Texas Aggies in Vietnam

Texas Aggies in Vietnam PDF

Author: Michael Lee Lanning

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 2016-10-25

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 1623494702

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From its inception, graduates of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, now Texas A&M University, have marched off to fight in every conflict in which the United States has been involved. The Vietnam War was no different. The Corps of Cadets produced more officers for the conflict in Southeast Asia than any institution other than the US service academies. Michael Lee Lanning, Texas A&M University class of 1968, has now gathered over three dozen recollections from those who served. As Lanning points out, “anytime Aggie Vietnam veterans get together—whether it is two or two hundred of them—war stories begin.” The tales they relate about the paddies, the jungles, the highlands, the waterways, and the airways provide these veterans with an even greater understanding of the war they survived. They also allow glimpses into the frequent dangers of firefights, the camaraderie of patrol, and often humorous responses to inexplicable situations. These revelations provide insight not only into the realities of war but also speak to the character of the graduates of Texas A&M University. As Lanning concludes, “these war stories are as much a part of service as is that old green duffle bag, a few rows of colorful ribbons, and a pride that does not diminish. In reality, there is only one story about the Vietnam War. We all just tell it differently.”

Texas Aggies in Vietnam

Texas Aggies in Vietnam PDF

Author: Michael Lee Lanning

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 2016-10-04

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 1623494710

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From its inception, graduates of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, now Texas A&M University, have marched off to fight in every conflict in which the United States has been involved. The Vietnam War was no different. The Corps of Cadets produced more officers for the conflict in Southeast Asia than any institution other than the US service academies. Michael Lee Lanning, Texas A&M University class of 1968, has now gathered over three dozen recollections from those who served. As Lanning points out, “anytime Aggie Vietnam veterans get together—whether it is two or two hundred of them—war stories begin.” The tales they relate about the paddies, the jungles, the highlands, the waterways, and the airways provide these veterans with an even greater understanding of the war they survived. They also allow glimpses into the frequent dangers of firefights, the camaraderie of patrol, and often humorous responses to inexplicable situations. These revelations provide insight not only into the realities of war but also speak to the character of the graduates of Texas A&M University. As Lanning concludes, “these war stories are as much a part of service as is that old green duffle bag, a few rows of colorful ribbons, and a pride that does not diminish. In reality, there is only one story about the Vietnam War. We all just tell it differently.”

Twelve Texas Aggie War Heroes

Twelve Texas Aggie War Heroes PDF

Author: James R. Woodall

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 2015-12-11

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 1623493196

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Following on the success of Texas Aggie Medals of Honor, James R. Woodall now returns with a new book that focuses on the military service by graduates of Texas A&M University from World War I to Vietnam. Of the tens of thousands of Aggies who served in the nation’s military, Woodall has selected twelve individuals who stand out as singular examples of bravery and heroism. Twelve Texas Aggie War Heroes tells each serviceman’s story in a concise, engaging manner. Some subjects, such as Earl Rudder and James Hollingsworth, will be familiar to readers. But Woodall also introduces us to less familiar but no less notable men as well, from A. D. Bruce’s march from the trenches of France and the crossing of the Rhine in World War I to Bob Acklen’s three tours in Vietnam. In addition to the twelve chapters focusing on these remarkable individuals, Woodall provides an extensive set of appendixes that include the relevant citations for each serviceman as well as larger lists of Aggies who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross.

Combat Talons in Vietnam

Combat Talons in Vietnam PDF

Author: John Gargus

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 2017-03-27

Total Pages: 286

ISBN-13: 1623495121

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Combat Talons in Vietnam is a personal account of the first use of C-130s in the Vietnam War. It provides an insider’s view of crew training and classified missions for this technologically advanced aircraft. Many covert missions over North Vietnam were successful, but one night, John Gargus, a mission planner, oversaw an operation in which the aircraft—carrying eleven crewmembers—failed to return from a nighttime mission. For thirty years, a search for the missing aircraft remained in progress. In the late 1990s, the Combat Talon veteran community at Hurlburt Field in Florida, still uncertain of the full story, decided to dedicate a memorial to the lost crew. When wartime mission records were declassified, Gargus embarked on a long journey of inquiry, research, and puzzle-solving to reconstruct the events of that mission and the fate of its crew. He discovered that the wreckage of the plane had been found in 1992 and that the remains of the crew were being held in Hawaii. Through numerous Freedom of Information Act requests, interviews, and site visits, Gargus sought to answer the question of why it took so long to find the wreckage and, more importantly, why the special operations command units were left uninformed. By 2000, the remains were relocated to a common grave at Arlington National Cemetery at last providing a measure of closure to family, friends, and comrades.

Dat

Dat PDF

Author: Dat Nguyen

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 1603446087

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Presents the author's first-hand account of his experiences playing football in the NFL, the first player of Vietnamese descent to achieve that goal, and includes information on his faith, his family, and his career.

