Draft Newsletter Daily Worksheet for September 2025Draft
Latest Update of Draft - 29 August 2025
Board & Special Guests Use Only. Not for publication
This is my worksheet during the month for the next Newsletter.
powellcentaur@gmail.com
Centaur Website Newsletter - September 2025
INDEX: News, Checking In, Corrections , NeedToFind,, Emails, MyPages, War Stories/Photos , Deceased, Reunions, Centaur Shirts
••••••••••••••••••••GREEN TEXT WITH YELLOW HIGHLIGHT MEANS DO SOMETHING
--- News ---
The Branson Area: Some of us plan to come as early as 7 November to the Centaur 2025 Reunion to enjoy this incredible place.
We really hope that more of you will sign up and attend!! Those of you who said you would try to attend that have decided not to, please let us know so we can take you off of the Attendee list. powellcentaur@gmail.com
We need a new Centaur Website Webmaster!! Any ideas?
Yes, my days of doing the Website are numbered. What I am asking now is for many of you silent ones to get seriously into reviewing everything you can on our website and providing me with input. Report things that are not right, bad spelling or misuse of words, links that are needed, links that don't work, captions for photos that don't have them, things that need to be added to the Glossary, and any tidbits of information that might improve the quality of our Legacy Website. I will have a much harder time walking away from the Webmaster job if lots of this info starts coming in.
Don't Be Scammed! The scammers get more cleaver daily. Mark Thompson received an email from Bruce Powell saying "This picture brought back thoughts of you. Felt like something you'd appreciate...So I thought I'd pass it along"
The email address was not one of mine. You have to look at the email address to be sure it is legit. Mine is powellcentaur@gmail.com and an old one of centaursinvietnamcivo@gmail.com.
New Discussion Page: We need a chronological Discussion page that covers the Blues and Browns thru the war. Would you consider taking that research job on?
Requesting your stories involving the 20 Minute Warning Light powellcentaur@gmail.com
--- Checking In---
If you would ike to contact any one send the webmaster a note
John Moore.......Tom Dooling........Fred Stuckey.........Tom Fleming........Rex Gooch.......Frank Dillon.......
KC Allcock.....John Jones.....Bill Hull......Bill Carroll....John Brennan....Alison Litton.....Lin Riniker......Joe Crha....
Terry Young...........Matt Noah (Creating War Games)
Attempted to contact Chuck O'Connell....
--- Website Corrections/Updates---
Squadron Logs: Medivac was performed by Centaur 24 on 21 February 1970. Same day as Tom Doolings rescue of wounded LRRP from Nui Ba Den, probably not related. ("Dust off requested for Phu Dong....Cent 24 in area will Dustoff) (John Moore) Any other info?
John Brennan: instead of Aug-Sept, the new availability date will be DECEMBER 2025 for the re-release of Fonthill Media's two previously published helicopter picture books, "Vietnam War Army Helicopter Nose Art", Vols. 1 (2017) and Vol. 2 (2021).
John Jones: Please see below, a secure link to the latest e-book* update, for the Sam Johnson Vietnam archive. I appreciate the contributions to this latest volume. Best Regards. click here
Richard Prillaman name corrected from Prilliman. Still trying to contact him.
Added hometown to Mike Flynn's MyPage. Hoping to get more info from him.
Ken Mick comments about Russ Millers shot Cav hat added to Millers Infosheet
--- Need To Find ---
In notes from Joe Litton he said that John Spencer had a CD with the all the Unit's pictures on it. It was in a year-book format. Anyone know about that?
Bill Hull: It would be interesting to see the pre Vietnam deployment history of D Troop. Maybe a Discussion Page?
Who is James Moody? - possible SP4 that became CSM?
Anybody have contact wit CPT James H. "Jim" Elder, XO F Troop 1972.
Anybody have information on Tiger Pad - Tay Ninh?
Who was the LRRP with the injured foot in Tom Doolings story of 21 February 1970?
--- MyPages ---
The MyPage of Joseph M. "Joe" Crha has been totally redone. New photo is from his 2010 VHPA Reunion video.
Joe is now in contact with us and we hope to be getting more photos and information from him.
Joe and Mayra are still living in Kingman Arizona and doing okay.
--- War Stories & Photos---
Walter R. "Russ" Miller Jr. 2010 VHPA Reunion Video Interview, digitally recovered by Allison Litton and edited for our Centaur Legacy Website.
