The first Triple Nickel Hoofbeats Newsletter was published 29 April 1966, in Cam Ranh Bay, as an informal newsletter within the Squadron.
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From Bryan, Texas: 24 Sept. 2005
Phil Roberts, 555th - 1967
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From Houston, Texas: 24 Sept. 2005
Tom Williams,555CES - 66-68
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3 Nov.
----- Original Message -----
My name is Laura McConnell Taylor. I am the 31 year old daughter of 555th Red Horse Edward H. "Butch" McConnell. My father served around 1969 in Viet Nam, he is currently seeking VA benifts due to Agent Orange exposure. My father has numerous health problems that his physicians belive stem from this exposure, this afternoon he was denied any disability due to these complications. I am searching for any information during his time of service, especially the missle attack in Cam Rahn Bay, 1969. Most of his military records have been lost, it has been reported that these records were burned when a plane that they were on crashed. I would greatly appreciate any information I can recieve on this matter or the name of someone who can help me with this. Thank you, Laura
Harold Crosby, (original 555) wrote to the Vietnam Magazine, to see if they would do a feature on our outfit.
With the REDHORSE 40th anniversary coming up, we think Harold has a great idea, and a request could be made, to other magazines, to run the feature story, also.
For Horsemen that served in Korea:
Heartfelt "THANKS", to an unknown Horseman
On our return flight from Ft. Bliss, Texas, first of May, we changed planes in Pensacola, FL.
That's not much to go on, but if anyone has an idea how we could find this Horseman, we'd like him to know, again, how much his "gift" is appreciated.
Ray Gould
Remember what your pay was "back then"?
I think some of the guys might find an interest.
Bob Lythgoe
4 Apr. - Asheville Citizen-Times
William Franklin "Billy" Case, 30, allegedly threatened to kill someone at the ESC office.
Ron Piercy, (555th CRB 1967), an employee of ESC, was also shot but not seriously wounded.
National World War II Memorial
The National W.W.II Memorial has been in the works for many years.
Various military groups are planning their reunions at that time, as the "perfect setting".
There will be "free of charge" tickets, and special seating, for special events and programs. Though family members are welcome and encouraged to attend, these tickets are strictly for veterans only.
Anyone planning to attend the WWII Memorial dedication should contact the military group of your choice, for further information.
27 Dec. - Re: Ray Cobb, 555th CRB.
My name is Michele. (My dad doesn’t have a computer yet so I am emailing for him).
My dad also said that he and another guy had a picture of a dragon on the bar and wrote "Dragons Inn."
Each tent had a sign posted on the outside of it; on my dad's tent sign, he drew a snoopy on the beach with a surf board leaning on a trash can. My dad thinks "surf side 6" was written on the sign, because it was in tent 6.
My dad is really looking forward to reuniting with anyone from sqdn. 555!
Michele S.
Triple Nickels, you can contact Ray Cobb at:
4 Aug. 2003, From the Sacramento Brewing Company:
"After years of requests by Red Horse units around the world, we just got approval and shipped 3 pallets (Red Horse Ale) to South Korea via Travis AFB."
Red Horse Ale, from the Sacramento Brewing Co., was named after the Air Force's Rapid Engineering Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineering Unit.
22 July 2003, Submitted by Stan Stanfill
FYI and possible note on the web site.
I recently had an agent orange health screen at the local VA hospital, at no cost, to accomplish two things:
The website for the "Agent Orange Review" is
http://www.va.gov/agentorange/
Each VA Medical Center, I believe, has an Agent Orange coordinator and if you call in to the main switchboard they should direct the call to that coordinator. The number for inquiry into enrolling into VA Healthcare is 1(877) 222-8387.
I just got to thinking about it and didn't know how many Red Horse knew, or realized, the presumption of Agent Orange exposure, and figured the guys who got out on return or soon after did not know anything about it.
Regards,
Death of John Reed - 19 April 2003
First thing is to thank you for helping me out with the 555 Red Horse connections and to the great people in the "Red horse" group.
Services will be held at Lowell-Tims Furneral Home, Altus, Ok. on Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:00 A.M.
My family wants to thank everyone who e-mailed us, sent letters and cards, wishing for his recovery....
God Bless you all, and most of all... keep the Red Horse web site going.
From Jerry Reed regarding his dad, John Reed - 25 March 2003
In my last e-mail, I told you that my father was not feeling too good. Well Friday the 21st we had to put him back in the hospital because he wasn't making any progress.
