Willing and Able

Personnel of 1st Battalion (Airborne) 320th Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division

The Email and info below is from Capt David Yeager and I do thank David for all his work. I also received 16 Pictures from Robert Dalton today who served in “D” Btry 320/82 in 1961/64 and will send them to you in hopes that you can Identify some of them for us and add more names to your growing roster.

Please spend some time with this Roster and help us out as best you can with Names, Home Towns or States. Middle Initials and ages are of utmost importance but any little clue will help.

The Reunion will be held 24/27 May 2012 in Fayetteville, NC. We now have about 1,000+ names on the Data Base !

Guns of Glory

January 1983 to May 1986

Compiled 2011 by David W. Yeager Carlisle, PA (B & HSB Batteries)

I was a member of the Battalion during the period above and have compiled this list for the 320th Organization from a number of sources. We supported the 2nd Brigade which comprised the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Bn’s of the 325 Airborne Infantry. The Division Artilleries of the 82nd and 101st aligned with one Regiment shortly after I left, moving all of the 320^th to the 101st. This list is the best of my recollection from lists, 1982 82nd yearbook, photos, etc. In some cases I have only the rank and last name and other cases only a first name.

The personnel moved throughout the 4 batteries of the battalion and some of us served in 2 or more batteries. The set up will include by staff section and battery and the same name will pop up in different areas. I will also note the positions many of us held as best as I remember and in the order from 1983 to 1986 as best I can. When I decided to resign from the Army, I moved to the Division Fire Support element so I am not as sure of the group after that time. Additionally, I don’t have much on the firing battery or FIST personnel outside of B Battery.

The branch of any officer not FA will be noted in ( ) after their name. Many of the Senior NCO’s and Officers had served in Vietnam.

The Company FIST was fairly new with the 11C FO’s moving to the FA units and Teams formed to support the Infantry Companies. Each Team (9 personnel) had a HQ with LT, SSG & Ratello / driver (I never saw my Jeep – we walked) and 3 FO Teams with a SGT & PFC each that went with the platoons. We were organized in garrison with the firing batteries and deployed with our assigned Infantry companies. The Bn Fire Support NCO acted as the Platoon Sergeant in garrison. This also gave the Battery Commanders 3 extra LT’s for additional duties! I am not sure if all Divisions used this set up. There were thoughts that we should be with our Infantry units all the time or that all FIST should be with HSB as this was where the actual TO&E had us in the first place (this is the way my Army NG unit did it in 1986).

As I haven’t maintained contact with too many from those years, I do not know where most of these troopers are today. I will note where possible where they were when I last heard from or about them. I cannot guarantee the accuracy in all cases.

We had a reunion of the Bn Officers in the summer of 1989 when Col. Williams was assigned to the Army War College here in Carlisle, PA. A number of the group were able to attend and we had a great time re-living our time at Fort Bragg.

We were involved in a number of transitions at the 82nd and DIVARTY during 1983 – 1986. Technology was moving forward. Today we see the demise of DIVARTY, new parachutes and the use of computers way beyond our expectations of the past. Some of the changes then included:

·M102 howitzer being replaced with the M119 British light howitzer – there was one or 2 in the DIVARTY motor pool when I left. When I got to my National Guard unit, we had the split trail 105mm howitzers developed for WWII!

·HUMMV replacing M561 Gamma Goat, M151 series Jeeps. HUMMV’s were being moved into the TOW units.

·Gunnery – My Officer Basic Course was one of the last to do complete training on manual gunnery and FADAC. The Battery Computer System had not yet been added to the Ft. Sill program – we would see it when we got to our units. Manual gunnery was a big part of our work at Bragg. We also had the Texas Instrument TI-59’s for both artillery and mortars. Digital readouts were also being integrated for the gun sections. Lasers of all kinds were used for forward observation to target designation for close air support.

·Survey – Manual survey was still done with theodolites however the PADS (Positioning & Azimuth Determining System) showed up mounting on a jeep and costing big dollars.

·Aviation – UH-1H Hueys were still going strong with the UH-60 Blackhawk coming up fast. Apache AH-64’s were still a few years away so Cobras were still the order of the day.

·Uniforms – Battle Dress Uniforms (BDU’s) replaced the old green fatigues. The

Marine Corps was smart enough to make a hot weather version right away. We wore the standard type to Grenada and they were HOT. They then issued the old green jungle fatigues until the Army developed a hot weather version BDU a few years later. The old wool blankets were exchanged for poncho liners (the greatest invention since the Jeep!) and Kevlar helmets replaced the old steel pots.

·Food – Meal, Combat Individual “C” rations gave way to MRE’s first generation (Meal Ready to Eat or Meal Rarely Edible by some). They were lighter which is a plus when you carry everything on your back.

A side note – my Dad visited me in 1984, 40 years after he was at Fort Bragg with a heavy artillery group (240mm howitzers). We were still using the same manual gunnery he learned in the 1930’s & 40’s and we found his Battery Supply Building still being used by the Special Forces on Smoke Bomb Hill.

