Bill Brayshaw
with his wife Karla, a Navy Veteran
William D. Brayshaw graduated from High School and enlisted in the Coast Guard. He was medically discharged for a metal pin in his leg from a previous injury. When Vietnam started to heat up, he paid to have the pin removed, and after considerable hassle managed to enlist in the Army for Warrant Officer Helicopter School. His first tour he flew UH-1D transports and UH-1C gunships. After about 8 months State-side, he volunteered for AH-1G Cobra School and subsequent re-assignment to Vietnam. He was discharged in August 1969 as a Chief Warrant Officer.
Elmer DeForest
Vietnam: kneeling at bottom right in picture (wearing the darker helmet) is Elmer DeForest, who now serves as mayor of Seadrift. In the back row, far left, is Elmer Emmert.
BMC Tommie L. DeForest
US Navy 1959-1979
Photo: BMC Tommie DeForest, River Patrol Boat RGP 55, Chu Duc Bossac River, Vente Canal
Jose Enriquez, U.S. Army Veteran
Recipient of Purple Heart, Vietnam War
Jose Enriquez served in Vietnam. He made ten jumps to Hamburger Hill with the 101 Airborne Screaming Eagles. On one occasion, he carried his wounded Sergeant 21 miles across rice paddies and rivers to find medical help. When he arrived at his destination, the medic discovered that although Jose didn’t realize it, he had also been shot. After receiving treatment, Jose went back to finish his tour of duty because “his friends were still there”. A recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and other medals, Jose lost 1/2 of one lung due to Agent Orange, and is 100% disabled. He still suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome. But he says that if he had to, he would do it all again.
In a formal “welcome home” service October 10, 2010, Jose and his father-in-law, Cecil Springer, were honored by the Matagorda Mounted Calvary. Both men were pleased to receive this long-overdue honor, as Jose recalled what a sad time it was for the Vets coming home from Vietnam because of the protest against the war. The reaction of the American public to the service men returning home was so discouraging. “We were ostracized for doing our duty, while the draft dodgers became American heroes,” Jose said. “The true heroes are those who take a stand against the spread of communism and injustice and for human rights.”
Jose Enriquez now spends his time raising and selling English bulldogs.
Robert Shelby Foitik
Spec 5 US Army
March 20, 1970 – December, 1972
MOS 74D20 ADPS Fort Ben Harrison, Indianapolis
Camp Casey, Korea, 2nd Infantry Division
Camp McCoy, Wisconsin
Colonel Gib Fox, U.S. Air Force, Retired
Photo: Neal and Lois Fox (parents) and Carol Fox (wife) pinning on Gib Fox’s 2nd Lt. bars in 1963.
Gib Fox: In 1967, as a young captain, I flew F-100 fighters out of Phu Cat, a base in Northern part of South Viet Nam. We primarily flew in support of ground operations in the Northern half of South Viet Nam, but also flew interdiction missions in Cambodia and Laos.
Willie Carl Gaines U.S. Army E-4
American Division Combat Engineer
Willie Carl Gaines of Seadrift, Vietnam Veteran, Nov. 1970 – Nov. 1972.
Received Honorable Discharge; Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal w/Bronze Service Star; republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/device 1960; Expert Badge- Rifle; Sharpshooter Badge- Auto Rifle
Mike H. Gonzales, Jr.
United States Navy, E3
The USS Oriskany
Entered: August 27, 1965
Honorable Discharge: August 19, 1969
Louis “Buddy” Guidry
U.S. Army, Sgt. 1st Class
82 Airborne – Vietnam
Wilmor “Buster” Hadley
Buster served in the United States Marine Corp, 2nd Division from April 1968 to June 1969. He received the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam on April 13, 1969.
Buster has lived in Seadrift, Texas for 35 years and is currently retired from Brown & Root and GSI after 41 years.
