September through October 2003

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David Hadden <sdhadden_2000@yahoo.com>
Chanhassen, MN
I was at the 24th Evac from: 69 - 70
Association: cast man, orthopedics
Will be in DC 11/7-9 on business but can break away. Can't make it to the Sunday Brunch. Is there anything before this?
- Friday, October 31, 2003 at 23:57:32 (EST)

Carolyn Hisako Tanaka <tanakacl@aol.com>
Fresno, CA 93728
I was at the 24th Evac from: Feb 67 - Sep 68
Association: Nurse
I was head Nurse in the ER in 1967-68. Looking for the corpsmen who served in the ER during that time. Found most of my nurses. Especially want to contact SFC Eddie Hubbard, my wardmaster whom I lost contact with over the years. Last known address was at Beaumont Gen. Hospital in TX.
- Friday, October 31, 2003 at 10:31:46 (EST)

Karl Dennis <MADENNIS@NETNITCO.NET>
My last name while in Vietnam was: DENNIS
CROWN POINT, IN USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: 1966/1967
Association: MEDIC
Hello again, I first left a message on the guest book on October 6th. My reason for writing again is to alert all Vets about the occurrence of brain tumors in Vietnam Vets. I drove home from work the night of February 28th, had a seizure and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, and transferred to Chicago the next day. I see Dr's at Rush Pres. St Lukes and NOIC in Chicago. My wife Mary Ann went to our local Vets Administration to get a copy of my DD214, an was advised by personnel there to file a claim against the government, which we have done. Brain tumors are not one of medical conditions that are included in the diseases being compensated for at this time, but may be in the future. If down the road brain tumors are included, then the claim goes back to the first file date. If my warning convinces one person to get medical attention in a timely manner, than I feel this message was not in vain. Please take this opportunity to protect yourself so that you can enjoy a long lived relationship with your friends and loved ones. Karl
- Wednesday, October 08, 2003 at 23:18:52 (EDT)

Bruce Kuhn <kuhynbk1951@aol.com>
My last name while in Vietnam was: Kuhn
Sumner, WA USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: October, 1971 to May 1972
Association: triage, helicopter medic
It has taken me over 30 years to get involved with my association with anything to do with year in country. I feel so refreshed by finally embracing the friends made while there, hopefully I will start getting a full nights sleep some night! If Cpt. Tommy Cosgriv (sic) is ever on this sight, God Bless You!. SPC4 Bruce Kuhn
- Wednesday, October 08, 2003 at 11:18:11 (EDT)

Karl Dennis <madennis@netnitco.net>
My last name while in Vietnam was: Dennis
Crown Point, IN USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: 1966 - 1967
Association: Medic
Just found the website up and running again, glad to see it back thanks to Ed Fortmiller. I was with the 24th Evac and shipped over seas in June of 1966. After arriving in country we spent 6 months building the hospital, where I remained as a medic. In November, 2002 my wife and I had the opportunity to meet other members of the 24th Evac for a Veterans Day reunion. We meet Ed and his wife, and several other members of the 24th. On March 6th of 2003 I was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, a Glioblastoma Multiforme, one of the most aggressive, and difficult tumors to treat. I have undergone two brain surgeries, radiation, chemo, and now will have Gamma Knife surgery this week. My Neurosurgeon will says anymore surgery will do too much damage, so the Gamma Knife radiation is a good option. I am writing this to inform all Viets of the occurrence of tumors in Vets from Vietnam, three from my unit.
- Tuesday, October 07, 2003 at 00:24:10 (EDT)

Smits, Paul <PAUBMW@AOL.COM>
Hedgesville, WV Berkleley
I was at the 24th Evac from: 1970
Association: Physical Therapy Assistant
- Saturday, October 04, 2003 at 22:12:50 (EDT)

