Mount Lebanon High School

I would like to get off the politcal content of the war for a moment and get back to the purpose of the site and recognize classmates who were in the military and served our country. Tim Hauser lived around the corner from me until I moved at age 15. I lost contact with him after graduation....and who knew! He is no longer with us to say if he was in Nam or not...but he was a Captain in the Army in 1970....and in case no one ever ooked at his In Memory page he went on to make our Class proud....

Timothy Hauser graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1966. He then attended Georgetown University, earning a master's degree in international relations in 1972. He did additional postgraduate work at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and in Bologna, Italy. He was fluent in both Italian and French.

Hauser served in the United States Army as a Captain in the 1970s.

In 1991, he became the first career civil servant to be appointed Deputy Undersecretary of the Commerce Department. He earned the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive twice, in 1992 and 2003. The International Trade Administration has established the Timothy J. Hauser Award in his honor.

Hats Off to Tim

02/19/14 10:04 AM

#14

James G. McRitchie

Tim Hauser started carrying his books to school in a briefcase around third grade. He seemed to knew the stats of all the major league baseball players and introduced me to fantasy baseball back then. He was a smart guy, always destined for greatness.

02/19/14 09:45 PM

#15

Sue, I agree. This is a veteran's forum set up to honor and remember those who served in the military. It is not a place to air political opinions. As for a memorial to those who went to jail rather than serve, no one is stopping you from doing that, James. Just please do it outside this particular forum.

02/19/14 11:00 PM

#16

Robert R. Todd

Thank you Sue Devlin and Richard Montgomery! This is a forum to give honor and recognition to those classmates of ours that served our country during the Vietnam War either voluntarily or involuntarily by the draft. It is not the place to discuss the geopolitics of the Vietnam War. If you want to do that there are many other forums out there that are available to you this is not one of them.

02/20/14 12:43 AM

#17

Thanks, Bob, actually as I was reviewing the In Memory I noticed that Delvin DeRoss was a Vietnam Vet but it does not list what Branch he served. If any of our Classmates stayed in touch with him it would be nice to know. He passed away in Novembr 2010 in Missouri. Bob Haus reported his passing. Our gratitiude goes out to him. Let us know if anyone can share in any memories.

02/20/14 12:01 PM

#18

Michael I. D'Andries

While I did not know Bill Morgan well, I did have an English (or Liberal Arts) class with Bill in the 9^th grade at Jefferson Jr. High. Bill was well known for his sense of humor and kept us all laughing. My one lasting memory of Bill was when he gave an oral book report on Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie. I had read this book earlier in the year, it is the personal story of a WWII Marine, his experiences, his feelings and how it affected him. This book was incorporated into the HBO mini-series “The Pacific”. Bill was extremely serious as he gave his report; this was out of character for Bill and is probably why I remember this incident so clearly. I could see the book really moved him. I regret that I never took the time to discuss the book with Bill. When I heard that Bill has enlisted in the Marines I was not surprised.

That was the last I heard of Bill until much later maybe around 1982 or so when I was reviewing the list of men awarded the Medal of Honor and their citations and concentrated on men from Pittsburgh. When I learned what Bill had done and that he was killed in action, it hit me like a ton of bricks. On reflection I should not have been shocked as Bill was always helpful to everyone. That he gave his life to save other Marines was who Bill was. I remembered the book report from 9^th grade and it gave me pause. Bill was a great guy and we should remember him and cherish his memory.

02/20/14 12:32 PM

#19

Here is some information we have discovered about Delvin DeRoss and his service to our country during the Vietnam War.

Delvin served honorably in Vietnam from February 1968 - February 1969, with the 16th Infantry (Rangers) of the 1st Infantry Division, the Big Red One. He was an infantry soldier with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion and was instrumental in the capture of a North Vietnamese Army officer carrying plans for the 1969 Tet Offensive. Those captured plans allowed the US Army to blunt the offensive and avoid a repeat of the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Later in life, Delvin was active in the Vietnam Veterans organization in Polk County, Florida, where he lived until his death.

02/20/14 01:33 PM

#20

Robert Charnell

I've not talked about those years until recently. Our girls asked me about it from time to time, and I finally offered glimpses in slides I took while serving in Vietnam. I mostly shot nice slides (landscape and people) not the more unseemly ones depicting death and destruction.

The Marines I served with found me about 10 years ago and I posted pictures and stories on their website: http://www.swanassoc.com/1stradiobn. They only knew of me since I traveled quite a bit. They would see me in passing on some hill.

