tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189108912011-10-12T00:27:56.189-05:00Stories of Healing, Tribute, and Reconciliation with the Vietnam War inspired by the documentary film featuring the cross-country journey of the war's icon, UH-1 "Huey 091."The Tigersnoreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-80968181278065329682007-03-05T21:06:00.000-06:002007-03-05T21:14:26.251-06:00

If you're new to the ITSOTB community, welcome! If you're an old-timer...always great to see you. Please join the discussion either in our new forum or here in the comments section of the blog. Please remember that our website is frequented by young people studying the Vietnam War, as well as by veterans, families, and civilians, and therefore all discourse should be respectful, clean, and

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-81502330868343955782007-02-21T08:49:00.000-06:002007-02-21T08:51:22.877-06:00

As part of the Army's reorganization of medevac helicopters into general aviation units, a recent ceremony marked the end of an era...sort of.When the colors of the 57th Medical Company, "The Originals," were rolled up and put away, the Vietnam veterans weren't the only ones with tears in their eyes. As those who served under the command of rambunctiously committed Army major who'd bucked orders

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1144028585196758592006-04-02T20:38:00.000-05:002007-02-07T10:26:25.523-06:00

If you felt America sigh today, it was because, sadly, she had to give up one of her best. With grief for the nation's loss, and celebration for the great life he lived, we honor hero and friend retired Chief Warrant Officer Mike Novosel, Sr., who passed from our world to the next April 2, 2006 at the age of 84. Mike Novosel, whose buddies engaged in elaborate schemes to "stretch" him enough to

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1143836445136027502006-03-31T14:11:00.000-06:002006-04-04T09:45:16.926-05:00

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum invites you to a public screening of the documentary film "An Ocean Away," Tuesday, April 11, 7:00 p.m. LBJ Auditorium, 2313 Red River Street. Free and open to the public. Program includes keynote address by Lieutenant General (U.S. Army Retired) Randolph House, and comments by Loretta Matocha Eiben and documentary director Patrick Fries. Master of

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1140022612308186972006-02-15T10:53:00.000-06:002006-02-15T10:56:52.430-06:00

Developing.....At the invitation of the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, "An Ocean Away" will screen at the library auditorium on Tuesday, April 11, just a week after the 38th anniversary of that day on Hill 166 when LT Donald Matocha lost his life and the Marines of his recon patrol found theirs forever changed. This event will be free and open to the public. More details to

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1139524551795985082006-02-09T16:26:00.000-06:002006-02-10T22:59:18.530-06:00

Tonight. 8 eastern 7 central. The Military Channel.

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1139412704332514922006-02-08T09:27:00.000-06:002006-02-08T09:31:44.343-06:00

An Ocean Away...Thursday...8 p.m ET...The Military Channel. San Antonio Express-News Review:" One of the most unique and moving postwar stories I've ever encountered airs on national TV Thursday. Watch it, tape it, TiVo it. Just don't miss it.Granted, "An Ocean Away" — premiering at 7 p.m. Thursday on the Military Channel (Time Warner Cable digital Channel 217) — first caught my attention

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1138661846795051822006-01-30T16:39:00.000-06:002006-01-30T16:57:26.806-06:00

In her interview yesterday on Veterans Radio, Donald Matocha's sister Linda Masur said something really important. "There are a lot of heroes in this story," she said, from the Team Dallas Girl Marines who've helped the Matocha family find resolution, to the JPAC teams who recovered their brother, to Nguyen Van Loc, who buried him on Hill 166. But she also pointed out that Ron Gatewood and his

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1138470910301423022006-01-28T11:49:00.000-06:002006-11-16T17:39:03.860-06:00

Log on and tune in Sunday January 29 at 6:00 ET to Veterans Radio to hear Dale Throneberry's interview with "An Ocean Away" director Patrick Fries and film principals Linda Matocha Masur and Marine Andre Boersma as they discuss the journey that brought USMC LT Donald Matocha home from Vietnam. (Photo: Andre Boersma, by Michael Hanneman for Arrowhead Films.)

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1137897666021092652006-01-21T20:39:00.000-06:002006-01-26T15:12:21.410-06:00

"An Ocean Away" brings the story of many heroes to national television February 9 at 8:00 ET on The Military Channel, thanks to:Film Principals:Sisters of Donald Matocha:LINDA MATOCHA MASURLORETTA MATOCHA EIBENCombat veterans of the United States Marine Corps:ANDRE BOERSMA, Team Dallas Girl Radio OperatorNICKIE SMITH, Team Dallas Girl Assistant Patrol LeaderLESLIE GOEBEL, Team Dallas Girl Rear

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1137786020690211582006-01-20T13:37:00.000-06:002006-12-09T16:42:13.960-06:00

And they are again! Recognize these ITSOTBers in the latest AO?