Russ tells about his tour 1971 to 1972 and about Jesse and Petrilla KIA'a during the Easter Offensive.
Ken Mick said the 51 enemy round that hit Russ's Cav Hat was an incentary round.
Colin K. Hall LRRP 1970 to 1971. Video from the 2014 Centaur Reunion.
He tells about the Renegade Woods Battle of 2 April 1970
Story is linked to from Colin's MyPage, the Renegade Woods Article and the War Stories Video page.
Cobra LRRP Rescue from Nui Ba Den 21 Feb 1970:
Video Interview with Tom Dooling describing how he and Jake Walters pulled a seriously wounded LRRP from the side of Nui Ba Den while under fire.
This story also points out how the Pilot In Command's 4 to 1 control leverage over the CoPilot was so important.
The story is linked to from the MyPages of Dooling, Walters, Olsson and the War Stories Video page.
Proposed weapon design for front seat Cobra Instructor Pilots
See Cobra 4 to 1 Control Advantage War Story Discussion.
Any comments or stories?
VIDEO Interview
Ronald "Ron" Radcliffe Captain LOH Pilot on Hunter Killer Team Mission Reconning ahead of a large Marine Naval and Air Beach Assault North East of Quang Tri, 23 May 1972.
Ron was wounded twice while providing locations of enemy targets. The Army awarded him with a Silver Star. The Marine Corps made no mention on line of the Battle or of the amazing F Troop support.
Can you provide more information about this mission? Like who were the crew members of the other aircraft involved, particularly his LOH wingman, who may have been hit, and the two Cobras. More about Tiger Pad (Tay Ninh East?). Related photos? powellcentaur@gmail.com
Old pic of Richard Prillaman (1967) found and posted as his MP1. His MyPage is updated with his Call Sign Centaur 23, Flt Class 66-22 and his home is probably still Virginia. Still no contact. Phone messages left at all the numbers listed for him.
Gunship Pilots: We are trying to create a War Story Discussion page for the VC and NVA 51 cal weapons. Requesting your input. Here is a draft:
The scouts and gunships of 1966 and 1967 were not very capable of taking out VC 51 cal anti aircraft gun positions. Some did that anyway. As we learned more about that weapon and also the gunships turned into AH-1G Cobras, tactics were developed to take them on. In 1972 one of the defined missions of the Cobras was to find and destroy the weapons. The weapons placement got smarter where they were deployed in highly camouflaged positions, three at a time in a triangle. It was hard for them to shoot straight up. The triangle employment meant that the space over each gun was covered by the other two weapons. Teams of 2 or 3 Cobras would use one Cobra to attack one position, high and steep angle. Then the other 2 Cobras would come in lower from a different direction and attack the two 51's that were firing.
The My Chanh Line - May 1972: Discussion Page: The success of one of those big battles is greatly do to the heroics of CPT Ron Radcliffe and his crew CPT Elder and Bruce Anderson. see the Radcliffe interview.
Amazing Centaur Hero Ron Radcliffe: We recently were fortunate to receive recovered hours of video from the VHPA 2014 Reunion interviews from Alison Litton. Below is the first one completed of Ron Radcliffe, a great story teller. Before you wan
--- Reunions ---
Centaur Vets Reunion November 2025 - Branson, MO Update: 24 Jul 2025
KC Allcock will host the Centaur reunion in Branson, Missouri.
Please take another look at KC's Vets Reunion introduction movie.- - This years Attendee List!!
Click on the Centaur Reunion red button on the upper left of our Home Page (Reunion Page) for continous updates from KC.
Or click on the Reunions Navigation button, then click on Branson, MO
We hope you will get your Banquet Registration Form in to KC as soon as possible for his Reunion Planning.
Click the Branson button at the top of the Centaur Reunion page for details on the Branson Area.
Some August Emails:
Steve Zorger,
I am very excited that you have decided to attend! Stan Allen and I have stayed in touch over the years and I am sure he will be very happy to see and talk with you. Same with KC Allcock who flew with you and is hosting the Reunion.
Tom Fleming remembers assigning CPT Eschenwald and myself for the first Centaur test with a Xenon light (aircraft 468). See "Xenon Light Test 1967". We were not impressed and recommended scraping the idea. Fortunately many improvements were made and it became a full time mission for the Centaurs.
