The Fort Wolters Trumpet (Fort Wolters, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 34, Ed. 1 Friday, February 24, 1967 Page: 1 of 8
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The Fort Wolters Trumpet
"To win the
public's
confidence .
confide in ^
the public."
Published by Weatherford Democrat., a private firm, in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by the publishers and writers herein are their own *nd are not to be considered an officiaf expression by tfw Apartment of the Army
— The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised,
VOL, X, NO. 34
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1967
I
FORT WOLTERS, TEXAS
Vietnam Hero's Widow To Accept
Army's Second Highest Award
Distinguished Service Cross |
Heads List Of Awards
To Be Given Here Saturday |
FIRST DONATIONS — COL E. P. Fleming Jr., right, commanding officer of the U.S.
Army Primary Helicopter Center, hands in his donation for the joint International
Service Agencies - National Health Agencies fund drive to MAJ Ronald Briones, cen-
ter, fund drive project officer. Also making a donation to the fund drive is SGM James
A. Metcalf, Adjutant Section. The joint fund campaign opens today at Fort Wolters.
•Joint ISA-NHA Fund
Drive Opens Today
Endorsed nationally by President John-
son and here by UJS. Army Primary
Helicopter Center commander COL, E0P„
Fleming, Jr., the joint International Ser-
vice Agencies-National Health Agencies
fund drive opens today at Fort Wolters.
The six-week annual fund drive will
run through April 7, and its objective
is 100 per cent voluntary participation by
every soldier and civilian at Wolters.
"We Americans are deeply concerned
with the daily struggle for survival of
millions of people around the world who
are oppressed by hunger, sickness, ig-
§oranee and fear. The generosity of our
eople has made it possible to give mater-
ial and spiritual aid to alleviate suffer-
ing and to sustain the faith and cover-
age of our fellow men," President John-
son said of the four International Service
Agencies.
The President called the 12 National
Health Agencies, "strong allies of the
government in the fight to improve health
standards for all Americans."
"It is my hope," he added, "that gen-
erous contributions freely given to the Na-
tional Health Agencies by Federal employ-
ees and Armed Forces members, will
help chart a surer course toward the goal
of better health for all."
Colonel Fleming has added his endorse-
ment of the two organizations and urges
everyone at Fort Wolters "to give gen-
erously."
The four International Service Agen-
cies - - Radio Free Europe, Project
HOPE, the American-Korean Foundation,
and CARE — aid millions of people
^throughout the world who wage a never-
ending battle against the timeless enemies
of hunger, sickness, ignorance and fear.
The work of the National Health Agen-
cies offers hope to millions of Americans
who are the victims of disease or dis-
ability. Through programs of research,
community services and education, these
voluntary agencies attack arthritis, mus-
cular dystrophy, mental illness, retarda-
tion, cystic fibrosis, birth defects, mult-
iple sclerosis, crippling, blindness, cere-
bral palsy, cancer and heart disease.
Named to head this year's joint drive is
MAJ Ronald Briones.
Unit campaign chairmen are: MA JD. P.
Leland, Office of the S-l and Offices of"
the CO, DC and ADC; LTC F. W.Johnson,
Office of the S-2/3; LTC W.W. Carter,
Office of the S-4; J.H. Spangle r, Jr.,
Office of the Comptroller; LTC D.C. Pres-
cott, U. S. Army Primary Helicopter
School; LTC J.L. Holladay, Troop Com-
mand; LTC E. Scavone, Surgeon (to in-
clude US ADD); LTC J.D. Quick, Chap-
lain, Office of the Provost Marshal, Of-
fice of the Information Officer, Office
of the Inspector General and Office of the
Staff Judge Advocate; MAJ L.E. Prachyl,
Headquarters, 311th U«S. Army Security
Agency; and CPT T.L. Atkeson, Battery
D, 4th Missile Battalion.
Although keymen will solicit indivi-
duals, all donations are strictly voluntary.
Officer personnel assigned to Head-
quarters, USAPHC, will be solicited with-
in their assigned place of duty; enlisted
personnel, within their assigned organi-
zation and civilian employees, within their
assigned place of employment.
