Draft Newsletter Daily Worksheet for November 2026Draft

Latest Update of Draft - 27 October 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 Not for publication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 Update - November 2026
Website News, Corrections/Updates

 

Amazing New Email Scam!!

Artificial Intelligence has gotten extremely innovating with email SCAMs. Latest example:
I received an email from a long lost friend Ken Shull. Close friends since high school, who have lost contact over the last few years:

from:
Kenneth Shull <vwxyorz@gmail.com>
I saw your
http://www.centaursinvietnam.org/Help/ihelpAboutUs.html
Interesting read - Just checking on you
Hope you are doing well - Ken

I was excited to finally hear from him again, but noticed the strange email address (<vwxyorz@gmail.com>). Plus it didn’t sound like him. I did a Google Search on the strange email address:

No results found for “gmail address Kenneth Shull <vwxyorz@gmail.com> a scam email”
AI Overview
An email address like vwxyz@gmail.com using a keyboard-mash or placeholder pattern ("vwxyz") combined with an arbitrary personal name ("Kenneth Shull") is highly suspicious and strongly characteristic of a burner account, spoofed identity, or phishing scam.
Facebook·Jeff Rossen +1
Why This Address is Risky

Keyboard-Mash Aliases: Random strings of letters like vwxyz are frequently auto-generated by scripts or bots to create disposable or mass-mailing accounts.
Mismatched Identities: Scammers often pair generic or made-up personal names with random free Gmail addresses to impersonate individuals, business agents, or support staff.
Lack of Verification: Legitimate companies, financial institutions, or official entities will never conduct business or send critical security notices from a generic @gmail.com address.

What You Should Do

Do not click any links, open attachments, or reply to the email.
Facebook·Jeff Rossen
Check the full header of the message if you received one, as the display name ("Kenneth Shull") can be easily faked while the underlying email address reveals a completely different sender.
Run a safety check or analyze similar sender patterns using resources like the Gmail Email Scam Checker or review standard safety guidelines on the Google Gmail Help Center.

 

An Important Search for Everyone to Use!

site:centaursinvietnam.org Your Name

Helping to find new website input: Please give this simple search a try and see if it doesn't remind you of more input for the website that you can send us. It will only take a minute for most of you and would be greatly appreciated:
.....Go to your browser Search Engine like Google.
.....Type this in your search window and replace "Your Name" with your real name:
.............site:centaursinvietnam.org Your Name
......This will show you everything we have on you. Is everything okay? You probably have more. We would like you to send it to us. powellcentaur@gmail.com.

.......If your Search Engine also has an "AI" button, try that. Thanks

 

Archiving our Website

Add Mike Law notes about Archiving add

Notes: Michael Peake (CIVO Historian): I have to comment that our site is a living entity at this point, and always has been. We are still feeding it daily, and speaking for myself, the seeds that Dale Dow planted by creating the Squadron Logs and Tail Numbers projects alone have morphed into a valuable and unique research source for historians. And they in turn have led to spin-off projects such as Carl Betsill's excellent work with topographical map Centaur locales. The database on Centaur aircraft and squadron logs has grown far beyond what is currently posted, and there were many other Dow projects I can see he planned. 
I've spent decades as a military history researcher, and since dividing my time between Civil War and Vietnam, I quickly recognized just how unique the Centaur site stands above other Army Aviation sites. Personally, because of that point, I feel a duty to expand on the work as a means to preserve a history that needs that attention. Expanding on Dale's work was a challenge because of the lack of available sources. I would fully support providing the accumulated data to an entity that would make it available to the public for free.

 

Can you help us identify these people?

The men in this photo (1967): One might be of PFC Warren W. Bonner

 

Yugal was my door gunner for awhile. It could be spelled differently. His name tag also said yugal or however it was spelled. It may have been Yugo. He was from Yugoslavia. I ask him what his real name was and he told me, that I could not pronounce it even if he told me what it was. And that Yugal was ok with him. He also said that his real name would not fit on the uniform name tag. That is all that I know about him. I wish that I knew more. He also told me that the US. had gotten his family out of Yugoslavia and his serving in the military, was his way of repaying the US. back for saving his family. Stan Allen

 

War Story Discussion AH-1G Tail Rotor Problems: There were significant problems with the tail rotors on the first models sent to Vietnam. Around late 1968 the Cobras were being refit with and improved design where the rotor was moved to the other side (from a pusher to a tractor pull). What is not as well known is that the rotation was also changed to counter clockwise rotation. Pulling rather than pushing.