Texas Aggies Go to War

Texas Aggies Go to War PDF

Author: Henry C. Dethloff

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 2008-06-24

Total Pages: 473

ISBN-13: 1603440771

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When their country calls, Texas Aggies go to war. From the Spanish-American War and World War I to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Aggies have been in the forefront of America’s armed forces, producing more officers than any other school outside the service academies. More than 20,000 Texas Aggies served in World War II, for instance, including more than 14,000 as commissioned officers. Trained in leadership and the knowledge required for warfare, Aggies have served with distinction in all branches of the military service. In this first-ever compilation of the impressive war record of Texas Aggies, stories of individual soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines are displayed with an abundance of statistics, maps, and tables. These narratives include • First-person accounts of Aggie heroism in battle in all the wars in which A&M former students have fought; • The horrific experiences of some of the eighty-seven Aggies who were stationed at Corregidor and Bataan; • The perils of five Aggies who participated in the raid over Tokyo with Jimmie Doolittle; • The heroics of the seven Medal of Honor recipients from Texas A&M during World War II; • James Earl Rudder’s leadership of the Ranger assault at Normandy on D-Day; • Examples of vigorous support and devotion to duty given by Aggies in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. Texas Aggies Go to War celebrates the school’s distinctive Corps of Cadets and its military contributions while honoring the individual sacrifices of its members. Those who fought and those who remember them will find here a comprehensive account of the distinguished war record of this school. This book was initiated and sponsored by a group of former students who provided funding through the Texas A&M Foundation. All proceeds from the book will be used to benefit the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.

Captive Warriors

Captive Warriors PDF

Author: Sam Johnson

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9780890964965

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Former fighter pilot recounts his experiences as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

12 Texas Aggie War Heroes

12 Texas Aggie War Heroes PDF

Author: James R. Woodall

Publisher: Blackbirch Press, Incorporated

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 9781623494308

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Following on the success of "Texas Aggie Medals of Honor," James R. Woodall now returns with a new book that focuses on the military service by graduates of Texas A&M University from World War I to Vietnam. Of the tens of thousands of Aggies who served in the nation s military, Woodall has selected twelve individuals who stand out as singular examples of bravery and heroism. "Twelve Texas Aggie War Heroes"tells each serviceman s story in a concise, engaging manner. Some subjects, such as Earl Rudder and James Hollingsworth, will be familiar to readers. But Woodall also introduces us to less familiar but no less notable men as well, from A. D. Bruce s march from the trenches of France and the crossing of the Rhine in World War I to Bob Acklen s three tours in Vietnam. In addition to the twelve chapters focusing on these remarkable individuals, Woodall provides an extensive set of appendixes that include the relevant citations for each serviceman as well as larger lists of Aggies who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross."

The Book of Aggie Lists

The Book of Aggie Lists PDF

Author: James R. Woodall

Publisher: Centennial the Association of

Published: 2020

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781623498412

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The Book of Aggie Lists brings together in one volume a vast amount of information that will be welcomed by current and former students of Texas A&M University. Focusing on the military heritage of the university--and especially the Corps of Cadets--this reference work is an invaluable resource for researchers and curious readers alike. Former Commandant of Cadets James R. Woodall and eleven other contributors have painstakingly gathered and organized the names, class years, and ranks of various individuals who served in wars, were decorated, or died in the line of duty, to name just a few of the informative categories presented here. This book represents a way to remember all who served both Texas A&M University and the United States and will aid readers for decades to come. It focuses on and goes beyond the military history of the university to encompass many other fascinating lists, including Hollywood movies with a connection to the university and time-honored Aggie traditions. The Book of Aggie Lists is a never-before-seen wealth of knowledge and will be a frequently accessed book on shelves across campus and throughout the larger Aggie network. Woodall also invites readers to contribute to a larger, ongoing project to compile additional information and Aggie lists to serve the future generations of Texas A&M University.

Texas Aggie Medals of Honor

Texas Aggie Medals of Honor PDF

Author: James R. Woodall

Publisher: Williams-Ford Texas A&M Univer

Published: 2013-08-08

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781623490454

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Every Medal of Honor represents a story of gallantry, courage, and sacrifice. Conceived in the early 1860s, the Medal of Honor, awarded "in the name of the Congress of the United States," has been presented to more than 3,000 members of the United States armed forces. Seven of the 464 Medals of Honor awarded during World War II went to Texas Aggies. Author James R. Woodall, a 1950 graduate of Texas A&M University and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, carried out a dedicated search of archives, family collections, and scores of other resources to gather, for the first time, the complete stories of these seven courageous men. Texas Aggie Medals of Honor will undoubtedly be of great interest to former students of Texas A&M University, members of the Corps of Cadets, and others associated with the university and its distinguished tradition of military training and service. But the book will also hold great appeal, in the words of one advance reader, "to those interested in the nation's highest award for valor and the individual stories of ordinary men who did extraordinary things when confronted by life-threatening situations in combat." " . . . a fast moving narrative of short, thoughtful portraits of the lives of seven World War II Texas Aggie Medal of Honor recipients. . . has meaning for readers both inside and outside the Texas Aggie Nation, and they will certainly grasp Woodall's admiration for these seven men and appreciate his tenacious research into their histories."--Southwestern Historical Quarterly