[Vhfcn-l] Fw: White Team 33, ARVN and AATV

Wed Dec 22 23:01:56 EST 2021

G’day Moe,

This has come up before.

I firmly believe that they are talking about John Barnes.  Unfortunately, John passed away on 3rd November 2020.  John was with 1st Bn 1st ARVN Division at the time.  He told me a few times about the incident and the deep shit they were in. Mentioned the chopper support had saved their hides.  Years ago I also had contact from a US chopper pilot  (cannot remember the names) who landed to retrieve some dead and injured from the battlefield and the skids of his chopper landed on John’s boots.  John gave him what for in his Australian vernacular (drawl).  John had a very Australian tone in his voice and I am sure the blokes would have known they were dealing with an Aussie.

Take care and Persevere,

Rick

Entry Date: 3rd November 2020
Updated: 7th November 2020

A soldier died today

WO2 J. (John) T. Barnes RAINF, AATTV

Colonel J. A. Clark, Commanding Officer, of the Australian Army Training
Team Vietnam (AATTV) (left), serves himself at a New Year's buffet while 15942
Warrant Officer Class 2 John Thomas Barnes (right) carves up the turkey.
        The celebration took place on the third (top) floor of AATTV Headquarters in
          Can Tho following planning on the redeployment of the AATTV Night Operations
Advisory Team (NOAT)/Night Operations Training Team (NOTT) in IV Corps.

G’day all,

A private service will be held for John on Monday, 9th November.  Click on the link below from North West Funerals for further details.  You will be able to join the service by clicking on their link.

https://www.northwestfunerals.com.au/funeral-notices/notice/barnes-john-thomas

BARNES, John Thomas
Passed away peacefully in Mildura on November 2, 2020, aged 77 years. Cherished husband of 52 years to Cheryl, loved father and father-in-law of Petrina and Damien; Tanya and Kim. Adored ‘Grandpa’ of Baden, Molly and Harry.  John was a loved son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many.
‘Lest we forget’
Funeral Notice
Private service
Due to the current restrictions a private service will be held.
A public telecast of John’s service will be available to watch via the link below from 10:30am on Monday 9th November 2020.
JOHN THOMAS BARNES' FUNERAL SERVICE TELECAST
May John now Rest In Peace,

Take care and Persevere,

Rick

G’day all,

Sad news after a telephone call from Cheryl Barnes on the passing on 2nd November 2020 of her husband and fellow Team member WO2 J. (John) T. Barnes aged 77 years.  John served with AATTV in South Vietnam from 14 May 1970 – Sep 70, 1/1 ARVN, 1st Division, Quang Tri. Oct - Dec 70, DIOCC, Cho Gao. Jan – Mar 71, Night Advisory Team 2, Can Tho. RTA 7 Apr 71.

In addition to unit citations awarded to AATTV, John was also awarded the US Bronze Star for Valour (with ‘V’ Device) and the US Army Commendation Medal for Service.

I am sure that all Team members would want to pass on their sincerest condolences and deepest sympathies to Cheryl, family and friends on this sad occasion of the passing of John.  John had been in and out of hospital many a time over the past years and was in palliative care in hospital at the time of his passing surrounded by family members.  John was a stalwart and proud member of AATTV.  John was also a great advocate when it came to veterans rights and a tenacious fighter on issues that affected his fellow veterans.  He was a great warrior who served his country well and he will be sorely missed by us all.

Condolence messages can be passed to Cheryl and family via email: jbar9388 at bigpond.net.au

Funeral details will be provided once known.

May John now Rest In Peace.

Take care and Persevere,

Rick

Lest we forget

From: Darrell Elmore <moeelmore at aol.com> 
Sent: Thursday, 23 December 2021 4:35 AM
To: advisor at echidna.id.au
Subject: Fwd: [Vhfcn-l] Fw: White Team 33, ARVN and AATV

I got this email via a round about way.  Maybe you can put it on one of your sites in hopes the name could be found and the pilot will know what happened to the people they were supporting.  Moe Elmore

-----Original Message-----
From: Mel Canon via Vhfcn-l <vhfcn-l at lists.vhfcn.org <mailto:vhfcn-l at lists.vhfcn.org> >
To: MoeElmore at aol.com <mailto:MoeElmore at aol.com> 
Sent: Wed, Dec 22, 2021 10:02 am
Subject: [Vhfcn-l] Fw: White Team 33, ARVN and AATV

Can anyone help with this request?  If so, just get it back to me and I'll forward it on.

