Legion Escort Riders Wendell Affield and Legion Rider organizer, Ken Kephart Studying the Past Over the course of five days, while signing books and helping at the Museum, I listened to hundreds of stories as men and women reminisced about the Vietnam War and that era. I’ve come to realize that as we move into …
Legion Riders To Escort Mobile Riverine Force Museum to Bemidji
At 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 30, 2014, American Legion Riders will gather at the Super 8 in Little Falls, MN to escort the Mobile Riverine Force Association Museum to Bemidji. All riders are welcome to join. The escort begins in Little Falls, travels west on Hwy 10 to Motley, then turns north on Hwy 64. …
Governor Mark Dayton accepts Muddy Jungle Rivers
This past weekend I had the opportunity to do a book signing at the American Legion State Convention held in Rochester, MN. After Governor Dayton spoke to the Ladies Auxiliary members he stopped at my booth. We visited for a few minutes and I presented him with a copy of my memoir. He thanked me …
Searching For Sergeant Thomas: Two Clues This Week
The first clue, another picture of Sergeant Thomas at an awards ceremony. Picture taken by Army Veteran, Ray Pineau, sent to me by Loren Salzman. The second clue came from the sister of an army helicopter door gunner who went Missing In Action when his chopper was shot down during the Vietnam War. Donna Elliott’s …
46 years Later: Finally, Clues to a Hero’s Identity, Sergeant Thomas
For more than four decades this man has haunted me. Few of us have the honor to witness actions of a true hero. I did. Yesterday I received my second clue to locating him and his family. Here is a message I just posted in a veterans chat room that is specifically for Army and …
Mobile Riverine Force Museum To Visit 2014 Beltrami County Fair
David Quam, a local Bemidji, MN, resident, has a mission: to document on film World War II veteran’s stories. David’s home page: http://www.ww2bji.org/ I felt honored when he asked to record my Muddy Jungle Rivers experience. David recently learned of my plan to bring our Mobile Riverine Force Museum to Beltrami County Fair. He has …
Muddy Jungle Rivers Book Discussion: A Healing Journey——April 23, 2014
Sponsored By: Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning (NELL) Program will be in Gonvick Community Center: Coffee at 9am, program at 9:30 and wrap up around 11 or so. depending on questions. Open to the public (From NELL Newsletter) In January 1968 Wendell Affield went to Vietnam as the cox’n of Armor Troop Carrier 112-11 with …
National Geographic History Special
March 26, 8 PM Mobile Riverine Force Vietnam For those of you who have read Muddy Jungle Rivers, or are interested in the river war in Vietnam, this History Special will add a new layer of understanding. See the trailer at: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episodes/brothers-in-war/ Through gripping first-person accounts and digitally remastered archival footage, including the soldiers’ own …
Ambush Survivors Reunited 45 Years Later: Memories from August 18, 1968
From left to right: Larry Reid, Cleve Chick, David L. Cowley, Larry R. McCormick, Wendell Affield (To put this blog post in context, please read the August 18 post.) Reunions can be poignant, frightening, illuminating. This past week my wife, Patti, and I attended the 2013 Mobile Riverine Force Association Reunion held in Indianapolis. I …
Ambush on Hai Muoi Canal, Vietnam 18 August 1968
Within the first twenty seconds of the ambush, Armor Troop Carrier (ATC) 112-11 takes 3 rockets in the well deck, incapacitating a full platoon of army troops A black army sergeant manning this 50 caliber machine gun was severely maimed when a B-40 rocket burned through the one inch armor. He was a true hero. …