Contact
If you have a war story or a friend or neighbor has a story, and lives within 35 – 40 miles of Port Charlotte, Fla, please contact me at:
donmoore39 at gmail dot com
Follow War Tales on Face Book
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
War Tales 
Don, Just read your story on Mark Bills.His age is given at 58 and his entry into the Army was 1966. This would make him 14 years old when he entered service and 16 years old when these actions took place.Either the age given is wrong or the man’s a phony.Hopefully you’ll follow up on this. If the man’s a phony it needs to be exposed. Thank you.
The reason his age is off is because I used the age he was when I first wrote his story 5 or 6 years ago. Eventually when I come up with the hard copy of his story it will list the date the story was written.
If you look up at the home page, I think under then note about the author, it says that all of the ages used were the ages of the people when their story first appeared in the newspapers which can be as much as 10 years off.
Mark and everyone else is who he says he is. I can assure you I looked at his DD-214.
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
Mr Moore. Hi. I was given my mothers last name but on my birth certificate I have my fathers information on it. he is a very prominent figure that you did a story on. im not sure if you come across these type of stories much. i stayed out of his and his wife’s life for pretty much my whole life with exception to a letter i wrote him. he sent photos and a letter. photos that i see are accompanied with the story. him and his wife are 80ish now. i didn’t think they would still be alive. im happy to find that they are. i am even more surprised to find that they have a daughter. if you can write back id be glad to give you more info.
j
Hi Don,
Co-incidently I’m looking for any information I can find on my father, Donald James Peach. He was an MP in the Fifth Army and drove for Gen Mark Clark. Have any of your emailers ever heard of him or serve with him? He was in North Africa, Italy, and Germany. I’d love to hear from anyone that may have known him at that time!! God Bless You in all your good work. Carolyn Peach, Melrose, MA.
Mary,
It hasn’t gone up yet. It will be a while. We put up three a week at present. It will eventually go up.
Regards,
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
Thank you for leaving the books at the Sun office. We are enjoying reading the Veteran’s stories that you have compiled. Just saw the video of the Veterans History Project. It is a tremendous undertaking and our own Don Moore is part of preserving these great episodes of our veterans. Perhaps one of the staff writers could do a column on the V H Project. It is most worthwhile, we feel that it is. Thanks again for the books.
Don, when will Alex from Sweetbay, B-26 pilot be on the web site ?
what a good story in the paper, good job! Also a great web site. you are to be commended!
Keep up the good work,
Jim Mills
Jim,
I guess I could get Alex’s story on the web in the next week or so. Also I made contact with your Vietnam guy and have a date to talk to him on Monday. He sounds like a hell of a story.
I can’t thank you enough for findings these fellows for me. Keep em coming.
Regards,
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
Jim,
Alex’s story will run on the web site on Monday.
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
Mr. Moore,
You recently interviewed my father, Tony Inzerillo from Punta Gorda, about 3 to 4 weeks ago. I was wondering how long it would be before his article appears on this website? Also the DVD you made for him is not working, it’s pauses at certain points and then just hangs up. Would it be possible to get another copy?
Anthony – Mary will be scheduling your father’s story for Wednesday, November 17. As far as the DVD, try playing it through and if it continues to give you trouble, I’ll get you another one.
Hello,
My father Curtis Shelton served on the USS Harding. He was an Afro American sailor. He tells us about the day that the ship was hit.
How can his story be told.
Thank you very much.
Cora M. Alston
Cora,
I write stories about service people in the Charlotte Sun daily newspaper’s circulation area in West Coast Florida. Where are you and is your dad still alive? Can’t write a story without a living, breathing sailor who can tell me a story. I’d love to talk to your father if he is in our circulation area.
Regards,
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
Hello!!! I am a Vietnam Veteran that served on the USS Providence CLG-6 during 1970 to 1973. I am looking for information about Richard Iglewski, E-3 Quartermaster on the USS St. Mary’s during 1944. His daughter is interested to find this information to share with her two sons. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Tom
Don,
I’ve just received Your mail about informations i was asking and i’m sincerely gratefull for Your answer, i didn’t know we were neighbours on WordPress pages ^^
I will answer You back right now by mail.
