Comments on: Third Field Hospital

By: Bruce Thomas

Bruce Thomas — Mon, 30 May 2011 12:39:01 +0000

It’s Memorial Day 2011. With several thousand others, I’ll attend the service of music and speeches on the grounds of City Hall in Roswell, Georgia. The keynote speaker today is to be Donna Rowe, head triage nurse at 3rd Field Hospital when it occupied the ACS buildings, and godmother to Baby Kathleen (see my note above). In my mind’s eye I’ll also see my three high school classmates (from the two high schools I attended after ACS), all of them infantry platoon leaders, who died leading their troops in battle … less than one year after each of them graduated from college … from University of Texas, University of Tennessee, and West Point. I wish they could have had the benefits of 3rd Field Hospital, but all of their deaths were sudden and violent. RIP Jack, Ray, and Frank. You are remembered by many, and not just on this Memorial Day.

By: Wayne Knupp

Wayne Knupp — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:00:56 +0000

I served as an O.R. Tech at 3rd Field Hospital January 1966 – January 1967. I recognized many of your pics.
I am currently in Saigon for 1st time since on short business trip. I am going to try to visit old site tomorrow on way to airport.
I will send new pics if successful and some originals when I return to US
Wayne Knupp

By: Dennis Gross

Dennis Gross — Sun, 22 May 2011 23:00:42 +0000

Hello to all…..I was at the 3rd Field Hospital from Nov 1969 thru May 1970……I remember SFC Couch,MSgt Clark and Capt Rosemary Kennedy from the ER….I ran into MSgt Clark after i left Vietnam at Ft Sam Houston….would really like to make cobtact with Capt. kennedy…I thought she was one of the best nurses ever……i came to the 3rd Field from the 57th Med Det (Dustoff) and after an extension with the 25th Infantry Div….any help would be greatly appreciated

Dennis Gross

By: Edward Russell (Reunion Committee)

Edward Russell (Reunion Committee) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:16:47 +0000

Hello Bob, thank you for inviting us to link to our reunion information.
Ed Russell, Reunion Committee, 3rdFH (1968-1969) Information is as follows:

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Name: 3RD FLD HOSPITAL-VIETNAM, 2011 REUNION
Website: http://3field.rmhcn.org/

Comments
SEE WEBSITE: http://3field.rmhcn.org/
Reunion to be held September 9-10, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. ALL VIETNAM ERA MEMBERS AND PATIENTS 3rd and 51st Field Hospital, US Army Hospital-Saigon, 9th MED LAB, 561st Ambulance, 629th Renal and all other attached and detached unit members, and friends from the American Community School, Saigon invited. Please register at website.

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By: Trice Domenici Hyer

Trice Domenici Hyer — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:22:38 +0000

I was a nurse at the 3rd Field Hospital from 1970-1971. I may have taken care of some of you. I remember your faces, especially when we sing about the heroes in the third verse of America the Beautiful. I felt privileged to wash you, change your dressings, and giv you pain medications (not enough). You are my Heroes.

By: Larry Loree

Larry Loree — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:18:38 +0000

I was a 91B20 Combat medic stationed at 3rd Field Hospital from May 1966 -May 1967 and served in a number of capacities, including working on the wards and going on numerous MEDCAPS into villages and hamlets, winning the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people (as we were told. The bottom line is that I have many good, as well as many bad memories at the 3rd Field Hospital, but among the good, I remember the dedicated nurses, including Nurse Shirley, Nurse Keyes, and a few of them who accompanied us on MEDCAP missions, especially Lt. Scherrer from Iowa, sometimes in very remote villages harassed by VC because of US presence. These nurses desire the CMOH for their dedication to duty. I have pictures of some of them on our MEDCAPS. Please inquire, if you are interested.

Please contact me with any questions, concerning 3rd Field Hospital at ironpadre [@] gmail.com

SP/4 Larry K. Loree US Army.

By: Admin

Admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:36:47 +0000

George – That’s awesome that 3FH is planning a reunion this year. If you, or some of the other 3FH folks who visit this site, can provide me with links to 3FH websites, reunion sites, etc. I’d be more than happy to link to them from this site so that as new 3FH people find this site they can find information to reconnect with other 3FH folks.

Bob

By: George Baggett

George Baggett — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:01:04 +0000

It is a sunny/snowy packed day in Kansas City – with the promise of serious melting as the temperatures are going near 60.

I am pleased by recent developments of a plan for a reunion of 3rd Field staff to be held in Chicago this September. Pictures of staff and patients I did not post on the Kids site for fear of them being out-of-place are finding a home with a Google Group of 3rd Field pictures. These have little to do with Kids, and more to do with those who were staff, and from my limited exposure to the “Kids” it would be a shame to have the 3rd Field commandeer the site.

However, let it be known that the Kids site has been a great help to me in dealing with my experience and allowing me to share.

I don’t know why events in Egypt have me thinking of Vietnam. It is with great hope the revolution of the people will not be usurped by elite forces, but we all know they are more than ready to pull the rug. The Internet has provided tools there were not available during previous upheavals, and if wisdom can prevail there may be a chance that efforts by the world manipulators will be futile.

If justice prevails, the transition of nations of their need of support from the US may change significantly. The people may not need tanks and F-16s, but want bricks, steel and mortar to build their community. We are seeing this transition in Latin America, and yet one or two puppets seem to be able to keep violence alive.

Time will tell.