The Distinguished "Service Cross, the
Army's second highest decoration, has
been awarded posthumously to MAJ Lewis
D. Bell of Fort Worth, an Army aviator
killed in action in Vietnam on March 5,
1966,
His widow, Mrs. Cynthia O. Bell, will
accept the medal Saturday at 10 a.m. at
ceremonies to be held at the Fort Wol-
ters parade field.
COL E. P. Fleming Jr., U.S. Army
Primary Helicopter Center commander,
will make the presentation.
Mrs. Bell will also be given the Bronze
Star Medal, awarded her husband for
meritorious service in Vietnam.
Another soldier's widow, Mrs. Bonnie
Miller of Granbury, will accept the Bronze
Star Medal for Valor, posthumously
awarded her husband, SGT John E. Mil-
ler, killed in ground action in Vietnam
June 11, 1966. This is Sergeant Miller's
second award of the medal for heroism.
Major Bell was cited for extraordinary
heroism on the aforementioned date while
serving as pilot of a UH-1D helicopter.
A unit of the 28th Infantry Division was
surrounded and under heavy attack by a
regimental-size Viet Cong force.
Major Bell volunteered to make an
extremely hazardous delivery of vitally
needed ammunition to the beleagured in-
fantrymen. The successful ammo delivery,
despite overwhelming odds, was instru-
mental in turning the tide of battle. Dur-
ing the unloading of the ammunition, Major
Bell and his crewmen were repeatedly
wounded.
It was while attempting to fly out of
the untenable position that the helicopter
was shot down by a deadly cross fire,
killing all aboard.
Saturday's ceremony will also honor
several Fort Wolters personnel.
Heading the list of awards recipients
is MAJ Elbert C. Nye, who receives the
YAC Fund Drive
Opens Here Feb. 27
The Fort Wolters Youth Activities
Club commences its annual fund drive
at the WOC Carnival on February 27.
The drive will continue through May.
YAC is the Fort Wolters community
project which supervises and supports
the Center's youth programs to train
and guide the children of Fort Wolters
toward a better future and prepare them
to take their places as adult citizens.
Activities supported are the nursery
pre school, kindergarten, Brownies, Girl
Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, the
Little League, summer activities and
children's parties at Halloween, Easter
and Christmas.
Legion of Merit.
Receiving the Distinguished Flying
Cross are LTC Robert M. Jackson, MAJ
LaVern E. Bindrup, MAJ Fred Pierce
Jr., CPT Emmett R. Conrow, 1LT Chris
C. Nelson, WOls Charles C. Wilson and
Charles F. Stoudt.
The Bronze Star Medal will be pre-
sented LTC Herman M. Orrell, MAJ
Charles P. Frinks, CWO Alfred J. Ro-
maszewski, WOls Brian R. Arsenault,
Robert J. Asbell and Dennis W. Soper
and SGT Larry C. Tomlin.
LTC Ewell L. Brown, MAJ Clark H.
Cummins and WOl Earl J. Fields will
be given the Army Commendation Medal.
Carnival Fun
Begins Monday
The switches to set rocket rides soar-
ing and bumper cars bumping at the
WOC Hall of Fame Carnival will be
thrown this Monday afternoon at 4:30
The carnival's latest scheduled at-
traction is a performance by the "Bozo
the Clown" helicopter aerobatic team.
The team, comprised of two warrant-
officer aviators from the Flight Eval-
uation Division, will run through a series
of trick maneuvers in OH-23Ds at 3 p.m.,
Sunday, March 5, as a grand finale to the
seven-day event.
And on Saturday, March 4, a former
member of the world-famous U. S. Army
Parachuting Team, the Golden Knights,
will free-fall onto the parade field east
of Beach Army Hospital and just north
of the carnival site.
The jump is scheduled to be made at:
2 p.m. by Warrant Officer Candidate Coy
O. McDonald Jr. of the 2D WOC Company.
McDonald joined the Golcfen Knights in
1961 and was with the team up until com-
ing to Ft. Wolters in November. At the
end of 1961, McDonald became the first
American ever to hold a world individual
parachuting record.
Other carnival attractions include a
rifle range, a kiddie helicopter ride, a
fun house, and pony rides under the
direction of the Ft. Wolters Boots and
Saddle Club.
There will be no charge for general
admission.