Haynes Hart
Chief Master Sgt. USAF
27 ½ years service;
Vietnam: May 1965 – May 1966
Butch Hodges
SSG U.S. Army
Vietnam
January 1968 – January 1969
John Wayne Holland U.S. Army
Spec. 4th Class Personnel Specialist
101st. Airborne
Phu Bai, Vietnam
Unit Drug Counselor
Johnny Holland traveled daily in country by helicopter to Camp Eagle and fire bases in the outposts.
His most memorable day:
“A local orphanage was transported to our base and we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with them. We spoke little or no Vietnamese and they spoke almost no English.
After a little sign language and encouragement, they really enjoyed the feast of turkey and all the trimmings!”
Gerold Hooker
In photo: Far Left
Gerold Hooker: I was stationed at DaNang Air Base with the 6925th Security Squadron, USAF from Jan 1965 to Jan 1966. When I arrived in country I was told that there were less the 20,000 troops stationed there and by July of 1965 the Marines landed and the forces grew to over 200,000.
Our detachment monitored North Vietnamese communication in support of the Rolling Thunder missions which bombed the north.. We also tracked U-2 and drone missions. Yes, we were flying drones back then. We reported to the National Security Agency and our outfit had Vietnamese, Russian and Chinese linguist. One of our airborne monitoring missions intercepted an individual speaking fluent Russian ordering a surface to air missile site to launch against one of our F-105 fighters.. of course the Russians denied having any troops in country…
Interesting times… I was just a kid…
Stanley Weldon Holmes, Jr.
Army, Specialist 4 Radio Operator
Quang Tri and Denang Vietnam
HHC 1st. Brigade 5th Infantry Div. (Mech) Picture taken on bunker line of Camp Red Devil. Quang Tri province RVN.
Dixie Howell
USAF Commander
Navigator B-2 missions beginning July, 1965; B-52-G, over 200 missions, out of Guam until the end of the war.
Photo: Lt. Howell, early jet aircraft before he began flying bombers.
Jerry Karnes
Jerry Karnes, who does the Toy Run every year.
Photo taken at Udorn RTAFB in 1968
Larry Key, U.S. Navy
Larry Key, resident of Seadrift, retired from the U.S. Navy with 30 years of service. Twenty-two years were active duty and eight years in fleet reserve. Larry served his first tour after joining the U.S. Navy in 1960 – 1964 on the USS Tortuga LSD 26, which toured Vietnam. After an eight year break, Larry went back into active duty on the USS St. Louis LKA 116, which toured the last of the Vietnam War. Shore duty followed at NAS Kingsville and he served as a police officer in Security.
In 1978 he went to the USS Saratoga CV60 aircraft carrier for five years and toured the Mediterranean. From there Larry toured on the USS Nimitz CVN 68 from 1984 – 1986. He went to duty on the USS Charleston LKA 113 for two years in 1986. Then he went to the USS Vulcan AR 5, which was a repair ship, from 1988 – 1989.
Larry wrapped up his Navy career as a Navy Recruiter in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he retired as a Boatswain’s Mate Chief in 1992. He then retired out of Fleet Reserves in the year 2000.
Larry and his wife came back to Seadrift to spend the rest of his days fishing and being with his family and friends.
Jack LaBarge
Veteran of the US Navy (1963/1967), Jack LaBarge, stands proudly in front of his boat which he enjoys sailing in San Antonio Bay.
Jack LaBarge: I am very Proud of the Service I had the Honor to do. I am so Proud of the young Men and Women that now are Serving, and the Respect that is now being shown to them. I wish that the City/County, could do more to find them Good Job’s and to help them transfer back into “our real world”. We came back to a Nightmare, and the Country turned their Back’s on us. May America Never turn the Back on them again! God Bless them all!
Steve Marlin
Sgt. E5, U.S. Marines
Photo: Steve Marlin holding a 3.5 rocket launcher and a rocket round. In the background is a well known combat landmark, “The Rockpile”.
I am Steve Marlin, 206 W. Monroe Ave. Port O’Connor, TX. I am married to Virginia Stringo Marlin who grew up in Port O’Connor.
