Stories & Postings...
BOOKS
Yes, a few books mention the 281st, mostly from the SF community, as Thomas A. Ross's
recent "Privileges of War" describing an episode at an A Team camp in the mountainous reaches of South Vietnam.
See our history area publications page for a list of others.
But at least two have 281st members as author. Al Rampone wrote "Silent Birdmen" many years ago about a few battles in the spring of '67 and the personal adventures of a few us. His book remains occasionally available on Amazon.com
In 2015, a project long in the making will make our story available the public resulted in Will McCollum's compilation of our individual and collective stories in "Above
the Best". Buy it from our PX; as of this writing, it is not the book by the same title on Amazon.com.
"As a family member waiting at home while my husband served as a pilot in Viet
Nam, we really never knew what the guys were doing on a daily basis. The news we
received from the media was dismal and letters home were somewhat short. Thanks
to the 28lst AHC and this wonderful book, we will now know. The camaraderie and
professionalism that all the guys practiced on a daily basis was very special
and comes through on each person's submission--from maintenance to crew chiefs
to operations to pilots, etc. All had a job to do and they did it well. This
book is a must read for families of those who served." -- Karen Forcht
"During the past few weeks I have had the privilege of proofreading "Above the
Best". Having been familiar with stories of the beginning year with the 281st in
Viet Nam, it was fascinating to read the stories of the men who followed. The
stories came from the heart and were told as they were experienced by the men,
which is a gift they have chosen to share. The emotions and fears
expressed by the men were shared by the wives and families left behind. This is
truly an accounting of events that will be read and remembered." -- Linda Lerda
We offer many thanks to photographer Angela B. Pan for the use of her stunning photo at
the Wall in the production of this book. Click here to visit her page and her breath-taking D.C photos.
Will McCollum's book "Above The Best" covering the life and times of the men who
served in the unit may still be available in the PX along with instructions for ordering. Our PX will close soon forever.
[ Note: some links that go off-site may call the Not Found message. Due to the passage of time,
some Vietnam Veterans' web pages no longer exist. Just click the back button to return here. ]
PERSONAL STORIES
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REMEMBERING THE 281st AHC by Donald J. Taylor
SMJ (Ret), U.S. Army Special Forces
JIM "BEETLE" BAILEY
DUANE "TUBBY" BRUDVIG
DON BUDLONG
KENNETH (KEN) EMBREY
DARYL EVANGELHO: Thanksgiving 1969
JOHN "THE KID" GALKIEWICZ
(offsite link opens a new window)
PAUL GREINER:
Duc My Pass
8th Field Hospital Stay
MARSHALL HAWKINS: Viet Nam Revisited
ROBIN HICKS: March 28, 1968
JACK INTERSTEIN 69-70
JOHN KORSBECK: McGuire Rig Rescue,
Fight Your Way In,
They Gave Up The Whole Aircraft
Bob Laya's memories of 145th Avn Plt, 1965
Frank Little 66-67: A Day Like Many Others
George Little 69-70: Make no deals with the enemy.
STEVE MATTHEWS':
RatPack15 website,
and
Remembrance of Tour (6/68-6/69) (both open new tabs)
Jack Mayhew's: Humor (?) Page
Brent Gourley's tales:
May 14, 1967
July 25, 1967
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Jack Mayhew:
Christmas 1967 at Polei Kleng,
Major "Bruiser" Allen
Jack Mayhew:
The Bear, The Roadrunner, and Intruder Success
BOB (MOP) MITCHELL
A Remembrance by MOP
BOB (MO) MOBERG
Jeff Murray:
FNG Stories
A follow up story to Bob Mitchell's Story
Naked Flight
Tom Ross
Valley of the Tigers
JACK SERIG's Web site.
(offsite link opens a new window)
WAYNE SELLERS
499th Signal Detachment - assignment
499th Signal Detachment - the unit
CRAIG SZWED>
May 1967 shot down
Craig's Live Reading of "Orbits"
Ron Turner 1970 -
A NewB Writes Home,
281st Closeout, and
See his page at Photos for more pics
DUANE VINCENT An Lao Valley Incident
JOHN WEHR: A 281st Remembrance
ED YOUNG: Bill Meehan's Last Flight
Dean Roesner's memories of Jim Wolfe
Donald "Corky" Corcoran's
three days in the woods |