GuestBook

Ref. :GIL BERNABE: Gil forwarded this to me yesterday. Please continue to keep him and all those battling Covid in your prayers. "Note for our 17th Artillery Regiment Association Members, June and I really appreciate all the “Get Well “cards that our immediate family, friends, and our 17th Artillery Regiment family members have sent our way. June continues to be very busy keeping our children and immediate family informed on our status and many medical activities. Plus, June does 99% of the work around the house. Little by little Gil is getting in the way, trying to help out. Let me bring you up to date on what Gil Bernabe has been doing since he left the Texoma Medical Center on February 24: Gil was transported to the Carrus Specialty & Rehabilitation Hospital for his sessions of physical therapy and occupational therapy – before he could go home. As was mentioned in an earlier 17th Artillery Guest Book entry – at the Rehab center, the main goal was to put Gil through 3 hours of physical therapy and occupational therapy every day. “At first, I thought that would be pretty easy; but after having been knocked on my fanny by COVID-19, I did not have any strength, endurance, stamina and balance. To say the least – I was very weak and the daily routine was very challenging. I was surprised that the exercises made me very tired but also sore. I had not been that sore since early season track practices in high school. The good news was that I worked through the soreness and got a bit stronger each day. Of course, when I was not doing PT or OT, I was reading, watching the television or napping a lot.” It has been 5 weeks since Gil was released from rehabilitation and Gil’s routine movements still continue to be in the recovery mode: “slow and unsteady.” But Gil is getting stronger every day, exercises a bit more and is still sore the next day. But once he gets walking – Gil forgets about the soreness. Our overall home schedule seems to be busier than ever with doctor’s appointment and having the Home Health specialists visit us during the past five weeks week. The physical therapist and the occupational therapist each would visit twice a week and a nurse visits once a week. Each only stayed for one hour; but when they departed – Gil is very tired and ready for a nap. “I sure will be glad when I get in shape.” “I do some basic walking every day just around the house; and occasionally I have ventured outside and walked on the sidewalk for five to ten minutes. I have to take it slow & easy – even when I walk around the house. Walking also includes trying to do my breathing correctly. Exercises and talking causes me to start coughing. On occasion, we have ventured out to some stores and on those trips, I take my brand-new walker." “The one theme that dominates every day’s review is that I am very tired. I have never been this tired before. My doctors tell me that this post-COVID condition and tiredness will probably last about two more months. That is not what I wanted to hear. My home health specialists tell me to take it easy when I do my exercises or else’ I risk having a relapse and getting weaker. Again – that is not what I wanted to hear. I figured that if I did more exercises and did that with more gusto, I would get back to my normal physical condition in a faster time frame. But the experts tell me that is not the case. Much of this post-COVID time frame and recovery is ‘dealing with the unknown.’ And we are learning more about this recovery period each day and with each recovering patient. And the frustrating fact is that each patient recovers at a different pace and with different situations.” Interesting Facts About COVID-19: • After recovering from COVID-19, immunity to the virus can last at least 8 months and may be longer – but who really knows for sure with the new strains developing. • Immunity can occur naturally after developing COVID-19 or from getting the COVID-19 vaccination. • Because the length of immunity after developing COVID-19 or getting the vaccine is unknown, practicing physical or social distancing and wearing a mask need to continue to stop the spread. That's my story for now and I am sticking to it! Y'all stay safe and healthy!

Thomas R. Kurts... Friendly Rebuttal...I had no other way to Contact You... Reference: Letter to you and response... Thomas R. Kurtz wrote on January 1, 2021 at 12:46 pm: To Paul Lanphear From the Operations Reports from 2-17 during the Vietnam War there's no record of any attack on B-2-17 at Dalat during the month of May 1970. The most casualties suffered by the 17th Artillery was on April 3, 1968 at LZ George Tom... The gentleman could be confused about dates.... Tom. On March 27, 1970 George Winton departed Colgan for the World,, On March 29th I departed Colgan also for the World... It was in in late April, or May, I received a letter from Runice, Explaining that INFACT FSB DALAT.... Was not Renamed Until later "COLGAN" Later in 1970 Did infact, come under attack, by a NVA/VC Reinforced, Unit taking 106 Fire from where we figured and Planned for... VILLA Southwest Side of FSB DALAT... Infact, prior to this episode Capt Winton, Myself and Doug Runice had , developed a PRE-ATTACK Counter Plan.... to Suppress fire from that location, now as I said I was not there when the attack came, but according to my understanding... VC/NVA.. managed to to get (04) Rounds off in the EARLY hours of the Morning,,,, round 01, hitting the tree tops behind my Hootch, sending shrappnel raining down of the roadway, Round (02) Hitting the Wall next to FDC Entrance, and GEN Revetment... Temp knocked Gen off line, (03) Round Hitting Mess Hall doing some serious damage... too front entrance.. (04) Round Believed to be aimed at "THE WHITE HOUSE EAST" This was the Command Center of PROVISIONAL ARTILLERY ARVIN SUPPORT COMMAND SOUTH" Apparently, The Round Sailed High and Wide sending it off to the Northwest of the FSB...The building, and out in to the MORNING DARK AIR.... where it hit no one knew... Again as I understand and recall from Dougs letter... The TWO Pre-Positioned 50 Cal Maw-Duce Guns One of 5th Gun Section, and the Second of the Ammo Section, Placed on the Connex Box (10 Meters South of Ammo Storeage Bunker ... Played a significant role in Suppressing further fire, While The FSB Base Piece fired Continious Illum... Other Guns were able to drop HIGH ANGLE rounds ..on the target as well... due to the terrain ... I also understand the next morning, a recon element, made it to the target, recovered RR Shells, and Tube, and found Blood Trails. .leading away..... Shell Numbers UNK..... Rember.... NOT ALL INFO WAS SHARED to 2/17 Command... Colgan and 90% of Ops were under TASK FORCE SOUTH COMMAND....at the time... Suggest you speak more in depth, with Fetsick, Reeves, Geherhardt, Garcia, and others from the Guns that were still therewhen I left, Ammo Sect, Smith, Weaveer, VanHorn...or any Cooks since it was the mess hall the got the worst... or maybe Maint Team I am sorry That I have no-longer a copy of that letter. but i remember it well, because I felt like I abandoned Those that were there....it haunted me for a year Thanks Shep