I served in the United States Marine Corps, 1966 – 1968, separated Honorable with the Rank of Sergeant (E-5). I went through boot camp at MCRD San Diego, CA and advanced infantry training at Camp Pendleton, CA.
I served in the infantry. My MOS was 0351, Anti-Tank Assaultman, trained on Rockets, Flame Throwers, Demolition, and 105 Recoilless Rifle. In combat I was assigned to Rockets and Demolition.
I am a Veteran of Vietnam. While in Vietnam, I served with L Company, 3rd, Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment (Lima 3/3). My deployment was 1966-1967; we were deployed in the mountains along the DMZ that separated South and North Vietnam. Among my ribbons are two Purple Hearts and a Presidential Unit Citation.
James “Jim” D. Martin
Captain, U.S. Army Combat Engineer
Helicopter Pilot and Instructor
1966 to 1969
Went through the first Tet when he was in the 101st Airborne Division, 67-68 in Vietnam, and received the following medals: National Defense Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Air Medal for Flying in Combat (awarded 9 times); Bronze Star; Meritorious Unit Citation.
Bruce Mccullough
1965 to 1968 Vietnam
Shown fishing at Sunrise Bay, Port Lavaca.
Erny McDonough, Sgt. U.S. Army
March 1969 – Dec. 1970
Company A, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry, 7th Army
Guarded Pershing Missiles in Germany.
Frank Rudolph Michalek
U.S. Army
Born 2-5-44 to Rudy Michalek, Jr. and Minnie Waltersdorf Michalek, Frank voluntered to join the Army on his 18th birthday. Basic training was at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas; AIF in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Frank was stationed in Hawaii from ‘62 to ‘64 and served in Korat, Thailand. He left service with an honorable discharge in May, 1964. While in the service, his rank was a SP4 E4. He was an expert in Rifle M-1 and M-14.
On returning to the States, he brought back this from an unkown author: “Freedom has a taste to those who have fought and almost died for it that the protected shall never know.”
Justo Nirto, Sgt. U.S. Army
The photo was taken in Ashal Valley, Vietnam. Justo is carrying the machine gun because the gunner hurt his food out in the mountain.
Bill Pyle
Picture: Staff Sgt. 1966 in DaNang Air Force Base
Flight Line Expiditer 1966-1967; 1969-1970
Jerome Preslar
United States Army
Jerome Preslar was married on February 12, 1966 and drafted into the U.S. Army and left February 16, 1966. He served with the 1st Calvary in Vietnam in 1966, 1967. Jerome received two Purple Hearts.
Doyle (Jack) Rule
Doyle (Jack) Rule served in the U.S. Navy from June 20, 1966 until honorably discharged June 19, 1972, at the completion of his enlisted term
.
His daughter, Julie Brown, reports: “I can’t tell you exactly how much time he spent in Vietnam, but have records that his first orders given sent him to Vietnam December 13, 1966. I have some of his records which some of it is illegible, but it looks like his military base in the states was Gulfport, Mississippi prior to being flown out to Vietnam.
My dad passed away May 24, 2010 at the age of 65 from cancer. There were two things that he told my mom that he wished could have happened, one being a parade where Veterans would be welcomed and praised and not spat on. Because this wish is actually coming true, I want to be a part of it to represent him and make sure that his presence in Vietnam is acknowledged.”
W. Corey Rich, III
U.S. Army
This photo of Corey Rich was taken in 1970 in Dien Khan District, Khan Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam. Corey served in the U.S. Army Intelligence Branch from 1968 to 1971. He spent 1970 as a lieutenant in Vietnam in both MACV and USARV intelligence positions and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Corey and his wife are now weekend residents of Port O’Connor and hope to soon be here full time.
George Salazar
United States Army
George Salazar began his service in the Army on April 24, 1969. He was sent to Long Binh, Vietnam on November 9, 1969. He returned from his deployment in October, 1970. He was honorably discharged on April 1, 1975. Mr. Salazar currently resides in Seadrift.