 

The Centaur Specialist "Perry" confusion:
We have four "Perry" names on our roster. Two have MyPages and two others do not.

....Perry, Daniel Durwood- SP4 -D/F 71-72 - Door Gunner/Mechanic - Deceased 3 Aug 2017. However Obit says 70 to 71 - Photo with Kenneth Campbell (by Joe Hoover) and two unknowns.

....Perry. David - SP4 - 69-70 - Avionics - Two photos from Allen Allcock One with Charles Lowe and "Hale"?

....Perry, Nathaniel - D Trp LRRP - 1966 - No MyPage or information.

....Perry, Kenneth A. SP5 D Trp 69 No Pics or information

....Photo of SP5 Perry in the 1970 Yearbook - which Perry is he? Probably David

 

Website Roster Mistake: CPT Joseph A. Lacy LRRP Cdr is listed on the Deceased Roster, but not the main Centaur Roster. That has been corrected.

 

Deceased: William H. "Papa" Bonner. D Troop SP5 LRRP died 26 april 2027 in Alabama. 3 Tours. Do you have any memories or photos of him?

 

 

 

 

InfoSheet: SGT Leonard "Leo" Montes. More info posted by Mike Peake (VHPA  Casualty Report attached to the aircraft.). Note that Montes was posthumosly promoted to SGT.

 

 

Deceased MyPage Douglas W. Hoppas - Light Scout Platoon. John Moore found an article that showed Hoppas had died in a traffic incident in January 1971. The exact day was not mentioned. Also provided his High School Photo.

We do not know his rank or job.

 

 

Centaur Award to Billy Blackmon from Eric G. Brethan and J.C. Carnathan is added to his MyPage. Billy recovered from a serious stroke and is doing well in Amarillo, TX

 

Light Scout Group 1968 Pic found (Charlie Rice) - We tried to make the signatures more visible. Any comments?

 

War Story (TLN):Aerorifles Leap From Helicopters Kill 4 Viet Cong
We found this one from 27 November 1967 that mentions 1LT Mosenthal and PSG James Price of Onaway, Mich. This Price name is not on our Rosters. Could it be Robert E. Price?

 

War Story Video: BreakOut Knife for Cobra. This short video shows the CoPilot in the front seat using the breakout knife to shatter his canopy cover. Notice that for some reason he uses the Pilot's Knife instead of his own. His knife is on the panel behind his right knee. Bell Helicopter

The Breakout Knife Discussion Page is updated ans formating corrected.

 

 

This is a 20 minute You Tube Video sent in by Ken Hundt. It is probably the best video made representing every pilot that flew a Huey in Vietnam.

The narrative is clear of military jargon and very simple for anyone outside of the military to understand.

It is too large for use to copy to our website.

https://youtu.be/szt04R9sbhA?si=VUgiJ-mhPoHFa-ix

 

 

Notice From John Brennan: Oregon publisher, Hellgate Press, has announced that November 30th will be their last day of business. They've informed me that my book, "U.S. Army Helicopter Names in Vietnam", will remain available for purchase until that date, and can be purchased at the reduced price of $24.95. First published in 2011, this 417 page directory lists 3,100 named helicopters, accompanied by 45 in-country photographs of copter nose art names. A preview of the book and ordering instructions are available at the publishers website at 

https://www.hellgatepress.com/vietnam-war/  If you can, please send out word of Hellgate's closing. Thank you, John Brennan, VN veteran, 114th AHC, 1970-71,

 

TO DO:

Fix 3/4 cav Reunion page

Edit one hout Bell Helicopter Cobra video to 3 sections.

 

 

 

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx END DRAFT xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

...........................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?