Book of the Month

Recommended reading from Rick Spencer:

TRIUMPH FORSAKEN

The Vietnam War, 1954-1965

Mark Moyar, Ph.D.

Mark Moyar, Associate Professor at the U.S. Marine Corps University, hasauthored a most remarkable history of the Vietnam War, Triumph Forsaken. Most crewmembers that read this site have an abiding interest in that intervention. The C-133 had a major supply role beginning early in the War; so early, that after returning from a trip one was often asked, "Where is Saigon?" It was not long before every American knew that answer.

As you read Triumph Forsaken, you will live it. The memories of personal involvement with Vietnam and the C-133 will once again be vivid. You will savor each page as Moyar tells a story contrary to that promulgated by the theology of past authors who purport that Vietnam "was a war-mongering plot crafted by policy makers and soldiers." He tells this different story with the clarity and accuracy that many readers experienced. During his research, Dr, Moyar was granted access to much new material from both American and Communist archives that provided detailed accounts of the political and military battles at home and abroad. Open to any page of Triumph Forsaken and one is provided with in-depth analysis that regularly takes an axe to many of the beliefs still commonly held by the Left.

Triumph Forsaken began as a single volume history that has been expanded to two volumes, with the second due out soon. In reading, one will find compelling evidential blame about those who acted without regard for the truth in order to enhance their own political and personal agenda. Moyar's examples of such prevarication by the major news journalists, Ambassador Lodge, and Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, are abundant. That turns out to be one of the saddest commentaries for the Country and for those who served during that period. Additionally, Triumph Forsaken serves as an outstandingly good mirror for the present Iraq and Afghanistan War that is confronting global terrorism on its home turf. In that regard one reviewer, MG Scales, opines that it paints a picture that is clear: "Iraq and other related post 9/11 conflicts will require perseverance, resources, and resolve."

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this well researched, enlightened history of Vietnam and I hope you will as well!

To find out more about this book, and how to buy it for $16.63, click on: Triumph Forsaken

S/N 0536 Beavertail Update

This just in from Sandy Sandstrom (stay tuned...new photos to follow):

Our beavertail is here as of yesterday and we will attempt to install it on Tuesday, 31 July. This will make the aircraft complete (click on: B Model 0536 at the AMC Museum ). We have other work to do as well. The crew entrance door must be dismantled and a new cable installed, paint will have to be applied in several places and the decals are fraying and/or comming off. We have some of them, but we will have to aquire the rest. The MX never stops. Would that we had an indoor facility. Oh well, we always said "We have done so much with so little, we can do anything with nothing".

Sandy

One More New/Old Contact!

Hey Tom from Vermont!! THANKS for the Comment on our Crews on the Wing post! We appreciate hearing from you......BUT we don't have your e-mail address. How about it? You could list it in a Comment on this Post, or e-mail it to rehanson342@aol.com.

Need Your Help!

Sandy Sandstrom and Dick Hanson have just about exhausted all their ideas for building an e-mail address list.......we now have 35. We know our C-133 Crew colleagues value the opportunity to re-connect and sustain old friendships with a common interest. E-mails are not only a cheap and easy way to do that on a personal basis, but it would be much easier and cheaper to communicate with everyone on a frequent basis.

Thanks to the previous Reunion planners, we do have a roster of about 170 names, mailing addresses and phone numbers. So we do plan to make a snail mailing at some point to cover everyone. But with only 20% of those listing e-mail addresses, and we know even some with e-mail addresses don't use them much, it would make for much more active and interesting communications to get a lot more people involved.

I will be sending this same request to the 35 names we do have. PLEASE, review our "Send To" list, and let us know additional e-mail addresses you have. Reply to the e-mail you receive, or just list what you have in the Comment section of this Post.

We are also preparing a questionnaire to survey colleagues about their interests and preferences for the next Reunion. Again, the best way to do that is via e-mail, so we'll be ready as soon as you help us build up our list.

THANK YOU!!

South African Bush Pilot

Imagine you are a South African bush pilot. You fly in some critical medical supplies and enjoy a quick lunch at the hospital. It's a stifling 100 degrees in the shade and you're eager to get back up to the cool, high blue yonder. On the way back to your plane, you discover that the only bit of shade within ten miles has become very popular. You start calculating the distance to the plane door and wonder . . . "Do I feel lucky today?"

Air Poland

Words not necessary!

Secret Missions East

Yes, I remember as well being on a few 'secret missions' normally a SAM. These were in the early 60's and to India. The crew, all with Top Secret clearances, were briefed in a small room at KDOV base ops and advised to carry weapons. Also, we were to wear civilian clothes after flying East from Germany. Lastly, the families, when calling the Squadron, could only be told that the mission had departed Germany in an Easterly direction with no knowledge of time of return or destination.One of these missions took us to Dum Dum AP in Calcutta where we landed in 'secrecy'. And, we were able to enjoy the beginning of the Monsoon season! However, I was the 39th squadron historian and noticed a complete report of our arrival in the local newspaper and brought a copy back to include in the monthly analysis of the squadron's work.After landing we flew VFR for about an hour without filing a flight plan to a seemingly abandoned WWII base on the Northern border and off loaded 'listening apparatus'. We never really knew what we carried on these missions and never really asked.There were a lot of SAM missions in the early 60's almost all to interesting places with interesting cargo. I do not remember the other crew members as I did not keep orders that I can now review.

Rick Spencer
July 11, 2007 4:19 PM