My father was killed when the jeep he was riding in was ambushed about 4 kilometers from Cat Lai on September 7,1969. The Viet Cong set off a land mine underneath my dad's jeep which threw him and his partner, EN2 Alan Joslin, about 50-60 feet away. While my dad was knocked unconscious, Alan was still awake but had 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body. The Viet Cong. rushed up and shot my dad in the neck with a shotgun killing him instantly.  Alan was shot 2-3 times and the Viet Cong. proceeded to strip my dad's body of all his stuff. Alan was able to crawl to the rode unobserved and a local villager happened by on a moped. Alan reached up and grabbed the moped as it sped by and the villager dragged him into the next village.  Alan was medi-vac out and survived after spending over a year in hospitals. He lost a lung because of his injuries.

     The only way I am able to know all of these details is because my family and I met Alan and his family in Washington, D.C. at Father's Day 1993.  I have met 2 men who served with my dad in River Patrol Group 51 and also live in the same city as an Army vet who was a radio operator at Cat Lai and knew my dad and Alan.

     Dad is survived by our mother and his four children, three sons, myself, Steve and Ron and a daughter, Chris.

Special Links:

• VietNow
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