Guestbook

Hope everyone has a great year

Just found your site. Trying to keep track of th4e old Vihn Long folks

I need some help in providing captions to the 2011 Reunion slides. If you can help, send me the captions in word format. Reference the slide collection and the picture number. If you are good at identifying faces this is for you.

First, let me wish all of you a terrific New Year and hope that you can keep all your resolutions. Next, need to remind everyone that we do need to have the updated personal data forms returned as soon as possible so that we can get the database updated and current. If you haven't returned your form please do so. In the event you need another blank form contact me and I will e-mail it to you.

Great website, guys! Thanks to your roster, I was able to find my ol' Platoon Leader, Cpt Rich Stanko, after 40-years. Now, if someone could help us locate our Plt Sgt, SFC Charles Sokoloski (sp?), that would be great! Does anyone remember the name of my crew-chief, at Bac Lieu? He was the oldest SP5, there. I'm ashamed that his name totally escapes me. I see that Jack, the rock python, was still at Bac Lieu, in 1970.

Your blog is really very informative. Thanks for that.

Happy Thanksgiving to all 221.

As the widow of J. Blaise Alackness, who served with the 221st I would like to thank all of you for your time, service and sacrifice as well as those who have served our Nation and are currently serving. THANK YOU!

Very Interesting. Thanks for having this website.

The guest book has been fixed.

I also want to thank all the participants from the IBDA that provided rides and aircraft to enjoy pictures and hands on fun with the amazing birddog aircraft. I was lucky enough to enjoy a ride.....simply amazing...:) Andrea

I just wanted to give a shoutout for all the people on the planning committee for this years Delta/Birddog Reunion. We had a great time and it was great to see old friends and co-workers after all these years...Kudos to all!

Just returned from the most fun filled reunion I have ever been to, the weather in San Antonio was fantastic, the camraderie was over the top and the number of new folks present made it an outstanding time of recall and reflection. Our great friends from the IBDA brought in a total of 7 Birddogs for us to fondle and to provide rides to quite a few of the participants. Let's keep the momentum going and make our next reunion even bigger and better, only information that we can disclose right now is that barring a major national disaster you can plan on us having our next reunion during the month of October 2013. Location is yet to be determined but mark your calendar now it will be great.

For those of you that were not able to make this years reunion, you missed a great one. The '07 and '09 meetings were great but this surpassed them. Hats off to Don Smith, his "crew" and all of the Shotguns for a great time. See you in 2013. Best to all of you. Bob

Some of the pictures bring back memories of good and not so good times. Anyone who served between 1966 and 1967 please contact me at 215-634-0234 or 215-423-8929. If someone can inform me of any upcoming reunions I would be much appreciative. Also, is there someone I can get in touch with regarding updating my profile and awards. I was awarded several commendations which are not listed. All the best to my fellow veterans! -John Greenley

I am having a terrible time with my computers. I am lookin forward to seeing Eric Nakosone, Major Modica and I intend to chastise Lee Ogden for making us wear that horriblely uncomfortable webb gear on the C-130. Many a time I have woke up in the middle of the night remembering the discomfort from that time.I was grateful for Joe Seery for a lot of wise counseling. Tom Morris

Hello to all going to the reunion. I would like to be there but the birth of a new grandaughter in Ohio will take place about the same time.

I found this website for my father about a year ago. He really enjoyed reading all the information and memories here. He had made plans to attend the upcoming reunion. Unfortunately my father passed this week. Thank you for this site as it gave him the opportunity to reconnect with his past. Patrick Grady 8/28/44-10/3/11

just checking in.

For those of you that may have tried to contact Robert Blackmon the correct e-mail address is uncleallen49@yahoo.com .

Would like to hear from any one . May God fly with you all.

I need to second the comment by George Cook, when you come to the reunion please bring any old photos, copies of orders, unit memos or anything else that reflects our moment in history. If you have photos on your home computer load them to a flash drive and share them with us. Time is passing quickly and we need to preserve as much of the unit history as we can so that our grandchildren and beyond will be able to see with their own eyes the things, both wonderful and evil, that we saw while in Vietnam. We really do not need anyone to rewrite the history of our time, we are still here to do it ourselves.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion. It was touch and go for a while, but I'm much better now and I should be 100% before to long. I enjoyed the 2009 reunion and seeing old friends, well the trip was worth more than words can say. If you haven't signed up for the 2011 Reunion yet do so. Bring some of your old pictures and lets share a few memories.

