Phil Tolvin
199th Light Infantry Brigade
Redcatcher
<<<<>>>>
A Vietnam Vet

Page 1  Mostly Me ,  Page 2  Mostly You ,   Page 3  Mostly Them  ,
Page 4 Mostly Stories ,   Page 5 Vietnam Today, Dec., 1999
Page 6 Mostly Your Photos, Your Stories

Please be sure to visit all 6 pages, this is Page 2.

Click on:  Mostly Me  for Page 1,   Mostly Them  for Page 3,   Mostly Stories  for Page 4,
Vietnam Today, Dec., 1999   for Page 5,   Mostly Your Photos, Your Stories  for Page 6

The photographs on this web site have been sitting in a box for thirty two years.
They knew they were sitting in that box for a reason. They were waiting for the
advent of the PC, the Internet and the World Wide Web, so that they may be seen
and remembered by those that served and those that did not.
They must have known their purpose then, for I did not, I guess that's why they
survived all those years. If not for the PC we would still be sitting in that box,
waiting for the advent of the Net and the Web.

                      Grant                   Parisi                            Wheeler
                                 Sandbagging was a backbreaking mindless necessity,
                           which you are happy to have done when you came under fire.
                               I think this is where they got the term "Bagging It"

Frenchie      Andy Hickey        The Clout        Hartless

Here's one for the books.
1 July, 2001

I'm walking home after doing some shopping at the super market and see a guy standing in front of one of my favorite drinking and eating establishments, wearing a 199th cap. I stopped in my tracks and said "I served with the 199th in 67 - 68." He said "So did I." I said "I served with the B Co., and HHC 4/12 at the time." He said "So did I." I asked his name? He said "Andy." I asked his last name? He said "Hickey." I said "Your Hickey? I know you." He asked my name? I said "Phil Tolvin." He freaked out, he remembered me from the Nam as well.  We were both in HHC 4/12 with an 8 month overlap in tours.

Andy is up here up from Fla. to celebrate his mom's birthday, and invited me to join with them. I responded that I live down the block and would bring my groceries home and return in half an hour with some photos I have of him and some other brothers that we knew at the time. We enjoyed the evening, him and his wife, his lovely mother and other family members, reminiscing of the old times and faces of the Nam.

How many times have you, literally, run into someone you served with in Vietnam 33 years after the fact?
Truly an unusual meeting of friends.

   Andy Hickey    and     Joe Wheeler
Vietnam 1968 

That's me, Phil   and   Andy Hickey
the day of our meeting, 1 July, 2001

Jerry "The Clout" Clouture.
He was a good old buddy
from Canada.

These are some of the faces of the Nam, the ones that I fought with, drank with
and shared with the stories of home.

Mazzochi

Phil Reid

Tucci

The theme on these pages is the faces of the men who served. It is not the entire story of the War in Vietnam, only an instantaneous glimpse of a small sampling of the men who were there.

  Couture "Frenchie"        and          Clouture "Clout"

D- Troop 17th Cav.
You guys were good buddies, but some of the names
slip me, except for Fuston Shirley,
with his hand on the antenna and McPherson,
kneeling on the right.

   Mraz              Joe  Wheeler              Grant

It seems like there was always something going on.
I can hardly remember a day gone by when I didn't hear the sound of weapon fire or munitions exploding, whether far or near.
Especially in the silence of the night, if you listened hard enough, you would surely hear the sound of death, knocking at someone's door.
At that moment, I always wondered whose life was being wasted, whether friend or foe.
But certainly, a life was wasted.
And then I asked weather I would be one to survive this living hell. 
Yes, there was always something going on.

All photos and material on this web site belong to, and are the property of Phil Tolvin. They may not be copied electronically or otherwise, or used without the express permission of Phil Tolvin. All rights reserved.

D-Troop 17 Cav. Man

Captain Reynolds

DeVoss

Apodaca, of Indian origin.

   
     Phil Reid      "Sunshine"Mike Williams

Collins standing, Miller on the left,
Parisi sitting in the middle,
Black Label on the table.
Graves on the right.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sitting at the table in the rear:
Marcelino "Marty" Garcia,
and PFC Matson

Sgt. Hall with his new truck.
They cracked the chassis in about two
weeks. It was the third one they cracked.
It was a hard country!

There are many years between here and there, and I'm surprised I can remember as many names as I have, so please excuse the ones I forgot or the ones that I misspelled, but I can assure you that the faces are correct.

