"Welcome, this website is in tribute to the men of the 1st Division , 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry "Rangers", Charlie Company aka "The Mudsoldiers"---Republic of Vietnam-- 1965-1970 up to present day and their families.
This site is an insight to the Vietnam War. To those who served our country proudly and the effects of the Vietnam War on Combat Veterans who many suffer from PTSD and Agent Orange Sprayings as well as the effects on their families.
The Good times, The Bad times, and the Ugly times. The Blessed brotherhood that was created."
Tribute this 4th of July to C 216 past and present below--God Bless America and those who protect us--please click the 2nd button on the right for full screen if you'd like.
The happy moments....the sad....the feelings of brotherhood....the compelling true views of the Vietnam war and the actuality of war from these warriors.
They have experienced things they had never dreamed of, heard of, saw in movies or even read about. No one could ever prepare the men of the 1st Division, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry "Rangers", Charlie Company for what they would experience that has haunted and tortured many of these brave young hearts through the years since their tours in the Republic of Vietnam.
No one could make the cries of their wounded friends being murdered by Vietcong go away. No one could make the memories of seeing a fellow soldier being killed go away. No one could ever make the painful memories go away.
"Screams and cries for help, drown out any thoughts you may have. The horror of WAR is all around you".
"Blast of the Arty, grenades, and gunfire sometimes gives you the feeling of doom. Maybe this, today is your last day alive. All that awaits you is death. You feel as if all hope and dreams are gone".
"Getting to know someone, then having to carry their lifeless body torn and bloody to an awaiting chopper. Having just early this same morning shared a canteen cup full of coffee with them. You sit in the dust and remember the names of their Mom and Dad, girlfriend, etc. You have heard stories about their life before Nam. You have experienced time in the bush, base camp and on pass with them. In a few short months you have grown to know them well. Now they are on a chopper on their way home and to the grave. You were deprived of telling your friend “Good-bye”.
"TEARS NEVER, it’s always move out, but you never forget. The pain lives with you! Sometimes it even grows!"
"Hate, bitterness and rage shake your mind and body. Not always towards Victor Charlie but at the poor leadership showed, by some Officers and NCOs. Not just company officers but on up the Chain of Command. No way for Pay-Back on them, they are protected. They sit and eat lobster, steak and drank wine and talk about what a Good Day, losses were light. They have hot showers and beds, jeeps and choppers. While the grunt sleeps in the mud and bathes in the cold streams. The grunts only mode of transportation is his feet. The endless walk and hump through the bush".
One by one the men of Charlie Company C 2/16 are being located either by myself, by a brother or sister, by a son or daughter, or by themselves coming in for some spark of happiness in the always so lingering why?
Why am I so sick?
What is happening to me?
Rejection?
Why did I live?
It should of been me dead ?
Why I live with the Ghost of the Republic of Vietnam daily daily?
Charlie Company is part of the Army's greatest troops which are part of the "Big Red One", the 1st Division from Fort Riley, Kansas.
"NO MISSION TO DIFFICULT, NO SACRIFICE TO GREAT, READY NOW RANGER".
This motto is the creed that the men of Charlie Company lived and died by.
I am very honored and blessed to have been given the pleasure to meet, laugh, cry, and love these men.You are very important to my children and I. And you have always been loved by our Charlie who served side by side with many of. you
From L to R: Charlie Epperson and "Little" George Manning during Operation Abilene in April 1966. (Need help finding George Manning--has anyone seen him or know him?)
Xa Cam My today in the Republic of Vietnam. The Battle of Xa Cam My during Operation Abilene in April 1966, Easter weekend, is when Charlie Company participated and received many KIA's, Wounded, and memories. You will find more about this battle in the index listed under Operation Abilene
"THE WANNA BE"
There are those who never was,
There are those who never will be,
There are those who WANNA BE
Then there are those through initiative, perseverance
and hard work who achieve goals that they set for
themselves.
Have you ever noticed when you were in a "fire fight"
those who laid on their face or hid are the first ones to
take GLORY for the BATTLE?
Those soldiers who are true warriors, their metal
heated hard through the fires of many furnaces, that
we called "fire fights" in the Nam.
Who though are scared.... shaken with fear... mustered
the courage to do the job that is necessary to save the
lives of their brothers...to sacrifice their bodies... the
wounds.....even to death.
Sometimes to the point of even being called
"heroes"...even though they think not of themselves in
this manor.
These are the soldiers of hot fired metal that I speak of.
Why is it everywhere I go people who were not in the
Nam say they were or people who were there take
credit for achievements of others?
We have all met these WANNA BE'S at one time or
another in our life and we so detest them
I am so PROUD to be a member of CHARLIE
COMPANY...to have gone through so many fights with
these men that I speak of and consider MY FRIENDS.
Sitting here in awe and wonderments I think about all
the brave deeds that were never acknowledged...that I
witnessed from my fellow brothers in the Nam.
The PRIDE rises up within me just having known this
caliber of men...but this is always overcome by sadness
when I hear one of these NEVER BE's...WANNA
BE'S...taking credit of those who work so hard...fought
so hard...were wounded ....and died...and still battle
today for the HONOR of those who gave so much in
the years past and those now.
I am so PROUD of the MEN of CHARLIE
COMPANY.
And I am so proud of my wife Joyce for the 18 years
she stood beside me with a loving heart...and for the
LOVE and DEVOTION she has shown the men of
Charlie Company.
In this past 12 years she has searched endlessly for
those who survived the NAM in the years of 65-70.
She has seen the good, the bad and the ugly from her devotion to a calling to help others through her faith.
I would like to thank you all for the honors you
bestowed upon her at the reunions...the hugs...the thank
you...the tears...YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST!!
