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35th Tactical Fighter Squadron Members

The purpose of this page is to assist in finding old friends and squadron mates.  The following people are former members of the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron or the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, or the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Osan Air Base, Korea, who were sent TDY to Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam, and/or Korat Royal Air Base, Thailand in 1972, and whose address and contact information are known to Rick Keyt:

If you are a former member of the 35th TFS, 36th TFS or the 80th TFS and want to add your name to the list, or if you want to contact somebody on the list, send an email message to Rick Keyt at rickkeyt@keytlaw.com with your name and contact information.  I'll add you to the list if you are a former member.  If you are trying to reach somebody on the list, I will forward your email to the person you seek and that person can decide whether to respond to your inquiry.

35th TFS Mini-Reunion at the 2008 River Rats Convention

Joe Lee Burns, Jeff Pritchard and others are asking 35th TFS SEA guys to come to the next River Rats convention in Colorado Springs the spring of 2008.  Stay tuned for more information.

Kunsan SEA 1972 TDYers MIA

If you know how to reach any of our guys that are MIA (missing in America) or if you know of names that should be added to the list below, drop me a line at rickkeyt@keytlaw.com.

Ed Askins

Dan Autrey

Joe Boyles

Jack Caputo

Timothy J. "CC" Claiborne

Charlie Cox

Larry Culler

Jay Gaspar

Lloyd Golden

Ray "Howie" Howington

John Huwe

Chuck Jablinski

Bill Kyle

Phil Lehman

Bill Mikkelson

Jeff Musfeldt

Jim Pinckley

Sol Ratner

Carl Scheidegg

Dan Silvas

Russ Stone

Jack Storck

Biff Strom

Jim Sumner

Larry Taylor

Ray Vogel

Don Vogt

Mickey Wilbur

Phil Winkler

Deceased Comrades in Arms

Thomas Amos - KIA 1972

Gene "Popeye" Doyle

Ernie Leuders per Jim Killoran

Thomas "Rooster" Griffin, Lt. Col., USAF, retired

Author & Historian Doyle Glass is Writing a Book About the Men of the 35th TFS Who Went TDY to SEA in 1972

Doyle Glass is a historian, sculptor author and attorney.  He spent four years researching and writing his first book, Lions of Medina, which was published in May 2007.  The Lions of Medina book jacket says:

Late afternoon, Thursday, 12 October 1967 Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Cahill stepped into a trail deep in the Hai Lang National Forest, Republic of South Vietnam.  The enemy was watching. . . . In Cahill's footsteps followed the men of Charlie Company, First Battalion, First Marine Division.  True patriots.  True heroes.  True Marines.  All held an appointment with destiny at the end of that trail.  In his book Lions of Medina, historian Doyle Glass tells, through the eyes of the men who fought on Operation Medina, an account of Marine courage at its best.  Courage in the face of overwhelming odds.  Courage that defined the generation of men who fought in Vietnam.  Lions of Medina is a tribute to those who fought the Vietnam War, a reminder that freedom is never free, and a testament to the valor of the American soul."

He sculpted the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial and the Texas Medal of Honor Memorial.  His work can be seen at:

www.warheromemorials.com

www.lionsofmedina.com

Mr. Glass decided to write his next book about the men assigned to the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron during 1972 when the squadron was TDY to Da Nang AB, South Vietnam, and Korat AB, Thailand.  He has conducted initial interviews with Gary Retterbush, Lyle Beckers and Joe Lee Burns. 

In researching Lions of Medina, Doyle interviewed over forty people, both Marines and their family members. Doyle would like to interview as many men as possible who flew with the 35th TFS in Southeast Asia in 1972.  If you are one of those men and your name is not on the above list or if you know one of those men whose name is not on the above list, please send contact information to Rick Keyt at rickkeyt@keytlaw.com. 

35th TFS, 36th TFS & 80th TFS Authors Wanted

If you were in the 35th TFS, the 36th TFS or the 80th TFS in SEA, you have some stories to tell.  Write or dictate an incident, war story, interesting event or something you remember about flying the Phantom in SEA or Korea and send it to Rick Keyt at rickkeyt@keytlaw.com.  I'll edit your story or write it from your dictation and when you are satisfied with the story, I'll publish it in the F-4 area of my website. 

See Joe Lee Burns' story called "A Ridge too Far," about the July 20, 1972, mission into Route Pack VI when he and Mike Nelson got shot down, ejected from their stricken F-4 Phantom into the Gulf of Tonkin and rescued by a Navy helicopter.

35th TFS, 36th TFS & 80th TFS  Pictures Wanted

If you have pictures of SEA, Korea or flying the F-4 that you are willing to share with the world, send them to Rick Keyt at rickkeyt@keytlaw.com.  I'll put them up for viewing in the F-4 area.

This page was last modified on April 09, 2008.

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