If anyone is able to help with names or corrections,  or if you have any comments or additional information to share, please E-Mail me at: philt6135@aol.com

1st Row Lt to Rt --- #1 Sgt. Maj Moon; #2 Lt Col Mastoris;
#3 Maj Kelly; #4 Maj Kelly.
2nd Row names are unknown at this time.

The officers of the 4/12 were never so far removed from the enlisted man that they could not see the needs of the individual.

The DD in the above photo is Ramona Abernathy.

Ramona, and at the far end is DD Sue Pulliam.

The names of the Donut Dollies above, dishing out the chow at the forward firebase, was given to me by Kammy McCleery, also a DD who served with the 199th at the time. She is camera shy and not currently pictured above.

Raymond T. Strayhorn bearing
the flag at the ceremonies.

This Sgt. receiving the decoration was
KIA after transferring to the 17th Cav.

News Flash, News Flash!
24 Feb., 2001
In the above photograph the Sgt. receiving the Bronze Star is that of Sgt. James A. Pius. It was reported in early 1968, in The Army Times, that Sgt. Pius was KIA'd while serving with the 17th Cav. to which he had transferred. All who knew the sergeant from his unit, believed in the accuracy of the report of his demise.
~~~~~~~
Ladies and Gentleman, I have astounding news for you.
33 years later,
Sgt. James A. Pius is Alive and Well.
Jim contacted me on 24 Feb., 2001, via E-Mail, informing me of his well being, and documenting to my complete satisfaction the he is in fact Sgt. Jim Pius. I am totally overwhelmed at this fantastic news, and I'm sure those of you who knew Sgt. Pius will be in awe of this development as well.
This is truely a moment for celebration.
~~~~~~~
Any one wishing to contact Sgt. Jim Pius can do so directly. He'll be delighted to hear from anyone who served with him as well as those wanting to wish him well.
E-Mail Jim at: drillsgt18222@yahoo.com

Read Jim's story, Page 6 Mostly Your Photos, Your Stories

Being decorated in the field for actions above and beyond the call of duty is one of  the most honorable moments in a soldiers career, second only to the action of heroism itself.

 Sgt. Ackerman, receiving the Bronze Star,
was KIA several weeks later.

The Workhorse of The Nam

Huey Gunship                                Chinook
The Chopper made its debut as a Military Fighting Machine in Vietnam.
It was unparalleled in its use as an Assault Gunship, heavily weaponed with
M-60 Machine Gun, Mini Gun, Automatic Grenade Launcher, Rocket Launcher,
or any combination thereof. It was more precise in its execution of an assault
than the F-4 Phantom. It could zero in closer to its objective, hover longer if
necessary, and inflict heavy damage and casualties to its intended targets.
In troop movement, it was the vehicle of choice. The Huey Slick could move up
to 12 fully armed men to their intended destination in a matter of a few minutes.
Ten of them would be used to move an entire company of 120 to 140 soldiers.
The Chinook or "The Flying Cigar" as well, could move a full platoon of Combat
Ready Soldiers, or enough supplies and rations to maintain a large contingent of
forward operating troops.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Throw Smoke!  
This was the cry you heard when they were coming to take us out of an LZ.
We would throw a Smoke-Canister Grenade to mark the Landing Zone.

Don't look now Charlie, but your ass is in a world of hurt.

Page 1  Mostly Me ,  Page 2  Mostly You ,  Page 3  Mostly Them  ,
Page 4 Mostly Stories ,    Page 5 Vietnam Today, Dec., 1999
Page 6 Mostly Your Photos, Your Stories
   
Please be sure to visit all 6 pages, this is Page 2.

Click on:   Mostly Me  for Page 1,   Mostly Them   for Page 3,   Mostly Stories   for Page 4,
Vietnam Today, Dec., 1999   for Page 5,   Mostly Your Photos, Your Stories  for Page 6

Clicking on the Icon below,
is a vote to include this site in the Top 100 Veteran Web Sites.

All the photos on these pages are from the original prints of photographs that were taken in the
Republic of South Vietnam.
All the photographs were taken by me, except for the ones which I am included in the subject of the photo. All the photographs and material on this web site belong to, and are the property of Phil Tolvin.
They may not be copied electronically or otherwise, or used without the express permission of Phil Tolvin.
You can E-Mail me at: philt6135@aol.com

Copyright: Philip Tolvin
First Published: 1 Apr., 1999
Additions: Dec., 1999
All Rights Reserved.