Ref: DAN REEVES; Here's an update from him. I figured it might be easier to post it this way.. "Yesterday, a couple days before the surgery on my heart, the cardiologist's scheduling staff called. Seems they found blood in my urine so they canceled my surgery. I explained the urologist had checked me a week ago last Monday. He gave the go ahead even with the blood saying it was just trauma from cather from first surgery and there was no reason to delay the surgery. With all clear the cardiologist staff booked my surgery. I followed every step the doctors have requested including losing weight. Now after starting pre-op they decide to cancel the surgery with no reschedule date. Nearly 5 weeks ago the same night as abscess surgery they prepared me for emergency heart surgery. They even transported me to another hospital to do the surgery as soon as possible. They did tests through the night and angiogram to do the surgery. On the 5th day in the hospital they sent me home until the infection from abscess was cleared. That was a month ago. I m doing the pre-op ready to go to the hospital for surgery and they cancel the surgery with no scheduled date. Therefore I believe there is no urgency to carve me open like a Christmas turkey if they don't think it's important. I feel incredibly good so I see no reason to waste anymore time with Kaiser. I have lost my confidence in them. If I get to feeling bad I will try the VA. I appreciate all the calls and cards I have received from everyone but I am on hold for now. I will take off this weekend and be to work next week. Let the doctors enjoy their Easter without me. I have had enough run around. I've made it 72 years with this heart without pills so I believe there is still mileage left, time will tell. But that's my final answer. Old Man Dan Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way!

Ref. President Gil & June Bernabe: June reports the following to me today. "Gil is getting stronger every day although he continues to tire quickly. He has home health visiting him once a week. Occupational and physical therapist also come twice a week. Between doctor's appointments and therapists we are pretty busy!! I (June) am doing just ! Just so grateful to having Gil home and seeing daily improvements" Please continue to keep them in your prayers. Cards, emails, and prayers go a long way!

Ref.: Dan Reeve I spoke with Dan this afternoon about his upcoming heart surgery. He was in good spirits and told me he'd seen his cardiologist today. They're looking at about 2 1/2 months before doing the surgery because they want to make sure the infection is clear and have a dental exam to see if there's any infectious bacteria in his mouth. Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way.

Ref.: Gil Bernabe and June- March 06, 2021 Hello family and friends - it has been a long month for the Bernabe’s as Gil was fighting COVID pneumonia. Here is a quick summary of the COVID experience: Gil started to feel really sick the week of Feb 8. Both June and Gil tested for Covid on Tuesday and we received the word on Wednesday (Feb 10) that we were both positive for Covid. Fortunately for us, only Gil showed signs of being sick. June was fine. A tough Texan! The rest of the week Gil went steadily downhill. Our primary care doctor had us watch Gil’s oxygen level with the caveat that if it went below 90 – we were to call 911 and get Gil to emergency right away. With the snow storm of the century coming in on the weekend, we knew that we had to get Gil to emergency by Saturday. So early Saturday morning, June drove Gil to the Texoma Medical Center in Denison, TX, on (Saturday) - Feb 13. Once in the hospital - they hooked Gil up with the magic meds and after ten days - he was starting to feel much better. They wasted no time in hooking me up and running REMDESIVIR (Note: Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication. It is administered via injection into a vein. It may shorten the time it takes to recover from the infection. Remdesivir is approved or authorized for emergency use to treat COVID 19 in around 50 countries. Remdesivir is the first treatment for COVID 19 to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.) and DECODRON (a steroid used to reduce inflammation of the lungs) into my body. Because I was a hurting puppy - they also turned up the oxygen to 4 liters running through my lungs – standard is two liters. Got out of quarantine on Feb 22 and June could visit me for the first time. I asked for REHAB before going home - since I could not walk and had trouble breathing properly. Had to get my strength, stamina, and balance back and get my lungs working properly – before I was released to go home. Entered Carrus Rehab on Feb 23 and was released Thursday - March 04. At Rehab I had three hours of physical therapy and occupational therapy every day. It was tough and even though I was sore everyday - I got stronger every day. On March 04 – I was released before noon and got to enjoy lunch at home. Yeah! Home Health visited us on Friday (Feb 05) and next week the Home Health team will set up a Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy program to continue exercising me and to improve my overall strength, balance and stamina. That’s my story for now and I am sticking to it. Hope you are all doing well and staying healthy. Cheers, Gil and June

Ref: Gil Don 't know if this picture of Gill will come through. Richard https://webmail.spectrum.net/index.php/mail/viewmessage/getattachment/uniqueId/436678/account/0/filenameOriginal/output_image1614886511114.jpg/filenameModified/output_image1614886511114.jpg?folder=SU5CT1g%253D

Just finished reading all the entries from Smith and others in Guest Book. Best wishes and prayers to all from Pat and I.

Ref.: HARRY FETSICK: I received a call from Harry this evening pertaining Dan Reeves. (see next entry) Harry informed me that he himself has had about 12' of his colon removed over the last few months and 5 polyps along with some other health issues Please keep Harry in your thoughts and prayers. Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way.

Glad to see you followed through after talking with you. Now just get the application. Looking forward to meeting you.