Notes from around the world:
Tom:
I was researching Typhoon Hester for an article and I came across the Warlord web site. I do not follow Vietnam history (probably
should but you know how some people feel about those days) so I was surprised and pleased by your commendable work and should
add to the record, at least as the list of commanders are concerned. I took over command in July ’71 from Maj. Drew
and was the last Warlord 6 standing the unit down and seeing the last men leave in November, after Typhoon Hester delivered
the knockout blow on 23 Oct. During those last four months the unit had one KIA from an OH-6 shoot down and was essentially
wiped out by Hester losing about 13 helos when the hanger collapsed. I won’t go into detail now but I am particularly
proud of how I took the Warlords into action one last time, going out in glory. I organized a night raid (had a devil of a
time getting Div. Hqs OK and a very unusual Army aviation operation) taking the entire unit about 50k west to a known VC collecting
point at the conjunction of two rivers, a free fire zone, and we rolled in with everything we had…a/c lights out or
taped, a surprise raid, returning to Chu Lai as the sun rose over the China Sea, circled the airfield in column and with a
flyover landed one at a time, for the last time. I landed last, the final logged combat time for the Warlords. We stood down
later that day.
I have the company guide on hanging in my office…took it with me as
I flew from Chu Lai to Long Binh as I still had 7 months remaining on my second tour.
Tom
Marshall
Col. USA Ret.
Dear Mr. Okerlund,My
name is SGT(P) Michael D. Stockton. I am one of the current Warlords of todays army. It was once B/6 of the 101st now we are
A/6 of the 101st. When your the best company you have to be Alpha, right? Anyways, I am writting you in regards to the website.
I stumbled across it today. It does great honor to our company Past and present. I have to let you know, for the first time
since the war with Terror kicked off, our company has lost one of ours to this war. SSG Joshua D. Powell(1984-2010) died durring
one of our Assult missions over here. I was in the the same flight, different aircraft though, it was a tragic day for us.
Can we add his name to the list of departed Warlords. He kind of coined a saying before he past away. "Once a Warlord
always a Warlord." We take great pride in being part of this company. It is a tight nit family we have here. We miss
him, just as I am sure many other former Warlords miss they're comrades in arms. It is not the easiest job we have, but
we love to serve our country. God bless America. Thank you for your time in reading my email. Perhapes some day we can get
some one to tell our storries and tell them right so that our country can know the true sacrifice we and our families give
for there freedom.
-SGT Michael D. Stockton
Aco 6-101 AVN
Warlords!
