origin of the Centaur Call Sign & Logo: Has been upgraded from the original "The Origin of the Centaur Call Sign story".

 

Establishing Cu Chi BaseCamp 1966: We are looking for any other details including the Advanced Party information.

Also see Cu Chi Peanut Patch & Woody Gardner Video & Cu Chi 1966 LRRPs
.Anyone have a better photo of Cu Chi Basecamp in February or March 1966?

 

Rocket Pod Hit & Burns by Ken Hundt

The rockets burned but fortunately did not explode in the pod.

Photo from Peter Barber's Slide Show (PB 014)

 

 

 

Unknown Photo Album: 27 Centaur photos were found online without reference to who owns them

Photos of David "Buzz" Busbin and Richard Stegner were located. Can you help with some captions?

Send photo number with your proposed text to powellcentaur@gmail.com. Thanks.

 

Great Interview Videos: of John "Jack" Kempster CPT, flew OH-23G and UH-C Heavy Weapons "Hog", March 1966 to March 1967. His son, Ted, provides us with over 4 hours of a video interview that his British friend did with his dad, about his amazing 27 year military career.

He started with fixed wing training, L-19. Then helicopters. Member of the Centaur Advanced Party to Vietnam. Had a second tour. Helped start Cobra Hall later (Gunnery Training. Strong participant in Army Aviation R&D Community.

List video numbers of subjects and stories

Ted Kempster recorded hours of a video interview with his dad. Link that to Jack's page. Review the videos and use portions for a Centaur video for his page. .https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYS2UMsvibizx7Hu2Yz87wchaE9ok_yaf&si=oFiuEhets23Of32v

 

Joseph V. DeMayo, PFC Armament Specialist 1972, now has a new MyPage.

We just got in contact with him. He now has a successful band. see the Papa Joe Show

powellcentaur@gmail.com

 

 

More CIA Stuff: "This is an Air America STOL aircraft that regularly visited Lai Khe. I loved to watch that aircraft take off. It seems like he wouldn’t roll 20 feet and was airborne". Carl Betsill. #45 in his album

The Pilatus PC-6 Porter is a legendary Swiss-built utility aircraft renowned for its extreme Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) performance, capable of operating from rough, unprepared strips in under \(200\text{m}\) (\(640\text{ft}\)). Produced from 1959 to 2022, this versatile aircraft uses high-lift wings, robust landing gear, and powerful turboprop engines to carry over 1 ton of payload in extreme environments

 

--- Interesting Videos---

Ken Hundt found this recent video on YouTube called AH-1 Horrors Video (Mar 2026).

Very well done except for a few mistakes like saying the front seat Cobra Gunner had a helmet sight.

It was published on You Tube by "Vietnam Tales". They used several of or our Centaur website photos without credit to us; but did the same to several other units.

 

Joe Owen found this extremely interesting and informative Video Bell's Masterpiece: The Story of the UH-1 Huey And How It Changed Warfare Forever. .

It is quite long - 60min - but very detailed and clear explainations. It goes on to talk about the Cobra and other gunship advances.

 

 

 

The Aviation Channel posts an entertaining video called Huey Helicopters most dangerous rescue missions

...Mostly of Medivac Rescutes. It includes some good video of OH-23D and TH-55's at Ft Wolters Flight School. No specific Centaur stuff.

 

 

--- Deceased ---

 

Eugene Kenneth "Gene" Prosser MAJ Aerorifle Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer February 1966 to March 1967, died 27 November 2025 at his home in Naples, FL at the age of 97.5 years of age.

As Flight Platoon Leader he made each of his pilots fly on a rope beneath a Huey Slick before they could do that with any of our ground troops.

 

 

--- Recent Selected Emails---

8May2026:To Mike Peake:
Happy to assist- I work at the U.S. Army Center of Military History but know the NARA records pretty well. The best thing to do is to pull that series of records and look inside. I’ll be taking a trip to Vietnam next week, but I should be able to go to NARA in about three weeks. I can look then. I’ll be able to give you a solid idea of what those boxes contain, and then we can figure out where to go from there. Erik Villard

May2026: To Erik Villard
We have good coverage of the D Troop Centaurs from 1966 to mid-1970, although there are definitely gaps and blocked portions in the thousand plus JPEG images in the collection. January 1969 has 141 images alone. Since acquiring the collection a few years ago from Bruce Powell, I have arranged all of the images in chronological order, eliminated duplication and began transcribing key periods around loss of personnel and aircraft. These daily journals have consistently been Headquarters, 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry, and later became listed as S3.

