October through December 2001
I am really thrilled to know there is a web site for the 24th Evac., Long Binh, Vietnam. It may have been 31years ago, but to me, just seems like yesterday.
So many memories, trauma, yet, teamwork and we all were in this together, weren't we? Am anxious to look at the other names in the guestbook. darlene
Mon Dec 31 22:09:22 2001
Looking forward to seeing & contacting old friends and meeting new ones.
Sun Dec 30 13:41:28 2001
The 24th Evac was also a unit where miracles could happen. One day while in formation around Oct. 15th 1965, the platoon Sgt. Staff Sgt. Munos came over to me & said "You're shipping out, yor're going to New York City!" What happened was a fellow I worked with, a SP/5 Robert Shelton who worked for 67th Medical Group Personal at Ft. Sam Houston has put in for re-assignment to an induction station in NY, while he was stationed in Germany. Instead they sent him to FT. Sam Houston, Texas. When he finally got his orders to NY, he had only less than 60 days left before his "ETS". Therefore he decided to recommend me for the assignment to New York City instead. My C.O. approved it and so did his C.O., and on October 23, 1965 I processed out of the 24th Evac. and flew up to New York City to report to the induction station as a clerk-typist, at 39 Whitehall Street in downtown Manhattan, NY. A few weeks later I got re-assigned to a new induction station they were starting up at Ft. Hamilton in Brooklyn, NY. I stayed there until my ETS on October 26, 1966.
Wed Dec 26 16:09:21 2001
Just want to say thank you to all the people who took such great care of me during my "visit". I came in late on the night of Feb 14, 1968 along with several other people from mu unit. I had received a gun shot wound to my left wrist (severing the artery and nerves) around 3:00 PM in the afternoon. We couldn't be evaced until late that night. I came in with a tourniquet (sp) comprised of my web belt and my bayonet. I remember the doctor being upset about the arrangement...I had to tell him that was the only way to stop the aterial bleeding. I thought I was going to loose my hand but when I woke up after the surgery it was still there!
I remember a night or two later a rocket attack...I think an ammo bunker was hit. A nurse stayed with me...I couldn't get up to get under my bed. I'm sure she was as scared as I was but she never showed it...just talked to me and kept me calm.
Thank you all again...for patching me back together and getting me home safe.
Patrick McAleavey
Wed Dec 26 12:58:23 2001
I'm looking forward to the reunion and meeting all the great folks who served with Cindy at the 24th.
Wed Dec 26 11:55:09 2001
I worked at the A&D office next to the heli-pad.Henry Powers(Pappy)
was our Capt. We worked 12 hr shifts and had one day off every
week. I worked with Kenneth Pontious who now lives in Colo.
and James (Lurch) Pinegar who lives in Tenn. My best friend was Jack
Hutson fron Ft.Worth, TX who I haven't heard from since 68
Mon Dec 10 21:18:13 2001
I worked briefly on post-op ward, spent most of time as emergency room nurse.
Thu Dec 6 14:07:05 2001
Many of you would remember my wife Rondi (peterson). We are still married after 33 years. The kids are 30 and 26. We turn 54 this year. Will dig through cedar closet and see if we can find pictures, etc. of our time there. We were both at the 8th Field Hospital in Natrang before it was closed and turned over to the ARVM. We're really glad to hear about this site from Tom Holloway.
Mon Dec 3 17:51:38 2001
I Transferred to the 24th Evac in July 1965 from the 136th Medical Dispensary, 67th Medical Group as clerk-typist (711). The Commanding Officer then was 2nd (later 1st) Lt.Richardson. The Batallion Commander then was Col. Sailing. The 1st Sgt. was "Billy D. Bobbitt" Sgt. Bobbitt was the best trained in that unit of survival in Vietnam so I was told then . At present I am the Post Historian of American Legion 321 in Cooper City FL and my address is Norman A. Sinowitz 9450 SW 49th Place, Cooper City, FL 33328-3409. If you get a chance send me all or any available info. about the 24th Evac.
especially the history.
Fri Nov 30 16:57:21 2001
I WAS BORN IN WEST VIRGINIA BUT RETIRED FROM USA IN 1985 AND LIVE IN SAN
ANTONIO. MY WIFE CATHY AND I OWN AND OPERATE BOB JENKINS PEST CONTROL, INC.
IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT SAN ANTONIO FOR THE UP COMING REUNION FEEL FREE
TO CALL ME AT MY OFFICE AT 210 979 7380 OR EMAIL ME AT BJ78216 @ AOL.COM
Wed Nov 28 9:31:24 2001
It was the most productive and meaningful time of my life. I've never thought anything after has been as rewarding.
