Comments on: Air Force “Ranger” Training Provokes Personal Moral Issues http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/ We are not worth more, they are not worth less. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:53:56 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Brian Willson http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-535 Brian Willson Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:53:56 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-535 @Frank Diclaudio. You can send your email to my personal email as noted above - postmaster@brianwillson.com. @Frank Diclaudio. You can send your email to my personal email as noted above – postmaster@brianwillson.com.

]]> By: Brian Willson http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-534 Brian Willson Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:49:45 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-534 @Frank Diclaudio. Can you send me your email? And have you been in contact with HENRY J. (JIM) FRANCZAK who was in your fire team? @Frank Diclaudio. Can you send me your email? And have you been in contact with HENRY J. (JIM) FRANCZAK who was in your fire team?

]]> By: James Melton http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-523 James Melton Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:46:37 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-523 Just reading the comments and noticed some of you served at Phu Cat. I was across the valley with the Army for a few months in late 67. I have made two trips back and stopped in at the Phu Cat air base now the Qui Nhon airport. The old air base has more things still in tack than any others I visited. It has a new control tower and I met a controller who took me up into it. They have two planes a day in and out, but have a tower......everybody has a job. pilots.......they still have a double NDB instrument approach! The old Agent Orange storage area is still there and nothing lives in the pond below it.....controller told me US was going to clean it up. Some army based there and rest area planted in trees. Only place I saw an old guard tower. I was back there in 2007. Contact me if you have questions. Anybody want to make a trip back? It is a great trip not too costly. Jameslindamelton@aol.com Just reading the comments and noticed some of you served at Phu Cat. I was across the valley with the Army for a few months in late 67. I have made two trips back and stopped in at the Phu Cat air base now the Qui Nhon airport. The old air base has more things still in tack than any others I visited. It has a new control tower and I met a controller who took me up into it. They have two planes a day in and out, but have a tower……everybody has a job. pilots…….they still have a double NDB instrument approach! The old Agent Orange storage area is still there and nothing lives in the pond below it…..controller told me US was going to clean it up.

Some army based there and rest area planted in trees. Only place I saw an old guard tower.

I was back there in 2007. Contact me if you have questions. Anybody want to make a trip back? It is a great trip not too costly. Jameslindamelton@aol.com

]]> By: Glenn Rosenwinkel http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Glenn Rosenwinkel Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:43:29 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-522 I left a comment a few months ago here and regret it. The reason being that now your writeup is now associated with my name on the internet. It is unfortunate that you imply that the members of the 821st and 822nd were placed in these units because they were misfits etc. I served with the 822nd in Viet Nam and also with the 821st a year later. In both situations I knew the men I served with to be honerable guys who were completing the assignment they were given to the best of their ability. We went through some tough training and also some very tough nights in Viet Nam. If there were "misfits" in either outfit I never met them. They were a great bunch of guys to serve with. I don't remember any of us that wanted to be ther in Viet Nam but. I also don't remember any with the attitude you portray. I was assigned to the 822nd because it was my turn to receive orders when they came down. I am sure this was the same with others. Others from my Dover AFB squadron also went. It was just our turn. The men of the 821st and 822nd were a great bunch of guys and I am proud to have served with them. I have no regrets.I I left a comment a few months ago here and regret it. The reason being that now your writeup is now associated with my name on the internet. It is unfortunate that you imply that the members of the 821st and 822nd were placed in these units because they were misfits etc. I served with the 822nd in Viet Nam and also with the 821st a year later. In both situations I knew the men I served with to be honerable guys who were completing the assignment they were given to the best of their ability. We went through some tough training and also some very tough nights in Viet Nam. If there were “misfits” in either outfit I never met them. They were a great bunch of guys to serve with. I don’t remember any of us that wanted to be ther in Viet Nam but. I also don’t remember any with the attitude you portray. I was assigned to the 822nd because it was my turn to receive orders when they came down. I am sure this was the same with others. Others from my Dover AFB squadron also went. It was just our turn. The men of the 821st and 822nd were a great bunch of guys and I am proud to have served with them. I have no regrets.I