Maybe we can have a little sidebar thing at the reunion with those interested in "NightHawk".
3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion September 2025
The next 3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion will be 14 to 18 September 2025 in Nashville, TN.
Click here for detailed information.
Below are the Dale Dow designed T Shirts that are now available from Christine (Dow) Smith:
D Troop:
Small Medium Large XLarge XXLarge XXXLarge 4X Large
F Troop: Med Large XLarge XXLarge XXXLarge 4X Large
Shirts are $25.00 each including shipping costs.
Christine (Dow) Smith email at jaychris0126@live.com
For the CIVO Board of Directors,
Bruce
Bruce Powell, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster of centaursinvietnam.org
email: powellcentaur@gmail.com
1031 E Highline Drive, Payson, AZ 85541 (Summer)
11875 S Ironwood Drive, Yuma, AZ 85367 (Winter)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx END DRAFT xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
...........................PENDING - "My Swamp"...........................................
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Need to go thru all of this someday
Review Pending "My Swamp" below & see what can be done, or has been already done, or given up on. Haven't had a chance to go through this lately. Maybe you can
Consider creating a special YOUTUBE presentation to advertize our Centaur Website.
Discussion page for 20 minute fuel warning light. Mattison
site:centaursinvietnam.org 20 minute warniing
Get current pic from Randy Love
Is Harold B. Swiencki still alive?
Gerald L. "Jerry" Wright 1LT pilot Centaur 24 Jan to Jun 1967 sent him welcome email long time ago
LRRP with foot injury rescued by Dooling 21 Feb 1970
Consider making Draft MyPages for those we have full names for but no pics of information, That asks whoever clicks on it to help out.
Get InfoSheet from Jack "Beetle" Bailey
Get InfoSheet from Chuck O'Connell
Huckaby still researching Larry Dean McIntosh...deceased?
1LT Larry J. Kastanek Feb 70-71 Gunpilot D/F left phone message. 18Apr (785) 770-7565 lft msg again 8Jul2025
Huckaby: Resembles the guy I knew, but we all changed in the first few months. Charles Loher HS pic
Update add links to Petty story KIA and Bob Bobo's OH6 rescue
Ad Carl Burns Rutgers Interview: https://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/explore/alphabetical-index/interviewees/30-interview-html-text/671-burns-carl
Dec2024
draft InfoSheet for Russ Mattison
Try to contact Jose M. Casanova lft msg 30Dec
Gordon Eatley stuff?
Upgrade History Section Links
Publish mov of 2014 San Antonio Reunion Cav. Movies and images!
2014 San Antonio Reunion Cav. Videos of Jenkins, Walt, Reese, Neymeyer!!
Review Carl Burns book Centaurs In Vietnam and see what stories we haven't trasfered to the the Website.
Find stories from other books of Centaurs and publish on Website.
Start a monthly War Story second look article. Maybe the Bu Dop Mission of Nov 1967. Or do them by "50 Years ago this month" 57 years ago for Bu Dop
Maybe later when they link to us: Lost Link: Somewhere along the line we lost our link to the Friends Of Army Aviation website. It has been revised and placed on our "Links" page.
Mike Law friends mypage? He does not want one 17Oct2024
1LT Larry J. Kastanek Feb 70-71 Gunpilot D/F left phone message. 18Apr (785) 770-7565 lft msg again 8Jul2025
Add Index of Articles for MyPages: , Beasley, Meeks, Wayne Moose, Peake, Radcliffe, Mike Vaughn
No response Russell James Mattison Oct2024
Await Anthony Holm info & Photo Oct2024
An attempt to help is a new Centaur discussion page Understanding the Modern 25th Inf Div.
Also there is a link to the AAAA video of the event that was provided by <a href="Roster/MyPageFriendsDuals/GoochRexDual.jpg">Rex Gooch</a>
MSR Discussion
Working on getting couples photos taken at the 2023 Centaur Reunion placed on respective InfoSheets
Couples photo listings (to infosheets) Richardson,
Work Harlan Coopers pics from Tegelman into Reunion section. Same with those from Linda Richardson
3/4 Cav 2010 Reunion page - fix links
2019 Centaur Reunion Bowling green create index page of photos for all the movies! ????
Dows pics of old reunions
Minor upgrades to these other MyPages ..........
