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Headed to a local ceremony this evening. Thanks to all the Vietnam Vets here on RP. Can't thank you enough for your service.

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SrA Christopher Wright Sgt Randy Wilber SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl (Join to see) Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth LTC (Join to see) MSG Frederick Otero SFC Pete Kain SSG David Andrews SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Jim Arnold PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Charles H. Hawes CPL Dave Hoover TSgt Joe C. MSG Dan Walther Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price

Thank you David for your brave and selfless military service and the connection . Most of all, thanks for your support of our military men and women, veterans, and their families.
My terrific step father, a US Marine Corps WWII Sergeant was in Medal Of Honor Recipient Pappy Boyington's BLACK SHEEP Squadron and other units, including Infantry and Artillery, in the Pacific war. He got me hooked on becoming an Army pilot and soldier.

I was an enlisted infantryman, aviation warrant officer and commissioned officer (Transportation Corps and Aviation Branch) in the US Army from 1967 to 1991. I served in the 121st Assault Helicopter Company (Tiger UH-1D Slicks and UH-1B Viking Gunships) and the 235th Aerial Weapons Company (AH-1G Cobra Viper Attack Helicopter Company) in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 as a Warrant Officer Pilot.
I was wounded seriously on the March 28, 1969 flying a Huey gunship, with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), broken back, shattered ankles, broken jaw, broken right hand, severely lacerated neck, and terribly whip lashed neck, in a B Model Huey gunship. One leg is now shorter than the other and I lost some brain cells but I am still working, enjoying grandchildren, fishing, writing, and walking. I retired from the Army in 1991 as a Lieutenant Colonel pilot and then worked 23 years in aerospace, hospice, and law enforcement. I was a Saint Louis County and Bridgeton, MO police officer for five years.

Now I am a 100% military combat service connected disabled and a full-time writer and editor. And I also work part-time as a volunteer Patient Adviser, Jobs Assistance Officer, Veterans Service Officer (VSO), Customer Service Council Member, High Reliability Council (Quality) Member, and Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) Instructor for the terrific Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and the Association of the US Army (AUSA) here in Charleston, SC.

For the past four years, I have been helping to lead the effort to raise funds to build a FISHER HOUSE CHARLESTON, in Charleston, SC, to support the families of troops and veterans, who are inpatients in the terrific Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center here. I have written an all five-star reviewed, non-fiction, military history, 416 pages --- with 46 combat pictures, and action book titled BLADES OF THUNDER (BOOK ONE) to help raise money to build FISHER HOUSE CHARLESTON. Thus far, the book, my speeches, and book signings have raised over $60,000.00 for FISHER HOUSE CHARLESTON.

Since this is the 50th Commemorative year since the Vietnam War, I have to share this soldier’s (Warrant Officer Jerry Markland’s) story of sacrifice, tragedy, and closure that was in the Albuquerque Journal –(The Sunday Journal at http://www.abqjournal.com/.../a-salute-to-a-fallen....) with you. On 19-21 Feb 2016, I flew to Albuquerque, NM, on my own dime, to meet with the surviving two members (Jerry Markland’s older and younger sisters) of my old friend and comrade, Warrant Officer 1 and Army Pilot Gerald (Jerry) D. Markland, who was killed-in-action (KIA) in III Corps, in Vietnam on December 28, 1968.

Jerry and I were close friends in basic training and flight school together and we deployed to Vietnam together. Jerry and I tried to drink all the beer and eat all the steaks in San Francisco on our way to Vietnam ---- and it is a good thing Jerry did that.

Jerry and his crew of four, including the Aircraft Commander, the pilot (Jerry), and two door gunners, were flying an armed UH-1B Model Huey smoke and gunship helicopter. They were laying smoke and suppressive fire, so the Command and Control (C&C) Helicopter in the 187th Assault Helicopter Company could land among 25th US Infantry Division troops, in a heated battle with a North Vietnamese Army Regimental size or larger force, in a rubber plantation. Unfortunately, Jerry’s aircraft was riddled with intense small arms and fire from three 51 Caliber heavy machine guns, set up in a triangular trap, for the unsuspecting helicopter, as it laid smoke directly in front of the enemy’s dug in positions, in the forest and jungle along the plantation.

Jerry was shot in the head and may have survived the wound had the aircraft cyclic controls had not been shot out. The aircraft flew uncontrolled into the rubber trees at 120 knots, tumbled, rolled, was torn to pieces, burst into flames, and two of the crew (WO1 Jerry Markland and the Door Gunner, Specialist Stephen Ponty) were killed in the crash.