Thanks again for Your words and the wonderful work You are doing here.
Jean-Michel RiHET
Hi Don,
Ken Drew here. For the record, my middle name is Davis, not David: for posterity’s sake, of course. Thanks again for coming out,
Ken
HI DON! -I READ YOUR STORY ON GLENN MILLER WHO WAS WITH THE 20TH TRANS IN CU CHI.I WAS WORKING WITH A GLENN MILLER IN 69 AND I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF THIS IS THE SAME GUY.I TRYED TO REMOVE A TATOO FOR HIM BACK THEN SO I’M SURE HE WOULD REMEMBER ME. HOW CAN I FIND OUT? I SURE WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IF YOU CAN. THANKS! GEORGE KLINGBEIL/FROM OCALA FLORIDIA
Hello Don, I just completed reading your story about SGT John Zajdlik. Thank you for writing a celebration of this man’s time with our unit from the First Cavalry Division, the First Battalion Fifth Cavalry. You did a great job and so did John.
I would like to submit two corrections which I do not believe are your fault and I can certainly understand why John might have confused the date and the name of the mountain, because I was unsure until I researched them for my own writing.
First, John could not have been in the Michelin in March of 1968 because the First Cav was in I Corps, up north in the Spring of 1968. During March 1968, right after TET 1968, the First Cav engaged in helping to relieve the Marines at the Siege of Khe Sanh at that time. John did not arrive in Vietnam until November of 1968, since he told us that he flew home on Halloween, October 1969. A very happy memory.
The Battles in the Michelin to which John refers, took place from 18 March to 2 April 1969. Those battles were part of Operation Atlas Wedge. Operation Atlas Wedge was a joint operation in the Michelin against an entrenched North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force.
The American units involved were: The First Battalion, Fourth Cavalry, 1/4 or Quarter Cav, of the First Infantry Division, (Big Red One). The Quarter Cav was a heavy infantry battalion using tracked vehicles, called Armored Personnel Carriers, (APCs). The Quarter Cav, under LTC Bill Haponski, attacked from the East. The The 11th Armored Cavalry Division, brought Armor, heavy tanks from the South. John is correct that the First Battalion, Fifth Cavalry, the “Black Knights” of the First Air Cavalry Division also participated in the battle. In one part of the battle 1/5 riflemen, like John attacked from the West. Another rifle company was assigned to Quarter Cav to work with the APCs and the tanks.
Haponski writes extensively about Operation Atlas Wedge and Task Force Haponski in his book, “A Hell of A Ride”. Retired Brigadier General John “Doc” Bahnsen also references Operation Atlas Wedge in his book, “American Warrior”. Chaplain Claude Newby also references Operation Atlas Wedge the 1/5 of the First Air Cavalry Division in his book, “It Took Heroes”. Chaplain Newby and Chaplain Lamar Hunt were the Chaplains of 1/5, First Air Cavalry Division at that time. I served as their assistant.
Landing Zone (LZ) Dolly was not located on The Black Virgin Mountain (Nui Ba Den). LZ Dolly was located on the top of a small mountain, named Nui Ong. The Black Virgin Mountain was 22 kilometers due West of LZ Dolly. I can remember the spectacular sunsets looking over the helicopter pad with the Black Virgin Mountain silhouetted by the red tropical sun. I served with the 1/5, First Air Cavalry Division on LZ Dolly from January to June 1969.
LZ Dolly was attacked during Operation Atlas Wedge on the night of 26 March 1969. We lost many good men that night.
I am so glad for John telling his story. It is a remarkable story.
Your writing is outstanding. Thank you for telling John’s story.
Most of the writing about Vietnam is from 1967 and before. 1968 and 1969 were very important years in our country’s Vietnam experience. There are many important stories to tell from that incredible time and they need to be told.
Please tell John that I said, “Welcome Home!”
Jason Holmes then (SP5).
440 Great Hill
Ballwin, MO 63021
radjason@earthlink.net
My name is Lou Bachus . It was 52 years ago tonight that I was on LZ Dolly which was hit by Sappers That night of March 25 1969.. I was wounded in this encounter. If you have any information I would very much be interested in hearing it.
