Carrier-based Transport Aircraft, paratroopers would fly out the back bay door, in quick succession, during strategic deployments. "ahhhhhhhhhhh, the Bou...........loved the ramp exits on them......16 paratroops all streamin out like shit out of a cows arse !! HOOAH !!" Comment by Vietnam Veteran, Howard Swede Ware.
Soldiers Who Sat Together on the Flight to Vietnam
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"Primary Flight Training, Ft. Wolters,TX. We sat together on the flight to Vietnam. Jack was killed in action. — with Jack Rose and John Parker." Photo and comment by Tom Everhart
John N. Maragakis was born February 15, 1925 in Mohrland, Utah, a son of Nick J. and Alexandra Platzidakis Maragakis. He graduated from Carbon High School in Price, Utah; graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah. He went on to serve his country in the Army 115th Engineer Battalion. He was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake City, also served as a member of the Church Board of Trustees. He held many leadership positions and was instrumental in starting the Western Orthodox Youth Association. He was Operations Manager of Ajax/Division of McGraw-Edison Company of Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, he was a prominent business consultant in commercial real estate.His philanthropic and community activities included a long standing member of the Salt Lake Minos Chapter of Pancretan Association; National Officer of Pancretan Association of America; Chairman, Pancretan Scholarship Committee; Chairman, Utah Technical College Advisory Council; President, Board of Directors of the Junior Achievement of Utah; member Board of Directors of the United Fund; member board of directors, Utah Blue Shield, Inc.; director, Salt Lake Kiwanis Club; member, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of Management Education Committee, Utah Manufacturers Association; and Chairman of Mount Olympus Community Council. Maragakis, 66-years-old, passed away Sunday, April 21, 1991. Digitization completed with funds from a 2017 USHRAB (Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board) Grant that was awarded to Salt Lake Community College, Library Services.
Soldiers and Pilots Pose While Stationed in Long Binh, Vietnam
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"Long Binh, Vietnam 1971. Tom was married to an infamous Goat Girl. He was a great guy who left us too soon at age 42, 1/15/1990 RIP old friend. — with John Crowley, Jim Putek and Tom Kinkusich. That Tom ended up getting married to "old" Rachel she was 17 years older then him. Don't know if you remember her. She stopped by HQ one day with her daughter. Her husband blew his brains out at the dinner table a few years prior." Photo and comment by Tom Everhart
Britt Small is reading the packing slip, CID, MP Platoon AO, LZ English. "Yep, that's me all right. The man standing next to me is Leo Spencer. He was the head of our team, & my first partner. He was from Louisiana, & was a school-trained CID agent. Leo was also a Korean War veteran, & had been a tank commander during that war. As you can see, he was a big man, about 300 lbs, & he could really make that jeep behind us roll. We were coming back to LZ English on QL-1 late one night, after investigating a shooting at LZ North English, & we got ambushed from both sides of the road. We were following the MPs V-100, which was carrying the shooter for safety. The V-100 was an armored vehicle with big tires, & angled sides, so that the bullets would bounce off of it in all directions. We could see the tracers going in all directions. Leo was driving, & I was in the back seat behind him on the left. There were four of us in the jeep. John Entwhisle was in the backseat on the right side next to me. He was scooted down behind the radio, & firing his Car-15 to the right. I was scooted down too, & firing to the left. Leo had the lights off, he stomped on the gas, & put the nose of the jeep right under the back of the V-100, so that the rounds went over us. We were going about 70 mph, & Leo was fearless driving that jeep. The V-100 got at least one tire hit, but it was made with an inner tire, so they just swerved a little, & kept on going. None of us got hit, but the canvas on the jeep didn't fair very well. We made it to LZ English, & stopped just inside the gate. We had to pull the other Lifer CID guy out of the foot well of the right front seat. He hadn't fired a shot. He did wet his pants, though. Well boys & girls, that's the end of my war story. I was supposed to start it with "& this is no shit," but I forgot. There were many more adventures after this one. Leo, the old tanker saved our asses because he was fearless, & he could really wheel that jeep. I'm sure Leo is gone now, but he saved our lives. God bless your memory, Brother. We'll always remember you. The 173rd Airborne Brigade Frontier Cops." - Britt Small. Photo by Jerry W. Colwell