I'm asking a favor of you again... If you will please be a messanger service for this information to all the GOOD FOLKS of "555 RED HORSE."
John Reed
Thanks Again,
(John was CMSgt. with the Original Red Horse.)
"We Are Proud to be a part of the 555 RHS legacy." - 14 March 2003
It’s great to hear wonderful words of encouragement. I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of a team that totally strives on the word professionalism.
Speaking on the behalf of our Squadron, we would like to pass on our Thanks & Appreciation for your support.
Sincerely,
Msgt. Tim G. Novak
From Jerry Reed, 13 March 2003.
I'm writing this note to all the 555 Red Horse Sqdn., for my father CM/SGT John D. Reed. He's been a little under the weather, but is on his way back to full recovery. He's living in Altus, Ok.
Send John some messages.....help to cheer him up!
24 Jan. 2003
From Stan Klein, 18 Jan. 2003
The following information concerns two of our number who were killed in Viet Nam.
We hope to continue the tradition, on this website, for news and articles of interest to Horsemen.
----- Original Message -----
From: Donald McCrowell
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 4:28 AM
Subject: Hi
Greetings and salutations,
At exactly 1030 This AM I landed in Cam Ranh Bay on the very runway that I helped to build over 43 years ago.
I don't know what I thought I would feel but to say the least
Except for the runway and the parking apron nothing exists of the long arduous work that we were involved with.
I mean not a thing remains of the old AM2 runway nor any of the revetments.
I had looked up information on Cam Ranh Bay before I left and got some good stuff by looking on the 12 TFW site
and a few others but there isn't any evidence that any thing was ever on the side that we worked so hard on .
The only remains of anything at all is some stem walls and footings were the Airial Port was and that is now a taxi parking area.
However I can tell you ther is now a 4 lane road all the way to Na Trang with beautiful landscaping almost all the way.
There is a building boom occuring and high rise hotels going up every where. Large american hotel chains arae building
as well as land developers putting golf courses along with sundry homes and codiminiums.
During this visit Audelia and I have travel from LA to Bangkok, to Seam Reap and Penhom Penh Cambbodia and
then to Luang Brabang Loas and then to Hanoi. From there we have traveled to Hue a most beautiful city then to
Da Nang and Hoi An and from then to Can Ranh Bay and Na Trang.
Look forward to seeing some of you at the next re-union, until then stay good and may the good lord keep you tighly in his arms.
Phil Roberts here.
We are doing fine, Rita missed us except for a little wind.
Thank you for your concern.
First let me tell you how much I appreciate your concern. It means alot knowing people care.
We weathered the storm very well. About 2:00am the weather blew in and woke us up.
We are on the east side of where Rita made landfall and as you are well aware, that is the good side.
It made landfall at Cameron, LA. We lost power for a while but have it back now.
Our daughters are safe but without power and we visited them a while ago and invited them and their families to come to our house if they start getting crazy.
we are safe and trying to get everything put back in place, lawn furniture, potted plants, etc. You guys know the drill.
Again, thank you so very much for your concern. All is well here at Casa Williams. We dodged a major bullet.
9 May
Agent Orange
Over 2 million American servicemembers served in Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
Agent Orange was the most common herbicide used in Southeast Asia by the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War from 1962-1971.
Its use was controversial at the time, and anti-war protestors heavily criticized the military for defoliating large swaths of Vietnam with Agent Orange.
However, the military commanders who ordered its use, even today, claim that it saved many more American lives than it cost.
Agent Orange was contaminated by the carcinogen dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin [TCDD]), although that fact was unknown to the military at the time of its initial use.
Scientific studies have linked human exposure to dioxin and certain diseases, particularly cancers.
Congress, in the Agent Orange Act of 1991, therefore presumed that all Vietnam veterans were exposed to dioxin for the purposes of filing for VA disability compensation.
For help with claims, contact:
American Legion Department Service Officer 
For those not receiving it, the "Afterburner", news for USAF retired personnel, can now be read on-line, at
http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/afretire/
From: Nkt1013@aol.com
To: Webmaster@redhorse555.com
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004 10:15 PM
Subject: Information
They professed, they had not heard of it, but asked him to do a story and they would run it.
( Harold says, "I am no writer.")
The idea will be brought up and discussed at the upcoming 555th reunion in Las Vegas, but we need all of you to send in ideas, and a volunteer, GOOD with words, to write the story.
A lot has been written about Red Horse, but this could be some personal perspectives.
