Draft Newsletter Daily Worksheet for MAY 2026Draft

Latest Update of Draft - 14 April 2026

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 Not for publication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 - May 2026

INDEX: Checking In, News, Corrections , War Stories/Photos , Deceased, Reunions,

You can easily help us make our Website better. As you browser once in a while, make note of any things that should be fixed or corrected. Misspelled names, words, places; links that don't work or are wrong; stories and other pages that should be further Hyperlinked.
Then take a second to send the Webmaster a note about it. powellcentaur@gmail.com

PLEASE click on blue underlined text (Hyperlinks)

--- Checking In---

If you have never checked in with us please send the webmaster a note (no obligations): email powellcentaur@gmail.com

.... Bob Forringer....... Don Borey.. ........John Jones.........Arnold "Sandy" Weand (BTrp 3/17)......Ted Kempster (son John Kempster)....
....Genea' Denise Erby (daugter Tommy Erby).... Bruce Anderson........John Evans......Carl Betsill..... Frank Hock....... Michael Peake....
....KC Allcock....Tom Olsson....... Al Lamb (Veteran Service Officer )......Roger Blaha......Lowell Kennedy....... Frank Dillon..... Joe Arzate.......

Great information added to website through recent contacts with Tom Olssen, Lowell Kennedy, Roger Blaha, Jack Kempster Joe Arzate and Bruce Anderson.

--- News ---

Blaha and Lamb project: MOH for Radcliffe

Bob Jones has Centaur D & F Troop patches (and some stickers) that you can have. Just send him an email with your request, your name and mailing address.

Bob Jones email address

 

Get more out of your visit to the Centaur Website!!

1. If you are not clicking on the Hyperlinks (Blue Underline Text) then you are missing a lot!

2. If you are not finding and using your Browser button that takes the videos to full screen. That's a shame.

3. Find anything quickly on the site by going to Google Search and typing in site:centaursinvietnam.org (then a word or words); then click the search button. For Example try: site:centaursinvietnam.org m60

 

--- Website Corrections/Updates---

Tom Broadbent: LOH Down 30 Jan 1972:

"We had been staging out of TayNinh and working in Cambodia. However, this was the first mission we had flown in HoBo Woods/CuChi area. Tet was coming up and someone was worried that there might be trouble from that area. Tet was supposedly the reason we moved from LaiKhe to Long Binh a couple of months earlier.

Sunday, January 30th. was when we got shot up. Our transmission oil cooler was hit and we had 30 seconds to get the aircraft on the ground. As you can see from Bob Jones photos, Blind Faith was recovered fairly intact. Maybe, this was why there wasn’t an Incident Report.

I believe that this was CPT. Lowell Kennedy’s first training mission(he should be able to verify that).If it was, what an introduction to the fine art of being a Scout! I do not remember the crew chief’s name. Bob Jones can probably give more information about what happened afterwards as I was on the CC slick heading to hospital(Hotel 3(?))."

Joe Arzate: LOH Down 30 Jan 1972:

"At the time of his scout bird getting shot down (Hamrick/Ware/Lacewood), I was the Cobra cover pink team. We were returning from our missions back to Long Bien. We were crossing the river; he was flying low level and I was above covering him. Just as he crossed the river he started taking heavy small arms and 51cal fire. I gave my commands taking fire and which directions to head. I also started taking heavy fire and destroyed the 51cal and also the small arms fire. I expended all my ordinance while covering his position on the ground. Several months later I was a commander of a tank unit at Ft. Hood Texas. Many months later I was presented with a DFC. I still recall that battle as if it happened yesterday. It was my second tour."

Pete Holmberg: LOH Down 30 Jan 1972:

"The medevac slick was from the medevac unit at Long Binh. Other than Centaurs and the white medevac slick there were no other units present that I recall. That is except for higher chain of command slicks that were stacked way up on top of everyone else. Btw, I saw & heard the medevac slick turn around at about a 1/2 final saying he was taking fire. Doing so was SOP for white painted medevac slicks as, according to the Geneva Convention, they were unarmed and supposed to be afforded free passage to care for wounded."

.....Based on the research by Carl Betsill.. and Michael Peake.. (the coordinates issue) the Iron Triangle Battle 20 Feb 1972 War Story title has been changed to Rescue of CPT Lacewood 20 Feb 1972.

