ROLLING THUNDER VISIT RAF MILDENHALL

POW and MIA National Memorial week 

 

Back in the spring of 2004 Rolling Thunder was contacted by Wayne Fuller on behalf of the USA POW and MIA association. We learnt from his conversation that later on in the year an event was being held at RAF Mildenhall as part of National Memorial week to remember some of the 91,780 servicemen who are either missing in action or were prisoners of war from WW1 to the present day. This week long event was being held on US bases simultaneously. We were invited to put on a display of our equipment/vehicles and do a small Living History Artillery display from the Vietnam era as this was the chosen conflict for 2004.

 

After many emails and phone calls organising and discussing what sort of display we were to put on and which VIPs and dignitaries were attending. The day finally arrived and 12 members of Rolling Thunder jumped aboard their green machines for the journey to RAF Mildenhall. The Vehicle convoy consisted of a M35 A1 6x6 Cargo marked as US Navy SeaBees towing our 105mm Howitzer, M35 A2 Guntruck with Quad fifty Gun Turret (Believed to be the only replica of its type in the world), M715 Kaiser Jeep Pick up truck and trailer, M151 A1 (Mutt) Gun Jeep with twin M60 machine guns and armoured windscreen and finally a M274 A3 Mechanical mule was in the line up.

   

On arrival to the base we were escorted to the memorial area opposite the 3rd Air Force Headquarters of the USAF. We were to put on a display next to the memorial stone on a grassed area. We set about getting the bulk of the display arranged. While we were doing this we were introduced to members of the 352nd Special Operations Group (SOG) who are part of the Air Force Special operations command. They were our host for the evening and once set up we went with them to the base bar to talk about the forthcoming event.

On Thursday we arose early for a full military breakfast American style and then put the finishing touches to our display. We also met up with our M151 A2 Mutt (marked up as Military Police) which had been on official duties all week on the base chauffeuring dignitaries and VIPs. 

Once the final touches to the displays were done we started to meet and greet servicemen from the base and people from the veterans association. There was a great deal of interest and conversation concerning our display and it certainly brought back memories for some of the Vietnam Vets who were surprised and pleased that we were keeping their memory alive

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One of the VIPs and guest of honour was Former Air Force sergeant Adrian Cronauer, author of the original story for the major motion picture "Good Morning Vietnam" The film highlights his involvement as a radio voice in Vietnam, which he says is loosely  portrayed by Robin Williams in the film. We got an exclusive rendition of his original "signature call" of "Goooooooooood Morning Vietnam".

 

Adrian Cronauer is much more than just a former disc jockey. He currently serves as a special assistant to the Deputy Assistant of the secretary of Defence for POW/ Missing personnel, his work allows him to explain what is being done to bring home POWs and those still missing , the location of these troops and the probability of finding their remains.

At 4.30 pm a parade was held where the laying of wreaths for the five services which are Army, Navy, Marines, Airforce and US Coast Guards took place. Once the parade finished we were asked to fire the 105 mm Howitzer five times, one shot for each service. From then on the reading of all the names of MIAs and POWs took place. Members of Rolling Thunder were also asked to take part in the reading. It was a moving moment indeed standing there reading the names of all those servicemen, it especially hit home when we read names of people from Great Britain.  This continued all through the night and all the following day.

On Friday Morning we had a guided tour y members of 352nd Special Operations Group around one of their hangers which contained a MH - 53J/M Long range Helicopter which was built in 1973 and apparently saw service during the late stages of the Vietnam War.  Between then and now the Helicopter has gone through many upgrades and is due to serve for many years to come. Because of the roll of the SOG the Helicopter was fitted out with Miniguns and 50Cal Browning on the rear door and we were also shown special operation kit and night vision goggles as well as some very impressive GPS. After the tour some of our members were invited to a talk by Adrian Cronauer on his work with the MIA POW association.
 

At the end of the day the retreat ceremony was held and the conclusion of the reading of names. The closure of memorial week was marked with a fly past of a MH - 53J/M Long range Helicopter and a MC - 130P Combat Shadow Air refuelling tanker, we were also asked to fire the Howitzer again as part of the final remembrance for 2004. After the ceremony we mixed with US serviceman and Adrian Cronauer and discussed many things that had happened to them during their service.

After new friendships had been made it was time to put the display away and head homeward. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people Col R.T Devereaux 100th Air Refuelling Wing commander, Wayne Fuller POW / MIA Lasion and memorial co-ordinator, Adrian Cronauer and the Members of 352nd Special Operation Group whom we can not name for security reasons but we hope you remain safe where ever you serve and all the people who made us welcome and helped us during our stay on the base.