RIPPLE SALVO… #923… NYT, 14-SEPT-68, BANNER HEADLINE, Page 1: “GEN. WARE KILLED IN VIETNAM–WON MEDAL OF HONOR IN 1944–Commander of First Infantry Division Dies in Crash of Helicopter in Binhlong”… “Major General Keith L. Ware, a World War II Medal of Honor winner and commander of the United States First Division, was killed today as his command helicopter crashed in flames near the Cambodian border. A United States spokesman said eight persons were believed to have been in the aircraft when it went down into the jungle about 60 miles north of Saigon and seven miles south of the Cambodian border. There were no survivors, the spokesman said… It was not immediately determined whether the craft had been hot down by enemy fire… The bodies have been recovered… JOINED THE ARMY AS DRAFTEE…General Ware, 52 years old, who joined the Army as a draftee in World War II, was the fourth general killed in the Vietnam war (and the most senior). He had been in Vietnam about nine months. Before his assignment in Southeast Asia he had been the Army’s Chief of Information…He is survived by his wife, the former Joyce M. Johnson, and three children. One is marine PFC Keith Ware.”… Humble Host honors a great warrior on the 50th anniversary of his passing while leading troops in combat. His life and story are inspirational and must be remembered… but first…
Good Morning… Day NINE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE of a return to the days and nights of Rolling Thunder and the bombing of North Vietnam, 1965-68…
HEAD LINES from The New York Times on Saturday, 14 September 1968…
THE WAR: Page 1: “AN ALLIED FORCE ATTACKS IN DMZ–158 OF FOE KILLED IN RAID IN SOUTHERN PART OF BUFFER ZONE, THE FOURTH SINCE 1967″… “A United States task force supported by tanks and navy ships has raided the southern half of the demilitarized zone and killed 158 North Vietnamese soldiers, military spokesmen announced today. The thrust into the eastern part of the zone, which began at dawn yesterday, was the fourth allied assault into the southern half of the zone since May, 1967. South Vietnamese infantry and armored troops, men of the United State’s Fifth Mechanized Infantry Division and tanks from the Third marine Division took part in the 12 hours of fighting. Allied casualties were reported as 4 killed and 46 wounded. The operation was aimed at thwarting an expected move by two North Vietnamese divisions into South Vietnam.”… FIGHTING BITTER NEAR TAYNINH… “Enemy Troops fought another bitter battle with an allied force near Tayninh today as they continued their retreat from the outskirts of the city. The fighting raged from house to house in a cluster of farm dwellings two miles south of Tayninh and pitted a battalion of North Vietnamese against American helicopters and a battalion of South Vietnamese paratroopers. Large columns of heavy smoke poured from the houses and tracer bullets and rockets glowed in the sky… It was the third consecutive day of fighting around this city 50 miles northwest of Saigon. At least 400 enemy soldiers have been killed in this week’s battles, according to allied officers.More than 200 allied troops–most of them South Vietnamese–have been killed or wounded.”… SKIRMISHES NEAR DUCLAP… “American troops engaged in several skirmishes with enemy troops near the Special Forces camp of Duclap yesterday, a United States military spokesman reported. Americans had killed 12 of the enemy while five of their men were wounded.”…
Page 1: “FORTAS REFUSES TO APPEAR IN SENATE INQUIRY–Gives No Specific Reason–Panel Is Told Justice Got $15,000 In Lecture Fees”… Page 1: “SWING WING PLAN FOLDING FOR SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT”… Page 1: “HUMPHREY SCORES ‘THE SAME NIXON’–Sees A Deal With Thurmond On Fortas–Also Chides Opponent On Atom Pact”… Page 1: BROOKE WANTS NIXON TO SPECIFY HOW HE WOULD SPUR INTEGRATION”… Page 1: “CZECH REIMPOSE PRESS CENSORSHIP AS BLOC INSISTED–Assembly Also Backs New Police Measures In Move To Fulfill Moscow Accord– Cernik Solemn In Talk–Premier Warns That Force May Be Used To Assure Peace And Order”… Page 2: “NORTH KOREA AT 20TH YEAR–STILL SEEMS STABLE–Dictatorship Of Kim Il Sung Appears Unchallenged–Nation Remains Aloof”… Page 5: “KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN SAYS ‘PRO-ISRAEL’ POLICY OF U.S. MAY PREVENT SETTLEMENT–King Criticism Reflection of Statement of Nixon and Humphrey”… Page 24: “ARNOLD PALMER BACKS DISSIDENT PROS–Seeks Active Role In Player’s New Group–Golfers Buoyed By Star’s Actions–It Follows P.G.A. Rejection Of His Plan For One-Year Joint Operation”…
14 SEPTEMBER 1968…OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times (15 Sept reporting 14 Sept ops) Page 21: “American pilots flew 114 strikes in North Vietnam and listed 23 supply boats and five trucks destroyed or damaged.”… VIETNAM: AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson)… There were two fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 14 September 1968…
(1) CAPTAIN D.M. TRIBBLE was flying n F-105D of the 357th TFS and 355th TFW out of Takhli on an armed recce mission northwest of Dong Hoi when hit by enemy ground fire. He was attacking a convoy of trucks on a road 8 miles west of Dong Hoi when AAA zeroed in on his tail resulting in an airframe and engine fire. CAPTAIN TRIBBLE turned west and kept the burning Thunderchief airborne into Laos where he was forced to eject. He was rescued by an Air Force helicopter from Nakhon Phanom.