Mel

  ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Terrance Vraniak <whiteteam33 at hotmail.com <mailto:whiteteam33 at hotmail.com> >To: Mel Canon <melcanon at yahoo.com <mailto:melcanon at yahoo.com> >Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 03:25:54 AM ESTSubject: RE: White Team 33, ARVN and AATV

Hey Mel,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.  Just a note, has anyone responded yet?  Thanks, Tv/Thunder33

From: Mel Canon <melcanon at yahoo.com <mailto:melcanon at yahoo.com> > 

Sent: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 2:14 PM

To: whiteteam33 at hotmail.com <mailto:whiteteam33 at hotmail.com> ; Pronoia Point Homestead <james.dooley at gmail.com <mailto:james.dooley at gmail.com> >

Cc: Bert Hoebee <hoebee at apex.net.au <mailto:hoebee at apex.net.au> >

Subject: Re: White Team 33, ARVN and AATV

Terrance...if you can respond to this, please just do a reply all and that way we'll all be in the loop and know that it's moving along.

Thanks...Mel

On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 9:00:54 AM EST, Pronoia Point Homestead <james.dooley at gmail.com <mailto:james.dooley at gmail.com> > wrote:

Mel,

Bert's question is to Mr. Vraniak.  Does he happen to remember the name of the ARVN unit involved?  

Bert might be able to facilitate linkages between Mr. Vraniak and the AATV Network, which again, might generate a name for the original request.

Thanks, Mel!  Mr. Vraniak is also in the TO line, and Bert is CC'd for their situational awareness.

- Ryan

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Bert Hoebee <hoebee at apex.net.au <mailto:hoebee at apex.net.au> >

Date: Tue, Feb 2, 2021, 10:41 PM

Subject: White Team 33, ARVN and AATV

To: Pronoia Point Homestead <james.dooley at gmail.com <mailto:james.dooley at gmail.com> >

Ryan

Further to my last, maybe you can let Terrance Vraniak, White Team, Thunder 33, that I have put his request to an old comrade in arms and boss of mine, who may be able give us a ‘hook’ into the Australian advisor (AATV) network in the hope of digging up a name.

You never know and it would be nice to put these people in touch!  Does Tv33 know the name of the ARVN unit involved?

Bert

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Mel Canon <melcanon at yahoo.com <mailto:melcanon at yahoo.com> >

Date: Fri, Jan 29, 2021, 11:31 AM

Subject: Re: Australian troops

To: Terrance Vraniak <Whiteteam33 at hotmail.com <mailto:Whiteteam33 at hotmail.com> 

>, James Ryan Dooley <james.dooley at gmail.com <mailto:james.dooley at gmail.com> >

On Thursday, January 21, 2021, 4:33:27 PM EST, Terrance Vraniak <whiteteam33 at hotmail.com <mailto:whiteteam33 at hotmail.com> > wrote: 

Mel, if they ever get anything going on with Australia for their recognition, I would like to find out about an Aussie adviser that was advising an Arvn group on a ridge line along the Ashau Valley out of Quan Tri in Aug/Sept 1970?

We were a “White Team” pair of scout loaches coming back from Quan Tri when we took an emergency radio transmission of a unit in heavy contact and at the time no support was available.  We accepted the mission, Thunder 33 and Thunder 26; and engaged the enemy until we were exhausted.  The guy was super on the radio with his Australian drawl, even though surrounded and in heavy contact this guy was as cool and calm as could be on the radio.  We expended our 4000 rounds of mini-gun, 1500 rounds of M-60 and various frag grenades on the enemy around him.  We had to leave to rearm and refuel, however; I think we took over 12 rounds between 26 and myself and could not return due to aircraft issues and availability.  We called all units we knew to get support for this group on the way back, but we never found out if they made it or not.  I would love to find out that guys’ name and meet him  before we die if he is still living.

Thanks for anything. Tv/33

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