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1137373923070361832006-01-15T19:09:00.000-06:002006-01-15T19:12:03.080-06:00

....Sellers was 20 at the time of the mission and was among the list of injured. He watched as Matocha was shot and is one of several Marines interviewed in “An Ocean Away.” He was not able to join the sisters on their trip to Vietnam because of health problems he has had ever since the war.“I'm very glad for the family to see that they finally get closure,” Sellers said. “They had suffered quite

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1136770578625916912006-01-08T19:29:00.000-06:002006-01-11T18:04:37.130-06:00

A journey of healing to "An Ocean Away...." Premiere air date: Thursday, Feb 9, 8:00 p.m. ET, The Military Channel. Click to watch the trailer. (Photos courtesy Mickey Batsell, Sarah Beal, John Larsen.)

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1136478463301054352006-01-05T10:24:00.000-06:002006-01-05T10:27:43.310-06:00

Hooked 'em!

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1136226699629280622006-01-02T12:26:00.000-06:002006-01-04T16:25:42.573-06:00

would happen? So, we're watching the news over the holidays and we see that the Secretary of Defense is visiting Mosul, and we say to each other--I bet Larry Castagneto is there--and, whadyaknow....(that's Larry on the right).

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1135262368151013032005-12-22T08:30:00.000-06:002005-12-22T08:39:28.163-06:00

"Christmas carols played in the mess hall, but it didn't feel like Christmas Eve...." Here's a great Christmas-in-Vietnam story by Huey pilot Jim "Polecat" Shueckler, a fine man and founder of The Virtual Wall. The Donut Dollies in this photo are wearing "special holiday uniforms" instead of their usual powder blue as they joined Jim and his crew on a journey to deliver a touch of the holiday to

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1135014399638934722005-12-19T11:34:00.000-06:002005-12-19T11:46:39.653-06:00

We're gonna take some time "off" for a few days to enjoy Christmas but we'll come back soon with a little retrospective and a lot of looking ahead. In the meantime, here's a scene from this year's work...a shot by our cinematographer Michael Hanneman of the Emporer's Lookout near Hue, Vietnam. In our upcoming documentary An Ocean Away, Nguyen Van Loc, the "American War" veteran who helped bring

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1135003754033810662005-12-19T08:46:00.000-06:002005-12-19T08:49:14.043-06:00

Talked to ITSOTBer Perry Tillman (LZ Rio Ranch0, "this is a healing experience...it really is") and his wife Diane over the weekend. They were on the way to a place they've rented about 30 miles from New Orleans, so they will be based, at least, close to their primary AO. Perry and Diane lost their home and everything in it to Katrina. As Diane said, "everything is wet and gone." But they did

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134656627609531982005-12-15T08:09:00.000-06:002006-04-28T01:36:03.766-05:00

doing in Vietnam?So, let's make sure we understand...young women just out of college dressed in powder blue skirts got on helicopters (jeeps) and went out to the firebases to play Bingo with the soldiers?Wow. So what was that like? How did it affect them? Why did they do it?We're in post-production for a documentary on the Vietnam Red Cross Girls, aka "Donut Dollies," and I'm looking for a few

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134567436233867032005-12-14T07:14:00.000-06:002006-01-31T22:51:34.006-06:00

This is "Brasso," aka Joey Welsh. All you Huey pilots and crewmen out there might think you really love the UH-1, but from what I hear, you ain't got nothing on guys like this. Rangers, LRRPs, SF dudes...to say the Huey got a few of them out of a jam is a major understatement. (Once we overheard a Ranger tell a Dustoff pilot that he'd not only buy him a beer; he'd buy him a house.)Here's Brasso

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134518614982636862005-12-13T17:56:00.000-06:002005-12-13T18:03:34.983-06:00

Cliff Hyatt, John Deer, and John Adams took us by surprise big time at the New Braunfels screening when they inducted us as "Honorary Robinhoods." Those of you who know the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company's history in Vietnam understand what a great honor this is. It sort of feels like a little kid clomping around in her dad's shoes--shoes she can wear, but never fill.By the way, they even gave

