Many of the brothers I write about
I never got to know or meet, but I do pick up from those that had the opportunity
to know them, thus I am enabled to write a few words in their honor. As I begin
to honor our brother Ken ( brother is used between us because an unusual bonding
took place in this type unit, and still remains today ). I can just see him coming
to his new unit then called Long Range Reconniassance Patroll, later called the
Long Range Patrol, and finally the Long Range Patrol Rangers of the 75th Ranger
Regiment of the 4th infantry division. He would be given a quick look over by
the veterans and be considered a new guy, thus he would have to gain the others
respect and confidence before he could be one of the guys.. This sounds a little
cruel, but men that serve in this type unit would have it no other way. If Ken
were here, he would tell you the same. Ken could not be considered the average
soldier, no he was like the men that made up this special unit. Intrigued with
the unkown, the impossible, and the adventure. He was a risk taker by nature and
being a part of such a unit enabled him to be his best. Thus he volunteered for
one of the most dangerous units in Vietnam. Volunteering was the only way into
this unit since the Army did not directly assign anyone to my knowledge. He did
not ask for this war but if he had to come, he wanted to contribute to the ending
of it. He was aware of the added dangers he and his team would face and that life
expectancy was slim to none, but this was his calling to be sort of a forerunner,
out ahead of the major units relaying from deep within enemy held territoy, information
to the commanders that they may better plan operations against the enemy. Ken
and the many like him had no idea how such information would save many lives of
fellow soldiers and the indigenous people. Only Ken could tell us the real motivater
but he was of a different breed of men. Once dropped in the area of operation,
him and the team were pretty much on there own having communication, artillery,
and gunship with pick up helicopters (slicks) for support. He was to locate the
enemy and give reports of their activity to higher command. This information could
only be gotten in this manner. Ken being the team leader carried heavy responsibility
for his team and the mission. He ran several missions where he got in, reported,
and extracted at the end of his mission, often times without the enemy knowing
he and the team had been there.. Then there were other times he might find himself
close enough to touch the enemy but still undetect, then there were the times
he was detected and had to fight until help could arrive, which could be 20-30
minutes or more, that was if the weather was good enough for the choppers to fly.
If not, he and the team were left to survive basically on their until help could
arrive. He had occassions where the team and him had to fight their way out to
the waiting aircraft for extraction, this was known as a hot extraction. The courage
and the bravery it took to do this job was displayed in a gallant way while he
served his unit and men with pride. Was it done for the Glory? No, it was a calling!
Many serving in this type unit would be expected to have all kinds of decoration,
but this was not so. These men did heroic things out of the love they had for
each other. Had Glory been the motive many would have been heavliy weighted down
with decorations, but most went unnoticed. I learned Ken was a real lovable guy
and would do just about anything for those of his unit. Well liked by the men.
He wore his rank on his shoulder not in his head.
We reading these words about
Ken are blessed with our freedom. We ought always to remember him. It was February
8, 1969 in the performance of his duty that he was mortally wounded for what he
believed to be a just cause, Freedom And Liberty for all who seek it. He and Nathaniel
Irving walked their last mile together to their heavenly home. A place we are
told there is no war, but rather peace we have yet to experience.
It hurts
when we have to recall our loss but we can remember them with great pride, and
to feel honored to have been kin to them in spirit. I have said before, they only
die when we forget! For as long as we have breath may we never forget them or
any other brothers. WE have the responsibility to remember and to remind others
of the price for "FREEDOM". If you have contact with his family, please call and
let them know you are with them on this day of their loss.
Bob Smyers |
