May 9, 2016 - READY TO GO

Last year, Larry and I rode for his brother.  This year we would like to ride for 2 people, both served in Vietnam:  Glendon Sergent, Larry's brother-in-law, and Mike Albrinck, my Uncle. Neither were physically in Vietnam but both server our country.

Glendon Sergent.  He served during the Vietnam War 1963-1967 in Newport RI at Melville Naval Base.  He was a cook and worked around the shipping docks.  He would help with “feed water” to the ships.  This gave them fresh water.  Once the shipped got beyond the 12 mile mark, they could make their own fresh water.  He also worked on the tug boat to help take the carriers to the peers. Moving ships in and around in port as needed.  The tugs would push them to the peers to be tied up.  As a sailor they had to tie a "neckerchief" they wore. He told us if it was not done right, they would about yank your head off and make you tie it again. Had to be perfect.  I would expect nothing else from the military.  

He actually still had his and we will be carrying it with use to the Wall. “Glen” I got it tied (uTube LOL).

Mike Albrinck   I was 9 years old when he went into the service.  I remember as a kid being in the living room seeing him in his uniform before he left.  He was larger than life. I never gave that much thought until I talked to him today.   I called him last night and he had some time to puts some notes together before I talked to him. He was a medic that served in Japan.
Picture before he left

 VERY interesting…

US Army Medical During the Vietnam War

There is very little information given out about the wounded during any war, and this was true for the Vietnam War.  This could provide motivation for the enemy.  However, the US Army and the US Air Force had a very extensive and coordinated operation with the casualties during the war.  The US Navy and US Marine Corp had similar operation.

1-      The Army Corpsman was the first the come in contact with the wounded.  He evaluated who was KIA, and he then “triaged” the wounded to be evacuated by helicopter.  The most severely would be evacuated first.

2-      Wounded were then taken to a field hospital where they were further “triaged” for surgery, if needed.

3-      1967, 1968, and 1969 was the most intensive actions of the war as General Westmorland put into action “Search and Destroy”.  There were many company size units deployed all over of Vietnam.  The contact was often and it created a lot of casualties.  North Vietnam and Viet Cong attacked when they had the advantage.

4-      There were between 150 and 200 KIA each week during these years, which is about 8,000 per year.  I think this may be a conservative number

5-      For every KIA there were about 3 casualties that had to be evacuated from the field.

6-      So this meant there was about 400 – 600 casualties weekly.  This created a problem because of the treatment that was needed and the medical personnel needed to attend to their injuries. There was another problem, there was another 400 to 600 casualties coming the next week.  

7-      So there was about 1500 wounded per month. 

8-      About 97% of all the casualties that were able to get evacuated by helicopter from the field survived.

9-      To solve the problem the casualties were transported as soon as possible from Vietnam to one of the five hospitals in Japan that surrounded Tokyo.  The Marines had a hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, which was south of Tokyo.

10-   US Air Force flew the casualties from Vietnam on KC-141.  Especially set up for medical evacuation.

11-   Patients were “triaged” again.  They were assigned to one of the hospitals. 

12-   The time an individual was injured in Vietnam and landed in Japan could be between 48-72 hours.   

13-   I was stationed at the 106^th US Army General Hospital, which was the largest and we received the most severely wounded, and the 106th was the “Burn Center” where all burn casualties from all branches of the military were assigned.

14-   We had a 1000 bed capacity.  After the Tet Offensive in 1968, the 106^th and the other hospitals were over capacity.

15-   One of the most amazing part of the operation is the record keeping that had to follow the patient.  Also, when that patient went on the helicopter to one of the hospitals, there was a bed waiting for him in the proper ward that specialized in his wound.   They were transported off the helicopter the bed assigned to him.  No waiting !     

16-   When you think that there over 200 patients going in out of the 106^th each day, there was a lot of work keeping the records up to date.  No computers.  All paper and typing.

17-   During the Tet Offensive there was as many as 400 being transferred a day, some coming in and some going out.

18-   The patients were able to stay a maximum 60 days (maybe 90).  After 60 days they had to be returned to Vietnam or sent to an Army hospital in the USA.

19-   There was always a lot of pressure on doctors who had to make the decision of how long to keep a patient before sending him back to Vietnam.   It was difficult to send a soldier back to the same unit where he became a casualty.  We had one person who made it to the 106^th three times.

20-   When a soldier returned to Vietnam, the soldier was considered fixed and ready for combat. 

21-   The patients that were going back to the USA were kept long enough to make sure they could make to long flight medically.   No one wanted to be responsible for someone not making back to the USA.  Some were kept long enough to adjust psychologically to the event that had changed their life.

These few pictures and this short note are dedicated the many who have given so much in that far way place, and all US Army, US Air Force, Navy and Marine, medical and non-medical  who helped to help all service personnel in all branches after the event that changed their lives forever.

SP/4 Michael H Albrinck -  106^th US Army Hospital,   February 1967-April 1968

 Guys coming off a helicopter

 Could fit 6 per helicopter, 3 per side

They also came in by bus.   Hopefully you can see this picture. ( Double click on it to get a larger image).  The guy in the foreground checks the paper work of every soldier. The person to the right, is the doctor.  He would check the status of wounded.  The 2 guys standing would be ready to move them to the assigned buildings.

Uncle Mike , thanks for the great pics and summary.  He went back to Japan many years after the war.  The buildings you see  are all down now and there is a beautiful park there.  

Not all of those that served were in the front line or even in the country where the war/conflict happened.  This does not minimize the fact that they have given time from their life and families to serve to keep us safe.  This is same for those that are not actually on the Run with us.  You keep us in your prayer and thought.  We have family members keeping thing going for the 3 weeks we are gone.  Thanks to those.

Give some thought to this:  Any time you see a service man or woman, please take a few minutes to go over to them and thank them for their service.  It only takes a few seconds.  Let them know you appreciate what they are doing.