I was in 221`st from Dec 1971 until the final fly over in October 1971. I have many photos, most on 35mm slides. I'd love to send some when I figure out how. I worked in the engine shop as well as in the production office and company office.

ran across your unit and was glad to see some birddog people were still around

Hi All, I'm going to miss everyone's company this time around. Combined with my promise many years ago of 'not setting a foot in Texas if I can help it.' and currently living so far away we, CJ and I, will not be attending this 3rd event. I know October will roll around and I'll wish we had but will be thinking of you all and knowing that everyone is having a good time and many memories. Until next time, my salute to you all. Take care. Hi to Bill Poor, Hank Collins, Frank Allen, Larry Williams, Agee and 46a; take care. SG46/Stockton

I was in Soc Trang-- Can Tho-- Vinh Long

If anyone has copies of citations for awards that they would like to be posted on the individual awards page that I am working on, please send me a copy of the citation. I am especially interested in Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Crosses,Purple Hearts. Monte

Hermie Schultz - THANK YOU! My e-mail is not working currently. So much appreciate your response. I think the best of his pictures are on slides and I need to locate them. Making this contact with others he served with means a lot. Wish I could find more pictures with him in them!

Cindy Alackness- so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband Joe and a friend of all of us at the 221st. I hope others communicate with you thru this site. Other people who i am sure will remember Joe would be Daniel Opdyke, and James Coghill. I hope this helps as i know they frequently visit this web site. Please share Joes pictures with all of us at the 221st. Thankyou Monty for all of your hard work on this web site. It means a lot to all of us. God Bless America Herman Schultz

Please update my e-mail

I am the widow of Joseph Blaise Alackness. I have enjoyed looking at all of these pictures. I found him in one (I have the same Picture) of James /Goodeve's I would enjoy hearing from anyone who remembers him.

Looking forward to reunion. also am trying to locate Chuck Plummer. thanks manny

Along with what Don is doing. We are looking for a copy of the Humanitarian Award we received as a result of our work at the Soc trang Orphanage. If you have any documentation or pictures, they would be greatly appreciated.

Looking for any information that any of you Original Shotguns may have regarding the support that we gave to the orphanage that was located in Soc Trang. I seem to recall that several of the folks were involved in the construction of a huge water filtration system for the orphanage but I don't recall the details. If anyone recalls that project or has any photos of the work that was done I would sure like to get copies and the story of the work that was done to put in the Shotgun Blasts.

I have many fond memories of the 4th Platoon, Bac Lieu airfield and SSG Bill Blades. "Jack" the python and the airfield fire which burned our ATC tower down. I also remember all too well the Twin Beech that landed wheels up on me !

My father was in the 221st Unit. He is listed as: 567 Rulin R McMillan. However; his name is Hulin Richard McMillan. Could this be corrected? He went by Richard or Mac. I am so thankful you gave of your service for our nation and now have given of your time and efforts for this sight. I am so appreciative. Much thanks- Amy McMillan Arnold

Just another reminder of the upcoming reunion folks. Mark your calendar for October 13 to 16, 2011 and plan on being in San Antonio, Texas on those dates. If you need additional information or a registration form just drop me an e-mail but please put your dates of service with the 221st in the message. More information will be in the monthly Shotgun Blasts newsletter and if you are not currently receiving it, once again, just send me a message with name, e-mail, dates of 221st service and your hometown and I will add you to the list.

Most people spend their lives trying to stay out of tense situations - Bird Dog pilots spent their lives getting into tense situations.

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Monte, do not pay the ransom, I have escaped. My new email address is rtclayton@hotmail.com.

High folks, I am sure you are all aware by now that the web site is undergoing maintenance and it will be a short time until everything is back to normal and the information contained at the site is current and available to you. If you are concerned about the 2011 reunion or need some information it will be posted in the near future. Until that time feel free to drop me an e-mail and I will try to answer any questions you might have on the subject of the reunion. We will be meeting in San Antonio, Texas starting on 13 October and winding up on 16 October. Hope to see you there.

Would like some info about the 2011 reunion. We are thinking of coming to this one. Hope to hear something soon