I’m looking for anyone who knew my brother, killed at LZ Dolly in the sapper attack March 25/26, 1969. He was PFC Edward Lamoureux from Plainfield, CT.
Lou Bachus
Loub8003@aol.com
I am looking for information about my father who died in 1965, he served on the USS St. Mary 1943-1946 his name is Ernest C Thomas Jr. all info will be greatfully appreciated also was there a fire on the ship my contact info is
barbrosewired@yahoo.com
Thank you for your story on Hank Abajian. As a relative I’m always interested in another story I haven’t heard before that comes out. He won one of the highest civilian medals that our country offers but he would never mention it. Keep up the good work. Bob Belorussian
Bob,
Hank was obviously a very smart individual. His talents in support of the war effort during the Second World War went a long way toward helping us win the war. It was a real pleasure telling his story.
Regards,
Don Moore
Exciting to find your web site. As the son of a WWII tanker who island hopped Biak, Letye etc, I find little information about their experiences. That he survived 12+ landings seems amazing and feel the stories and photographs should be recorded somewhere. Please advise.
Your dad must have a lot of interesting WW II stories to tell. If he is still alive and living in the Sun’s circulation area I’d love to tell them. If not, the best advice I can give you is to talk to your local newspaper and see if they would be interested in writing his story. You might show whoever you contact at your local paper my web site and tell the person you talk with to contact me. I’d be glad to tell them how well received and how well read these stories are. During the 12 years I’ve written “War Tales” and the 1,000 plus war stories the Sun has run, I can assure them there are few stories in anyone’s paper better liked.
Regards,
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
I remember the General’s mission to bring back the P.O.W.s, I was just Company Grade Officer when I’d tried to contact him at one point to see if there was any way I could be of help, but wasn’t ever able to connect. I figured we must be related somehow as our last name isn’t Smith, Jones or anything common. Reguards,
Guy Ogan, Maj. USAF (Ret)
Abilene, TX
Don,
The story on Rodger Craig has several discrepancies along with some minor mispellings. Please contact him and/or Louise to get this correct. Its so wonderful to have the story written but it should be correct. Respectfully Melodie Honn ( their daughter)
Don,
Do you know when First. Lt. Roger Smith flew F-13 spy missions over the Soviet Union? You wrote, “immediately after World War II.” Here’s why I ask… I believe the Suella J flew POW supply missions Between August 27-September 20, 1945. And in July 1946, the Suella J took part in Operation Crossroads, the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll. So I’m trying to figure out when Smith’s spy flights took place in the scheme of things.
Bill,
Would you believe I can’t find Roger’s folder in my file. I’ve got over 1,000 of these stories and I must have misfiled his yarn. Off the top of my head I remember him telling me he flew his B-29 into Russia right after WW II before the Russians had perfected their radar to the point they could tell when an American plane flew into their air space. My recollection is that he said it was 1946 or so.
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
Don,
After I posted that message, I re-read your story. It actually includes a number of dates which allow me to pinpoint the date (range) of those missions pretty closely. And yes, it was late-1946 and they continued for three months. I recently contacted the National Archive to see what they have on the Suela J and its crew. I’m very interested in knowing who the flight engineer was.
I just read your story about Capt. Luis Chirichigno. Back in the 70’s I ordered a MIA/POW bracelet in the mail and I received my bracelet with his name on it. I often wondered what happened to the soldier of bracelet. I just typed his name and googled it and I found this article. I am not sure if it is the same soldier or not, but it was nice to finally put a face to the name of my soldier. Glad he made it safely back.
Patricia –
To my knowledge there is only one Capt. Luis Chirichigno. Interesting how the internet can work for us. Thank you for writing.
Happiest of Birthdays, Mr. Don! Cheers!
Thank you, Jennifer!
Don. Enjoyed the piece on Ted Weatherhead. Is he still living? If so, is there a way I can contact him. Many thanks.
Brooks Tegler
Brooks,
I just tried to call Ted Weatherhead and got a recorded message that the number is no longer in service. His number was 941-475-5149 and his street address was 725 Butterfreed Circle, Tangereen Woods, Englewood, Fla. ????? Got the funny feeling Ted may no longer be among he living. Sorry about that.
