Thirty-eight years have passed since Stan Ralph, David Kissell and John Heil were members of
the 101st Airborne Division, 2/501, Company B, 1st Squad in Vietnam. Seeing each other was
important because Stan helped put me on a gun ship after I was seriously wounded that night in
June of 1968. I also learned that David was wounded and went out on the same gun ship during
the battle in the Ashau Valley. David told me that when he saw me on the deck of the gun ship,
he didn't think I would make it through the night. I went on to Zama, Japan and then back to
the States. I did receive some letters from other brothers who told me Stan had been wounded.
After that, I lost contact.
Many years passed, then I received a telephone call from Stan who found me through the Company
B website. Stan knew my name didn't appear on THE WALL in Washington DC and he wondered what
happened to me. With that telephone call, we agreed to meet in the future. Earlier this month
I had the opportunity to meet both Stan and David in Florida and embraced my brothers again.
It was important for me to thank them for saving my life. Feelings would have been the same if
I had the chance to save their lives.
At our meeting there was small talk in the beginning. We recalled some of the funny incidents
that took place and the battles we fought. Most important was that their wives were present
and made a comment to my wife that this was the first time they heard their husbands talking
about experiences in Vietnam. It was good to know the support that both men are getting from
their loves ones.
The evening went very well and good-byes were hard to say because I was leaving my brothers
again. I made it a point to let them know that not much time will pass until we meet again.
We are making arrangements to meet again in Florida where they may contact others or we can
meet at a Company B reunion.
I want to thank all those comrades who search for our brothers. Also, I sincerely want to
thank Cat Jimerson, the webmaster of www.b2501airborne.com. Utilizing this website, we three
members of the 1st squad found each other and reunited after 38 years.