Old Reunion Photos found and posted to the Reunion section. Those from Janis Cooper 2016 Cav Reunion (Harrisburg,PA or Centaur Reunion (Omaha)?
Big time 2012 - 48 videos at Nashville
More Reunion After Action Notes from the Centaur Vets Day Reunion Last Month:
Reunion photos and videos of long past have been repaired and relinked Cav 2008 and 2010
2006 Cav Reunion video and Photo Album
Add Reunion photos and videos to PhoAudVideo page at bottom
Do a page for the Cat House? Cat house vs EM club?
Phoncon with CW2 Bob Long A trp 1/9th then D troop Will send pics Calld again 26Aug2023
Upgrade Ed Risner Memoriam page and links
Note that 14 2022 reunion videos are posted in the WS Video section.
Located photo of LOH 15338 in Jim Messina old website file. Bigger pic on LOH Photos pg
Ken Rucki? Get photos and info for Dennis Piper (phone call) and current of Rucki. Maybe a current of Bill Byers
Follow up on Leo C. Rice contact from Larry Richardson
Upgrade of Richard "Frenchie" Bernier MyPage - photo album? No word back from him yet 28Oct2022
Use photo of Suoi Da Assault 1966 to talk about Suoi Da and Suoi Da Airstrip now under water. Find Airstrip pic with weapons cache from LZ Gold. Early 67 with OH-23
Gordon Eatley will work on his 8mm movie for captions. Tower is Water tower being built.
Cobra down war story by Russ Mattison Meeks/Moose - the real story. Wolfe, Gabrielson
This is not T Berry: Karn note 29 JUN: YES there was a second black enlisted man that joined the scouts before I left. I don't recall his name. I remember flying with him once and he didn't like the CS gas that we threw and then flew through. And yes, he wasn't any "T -berry".
Tyrone T. Thornsberry "T Berry" SP4 LOH Door Gunner/Observer 1969 now has a draft MyPage and an MP1 using a John Evans photo of Evans, Kreil and Tyrone, with their LOH "SNAFU"
Bruce Karn remembers Thornsberry as his LOH Observer. He could fly quite well from the left seat. see story
Email to Gaylen Randell 66-67 for photos. we have infosheet.
Edmond Manville aol.com not found??
1May2022 NOTES Phoncon Reggie Slater:
Fix your email. Have him talk to friends Richard Dennison and Jim Wells. Send pics and info to me. Come to Nov reunion and do videos. Wells was in auto accident and not doing well. Is in photo with Col Pete in the book. He talked to Beasley (throat cancer) who is doing better. Reggie was looking for someone from his 66 tour year going to the DC Reunion. No one was and he has had some health problems. He said the videos I did for him helped him tremendously in his life. I told him to tell that to his buddies and get them to me at the Nov reunion. We will see if that works. Told him about Carl and Ruth Ann Burns health problems
Bob Acker Photos to website - update An Duc War Story - pics to Aircraft Tail number sections (links) and Helicopter photos section
661 494 and 659 pics and info
Info Sheet for Mike Reed
14Apr2022: Bill Boyd called me: His son building a small house behind his for him to live. Moving right now, but will get me some info notes and check out the photos on website. He remembers Ponzillo’s note recruiting new guys. Bill was in Field Artillery. Was not ranger or airbore qualified.Gave new Gmail.
Frank Walker video - edit and post - no longer on YouTube
CW2 Larry M. Dau LOH Pilot 1970-71 Awaiting info for MyPage. sent him email 11Jan22 --Followed up Fri night - left phone msg at (702) 498-7849 28Jan. Tried again 9Apr.
Find: Terry R. Bleed (sent email), Marty Sullivan, Melvin Locke, mentioned in McLeod audio
Find Melvin W. Locke Jr. 1LT 1970 Pasadina - mentioned in McLeod audio - call
Find Silver Star citation for Joe Don Ramey
...Nicholas, Sellers and Laird SS or Albums - check for possible MP's or myPages
...Review slides and photo albums for guys we have photos on but no links. Create rough draft MyPages.
...Found email Jun 2003 to Dow from CW2 William R. Cooper. Sparrow's hootchmate. 1971-72 Slicks. Been getting News ltr. Send contact email
...Add link to Creeping Jesus in aircraft photos section
Brian Bledsoe- can you add comments to Byrd's slideshow photos?
Possible project: Have some time? Want to help with the Centaur Website? Don't know crap about computers?