Regards,
Don Moore
Sun Newspapers
War Tales
Many thanks for the ‘follow-up Don. I will continue to search for pilots…
I might have found something on Weatherhead. Stay tuned.
Don, my dad, William E. Hurst, served on the USS Salerno Bay, CVE-110 in ’44 and ’45. He was a Tech Sgt. with the Marines. They were responsible for bore-sighting the Corsairs, loading the ammo boxes in the wings, etc. He told me stories of going to Okinawa, Saipan and getting caught in a typhoon. Do you know if there are any survivors of that maiden voyage? My dad passed away in ’06. One humorous thing I remember, he said while they were sailing from San Diego to Honolulu and far from the combat zone, the pilots would fly practice missions with beer loaded in the ammo boxes. When they returned, the beer was good and cold.
Don, Just read “Jack Monahan served 3 tours in Vietnam, now he barely survives on veteran’s pension”. I served in Delta Company, MCB 12 while it was deployed to Vietnam. Now I don’t know who he is trying to BS, but the security guards did not go on patrols and they did not lead combat patrols with a Seabee in charge. Being on the security force meant you were dead weight to the company you were assigned to and you were sent to security to keep the good guys from having to go. They spent their days filling sandbags, and sat in the towers at night. Sorry he lives on a pension, but don’t try to be a hero when you weren’t! That is stolen valor!!! I would delete that story.
Joe Frohwitter CWO2 USN Ret
SW3 in MCB 12
“the security guards did not go on patrols and they did not lead combat patrols with a Seabee in charge”
i did not say this – if i was able to read what was being published i would have corrected this and other things.
“Being on the security force meant you were dead weight to the company you were assigned to and you were sent to security to keep the good guys from having to go.” i was a good guy and so were others i security company.
i am not a hero and never proclaimed to be one…..
jak the slug…
We have a reunion every two years. The next one is in Maine in 2016. You did little to correct the story, did you?
Joe –
To which story are you referring? This is the contact page.
JAK the slug, you got the right name, Slug! When did we wear black berets? Never! The picture of you is just as BS as your story!
Trying to locate a picture or any information as to how he died . Pvt. Howard E. Moore, 79th Infantry Div, 315th Inf Regiment, KIA Oct or Nov 1944, buried Epinol France? Thanks, Art Look…
My Uncle also served on the USS Escalante AO-70 during WW11. Seaman 1st class Paul W Welsh. Any leads on how to obtain additional info?
Hi Don,
Just read an article from Robert Wallace, radio man on a B-29 Superfortress called “Pride of the Yankees”. My father Eugene Kidrick was the tail gunner on that plane. He told us the store of the engines and many others. How could i contact Robert Wallace? Not many of those guys still alive. My father has passed.
Kristi –
My condolences on your father’s passing. We’re losing way too many of these guys.
After checking in archives, I’ve discovered Robert Wallace passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. There’s no more information I can find at this time, but will keep looking.
Thank you for reading War Tales.
Don you wrote about my son in books 1 and 2. Are u still doing the books. He is now flying Blackhawks
Hello. I read your article about fred butts and the sward he took from herman gerings house. My friends dad was there also and has the sister to mr. Butts sword. He got from the eagles nest. I have photos of the sword if you are interested .
Mr. Moore,
I read the article about Sgt. Gannon, the claims he made are false. I was attached to Sgt. Gannons unit . I was a Inactive Ready Reserve. Myself and 3 other people were the only soldiers attached to 82nd airborne in camp Echo in Diwaniyah , Iraq. We only spent 10 months at Camp Echo. During the last 4 months we asked upon our brothers from 1/182 to come help us. they sent 1 platoon at a time so Sgt. Gannon couldn’t have been there for no longer than a month. Now during that month he did do route clearance but his main base and job was Camp Adder and convoy security. We did not have ASV’s we had Humvee’s. Now I am not sure about the rest of his story is true or not true he may have ran into the issues he talk about do to the fact he was not with us but for a month. oh yeah and he was a driver when he was with us not a vehicle commander. I am not trying to talk his job down just want to give you the facts of what I know and remember. If he is lying about these little of things to make his story sound good or better I’m pretty sure he is lying about a lot more For example order coming from General Petraeus.
