Name:  Paul Clark,                  Feb 20, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  I am sitting in my office viewing for the umpteenth time a copy of the Air Force News, dated Dec 09, 1966.  On the cover is a picture of two 377th Security Policemen.   A2C Robert B. Kane, and AB Alvin W. Curie from Grand Rapids Mi.

I was from Ohio then, born and raised there, but now reside in southern Michigan.

I look at the picture of Curie and remember him so well even though he was in a different sector, "C Sector," I think.  I was in a single man bunker that night just down from him and Kane.  I was in "B Sector."

I will never forget that night and the explosions that seemed to go on forever and it was warm that night.  I got the chills just waiting and watching the flightline and praying to see the daylight and for the planes to keep dropping flares.  I could hear Curie's machine gun down the line, as they were firing on the VC that had broke through to the fighters.

Curie fired the M-60 that night and killed 13 VC that night.  I remember watching him later as we gathered for guardmount at the armory, he didn't really look like a hero but then what do hero's really look like.

Later, we stood in an official ceremony for the defense the 377th Security Police did during the attack.  Curie was promoted to what rank I can't remember now and awarded medals for his heroism of stopping the enemy from doing immense damage to the aircraft and killing more of our troops.

It seems we stood for hours that day as speeches were made and medals were given out to the men who were on the main line of resistance, espically to the K-9 handler and to "Nemo the wonder dog," hero of the night.

But the toll of that night took its toll on Alvin and reminded me of the movie I saw of the the Indian, Ira Hayes.  That night wasn't anything like Iwo Jima but the toll of taking lives seem to have an ill effect on Alvin and he began to drink more heavily.  Within 6 months after the Dec 4, 1966 attack, they were putting Alvin on a plane, busted down again to no stripes and sent back to the states.

I often wondered what happened to him and tried this year to contact some of the Curie's in Grand Rapids, MI., to find out where Alvin is buried, after reading on your site he had died.

I had no luck contacting anyone there but would like to take a drive there and just visit his grave to honor once again the young boy that I looked up to that night as a real hero and the only one I ever personally met and will never forget.

Not all the hero's died on the battlefield, some has to live with themselves and what happened in Vietnam, for years and some never get over it.

I honor AB Alvin W. Curie today and never let his heroism die as long as l am alive.  I tell my four sons the story and my eleven grandchildren.

The congregation I now pastor, share our story with tears, as I have now in my eyes, of the necessity of war at times and the horror of it also.

God bless our troops in harm's way today and God bless America.

A1C Paul Clark

Name:  Reg Ditto,                  Feb 14, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  My name is Reg Ditto, I was a Sgt. among fulfilling my Security Police duties>br>
I worked for Col. Carter, Maj. Bender and Lt. Grover.

I made the overlay maps that Col Carter used to do his briefing. I was there from July 1967 to July 1968.  I have accouple of pictures of some of the K-9 dogs.  I also have a few pictures of the 0-51 Bunker, along with pictures of the weapons of our men who had fallen that day on the bunker.

I’m in the process of get a scanner.  If you like I would like to share these things with you, and maybe get some answers for my self.

The 377th SPS web site is without words, leaves me speechless!!!!!

Please reply when you get a chance,

Reg Ditto

P.S. I have made contact with Maj. Bender and hope to find more who’s names I can’t remember!

Name:  Charles Penley,                  Feb 13, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  Larry, I have done the following in search of Stanley Gilbert.

1.  Checked my files in the filing cabinet.  Stanley has not checked in with me.

2.  Checked the VSPA roster.  Stanley has not checked in with them.

3.  Checked google search engine for:

"Stanley Gilbert"Nhut = negative results
"Stanley Gilbert"377th = 49 hits but negative results
"Stanley Gilbert"Vietnam = 68 hits but negative results
"Stanley Gilbert"CoaCoa = 16 hits but negative results
"377th Security Police"Gilbert = negative results

I posted your message at URL:

1.  Tan Son Nhut Association, View Message at URL:
http://www.tsna.org/view/index.html

2.  377th SPS View Message at URL:
http://webpages.charter.net/cepenley/2008.html

Your friend,

Charles Penley

Name:  Larry Blades,                   Feb 13 2008
Email:  
Comments:  I need your assistance on something.  I am looking for an old friend of mine.  He was stationed in Rome New York with me, and then we both went to Tan Son Nhut together.  His name is Stanley Gilbert, an African American.  He was pulling Tango-6 Tower, in Alpha Sector, the night of Tet

I know he was from CoaCoa Beach Florida, and I have made numerous phone calls looking for him.  He's listed in alpha sectors roster for TET.  Do you by chance have any email address or any contact information on this man.  I would greatly appreciate any assistance if you can help.