(2) CDR GEORGE T. PAPPAS, Commanding VA-27 embarked in USS Constellation, was flying an A-7A Corsair II and leading a strike on a ferry att Linh Cam on the Ngan Pho River, 10 miles southeast of Vinh when hit by AAA in his starboard wing. He was able to fly the aircraft with difficulty southward with the intent of making an emergency landing at Danang. En route the wing began to burn. Nevertheless, he executed an arrested landing. In the engagement the fire enveloped the aircraft, the arresting gear failed, causing the burning aircraft to depart the runway. COMMANDER PAPPAS ejected and came down a few yards from his burning aircraft. He walked away, got a ride back to the Connie with a bum knee and got back on the flight schedule the next day…He completed his command assignment in February 1969… oohrah…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) FOR THE FOUR 14 sEPTEMBER DATES OF THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1965, 1967, 1968… NONE…
1966… COMMANDER CLARENCE WILLIAM STODDARD, USN… (BB KILLED IN ACTION, Body Not Recovered)… On 14 September 1966 Commander Stoddard, the CO of VA-25, The Fist of the Fleet, embarked in USS CORAL SEA, was flying an A-1H Skyraider when downed by a volley of three SAMs at sea off Cape Mu Roi Ron. One of the three missiles exploded immediately in front of CDR Stoddard’s Spad and it was concluded by his flight members that he was killed at that point. He had just led a flight of bombers against a storage facility on the coast. The missiles were fired from a site near Vinh. This was the 30th successful SAM kill of the war… While there was no parachute seen or beeper heard, Commander Stoddard was listed as MIA until 1973 when the POWs came home from Hanoi, at which time his status became BB… Killed in Action, body not recovered… And today, fifty years after his last flight he rests where he fell on the battlefield in the service of his country…
There are many remembrances of Captain Stoddard on the VVMF, The Wall of Faces. Here’s one that brings back memories for me… From Steve Dall, CWO, USA (Ret)…”I was in high school with CDR Stoddard’s son and we were sitting in the stands before our football game. When Mike handed me the telegram… That was over 41 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. I sat behind the family a couple of rows at the memorial service at the NAS Lemoore chapel and couldn’t believe how composed and dignified that Mrs. Stoddard was there after such a loss. Less than 18 months later I left for one of my three tours in Vietnam and every time I saw a “Spad’ I thought of a true gentleman and American hero….America the home of the free, Because of the Brave.”..
Humble Host was there. In those days At NAS Lemoore we were attending two or three memorial services every week during the months of good bombing weather in North Vietnam. No single stateside home air base lost more aviators than NAS Lemoore. No group of wives and kids in the country were more aware of the cost of freedom and the high price some have to pay. Indelible in memory are the countless days of assemblies of mourners in the chapel at Lemoore, and the singing of the Navy Hymn… “… Lord, guard and guide them, Be with them in the air, in darkening storms and sunlight fair…”…to mark the passing of another brave soul and to console the stout hearted family left behind…
I remember 14 September 1968 and the solemn ceremony for the skipper of “The Fist of the Fleet” a few days later…
RIPPLE SALVO…#923… On 14 September 1968 GENERAL KEITH LINCOLN WARE was Killed in Action… On this 50th anniversary of his death on the battlefield Humble Host pauses the Rolling Thunder blog to accord one of the nation’s bravest a salute of admiration, respect and appreciation… A good place to start is the General;’s Medal of Honor… The citation:
“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Keith Lincoln Ware, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Commanding the 1st Battalion attacking a strongly held enemy position on a hill near Sigolsheim, France on 26 December 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Ware found that one of his assault companies had been stopped and forced to dig in by a concentration of enemy artillery, mortar and machine gun fire. The company had suffered casualties in attempting to take the hill. Realizing that his men must be inspired to new courage, Lieutenant Colonel Ware went forward 150 yards beyond the most forward element of his command and for two hours reconnoitered the enemy positions, deliberately drawing fire upon himself which caused the enemy to disclose his disposition. Returning to the company, he armed himself with an automatic rifle and boldly advanced upon the enemy, followed by two other officers, nine enlisted men, and a tank. Approaching enemy machinegun, Lieutenant Colonel Ware shot two German riflemen and fired tracers into the emplacement, indicating its position to his tank, which promptly knocked the gun out of action. Lieutenant Colonel Ware turned his attention to a second machinegun, killing two of its supporting riflemen and forcing the others to surrender. The tank destroyed the gun. Having expended the ammunition for the automatic rifle, Lieutenant Colonel Ware took up an M-1 rifle, killed a German rifleman, and fired upon a third machinegun 50 yards away. His tank silenced the gun. Upon his approach to a fourth machinegun, its supporting riflemen surrendered and his tank disposed of the gun. During this action Lieutenant Ware’s small assault group was fully engaged in attacking enemy positions that were not receiving his direct and personal attention. Five of the party of 11 were casualties and Lieutenant Ware was wounded but refused medical attention until the important hill position was cleared of the enemy and securely occupied by his command.”