I – Bn Command & Staff

Bn Commanders

 · LTC Randall Anderson –Found- Col. Anderson went on to command the 101st DIVARTY

· LTC Duane E. Williams – Found- Col. Williams is a long time family friend and retired to

Fairfield, PA several years ago. He owns a farm and still works as a consultant.

· LTC John J. Ryneska – Found-  MG Ryneska (also S3 earlier in 1983) also served as 7th

Infantry DIVARTY Commander, 18th Abn Corps Artillery Commander and Deputy

Commander of 18th Abn Corps prior to his retirement. The last I knew he was

working for the government. His father Col. Joseph Ryneska was a commander of the

187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team Rakkasans in the 1950’s.

Command Sergeant Major

· CSM Sterling Dameron

· CSM Harrison

Bn XO

· MAJ John J. “Jed” Peters Found

· MAJ Gordon Evans- Found-

· MAJ Richard Measner Found-

Bn S-3

· MAJ John J. Ryneska- Found-

· MAJ Paul Passaro Found

· MAJ Richard Measner Found

· MAJ Ned Spohn (Col. Spohn went on to command the Bn and DIVARTY later in his

career). Found in Southern Pines, NC

Bn S-1

· LT Steven Renfrow

· LT Robert Jacobs

· CPT Brian Schmidke- Found-

· CPT Jay Grandon Found

S-2

· CPT Steve Mudd

· CPT David Belcher- Found- (Dave was my boss in the S-4 shop and got out of the Army after

Bragg. He stayed in the Army Reserve and I last heard from him a few years ago in

Frederick, MD).

· LT Ito _______ (MI)- not sure of last name

· LT Steve Hood (MI)

S-4

· CPT Gary Walker

· CPT James B. Dalton- Found-  (Jim went on to command B Battery – He retired as a LTC and

last I knew he was teaching at USMA, West Point, NY).

· CPT David Belcher- Found-

· CPT Peter Hoffman

· CPT Andrew Cox

Bn Fire Direction Officer

· CPT John Hurley

· CPT William “Bob” Bishop – Found- Bob left active service and served in the Reserve

Special Forces Groups. I saw him a few years ago attending the 2 week component of

the Army War College here in Carlisle – I believe he had made it to rank of Colonel.

Lives in CO.

· CPT Robert Cline Found

NBC Officer

· LT Cary Smith (CM) – Cary was the only Assigned Chemical Corps Officer I

remember. It was an additional duty otherwise.

CESO – CPT Johnson (Signal Corps – not sure on this one).

Chaplains (assigned to DIVARTY)

· MAJ Father Whalen (I believe he made it to Colonel). Found

· CPT Stevens (Was a Marine?) Deceased per David Reese

· CPT David Reese (believe he made LTC – His father was one of the original US

Army airborne Test Platoon members). Found

Bn Physician’s Assistant

· CWO _____ Aucon

· CWO Geronimo Picazo Jr.

Bn Headquarters / Staff / TOC

· SFC Hendry – S-1 PAC NCO

· SFC William E. Hoffer – S-1 PAC NCO (retired as a CSM – He is a member of my

chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association – we have not bumped into each

other yet).

· SFC Ricketson, Gregory “Greg” – Found- S-3 Section

· MSG Valines – S-3 Section

· MSG Deese – S-3 Section

· SFC Hammond – S-3 Section (also was instructor at Advanced Airborne School)

· SFC Woodard – S-4 Section

2nd Brigade Fire Support Officers

· CPT David Mallot

· CPT August J. “Auggie” Fucci- Found-

· CPT Lawrence Henson

· CPT Charles Glass Found

· CPT Jay Grandin- Found-

· CPT Lawrence Henson

· NCO – SFC Thomas Steele

Bn Fire Support Officers (various Bn’s within the Brigade - no specific order)

· CPT Kenneth Black

· CPT Brian Schmidke- Found-

· CPT Thomas Grushney

· CPT William Keegan Found

· CPT Michael Goodwin- Found-

· CPT Jeff Wright – Jeff & I met the first day of our Basic Officer Course at Fort Sill

and became good friends. We went to Ranger School together (we got hurt in the first

week and were out – Jeff went back as a Captain and made it through!). His career led

him to assignment as a Foreign Area Officer. The last I heard he was coming back

from overseas. That was several years ago.

· CPT Damian Carr – Damian made Colonel and I saw him at the War College a few

years ago. Found

II - Headquarters & Service Battery

Btry Commander

· CPT James N. McNeil

· CPT Gary Walker

· CPT Allan Gold- Found-

· CPT David King

Btry First Sergeant

· 1SG Jimmy Holland-Deceased

· 1SG Johnson

· 1SG Gordon R. Graves- Found-

Recon & Survey Platoon – this LT typically acted as HSB XO

· LT Michael A. Menu

· LT Owen T. “Tim” Blevins Found-  Tim just retired from the Army Reserve with 34 years

total service (SF Enlisted, Active & Reserve) – lives in VA

· LT Michael Denman

· NCO – MSG Reese

Commo Platoon

· LT Randall Ponder (Signal Corps)

· LT Damian Carr Found

· NCO – SFC “Pappy” Watson

· PFC Myles – he helped me during operation Urgent Fury with Ammo – we had very

few of the support Platoon on Grenada due to lack of air transport

Support Platoon – included Bn Ammo Section & with me the Dining Facility. This LT

reported to the S-4 and acted as Asst 4.