Following that lead, my initial experimental order for F Troop last year was a sampling of an 8-day period from Box 10: 11th Aviation Group Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (S3) Daily Journal: 09/01/1971 to 06/30/1972 in April/May 1972 when we lost 5 aircraft and 2 full aircrews. That was 35 pages of pure gold! At the same time I made the mistake of ordering a 13-day sample from Box 91: Troop F, 4th Cavalry Daily Journal: 08/04/1971 to 01/02/1972 for December 1971 covering another aircraft loss only to discover that it was strictly garrison records. Although interesting, the reports had absolutely nothing to do with their aviation operations outside of a CQ wake-up-call for an air-crew. That made me a little gun-shy of acquiring records from the other 2 boxes, 90 & 92. I have since acquired the 11th CAG records up to Jun 30, 1972. But there is anotherlisting that may be appropriate for the February 20, 1972.

Box 2: 11th Aviation Group Headquarters and Headquarters Company Daily Journal: 01/01/1972 to 09/30/1972 is one that would cover the date IF it is aviation related. I was leery that it would turn out to be like the F Troop records. There is also Box 3: 11th Aviation Group Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (S2) Daily Journal: 01/13/1972 to 07/31/1972 & Box 4: 11th Aviation Group Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (S2) Daily Journal: 08/01/1972 to 01/24/1973, but I assumed it may not be as valuable a reference as the S3 records have proven they are.

I have every intention of filling in the blanks for the rest of April 1972 from Box 10: 11th Aviation Group (S3) Daily Journal, but despite the full realization that the Iron Triangle was not under the 11th CAG umbrella, I mistakenly ordered the entire month of February 1972 from that collection. I'm just making a guess that pertinent records for F Troop organization to the transfer to 11th CAG would be available from Box 30: 12th Aviation Group Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (S3) Daily Journal: 09/01/1969 to 01/31/1972, and that would still not cover February 1972. As with 11th CAG, there are HQ records that would in Box 22 and Intelligence (S2) in Box 24. So, that is where we are regarding records acquired.

I would very much appreciate any assistance you could provide especially in regard to S2 versus S3. In the S3 records, actions taken are generally forwarded to S2 and I am again assuming that S2 records would include the reports of aircraft/personnel loss. Also, if I can be of service to you this is pretty much what I do, although my full-time specialty is actually the American Civil War, including genealogy and the German organizations that served on both sides. I tripped over the Centaur website by doing a search for 8th Texas Cavalry armament. So knee-deep in the 19th and 20th Century.
Mike Peake

--- Reunions ---
 

•••••••••••Centaur Veterans Reunion NOVEMBER 9 to 14 2026•••••••••••

Need Centaur Update

The Centaurs will be doing a cruise. See Hosts Bob and Dee Forringer notes by clicking on the Reunion Button on the website homepage.

"It is slowly getting closer to the cruise.
The plan is a very relaxing cruise. No specific events. You plan your own days. Carnival will try their best to seat us as close as possible at the early dinning time. This will give those enough time to eat and catch the evening events, for those who can stay up past 7 PM. Once on board we will find a small niche were we can sit, meet, post notes on bulletin board and try the drink of the day.

If you haven't signed up yet and are thinking about joining us, don't delay much longer. Room availability will start getting limited as the cruise date approaches.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Bob Forringer deenbob5683@gmail.com

Below is a list of the 23 people who made reservations for the Centaur Reunion Cruise:

•••••••••••••3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion August 2026••••••••••

Need 3/4 cav Update

The next 3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion will be in Lexington, KY August 23d thru August 27th 2026. See after action report in the Dave Cox 2025 Fall Edition Cav Newsletter.

Lifetime membership has been reduced to $10 from $75. Annual membership is eliminated.