Proceeds from most of the stands and
rides will go to the WOC Hall of Fame
Association which will use the funds to
improve its newly acquired building.
The carnival's gates will be open
on weekdays (February 27-March 3) from
4:30 to 11 p.m.
On Saturday and Sunday (March 4 and
5), the carnival will be in full swing from
noon until midnight.
NEEDS OUTGROW PRESENT NURSERY FACILITIES, SO...
Fort Wolters Families Build A Larger One
- ,
GROUNDBREAKING—Turning the first spade of dirt at the Fort
Wolters' nursery, COL E. P. Fleming Jr., USAPHC command-
eer, assisted by two tots at the nursery, Elbert Nye and Debbie
Welch, officially sets into motion a project to expand and re-
model present nursery facilities. Onlookers at the February
17 groundbreaking ceremony are, from left: Mrs. Duane Bro-
fer, chairman of the Nursery Council; Mrs. Forrest John-
son, president of the Officers' Wives Club; Mrs. Robert O.
Lambert; Mrs. Jean Burton, NCO Wives Club president; and
COL Robert O. Lambert, USAPHC deputy commander.
Fort Wolters will soon have a larger
nursery.
Groundbreaking ceremonies at the pre-
sent nursery site on February 17 set
into motion a project to expand and re-
model present facilities.
When finished in about three months,
the "new" nursery will be able to accom-
modate 200 children at night and an even
larger number in the daytime. The nursery
now handles only about half that number.
Presently located inBldg. 335, the nur-
sery is being joined with Bldg. 334. The
new building will have about 1,000 square
feet of floor space and an adjoining 114
foot X 120 foot playground.
The nursery will have seven rooms,
to include a nursery, kitchen, changing
room, eating area and play area combined,
new entrance area, and three large play
areas and bed areas.
The outside of the building is being
finished in cedar and colored plexiglass.
An eight foot cedar fence will surround
the playground^
The "self-help" project came about
because a group of people saw the need
for expansion and remodelling of present
facilities, then set out to do something
about it.
Funds are being raised by various
wives club benefits, as well as from YAC
(the Youth Activities Club).
The work is volunteer. Husbands, fa-
thers, and other interested volunteers
are handling the actual construction. The
wives will assist when the building is
ready for interior decorating.
CPT J. M. Wisby is the project offi-
cer.
From all indications the project should
result in one of the most modern-looking
buildings on post...all the result of people
caring enough to help themselves.
BRAVERY HONORED—The widow of lLTJohnF.Cochrane,the former Elaine
Foster, receives the Bronze Star from COL Mark Brennan, commanding
officer at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, Calif.
President Calk Vietnam
War Victim's Letter
6Extraordinary Testament9
First Lt. John F.Cochrane gave his life in Vietnam. But, he had no regrets
about being there.
A letter — his last one home — attests to his belief that we are right for
helping in Vietnam.
The 25-year-old former Fort Wolters soldier's letter so impressed
President Lyndon B.Johnson that he read it to a group of Vietnam war veterans
on tour of the White House.
Later, in a letter to Lieutenant Cochrane's widow, the President wrote:
"I have known great and wise men but I wish I had known him because then
I would have known the best of men."
"This (his letter) is an extraordinary testament. This was the last letter
he wrote. . .It will live as long as men will honor courage and bravery," the
Chief Executive wrote.
Lieutenant Cochrane was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Army
Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart. The medals were presented to
his widow and mother, Mrs. Muriel Cochrane of Wayne, Mich., at Fort Mac-
Arthur, San Pedro, Calif., by COL Mark Brennan.
Cochrane was killed at Long Binh, South Vietnam, just before he was
scheduled to meet his wife in Hawaii for a holiday.
The lieutenant was assigned as communications officer in the 330th
ASA Company, 303rd ASA Bn., here at Fort Wolters prior to his Vietnam
assignment. His wife, the former Elaine Foster, worked in the S-2/S-3
office here. Elaine's twin sister, Emily, works in the Military Personnel
Section.
Cochrane, who spent seven months and seven days in Vietnam, was buried
with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 2, 1966.