· LT Carl Sublett- Found-

· LT David Yeager- Found-

· LT Mark Kamish

· LT Jerry O’Hara

· LT Eric Duarte

· Ammo NCOIC – SFC Robert Saylor

· Ammo NCO – SSG Harris

· Dining Facility NCOIC – SFC Woodrow Wilson Spruill (101st 11B in Vietnam – Found

· Dining Facility NCO – SSG Gunkel (went on to CWO in Food Service)

Bn Maintenance Platoon – Line mechanics I seem to remember were assigned to the

Batteries, however I will list all I remember here.

· CW3 John Birkner

· SFC Skinner

· SSG Belton

· SGT Mays

· SP4 Murphy (B Battery)

III – A Battery – mostly names of Officers & First Sergeant

Battery Commander

· CPT William B. Newham- Found-

· CPT John Hurley

· CPT Kenneth Stover Found – Ken was a hard core Texas A&M “Aggie” and after getting

out of the Army eventually made it back to TX.

· CPT Charles Glass

· CPT McDaniels

First Sergeant

· 1SG Gordon R. Graves- Found-

Battery XO

· LT Kenneth Black

· LT Kenneth Stover Found

· LT Jeff Wright

· LT Alexander Cox

Fire Direction Officer

· LT Kenneth Stover

· LT Kevin Donohue

· LT Jeff Wright

· LT Alexander Cox

Firing Battery Personnel

· PFC Kelly – he helped me during operation Urgent Fury with Ammo – we had very

few of the support Platoon on Grenada due to lack of air transport.

FIST Team Chief

· LT Jeff Wright

· LT Alexander Cox

· LT Donohue

· LT Phil _____

· LT John Butler

· LT Kevin Kane

IV - B Battery – “Bravo Bulls”

Battery Commander

· CPT Lawrence S. Lineback- Found-

· CPT James B. Dalton- Found-

· CPT Arthur N. Taylor

· CPT Ike Eisenbarth – Ike had been an FSO for one of the Ranger Bn’s in Grenada.

He was hard to miss at 7’ft Found

First Sergeant

· 1SG Gary A. Bosse Found Email is:  gabosse@yahoo.com

· 1SG Zubko

· 1SG Miller

· 1SG Deese

Battery XO

· LT Donald B. Murphy

· LT Carl Sublett- Found-

· LT Howard O. McGillin Jr.

· LT Michael Goodwin Found

· LT David Yeager Found

· LT Damian Carr Found

· LT Jerry O’Hara

Fire Direction Officer

· LT Carl Sublett

· LT Jerry Mathis

· LT Michael Lassiter

· LT Michael Goodwin Found

· LT David Yeager Found

· LT Damian Carr Found

· LT Hector Salinas

Chief of Firing Battery

· SFC Zubko

· SFC Oglesby (I believed deceased when a First Sergeant at Ft. Bragg)

Gunnery Sergeant

· SFC Robert Saylor

Battery HQ

· SGT Chavez – Supply NCO

Fire Direction Center

· SSG Kenneth L Mucha Found

· SSG Barcines

· SGT Nothstein

· SGT Busey

· SP4 Coron

Gun Section Personnel

· Section Chiefs

o SSG Mark Carlson

o SSG John Coffin

o SSG Patterson

o SSG Hunter

o SSG Johnson

o SSG Johnson – The 2 “Johnson’s” were best friends and had been through

Basic together. No relation to each other.

· SGT Yost (Met him in later in PA ARNG – 1st 108th FA in Carlisle, PA – I believed

he lived in Hanover)

· SGT John Sporgetas Found

· PFC Truitt – His older brother was a SP 155mm Section Chief I worked with as an

ROTC Cadet in 1981 at Fort Knox, KY.

FIST Team Chief

· LT Jerry Mathis

· LT Michael Lassiter

· LT David Yeager Found

· LT Michael Goodwin Found

· LT Michael Denman

· LT Eric Duarte – Found- Eric became a good friend and was actually in my Wedding party in

1987. He got out of the Army and last I heard was in TN.

· LT Hector Salinas

· LT Mark Kamish Found

FIST Platoon NCO

· SFC Samrippa

· SFC Kenneth Belew – Ken retired as a MSG from the Army. I saw him few years ago

and was in poor health. I believe he is deceased.

FIST Personnel

· SSG Woodrow Spruill Found

· SSG Edelen

· SSG Davis

· SGT Terry Rogers

· SGT Charles Parker

· SGT Tony Frey (met up with him in 1986 at PA ANG 1st 108th FA – went on with

ROTC and became an officer – a Major when I last heard of him).

