The Evening Standard from Uniontown, Pennsylvania • Page 10

PAGE 10-UNIONTOWN, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 19W Pf McClellan Killed THE EVENING STANDARD Clarksville GFs Letters Told About War In Viet By REGIS T. SABOL An American soldier in Viet Nam writes home about many things. He tells his wife about the hot, sticky weather. He asks his mother to send cookies. He tells his brother about the M-16 real fine gun." He tells them all, "I'm all right." Pfc.

Brent A. McClellan of Clarksville was one of soldiers. McClellan, 21, was killed Feb, 27 in an ambush 300 miles north of Saigon in the Vietnamese highlands. He died of gunshot wounds of the head, stomach and right shoulder. His letters home are kept in a neat bundle by his parents, Mr.

and Mrs. George McClel- lan Jr. They tell of discomfort, despair, tragedy, death and of going home but mostly ot death and going home. "There is nothing to look forward to over here," he wrote in his last letter, "except going home, and that is too far off and too much might happen before then." McClellan arrived in Saigon Dec. 21 of last year and was immediately sen! to Company 1st Battalion of the First Air Cavalry near the la Drang Valley, scone ot vicious fighting the month before.

Veterans of the battle called it "happy valley." McClellan was not prepared for Viet Nam, but then again, how many young GIs are? STREAMLINE FREE DELIYERY--5 Ml. RADIUS Wlh $1 LUNCHEON LOAVES. Kraft's New SOFT PARKAY SAVE 29c THIN BUTTERED PRETZELS MAINE POTATOES SAVE ON HEALTH BEAUTY AIDS STREAMLINE We Redeem USDA Food Stamps-- Open Daily 8 AM (o 9 PM FREE 1-HOUR PARKING Antoon's Lot No. Gallatln Ave. Below YMCA For Our Customers 17-19 E.

Peter Si. 438-9592 Unionfown, Pa. to Viet Nam on Monday, Nov. 23. The next day they were given a brief lesson in jungle warfare.

A two and a half hour long movie on the enemy was shown. "These are some of the fellows you're going to run up against," a lieutenant told them. End of lesson. When he got to base camp near la Drang, the Clarksville GI discovered a lot of things not shown in movies. "We are really crowded," he wrote, "and they do not a enough stuff (o go around.

Our company has 80 cases of malaria, All together, there are 116 (men) In (he hospital." The education process had begun. He soon learned that even a thing like water was precious. water is hard to come PFC. McCLELLAN by up here. They bring in 15 gallons a day for 32 men." 1963 graduate of McClellan went without other CONFIRMATION CLASS-A class of 16 was confirmed at the Sunday morning worship service in St.

Paul's Lutheran Church. With the pastor, Rev, G. C. Waldkoenlg, members are first row, left to Lisa Dayle Coonerrider, Sally Johnston Rittenhouse, Sandra Zeppo, Martha Ann Waldkoenlg, Linda Chris- --llcrald'Standird Photo line Wallace. Second row, Irene Joy Balaban, Vera Louise Durany, Hope Elaine Williams, Cynthia Ellen Lance, Charys Elizabeth Barker.

Third row, Arden Lee Andria, Bruce Andrew Biiohlavek, David Mitchell Smithberger, David Lee Braham, William Robert Johnson, Nicholas John Onufcr, lorgan High School, he was rafted in May, 1965, and, after mdergoing basic training and dvanced infantry training, was elected for the honor guard at 1 Myers, Va. near Washing- on, D. C. As a member of the juard, he worked hard and was to stand by the grave of President John F. Kennedy.

McClellan and other members of the honor guard were ordered civilized luxuries. He fought, ate and slept in the same fatigues for 21 days. His weight dropped rapidly. But clothes, any food other than rations and stationery, were luxuries of another world, another time. There was a war to he His first lesson in war came late in January.

His company was sweeping several villages BRING THIS COUPON WATCHES $1 CLEAN'ED REPAIRED Regardless of the condition. We will clean and repair your wrist or pocfcet watch and furnish all necessary pacts to put it in first-class condition with a written guarantee for only 45.95 Slightly more will be charged for self-winding, calendar, chronograph of very rusty watches or deliberate breaJiage. King uses only lifetime guaranteed unbreakable main eprings- KIHG DISTRIBUTORS Comer Motgantown Church Sts. 438-3024 Save at King Distributors in search of VC (Viet Cong). It was part of Operation Masher.

"We took 45 prisoners yesterday," he said. "We had to take women and children. They took them in a chinook (helicopter). The women and children were crying and scared. They were really pitiful." Brent McClellan's education as a soldier was not complete however.

He did not receive his degree until a close buddy died. Commencement day was Feb. 11 and the buddy was Sgt. Comas. Comas, a Philippino, was only about five feet, four inches tall.

He was 36 years old. "We used to. talk about cars, his wife and their adopted child" a letter dated Feb. 13, said. "He was always in a good humor and could make you feel a little better with the little things he had to say.

