K - TROOP  3/11 ACR

Staff Sgt. Popowich

Your tour of duty with the United States Army, Vietnam, is ended. May your trip home and reunion with family and friends be the pleasant, happy occasion you have anticipated. You go home with my best wishes.

               Good  luck in the future.

Creighton W. Abrams

General, United States Army

Ron in VietNam

LINKS:

RON'S ARMY

Updated: November 27, 2007

Draftees

Photos From Keith Millea

                                       Ron's letter to his Mother

Mom,

Remember about those two tracks of ours that hit the mines on the 27th?  Well, today our medic track hit a mine. The medic was killed. There was only one other guy on the track, he got some shrapnel. That's the third track in four days that we lost.

Well anyway, the track was burning and they got the medic out. My platoon had to furnish the fire extinguisher. Me and two other guys were standing on top putting the fire out and two behind it. We almost had it out when it blew. I was the only one that walked away in ok shape. One guy lost his eyes, the other had shrapnel and burns all over and the last one was in a bad case of shock. I got blown right off the top. I got my back burned from hot oil, couple little pieces of shrapnel, but I am ok.  The doc fixed me up. I am still having trouble hearing out of one ear.

By the way our platoon is suppose to have eight tracks, 40 men, plus one first lieutenant platoon leader and an E7 platoon Sargent. We now have six tracks, 19 men plus one E5 platoon leader and I am the second ranking E5 so I am acting as platoon Sargent until we get replacements. We sure are in bad shape.

Please Pray for us.

Ronny

Ron            Photo sent by Alvin Elkins