FSB  Ripcord  Association

 

For Survivors, Family and Friends of the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord,
101st Airborne Division    Vietnam,   March 12 - July 23, 1970.

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This page updated    02/07/2012

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Regrets:

Passing of Cpt David Rich 

B/2-319 Arty   Nov 2011

Eulogy and info

Click Here

 

 
 
8/7/11  

    New Ripcord Members

Zapert Val A/1-501

Waymire Kerry

Hopper Dave A/2-506

Malloy Jr Herbert B/158th Avn

Powers Don A/158th Avn

Taylor Thomas B/159th ashb

Senft Peter C  HHC

We have 722 members in our Ripcord Association.

541 are Ripcord Veterans

181 are Associate Members

233 Recieve newsletter via Postal Mail

490 Recieve the newsletter via e-mail

 

 
 

7/25/11

 

New Posts

41 years ago on July 23, 1970, The Battle of Ripcord ended on the Battlefield but has not ended for a lot of the veterans that took part in this battle.

This is a significant day for all of us, including the families and friends.

Read the comments that are coming in from everybody

Click Here

 

To submit your comments, send them to:

mail@ripcordassociation.com

All comments are welcome from everyone.

 

Also check out the comments on Facebook at   Ripcord Association

 and soon we will have a Google+ social network page.

 

 

 
 
7/9/11 Here is a recent post from our Facebook Page

 

Evan DeWulf

Frank, there is a ‘Wall’ exhibit at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. It’s on the 3rd floor in the ‘American Wars - Price of Freedom’ section. The exhibit captures the emotion of the ‘Wall’ by displaying things that have been left there…and it is moving. The section of the Wall they used as the backdrop was panel 8W (the picture above) and adjoining ones, which chronologically captures much of the time of the Battle of Ripcord.

Ripcord Association

 
 
 
12/15/10

 

Now Available on DVD

http://www.amazon.com/War-Stories-Oliver-North-Firebase/dp/B004FN27BS

 

War Stories with Oliver North

"The Siege Of Firebase Ripcord"

 

On this amazing episode of "War Stories with Oliver North" you will meet some of the men who survived this horrendous carnage. Men like "Doc" Cafferty, who woke one night to find dozens of enemy soldiers inside his perimeter. You'll also hear the vivid memories of a man whose friend who went MIA.

 

Video on Sale

If you would like to purchase a copy of the show, you can call

1-800-933-0760 or visit  FoxNews on the web at www.foxnews.com/warstories

and go to the “Own An Episode of War Stories” link.

 

 

 
 

2/28/11

NEW

Never seen before Video Footage of Ripcord

D/2-506 on and around Firebase Ripcord

taken by

Walt Juszczak of D/2-506

Click Here

 

1/22/11

Villager of the Day

Spotlight leads to friendship

(Story of FSB Ripcord members)

printed with permission from The Villages Daily Sun

Veronika Koenigsbauer meets Mike Griffin

Click Here

 
 
6/14/11 New Comments from Ripcord Members

Click Here

5/11/11

Dear Ripcord Family

I have waited until Jenny had a couple of post operative appointments behind her to give you all an update.

Jenny’s surgery was a long one lasting from 11:30 am to around 5:30 pm but the stress was waiting the 3-4 days for the biopsy report. I am ecstatic to tell all of you that through your very generous and kind prayers for Jenny that all reports show that the cancer was at Stage 0 and that she has a 99% chance of it never coming back. With this said, Jenny will have to go for a yearly MRI to be on top of things.

Jenny is slowly recovering as the process of reconstruction (that will take probably into the first part of 2012 to complete with its different steps) is a very painful process. She’s a real trooper though and the idea that she is cancer free keeps her very positive and motivated.

If I haven’t told you “My Ripcord Family” enough then I will say it again. YOU ALL ARE SO FANTASTIC AND SUCH A COMFORT AND SUPPORT!!! It is such a wonderful feeling that I can always count on each of you to be there for me.

My sister Gerri and I are already mapping out our plans for the reunion in October. It will be so good to see each of you again and catch up on everyone’s lives.

