During this weekend we will take part in a reenactment event organized in Poniec, Wielkopolskie, Poland. The fourth edition of this gathering, called “Operation Poniec”, will be open to the public from 4 PM, Friday, August 4. The event will last at least until Sunday.
The upcoming Saturday marks the Long Night of Museums. During this event, we will display some of our gear in the Armament Museum. The museum is located in the Cytadela Park in Poznań, Poland. The event will start this Saturday, May 20, at 5 PM and will last till midnight. Entrance to the exhibition is free
Let’s meet together during the Long Night of Museums!
A part of our exhibition during the 2022 edition of the event
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
“Who Will Go” – Terry Buckler, Cliff Westbrook
“Who Will Go” is the title of a book that was written prior the 50th anniversary of the Son Tay Raid, an attempt to free American POWs held in North Vietnam. The operation, code-named “Ivory Coast”, was executed at night on 21st of November 1970 in the area of the Son Tay prisoner-of-war camp, about 23 miles west of Hanoi, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. A special group led by Brig Gen LeRoy J. Manor (USAF) and COL Arthur D. “Bull” Simons (US Army Special Forces) attacked the object in a distinguished manner. Among the 56 Raiders that took part in this action, only two were wounded. The Americans also lost one F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber and an HH-3E Jolly Green supporting helicopter that carried the Blueboy element commanded by Captain Richard “Dick” Meadows. The helicopter crash-landed into the courtyard of Son Tay prison in a controlled manner, which was part of the plan from the start. Eventually, all the participants of the action along with the crew of the downed Thud returned safely to their bases. The Son Tay Raid did not result in freeing any American POWs – they had been transferred to other facilities shortly before – but it significantly improved the conditions in which they were held. This action also showed to the world the determination of the United States to help its imprisoned military, while becoming a model for future special operations.
“Blueboy”, HH-3 “Banana” Source: https://www.historynet.com/son-tay/
The execution of the raid along with its consequences and the events preceding it are described in detail in the aforementioned book “Who Will Go”. It includes the personal story of Sergeant Terry Buckler of the Redwine Element, the youngest member of the raiding force. He is currently active in veterans’ associations, including the Son Tay Raid Association that groups the Raiders. The second author of the book is Cliff Westbrook, who served in the US Air Force as a B-1 Lancer pilot. His father, Clyde “Nyle” Westbrook, also participated in Operation Ivory Coast as commander of the Lime 02, an HC-130P tanker that supported the aircraft involved in the mission.
“Who Will Go” depicts the path that Terry Buckler followed to serve in the United States Army Special Forces, then volunteering to participate in an action kept initially in great secrecy. In the course of the reading, one can find out how the training of the famous Green Berets was carried out in the 1960s and how the preparations to the Son Tay Raid looked like. The book also provides comparisons to today’s tactics, a detailed equipment list, numerous photographs and sketches, and terminology explanations. Moreover, the authors confronted some myths surrounding the action. One of such stories claimed that the camp mockup used for exercises was teared down every day to avoid being detected by Soviet spy satellites. This, however, was not the case. Some coloration is added to this story thanks to personal experiences of the people involved and humorous elements that appear from time to time. The book is enriched with appendixes presenting post-war veterans reunions, accounts made by the participants of the operation and POWs as well as recollections of USAF personnel whose contribution to the Vietnam War is often marginalized. A compilation of Terry Buckler’s Life Lessons, a collection of his advice, lists of the Raiders and some support personnel are also included.
All this makes the book a very valuable resource not only for Vietnam reenactors and people interested in that war, but also for those fascinated by the history and development of the American special forces.
“Who Will Go: History Repeats”
The book was published by Palmetto Publishing in 2020 and it is available on online platforms offering literature. A copy of “Who Will Go” that was shipped to us from overseas is actually priceless. Its unique character comes from handwritten dedications and autographs of both authors, as well as several participants of the entire action, which include SFC Tyrone J. Adderly (Redwine Element), SFC John Jakovenko (Greenleaf) and Capt Clyde “Neal” Westbrook (USAF, Lime 2). While enjoying such a wonderful souvenir, we would like to extend our best thanks and greetings to the Son Tay Raid Association made of the heroes of the November 1970 operation.
From the ashes of cruel war
That left a poor soul blackened sore
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I rise
Now reaching to touch the skies…
Excerpt from: “I Rise”, Gary Jacobson, 1999
March 29 marks Vietnam War Veterans Day, when all the American veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces during the Vietnam War are recognized and honored.
