174th AHC 2015 Return-To-Vietnam Tour
Introduction by Tom Taggart

Hello Guys and Gals,

Here ya go. This introduction includes information on our return trip to Vietnam. The dates of the trip are 1 February 2015 to 15 February 2015. Please review the detailed information on the Vietnam Battlefield Tours (VBT) website at http://www.vietnambattlefieldtours.com/tours/2015/15022/tour.asp. All the details are there. They do everything. If you want the forms to be pretty, you can fill them out on-line before you send them to VBT.

Several years ago I accompanied Bill Stilwagen and Judy Shields on a return trip to Vietnam to visit the crash site of Judy's husband, WO Robert Hazen Shields (Dolphin pilot KIA in 1969). Bob Shields was shot down by a .51 cal. out by San Juan Hill in August 1969, killing the entire 174th crew and six soldiers from the 4/3 Infantry. See Bob's crash report HERE.

Bill Stilwagen is a Marine Grunt and Ch-46 crewchief/gunner, VBT guide, and neighbor of Judy's. As I said, Bill provided a guided tour for Judy. I was on that same CA when Bob was shot down, and I accompanied them on the tour. This was a three-week tour and included much more than just a visit to the crash site.

I'm convinced you'll enjoy this return trip to Vietnam, as VBT does everything. As you'll see from the detailed itinerary on their website, there are a lot of "AO-specific" items for us Dolphins and Sharks. This is easier than going to Granny's for Christmas... or for some of us, easier than falling off a bar stool.

So please review the information on the VBT website. It would be great to have a large 174th turnout. If you have any questions or concerns, contact me at Tom Taggart or Bill at Bill Stilwagen.

Enough said, except "Light the fire and smoke the tires" -- or in our case, "Light the fire and drag the skids.

Oh yes, and dream!

Tom Taggart