· SGT Serano

· SP4 Weeks

· SP4 Miller

· SP4 Harrington

· SP4 Pau

V - C Battery – mostly names of Officers

Battery Commander

· CPT August J. “Auggie” Fucci- Found-

· CPT Marion Seaton- Found-

· CPT Brian Schmidke- Found-

· CPT Peter Hoffman

Battery XO

· LT Charles Glass

· LT William Keegan Found –Bill went on in the Army and eventually commanded one of

the Bn’s in 319th FA.

· LT Kevin Donohue – Found Kevin was my sponsor as I was a new LT to the Bn and a big

help to me. The last I heard he had been the Garrison Commander as a LTC at Fort

Story, VA.

Fire Direction Officer

· LT Howard O. McGillin Jr. – Howard went on to law school and I believe an attorney

for the Army.

· LT John Eshelman – John’s older brother was an Infantry officer at Bragg during that

time. I do not know John’s whereabouts but his brother (a Colonel) was assigned here

at Carlisle Barracks as of last year. I have located Johns Brother and Sister both and waiting for them to pass information on to John.

· LT Robert Jacobs

FIST Team Chief

· LT Michael A. Menu

· LT J. P. Turner – JP went on to one of the Ranger Bn’s as a FIST Chief and was on

the Grenada operation with them.

· LT Robert Jacobs

· LT John Eshelman

· LT Daryl Bennett

· LT Beagle (He came to Ft. Bragg a previous summer as a USMA Cadet on CTLT)

· LT William Vockery- Found- (Bill and I were in school together at Eastern KY University

ROTC) I found and talked to Williams Mom and she gave me his phone number in St Joseph, MO. I called but no reply yet.

· LT Smith

· LT Phil Fredricks

We have 3 Messages from Sgt Waynolin “Wayne” Wood with a lot more information that has not been added to the 320/82^nd roster yet.

I have added some comments in Large Blue Font. I however have not completed checking who all is found from this group.

Rodg

1st Message from Sgt Wayne Wood.

Dear Rodger,

   This was a blast from the past, both good and bad memories. I served in various capacities in the 1/320th between February 1982 and March 1986. By that time we had just "regimentalized and merged to become the 2/319 as I recall. I can't remember the exact date we regimentalized so I'll include my entire stint with the battalion. I remember "LT" Yeager when he was in our FIST, kind of surprised he didn't remember me as I was a gun chief when he was in Bravo, oh well... Anyway, here's my addition to the roster, sorry I can't remember many first names; as you know we didn't use them much.  I'll use a format based on my position at the time I knew these guys; hope it helps. I'll try not to overlap with what CPT Yeager did but might add a fact or two to what he has already written to fill in the blanks. Waynolin (Wayne) Wood, SSG

I arrived in the battalion from 18th FA Bde HHB S-3 Section. I had lost my jump slot at Corps and managed to get a letter of acceptance from B Btry; the First Sergeant, 1SG Sam Jackson had been my Chief of Firing Battery in Germany and squared me away.  When HSB 1SG Jimmy Holland learned through the grapevine he had a guy with college and Corps level S-3 experience I got "snagged" at HSB, I didn't make it to Bravo for a year.

I remember many of the things CPT Yeager relates. I would add that my first jump with the 82nd was JTX Gallant Eagle 82, which I think still ranks as the worst airborne disaster in 82nd Abn Division history. The official body count was six killed, 150 injured, though as I recall there were about that many troopers in my hospital (March AFB) alone. The 320th took the brunt of the injuries as the winds that blew out of the mountains hit our two DZs (Gold and Silver) in our areas. I think we had B and C Batteries and elements of HSB; B got hit the hardest, I learned later we had some guns with as few as two men manning them during the exercise in Bravo. But I was kind of out of it being in the intensive care unit at the time. It took me about eight months to recover enough so I could convince the docs to let me jump again. Shortly after that I was promoted to sergeant and I was able to finally go to Bravo.

In October 1983 it should be noted that B 1-320th, as supporting artillery for the 2-325 Inf was on DRF1 when the call came out for the invasion of Grenada; we were the first artillery battery to be deployed to go, with Charlie close behind.   Beyond that there's not much to add except as it relates to individual members.

BN S-3 Section (Operations Clerk) Feb 82-Feb 83

CSM Crosby was Command Sergeant Major. Injured and forced to retire after Gallant Eagle 82 crushed two vertebrae. He'd already spent 12 years in Special Forces had something like four tours in Nam. He'd lost half of one of his lungs to shrapnel in Nam and didn't even realize he was hurt more than usual when one of our medics noticed him limping and did an exam. The last I heard he was selling cars in Fayetteville. He used to come to our ceremonies for awhile, then stopped. Don't know if he's still alive or not; he'd be up in years by now.

Maj Peters Found was S-3 when I first arrived in the battalion, he moved to Bn XO.

Maj Ryneska - Found S-3 took over from Maj Peters.

CPT Larry Lineback Found  was Bn FDO/AS3 when I arrived; he took command of Bravo shortly after Gallant Eagle and was replaced by CPT Hurley.

1LT Gregory Watson - CESO (Comms Officer) - Killed in JTX Gallant Eagle 82.

SFC Richard (?) Hoagland - was Operations NCO when I arrived. He retired just before Gallant Eagle 82.

