In the coming months I hope to fill this page with pictures and remembrances

of our Brothers still on patrol

Do not stand by my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on the snow,
I am the sunlight on ripening grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
of birds in winged flight
I am the soft starshine at night.
Do not stand by my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Daniel Harmon 2ND BDE LRRP 1966-1967 K.I.A. 14:30 Hours June 2ND 1967 I have started this page with Dan because on that day in June of 1967 in the middle of an ambush he saved my life and then forfeited  his life trying to save another Soldier "Ronald Bonert", Dan was a native American and a great Soldier. Not a day has passed in the last 30 some years that I haven't thought of this Man and thanked him for my life.

Ronald Bonert 2ND BDE LRRP 1966-1967 Wounded June 2ND 1967 Died from wounds about 12 days later.This is the best picture we have come up with so far Ron's face is covered up by Dan Harmon we are still looking for a better picture. SGT Bonert was on his last mission that day he and Harmon were going home as soon as we got in. I was in the Hospital in Pleiku for one day before I was Medivac'ed out of country I got to talk a bit with Ron and I thought that he would be ok, when I got back in country and found that he had died it hit me pretty hard, we were denied extraction that day by an Infantry Battalion Comander and left out there for over 5 hours while the NVA set up all around us, no one should have died that day, Ron was a good team leader and a decent fellow I think of him always.

Charles Britt 2ND BDE LRRP 1966-1967, K.I.A. MARCH 30TH 1972

SFC Charles Britt was a profesional Soldier and one of the finest NCO's I had ever met. I do not know the unit SFC Britt was with when he was killed but once a LRRP always a LRRP.

    A letter from a friend. Bob Smyers

Ssgt. Wallate Fred Thibodeau  1st. Bde. Lrrp  !966 - July 19, 1969 ( KIA )    Rat ( nicknamed for being a Tunnel Rat ) was a very Courageous and a Heroic Soldier as well as a good person. He served 4 tours of duty in South Vietnam. He was in line for a field commission, to be a Second Lieutenant. He said he would still go on missions even after he was to be promoted, I use to tease him and tell him that I would not salute him after he got promoted, but I would like to "Salute" him now. He was well liked by his fellow Lrrp's and the Top Brass. My regret is that I could not save his life on our last mission, but the memory of him will live on forever with me and with his fellow Lrrp's. Farewell my friend, Emmett

THE FOLLOWING COME'S TO US FROM RATMAN'S MOM

THANK YOU FOR BEING MY SON'S FRIENDS AND FOR REMEMBERING HIM AS I DO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. AS  BUDDY'S DAD USE TO SAY TO US, ALL OF THE TIME;
"THERE ARE MEN, AND THEN THERE ARE THE MEN AMONG MEN"
YOU ARE THOSE MEN.  I AM SO VERY PROUD THAT MY SON KEPT SUCH GREAT COMPANY.

Mom said she thinks this is what Buddy 'Ratman' would say to you all if he
could: "When you think of me, do not think of me with tears,
           Think of me with laughter and love for each other,
           Or do not think of me at all."

Born Dec. 05--1948 Magnolia New Jersey, Died July 07-1969 Pleiku Province R.V.N.
Frank Humes was a LRRP in the 1st. Bde. He was also a trained sniper Larry Flanagan, James Zwiebel and Frank Humes were a LRRP team who conducted missions from the hills of Dak To to the rugged jungle of the Plai Trap Valley.
Frank was a special kind of person, on a LRRP mission he was as good as anyone in the unit, but away from the jungle he was a kind, friendly, warm hearted person who touched everyone who met him. We nicknamed him [ pig pen ] after the Charlie Brown character because he always looked like he rolled in that endless red dirt. The picture of him here was his favorite, he asked me for it so that he could send it to his mother. I said no at the time, and have forever wished I said yes. I loved him like a brother and have missed him every day since. I am sure that Jim feels the same way to. Larry Flanagan

James Bruce McLaughlin "Jelly Belly"
James did a complete tour in the 1st. Bde. LRRPs 1968-69 he went home and for one reason or another he decided to come back. He didn`t return to he 4th Inf. Div but instead he went to the 101st Airborne Div.LRRPs. His second tour of duty started on Nov. 30-1970, and he was killed in action April 16-1971, by small arms fire. Anyone who knew Jelly Belly, knew that he was not your average LRRP, he had more courage than he should have, going from one wild firefight to another with hardly a deep breath in between. In the end his wild life caught up to him. Rest in peace old friend, we miss you.

Denny Belonger joined the 1st Bde LRRPs in June 1969.  We went on several missions together as members of Sgt. Ratman Thibodeau's recon team, Hawkeye-1-Alpha.  Denny was a big man.  He had a big smile and broader shoulders to match.  Denny was well-liked by all who served with him and conducted himself in sucha way that you knew you could always count on him, both away from and in the field. He asked nothing of others, always did what he was asked to do and never complained.  On our last mission together, Denny made  the ultimate sacrifice for his fellow teammates, unit and country. Despite the fact that our position was overrun by a numerically superior force of NVA regulars, and that immediate assistance was not available, Denny fought courageously in a desperate attempt to complete our mission. His undying devotion to his duty and his kindness and friendship will never be forgotten.        Bob Thomas

Steve Hathaway was killed shortly after being inserted on 23 June 1969.  His team and mine were both being inserted at the same time. Hathaway's team was inserted first and then my team. We were barely on the ground when the helicopters had to get back to help Hathaway's team.   Hathaway was killed and the other three were wounded.  One of my later missions was to go into the same place Hathaway was killed.  We did find spider holes dug all around the landing zone, but I do know they got on the ground without incident. This incident is featured in my story "Insertion Gone Bad".  Attached is a picture from the 4th Division newspaper taken a few days before he was killed. Warren Gallion

Lonnie Gibson was a good soldier and also friendly kid that always had a big smile on his face. We didn`t know him all that long before he was taken away, but Lonnies quick smile and friendly, warm personality made him a favorite of everyone that was lucky enough to have known him.
    I remember the day he died, I was on the chopper pad when they brought his body in. I remember how stunned everyone was, when the word got arround that Lonnie was gone. I saw the tears in the eyes of his teammates, the particulars of the mission I never knew, and didn`t want to. It didn`t matter to me, all I cared about was that we had lost another brother. He was lost but he is not forgotten, he lives on in our memories, with all the others.
                                                                             
    Larry Flanagan

Dennis Ahrendsen Dennis ran a number of missions as a follow team member and was a close friend. Sorry I cannot locate any pictures of Joe Kull as he too was a friend and killed on the same mission. these brave men were as fine as any serving in the 2nd bde lrrps during the war. KIA 6th September 1968
thanks, Barry Hoehn

KIA LIST

* NEXT TO NAME MEANS NO BRICK PURCHASED. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS!

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