Joe Patawaran <jnp1968@msn.com>
SUNSET BEACH, NC USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: 70-71
Association: Stat. Clerk Registrar 70-71 under Major Young
Looking for two roommates of mine. Larry Willet and George they worked in the physical therapy part of the hospital. Even though I work in the registrar office I did not stay in their hut. Larry was from Mankato, Minn. Any body that worked in the physical therapy and remember these guys please e-mail... Couple of fun loving guys there were. I know some of the nurses knew them... E-MAIL me at jnp1968@msn.com... They were at the 24th from 70-71.. Some of the nurses that they knew was one name Sheila and Cindy.
- Tuesday, September 30, 2003 at 17:48:08 (EDT)

Piscataway New Jersey Dance <Piscdance@yahoo.com>
Piscataway, NJ USA
I visited a while back. Got a notice that the URL changed so I came back for another visit. Keep up the great work.
- Monday, September 29, 2003 at 15:28:10 (EDT)

SP4 Dennis Haines Ret. <Inf199thBde@aol.com>
Palmyra, PA USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: December 1968
Association: Patient
This past year to date has been a wonderful experience for me .I have been able to make contact with four people that were at the 24th Evac. when I was there as a patient. John Baldwin, who's sign in I saw on another web site, Tom Rohner who works where I do at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center and with the help of John Baldwin was able to get in touch with Mary Lou Knaebel a nurse on the neuro ward and most likely treated me. I found out when I signed in here after Ed Fortmiller took over the site that he lived in this area before moving to Massachusetts. We had talked by email several times after my first sign in and found out that he too was at the 24th Evac. when I was. I found out from John Baldwin that Ed was going to be here in PA this week and very close to me. John told him to contact me and John emailed me to say that Ed might stop to see me. I was hoping so much that this might come to be and yesterday it did. I got a phone call from Ed that he was not far away and wanted to stop for a brief visit on their way to Allentown, PA. He did stop here and we had a wonderful reunion. We also found out that we were both at the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial last Nov. We most likely saw each other while forming for the parade. I had met Don Barnett that day and some of the nurses that marched in the parade. I thought I might hear from Don afterwards, but never did. Ed and I had the very best reunion and I enjoyed his visit so much. I'm sure we'll stay in touch from now on just as I have with most everyone else that I've met again after all these years. Ed told me he was on wards 9 & 10 but towards the end of his tour helped in the OR and got to assist on a lot of the head injured patients. I was one of those and I know that thanks to all of you and the very special care I received, you put me back together and gave me another chance at a life, even if it was remarkably different and changed me physically forever. It helped me get up and going again and have been able to live as close to a normal life as was possible. My experiences with all of you then and even more now is absolutely the greatest. I was an Infantry squad leader with the 199th Light Infantry brigade from Mar. to Dec. 1968. I was wounded by two gun shot wounds to the right side of my head on 6 Dec 1968. Thanks again to all of you for what you did for me.
- Saturday, September 20, 2003 at 19:35:10 (EDT)

Steve Ahlf <sainstlmo@aol.com>
St Louis, MO USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: July 1969-June1970
Association: Surgical technician
No particular comment except that I have thought about my time at the hospital often since the invasion of Iraq.
- Wednesday, September 17, 2003 at 13:41:52 (EDT)

John Baldwin MD <jnbaldwin@mlode.com>
Twain Harte, CA USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: May 68-69
Association: Surgeon
1. Ed Fortmiller has done a remarkable job in getting the site up and active again. I have contacted three lost comrades since reactivation of the site. Very valuable. Thank you ED!!

2. Best site for viewing KIAs if you have buddies or patients is www.thewall-usa.com. It is easy to use, has "Taps" in the background, streaming graphics and every kid who gave their life listed and found by rank, home town, name or date of birth. I recommend, if you like it, send the guys who run it a few bucks...it is out of love and duty that it is kept up. Like the 24th site...same motivation.

3. This site reunited Dr. Tom Rohner (68-69), Mary Lou Knaebel (Brown) 68-69 and patient Dennis Haines in Pennsylvania last month...nurse, doctor and soldier in a campout thirty years later. The neurosurgeon on the case was Dr. George Bryar. Dennis was shot in the head by an AK, and sustained hemiplegia...loss of use of one side, but returned to CONUS to have a marriage, family and become a force in the administration of Hershey PA, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center...all in a wheelchair. The reunion was short but meaningful. Thank you 24th Evac site for putting these people back together.