Sun Nov 25 23:47:55 2001
WRAIR Team, general troublemaker. Hooch 2
Sun Nov 25 18:16:05 2001
Presently living in New York State and work in a state prison. Mother of three grown children and I have one grandchild.
Thu Nov 22 23:50:01 2001
I was on TDY loan from the 93rd Evac. briefly until being sent north to the 18th. Surg Hospital at Quang Tri. Worked there during the Cambodian incursion or if you prefer the Kent State shootings,which is where I attended school. My memories now shift to those who never had the opportunity of living a life good or bad, having children,failing or succeeding and wondering how in the world fortune shone on me and not others. As I get older these thoughts never dim. Someone asked me not long ago if I still thought about my time in viet nam and I said every day and probably till the day that I die. Dave Medlock
Wed Nov 21 22:16:06 2001
I was brought to the 24th Evac 26 March 1968 with severe head trauma.
Tue Nov 13 15:44:49 2001
I have enjoyed this site.I only recognized two people on the list and that was Patricia Kuhn and a nurse mentioning Teddy Frueden.I worked as an asst. to Col. Ervin Hunsuck and Maj. Bernard Balaban.They were the oral surgeons. Does anyone remember Wolfgang Keller,better known as just Wolf.He was the other asst.We rotated on call every 24 hrs.Well if anyone recognizes me , write me.
Sun Nov 11 1:02:38 2001
I look back with a special place in my heart for all the people I worked with and all the patients we cared for. I have not been in contact with very many of those people through the years. I retired from active duty in 1982 and look back fondly on the years I spent in the military and realize what a special part of my life those years were. I hope to hear from some of the extraordinary people I worked with and the special patients we cared for. Thanks for the memories.....
Fri Nov 9 19:51:26 2001
It truly wonderful to see this site up and running
Thu Nov 8 2:29:40 2001
Hello to all you special people. Can't wait to get to the reunion. Found another fellow nurse, now a CRNA, Bob Springer. Can't tell you how much this place means at least to me. Take care and be safe in these troubled times.
Ken
Tue Nov 6 6:48:17 2001
anesthesia school , letterman army hosp. 1969-70,left anc in 1974, worked in south hill, va until june 2001, now work in ft myers fl
Mon Nov 5 12:05:47 2001
Great professional experience, even better personal experiences. Will never forget the bonds formed with my co-workers. Would love to return and see the country under different circumstances.
Fri Nov 2 18:38:56 2001
The 24th Evac was born on June 15, 1942 at Fort Custer, Michigan, enroute to Camp Rucker, Alabama. It traveled to the European Theatre on the Queen Mary, departing on January 18, 1944, arriving on Omaha Beach on June 13, 1944 (probably not via the QM), and was immediately dispatched to LaCambe, France. It was variously located in Holland, Belgium, and eventually Germany for the "Battle of the Bulge." Sent home from Bremen, Germany, in February of 1946, it was put in storage.
It was activated on September 20, 1954 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas on March 15, 1957, where it was used for training purposes at nearby Camp Bullis.
The order for mobilization to Vietnam came in June of 1966, staff was assigned to the 24th Evac, and teams of personnel were sent to Long Binh during that summer and the rest of the year. The site was prepared during the fall and winter, and the 24th Evacuation Hospital opened for business at Long Binh in January of 1967. It closed in November of 1972.
You were NOT at the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Germany in the 1950's or 1960's. The 24th did not go to Lebanon during this time, either. Might have been another U. S. Army Evacuation Hospital - there have been many.
To my knowledge, the 24th Evac has been deactivated since
1972.
(History Source - "Lest We Forget, Part II," by Don
Barnett and Jody Foss.)
24thEvacuationHospital.org
Thu Oct 25 20:46:00 2001
Does units history start as an EVAC HOSP. in EUROPE?
Did it go to LEBANON during 1958?
PLEASE ANSWER, THANK YOU.
SPEEDO
Thu Oct 25 8:41:39 2001
The memories of time at the 24th are very important for me. I still have
good friends from that era. The reunion in Washington was immensely
important and I hope there will be a good turnout next year in San Antonio.
Sat Oct 20 11:36:39 2001
I received an early out. I recall that around March of 1972 the laboratory moved into a new mobile trailer with spanking clean white floors. We no longer were next to ER or X-Ray.