]]> By: Brian Willson http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-506 Brian Willson Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:48:05 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-506 Yes, I remember Frank DiClaudio, and a few of the other 823rd Section 6 team members. Because of what I was experiencing from my "extra duties" the time was traumatic for me. Lots of stuff I don't remember details of, but what I do remember is pretty much included in my book chapters relating to Viet Nam. I kept most of the stuff I was experiencing quite apart from team members. Just tried to do my job as I was seething against the fuck'n war. Have had some other Safeside members from 821st, 822nd, and 823rd send me some ugly threatening messages over the years once they learn of my political views. NCO Jim Dorrance's daughter has contacted me after her father died in 2006 of bladder cancer and told me that I had had a big influence on Jim as he developed his own anti-war views. Little did I know. Hope you Frank are doing well. Yes, I remember Frank DiClaudio, and a few of the other 823rd Section 6 team members. Because of what I was experiencing from my “extra duties” the time was traumatic for me. Lots of stuff I don’t remember details of, but what I do remember is pretty much included in my book chapters relating to Viet Nam. I kept most of the stuff I was experiencing quite apart from team members. Just tried to do my job as I was seething against the fuck’n war. Have had some other Safeside members from 821st, 822nd, and 823rd send me some ugly threatening messages over the years once they learn of my political views. NCO Jim Dorrance’s daughter has contacted me after her father died in 2006 of bladder cancer and told me that I had had a big influence on Jim as he developed his own anti-war views. Little did I know. Hope you Frank are doing well.

]]> By: Lloyd Kaiser http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-501 Lloyd Kaiser Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:11:36 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-501 Hi Brian: Talk about small world phenomenon. You were just 1 degree of seperation from one of your Fire Team Leader's, Sgt. Frank DiClaudio. I attended your talk in Philly on(10/27/11)and enjoyed your talk. I was the guy who asked you a question and was in Nam with marines and had just arrived back from Portland,OR. on 10/20/11. I had read your first 6 chapters of your book you signed. Two days later I accidently located a small plaque from the 823rd Combat Security Police Squadron issued to Sgt. Frank DiClaudio upon tour completion in Viet Nam. Amazing that out of almost 2 million men that served "in country" during the war that I would find an individual who you knew and served as Leader of Fire Team #28 under your command. I enjoy your book immensely, respect your courage on our battlefields(fighting for justice in Nam for the murdered civilians) & your unflinching commitment to Peace in Central America and other countries. I recommend your book,"Blood on the Tracks," along with such many other luminaries to many to mention that were all activists for Peace;& Justice. Plus, the introduction by Daniel Ellsberg who published the Penetagon Papers back in 71'.Sincerely, Lloyd Kaiser Hi Brian: Talk about small world phenomenon. You were just 1 degree of seperation from one of your Fire Team Leader’s, Sgt. Frank DiClaudio. I attended your talk in Philly on(10/27/11)and enjoyed your talk. I was the guy who asked you a question and was in Nam with marines and had just arrived back from Portland,OR. on 10/20/11. I had read your first 6 chapters of your book you signed. Two days later I accidently located a small plaque from the 823rd Combat Security Police Squadron issued to Sgt. Frank DiClaudio upon tour completion in Viet Nam. Amazing that out of almost 2 million men that served “in country” during the war that I would find an individual who you knew and served as Leader of Fire Team #28 under your command. I enjoy your book immensely, respect your courage on our battlefields(fighting for justice in Nam for the murdered civilians) & your unflinching commitment to Peace in Central America and other countries. I recommend your book,”Blood on the Tracks,” along with such many other luminaries to many to mention that were all activists for Peace;& Justice. Plus, the introduction by Daniel Ellsberg who published the Penetagon Papers back in 71′.Sincerely, Lloyd Kaiser

