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Project Jenny KLIK - 1st Inf Di v Women in Vietnam RELATED-- To AFVN To Saigon To Vietnam Further Afield Index
From: Joe Ciokon
Dated: January 31, 2018
Subject: Tet
Pres,
I wondered where you were. I was stuck at the station with the night shift. Later, John Aubuchon and I went up to the Embassy to cover the attack there. Got chewed out by Dirty Dan and Nick Palladino for leaving the station. But, we got the audio tapes. Film at 11.
JoeC
50th Anniversary of TET 68
Links to two Stars and Stripes Specials and two other articles on TET,
and a Group Discussion
January 2018
AFVN Group Conversations
From: Dick Ellis
Dated: January 31, 2018
Subject: Tet
Not much being said about Tet on our network!
50-years ago today we were getting shot at on the roof of the Key Son Hotel and tomorrow General Loan shot the VC about 2 blocks from our hotel. We also helped off-load some wounded from choppers at the Field Hospital next door. JoeC was down at the Embassy yesterday shooting film. We were waiting for the big bus with the wire windows to come get us so we could eat C-rats and sleep on the floor of the TV studio. But we kept the place on the air 24-7!!!!
Dickie
From: Preston Cluff
Dated: January 31, 2018
Subject: Tet
I had a BIG problem that day. I was not in the room Dick and I shared at the Kyson but in the apartment I was illegally renting with the young lady who would eventually become my first wife.
I woke up to what I thought were firecrackers, but she told me to turn on AFVN, where I was supposed to be at work in an hour or so. Those of you who were there may remember; after each song an announcement would be made telling all personnel to remain at their place of work or hotel. Well, I wasn't at either and knew what the concern probably would be if I wasn't found at one or the other.
I had a small Honda (90cc) at the time, but did not dare ride it that morning. Dumbass me; I did go right out on the street looking for a local taxi. Of course I did not find one but, as luck would have it, an ARVN major and his driver pulled up. I told him, "Number 9 Hung Thap Tu, AFVN." He told me to get in. We drove past the MACV motor pool where I saw bodies (dead, I presumed) on both sides of the road, but not a single shot did I hear as he got me to my destination. He would accept no money.
Dick and some others were lucky, I guess, because I never did get out on one of those buses for over a week. There was no other sportscaster on site at the time. I washed my feet in one of the bathroom sinks, but am sure the rest of me smelled pretty damn bad! Don't remember where our shaving gear came from. Anybody?????
I do remember who we all took our TRUE guidance from; Dirty Dan! What a great guy. I lied to him over a week later just to get out on the street again. But...that's another story for another day.
Preston