On this special day, we would like to pay tribute to late Gary Jacobson (1943-2020), who passed away on December 1, 2020. Six days later he was laid to rest by his family and friends with full military honors in his home area in Idaho. Gary was an exceptional person to us, as he became a friend of our reenactment group.
Gary Jacobson (1943-2020) Source: https://pzzzz.tripod.com/namtour.html
Gary was a Vietnam War veteran and a trooper, who served in-country during 1966-67 with B Co 2/7 Air Cavalry. Seriously wounded by a booby trap, he was awarded the Purple Heart. Later he became an author, sharing his Vietnam experience with others. His books include the memoirs Just a Walk in the Park Grunts Call Vietnam and war poetry titled My Thousand Yard Stare.
Books by Gary Jacobson that are in the collection of NAM (own photo)
The two copies of these works signed by Gary with a handwritten dedication to our group will be a great reminder of their author, with whom we stayed in touch for nearly eleven years.
We also recommend to take Gary’s Vietnam Picture Tour, available on his website (under the web address https://pzzzz.tripod.com/namtour.html), which contains some genuine photography from the Vietnam War and excerpts from poetry by Gary.
Gary Jacobson prior to a combat patrol in Vietnam. Source: https://pzzzz.tripod.com/namtour.html
Gary, our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and friends.Rest In Peace.
On this day, half century ago, in the early morning hours of May 1, 1970, Task Force Shoemaker, which included also 1st Cavalry Division, thundered across the border into Cambodia attacking the NVA and Viet Cong bases. The U. S. forces joined the ARVN units which started to operate in the area on April 29, thus initating the Cambodian incursion. The American move came after a televised address to the nation delivered on April 30 by President Richard Nixon who authorized the action in order to forestall possible North Vietnamese attacks from sanctuaries in the area. The campaign was a great tactical success as the allied forces captured large amount of enemy supplies and destroyed extensive communist logistical installations. On the other hand, the Viet Cong was able to secure their headquarters, known by the Americans as COSVN (Central Office for South Vietnam). The Cambodian incursion fueled anti-war protests in the USA and also the civil war in Cambodia.
In the August of last year, during a local reenactment event called Operation Poniec, we brought closer some military aspects of the invasion and made impressions of the C 2/5 Cav Tall Comanche troops who participated in this operation. We recommend to see our photo albums showing pictures taken during the meeting in Poniec, Poland.
U. S. troops during the Cambodian Incursion in 1970 (reenactment)
After the two-year break, we go back to the Long Night of Museums. We are going to show a piece of our Vietnam era equipment. Additionally, some gear from the later period, representing the associated U.S. Armed Forces 1976-1991 project, will also be put on display.
The event will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 5 PM till midnight at the Armament Museum (Muzeum Uzbrojenia) in Poznań. The museum is located in the Cytadela Park.
Let’s meet during the Long Night of Museums!
Our team during the 2017 event
Matt (on the right), our new squadmate(Image by Magdalena Górecka / Projekt RETROspekcja)
Matt acts in the field of historical re-enactment, while practising also Airsoft. He is particularly interested in recreating US soldiers from the Vietnam War and from the post-war period up to the 2003 Iraq War.
We wish Matt all the best as a new squad mate of our team.
At a checkpoint(Image by Magdalena Górecka / Projekt RETROspekcja)
Jacek (in the center), our new squadmate (Image by Magdalena Górecka / Projekt RETROspekcja)
Our new squad mate has been active in the historical reenactment community for many years. He is a member of the CRONICA Reenactment group and a contributor of the RETROspekcja photographic project. His primary interests focus on the British forces during the Falklands War of 1982. Jacek has joined NAM, willing to develop his Vietnam War impressions.
We wish him all the best and a good start at our team.
On a patrol
This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Nam! Our team, then called as the NAM Team ASG, was established on April 20, 2007.
Celebrating a decade of continuous activity of Nam, we would like to thank all the former and current squadmates. We would also thank to all our friends, fans and supporters. Of course, we don’t stop, continuing to share our knowledge and experience, as well taking part in another events and showing improved impressions, but also to introduce new people into historical reenactment. This anniversary will also be the opportunity for us to publish some commemorative content.
So, just stay with us and follow our site and the Facebook page.
10 Years of Nam
This Saturday, we will be present in the Armament Museum (Muzeum Uzbrojenia) in Poznań, taking part in the Long Night of Museums.
We will show some newly collected Vietnam era equipment, improved impressions and introduce our new squadmates.
The event will be held on May 20, 2017 from 5 PM till midnight. The museum is located in the Cytadela Park in Poznań.
Long Night of Museums, 2017 (source: Muzeum Uzbrojenia, oddział WMN)