SFC ______ Poisson - took over for JTX Gallant Eagle 82, was injured but refused Medevac and was the only guy manning the TOC while the rest of us were hospitalized. His risers got twisted across his neck somehow on the drag as he was dragged across the drop zone. He finally managed to get his knife and cut himself free as he was being dragged along by the high winds, The guys from FDC had to help him get up in the morning he was so stiff from injuries. I saw him a couple weeks later when I was finally returned to Bragg and he was still bruised all over his necks. I think he was transferred to Germany soon after Gallant Eagle.  About April/May 82.

SFC _______ Stone - Was Opns NCO for most of the summer 1982, can't remember where he went.

SFC Lee - Opns NCO till I moved down to Bravo.

SSG Greg Ricketson Found - NBC NCO, served in 101st in Vietnam, promoted to E-7 after Grenada and re-uped for another MOS. I got up with him about fifteen years ago, he'd retired and was working at Bragg teaching security I think.

SSG Joseph (?) Carr - Air NCO 

SGT McCreary (Sp?) Training NCO - got transferred down to legland during the downsizing of the Division  in 1984. The last I heard of him he'd gotten out and was selling insurance in Fayetteville.

SGT Bolan - Came in as a SP4 just as I was leaving, went to NBC school and became Bn NBC NCO.

SP4 Mitchell - I replaced him as Operations Clerk. ETSed.

PV2 Musselwhite Found - was my replacement as Opns clerk; later promoted, I remember seeing him as a sergeant in Alpha.

S-1

SFC Harlan Hendry - Bn PAC NCO; later transferred up to Division G-1.

Bn Motor Pool

SGT Steve Firstiun Found - Injured and medically retired after JTX Gallant Eagle 82.

Survey

SFC Luis Eledui (If this should Be Adalbert Eledui age 60 he passed away 10 Dec 2010 per Brother William in AL)

Bravo Battery

1SG Samuel Jackson - Found First Sergeant; replaced by 1SG Bosse.

SGT Ricardo Recindus - Gun Chief; injured at Gallant Eagle 82; medically retired.

SP4 Alberto Quinones - Killed at JTX Gallant Eagle 82. It was his cherry blast.

Charlie Battery

1SG Johnson ("Marathon John") 

B Btry: Feb 1983 - May 1985

Waynolin (Wayne or Woody) Wood  Found SGT- Gunner 4th Section (moved to 6th Section during Grenada, then back to 4th) Feb 83 - Feb  84, promoted to SSG and Chief 5th Section Feb 84 - Jan 85. 

1LT Murphy - XO before 1LT Carl Sublett Found - went to Korea after 82nd. 

SFC Abay-Abay: Chief of Firing Battery between Zubko and Oglesby.

2nd Section

Chief - SSG Hawkins - I believe he terminated shortly before Grenada and was sent to Korea. Trying to remember who replaced him.

PFC Truitt - the last time I was at the Division Museum you could see Truitt's photo, he is asleep at the wheel of his gamma goat. Poor guy was the assigned driver and stayed with his truck the entire operation even though the guys in charge kept bumping it off birds headed south for "more important" cargo. As it turned out we were short transportation for most of the operation as 2nd Section's truck - and Truitt - didn't get to the island until a day or two before we returned. But the guy stayed at his post, begging and borrowing C-rats and MREs to survive. A great trooper.

3rd Section

SSG James (Jimmy) Hunter - A little known footnote to 82nd history is that Jimmy's was the first piece emplaced on the island of Grenada. our battery was deployed in two groups. Jimmy was in the first group and arrived without their guns (which those of us in the second wave brought with us). Someone stuck Bravo on a hill across from Salines Airport to await the rest of us and the guns. They received sniper fire from a house situated halfway up a mountain all during the early morning hours of the 26th November. When the rest of us began arriving with the guns Jimmy had had enough. As soon as he emplaced his howitzer he asked for - and received - permission to blow the hell out of that house and did. It was the first artillery mission fired by the 82nd Abn (or maybe even the entire US Army) against an enemy since Vietnam. I always thought he should have received some recognition for what he did as that house was a headache for everyone there. I had just gotten off my bird when the house went up and had a birds-eye view of the gunnery. Jimmy got promoted to SFC sometime in 1984 and last I heard was assigned to the Airborne School at Ft Benning as a blackhat.

SGT Coffin- was official gunner during Grenada though he was acting Chief of Section as Hunter was at school and got called back for the operation. Later became Chief of Section and was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

CPL (later SGT) Sporgitas Found - A/G then Gunner for 3rd Section.

PFC (probably later Sp4) Wayne Dyment

PFC Gearheart - Came in the Thursday before Grenada as I recall.

4th Section:

SGT Clay Levins- Chief, took over from Rick Recindus Found after Gallant Eagle I guess. He ETSd in May 83.

SSG Mark Carlson - "Big Sven" - came from 509th in Italy, chiefed section til I left the battery. He came down on levy for Recruiter Duty in summer of 1986 the last I heard.