You can find the post that people who have got ahold of this article and have been piecing his story together on my facebook page.
Thanks,
Larry Mannor
Mr. Moore,
I also read the article about Sgt. Gannon, and can tell you that most of what he told you was made up. I went on the same deployment, with the same unit as Mr. Gannon.
The incident with the girl that he tells about her father blowing her up NEVER happened.
The incident where he tells about getting hit while in an ASV is only partially correct.
The incident where a bus full of 30 people “massacred” by a soldier from the 82d did not happen.
Mr. Gannon only spent about a month on route clearing teams, then platoon he was assigned to returned to our “home base” at Camp Tallil, and he resumed performing duties as convoy security.
If I remember correctly, (and I do), Mr. Gannon at no time was a vehicle commader or TC while the unit was performing duties as Convoy Security, because at the time he held the rank of Specialist(SPC) and as such would have been either a driver or gunner. The job of TC was normally done by Sgt or SSG, both of which are NCO’s.
At the time of our deployment, everyone there was “attached” to the 82d Airborne, because the 82d was in charge of that battle-space, what we referred to as the “landholders”.
While I am not saying that Mr. Gannon did not do his part, It really bothers me that he would mislead and falsify his story so much. I do not blame you, but I do wish there was a way to verify facts before you post such fairy-tales.
Thank You,
SFC (RET) Mark C. Caswell
To all of you who commented, refuting Gannon’s service history. I’m currently looking for his folder with copy of his DD-214, and will act upon that.
We strive for accuracy, yet sometimes some slip by us, in spite of a DD-214.
Thank you for your service, and again, thank you for taking the time and trouble to comment here on War Tales. Stay tuned.
I read the War Tales article about Jim King from Punta Gorda Florida. I believe I was with Jim in Vietnam. If possible could you contact him and if possible give him my email address. The article was published in 2011 so I am not sure if it would be possible for you to still contact Jim.
Thanks
Dan McFadden
Read your article on Dick Cook. I ran around with a Dick Cook, graduated with him from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Ia. in 1958. We unlisted in the USNR during our senior year in school. Upon graduation we received our active duty orders and went our separate ways. Last i knew, he lived in Florida. Any way i can find out if this Dick Cook is the person I’m trying to locate?
I am scrolling this site looking for the article to which you referred – although not the same man, the name makes me curious — my father was Dick Cook- WW2.
https://www.change.org/p/president-of-the-united-states-bring-home-the-83-000-mia-pows-from-u-s-foreign-wars
I’d like to be a part of this living wall. Vietnam Service, 1968 1968 II Corps. Interrogator of prisoners of war.
Gregory – if you’re in the Charlotte – Sarasota county area, please give Don a call. 941-426-2120.
Don, I have read your stories for days combing through them looking for one man Harry Moore he was in Dorset England Dec 1943 or Jan 1944 and been in the area before D-Day movements. He may have died in several severe bombings in that area concentrated on the troops hotels. There he met Marjorie Hanger a Women’s land Army enlistee in October of 1944 she had their son Richard John Hanger she waited for him to return but he did not. Marjorie has since passed in 2010 and Richard is looking for his father he only had one request to see a photograph of him before he looses his vision to Macular Degeneration which is hereditary. I created a blog page in the hopes someone would recognize this information at findingharrymoore.blogspot.com. He is now 70 years old and has children and grandchildren who just want to know who they come from. According to AncestryDNA we are a 5th to 8th cousin match it would be my heart’s desire to help him find the answers he has been searching for some 30 years or more. If you know of Harry Moore or how I may better be able to locate him would you please let me know.
My grandfather had a similar story. He had to stay in Germany for 6 months longer because he adopted a boxer from berchtesgaden. He brought a nazi officers ornamental knife, a filigreed butterfly gold bracelet, and the strangest thing was a 5 ft silk and lace christening gown. I would like to know if the family has photos of the company he was in or his time there.
Hi Don,
Nice talking with you yesterday about David Frey. I did send him the info to Japan. Another issue – about 10 years ago you did a story about me and SeaFloat. I built the original one in 1969 and built a replica for the National Vietnam War Museum in Orlando. Can’t seem to find it in the archives, can you guide me to the site?