I was in the Marine Corps from July 1967 thru April 1971. I considered myself more fortunate than others. I attended Naval Communication Intelligence School in Pensacola (Navy), then spent a year at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey California (Army base) where I learned North Vietnamese (Hanoi dialect). Then I was sent to South Vietnam as part of the 1st Radio Bn. Of course when I got there I had to learn another dialect (south Vietnamese) since I probably sounded to the south Vietnamese like someone from Boston talking to folks in the bayou of Louisiana. I kinda stood out if you know what I mean.

I was in Vietnam from June 1969 thru June 1970. I returned home sooner than others because of a bad strain of malaria I contracted. I spent most of my time with south Vietnamese intelligence operatives in the An Hoa basin, south of DaNang. We supported the 5th and 7th Marines (part of the 1st Marine Division). There were only about 10 Marine crypto-linguists who did what I did in Vietnam at the time, so we moved around a lot, attached to many units for days or weeks at a time. I spent some time in the Que Son Mountains and valley, otherwise known as 'Antenna Valley' and 'Death Valley' for the carnage inflicted on both Marine and Americal units. Book about that: 'Death Valley: The Summer Offensive, I Corps, August 1969' by Keith Nolan. I believe Rocky Bleier from the Pittsburgh Steelers was in the Americal in that valley at that time as well. 'Fields of Fire' by James Webb (former Sect'y of Navy) also describes Marine life in the An Hoa in 1969. Both are fairly accurate depictions of life as we knew it.

An Hoa Combat Base, April 1970 Sen and I were working with the 3rd Bn 5th Marines

I see that Rick Montgomery was in the 101st Airborne and spent most of his time in the A Shau Valley. I arrived after some of those major battles, so hadn't taken part in them. I know some Marines who served in the A Shau, not an exciting place to be for sure.

Most of the comrades I served with were Vietnamese, and being they were in intelligence didn't bode well for their future once south Vietnam fell in 1975. I haven't heard whether any of them made it to safety or not. That's probably why I don't dwell on the past too much, or try not to.

02/20/14 04:24 PM

#21

Rick Montgomery, what insight to Delvin DeRoss. Since the In Memory classmates can't speak for themselves we can honor them in our prayers. I really appreciate your help in helping dig up the information.

Rob Charnell, what an experience. I loved your quip "I probably sounded to the south Vietnamese like someone from Boston talking to folks in the bayou of Louisiana" having to mix your Hanoi dialect with South Vietnamese as your linguist part of your service. Listening to the Vietnamese who do my nails, I can't even imagine how anyone could ever learn the language.

Thank you Rob for your bravery and thank God you survived. I hope there are no repercussions of the malaria as life progresses.

02/21/14 09:05 PM

#22

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6257531http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6257531

Jeff Bogman was a US Marine and served with distinction in Vietnam in 1969-70, which is the same year I was there. I was not able to find out any more details than that, but it was a busy year and, as a combat Marine, Jeff certainly would have seen his share of action. Though Jeff died several years ago, he has earned our thanks and our respect.

02/23/14 01:49 PM

#23

Lyn K. Morander (George)

My thanks to Sue Jenkins for remembering what I do.....I did not mean to imply that the statement was an accurate depiction of a culture....I apologize to anyone I offended who interpreted my statement that way. I was just looking for verification of what I remembered hearing so many years ago.

That war was more complicated that anyone propably knows.....I know I owe a lot to all who served - and continue to serve - even - and especially - when we don't like or understand the politics.

02/25/14 07:03 AM

#24

Kenneth W (Ken) Campbell

Here is a link to Find-A-Grave where Bill is also memorized. He always had a smile, even though I was not close to him he was a very good guy. Thank you for giving and serving our country. May he rest in peace always.

02/26/14 02:52 PM

#25

We were all so young, i try not to remember the times so much and don't talk about them much. Seems that some of us went the Lincoln route, but I went from lincoln to St. Bernards to South Catholic then Lebo in junior year. I remember Bill very well, once of the truly nice guys at Mt. Lebanon.

I joined the Navy in 1967 thru 1971, sreving in what we affectionally called the "Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club" aboard the USS Ranger CVA-61. I worked on the waist catapults for those 4 years. It still erks me that the war was considered the poor mans war. There were so many of us that served from very affluent communities.

I remember being being told the first time (and only time) that I went to a VFW after discharge and the WWII guys saying we lost our war.