From the Audie Murphy Website there is this to tell the rest of the General’s MOH story…
“Ask 10 people on Fort Hood who Keith L. Ware was and 90 percent, if not all cannot answer the question unless they are in public affairs (another area of General Ware’s extraordinary expertise). Ask the same 10 people who Audie Murphy was and the chances are they all can answer the question. Ware and Murphy served together in World War II and had great respect for each other. They were also friends who few could equal in combat. While one would become a celebrity movie star, the other would go one to a distinguished military career and be immortalized by the Army for three decades of dedicated service to his country. The way they fought and the way they died were similar and today they rest in peace a short distance apart in Arlington National Cemetery.
“Murphy’s legend lives on in books, movies and by word of mouth. he even has a worldwide fan club, a foundation and an internet homepage. The Army continues to recognize him, through the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, where only non-commissioned officers that display his leadership qualities are eligible for induction. On the other hand, Ware’s name is synonymous with Army journalistic excellence. The annual Keith L. Ware competition recognizes outstanding Army journalists in honor of the former Army Chief of Public Affairs. His name also graces the distinguished visitor quarters at Fort Hood, Keith Ware Hall.
“Ware, the first Officer’s Candidate School graduate to reach the rank of general and the highest ranking officer killed during the Vietnam War, was an unassuming hero who went where the action was. This is how he got to know Murphy up close and personal on October 2, 1944.
“Murphy saved Ware’s life that day by single-handedly rescuing a 15th Infantry Regiment patrol near the Cleuire Rock Quarry in France–thereby earning his first Silver Star, according to copyrighted information recently received from Terry Murphy, son of the most decorated combat soldier of World War II. Lieutenant Colonel Ware, 1st Battalion executive officer, had joined a small patrol probing German lines where he and others were helplessly pinned down by an enemy machinegun and rifle support. Staff Sergeant Murphy, who was not a part fo the patrol recognized the danger and secretly followed behind about 25 yards.’I figured those gentlemen were going to run into trouble; so I tagged along…to watch the stampede’ he told newspaper columnist and friend David McClure years later.
“As the German machine gunner was about to finish off Ware and the patrol, Murphy stepped into the open just eight yard from the enemy. Murphy’s famous luck was with him as the enemy gun barrel caught some brush as it swung around. Murphy finished off all eight ambushers with two grenades and his carbine in less than 30 seconds. that earned Murphy his first Silver Star, but a modest Murphy failed to mention this incident in his autobiography, TO HELL AND BACK.
“Just three days later, Murphy would be credited with inflicting 50 enemy casualties in a single engagement and earn a second Silver Star. A day before that action, according to author Harold B. Simpson in “Audie Murphy–American Soldier,’ Murphy took Ware along on one of his dangerous sniper hunts. Ware was witness to Murphy out dueling a sniper and capturing a prized high powered rifle and scope that Life magazine photographed and published.
“Ware never forgot the sharpshooting boyish Texan who saved his life. In 1964, as a brigadier general, he said ‘Audie Murphy was without a doubt the finest soldier I have ever known in my entire military career.’… “
The fighting spirit borne in a brave heart that ruled Audie Murphy was matched by the the fighting general that led the First Division in Vietnam in September 1968, 24 years after his Medal of Honor combat action in World War II. For his heroism on the two days before and on his fatal flight reconnoitering enemy positions near the Cambodia border General Ware earned the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS… The citation:…
“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major General Keith Lincoln Ware, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry Division Major general Ware distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 and 13 September 1968 as the Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division during an operation in the vicinity of Loc Ninh. Element of the division became heavily engaged with a reinforced North Vietnamese regiment. Although he knew the enemy was utilizing anti-aircraft weapons in the area, General Ware repeatedly directed his helicopter commander to fly at a minimum altitude so he could more effectively direct and coordinate his infantry unit’s fierce fight. On numerous occasions hsi ship received fire from the communists anti-aircraft emplacements but General Ware continued his low level flights which gave him maximum control of his troops and the best observation of the North Vietnamese deployment. He was killed when the enemy fusillade directed at his craft hit the ship causing it to crash and burn. General Ware’s personal courage and leadership inspired his beleaguered men to ultimately gain a total victory over the aggressors. Major General Ware’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.”
RTR Quote for 14 September: GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR… Would say of General Ware, Audie Murphy and Bill Stoddard: “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”…
Lest we forget… Bear