Commander Leslie Sanders
United States Navy
Born: Feb. 24, 1936
Died: May 21, 1995
The son of Goldie Mullins Sanders of Seadrift and the late County Commissioner Robert Williams Sanders, Leslie Sanders was a lifelong resident of Calhoun County. He was valedictorian of his Port Lavaca High School graduation class and earned an engineering degree from the University of Texas.
Leslie Sanders served with the United States Navy and was the commanding officer of a jet attack squadron and the deputy director of the only fighter aircraft/helicopter test pilot school in the United States. His responsibilities included the test pilot training of future astronauts such as the commander of the NASA space shuttle.
He flew over 250 combat missions in Vietnam and retired as a Navy commander. He was said to be the most highly decorated Vietnam era pilot in the seven-county area. He was authorized to wear the distinguished Flying Cross, 24 air medals, the Navy defense medal, the Vietnam service medal, Vietnam cross of gallantry, Vietnam armed forces meritorious unit citation and other medals.
Bob Stevens
United States Army
Bob Stevens enlisted August 1966; took Basic and AIT at Fort Polk, LA; served at Fort Hood, TX December 1966 to March 1968. Served in the Republic of VietNam March1968 to March 1969. Honorable Discharge March 1969.
Sgt. Rocky Taylor
The City of Seadrift honored Sgt. Taylor by naming a street after him. Sgt. Taylor was killed in action May 4, 1970. He was with Company A, 101st Aviation Battalion, and was one of seven killed when their helicopter was downed over Firebase Kathryn in South Vietnam. Sgt. Taylor was only 18 years old.
Photo: Pallbearers at Sgt. Rocky Taylor’s funeral were: Bobby Tyson, Larry Tyson, AD Sanders, Paul Amason, Butch Hodges, Dennis Wilson, and Clifton Milam.
Stuart J. Valigura, U.S. Navy
Radioman, 2nd Class Stuart J. Valigura served aboard the GMD (Guided Missal Destroyer) U.S. Waddel in the Tonkin Gulf, serving the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. He served three years in the Navy.
Martin Villarreal, U.S. Army
Martin “Marty” Villarreal graduated from Dulles High School in Stafford, Texas in May of 1966. He was inducted into the Army on June 22, 1967 and received basic training at Fort Polk, LA. He received advanced infantry training at Fort Sill, OK. Marty served from December 19, 1967 until December of 1668 in Vietnam. He was assigned to 1st Calvary Division Air Mobile. TET Offensive PK 17, Marty witnessed extreme hostility and the monsoon season, He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor beyond the call of duty. From December 1968 until June of 1969, he was assigned to the 2nd Armor Division at Fort Hood, Texas, “Hell on Wheels”. He was honorably discharged in June of 1969.
Photo above is a reprint from a 1967 issue of “Stars and Stripes”. Martin Villarreal is 3rd from right:
“When the first enemy were spotted at Thon La Chu, the 2/12th leaders called for artillery support. But artillery would not be available until later in the day when two Chinooks braved heavy clouds and mortar rounds at PK-17 to land two 105 mm howitzers for Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery. Once Charlie Battery began pumping shells at the NVA, even mortar rounds that crunched into the camp 14 times during the first day, couldn’t stop the artillerymen.”
Russel Craig White
U.S. Army
Vietnam War
Leslie Gerald Wilson
Helicopter Mechanic
Vietnam War
Melton “Bits” Braudaway
CPLE-4 U.S. Marine Corps
1959-1963 Active Duty
1963-1966 Reserve
Head Quarter Battery 4
Battalion 11th Marines
1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
29 Palms, California
Donnie Martin, US Air Force
Donnie Martin shown in this photo standing in front of the airport gate, Cam Ranh Bay. He held the rank of Sergeant, service in Law Enforcement, with the 483rd Security Police Group. 9/28/69 to 9/29/73.
The Dolphin wishes that all the photos could have been of the same size and quality. We appreciate all who contributed to this issue and know that there are many more Vietnam-era Veterans who, for various reasons did not contribute their photos.
We wish to say “Thank You” to all!
Should anyone want a copy of our Nov. 12, 2010 Veterans Day issue, we have a few available.