Serving in the Navy and especially in Vietnam was the best thing that happened to me. I was a bit of a jerk before I left. I walk up to every service person I see and thank them for their service. Most of us only had to serve once, the kids these days go back 3, 4, 5 times. They like us could not tell who the enemy is. And we are not appreciated by those we went to help because our country asked them to. Bill, Tom Bird and Rich Lacey would be proud of this new generation of soldier!

I salute you all who have served!

02/27/14 11:55 AM

#26

Amen, Chuck. What beauatiful words. We can add Dave Thompson (Class of '64) to your list of one who would be proud of this new generation of soldier. So many of our Mt. Lebanon boys and boys around our country endured the hardship of this war. It had a purpose it did not have a great plan. Shame on the WWII guys, they should know better. War is a horrific thing to go through and to have that attitude is not acceptable.

And yes...to all who have served a world of gratitude and thanks go your way daily for protecting this fine country we are blessed to call our own.

A note that makes me feel good....each time a soldier returns to our little neighborhood community, we line the streets from a key point to his/her home with American Flags and Welcome Home signs. Their families say it is so appreciated by the returning soldier.

03/30/14 07:37 PM

#27

Lois J. Wilson

I would also like to add my thanks to Rick, Bill, Delvin, Tim, Rob, Jeff, Chuck and to all of our other classmates who served in the military. I am grateful that each of you answered the call to serve, when you could not have known what it might cost in terms of health, life and limb, or residual nightmares and chronic illnesses. Thank you for sharing your stories and experiences. I hope in some way each of you will know the full measure of gratitude we want to show you. We were not very welcoming when many veterans returned from Vietnam, but with maturity, we can now appreciate the sacrifices and the honor with which you served.

I visited the Marine Memorial at Quantico, VA and came around a corner and was surprised to see Bill Morgan's picture and biography among the Medal of Honor winners' gallery. I was in the same home room with him for the three years we were in high school, yet can't say I knew him well. I believe the road going into the park off Cedar Blvd. was officially renamed Morgan Drive in his honor.

Thank you again, members of the military!

03/31/14 12:43 AM

#28

Lois, this is the most touching post I've seen that hits the exact heart of the purpose of the Forum. Thank you for such beautiful words.

03/31/14 10:08 AM

#29

Thanks Lois and Sue,

We no longer look for thanks for our service, but strive to pay it forward to those serving now...giving our collective support to the men and women who put it all on the line daily in defense of all of us. May God bless them and their families!

04/01/14 09:54 AM

#30

Erika M. Vietorisz (Nadas)

Amen, Chuck.

04/08/14 06:12 PM

#31

These posts have really hit a chord in me. Thanks for them all. (My daughter is a military widow). There is one good thing that came out of the bad treatment of our generation of military. Now there is a strong wave of "support our troops" even for an unpopular war.

04/09/14 12:41 PM

#32

You are welcome, Erika, but don't look at this war as unpopular nor allow your daughter to feel that way. Our troops are out there defending our nation from evil forces. This war has just gone on so long with so many factions. Our Country is war weiry in my opinion and we want our boys home. It appears that will happen this year, God willing, and the Support of our Troops must continue for years. I contribute to many of the programs and write my Congressmen and whoever I think can help support the post medical situation they need and require at this point. I hope all of our generation stands and fights for their needs forever.

04/10/14 12:29 PM

#33

Erika, my prayers are with your daughter and her husband's family.

Sue, my turn to say Amen!

04/30/14 10:21 AM

#34

Chuck A. Goldberg

Hello Fellow Classmates

When I think of Bill Morgan I can only remember how short his life was compared to us all. I was in basic training when I learned from my once a week phone call that Bill was killed. I was numb for a period of time after that and I still think of him today. In 1985 I was asked by the Vietnam Verterans and the people responsible for the Vietnam Memorial Wall and three servicemen statue in Washington DC. to put a program together of clothing using the three servicemen logo. We made the line available to veterans groups all over America. All proceeds would go to maintain the memorial because the Vietnam vets did not want to turn over the maintenance of the memorial to the US Park Services. I spent the day with Fredrick Hart who made the Statue of the Three Servicemen memorial and while at his studio he gave me three prototypes of the Three Servicemen similar to what is at the wall but much smaller, about 10 inches high. I brought one back and gave it to Mrs. Morgan, and she cried. We will never forget Bill.

05/01/14 10:31 AM

#35