]]> By: Frank DiClaudio http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-500 Frank DiClaudio Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:51:52 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-500 Hi Brian Willson: I am alive an well in South Philly. I was better known to you as Sgt.Frank DiClaudio, leader of Fire Team #28, 823rd Combat Security Police Squadron at Binh Tuey. I rotated back the following month after you got orders to return to CONUS, that would be Sept. 69'.I considered you a good 1st lieutenant who did fine work looking after us enlisted men in the 823 CMBT SEC POL SQ--ALERT* REACT* SECURE,our motto during Operation Safeside.Let me know if you remember me and any comments on my abilities as a Fire Team Leader under your command.You were brought to my attention again by my brother-in- law Lloyd who purchased your book, which you autographed for the former Marine at your talk 10/27/2011 in Philly. Glad your doing well.Plan to read your book after Lloyd finishes it. Hi Brian Willson: I am alive an well in South Philly. I was better known to you as Sgt.Frank DiClaudio, leader of Fire Team #28, 823rd Combat Security Police Squadron at Binh Tuey. I rotated back the following month after you got orders to return to CONUS, that would be Sept. 69′.I considered you a good 1st lieutenant who did fine work looking after us enlisted men in the 823 CMBT SEC POL SQ–ALERT* REACT* SECURE,our motto during Operation Safeside.Let me know if you remember me and any comments on my abilities as a Fire Team Leader under your command.You were brought to my attention again by my brother-in- law Lloyd who purchased your book, which you autographed for the former Marine at your talk 10/27/2011 in Philly. Glad your doing well.Plan to read your book after Lloyd finishes it.

]]> By: Gilbert L. "Whip" Wilson http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-496 Gilbert L. "Whip" Wilson Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:55:17 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-496 I was assigned to C Flight, Captain Dexter and I remember TSgt.Dorrance very well. All of us looked up to him as what a "Real Ranger" should be.While at Phan Rang he was preparing guys to go to jump school once they returned state side. He said to me "Whip come run with my boys", which I did but I had no intentions of going to jump school because when we would be returning from "Nam" I would be a "short timer". I was just thinking of Sgt. Dorrance today, I am sorry to hear of his passing. I was assigned to C Flight, Captain Dexter and I remember TSgt.Dorrance very
well. All of us looked up to him as what a “Real Ranger” should be.While at Phan
Rang he was preparing guys to go to jump
school once they returned state side. He said to me “Whip come run with my boys”,
which I did but I had no intentions of
going to jump school because when we would be returning from “Nam” I would be a “short timer”. I was just thinking of
Sgt. Dorrance today, I am sorry to hear
of his passing.

]]> By: frank ruiz http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-493 frank ruiz Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:35:52 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-493 does anyone remember major frank d. christenson 821st csps or lt. joseph, kinderman,i was also discharge 1970,brian wilson do you have roster of any names does anyone remember major frank d. christenson 821st csps or lt. joseph, kinderman,i was also discharge 1970,brian wilson do you have roster of any names

]]> By: Lance Gray http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-488 Lance Gray Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:43:56 +0000 http://www.brianwillson.com/wordpress/?page_id=51#comment-488 How happy I was to find this site while researching "operation safeside" information. I was a part of the 823rd and am now a member of the safeside association. What a walk down memory lane this was, and it has occurred to me now as a result of reading this essay that my own movement to artist/left leaning veteran started right here in the 823rd, how ironic really to be trained to embrace war and it's violence would in the end accomplish the very opposite in my case, and it seems in others as well. On a side note I found it sad and interesting at others like myself in the 823rd suffering from agent orange exposure. For the record I was assigned to Pleiku AB (central highlands). How happy I was to find this site while researching “operation safeside” information. I was a part of the 823rd and am now a member of the safeside association. What a walk down memory lane this was, and it has occurred to me now as a result of reading this essay that my own movement to artist/left leaning veteran started right here in the 823rd, how ironic really to be trained to embrace war and it’s violence would in the end accomplish the very opposite in my case, and it seems in others as well. On a side note I found it sad and interesting at others like myself in the 823rd suffering from agent orange exposure. For the record I was assigned to Pleiku AB (central highlands).

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