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Happy Veterans Day

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Trying to look confident; my dad shipping out to confront HE11, 1944. 0402201200.thumb.jpg.492614921b36f2e7e5e194000f335e55.jpg

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I've told the story before, but its always worth repeating.  On November 11, 1967, my dad's company (C/1/503/173d Airborne), reinforced by half of another company and known as Task Force Black, left their laager sight in search of NVA that had been wreaking havoc on another company (C/4/503/173d Airborne).  That morning, the 200 men of Task Force Black walked into a horseshoe-shaped ambush orchestrated by two battalions (somewhere between 600-1000 soldiers) that was quickly closed off, completely surrounding my dad's company.  He was among the first wounded, but kept on fighting until he was wounded again and had to receive medical treatment.  An NVA soldier got close enough to throw a grenade into the wounded "pile".  A young PFC named John Andrew Barnes III threw himself on the grenade saving my dad and his buddies.  My dad held John in his arms as he died.  C/4/503 fought their way through enemy lines to reinforce TF Black and keep them from being overrun.  At the end of it all, TF Black sustained 150 wounded, 23 killed, 25 untouched, and 2 missing in action.  PFC John A. Barnes III was awarded the MOH for his actions.

Veteran's Day was rough in our house with the memories and flashbacks.  As much as I miss my dad and would give just about anything for one more fishing trip with him, especially now that I have two kids of my own who like fishing, I'm glad his war and pain are over.

Some pics of him in action (He's the skinny guy with his shirt off in most of the pics)...

1876369487_DadCombat.thumb.jpg.212e6d398e3281b6dcbba6c5ffa62226.jpg

1428788772_DadBronzeStar.thumb.jpg.090d45f831e15ba7270348ab833ebfb2.jpg

569894681_Dad_MortarSquad.thumb.jpg.40589beb096f937235a21e18831bfe5f.jpg

1447984226_Dad_MortarSquad_RoundOut.thumb.jpg.9595d281ed909200567c66e7e7bf02bf.jpg

960280494_FireMission_DakTo.thumb.jpg.fcec5a386f05e9590246cc1e7c94ffe6.jpg

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2 hours ago, IA Born said:

I've told the story before, but its always worth repeating.  On November 11, 1967, my dad's company (C/1/503/173d Airborne), reinforced by half of another company and known as Task Force Black, left their laager sight in search of NVA that had been wreaking havoc on another company (C/4/503/173d Airborne).  That morning, the 200 men of Task Force Black walked into a horseshoe-shaped ambush orchestrated by two battalions (somewhere between 600-1000 soldiers) that was quickly closed off, completely surrounding my dad's company.  He was among the first wounded, but kept on fighting until he was wounded again and had to receive medical treatment.  An NVA soldier got close enough to throw a grenade into the wounded "pile".  A young PFC named John Andrew Barnes III threw himself on the grenade saving my dad and his buddies.  My dad held John in his arms as he died.  C/4/503 fought their way through enemy lines to reinforce TF Black and keep them from being overrun.  At the end of it all, TF Black sustained 150 wounded, 23 killed, 25 untouched, and 2 missing in action.  PFC John A. Barnes III was awarded the MOH for his actions.

Veteran's Day was rough in our house with the memories and flashbacks.  As much as I miss my dad and would give just about anything for one more fishing trip with him, especially now that I have two kids of my own who like fishing, I'm glad his war and pain are over.

Some pics of him in action (He's the skinny guy with his shirt off in most of the pics)...

1876369487_DadCombat.thumb.jpg.212e6d398e3281b6dcbba6c5ffa62226.jpg

1428788772_DadBronzeStar.thumb.jpg.090d45f831e15ba7270348ab833ebfb2.jpg

569894681_Dad_MortarSquad.thumb.jpg.40589beb096f937235a21e18831bfe5f.jpg

1447984226_Dad_MortarSquad_RoundOut.thumb.jpg.9595d281ed909200567c66e7e7bf02bf.jpg

960280494_FireMission_DakTo.thumb.jpg.fcec5a386f05e9590246cc1e7c94ffe6.jpg

Thanks for the story. Those guys had it rough. 

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