 

•••••••••••••Attack Helicopter Association Reunion 2027••••••••••

The Attack Helicopter Association (AHA) is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. Stories of military attack helicopter operations. FaceBook only.

AHA is planning for reunion in Mesa Az. They have a tentative yes from Boeing to host us at the Apache assembly facility in Mesa. Sep/Oct 2027. Dave Sale <davesale64@gmail.com>

AHA was created from the 2023 Cobra Hall Reunion. 250 people attended.

 

 

 

 

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...........................PENDING - "My Swamp"...Really old stuff........................................

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Need to go thru all of this someday

Review Pending "My Swamp" below & see what can be done, or has been already done, or given up on. Haven't had a chance to go through this in some time. Maybe you can .

1LT Larry J. Kastanek Feb 70-71 Gunpilot D/F left phone message. 18Apr (785) 770-7565 lft msg again

Consider creating a special YOUTUBE presentation to advertize our Centaur Website.

Discussion page for 20 minute fuel warning light. Mattison

site:centaursinvietnam.org 20 minute warniing

Get current pic from Randy Love

Is Harold B. Swiencki still alive?

Gerald L. "Jerry" Wright 1LT pilot Centaur 24 Jan to Jun 1967 sent him welcome email long time ago

LRRP with foot injury rescued by Dooling 21 Feb 1970

Consider making Draft MyPages for those we have full names for but no pics of information, That asks whoever clicks on it to help out.

Get InfoSheet from Jack "Beetle" Bailey

Get InfoSheet from Chuck O'Connell

Huckaby still researching Larry Dean McIntosh...deceased?

Huckaby: Resembles the guy I knew, but we all changed in the first few months. Charles Loher HS pic

Update add links to Petty story KIA and Bob Bobo's OH6 rescue

Ad Carl Burns Rutgers Interview: https://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/explore/alphabetical-index/interviewees/30-interview-html-text/671-burns-carl

Dec2024

draft InfoSheet for Russ Mattison

Try to contact Jose M. Casanova lft msg 30Dec

Gordon Eatley stuff?

Upgrade History Section Links

Publish mov of 2014 San Antonio Reunion Cav. Movies and images!

2014 San Antonio Reunion Cav. Videos of Jenkins, Walt, Reese, Neymeyer!!

Review Carl Burns book Centaurs In Vietnam and see what stories we haven't trasfered to the the Website.

Find stories from other books of Centaurs and publish on Website.

Start a monthly War Story second look article. Maybe the Bu Dop Mission of Nov 1967. Or do them by "50 Years ago this month" 57 years ago for Bu Dop

Maybe later when they link to us: Lost Link: Somewhere along the line we lost our link to the Friends Of Army Aviation website. It has been revised and placed on our "Links" page.

Mike Law friends mypage? He does not want one 17Oct2024

1LT Larry J. Kastanek Feb 70-71 Gunpilot D/F left phone message. 18Apr (785) 770-7565 lft msg again 8Jul2025

Add Index of Articles for MyPages: , Beasley, Meeks, Wayne Moose, Peake, Radcliffe, Mike Vaughn

No response Russell James Mattison Oct2024

Await Anthony Holm info & Photo Oct2024

An attempt to help is a new Centaur discussion page Understanding the Modern 25th Inf Div.

Also there is a link to the AAAA video of the event that was provided by <a href="Roster/MyPageFriendsDuals/GoochRexDual.jpg">Rex Gooch</a>

MSR Discussion

Working on getting couples photos taken at the 2023 Centaur Reunion placed on respective InfoSheets

Couples photo listings (to infosheets) Richardson,

Work Harlan Coopers pics from Tegelman into Reunion section. Same with those from Linda Richardson

3/4 Cav 2010 Reunion page - fix links

2019 Centaur Reunion Bowling green create index page of photos for all the movies! ????

Dows pics of old reunions

Minor upgrades to these other MyPages ..........

Old Reunion Photos found and posted to the Reunion section. Those from Janis Cooper 2016 Cav Reunion (Harrisburg,PA or Centaur Reunion (Omaha)?

Big time 2012 - 48 videos at Nashville

More Reunion After Action Notes from the Centaur Vets Day Reunion Last Month:

Reunion photos and videos of long past have been repaired and relinked Cav 2008 and 2010

2006 Cav Reunion video and Photo Album

Add Reunion photos and videos to PhoAudVideo page at bottom

Do a page for the Cat House? Cat house vs EM club?

