It's great to be able to get in touch with DUSTOFFer's on the internet -- Before the net, I only kept in touch with a few folk -- was able to make the first DUSTOFF Reunion in Atlanta but none since --
Regretted not being able to make the 82nd Med Det Reunion (VN-1969/70) in Las Vegas in April, 1996, organized by Allen Rummel (Ar63@aol.com) -- I WILL make the next one -- probably some good "war stories" being told -- w/Pecoraro, Aberle, Winrich, Livingston(?)
UPDATE -Oct'98 - Made the '97 Reunion -- Was great seeing Bob Mock, Ernie Sylvester and Dave Dryden from '64 and Mike Novosel, Bud Bowen, John Hosley, Bob Romines, Merle Snyder, Bob Barrett ---
I recently met up with fellow 57th Med Det DUSTOFF pilot (VN-'64), BRUCE ZINK and his son, PATRICK, on the internet. It's been great reliving wartime experiences in the Delta and I've especially enjoyed talking with Patrick and swapping DUSTOFF "stuff" --- (Patrick wrote his senior thesis on DUSTOFF and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and information on DUSTOFF and it's history).
Here's how I happened to LINK with ZINK -- via WAE Locator board:
Unit was: 57th and 82nd Med Det (DUSTOFF); 119th Air Mobile
Where served: Soc Trang, Saigon; Vietnam
When served: Jan 1964 to Jan 1965
Message is: Anyone wishing to contact my father Bruce is invited to write me at the E-mail address above. Dad has had an interest in finding some of his old military friends lately. Bruce served as a commissioned officer in the Army from 62 - 68. He was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam from Jan 64 to Jan 65. He started in Vietnam with the 119th Air Mobile group and was transfered to the 57th Med Det (Dustoff) in July and later to the 82nd Med Det when it entered the country in August. Dad flew until suffering a back injury in 1966 when he became a pharmacist until he left the Army in 68. Please contact: Patrick A. Zenk Mailing address: 13217 James Ave S. City, State, Zip: Burnsville, MN 55337 Or send email to Patrick A. Zenk using this automatic email form"
Subject: Bruce Zink
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 22:28:30 -0600
From:
armond carter simmons
To: zenk0006@maroon.tc.umn.edu
Patrick--Ask your dad if he remembers scrambling into the air one night out of Soc Trang to rescue a downed air force pilot over around Roc Gia.
Just located your entry in the locator board and just wanted to touch base with you and your dad, a "gutsy" guy. Got to leave the machine right now but I'll get back in touch in a couple of days.
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 10:17:27 -0600 (CST)
From: Patrick A Zenk
To:
armond carter simmons
Mr. Simmons
Damm glad to hear from you. My dad told me a lot about you, as well as Brady, Clark and the rest of the 57th and 82nd crew. If the rescue at Roc Gia is that of the burning A-1 when you flew in under fire to get the pilot in the middle of the night..then I have heard it a few times. Dad does not talk about Vietnam unless I press him a little. He only started to open up when I joined the Army back in 88. Since then I have heard a few stories from him, but its through research for my senior thesis on aeromedical evacuation that I have learned a lot about the great legacy of "Dustoff". Its one that I have had the unpleasant opportunity to witness on a few occasions, but even as I did, I was proud to know that its a legacy that my father took part. I will soon return to the Army as a commissioned officer, and hope to join that same great tradition that you all took part in creating. Thanks for touching base with us. Dad will be happy to hear from you again and I would love to hear more about the "old man" when he was my age. Any embarrassing stories I could hit him up with would be most appreciated.
Patrick Zenk
Patrick Zink, future "Dustoffer" -------Was graduated with commission (MSC Branch) in September-------Accepted for helicopter flight training
And (with girlfriend, Laurel) "rubbing shoulders" with Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen John Vessey
Patrick, was there really any doubt about getting flight school?
"CONGRATS ON WINGS PATRICK" -
"WELCOME TO DUSTOFF!"
Great to hear from GREG PINKSTON in October, '97 -- Greg was 57th company clerk in '64 -- MAJ KELLY's "Radar" --
Excerpts from Greg's email:>
"Still have many fond memories of Maj. KELLY, and how he
used to bang on the wall to summon me to his office. His rather gruff voice -- that was more for show than anything -- he always had that great smile of his just below the surface.
After leaving Nam was stationed in Japan for two years, then went directly to Vicenza, Italy for three more years, went to Ft Bragg, Simmons Army Airfield with the 120th Aviation Company for a year, on to SHAPE Belgium for three years, then directly back to Italy for another 3 years AFSOUTH HQS, Naples. When I left Naples I was
assigned to Eisenhower Medical Center, then Korea and finally at Augusta College, helping to make 2nd Lts, that was a blast....retired upon
completion in April 1985, 22 years service.
Of course you know what happened to PAUL BLOOMQUIST. I was really shocked to pick up the Stars and Stripes and see his picture and story of what happened, so sad, a fine officer having gone through the Vietnam War and then being killed by a bunch of left-wing terrorists.
Good corresponding with MIKE HILLIARD, a fellow 82nd Med DUSTOFF pilot -- see at "DUSTOFF (future page stuff)".
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