I had been looking for Jerry’s family for 47 years to tell them what a great friend, officer, and pilot Jerry was but had been unable to find them (his sisters had married names by then and one parent had moved away). It turns out, that Jerry’s sisters had been looking for someone (like me) who could tell them more about Jerry’s military service, flight training, combat service, his last mission, and the day he was killed. I myself was seriously wounded and nearly killed on 28 March 1969, and it took me about seven months to get back to duty and flying and a year to start looking for Jerry’s family. With no internet or computers back then, I had no luck until September 15, 2015.

I dedicated my latest non-fiction, action-packed, and military history book, BLADES OF THUNDER (BOOK ONE), ISBN 978-0578-15637-8 to Warrant Officer Jerry Markland and the other 41 members of my flight class who gave the last full measure in Vietnam. Chapter 9 of the book tells the story and details of Jerry’s last combat mission and his demise. All 2015 profits from the sale of the book went to FISHER HOUSE CHARLESTON and $2.00 from each book sold in 2016 and after also go to FISHER HOUSE CHARLESTON. I had a message in several places in my book to all readers asking them to please help me find Jerry Markland’s family.

On September 15, 2015, an old Army comrade sent me Jerry’s older sister’s married name and contact information. I contacted her the same day, sent her 10 free copies of the book (as she requested), and set up a visit for February 19-21 ,2016. The Markland’s older sister and her husband immediately donated $1000.00 to FISHER HOUSE CHARLESTON! The Markland family was thrilled to find out a book had been dedicated to their brother and that chapter 9 of the book told the story of Jerry’s last mission in detail.

The visit was a joyous, emotional, sad, healing, and once-in-a-life time event ----- really the visit was a born-again, miraculous, and momentous event! An event I shall never forget. The wonderful Markland family and I got a huge amount of closure to Jerry’s death and the tragedy from the visit. The Markland family adopted me as their new BROTHER and treated me like a king and we all cried and laughed together. The wonderful Albuquerque Sunday Journal Reporter and Columnist Mrs. Gutierrez Krueger covered the story, interviewed the family and me for two hours, and had supper with us last February 19, 2016.

I recommend you read the story at http://www.abqjournal.com/.../a-salute-to-a-fallen.... In my opinion, Jerry’s story and his family’s story is OUR STORY, the story of the sacrifice all military men and women, veterans, and their families, who suffer the loss of their soldier or the serious wounding or injury of their Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Coast Guardsman, or Airman or Merchant Mariner.
It turns out Jerry’s mom divorced her husband of more than 25 years within a few months of Jerry’s body being returned to NM. She had been against Jerry joining the Army and Jerry’s dad, a WWII Fighter Pilot, who had been seriously wounded himself flying, had encouraged Jerry to join the Army and go to flight school. Jerry’s parents loved each other but Jerry’s mom could never forgive his dad (her husband of over two decades) for encouraging Jerry to become an Army pilot. Jerry’s parents died with broken hearts and the family was traumatized like only a military family understands.
The Albuquerque Journal story is hard to read and looking at the pictures is difficult without becoming emotional.

Best regards,

Larry

LTC (Retired) and Author of Blades of Thunder (Book I )W. Larry Dandridge

Chief Operating Manager, Editor, Writer, and Author with Tigers, Vikings, & Vipers Publishing LLC
236 North Ainsdale Drive, Charleston, SC 29414, Office Phone: [login to see] ; Cell Phone: [login to see] ; FAX: [login to see] ; Personal Email: [login to see]

Web Site: https://www.tvvpublishingllc.com/ and bladesofthunderbookone.com
Rally Point: http://www.rallypoint.com/join/ltc-wayne-dandridge

Blades of Thunder (Book One, Paper Back ISBN 978-0-578-15637-8, Hard Cover ISBN 978-0-692-78369-6; and eBook eISBN 978-1-4951-3906-2 (eBook)
LowCountry Live 4 Interview: https://youtu.be/ForRpYtLOWg
Finding KIA Pal after 47 Years: http://www.abqjournal.com/.../a-salute-to-a

P.S. The Fisher House Charleston is a world-class comfort home with 16 bedrooms and private baths. The guests staying there free of charge, for as long as necessary, while a family member is being treated at the RHJ VA Med Center, and will share a common living room, dining room, kitchen and laundry room where they will be able to form friendships based on mutual experiences and need for support during a stressful time.