By: Paul Conley

Paul Conley — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 05:22:58 +0000

I need some help! I was a patient at Third Field Hospital for a day, about the 15th of April, 1967, the same day I meet former Vice President Richard M. Nixon, who was making a visit to the Third Field Hospital! My visit was prompted by a early morning attack on our 3/4 Ton Truck shortly after 0600 hours around the traffic circle on the road to Binh Loi Bridge! My unit of assignment was the 525 MI Group located near the Binh Loi Bridge! The problem is that my SF 558, Emergency Care and Treatment, never reached my personnel section! I was on my unit morning report on the 17th April 1967, as on light duty due to injuries! The 525 MI Group received direct medical support from Third Field, so where do I look for personnel receiving medical support for this period! Any help will help!

By: George Baggett

George Baggett — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 04:32:42 +0000

I lived at the Columbia with a gate that opened to 100 pee alley. I often joked about the children of prostitutes that hawked for their mothers, and in retrospect there was nothing funny about it. War has a tendency of creating “support” for troops that enhances a black economy by providing the services demanded by youthful and naive’ soldiers. Living at the Columbia and walking through the crowds of children every day, I began to recognize them on a daily basis. Unlike the transit patrons, I was a medic with access to antiseptics, bandages, and some limited medications. It started rather innocently, when I noticed a swollen knee from an infection, and knew I could not bring a 6-year old to 3rd Field. I cleaned, drained and bandaged a wound, which quickly healed. The mother learned of this and offered her services, but having treated many who had developed a “touch” of VD, I refrained.

If you read my book, you will note I became enamored by the Vietnamese people whom I came in contact with. I found the women incredibly beautiful, and yet I also found them to be fully aware of their servitude and limits, much as we see today how slaves felt about relations with “the master.” One of my favorite pictures is of a small woman who was the maid that took care of my clothes and room. Mia had three children, was about 30, worn by hard work and poverty, but she was extremely wonderful to me as soon as she realized I had respect for her dignity.

One of my favorite stories of that time was when I had a tailor make a Black Silk Vietnam Jacket for me. The day must have been 105 in the shade, and when I picked it up at the shop just outside 100 pee alley, I wore it for the short walk to the Columbia. My cadre of children who I cared for were all running around with very few clothes on, and upon seeing me with a heavy jacket were greatly amused. To make it more hyperbolic I acted as if I were cold. This set a tone for the remainder of my days in Saigon, and has stayed with me as I deal with my grandchildren – they never are quite sure if I’m being straight or kidding them.

Despite the rationale for being at that war I despised, that time living near the hospital and among the people, mostly poor people, has stayed with me over the now 40 years since I walked the alley. From these poor people and Mia, I learned about poverty and the other social ills of living in a land of desperate people surviving with a touch of anarchy. The disguise was simple – look like everyone else, and you could think anything you wanted. America is moving in this direction, so I look like everyone else, but my thoughts are mine.

By: Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:37:51 +0000

I just read George Baggett’s comment about 100 pee alley. We had several soldiers end up in the hospital because of 100 pee alley.

By: Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:32:04 +0000

Ann Margaret was with the Bob Hope show that visited the 3rd Field Hospital during Christmas of 1965.

By: Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:29:43 +0000

Yes, you remember right. The Catholic Chaplain’s name was Father Fagiani. I was the Protestant Chaplain’s assistant at that time. I was at the 3rd Field Hospital for about 5 months with Father Fagiani.
Thomas Johnson

By: Tony Vetuschi

Tony Vetuschi — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:57:45 +0000

I was on the first floor surgical ward for a while, things are not all that clear but I was there for some time. After being discharged from the hospital I came back within a week or two because of an infection, I remember I was throwing up green foamy stuff that tasted horrible. At that time I was put in I think it was isolation, it was on the second floor I remember. One evening Ann Margaret came to give a show and a couple guys from my unit had heard about it I guess, they came out to visit me and carried me and my cot out to the walkway and I watched the show laying on my side looking thru the railings. I beleive it to have been oposite the surgical ward and up one flight.
I also remember some nice nurses and a pretty nice medic who cared for me in surgical unit. Wish I could remember names but 1966 was a long time ago, the preist I am pretty sure about because he wanted to hear my confession and I was a pain in the ass and wouldn’t do it for some reason and he nick named me his little weasle. Still I liked him and we got along well.

By: George Baggett

George Baggett — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:46:18 +0000

Tony,
I recall hearing about the crash you wrote about. We also had another similar crash in 1969, where a number of people were badly burned and one patient came to our renal ward with 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body. There was not chance of survival, but we made his last few days as comforting as possible.

As a non-Christian, and somewhat anti-war during my tour I did befriend a Chaplin at 3rd Field, mainly for intellectual discourse. I don’t remember a Catholic being there. I recall a Lutheran from Wisconsin.

If you had surgery, then you were likely housed temporarily on the first floor surgical ward. My unit was above the mess hall and on the second floor of the only two-story building housing patients. It was the building furthest from the Republic Street Main entrance and down the long hall.

Regarding the chopper that went down in 1969, I helped remove burned victims, and when I grabbed a guy under his arms I burned my hands slightly from the heat of his skin. It is not one of my favorite memories, but it happened.

This Veteran’s day I’ve been doing my typical behavior of finding something else to do rather than participate in any event acknowledging my service. I recall returning at a time when no one really wanted to know about the war. These days remind me of that time as most people are not greatly affected by our current wars, and the topic has changed to nonsense and cheaper 40″ LCD TVs.

The more things change the more they stay the same.