4. "THE POOL": This place was across the road from the helipad and the 24th ER...who built it, and "who owned it" I do not know. It was not "ours". I remember it well for midnight skinny dipping with 24th evac guys and nurses..and for a tragic quadriplegic who had 2 days left in country before DEROS..who thought the three foot depth was enough to show off his high dive.
- Wednesday, September 17, 2003 at 00:45:35 (EDT)


American Veteran Search <VetsSearch@aol.com>
Bayside, NY USA
Association: VN Vet 70-74
If your really serious about Reuniting with a Buddy. We are the Only Veteran Search site on the Internet that actually gets involved with the search for your buddy! We track them down, speak to them and put you on a conference call with them... American Veteran Search at, www.VETERANSEARCH.com, is a website for locating your Service Buddies. We have several of the Largest Data Bases on the Internet today! Find your Buddies Today! Our Data Bases are updated daily and growing fast. Add your Military Info NOW! This site also has a Guest book& 144 Searchable Message Boards & many interesting, and useful Veteran Related links for your help & enjoyment...To date we have reunited over 7,180 veterans with their service buddies and are receiving over 3 Million Hits each month on our web site. One of them just might be your Buddy! "If were All here, We will All find each other"... "WELCOME HOME TO ALL VETERANS"...... "Veterans Helping Veterans"...... "We Make Grown Men Cry"...... "Walk in Peace"...Rich & Jack, AVS E-Mail: Rich@VeteranSearch.com
- Monday, September 15, 2003 at 10:01:31 (EDT)

Larry Prosono <USN1110RET@AOL.COM>
Long Island, NY USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: 1969 - 1970
Association: Frequent visitor and swimming buddy
I will be forever grateful to my good friend SP4 Randy Burns who showed me how to sneak in to the 24th Evac swimming pool. Besides, nobody really checked. Randy was a master at gaining entry into places he didn't belong, so with his help I was soaking up the rays and chatting with the nurses at the pool within 48 hours of arriving in country! Randy and I were "regulars" at the pool - everybody knew us, or so it seemed. Ah yes, a perfect late afternoon in Long Binh - a swim in the 24th Evac pool, a small nap on that deck they built, a Chinese dinner at the legendary Loon Foon Restaurant, and finally a visit to the Officers' Steam Bath (Yea! Randy knew at least half of the girls that worked there so we got in the back door. Nobody could tell we weren't officers). Anyway, to all of you who served with the 24th Evac - BRAVO ZULU! (Job well done) Larry Prosono CO E, US Army Depot, Long Binh, Vietnam
- Thursday, September 11, 2003 at 04:20:29 (EDT)

Nick Veitz <snakeboots@access995.com>
New Brighton, PA
Association: Heard of 24th Evac but I was with 29th Evac in the Delta
trying to find members of 29th Evac.
- Monday, September 08, 2003 at 13:04:08 (EDT)

Joan Groce Jones <71jjones@bellsouth.net>
My last name while in Vietnam was: Groce
Parkland, FL USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: Aug 66-Aug 67
Association: Nurse
When we nurses arrived in Saigon in August 1966, we were farmed out to other hospitals until January 1967. I was able to stay at the 3rd Field. At the 24th, I started in General Surgery and went to neurosurgery when that unit opened. Look forward to catching up with all of you.
- Friday, September 05, 2003 at 14:05:49 (EDT)

Richard E. Tauer <thetauers@ainop.com>
Stockholm, Maine USA
I was at the 24th Evac from: N/A
Association: No direct association
What I am interested in is, are there any of the people that were with the 24th that may have been with the 27th Surgical Hospital that left from Fort Lewis, WA in March 1968 and went to Chu-Lai? I was an Emergency Room Medic with the 27th in VN from the end of March 68 to Nov 68 when I got discharged and went home to Minnesota where I was born and raised.
- Wednesday, September 03, 2003 at 23:22:16 (EDT)

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Updated: January 12, 2004