SP4 Gomez -

PFC Guerrero

SP4 Robert(?) Gaul - levied to Hawaii after Grenada.

PFC  Bobby Clarida - from South Carolina

SP4 (later Sergeant) Cortado

PFC Pintado - I think he was from Peru.

5^th Section: SGT Francis (Fran) LaCombe chiefed this section before me. As I recall he and SGT Eddie Smith were best friends (I don't know if CPT Yeager Found meant these two guys or not).

SSG Wood Found – I was given 5^th Section soon after I was put on the promotion list for E-6. Fran went to help Eddie in Ammo as I recall.

SSG Eddie Smith – took 5^th Section from me.

SGT Robert (?) Kraus gunner

SGT Robert Burke – Gunner

Sp4 Gre Mgatcherz – Gunner came from 1/319^th in summer 84.

SP4 Ward

PFC (later SGT, I think) Donald Goines – from South Carolina

PFC Izzo (from NYC I think)

PFC Daniele – went to 6^th section.

PFC Stanley Loko – from Nigeria – came from 6^th Section

PFC Coffman – from California

PVT Mae – came in late 84, right before I left 5^th Section, from Samoa.

6^th Section

SSG Herman James “Big J” - last I heard (in the 80s) he was driving a truck out of Florida.

SSG Garner – took over from James, later transferred to HSB.

SSG Felder – came from Korea and took over from Garner.

CPL Lakin - Gunner

PFC Rider

Ammo

SGT (later SSG) Eddie Smith chiefed Ammo section before taking over 5^th Section from me.

SGT Robert Burke moved from being my gunner to taking Ammo sometime in the summer of 84. Can't remember where Eddie and Fran were at this time.

Also: SSG Ondria Johnson was transferred to Bravo from Alpha during Grenada, I don't remember him ever being assigned as a Section Chief , though he might have been after I left.

Other batteries:

A Battery- 1SG Graves Found was First Sergeant of A Battery until Grenada when 1SG Eledui, who was by then First Sergeant of Charlie was unable to deploy due to shin splints he received during a marathon run the weekend before we were called out. The two swapped positions, 1SG Graves becoming First Sergeant of Charlie and Eledui taking over Alpha who stayed behind.

Battalion Training /Schools NCO – May 1985 – March 1986

Major Spohn Found was S-3

CPT Cline Found – AS3/Bn FDO

1LT Smith – Chemical Officer

1LT Johnson - CESO

SFC Hammonds Operations NCO

SSG Kenneth Mucha Found – Air NCO (Promoted to SFC in this slot).

SSG Bob (?) Loveless – NBC NCO

SSG Wood Found Training/Schools NCO.

Trying to remember who our clerk/typist was; strange, my mind's a blank there.

1SG Frank Zubko (Big Frank) became HSB First Sergeant after Top Graves.

After March 1986

Also, I ran into 1SG Deese in Fayetteville while I was working at Corps and found out he transferred to Alpha Battery not long after CPT Eisenbarth Found took command of Bravo. I believe he was in the Harnett County of North Carolina and retired soon after my leaving the Army, but this all probably happened AFTER we were reflagged under the 319^th sooo...

I also remember 1LT Duarte was Assistant S-4; I served a brief stint as Support Platoon Sergeant before being given a special duty assignment at Corps G-3 where I ended up finishing my career when my Gallant Eagle injuries finally caught up with me and I was medically separated from the Army.

I wish I could remember more; as I type this dozens of faces come to mind but I am hard pressed to put names to them. Then I think, it's going on thirty years since I signed in to the Division. The last time I visited Bragg (2002) they had an old M102 out front. I felt old. Matters were made worse when out of curiosity I checked the nomenclature plate and saw the serial number: 2545 and realized it was one of the guns I worked on, either as a gunner or chief. I remember the serial number not only because it was my gun but because the number itself had by coincidence another significance to me that I thought interesting when I worked it. You KNOW you're getting old when your gun is a museum piece!

A year or so ago I was rummaging through some boxes of stuff in my closet and found some of my old notebooks I carried when I was a gunner and chief. I'd had severe head trauma as a result of Gallant Eagle and relied heavily on writing things down for a year or two afterwards to convince folks I was all right. As Rick Recindus Found and I used to joke “Dain-bramaged paratroopers.” If I can dig those out I know there are more names and even homes of record where we can contact some of these guys.

Also, as I recall, Chaplain Stevens Deceased was former Special Forces. I remember he always wore his Scuba badge on his BDUs; a real soldier's chaplain. I remember him explaining to us about the coming bombardment of Calvigny Point in Grenada, “The grunts have cornered a battalion of Grenadian Army at an old Army barracks. We've given them forty-five minutes to surrender, if they don't, we drop a round every 45 seconds until they either surrender or we've pounded the whole place. Then the grunts go in, count up arms and legs, divide by two and get a body count.” Father Whalen Found will always be special to me. On my first jump after Gallant Eagle they put him next to me in the bird. I think he was more nervous about me than I was; what no one knew was that I had gotten up the Saturday morning before (with my doctor's permission) and put my knees to the breeze at the monthly fun jump to see if I could handle it. Well, I could prattle on.