My heartfelt love and appreciation to all of you!

Jan Kalsu  

jan@ripcordassociation.com

 
4/19/11 New Book to Read

Proud to Serve my Country.

written by our own Ripcord veteran

Captain Vazquez-Rodriguez  of C/2-506

Check out his website

http://proudtoservemycountry.com/

 

4/19/11 See the photos taken from our Gathering at Prospector's NJ

Special thanks to Cowboy Kenn who took the photos and put them on his website.

Here is the link:

http://kennpix.smugmug.com/Prospectors-Parties-Events/Firebase-Ripcord-Reunion-04-09/16678731_KpWthR#1257662652_Z5nMQwk
 

 

Saturday  April 9th, 2011

A group of us Ripcord veterans gathered for Dinner and Drinks at Prospectors in Mt Laurel, NJ. Wow, it was a great time. Here is a list that attended:

 

Frank Marshall       Mt Laurel, NJ    A/2-506

----------------------------

Fred and Carol Gilbert    Odenton, MD     D/2-506

----------------------------

William and  Pam  Baldwin  (Baldy) Corinth, MS   A/2-506

----------------------------

Dennis and Priscilla Bloomingdale     Phila, PA      B/2-506

----------------------------

Peter and Chris Meloro      Spring Lake Heights, NJ    C/2-506

----------------------------

John Reilly      Randolph, NJ         A2-11

----------------------------

Dave and Cheryl Cordetti     Gibbstown, NJ  C 2/506

----------------------------

Lee and Cathy Widjeskog      Bridgeton, NJ    A/2-506

----------------------------

Tom Swayne               Heislerville, NJ      A/2-506

----------------------------

Joe and Barbara Baggett  Atco, NJ      D/2-506

-----------------------------

John and Debbie Sherba      Green Creek NJ  E/2-506

 
 
     
 
 
4/6/11 Phony Spam E-mail

Sorry but someone is e-mailing the list on our roster page. I will try to correct the situation

Please delete the e-mail from "bernice"  that reads

"Nice to meet you
   It is of a great pleasure to be in contact with you in this atmosphere, my name is Bernice i am a female and i saw your mail when i was browsing on Internet today at www.ripcordassociation.com so i  decided to write to you now which i knows that almighty God will perfectly lead us well,in addition i will like you to reply me back so we can know each other may be we can start from there because life is all about friends and Love thanks hoping to hear from you soon thanks Bernice"

 

 
8/29/10

 

FSB Ripcord on YouTube

Here is another video of Ripcord on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u28K54oZ1k0

 

 
 
8/26/10 Jerry Brenke just sent me this link:

FSB Ripcord on YouTube

Click here: YouTube - 101st Airborne Division At Fire Support Base Ripcord, Vietnam War, July 1970   

 

 
 
7/1/10 Steve Harber tribute page on Facebook to honor his life and his legacy.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sgt-Stephen-J-Harber-Memorial-Page/127622923929178?ref=sgm

Scroll Down
 

6/24/10

Keith Nolan's Last Book "Search and Destroy"

Now in Book Stores 

Read the Press Release ---- >

Click Here

6/21/10

History of Ripcord Association update

Click Here

6/17/10

Viet Nam—Going Back Forty Years Later

Bob Worrall's trip back

Click Here

6/9/10

Agent orange Benefits update

Click Here

6/6/10

Ripcord Vets gather at Wash D.C.

Click Here

 

It was 40 years ago tomorrow, July 2, that our brother Steve Harber was killed in Vietnam during the opening days of the Battle of Ripcord, one of the last major battles of the war. I've put together a tribute page on Facebook to honor his life and his legacy.

Go to:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sgt-Stephen-J-Harber-Memorial-Page/127622923929178?ref=sgm

You might have to join Facebook to see it, if you are not a member.

You can add your own thoughts, a tribute, photos or whatever on the site.

I hope you will visit it when you get a chance. And tell others about it. May we never forget.

