A/1/8
Guest Book Archives
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I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Thanks....Homer
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John Charles Beirne
1st Bn, 8th Infantry
4th Infantry Division, RVN
1969
Hi Homer,
Veterans Day having just passed had me looking deeply into the internet about
the 4th ID and the 1st of the 8th Infantry.
My father was a platoon leader with the
Alpha Company, 1st of the 8th in 1969. I think he got there in February or March. He left after being shot
in the forearm on September 26th of that year, having just had his 23rd birthday eighteen days before.
His awards and decorations included:
2-Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device, Bronze Star with "V" Device, Air Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.
He died of stroke related complications back in late 2010. His name was John Charles Beirne from Jersey City, NJ.
I just spent the last three hours lost in your website. If I can find anything in his army related files that I think might make a good fit for the site, I will definitely send them your way.
Thank you so much for putting that up. It puts so much perspective on what you guys went through.
John Charles Beirne Jr.
Posted: 14 NOV 2021
If you remember his Dad or can provide more details about his tour in Vietnam, send an email to the swamp_fox address listed at the bottom of the page and I will forward it to his son.
Kenny Danner
A Company. 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment
4th Infantry Division, Vietnam
My dad was drafted in 1966. By 1967 he was a Medic in A Co, 1st of the 8th Infantry in Vietnam. He was not one of the originals since he went through basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. I'm trying to confirm if he was part of the 9 Days in May Battle that stretched from May 18th -27th of 1967. He was shot in the spleen on May 20th, but they patched him up and at some point he was able to return- at least for long enough to catch some shrapnel. He came home before his company made it to the Dak To in November 1967. He has two Purple Hearts, and I can't remember the other honors he received as part of A company. He's alive and well although a medical mystery. He developed malaria while there and even though his malaria is the non-recurring kind, it recurs about once every 6 or 7 years and it's no different than the first time he had it. Internal medicine specialists in our area gave up after several years and now it's just a thing that happens. He doesn't like to talk specifically about himself so all the stories I've heard from him are more like anecdotes. I was hoping someone here might have more info to share with me. He says I care too much about the past, but I say I just care about him. Thanks for any and all help.
If you remember Kenny "Doc" Danner, contact his daughter through the Swamp_Fox email address at the bottom of this page.
Posted 21 Jan 2020
Steve Quinn
A/1/8 & 2/8 Mech
San Diego, CA
To all the original members of "A"
Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division,
I was a replacement for one of the heroes of March 22nd. I arrived at your door
step about three weeks later. I read of 1st Sgt. McNerney's passing in my local
newspaper here in San Diego. I almost fell out of my chair when I read of the
unit he served in and the battle that he was awarded The Medal of
Honor for. I went to the Internet and started to do some research. I read of
your reunion and of the video, "Honor
In The Valley Of Tears". I just watched it and was blown away. I saw Benny
Sanchez, who was one my Squad Leaders for a while and Sgt. Tom Garrett who was
my platoon Sgt. and acting Platoon Leader, I guess there was a shortage of Lt's
at the time. I was with you during the "Nine Days of May" and was with you when
we tried to rescue the 4th platoon of " B" Company. I will never forget that
night walk through the black jungle. It was so dark we had to hold on to the
guys rucksack in front of us. In the video you expressed that you distanced
yourself from the replacements. I just want to say that I was well treated and
learned much from the guys in my platoon. Sgt. Garrett even gave me map reading
instructions while we were stopped on the trail during our daily strolls through
the jungle. Sgt. Lusby eventually told me about March 22nd. After about four
months with you, I was given the opportunity to be an acting squad leader for a
week or so. A short time later I was transferred to the 2nd of the 8th. The Army
had finally realized that they had sent me to APC Drivers School after AIT at
Fort Polk. I never drove a PC in the Mechanized 2nd of the 8th. We spent about
half the time humping the Chu Prong Mountains while the APC's sat in the mud at
Jackson Hole. Because of what I had been through with you and what you taught
me, my new Lt. Made me a squad leader as a PFC and was quickly promoted to Sgt.
I took what you gave me to a unit that wasn't up to your standards and because
of it, I feel I'm alive today. Company "A", I respect what you went through and
the bonds you formed by staying together from day one in the Army. We were
mostly all drafted, and had you been drafted a few weeks one way or the other,
you too would just of been a replacement. In closing, thank you for all you did
for me and it was my honor to serve with you.
