Vietnam Vets!! Read here!!

Local Man Reconnects with Viet Vets

John Holt is a retired Larned High School teacher, and a veteran of the Vietnam War. And he has a story to tell.

            About the mid ‘90’s John began to think about his experiences and about his buddies from that very traumatic time. But it wasn’t until his career teaching came to an end that he and his wife Lisa (Sallee) began to formulate a plan.

            During the Viet Nam war, a Task Force was created to keep the Cua Viet River open for the supply lines to the Marines fighting below the DMZ. (Demilitarized Zone). This Task Force consisted of 150-200 men rotating in and out forming a 30-35 man division of navy personnel. The years spanned were 1967-mid 1970. The term “men” is a loose term because the age range was as young as 16 up to early 20’s,with an average age of 19.

            John was sent to Vietnam to serve in this Task Force for one year, and assigned to the “Brown Water Navy” Task Force. Their assignment was to patrol the river on boats called “Landing Craft Personnel Light (LCPL). Most patrols consisted of 5-6 men per LCPL, working the river at night in 16 hour shifts. Their objective was to hinder the North Vietnam army from using the river to navigate their supplies …and at the same time to use that same river for the transport of goods, ammunition, and other supplies to the U.S. Marines.

            It was a dangerous assignment.

             The North Vietnamese government put a price of $1500 on the head of each man in the division. These Task Force personnel were a threat, and they did what they were sent to do.

            These men relied on each other to stay alive and watched as several of their buddies died. This time of war created a bond that connects all service men and these men believed that they would all remain in touch after returning home.

            When these men did return home they were treated horribly by some who stayed home and as a result, each man quickly set that time of war to the back of his mind to get on with living a “normal” life.

            John’s journey to “reconnect” began when his teaching career came to an end. It appeared that Viet Nam was taking a greater toll on him than he thought. Diagnosis of Diabetes and a subsequent diagnosis of the early stages of Parkinson’s led John to wondering where his former buddies were.

            Time and memories had faded and the names of the men he had served with were vague. He began to search the internet with some partial names and pictures. He found connections, and within just a few months, he had located 10-12 men whom he had served with.

            Soon he found that one friend, Mike McMurray, lived within driving distance of Larned, and John soon made arrangements to visit him. Both men were nervous. “What would they talk about?”

            It was as though they had never parted. Now aged, grey-haired, balding, and each walking with a cane, the two men talked for hours as they reverted to their youth and recounted stories.

            A few months ago, John and Lisa arranged a “get together” in Kansas city with a few of the “brothers”. Thirty three showed up. It was a resounding success…healing…restoration.

            Because of the abundant use of “Agent Orange” during the conflict, each of the men who came to KC have similar health problems. Each one has been diagnosed with diabetes, neuropathy problems in the joints, and multitudes of additional health issues.

            But, this wonderful experience of restoration has only just begun and it has strengthened John’s resolve to find as many men as he can whether he served directly with them or not.

            John added “Our goal is to stand together, because we are going through battles still…and now they are health battles”

            Further research has revealed truths hidden by time. Very few government records acknowledge that this division was located on the river. But these men KNOW they were there. They still truly believe that they all could navigate that river with their eyes closed. Many do so each night in nightmares more real than waking life.

            Some have never gotten over the shock of being booed as they returned to the U.S., and many still think no one cares.

            This desire to reconnect has grown from one man’s faltering memory to 33 men living throughout the United States and a multipage website. This story is being told and needs to be told in every manner possible.

            There are more out there and the website is a valuable tool as this story continues to unfold.

            Check John’s website for greater detail: http://69lima70.wix.com/atsb-river-rats