At the big battle they had in November, he saved two guys from getting killed." On the morning of the llth, McClellan's company patroled valley and returned to camp. No contact was reported. "We were only here a half an hour when they told us to saddle up. A Company was getting Here now! Mercury Discovery Special! nJUY EQUIPPED WITHt MONDERO ALL-VINYL INTERIOR PUSH-BUTTON RADIO MARAUDER 390 V-8 WHITEWALL TIRES DELUXE WHEEL COVERS WITH SPINNERS FULL-RANGE WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING ELECTRIC WINDSHIELD WASHERS BACK-UP LIGHTS AND MOREl The Mercury Discovery is being produced in limited quantity. Dollar for dollar it's your savingest car value, with years-ahead styling inside and out, a line-up of extra value features, and all the luxury today's car buyer demands! Test drive the Discovery the all around town.

Discover how little per month it costs to move ahead with Mercury-any Mercury-during Discovery Days at your Mercury dealer, Move ahead with Have you driven a Mercury lately? Take a discovery ride at: ENANY MOTOR SALES, INC. 336 EAST MAiN STREET I UKOXN-MERCURY DIVISION with optional vinyl roof. hit and some helicopters were in trouble. "We moved oul. The Third Platoon went first.

After we got down there, we got in a fore then." line and had to sweep this village, go to the base of the mountain, turn right and meet A Company. "As soon as we started to move, we got hit with machine- guns and automatic weapons. We were in the a rice paddies in front of this village. We hit the ground and 1 crawled to a hump of dirt with the lieutenant and Sgt. Comas.

We pinned down there, couldn't move. "They (the VC) were all over the village in the coconut trees, in the hedgerows. You couldn't see them and we were oul in this open rice "Sgt. Comas raised up to tell a squad to move out and he got shot in the head. He was looking right at me when he was lying there.

The guy in front of me got shot in the leg. "I could hear the' rounds of ammunition i over my head. They were so close. The lieutenant and 1 were very lucky. In thai little rice paddy, they killed three and wounded eleven." Company finally took the village and the VC ran into the mountains.

"We found three the next morning. Some women in the village were killed and we some more VCs." That night, McClellan found his dead comrades lying side by side. "When I saw those Gfs lying under those ponchos, I felt sick. I will never forget Sgt. Comas' face." The boy and the lieutenant talked about the skirmish.

"He (the lieutenant) said Ihis is a combat zone and people are going to get killed and we had to face life. I guess he is right." The same night, a hoy stationed at Ft. Myers with McClellan was killed. "His name was Taylor. He would have been 20 years old yesterday.

He was a real nice guy." Following Ihe battle and ensuing mop-up, Brent McClellan wrole, "I hate this place and now I hale these slant eyed VCs more." Hating became easy. He learned to hate the troops in the rear and the officers who, he fell, counted men as numbers on a casualty list. "You should see those people in the rear. They wear jungle fatigues and boots, wear different badges and patches, and Ihey don't even know what a line platoon is. "And the colonel said we had to speed up the operation.

He rides around. in his helicopter with all his aides. He doesn't see guys getting killed like we do. I hope he soon gets satisfied before some more guys get killed." Along with hale came disgust and despair. "This is a messed-up war," a letter dated Feb.

15, said. "Sgt. Comas is getting the Silver Star. A lot of good it will do him and his wife." The sergeant and Taylor were the first of several buddies to get it. Four more died In an ambush-a few days later.

The patrol bad walked into a death trap. "They let you get right on top of them, then they open up. We tried to get the bodies back but we couldn't. They hit us with everything they had, including two M-ISs taken from the "You can't see them. They are camoflauged and have bunkers and are better jungle fighters than us." The patrol retreated and the bodies were recovered a couple of days later.

In the same letter, McClellan asked about news reports of the war. "What is the news saying back there, that casualties are light? What do you think? We started this operation with 41 in our platoon. We have 28 with us now." McClellan's last letters, dated Feb. 23 and 24, talked of the enemy, a new life alter (he Army, possibly college, a most of all of home. But home "is loo far off and too much might happen be- Winttcrs Arc Told Winners of hams awarded by Holy Trinity Church Mothers of New Salem are: Helen Dulla, Footedale; Mark Mig- yanko, Uniontown RD Danny Ternitsky, Kcister; Andrew Mudry, Kei'sler, and Sophie Beris- the maguey plant and use this to make an intoxicating drink TUESDAY SAVE ON METZLER'S QUALITY MONEY SAVERS SAVE 20 OH CHILDREN'S SPRING COATS Regularly $18.00 to $28.00.

Girls' sizes 7 lo 14. Regularly $25.00 in $40.00. Pre Teen sizes lo 14. Regularly $12.00 to $18.00 Babe and Toddler sizes. Regularly $15.00 to $23.00.

Sizes 3 to EX. Regularly $13.00 to $15.00 Boys' sizes 3 to 7. Save 20tt on your child's i and Easier coat at i choose from the cut' csl styles ever in lovely Dtw-seasoa col-- ors! Bring them In today, tonight, or tomorrow! SAVE 20 OH BOYS' ALL WEATHER COATS REG. 18.00 to 22,98 Buys' prep sizes 8 to 20 all weather coats. The kind he con wear with the Zip-in lining when the wealher cool and without the lining K'j warm and raining! Dacnm and cotton.

Olive, Black, Blue, Beige. THIRD FLOOR' Sorry No Mail or Phone Orders on Money.