His letter, which President Johnson describes as an "extraordinary
testament," follows:
15 October 1966
South Vietnam
r»Qo~ 2300 Hours
Dear Folks:
Three years ago today on the 15th of October, 1963, your son took upon himself a
helpmate. This was one of the smartest things I've ever done. Two years ago today I was
in OCS sweating and straining for a commission in this man's Army. Last year I was in
Panama sleeping in the jungle and playing games. This 15th of October, I am sorry to say
I am still in the jungle, but this time the jungle of Vietnam, and they are not playing games.
Tonight believe this or not, I am awaiting an attack. Yes that's right. I kid you not.
Your only son who you didn't raise to be stupid is 11,000 miles from home, sitting here
beneath a shaded Coleman lantern on top of a hill awaiting a visit from friend "Charley".
Why I am here I don't know — well, yes I do — but it doesn't make me unafraid or un-
touchable. I am here because it's where I belong — and because (even though I hate to
admit it) I asked to be here. Not here in this very spot, or even in this country, but be-
cause I raised my hand and said, "Yes, Sam I will do my bit for wife, family, and Mom's
apple pie". Now here I sit so afraid that my stomach is a solid knot, yet laughing, joking,
kidding around with the 18 troops with me — and even writing a letter to thefolks back
home as if I haven't a care in the world. What I really want to do is load up these men
into the three Armored Personnel Carriers (APC's) we have and get out of here. I don't
belong here. Neither do these men. This isn't our war. Why should we have to fight
somebody else's war? It doesn't make sense..I refuse to believe God created a human
being, let him live for twenty years on this earth just to send him to some foreign land
to die at the whim of a skinny Chinese with a long white beard. Surely He had better
plans for those whom He made in "His own image". Why do we have to continually fight?
Why do the teachers in our schools preach the glory of wars? Why should they not teach
instead the gory side of war — of the thousand upon thousands of lives that have been
given up for a flimsy principle or the whim of some politician? Maybe if they could por-
tray the hidious, the calous side of war, then maybe every little Johnny wouldn't grow
up waiting to go to "his" , war like his dad did. Maybe then people such as myself and
these even wouldn't be sitting around scared so that we can't even sleep or eat.
It dessn't work — I have offered every excuse in the book, but I know why I am here
and why I couldn't be any other place. The reason is because I do believe we should be
here and I do believe that principle, basic principles are enough for a man to die for.
Too many people die or take their lives for no good reason, because they are bored or
because they can't cope with the monotonies of life anymore. At least the soldier knows
why he is here — even me — we are here because we actually believe that our country
is good enough to fight, and even if necessary, die for. All we ask is that some good come
out of it. We are also here because we know that if we didn't fight here, then we would be
fighting in San Francisco, or New York, or any number of smaller towns in our country.
Maybe not in our lifetime, because the politicians could probably talk long enough and
hard enough to hold it off for another thirty years or so — but what about our kid's life-
time or their kids' lifetime? We have ourtroubles in America, but what little of the world
I have seen doesn't hold a candle to what our country is. Now you may think this all
^ 111 a *llghly emotional state, and if fear is considered a highly emotional state,
and it is, then you are right. But 1 have sat here this night and looked in Ike faces of 18
young men — the oldest is 28 and I have talked to them about their homes and families
and wives and sweethearts, and I cannot believe that these men who feel things so strongly
could be deceived by propaganda or by a first-class snow job. Everyone of these kids
knows what he wants. There is not a "hero" in the group over here looking for glory
or medals or any of that other garbage - they are here because they felt they were need-
ed, that s all! They all have plans — plans that have been put off for a year while they
do their bit". Only two of them are "career" soldiers. The rest are just citizen sol-
diers who have stepped out from the crowd to do what they can. I have had to sit here and
direct them about what action they would take and what they would do if "Charley" does
pay us a call, and I have had to tell them that once it starts, there can be no giving up —
no relenting even if it's to the last man because of the information they have had access '
to — and as I told them, they just sat and looked at me, and I could read on their faces
the fear, the doubts, and the anger, because they are here and anger, because their con- .
science and personal principles wouldn't let them be anyplace else.
(Continued on Page 8)
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The Fort Wolters Trumpet (Fort Wolters, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 34, Ed. 1 Friday, February 24, 1967, newspaper, February 24, 1967; Weatherford, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth417122/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boyce Ditto Public Library.