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134484359989768512005-12-13T08:21:00.000-06:002005-12-13T08:32:40.006-06:00

Last month's screening at the Brauntex Theater in New Braunfels was so great: an opportunity to meet new friends and to get the crew and several "old" Texas buddies together. Here are a few photos, and there will be more coming. We met some really cool people there and heard more awesome stories. Also, Patrick and I received a huge honor. I'll tell you about that later. In the meantime, meet our

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134395737284730752005-12-12T07:25:00.000-06:002005-12-13T06:47:28.293-06:00

In September, 2000, ITSOTB took its first flight, on a restored UH-1 called "The Five-O-Deuce" in Punta Gorda, Florida. The Deuce had been restored and was flown by Bob Carr, a Vietnam veteran of the 101st "Comancheros." As we flew over the Florida swamps and down along the river line, the vision of a mission unfolded. We would take 502 and her Vietnam vets on a journey across America, to fly

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134339296344173742005-12-11T16:10:00.000-06:002005-12-11T16:15:14.263-06:00

Tune in at 6 p.m CST, 7 EST tonight to Veterans Radio Network to hear Dale Throneberry interview yours truly.

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134323550892258242005-12-11T11:43:00.000-06:002005-12-13T13:37:32.936-06:00

Say hey to ITSOTB LZ Coordinator and interviewee Larry Castagneto, now down range on the Tigris River. Here are some photos he sent of himself on the Tigris River, and doing his part to maintain the morale of the USO. Larry--you boys take good care.(Send Larry and his troopers holiday greetings at ljc75@hotmail.com.)

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1134323026090687872005-12-11T11:38:00.000-06:002005-12-31T16:22:51.280-06:00

Apologies for the lack of posts lately. In the last couple of weeks, this family has hosted two parties, endured chicken pox and an ice storm, attempted to prepare for the holidays, and put the final touches on "An Ocean Away." Today is catch up day on the posts, so there's a lot coming.

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1132793770689711582005-11-23T18:53:00.000-06:002005-11-23T18:56:10.700-06:00

May the Great Mystery make sunrise in your heart.(Photo by Sarah Beal. Landing Zone Austin, November 2002.)

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1132684366689697422005-11-22T12:24:00.000-06:002005-12-11T16:07:38.423-06:00

A message from Vietnam veteran John Adams:About this time last year, I first experienced ITSOTB. Truthfully, I really did not see much of it then. Thirty-seven years worth of 'kept tears' poured out from my soul. I was too preoccupied with trying to catch my breath, dry my eyes, and wipe the snot off of my chin. My good friends at the VHCMA in San Antonio this summer gave me pins, wings and such.

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1132584591895991072005-11-21T08:40:00.000-06:002005-11-21T08:49:51.906-06:00

Our new blog (short for "weblog") will take over for the guestbook, which was, sadly, kidnapped by creepy spammers. It's a big loss, because the ITSOB guestbook has been a place where wonderful stories were told and the seeds of miracles were planted. But from now on we will use this space for the same, including posting archival guestbook comments from time to time. It will also be our news

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1132514198820595782005-11-20T13:07:00.000-06:002005-11-29T08:13:58.140-06:00

Today's hero is Cliff Hyatt, aka Robinhood 21, who put together an incredible event for Vietnam veterans and their families yesterday in New Braunfels. It's like ITSOTB Mission Logistics Coordinator Bob Baird said this morning, "that's the template for taking this film to the screen." A huge salute and thanks to Cliff and all those who helped support the screening of ITSOTB at the beautiful

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1132282196715858602005-11-17T20:42:00.000-06:002005-12-12T20:49:21.450-06:00

A big thanks in advance to Robinhood 21, aka Cliff Hyatt, who is coordinating a screening this Saturday at the historic Brauntex Theater in New Braunfels, gateway to the Texas Hill Country. VFW Post 7100 is sponsoring the event, including complimentary receptions after the 1:00 and 6:00 showings at their Post on the beautiful Guadalupe River. Looking forward to seeing lots of friends old and new,

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18910891.post-1131843303367084842005-11-12T18:47:00.000-06:002005-11-21T12:29:29.573-06:00

Even as we mark three years since ITSOTB's final Landing Zone, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico, In The Shadow of The Blade lives on. So does the Memorial, transferred yesterday into the permanent care of the state of New Mexico. Board member Lanny Tonning reports: "Well, today we transferred the Memorial to the State of NM and it was a great ceremony - And Doc can rest

The Tigersnoreply@blogger.com2