A Battalion of Kings Khe Sahn

[PHO127]

I received a book a couple of days ago with the title above, It lists by date all of the casualties (KIA) at Khe Sahn with a short description of each taken from the MIA archives and official military documents where possible. In many cases it gives the grid coordinates of the action. LT and I have many times discussed the actions there and he still has his original battle map of the Khe Sahn area. We got together today over the map and the book and plotted many of our actions. We were in fact less than 1000 meters from each other in Khe Sahn.

The book documents casualties from Feb 1964 to 20 Nov 1972 the last recorded casualtie at Khe Sahn. It includes the Lam Son 719 operation LT and I were on from 31 Jan 1971 to 6 April 1971.

The book is written and compiled by Chaplain Ray William Stubbe and titled a Battalion of Kings because over 1200 KIA were taken at Khe Sahn. I received an autographed 1st edition 1st printing 1 of 1000 book and will treasure it forever. Chaplain Stubbe was the Marine chaplain during the 68 seige.

My only KIA at Khe Sahn occured on 25 march 1971 while receiving 152 MM artillery fire and 122mm rockets. 1 KIA, 5 WIA. B Battery 1/82 Arty. We left Khe Sahn a few days later in which I took a total of 28 casualties (5 KIA) (1MIA) (22 WIA) convoying from Khe Sahn to Vandergrift. These are not counted towards the Khe Sahn total but to Vandergrift.

LT and I shed several tears today.

[catman]

Sid...always thought it was amazing how small a world we live in. Bet if David and I ever plotted our locations we could say close to the same thing about our time in the Desert.

Sorry for your losses Sid, may you find peace brother.

Trav

[DMZ-LT]

Opps , I made my response a new post

[Chevelle]

...and all the other Brothers that bore the brunt of the battles that today define every Soldiers future,...

...You are my hero's,...

...Those that chose to make a stand under seige from every front, every flank, without wavering, standing tall, proud in the midst of death, and destruction, and spitting in the eye of the devil,...

...Yes you all are my hero's,...

...You, and all before, and after will never be fogotten, forsaken, your memories will never tarnish, they will forever hold the truths that need to be told, and remembered forever,...

...