Welcome
This is an archive of the Ban Me Thuot Barb, a quarterly newsletter written by soldiers from Camp Coryell.
Camp Coryell was home to the 155th Aviation Company, stationed near Ban Me Thout during the Vietnam War. Click History to view mission, resources, major events and operations from 1966 (official report prepared by Lt. Willis J. Heydenberk).
Original work by Vietnam veterans chronicles life after the war and reunions of the 155th AHC, recalls events during the war, and describes everyday life in Camp Coryell.
1997
Barb 1
February 1997
1997Barb0001Feb
- First Reunion in DC
- Message from President Orrin Messenger
- In Memoriam - Ernie Plummer
[CLICK TO READ]
Barb 2
May 1997
1997Barb0002May
- Guard Duty - Bob Alberts
- Thanks from Mary Nachtigall
- “Poolside Parable” from BMT
- Overheard at the Reunion
- Best Helo Unit in Vietnam - Earl Baldwin
Barb 3
August 1997
1997Barb0003Aug
- Single Digit Midget, Taking Fire - Jim Koch
- Thanks from Tom Mullen
- “Vagabond Voice” from BMT
- At the 1996 Reunion - Les Davison
Barb 4
November 1997
1997Barb0004Nov
- KIA Tribute on cover
- Slow Boat to Where? - Bill Staubach
- Flashback - “Army Reporter” (Sperling action)
- Gathering in Ohio: Schrader Mini-Reunion
- Seeking Info on Cross-Border Operations
- Old Guy's Report - Keith Lane
1998
Barb 5
February 1998
1998Barb005Feb
- Mid-air Collision - Keith Lane
- Fitzgerald/McQuinn mission - USARV Aviation Pamphlet
- “I Remember" - Norm Swafford
- Joker Recollection - Will Stafford
- Hollywood Comes to BMT - Bo Atkinson
Barb 6
May 1998
1998Barb006May
- The Old Swimmin' Hole - Bo Atkinson
- Swimming Pool at BMT - Army Reporter
- Pool is Red-X'ed - Fran Tiner
- Art Rizza Home Page
- Tet '68 - Earl Baldwin
- Rocket Party - Mark Cornwall
- Thanks Maintenance - Les Davison
Barb 7
August 1998
- Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? - HAWK reprint (69 rocket attack)
- Rocket Party:
- Jerry Henderson
- Jeff Schrader
- Bob Gardner
- Tom Hunt
- Les Davison
- Ron Polly
- Another Old Guy Report - Keith Lane
- Fort Worth Reunion - Bo Atkinson
Barb 8
November 1998
- Falcon Xmas Card cover
- Veterans Day - Jeff Schrader
- BMT Holidays - Bo Atkinson
- Does Anybody Remember? - David Smith
- Flashback, Dragon News (put out grass fire)
- Stagecoach 6 Sez - Dean Owen
- How Not to Fly and Shoot in Formation - Ken Donovan
- Gunship Mission, Salvo & Rescue - Ed Pledger
- Boswell/Gibson rescue of A-1 pilot
1999
Barb 9
February 1999
1999Barb009Feb
- Sperling DSC Mission - Sperling & DeSimone
- Flashback: 5500 aircraft lost in Vietnam - NY Times
- 155 Maintenance - Jerry Hallfin
- Remembering Suhajda & Hasselman - Steve Kelley
- Early Days - Robert Frost
Barb 10
May 1999
1999Barb010May
- The End of the 155th - Bob Alberts
- Recollections of Closing the 155th - Steve Kelley
- In Memoriam - William Bruce
- Flashback - "First UH-1D's in Vietnam" (photo of Pledger)
- 155 Movie Star - John Grow
- Wounded LRRP Extraction - Dave Alessi
- Mini-Reunion at Markham's - Chuck Markham
Barb 11
August 1999
- Tet '68 - Royce Campbell
- Fourth of July - Dean Owen
- May '67 crash (& photo) - Ken Acker
- Another Old Guy Report - Keith Lane
- MAJ Deloach Was Well Liked - Bob Spencer
- The 155 Association - Diz Gwaltney
- Potato Soup for the Soul - Herb Hess
- A Day in the Nam (sunburn) - Mike Stark
- Memories of Maintenance - Leon Wozniak
Barb 12
November 1999
- Central Highlands Neighbors - Bo Atkinson
- Rescue at Lac Thien, Xmas Eve '65 - Clyde Watts
- Origin of 155 Call Signs - Bob Spencer
- FOB (Royal Sander) - Jon Potter
- Barb Stirs Memories - Jerry Burton
- Aircraft Incident - Jeff Schrader
- Maine Get-together - Warren Smith
- You're Going to Rocket City - Chuck Markham
- Earliest Days - Robert Frost
- Day in the Nam - Lou Lupo
- You Saw a Tank? - Bob Alberts
2000
Barb 13
February 2000
- Siege of Bu Prang & Duc Lap, '69: Official History - Bruce McInnes
- Brave Friends Home (Arlington burial of two Joker pilots) - Les Davison
- 155 Photo Album - Gene Powless
- Falcon 6, 1965 - Charles Gilmer
- In Memoriam - Jack Finn
- Maddox Chicken Plate Story & Photo - Les Davison
- More from the Earliest Days - David Helton
- Poetry by Jim Bales
- Day in the Nam - Ken de Russy
Barb 14
May 2000
- You Light Up My Life - Jim Bales
- BMT Was Dirt - Warren Smith
- Christmas Village (Lac Thien shoot-down, Xmas 65) - Jim Sewell, Ed Pledger, & Jack Kottler
- Vietnamese Town Marks Anniversary (BMT today) - AP News
- How Stagecoach 6 Got His Bullwhip - Ralph Dietlin
- Memories of Harry Pipkin - Frank Miceli
- Bag's Bad Day - Mike Stark
- Gettin' Together: Ran into Brad Marsh - Craig Mosher
Barb 15
August 2000
- Army Honors Marlin Johnson - Joanne Eppers (KIA sister)
- Vagabond Park - Alesia Bellak (KIA sister)
- In Memoriam - Gerry LeCount
- Wizard War (& photos) - Rick Farlow
- Kim Din, Part 1 - Leon “Doc” Curry
- Across the Fence; B-50 - Thomas Cook (B50 guy)
- Battalion CO, 68-9 - Davey Stanley
Barb 16
December 2000
- Kim Din, Part 2 - Leon “Doc” Curry
- Aviation Camp Dedicated to WO Coryell - Army Reporter
- Short Story (about Vagnini) - Phil Watson
- Montagnard Message - Y-Jut Buonto
- Love Family Did Their Part - Judy Thompson (155 sister)
- Going in for the Blue Berets - Lee McGriff (B50 guy)
- Vegas Reunion Reflections - Les Davison