Thanks.
Ron
Ron –
The reason you can’t find your story in the archives is because it hasn’t been posted. I’ll see if Mary can locate it. More than likely we won’t have good pictures so if you have pictures from the story, I might be asking you for them.
My dad James Boddie was on the USS St Mary.I have a great photo of him and an unknown shipmate. Anyone interested please contact me. Thank you.-Kelly Boddie Tinica, IL
Just read the story written about my father, James Hawn, and his experience at the Chosin Reservoir. There are some inaccuracies. He discharged from the Corps in 1954 after 4 years service, not 1946 as depicted. He was a Staff Sergeant at discharge, one stripe more than a Sergeant. Also, He served in Korea with King Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment (not 10th as listed). The rest of the article was pretty good and I thank you for putting it out.
James Hawn Jr.
I am the niece of Dr. Myer Boyarsky, who died on April 3rd, 1945 in Germany. I would love to know if anyone remembers him. I am writing some short stories, both fiction and non-fiction, about him, using his letters and other sources as well. Let me know if you knew him or have some information about him. Thank you. Ruth rootbeer1958@cs.com
I am helping my mother navigate the process of obtaining survivors veterans benefits. The process has been problematic, and what would help greatly is if we could find one person who knew my father, JAMES W. CARNLEY (“Jim”), in SE Asia in the 60s.
We are encountering difficulties because my father was a member of Naval Special Forces, and reported to CIA, in addition to the Navy, during his service in Vietnam.
His true date of separation from the Navy is classified (1969), and the CIA will not release it (I appealed the case as far as I could, to the CIA Appeal Board, but they denied the request. The wording was a tacit admission of his work with them.) We have his passport that shows he was in Vietnam, a paper saying he was a civilian working for Dynalectron in Vietnam (now called DynCorp International, a known front company for CIA; his cover in theatre, which also included a phony Navy date of separation of 1962), and what would help the most is if we could locate one person who knew him then, in SE Asia, anytime from 1960 to 1969).
I have no idea how to go about finding such a person. Any help, advice, or direction you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
My dad endured much mental, emotional, and physical pain related to his wartime experiences, and he died of presumptive illnesses (lung and prostate cancers) related to his Agent Orange exposure, which was extensive. He dearly earned benefits for my mom, who now needs them.
Please help me help my mom, if you can.
Kindest Regards,
Brittany Steelman
bcsteelman@yahoo.com
Here’s a reminder that Vietnam wasn’t all terror and grief. Two Vietnam medics have recently published “Long Daze at Long Binh,” a humorous memoir about their wartime experiences with the 24th Evac Hospital. It’s been getting excellent reviews, with the Vietnam Veterans of America online magazine calling it “the best book about REMF (Rear Echelon) life in South Vietnam during that time period… Nobody will top it any time soon, if ever.”
Mike Day, past Commander of VFW Post 10556 in Boca Raton, writes in his Post newsletter (August 2018) that the book is “a witty expose of behind-the-scenes military life in Vietnam… it’s neither pro-war nor anti-war, so regardless of your personal views you should find it hard to put down.”
You can view photos, sample chapters and numerous book reviews at http://www.longbinhdaze.com
Best regards,
Dan Markham
Email: vietvet67@mail.com
Hi,
We are purely Link Building Services Company; we can place your website on top of the Natural Listings on Google & other search engines.
Do let me know if you have any High-Quality Link Building Service needs, and we could send you the Affordable Link Building Packages plan for your business.
Regards,
Emma Bowles
Hi,
We have a team of 55+ highly qualified professionals who are certified in Google AdWords and ISO standards providing a wide range of services in order to generate higher visitor traffic to your website.
This ensures that your website gets higher rankings on the search engine pages.
We offer SEO (with plan & activity) Services at much lower Cost. I’d be happy to send you
our package, pricing, and past work details
Regards,
Trina Shick
My name is Jason. I was wondering if anybody remembered my father George Bench. I am trying to learn more about him and what he did as he never talked about it. I have some pics and his dd214. Anything would help. Ty and bless you all.