Then try this: Centaur Website Projects for Dummies - Lesson 1 - Identifying photos: Lesson 2 ?, 3? etc. Publish to Help Section
Awaiting picture captions from Eric Brethen
Do a redsign of website: Call Signs, Discussions, Glossary and other hard things to find: create buttons at top of Help page and maybe on homepage.
Awaiting stuff from Jim McPeak?
Add discussion page for 1967 Bob Hope show. Find Star Stripes article. Add comments from Fleming
Need to add History page for 2.75 rocket pods (M200) etc
Doug Olsen talked to Dennis Pfoor who said he would be contacting me soon. Nov
Nebraska Vietnam Memorial - Moore, Brosh
Jack Kenneth Swinehart 1947-2015. Find a grave. Is this our guy?
Add Discussion Page Volunteers - A Troop to D Troop (Air) as Door Gunners- 1967 find Fleming note
Consider publishing the 3/17 web page describing who was assigned to whom. Try to get answers for the Centaurs. http:/bluetigersite.com/vietnam/iiffv.html Otherwise comparable to "Who's on First" by Abbott and Costello. Get input from past commanders and Bob Graham. The main website with index is http:/bluetigersite.com/vietnam/chronology.html dead email address?
Awaiting email from Harry Swiencki about his awards. Assemble his DFC
Consider a piece about Do No Harm doctrine. Encourage all the gory details, particularily to get it off your chest, knowing that the CIVO Board reviews all input to the website to insure that our doctrine of "do no harm to our fellow Centaurs". Yes, we know we had a few genuinely bad people and some good people who made bad decisions. We will tell the stories for history, but not judge or brand those individuals.
We are providing a place where you can vent the frustrations, guilt, anger and remorse you have been carrying for 40 or 50 years, to a group of dedicated Centaurs who have walked in your shoes. We will listen, we will talk, we will edit for the web as necessary.
Acts of Cowardice, Criminal, Inexperience, Arrogance or Stupidity should be discussed to help us all finally get it out. Do it for your mental well being, not for vengence or revenge. Get some closure. It was war. We can forgive most anything, but only you can forgive yourself. Do it and know some peace for whatever time you have left.
more photos due in from David Whitley
Ronald Dean Hoagland tina cook Feb Newsletter .....rejected at this email posted in last newsletter
2LT VHPA F Trp 1971
Reference our War Story Hunter Crew and Rescue Crew KIA: ??
will send pics
Update Odom and Rogers rescue movies to include marty lalli. add links.
Pending:Jeff Lemr His daughter "Jill" contacted us. Add to Newsletter list. Get her in contact with Bill Witt. Frm Witt (10Sep): ">Bruce, Thanks for the reply. I pray Jeff will contact his Daughter however, he has a hard time getting in touch with his feelings. The only time he seems free is playing his guitar. There is a Vet Center here that has a "Combat Stress Management Guitar Group" hopefully, I can get him to go with me. Might need to say something about Jeff Lemr and daughter getting together after 12yrs if that happens.
Jan 3, 12:59 PM from Hamilton.
to Frank, Carl, Carl, Thomas, Bain, Pat, Tom, Brian, Jim, Gary, Nick, Mike, Charlie, John, Jerry, me
Yes, the Designation was D 3/4 Cav until the 2nd Bde 25th was ordered to stand down and return to Hawaii. We thought we would go with them until I received orders that we would not redeploy and would be designated an independent air cav troop, F Troop, 4th U. S. Cavalry. My kids back home really got a kick out of that. Daddy commanded F Troop like on TV.
Awaiting: Rich Williams checks in. need MyPage. Has "Fall in well" comments Altenhofen emailed him 28Dec called him 22 feb 2020 left msg
Awaiting: CW2 Richard "Rocky" Reed input 15 Sep 2019 He has never answered. Maybe Eric Brethen can get ahold of him. email 5 Dec 2021
Awaiting:James "Mike" Richey info. Photos and text. Added "Mike" to MyPage
ACTION Needed:Pat Lacy? Gilley - Not listed on the Centaur Roster (Spelling maybe?) Photo 50 Can you name the guys in photo 52 with the dog Gunner? Jerry Caldwell, SSG Photos 57
Roosevelt Martin, SSG Photo 57
25th Div Flash publcation? Should we link to it? Can we?
