In March of 1998, a group of former 101st pilots and others returned to Vietnam and Laos. This group was made up of Bob Clewell (Comanchero "6"), Ray Ferrante (Kingsman, Comanchero, and Air America), Bob Morris (a Comanchero shot down at LZ Lolo in Laos), Rachel Torrance (Red Cross Donut Dollie), and Paul Clewell (son of Bob). Nancy Morris and Sherry Ferrante accompanied them to Vietnam, but stayed at a cultural area west of Da Nang while the rest of the group travelled North and West. The reason for the trip was ultimately to visit sites they had flown into and around in Northern I Corps and Laos. Lam Son 719 was the invasion into Laos by the South Vietnamese in 1971, but the American helicopter crews took them there and paid the price with their lives and equipment.
This group were the first American pilots to return to the former Lam Son 719 battlefield. Behind them, they left a couple of little reminders that the "Comancheros had been there", and to honor their fallen friends 1LT Charles R. Anderson and SP4 Paul A. Sgambati both KIA 03 MAR 71.
The three week trip included Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Tay Ninh, Chu Chi, Nha Trang, Dalat, Da Nang, Hai Van Pass, Hue, Quang Tri, the DMZ Area, Khe Sanh, Lang Vei, Lao Bao (border crossing), Lam Dong (Aloui), Tchepone, the village of Ben Ken Khai, Lolo, back to Hue, Camp Eagle, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and then on to Hong Kong.
Bob Clewell was kind enough to share several of his pictures with us, the story the goes along with them was the best part. I spent several hours listening to him at the Omaha Reunion in August. I hope you enjoy his pictures..... L. Frazier
| The Tomb which was located behind operations at the "Hideout". The "Hideout" was home to the Comancheros (A Co 101st Avn. Bn.) at Camp Eagle in Vietnam. (photo courtesy of Bob Clewell) | |
| The old runway at the "Hideout" at near Camp Eagle looking to the SouthEast. L to R - Ray Ferrante, Bob Clewell, Bob Morris, and Nancy Morris. (photo courtesy of Bob Clewell) |  |
| Paul Clewell with local children ages 11, 9, and 7 in front of the monument built at Khe Sahn by the Peoples Republic. (photo courtesy of Bob Clewell) |  |
| The group sitting on top of a M-48 Tank the South Vietnamese left at Lam Dong. L to R - Bob Morris, Paul Clewell, Rachel Torrance, Bob Clewell, Ray Ferrante, and two Vietnamese guides. (photo courtesy of Bob Clewell) |  |
| Paul Clewell aboard a sanpan made of salvaged aircraft metal crossing the Xepon River in route to LZ Lolo. " (photo courtesy of Bob Clewell) |  |
| Bob Morris and Ray Ferrante on top of LZ Lolo in Laos. Both are tired, but notice the look of satisfaction. Their party is the first American group to revisit this area since the war. Notice the smoke in the background, the locals were burning bamboo. (photo courtesy of Bob Clewell) |  |
| The "Arrowhead" which is a landmark which designated the approach to LZ Lolo in Laos (photo taken from the top - courtesy of Bob Clewell) |  |
| Bob Clewell and Ed Luce at the 1998 Reunion in Omaha. Bob was company commander and helicopter pilot for the Comancheros (A Co. 101st Avn. Bn.) in Vietnam and Ed Luce was a glider pilot with the 401st Glider Infantry Regiment who missed Normandy but made Holland and Bastogne (shot five times and captured at Bastogne, endured, and was liberated in May '45) in World War II. This was Ed's first 101st reunion, and they both attended a showing of "Saving Private Ryan" together. (photo by L. Frazier) |  |
The above photos are the exclusive property of Bob Clewell and should not be copied without his permission. L. Frazier 12/30/98