God bless,

 Joe Harber

joeharber@aol.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/joeharber
 

In Search Of:

 

We are now trying to contact veterans who were written about in Keith Nolan's other books in hopes that they may join us in our goal to provide his daughter with a college education.  For more information, send us an e-mail at     brittfund@ripcordassociation.com.

Please let us know if you can help us contact these veterans.

 

  Books by Keith Nolan

  Ripcord
  Battle for Saigon
  Sappers in the Wire
  A Hundred Miles of Bad Road

  The Magnificent Bastards
  Operation Buffalo
  Into Cambodia
  Into Laos
  Death Valley
  Battle for Hue

  House to House

  Dragoon (yet to be published)

 

The address where donations may be sent for the trust fund is:

Anna Britt Nolan Trust

c/o First Bank

6211 Mid Rivers Mall Drive

Saint Charles, MO 63304-1102

 

Sincerely,

George & Mary Murphy

B2/320th Arty. 101st Airborne

 
 

It was 40 years ago tomorrow, July 2, that our brother Steve Harber was killed in Vietnam during the opening days of the Battle of Ripcord, one of the last major battles of the war. I've put together a tribute page on Facebook to honor his life and his legacy.

Go to:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sgt-Stephen-J-Harber-Memorial-Page/127622923929178?ref=sgm

You might have to join Facebook to see it, if you are not a member.

You can add your own thoughts, a tribute, photos or whatever on the site.

I hope you will visit it when you get a chance. And tell others about it. May we never forget.

God bless,

 Joe Harber

joeharber@aol.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/joeharber

 

 

Last Lion of Vietnam

General Charles C. Campbell reflects on his years of service

In case you missed the interview of Gen Charles Campbell with Geraldo, here is the link

Gen Campbell is the brother of our LT James Campbell C/2-506

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4219940/last-lion-of-vietnam

 

 

This video is an excerpt from the program Wisconsin War

Stories; Vietnam:  Drawn Down Firebases 1970

Interviews with Ripcord Veterans

Steve Manthei, Charles Lieb and George Banda

http://video.wpt2.org/video/1500470976

 

 

Facebook

 

The Ripcord Association is now part of Facebook

For all of you that are familar with Facebook

The Ripcord Association now has a page

go to Ripcord Association  on facebook, add your comments, photos, etc

I just started this page after recieving an e-mail from Russ Dixon.

Anthony Critchlow has volunteered to help with this facebook group. He will now be the administrator. Thank you so much Anthony. All suggestions and comments should go to him now at

anthony@ripcordassociation.com

 

Note: 

 

WOW!    The Ripcord Association Group on Facebook 

now has 142 members and 142 photos

Come join us now.

Ripcord Association

 

Great job your doing Anthony, Thanks

 

 

Christopher Jensen

has submitted

some of his photos

for us to view.

 

Click Here

 

"In case anyone is curious I was part of a three-part team from the Southeast Asia Pictorial Center/221st Signal Company in Long Binh. We were shooting combat documentary for Department of Army Archives. The 101st PIO told us neither civilian nor Army photographers were allowed at Ripcord so we asked some guys at the dust-off pad if they would take us next time they went out. Lucas seemed a little puzzled to see us and refused to let us go out with any of the companies in the bush but said we could stay at the fire support base. After a few days Jim Saller was wounded (minor) by incoming and my other photographer went back with him on the dust-off. I stayed a few days more until I ran out of film which coincided with the arrival of 120 mm mortars and left".

Best,

Chris

chris416jensen@aol.com

 

 

2010 Currahee Reunion, July 28-31, 2010

in Harrisburg, PA

 

The 506th Association will be holding its 2010 Currahee Reunion at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Harrisburg, PA, from Wednesday, July 28 to Saturday, July 31, 2010.

All 506th Currahee veterans, active duty soldiers of the Regiment, as well as Currahee families and friends are invited to attend.

 

For complete Reunion information, check out the Currahee Reunions/Other Events section of the www.506infantry.org/reunion.htm web page.

 

 

Currahee!

 

Bruce

 

Hoyt Bruce Moore, III

Treasurer and Assistant Webmaster, 506th Association

A/1-506th (Jun 70-Aug 71)

Web site:  www.506infantry.org