Tag Archives: The Son Tay Raid

Then we started practicing at night…

Air Force, Army,

Monday October 5th, 1970
…exactly 50 years ago today.

The first real-time (2:18am H-Hour) Full Profile was flown on this day (but with abbreviated flight time) with all aircraft and Green Berets aboard.

I was, by no means, the biggest man. In fact, I was second shortest. The shortest raider was also the oldest NCO, Master Sergeant Galen “Pappy” Kittleson. Pappy was no stranger to combat. Pappy and I had several things in common. We were both short and stocky built. We both grew up on a farm in the Midwest. In World War II, Pappy was the youngest man in the raid on the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines. I was the youngest man on this raid, 25 years junior to Pappy.

[John Gargus’ book The Son Tay Raid: American POWs in Vietnam Were Not Forgotten, on page 24, explains a little about me being the youngest raider.]

Pappy was a quiet man, but always knew what he was doing. He made history on the Son Tay Raid as the only American soldier to be on four POW raids. Pappy was well respected by everyone.

[On a side note, Pappy visited my family after he retired. In his hometown of Toeterville, Iowa, he started a group called the Alamo Scouts. It was for kids that were considering the military or kids who could just use some direction in their life. Pappy suggested to my daughter to come to his summer camp to see if she would like the military. Sadly, Pappy died a couple of months before Hana was able to attend his training camp. I attended Pappy’s funeral and it was amazing how many men that had been in Pappy’s Alamo Scout group attended to show their love and respect for him. There were doctors, military men, an FBI agent and many, many friends and family. Pappy had left an impact on a lot of people. Ross Perot paid for his headstone listing many of his accomplishments. At Pappy’s funeral, someone asked me if I was Pappy’s son—I was truly honored to receive that compliment! Pappy was a true American Hero!]

Pat St.Clair (nearest) and Pappy Kittleson (the elder of the group) debriefing in a hangar at Duke Field after a night run of the mission.

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Training with live rounds…

Army,

Friday Oct 2nd, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week

In most of our training at Ft Bragg we used blanks, but for our training here at Eglin AFB we used live ammunition.

I remember one day we were throwing frag grenades (as opposed to concussion grenades) and one of the guys got hit with some shrapnel. It was only a minor cut, but it drove the point home that we needed to stay sharp.

By the end of the first month, we had practiced until every person knew not only his own position, but also the job of every person around him.

This is serious business. And you still need to come home in one piece.
Staff Sgt Lawrence “Tiny” Young (Redwine) and his family upon homecoming at Pope AFB, NC on November 23rd, two days after the Raid.
Photo provided by George G. Petrie

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Death.

Air Force, Army,

Training with helicopters at the Mockup at Eglin AFB…

Thursday October 1st, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week

When we first started training using the helicopters, the plan called for Capt Dan to be the first man off and for me to be the second.

Now, I had watched enough war movies to know that the first men off any vehicle get killed. For a couple of weeks, we trained this way. I thought, Oh s**t, we aren’t even going to make it off the chopper. I can now admit that every time I stepped off the chopper, the thought went through my mind of getting zapped before my foot even hit the ground.

Then after a few rehearsals, the plan changed to where Capt Dan and I were the last two off the chopper. All of the sudden, I thought, Damn, now that I’m the last guy off, the bad guys will get their sights locked on. I will get nailed for sure!

Eventually I had to admit that, if the good Lord wants me, He doesn’t care if I am the first, last or in the middle. My Maker is going to bring me home when it’s my time.

Life Lesson 5: Be Prepared for Death. Don’t worry about it. You can’t completely control it. Make sure that the day you meet your Maker is not the first time you’ve been introduced. If you are prepared at all times, you’re free to live life fearless.

The “minigun” at the tail of the helicopters. You can read about this amazing weapon in Who Will Go.

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Then, when the grenade exploded…

Army,

The Green Berets training on the Mockup at Eglin AFB…
Wednesday Sept 30th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week

Here’s more about how we cleared a room. After the grenade exploded and the door blew off, Capt Dan would dive to the floor at the threshold firing into the room from top left to bottom right. At the same time, I would step over him firing top right to bottom left. By this, we created an X with bullets. Capt Dan would remain on the floor and I would back out and shine my flashlight in the room so Capt Dan could confirm that we had neutralized everyone.

I would then put in a new clip, depending on whether I had fired any tracer rounds. Capt Dan taught me that, in combat, you don’t have time to count how many bullets you fired. The technique is to first load five tracer rounds and then finish filling the magazine. When you’re in a firefight and you see the tracers smoking out the end of your barrel you know you need to change magazines.

(l-r) Sergeant 1st Class (SFC) Don Blackard, SFC Greg McGuire, and SFC Freddie Doss about October 20th, 1970.
Doss has an M-60 Machine Gun.
McGuire has a M-79 Grenade Launcher.
Blackard has an M-16.

Read about using this technique clearing rooms at Son Tay the night of the Raid in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

The Air Force MC-130s training at Eglin AFB…

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy,

Tuesday Sept 29th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week.

Story by USAF Major Irl Franklin, Cherry 1

After arriving at Eglin and getting our aircraft bedded down, we were ushered into the briefing room at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Headquarters. Much to my surprise, we walked into a group of 200 people. I noticed Special Forces, other Army personnel (UH-1 pilots), Air Force personnel including A-1 crews, HH-53 crews, HH-3 crews and LtCol Albert “Friday” Blosch’s MC-130 Combat Talon crew from Pope AFB. Then, focusing upon the front of the room, I noticed BGen Leroy Manor, Colonel Bull Simons, and some HQ USAF Staff.

We were told, “You are here to work on a joint exercise that could develop into a dangerous mission. If anyone in the room wishes to be excused, you may leave now, and no questions will be asked.”

A silence fell over those gathered.

People looked around the room and at the front of the room and did not move. A period went by with no one moving or speaking, then BGen Manor said, “Excellent. I am glad you are all with us because you have all been chosen for your unique experience and abilities which will make the mission a success.” Administrative details were covered and we were dismissed to go to our quarters to ponder the next actions.

The next day, Combat Talon (MC-130) aircraft commanders along with one navigator and one electronic warfare officer (EWO) from each crew met with the chiefs of the A-1 group, the helicopter group, and the Special Forces group in the SOF briefing room. This time we were briefed on the mission and the training that we would undergo. We were told of the mission objective, the deployment bases, and were asked to develop the routes and methods of getting to Son Tay.

Thus, began numerous days of flight planning! The remaining crew members and participants were to be kept in the dark as to the mission we were training for. (KITD-FOHS: Kept In The Dark—Fed Only Horse S**t)

We had aerial photos of the routes, the POW camp, and other items of interest (such as SAM sites). We had our own photo interpreter and intelligence people available.

Cherry 1 (Photo provided by Bill Guenon)
Standing (l-r): Sgt Robert Renner (support), TSgt William Kennedy, TSgt James Shepard, MSgt Leslie Tolman, TSgt Kenneth Lightle, SSgt Earl Parks.
Front: Major Thomas Mosley, Capt James McKenzie, Capt Thomas Stiles, Capt Thomas Eckart, Capt William Guenon, Capt Randall Custard, Major Irl Franklin

Read the rest of Irl Franklin’s story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.