In the meantime, thanks for all you're doing, Rodger. And thanks to CPT Yeager. I guess I was at school when you took over from LT Goodwin, I'd re-enlisted on the PDA/degree completion program so I was at Methodist College from January through the end of May 85; I never returned to Bravo as I was told I'd been requested to go to S-3 as Schools/Training NCO. I was saddened to hear about Smoke Oglesby and particularly CSM Holland passing, they were great guys. I also appreciate hearing about LTC Anderson, I've often wondered how far he went up the ladder, I have many fond memories of him from when I was working my first stint at S-3; I often felt he had stars in his future.

I'll sign off for now, as I said, if I dig out those notebooks I'll try to update the info I've given.

Wayne Wood

2^nd Message from Sgt Wayne Wood

Dear Rodger,

    I wanted to correct the last e-mail I sent.  I said Eddie Smith took over the section from me when I left Bravo for HSB and Bn S-3; after I sent the message I realized Eddie Smith was a guy I served with in Germany. The Sergeant I served with in Bravo, who was first in Ammo and then took over 5th Section from me was Edward (Eddie) Johnson, he was lifelong friends with SGT also later SSG Francis LaCombe.  Sorry for the mistake, all I can say is it's been a long time.

As promised I found one of my notepads from when I was a gun chief and here are some updated names with Homes of Record of at least some of the guys in my (5th Section) from November and December 1984.  I know I have a couple more books around here somewhere and I should have some info from 4th Section and HSB on them, just have to remember where they are stowed and dig them out.

Well, here's what I have - these are some 25 years old but it's a start:

SGT Robert Burke  HOR: Dallas TX  According to Classmates.com a few years ago he was living near Killeen TX.

SP4 Richard Ward HOR: Westerly, RI

PFC Stanley Lokko HOR New York, NY

PFC Gordon MacMaster Found (one of those faces I couldn't remember a name for) HOR: Sault St. Marie, MI Found and Talked Still in Sault Ste Marie, MI E/Mail gretsamcam@gmail.com

SP4 Bryon (not Greg) D. Matcherz??  HOR: Ravenna OH Can anyone possibly get us a better Spelling for Byron’s last name?? I can’t get that Spelling to come up anywhere. rodg

PFC David Coffman  HOR: Poplar CA

SP4 Donald Goines  HOR: Columbia, SC

PVT David Caldwell  HOR: Greensboro, NC 

PVT Billy T Mae   HOR: Honolulu, Hawaii

PVT Jimmie J. Roberts Found  HOR: Wyandot, KS

I also remember a SP4 Mark Saia (Sp?) from Boston, came in from the 509th, was a 13B but worked as our unit armorer. I think he worked with 3rd Section in Grenada, too.  Can anyone possibly get us a better Spelling for Mark’s last name.

Here are some other names of guys I have in my book, sorry I don't have first names

Bravo Btry:

PFC Kellar; came in right before Grenada, was with 4th Section, after Grenada became our unit armorer.

PVT Kagle

PVT Murphy

PFC Marsh

PVT Batie

PVT Robinson

PVT Kagles

PVT Caples

SGT Lynch: Came to us from the 509th as a SP4, I think he replaced me as gunner of 4th Section.

PFC Inderbitzen

PVT Clark, C

SGT Fulcher

PVT Kendricks

PFC Ishman

PFC Jackson

PVT Taylor

PFC McClain

SFC Sanders (trying to remember if he was Chief of Firing Battery or Gunnery Sergeant).

PFC Jackson

PFC Heredia

PVT Williams

PVT Puhlman

PFC Vaccaro

PVT Hukarevic, Latif T Jr Found In Milwaukee, WI

SGT Tracey Williams gunned for 6th Section after Grenada.

SP4 Yancey Harrington: worked 2nd Section, I think. Was in Grenada. Last I heard he was in Tucson, AZ. Found in AZ, has Email address yancey.harrington@gmail.com

PFC (maybe SP4) Nelson Mondejar HOR Elyna, NY Found in OH, has Email ogod1@centurytel.net   (his Dads Cousin was in WWII and is a book written about the war and how he and a Buddy got back together after 60 years. See at the bottom of this article)

SGT Sporgitas was from the Washington DC area. John N Sporgitas is in Silver Spring, MD  Has Email jsporgitas@aol.com

HSB

PVT Marriner

PVT Laster

SGT Steve Firstiun was originally from Elenna New York Found Has Email   slpoc6@aol.com

I hope this helps, sorry I couldn't be more complete but maybe these names will jog some old memories of some other guys as much as CPT Yeager's list helped mine.   Wayne

3^rd Message from Sgt Wayne Wood

Dear Rodger,

    I have another name for your list that just came to mind:  SGT Harry Shaw, Found he was in HSB in Bn FDC in 1982 as a PFC.  I think he was assigned to Alpha by Grenada as a Sp4.  Somehow he ended up working as liaison with 2nd Brigade HQ during Grenada because he was in the Brigade TOC (Tactical Operations Center) when a Navy A-7 Corsair strafed it in a friendly fire incident. Harry lost both his legs as a result and was medically retired as a Sergeant.  He came back to the battalion to be awarded his Bronze Star. I do remember us cheering at the news. A true paratrooper.  So I know he was with the 1-320th from early 1982 through late 1983.  And I think he's important as he is our only seriously wounded trooper to the best of my knowledge from Grenada.  I don't know how much value these anecdotes are, but just thinking about these guys bring the memories back.