Posted 2 January 2011
Bruce Raymond Borowski,
Son of Doc Raymond Borowski
Medic with A/1/8
Mr. Steedly,
My name is Bruce Raymond Borowski., I am the son of SGT Raymond
John Borowski. I just wanted to let you know that I found your "Site"
& Guest
Book today. I must say that though it's a SAD reason, it's a Wonderful thing
that I found it. A lot of the emails/stories were from people that knew or
heard of my Dad. I met Robert Sholly, and many others, at a 1/8 4th ID
reunion in Spencer Indiana in March 2007. I MUST say that it was an HONOR
and a PRIVILEGE. It was really something! Up until then I had never known
anyone that served with my Dad. My mistake. I did meet one person, he was
the one who first got a hold of me after I posted my Dad's info on the
Virtual Wall. His name is Ron Glasgow. He actually came here, to Michigan
from Pennsylvania, to meet my family and tell us about our father, my
Mother's husband, of course. God Bless You Ron! I remember the day we were
informed that my Father had been killed in action. I still remember like it
was yesterday, I was getting ready to leave for school when I noticed two
Soldiers walking down the street, we lived in Ft. Bragg Family Housing. I
walked back into the house, then maybe a minute later, there was a knock at
the door. When I opened it the two Soldiers were standing on the porch. They
asked to see my Mother. I asked them what they wanted even though I knew
what they wanted, but they said that they had to speak with my Mother.
Posted 28 January 2013
Steve Quinn
A/1/8 & 2/8 Mech
San Diego, CA
To all the original members of "A"
Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division,
I was a replacement for one of the heroes of March 22nd. I arrived at your door
step about three weeks later. I read of 1st Sgt. McNerney's passing in my local
newspaper here in San Diego. I almost fell out of my chair when I read of the
unit he served in and the battle that he was awarded The Medal of
Honor for. I went to the Internet and started to do some research. I read of
your reunion and of the video, "Honor
In The Valley Of Tears". I just watched it and was blown away. I saw Benny
Sanchez, who was one my Squad Leaders for a while and Sgt. Tom Garrett who was
my platoon Sgt. and acting Platoon Leader, I guess there was a shortage of Lt's
at the time. I was with you during the "Nine Days of May" and was with you when
we tried to rescue the 4th platoon of " B" Company. I will never forget that
night walk through the black jungle. It was so dark we had to hold on to the
guys rucksack in front of us. In the video you expressed that you distanced
yourself from the replacements. I just want to say that I was well treated and
learned much from the guys in my platoon. Sgt. Garrett even gave me map reading
instructions while we were stopped on the trail during our daily strolls through
the jungle. Sgt. Lusby eventually told me about March 22nd. After about four
months with you, I was given the opportunity to be an acting squad leader for a
week or so. A short time later I was transferred to the 2nd of the 8th. The Army
had finally realized that they had sent me to APC Drivers School after AIT at
Fort Polk. I never drove a PC in the Mechanized 2nd of the 8th. We spent about
half the time humping the Chu Prong Mountains while the APC's sat in the mud at
Jackson Hole. Because of what I had been through with you and what you taught
me, my new Lt. Made me a squad leader as a PFC and was quickly promoted to Sgt.
I took what you gave me to a unit that wasn't up to your standards and because
of it, I feel I'm alive today. Company "A", I respect what you went through and
the bonds you formed by staying together from day one in the Army. We were
mostly all drafted, and had you been drafted a few weeks one way or the other,
you too would just of been a replacement. In closing, thank you for all you did
for me and it was my honor to serve with you.
Posted 2 January 2011
2010 Deaths
Top, 1st Sergeant David H. McNerney,
died 10 OCT 2010, at 3:55 am at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center in
Houston, he succumbed to his battle with cancer. Medal of Honor recipient for
the battle of Polei Doc, he will be long remembered with respect by
the men of Alpha Company, who served with and knew him. A great American
hero has moved onto his reward.
Captain Nick (Nicholas) Romaine, Major Ret. and former Commander of Alpha Company, 1st Bn, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, passed away Monday October 18, 2010 around 10:15 PM, due to complications after a fall when he accidentally struck his head. It seems ironic that there were only 11 days between losing Top and Nick. The men of Alpha Company will remember these leaders with deep respect. They may be gone, but will not be forgotten.
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