SEARCH RESULTS

David Samuels

---

Every night there were gunships on alert in case they were needed. Pilot David Samuels got a call from a ground unit that was under siege from a much larger force of VC and were just about overrun. The weather was too bad to fly but he and his crew agreed to go. Three times, they slogged through the rain and returned to refuel and re-arm and the enemy was chased back into Cambodia. The commander of the rescued unit made sure he was recognized for saving his hide. (10:36)

---

Huey pilot David Samuels opines that, considering the way Vietnam turned out, maybe we should pick and choose which wars to get into with a little more wisdom. (2:43)

David Strickler

---

His experience in construction work determined his path in the Marines. David Strickler started running a crane when he was fourteen years old and he could operate most any heavy machinery. He joined a newly formed engineer battalion and shipped out for the Pacific. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (5:01)

---

Combat engineer David Strickler went into Guadalcanal with the Marines after dodging Japanese air attacks offshore. He describes the planes coming in and a near miss from a dive bomber. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (5:51)

---

While on Guadalcanal, David Strickler had to contend with a lone Japanese plane that would come over in the middle of the night and attack the Marine bivouacs. One night while investigating the damage, he made a grisly discovery. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (2:34)

---

While constructing a runway on Guadalcanal, combat engineer David Strickler had to dodge rounds from a Japanese artillery piece mounted on rails. It would emerge from a cave up in the high ground and rain shells down below. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (5:32)

---

After Guadalcanal was secured, combat engineer David Strickland and his unit were sent to New Zealand to recuperate and refurbish their equipment. He suffered a sprained ankle while working on a bulldozer but at least he avoided the malaria that hit so many others. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (4:23)

---

The engineer battalion boarded a rickety Liberty ship that was commanded by a retired Merchant Marine captain who had been summoned back to service. This old salt really hated the Navy. Fortunately, they had escort, which came in handy when a Japanese sub appeared. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (5:02)

---

As combat engineer Davis Strickler watched Navy personnel drop and ruin a crane they were unloading, he knew he had to step in and show these guys how it's done. The Navy officers were suitably impressed. This was at Tinian, which was also where a buddy of his showed up with a jug of sake. Was it safe to drink? (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (5:02)

---

David Strickler recalls a big storm he rode out when his engineering unit was being transported from Tinian to Okinawa. Once there, he had to contend with mud and snipers. He also saw a spectacular kamikaze attack in the harbor. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD G. MCDANOLDS.) (4:49)