Wayne

Friends, I have great news for you. After Wayne sent me the above message I started using Google and have found numerous articles. I also found a Phone number and Address for Harry and have visited with him. He will be sending us a lot of information.

Just Google “Harry Shaw Double Amputee”

Watch Harry take his first steps with his new legs after 27 years in a Wheel Chair and see him Sky dive.

This is the Nelson Mondejar Article I Mentioned.

Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

'You watch my back, I'll watch yours'

A pair of World War II comrades took turns saving each other's life. After six decades with no contact, they meet again.

RACHEL E.D. TUDOR
Published November 9, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG - The two World War II veterans had not seen each another for two generations.

Sixty years had passed since Jim Jenkins saved his buddy's life when German torpedo boats sneaked into a huge Allied practice mission in the English Channel, turning a dress rehearsal into death. Sixty years since his buddy, Rene Mondejar, later returned the favor under withering fire on a beach at Normandy.

Now, on a warm Sunday in October, the 82-year-old Jenkins, having driven 900 miles, walked up the sidewalk of a central St. Petersburg home. There, next to the garage, another elderly man sat in a white plastic chair, peeling an orange.

"I'm looking for Rene Mondejar," Jenkins said.

"What do you want him for?" the man replied.

Jenkins quickly recognized his accent.

"You are Rene!" Jenkins said.

The two men embraced.

Time had left its mark. Their hair was white, their skin creased. Between them, they had 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

But the bond they formed amid the horror and uncertainty of war was unbroken.

"I always thought about him," said Mondejar, 82. "But I never knew how to contact him."

* * *

Born in Cuba, Mondejar moved to New York when he was 8 years old. In 1944, he turned 20. He wanted to serve his new country, but he wasn't an American citizen.

"I was raised in this country," Mondejar said. "And I wanted to fight for it."

Jenkins' story was different. He had been married only two years and his wife was eight months pregnant when he was called up.

"I was drafted. I didn't have a reason to go to war. No sooner when I turned 21, two days after my birthday, they sent me a letter saying, "Congratulations, you are now in the United States Army,"' Jenkins said.

Jenkins and Mondejar met in England in 1944 when Mondejar and his outfit came in to replace men lost in the war.

Jenkins trained many of the new soldiers to drive amphibious trucks called DUKWs (pronounced "ducks"). One of them was Mondejar.

"I told my captain that I am going to fight for America and if I die, I die," Mondejar said. "But if you're going to put me on one of those ducks, can I go with Jenkins?"

They went together aboard LST 289, a landing ship-tank that held at least 18 DUKWs, heading for the English Channel and a big training mission to practice for an assault on Normandy.

At 2:30 a.m. April 28, 1944, German patrol boats silently mixed themselves into the training mission. They started torpedoing the Allied ships.

"Three torpedoes came at our ship," Jenkins said. "One hit the back end of our ship and the other two slid along the side.

"We were going down."

Jenkins' quick thinking saved both of their lives.

"I was in so many invasions that I wanted to learn a way out of wherever I was at," he said. "I knew that in the men's latrine that there was a ladder that went up the wall and at the top was a wheel and you can turn it and get out.

"I said, "Rene, I know how to get out.' I remember the water was all bloody back there. That was where the torpedo hit."

That morning, German torpedoes struck many of the LSTs, killing hundreds. The training disaster was kept secret for decades.

Six weeks later, having barely survived a war game, the two men were sailing to Normandy for the real thing, the D-day invasion of German-held France.

"Death was always on our minds," Mondejar said. "When you have 5,000 ships with you to go to invade another country and you know that that country is waiting for you, you better believe we were scared."

Pinned down on the beach on D-day, Jenkins jumped into Mondejar's foxhole. It was too small for two men.

As bullets whizzed overhead, Jenkins saw an empty foxhole 50 feet away. He told Mondejar that he was going to sprint for it.

"He put his fist in my back and said, "No! You ain't going nowhere. You're going to get killed going over there,"' Jenkins recalled.

"He wouldn't let me out. He saved my life."

When their tour was over, they returned stateside to Fort Lewis, Wash.

They bade each other goodbye. Jenkins was honorably discharged and returned to his family. Mondejar continued on to Okinawa.

They forgot to exchange addresses. It would be their last conversation for six decades.

But Jenkins never gave up his search. Jenkins' son-in-law scoured the Internet for three days and found an 82-year-old Rene Mondejar living in St. Petersburg. It was the old soldier, so Jenkins got in his car.

"I wanted to see my buddy one more time," Jenkins said, "and apologize for getting a bit mad at him for making me stay in the foxhole when I didn't want to."

© Copyright, St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

Back To Home Page