Phoncon with CW2 Bob Long A trp 1/9th then D troop Will send pics Calld again 26Aug2023

Upgrade Ed Risner Memoriam page and links

Note that 14 2022 reunion videos are posted in the WS Video section.

Located photo of LOH 15338 in Jim Messina old website file. Bigger pic on LOH Photos pg

Ken Rucki? Get photos and info for Dennis Piper (phone call) and current of Rucki. Maybe a current of Bill Byers

Follow up on Leo C. Rice contact from Larry Richardson

Upgrade of Richard "Frenchie" Bernier MyPage - photo album? No word back from him yet 28Oct2022

Use photo of Suoi Da Assault 1966 to talk about Suoi Da and Suoi Da Airstrip now under water. Find Airstrip pic with weapons cache from LZ Gold. Early 67 with OH-23

Gordon Eatley will work on his 8mm movie for captions. Tower is Water tower being built.

Cobra down war story by Russ Mattison Meeks/Moose - the real story. Wolfe, Gabrielson

This is not T Berry: Karn note 29 JUN: YES there was a second black enlisted man that joined the scouts before I left.   I don't recall his name.  I remember flying with him once and he didn't like the CS gas that we threw and then flew through.   And yes,  he wasn't any "T -berry".

Tyrone T. Thornsberry "T Berry" SP4 LOH Door Gunner/Observer 1969 now has a draft MyPage and an MP1 using a John Evans photo of Evans, Kreil and Tyrone, with their LOH "SNAFU"

Bruce Karn remembers Thornsberry as his LOH Observer. He could fly quite well from the left seat. see story

Email to Gaylen Randell 66-67 for photos. we have infosheet.

Edmond Manville aol.com not found??

1May2022 NOTES Phoncon Reggie Slater:

Fix your email. Have him talk to friends Richard Dennison and Jim Wells. Send pics and info to me. Come to Nov reunion and do videos. Wells was in auto accident and not doing well. Is in photo with Col Pete in the book. He talked to Beasley (throat cancer) who is doing better. Reggie was looking for someone from his 66 tour year going to the DC Reunion. No one was and he has had some health problems. He said the videos I did for him helped him tremendously in his life. I told him to tell that to his buddies and get them to me at the Nov reunion. We will see if that works. Told him about Carl and Ruth Ann Burns health problems

Bob Acker Photos to website - update An Duc War Story - pics to Aircraft Tail number sections (links) and Helicopter photos section

661 494 and 659 pics and info

Info Sheet for Mike Reed

14Apr2022: Bill Boyd called me: His son building a small house behind his for him to live. Moving right now, but will get me some info notes and check out the photos on website. He remembers Ponzillo’s note recruiting new guys. Bill was in Field Artillery. Was not ranger or airbore qualified.Gave new Gmail.

Frank Walker video - edit and post - no longer on YouTube

CW2 Larry M. Dau LOH Pilot 1970-71 Awaiting info for MyPage. sent him email 11Jan22 --Followed up Fri night - left phone msg at  (702) 498-7849 28Jan. Tried again 9Apr.

Find: Terry R. Bleed (sent email), Marty Sullivan, Melvin Locke, mentioned in McLeod audio

Find Melvin W. Locke Jr. 1LT 1970 Pasadina - mentioned in McLeod audio - call

Find Silver Star citation for Joe Don Ramey

...Nicholas, Sellers and Laird SS or Albums - check for possible MP's or myPages

...Review slides and photo albums for guys we have photos on but no links. Create rough draft MyPages.

...Found email Jun 2003 to Dow from CW2 William R. Cooper. Sparrow's hootchmate. 1971-72 Slicks. Been getting News ltr. Send contact email

...Add link to Creeping Jesus in aircraft photos section

Brian Bledsoe- can you add comments to Byrd's slideshow photos?