I volunteered to be a lab tech for the 128th Medical Detachment in Vung Tau.We were assigned there to assist GIs who reported to sick call. The GIs no longer had to travel a long distance for medical care. There was only one X-RAY, one Corpsman, myself and one sergeant. I forget the sergeant's name. While at the 24th Evac Hospital, I recall when I was called on to draw blood from a wounded ARVN soldier that came in on a MedEvac. The fellow had a live mortar inside of him. It may have been a large shell that failed to explode. I remember seeing the X-ray of the abdomen showing the shell. The shell was about the size of beer can and resembled the shape of a 9mm caliber bullet. I recall a Doctor Wayne supervising the team of ER nurses around this fellow. The gurney or stretcher the wounded soldier lay on was outside not quite in the middle of the Helipad but closer the ER entrance. I don't recall the date of this incident but I am proud to have actively participated in his care. Of course there were many instances when I would draw blood on wounded GIs in the ER room but this stands out as one unusual day.
Let me know if there are any caps with logos on them of the 24th Evac
Hospital being circulated. If not than perhaps it is time to make some for
all of us who were there. I am currently employed with the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms. A federal law enforcement agency in which I hold the
title of ATF Inspector. After my tour in Vietnam I went on the GI bill
and got my Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Texas
at El Paso. For that I am grateful to our government for allowing me to
attend college.
Mon Oct 15 22:48:00 2001
I was serving in Viet Nam in 1968 and 1969 with the 1st Infantry Division, Company B, 1st of the 18th. On March 6, 1969, we were on patrol in an area that was better known as the water treatment plant. This was just outside Saigon about 12 miles. The NVA had sent a special group of troops there to poison the Armies water supplies. We had been back and forth to this area over 3 days and receiving a lot of contact. At noon time on the 6th of March, as I was sitting in the middle of a rice paddy, I saw movement in the nipa palms to my left next to a small stream. I was a radio operator, so I called our C O and gave a status report. He had are small squad of seven go over to the river bank to check it out. The last thing I remembered was a flash and then coming too thinking that I was at home just waking up from a bad dream. I could hear someone screaming and yelling oh my god, but it was very distant. I soon realized that the screaming was coming from me. I could not see, I was paralyzed on my right side and sick to my stomach. I felt someone going through my pockets and removing my gear. After all these years, I now know that this was the NVA. My company commander came to see me a week later and wanted to know what had happened to my M-16 and radio. I didn't care at that point. I was med-evac'd to 24th Evac. I would guess around 1:00PM or later. I passed out in route to the hospital but came too when we landed.
When arriving inside, I was checked out and then sent to ex-ray. When I returned my lung collapsed. Getting the chest tube put in turned my world around. This is where the angels enter my life. I remember a nurse coming up to me and saying, "You have too try and stay awake, Hon." I remember the smell of her perfume as she stood at my head. After smelling the stink of Viet Nam countryside for so many months, the burning of wet wood in the villages, blood from the wounded and the decay of rotting enemy bodies left behind, she reminded me of life at home. Even though I could not see due to wounds, I wanted to ask her if she would please give me a kiss on the cheek. That way I would know If my face had become hideous. I had also been hit in the stomach and right leg. I began to throw up blood in large amounts and was given a plastic bucket. As I looked from my side at this time, I noticed a Viet Cong laying on the gurney next to me with his right leg nearly missing. We stared at each other and then he smiled as If in no pain at all. They came and got him first and took him to surgery. This is when I had a feeling come over me that I was in control of either living or dying. After seeing the world at age 19 from a war perspective, I didn't want to be apart of it anymore That's the last thing I remember for days to come. When I finally came too, I guess a week later, the surgeon that saved my life said to me that I was a very lucky young man since he almost lost me. The Army has lost all of my medical records while in Viet Nam, so I don't know what happened while in surgery. The next two weeks at 24th, I was treated with love and kindness everyday. Always a pat on head or holding my hand. I was so glad that I had made It back to this world and the kindness the nurses showed me made this possible.
Today I still have many of the scars and not much use of
my right hand. However I was still able to live the American dream. I got
married and had two children, and now have 4 grandchildren. I was diagnosed
2 years ago with Multiple Sclerosis. Now I face a new war not unlike Viet
Nam. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, will I lose a leg, an arm? I've
already lost my eyesight twice now. The difference now is that I have meet
the angels in my life, and unlike Viet Nam, I want to live. Again, thank you
for being there for me. I will never forget you even though I never knew
your names. Before I die, I would like to know who you were to say thanks in
person and give a long over due hug. The I will be ready for a better world.
To my angels that looked over me in the Nam, Thanks, Lou Patterson
Fri Oct 12 3:43:00 2001
If we have to go to war. I hope the 24th Evac will be there to give aid
to their soldiers in combat. The 24th will do Proud just like it did in
Vietnam and let the colors fly across the skies and "QUEEN TONIC, QUEEN
TONIC" shall be heard again. The red cross and the rising sun ( our
symbol) shall be there again giving aid and hope for another day, just like
they did before.
Thu Oct 4 16:03:54 2001
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Updated August 14, 2002