CPT Melvin W. Locke, Centaur 42 has been added to the Call Sign section.

 

--- War Stories & Photos---

John "Jack" Kempster, CPT D TRP Pilot OH-23 Scouts, Lift Platoon "Slicks" and Heavy Weapons Gunships has been located and now has a MyPage.

Tour Mar 66 - Mar 67. Now listed on the Centaur Call Sign page as Centaur 42.

He has 5 MPs from his son Ted. Press the small white buttons in the lower right corner of his MyPage. Can you identify the Warrent Officer with him in MP5?

 

Introduction Video:

Centaur Reunion Video 2025 of Clay Maxwell introducing himself and telling how he got to the Centaurs in 1968.

Clay and Ted Pitcher came over to D Troop just as we were getting our brand new Cobras.

 

 

 

 

Cobra Weapons Officer Video: Centaur Reunion Video 2025 of Clay Maxwell telling how he accidentally became the Cobra Weapons Officer.

His training on the farm helped.

 

 

 

Show Off Maneuver Video: Centaur Reunion Video 2025 of Clay Maxwell telling about the wild ass flyover at Cu Chi that nearly got a lot of people in trouble.

Sometimes good things happen when General Officers see the bright side.

 

 

 

Introduction Video: Centaur Reunion Video 2025 of Jerry Brownfield, B Troop, 3/4 Cav, introducing himself and telling about how he became a Centaur Reunion Host (Twice!).

Our great leader Jim "Pete" Peterson gave Jerry an award for his support of the Centaurs.

 

 

New Friends MyPage: COL Felix I. Rodriguez, CIA Agent who worked with the Centaurs in 1971-72 time frame.

See comments from Skip Petrie and Michael "BG" Woods, Cobra Pilots; and LOH Pilot Roger Blaha.

Any more stories about Felix?

 

 

 

New MyPage: SP5 Harvey E. Clark LOH Crew Chief 1972.

Flew with CPT Fred Ledfors.

Anyone remember anything about him? Contact?

 

 

Bruce Anderson input - Shot down 20 Jun 1972 Story

June 20 1972: CPT Ledfors and I were in the same area as the 23 May 1972 event. Some new W01 was in the left seat (who?). We were chasing tank tracks and eventually found a bunch of them camouflaged in the sand. We got shot up big time. The bird made it to the beach and caught on fire, then crashed right next to the water. The new W01 got hit in the back of the neck with a rotor blade. Not real serious though. CPT Lott was behind us. He landed and took the W01 to Da Nang I guess. The command ship landed and picked Ledfors and I up. The bird was a loss.

 

--- Deceased ---

Holly Peterson, daughter of Craig Peterson, tells us that her mother Cheryl has recently died. No other info yet.
Our Blessings to the family John Moore.

 

--- Reunions ---
 

•••••••••••Centaur Veterans Reunion NOVEMBER 9 to 14 2026•••••••••••

The Centaurs will be doing a cruise. See Hosts Bob and Dee Forringer notes by clicking on the Reunion Button on the website homepage.

"It is slowly getting closer to the cruise.
The plan is a very relaxing cruise. No specific events. You plan your own days. Carnival will try their best to seat us as close as possible at the early dinning time. This will give those enough time to eat and catch the evening events, for those who can stay up past 7 PM. Once on board we will find a small niche were we can sit, meet, post notes on bulletin board and try the drink of the day.

If you haven't signed up yet and are thinking about joining us, don't delay much longer. Room availability will start getting limited as the cruise date approaches.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Bob Forringer deenbob5683@gmail.com

Below is a list of the 23 people who made reservations for the Centaur Reunion Cruise:

 

 

•••••••••••••3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion August 2026••••••••••

The next 3/4 Cav Squadron Reunion will be in Lexington, KY August 23d thru August 27th 2026. See after action report in the Dave Cox 2025 Fall Edition Cav Newsletter.

Lifetime membership has been reduced to $10 from $75. Annual membership is eliminated.

 

 

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 .

1LT Larry J. Kastanek Feb 70-71 Gunpilot D/F left phone message. 18Apr (785) 770-7565 lft msg again

8Jul2025 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.

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?

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?