Allen, Marcie recently contacted me and said you would like to know about my trip back to Vietnam. It was the most incredible experience. When we returned home I asked my wife who accompanied me, what she thought of the trip. She said she almost regretted going. When I asked why? She said because all future trips will pale to the experience and open armed welcomeness that we were given. We went during this years Tet New years days. Our itinerary was Saigon, Vung Tau, Can Tho, back to Saigon for Tet. Then over to Tay Nihn and the crash site on the Cambodian border, back to Saigon, then flew up to Danang, drove over to Hoi An, then off to Hue. The finale stop was Hanoi. We were not part of a formal tour group. Transportation, driver/guides and hotels were pre-arranged, but for the most part we were on our own. When we were around Saigon and when we went over to Tay Nihn and the crash site, we were accompanied by a friend of mine who also arranges trips back to Vietnam, along with a van driver and a guide/interpreter. I would expect you really want to know about my experience going back to the crash site. I will try and put to words what it felt like for me. Prior to going Ron Hebert, the brother Fred Hebert, the pilot, had sent me copies of the old flight maps. They proved to be both helpful and also very troubling. I not sure if it was Ron or someone else, had indicated where they thought the crash site was. Its X marked on the map indicated it was a good click off of highway 22. I recalled the crash site being much closer to the road. A recent event that took place at that location made finding the exact crash site almost definite. A few weeks before the Vietnam government has opened a new international border crossing, at almost the exact location of my old firebase. That very much worked in our favor. But I suppose I should start in the beginning. We had a van for the trip to the border, there was myself, my wife Sue, my friend Doug, driver and Mr. Chien our guide/interpreter. I had the maps and Doug had a GPI, so between the two we thought we could narrow it down. Before going up to the border we checked in with the Military Chief in Tay Ninh, not so much for permission but to let them know we would be going to the border. Also did they have any information on old military actions in that area. They advised us to check with the local military at the border, because they were veery knowledgeable about what had happened in that area. So off we went. Doug who had the GPI got it coordinated with the grid coordinates on the map and we went northward on highway 22 toward the border. After a while we passed through several small villes, Doug asked if anything looked familiar? I had to tell him nothing looked like I recalled. But I told him the last time I left Tay Ninh to go north I was in a chopper going about 110 knots at treetop. So I had never seen these villes before. Then we came on to a rubber plantation, mile after mile of rows of rubber trees. He then asked if I recalled the rubber trees. I again had to say no. He said they looked young so maybe they were not there when I was. By this time I was starting to get discouraged, was my dream and search for the crash site going to be fruitless? As we drove through the rubber plantation I started to describe the area as I recalled it. The woodline was 1/4 to 1/2 mile off of the roadsides. Between the road and the wood line was just scrub brush and grass, nothing like what we were driving through. It was right at that time the van exited the rubber plantation, I could almost feel the air being sucked from my lungs and I must have let out a gasp. Because Mr. Chien who was seated next to me grabbed my arm and told me to take it easy and be strong. The landscape had changed to exactly what I had just moments before described. The scrub brush and grass a little more dense but you could easily tell between the old growth and new. At this point we are about 1 1/2 miles from the border. We drive the van to the border and Doug and Mr Chien go to speak to the border guards there at the crossing. I exit the van and am immediately swept back 35 years. Just west of the road at the border I can see where the firebase had been. To the east of the base just into the wood line is the site of the other crash. The day we were inserted into the base, the Cobra that was providing air cover for us was shot down and crashed in the woodline. We had not been on the ground more then five minutes before we were out crossing that scrub brush and grass to Cobra crash site. We got there in time and got both pilots out, WO Rick Richenbacker & Captain James MacLachlan. Looking south from the base just as the road starts to bend.... That is where I recall the crash site for your guys. Within five minutes I have gone from despair to almost euphoria. All that I have dreamed about for 35 years is now right before me. At this point Doug and Mr. Chien return from speaking to the border

The Full Dresser Bag from Kuryakyn is the most complete, versatile piece of motorcycle specific luggage available. Loaded with features that make packing for a two-wheeled adventure more convenient and practical than ever before, this top quality, fully lined 1200 Denier construction bag provides unparalleled strength and protection from the elements. These outstanding features make this bag the hands down choice for the serious motorcycle traveler. A unique wrap-around extra heavy-duty zipper allows access to items in the top or bottom of the bag with no unpacking! Each section opens independently for the ultimate in convenience. Four zippered side compartments provide secure yet easily accessible storage for smaller items such as cameras, sunglasses or gloves. A variety of straps and a wide Velcro® belt allow quick, easy and secure mounting to any backrest, luggage rack, or passenger seat. Heavy-duty quick-snap buckles operate even with gloves on. The three spacious main storage compartments provide amazing capacity. The bottom two sections feature a rigid molded insert that provides added stability to keep clothes neat and wrinkle free. The collapsible top section has enough room for two leather jackets or a full-face helmet, and folds neatly away when not needed. After long hours in the saddle, the last thing you want to do is lug your bag across parking lots and through hotel corridors. Sturdy wheels provide quick and easy mobility. Two over-the-top adjustable straps let you tie bedrolls, tents or jackets above the roomy top compartment. Multiple D-Rings on the sides of the bag provide anchor points for bungee cords to secure additional items. Full Dresser Dimensions: 11" Wide, 10" Deep, 18" Tall with Top Compressed, 25" Tall with Top Expanded.