So... another question. Randy White wrote this and ...
Right?
Hold the phone- Literally.
Well, Thomas, It looks like I owe you a big apology. Randy just called me back. Seems I didn't talk with Randy this morning. It was someone else- his wife (thought the voice sounded high). Randy White does confirm your story. He says you are a ****ing asshole and he doesn't have anything to do you with anymore, but he met you before you all went over to Vietnam and you served in the Company until you left to PSYOPs in early 71. He said Batts did get there in March- after you left.
So- after I explained to you via PM about why we sniff out posers did you suddenly get all shithead asshole on us? All that was going to happen today was me making a few phone calls but them late last night you throw down the gauntlet.
No need to bring all this on, Thomas.
There were a few too many holes in your story and your refusal to even talk about them set off too many flags, Thomas. We have dealt with some real phonies before and they all act the same.
BUT- anyway- I am sorry we had to put you through this. It would have been easier if you had just talked to us.
Personally, being an old soldier, I'd like to hear a bit more about you and your time in country. I did a bit of the same things you did- although we had way more beach and not near as many trees as you did.
Yeah- you can tell me to go **** myself. Not like I haven't heard it before, dickhead.
Go back to the list where you DIDN'T find my name. Go down to the bottom of the page where it says "comments". There is no link and there is no way to contact the page's host. Nor is there an archive of past comments. Doesn't that strike you as odd? Randy stays behind a hundred sandbags attempting to avoid any criticism and comment from his L Company peers, and for good reason. I'm an asshole? Maybe so, but I'm not a world-class asshole like Randy. Mine isn't the only name he's stricken from that list. There are others. The story behind all this is long and sordid, and is something I don't care to elucidate here.
But since you're playing detective in all this, do a little homework on Randy's L Company experience. Isn't it odd that everything he writes has to do with everyone else's experiences? He never writes about himself, and nor have the 20 Lima Company vets with published books. Randy experienced ONE contact then ran like a scalded dog. He spent the rest of his tour as a PX clerk in Phu Bai. What a warrior, huh?
The Team Kenya mission was my sixth or seventh contact, I don't remember. That was in August, 1970. I was shot full of holes. The team picture you dug up was taken in February, 1971, six months later. Odd? An anomaly? No. I spent 10 weeks in hospital in Okinawa recovering from my wounds, and when I was sufficiently ambulatory, I told them I wanted to go back to the Ranger Company. I had to see two shrinks, a social worker, a colonel, then sign 15 forms, and back to Vietnam I went in November, 1970. You should have seen our CO when I walked in the door. That little shit's jaw hit his desk and his eyes were as big as saucers. He couldn't believe I came back. Nor could most of my peers.
Hazelton had had enough of the bush. After Team Kenya he stayed in the rear, working down in the TOC. Mike Knappen was still in hospital in Japan recovering from a bullet wound. Scheib and Henthorn were dead of course. I called each of their mothers from my hospital bed in Okinawa. Henthorn's mother was very sweet and caring; Scheib's mother was bitter and curt. At any rate, they both told me I was the only person from the company who'd contacted them. Our CO couldn't be bothered sending letters of condolence to the families of our KIAs, of which there were many. He was a self-centered little coward...rather like Randy.
I hated the politics of the rear, so back out to the bush I went. I pulled radio relay missions for the next three months. The photo you dug up was the last mission I pulled. We were on an abandoned firebase in the Roung Roung Valley. We'd been getting probed every night. I suffered a minor wound, an oak leaf cluster for my existing Purple Heart. I was a sergeant by then. I quit the company after that mission and like droves of other Rangers who were quitting the Company, I went down to Phu Bai to look for a job.
I had to compete for the job I wanted: PSYOPS NCOIC. There were 15 of us taking the test. I won the job. It was fascinating work, though it had its dangerous aspect. We had to fly out over the Roung Roung, A Shau, and Ho Chi Mihn Trail every day making propaganda broadcasts and dropping leaflets. We flew at 1200'. Generally the dinks left us alone. They didn't consider us a threat, though we did get shot at a few times. And that's what I did till the end of my second tour.
I accept your apology. You go a little too far though, my friend. I’m very proud of my Lima Company Ranger legacy, as are all my comrades who shared in so intense an experience.
BTW I have a photo of the Team Kenya bird. They counted over 400 bullet/frag punctures. It appeared in Newsweek in early ’71. I’m not going to post it here (Mack Davis hasn’t posted it at the Condor site either. It’s pretty gruesome.) I’ll e-mail it if you like.