Email to: Webmaster@RedHorse555.com
Korea Veterans of America, have a web site
created to help introduce and promote a new Korea Veterans Organization that includes all veterans who have served in, or who are currently serving, in Korea or it's surrounding waters since WW2.
CHECK IT OUT:
http://www.koreaveterans.org/
A young man noticed the Red Horse pin on my hat, came over to us and said he was 823rd, stationed at Hurlburt, and was returning to base from his home in Texas.
We had to board our plane and had a very brief talk, but when he learned I was one of the original Red Horsemen, he insisted he give me one of his RH 823rd challange coins.
The young Horseman left, without our getting his name.
AF-Retired@att.net
For that matter, you may want to publish the link for people who would like to see change in action.
Military Pay Prior Rates
Peoria, AZ
He argued with ESC office manager Letcher Beatty. The argument ended with Beatty, 51, shot in the head and killed.
With it's completion now a reality, dedication ceremonies and celebrations are set for May 27th - 30th in Arlington, VA.
My dad was in the original sqdn. 555 red horse in 1965-1966.
He was a heavy equipment operator. Operated bulldozers, and scrapers.
His name is Ray Cobb. Also known as "surfer Joe" be
cause he was a surfer from California.
Dad was in the tent where him and the other guys built a bar inside of their tent and they were very well known because everyone would go to their tent and party!
Thank you in advance for your time and information!
Warmest regards,
Ray Cobb
PO Box 1623,
Borrego Springs, C.A. 92004.
Home: 760-767-4057 Cell: 760-550-8664
I have been receiving a publication for a couple of years now relative to Agent Orange exposure in RVN. Currently there are 11 diseases, mostly cancers, that are presumed to be caused by agent orange exposure in RVN. All Viet Nam veterans in-country anywhere, between, I believe 1965 and the pullout in 1973 are presumed to have been exposed to agent orange. Also VA has told me Parkinson's Disease should soon be added to the list.
1. to find out if, so far, I had anything connected w/AO, and:
2. to establish a baseline record w/VA.
I am currently service connected w/10% so it was not too much of a hassle to get all the stuff together for the physical, folks who got out, rather than retired may not know about it and need to establish a baseline w/VA.
Stan
I have bad news that must be given to all the folks, out in Red Horse land..
My father passed away last Thursday at 2:55 A.M. with cancer...
He was fighting down to his last breathe, but his body and heart just couldn't take the beating, so he's gone to meet the General of all Red Horse men...
Burial will be in the Altus, Ok. cemetery on Falcon Road and will be a military furneral.
He read each and every one of them and it was a great feeling to see the light in his eyes and the smile on his face...... Thanks..
If you would post his death on the deceased list and this note on your "newsletter", our family would be in your thanks.
Once again, thank you for everything you have done for us.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Jerry Reed
They ran some tests and found that his gallbladder is gone and had to be taken out. We were told that he might not make it because of his heart being at only 40%, it was not going to be a simple surgery for him, but when the surgeon came out he told us, he had good news and bad news!
First the good was that the gallbladder came out without any problems and his heart was doing fine and now for the bad....
He has PANCREATIC CANCER and had spread to most of his lower body.
Then he went on say that dad wouldn't see next Christmas, it was like taking a shot in the heart.
I hate to do this to you but I don't have access to all these people and the news letter....
I'm giving you the information for mailing cards and saying hello and get well wishes....
2308 Cherokee Strip
Altus, Ok 73521
Jerry
Perhaps the history and background of the Triple Nickel and what it stood for back then and what it represents today is a flaming torch that will never give up the light to lead.
With our lead Horses on track and focused on tomorrows challenges the team will flow in perfected harmony. Looking at the mission and understanding what it takes to get the mission done has never been put to the road side. All members are pressed to function by their own self will, with the common goal to achieve new boundaries.
Finding team satisfaction and cohesion is not a question here. We are and we will always represent the title of the 555 RHS to the fullest extent.
First Sergeant, 555th RHS
If you'd like to get a message to him, e-mail me at jreed65@chipshot.net, and I'll pass it on. Thanks, Jerry
Click here for:
Recount of the 35th Red Horse Reunion, by Bob Snider
"Red" Grant was an Exterior Electrician and Al Holden was a Cook.
To my knowledge Grant and Holden were the very first Horsemen to die in-country.
Both were part of our "Advance Party" and were killed in-country.
My recollection is that they were on a return convoy from Nha Trang with a load of
pipe. Both were riding in the back of the truck, with the pipe, when the truck rolled and they were crushed.