Possible project: Have some time? Want to help with the Centaur Website? Don't know crap about computers?
Then try this: Centaur Website Projects for Dummies - Lesson 1 - Identifying photos: Lesson 2 ?, 3? etc. Publish to Help Section

Awaiting picture captions from Eric Brethen

Do a redsign of website: Call Signs, Discussions, Glossary and other hard things to find: create buttons at top of Help page and maybe on homepage.

Awaiting stuff from Jim McPeak?

Add discussion page for 1967 Bob Hope show. Find Star Stripes article. Add comments from Fleming

Need to add History page for 2.75 rocket pods (M200) etc

Doug Olsen talked to Dennis Pfoor who said he would be contacting me soon. Nov

Nebraska Vietnam Memorial - Moore, Brosh

Jack Kenneth Swinehart 1947-2015. Find a grave. Is this our guy?

Add Discussion Page Volunteers - A Troop to D Troop (Air) as Door Gunners- 1967 find Fleming note

Consider publishing the 3/17 web page describing who was assigned to whom. Try to get answers for the Centaurs. http:/bluetigersite.com/vietnam/iiffv.html Otherwise comparable to "Who's on First" by Abbott and Costello. Get input from past commanders and Bob Graham. The main website with index is http:/bluetigersite.com/vietnam/chronology.html dead email address?

Awaiting email from Harry Swiencki about his awards. Assemble his DFC

Consider a piece about Do No Harm doctrine. Encourage all the gory details, particularily to get it off your chest, knowing that the CIVO Board reviews all input to the website to insure that our doctrine of "do no harm to our fellow Centaurs". Yes, we know we had a few genuinely bad people and some good people who made bad decisions. We will tell the stories for history, but not judge or brand those individuals.

We are providing a place where you can vent the frustrations, guilt, anger and remorse you have been carrying for 40 or 50 years, to a group of dedicated Centaurs who have walked in your shoes. We will listen, we will talk, we will edit for the web as necessary.

Acts of Cowardice, Criminal, Inexperience, Arrogance or Stupidity should be discussed to help us all finally get it out. Do it for your mental well being, not for vengence or revenge. Get some closure. It was war. We can forgive most anything, but only you can forgive yourself. Do it and know some peace for whatever time you have left.

more photos due in from David Whitley

Ronald Dean Hoagland tina cook Feb Newsletter .....rejected at this email posted in last newsletter
2LT VHPA F Trp 1971

Reference our War Story Hunter Crew and Rescue Crew KIA: ??

will send pics

Update Odom and Rogers rescue movies to include marty lalli. add links.

Pending:Jeff Lemr His daughter "Jill" contacted us. Add to Newsletter list. Get her in contact with Bill Witt. Frm Witt (10Sep): ">Bruce, Thanks for the reply. I pray Jeff will contact his Daughter however, he has a hard time getting in touch with his feelings. The only time he seems free is playing his guitar. There is a Vet Center here that has a "Combat Stress Management Guitar Group" hopefully, I can get him to go with me. Might need to say something about Jeff Lemr and daughter getting together after 12yrs if that happens.

Jan 3, 12:59 PM from Hamilton.
to Frank, Carl, Carl, Thomas, Bain, Pat, Tom, Brian, Jim, Gary, Nick, Mike, Charlie, John, Jerry, me
Yes, the Designation was D 3/4 Cav until the 2nd Bde 25th was ordered to stand down and return to Hawaii. We thought we would go with them until I received orders that we would not redeploy and would be designated an independent air cav troop, F Troop, 4th U. S. Cavalry. My kids back home really got a kick out of that. Daddy commanded F Troop like on TV.

Awaiting: Rich Williams checks in. need MyPage. Has "Fall in well" comments Altenhofen emailed him 28Dec called him 22 feb 2020 left msg

Awaiting: CW2 Richard "Rocky" Reed input 15 Sep 2019 He has never answered. Maybe Eric Brethen can get ahold of him. email 5 Dec 2021

Awaiting:James "Mike" Richey info. Photos and text. Added "Mike" to MyPage

ACTION Needed:Pat Lacy? Gilley - Not listed on the Centaur Roster (Spelling maybe?) Photo 50 Can you name the guys in photo 52 with the dog Gunner? Jerry Caldwell, SSG Photos 57
Roosevelt Martin, SSG Photo 57

25th Div Flash publcation? Should we link to it? Can we?