Subject: Re: My father - Paul David Gunter Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 20:40:29 -0400 From: Pires Reply-To: jkpires@uss-bennington.org To: Jack and Kelli References: 1 Dear Jack & Kelli: My name is Joseph L. Pires and I'm the HISTORIAN for the USS BENNINGTON ASSOC. After checking the existing list that we have, I have the following three names & email addresses for you. Good luck in your search....... Let me know how you made out! Dennis L. Branham dlbran@aol.com Richard Garland rmgarland@msn.com Raymond Savaria msgdrv@aol.com Hope you get something from either or all of these former BENNINGTON "Hospital Corpman" who were aboard at the time you specified........... Fraternally yours, Joseph L. Pires 23 Rebecca Lane Osterville, Massachusetts 02655 jkpires@capecod.net jkpires@uss-bennington.org SK3 - S-1 Division - Supply Department - 1965-1969 Vietnam Veteran & Historian Jack and Kelli wrote: Dear Sirs- My father was a medic during Vietnam and was aboard the USS Bennington from, I believe, 1968-1969. The fact that I don't know for certain embarrasses me greatly and is part of the reason that I'm contacting you. My dad only occassionally shared information about his years at war, and usually to an unattentive teenage girl who could not understand it. My father died a year and a half ago and as I've slowly been going through his memorabilia, I realize how much I don't know about this part of him. I know he had a tattoo on his arm that said "Doc." I know that he wrote letters to strangers to express his sympathy when young men from Kansas (our home state) died. I know that he dressed up as Santa Claus at Christmas and gave gifts to Vietnamese children. I know he had his face smeared in peanut butter that covered some fat man's stomach when he crossed the equator. And I know he had to hide virtually every indication that he was a medic in order to survive long enough to help others. I'm a very lucky person, I know, to have had the opportunity to know my dad when so many other kids could not know theirs. I just wish I knew more. So, though I'm not certain what kind of help you can provide me, I am curious as to whether or not any of the men listed as crew members from 1968-1969 provided you with any way to contact them. I'm not sure what kinds of questions to even ask, but I think I'd like the opportunity if you could help me. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Kelli Ziegler (Gunter)