Proud Family

PitbullMidwest · Mar 1, 2002

With the release of the new VietNam war movie "We Were Soldiers" the Des Moines Register did a companion piece on those Iowans involved in the battle of Ia Drang. My family received a great honor in being allowed to tell the story of my Uncle, SP4 Dean Jackson.

The article is inaccurate in that it says he was exiting the helicoptor when he was killed. In fact he had already mounted the helicoptor when his squad leader was shot. He left the helicoptor to rescue him, returned him to the helicoptor but was shot by a sniper before he could get back in.

My mother has told me more about her brother over the past week than she ever has before. The last movie I saw in a theater was Dances With Wolves but I will probably see this one.

I'd like to thank all the Vets and their families on TBN for the sacrifices they've made for this great nation. If you are interested in reading the complete article it can be found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/17477321.html> here </A>

Curt Neff

Thomas · Mar 1, 2002

Indeed..more honor should be given for those have fallen,so we may continue on.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 2, 2002

<font color=blue>..."He left in August and was killed in November," Neff said...</font color=blue>

Curt,

Unfortunately, that story repeated itself thousands of times over with bold & brave naive young solders...

Give your Mother an everlasting hug from me and tell her I'm proud of her brother too...

jasonf · Mar 2, 2002

Please let you mother know that there are many many people in this country that remember and honor the sacrifice of people like her brother, your uncle. Men whose bravery and selflessness exemplify the best in humanity. Please let her know these people are not forgotten......

dmccarty · Mar 4, 2002

PitBull,

Have your read the book upon which the movie is based?

If not I would urge you to do so. Its an awesome book about one heck of a battle.
The NVA wanted the battle, as did the US, to see how each others forces as well
as tactics where going to work against the other guy. The US inflicted some
awesome casualities on the NVA regiments in the area and put a stop to them.

The horrible part of the battle was when one of the follow on battalians went for
a stroll after the first contact/battle and walked right into a classic L shaped
ambush. The all but where wiped out. Both battles but especially the second
fight had hand to hand combat.

When I hear the morons on TV talking about heavy fighting going on in Afganistan
it really ticks me off. One or to WIA or KIA is not heavy fighting. When you have
units taking 30,40,50 percent KIA/WIA or all but being wiped out THAT is heavy
fighting. When Union regiments during the battle of Antitiem walked into a corn
field and no body walked out of said farm land, THAT is heavy fighting. When same
corn field had man high plants at the start of the day and by evening it looked like
the field had been mowed, THAT is heavy fighting.

But I digress.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

NPR replayed an interview with the two writers of the book, Moore is on of the
authors/participants, Saturday night. The Colonel that let the first unit into the
battle is a retired General. He is a heck of a man.

Let your family know that some people will read of the battle(s)/war(s) and think
of the people who where involved. And those that did not make it home. Those
men and women are not forgotten. There may not be a parade everyday for them
but they are not forgotten....

Later...
Dan

genelp · Mar 4, 2002

My wife, youngest son and I saw the movie yesterday. When we were leaving the theater there was complete silence and very few dry eyes.

Gene

PitbullMidwest · Mar 5, 2002

Dan,
I stopped by Mom's after work last night and my sister had checked the book out from the library for her. She has started reading it, but is unsure whether she will continue, she lived through this once and doesn't want to do it again. Definately won't see the movie.

Just skimming it, it looks like the type of book I've always enjoyed. Very nice that the dedication lists all who died at Ia Drang and where they were from. I'll read it eventually when time permits though.

Like to thank everyone for the kind words.

Curt

dmccarty · Mar 5, 2002

Curt,

The book is VERY intense. Depending on where you Uncle was killed in the battle,
it could be real difficult reading the book. The story of the battalion that got ambushed
and all but wiped out is beyond intense. The surviving units called in napalm
strikes on their own positions to survive. That is intense, heavy, hard core. Words
really can't describe those events...

Reading about that Idrang operation is a real kick in the stomach. And I did
not have family members in the operation.

My grandfather was with the First Marines in the 1st Marine Division at
Chosen Resevoir in Korea. When I read the history of operation I'm always
wondering what Grandpa was doing? Where was he? How cold was he?
Was he with the company that was cut off from the rest of the division holding
high ground that had to be held at all cost. And was. Even though the temps
stayed below 0 all day and night. That company held out against
regiment size attacks for days. They were fighting with fist, rocks and knives
before the company was releaved.... But at least my grand pa made it home
somehow even though he had a limp for the rest of his life from a Chinese bullet...

That book is intense...

Later...
Dan McCarty