Let me know please, very important to me.

Thanks,

Larry Blades

Name:  Daryl Pendergrass,                Feb 11, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  Wanted to post a question, I was on Tan Son Nhut Mar 1972 - Mar 1973, 377th Security Police.

There was a incident that happened approximately the first three months I was there, Mar, Apr, May?, not really certain, just remember I was sorta new in-country.

I remember several of us formed a perimeter at the main gate/Saigon, I remember taking cover behind, I believe a jeep with an M-16, but for some reason my memory evades me after that.  Do any of the other members remember that incident?  Another thing, for some reason I have no recall of what a 122mm rocket impact sounds like, would like some helpful info.

Appreciate it,

Daryl L. Pendergrass

377th SPS

Name:  Gene Gilbert,                Feb 8, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  I got a phone call to and it was the voice of Mike Hensgen.  We were on Echo-1 together, 40 years ago Jan 31, 1968.  Time has gone but our friendship and memories are still here.

Sincerely,

Gene Gilbert

Name:  Charles Penley,                Jan 31, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  Today, I want to make special mention one of the 377th Security Police Members.

Sgt Larry Blades
377th Security Police Squadron
Echo Sector
TSN Air Base
Nov 1967  - Nov 1968

Larry was one of nearly nine (900) security policemen to help defend TSN during TET 1968.

Larry has a son that is currently serving in the US Air Force with the 51st Security Forces Osan, Korea

His name is SSgt Zachary Blades and upon arriving with the 51st SFS, he learned that the squadron has a conference room named, "Bunker 51."   Inside this conference room is memorbilia of the 377th SPS and TET Offensive 1968.

Today, Jan 31, 2008 is the 40th Anniversay of TET 1968 and the 51st SFS is conducting an official ceremony of the event.

SSgt Blades is part of the "Honor Guard," presenting the American Flag.  The ceremony is being conducted inside the base theater and the entire squadron will be there and shown on the big screen, will be the "Attacks On Tan Son Nhut DVD," that Charles Penley provided for them and sells from his 377th SPS web page.  The 51st SFS is going to play "Taps" and the National Anthem while the DVD is playing.  We will do a roll call and call the names of the men who were killed.  When we do, the Lt in the back will respond, "Absent sir," after each name.

The information on the attack will be briefed, and there will be a 21 gun salute.  The chaplain will do a prayer and the honor guard will present the colors.  We have conducted a practice ceremony.  The ceremony is going to be great.

To the 51st Security Forces Squadron, we want to "Thank You" and we give you a, "Hand salute!"

Charles Penley

Name:  Charles Penley,                Jan 31, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  Today is the 40th Anniversary of TET 1968.

To Everyone who was on Tan Son Nhut this date and for weeks afterwards, "Welcome Home !!! "

Thank you for a job well done.

Your friend,

Charles Penley

Name:  Jim Newman,                 Jan 22, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  My name is Sgt Jim Newman, I am looking for a Security Policeman that was guarding a secure, fenced-in area, close to the Enlisted Men's Club, Post Office and basketball court, in 1967.

I was walking down the street and I saw a van coming toward me without a driver.  I managed to get in and stop the van and heard a cry for help.  So I rushed over and it was several Vietnamese men attacking the Security Policeman. So I ran to help him.  I didn't know why they were attacking him but I knew I needed to help because I thought they were going to kill him.   We finally got control and QC Vietnamese MP's came and said they would take me away the the 377th Security Police in charge, took me to their headquarters.

This a a memory that keeps going over in my mind and it will not go away, wondering if this guard made it out of there or not.

I just found your web site and it is great.

Thanks so much.

Jim Newman
Ft. Worth, TX

Name:  Rick Thomson,                 Jan 20, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  Just wanted to leave a note saying hi to everyone from Echo sector 11-66 to 11-67.  I have sent some photos to cpenley and some of the posts info from the Dec 1966 attack.   Have been unable to attend the reunions because of gastric cancer, but keep up reading the postings.  It's nice to hear any news.  If there are any guys from Echo sector reading send an e-mail would like to hear from you.

Rick Thomson

PS:  Hope 2008 brings you all a good year

Name:  Charles Penley,                 Jan 18, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  Looking for Sgt Gary Hubble, 377th SPS, 1969-1970.  Last four 9384.

Sincerely,

Charles Penley

Name:  Eugene Gilbert,                 Jan 17, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  After TET 1968, I was transfered from Echo Sector to Heavy Weapons Section.  Is there anyone out there that I could contact?  Ihank you very much for what your are doing,but can not remember any names.

Sincerely,

Eugene Gilbert

Name:  Tom McAdam,                 Jan 14, 2008
Email:  
Comments:  Brings back memories.  I was with the 148th MP Platoon at Tan Son Nhut 1966 - 1967.

I remember very well attack number 011, Dec 4-5, 1966 and the crash of a VNAF Skyraider less than a hundred yards from the 148th compound.

Tom McAdam

Name:  Jeff Morgan  (Base Police)                  Jan 04, 2008
Email:  
URL:  

Comments:  I was reviewing your lists and saw David Christopher handled Sarge.  I was with the 377th Security Police Squadron, Law Enforcement from July 1971 to May 1972.   I knew David, (Chris), back in Memphis, Tennessee in high school times.  We partied together and had some of the same friends.

I had been in country a while and one day I was standing on the landing, Building 1319, upstairs, and low and behold there comes Chris walking down the middle of the cantonment area.  We had a good visit.  Our schedules were such that we didn't do much together and I knew he was having some health issues.  I see you list him as being in country about seven months.  I never saw him again after I left Viet Nam.

I remember so many guys that aren't on your list.  "One Shot Keesling", Holmberg, Meyer, Terry Doss, Mitchell, Vaughn, Moffett from California, Sgt. Soap, Sgt. Auer, Sgt. Snooks from Hawaii, Bollinger, (one of the funniest guys I've ever known), Wadsworth, Tillary, (that guy probably made 50,000 dollars while he was over there), the list could go on.  I remember two guys that were in our Flight but went on town patrol with the 716th MP's, Turner and Patton.

It's funny how the mind loses some of it's clarity over time.  Yet, time I spent in Viet Nam is as clear to me today as it was then.  Because of moments.  Sacred moments spent in the company of people that were in and then out of your life, seemingly forever.  Of all the people I was in the military with, I did a four year hitch from 1970 - 1974.  I have only run in to two guys I was in Viet Nam with.  Wadsworth was from Florida and I was from Tennessee, we met in a shopping mall in Tucson, Arizona!  The other guy was my friend and running buddy.  We bedizened some of the bars in Saigon.  I settled in California and ran into Meyer, from Oregon, working here not a mile from me.  He was very aloof.  I suggested we get together.  He wanted nothing to do with me.  I never saw him again.  I have often thought about him and why he reacted that way.

Well enough, I hope you found this interesting.  I love your sight and hope you might put me on the list.

Thank you and keep up the good work!

Name:  Charles Penley  (Sentry Dog Section)                   Jan 01, 2008
Email:  
URL:

Attacks On Tan Son Nhut DVD *** WARNING ** *** WARNING ** *** WARNING ** 1.  This DVD contains a few scenes showing death.  Please know who is in the room with you when viewing. 2.  This DVD is 107 minutes long.  I did not put any audio narration, sound effects or music to it.  It is a silent DVD.  Consists of still photographs and movie film. 3.  Recommend that this be shown on your DVD player connected to your television.  The moving graphics, photographs and movie film will be smooth as silk. 4.  I watched this on my DVD on my computer and there were a few micro-seconds of hesitations. 5.  There are four sections to it and you can watch each section individually or you can watch all of them, one after the other. Charles Penley 377th Security Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon Oct 1967 - Jul 1969 Price:  $ 19.00 total  ( S&H is included in that price.) Contact Charles Penley, email:

Name:  Charles Penley  (Sentry Dog Section)                  Jan 01, 2008
Email:  
URL:

At some time in the future, the 377th Security Police Squadron and the Tan Son Nhut Association web pages, will no longer be on the internet.  To help keep our heritage alive, a CD has been developed. With the help of twenty-three (23) individuals and seven months of hard work, the CD is now ready for release. Some of the various sections are listed below: 1.   Over 500 Photographs 2.   49 Stars and Stripes newspaper articles with, TSN by-lines 3.   Air Force newspaper with, TSN by-lines 4.   377th Security Police Squadron newsletter 5.   Documents 6.   Stories 7.   Memorial 8.   Book Section 9.   Building numbered and named 10.  Cartoon's 11.  Miscellaneous Price:  $ 20.00 total  ( S&H is included in that price.) Contact Charles Penley

Name:  Charles Penley  (Sentry Dog Section)                  Jan 01, 2008
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URL:  

Comments:  Happy New Year to one and all !!!  We have gotten together many times in 2007.   Helped in sharing our memories and helped other veterans, with their search, for answers.  We all hope that 2008 will be a better year than 2007.

Stay warm and safe,

Charles Penley

FROM THE WEB MASTER:  Today is Jan 01, 2008.  I hope that everyone had their wishes granted from the year 2007.  However, I am personally wishing each and every one of you a better year in 2008.  So what do you want to talk about this year?  I would like to hear from all who come to this web page.  How can this web page help you better informed?