May 1968, Spec/4 Dennis Vernacchia, NCOIC of MARS Radio Station AB8AY poses in front of Headquarters for the 3/506 Currahees of the 101st Airborne Division at LZ Betty ( Phan Thiet, Vietnam )
June 1968 - Spec/4 Dennis Vernacchia, 3/506, 101 Abn Div, takes over original MARS Radio Station located in a 6 foot square metal shipping container ( CONEX )
August 23, 1968 - This is the kickoff proposal letter for the project to acquire Christmas Gifts for all the troops serving at LZ Betty ( Phan Thiet ) Vietnam, sent by Mrs Irving Shandling to the General manager of AM Radio station KTKT in Tucson, AZ
Early September 1968 - This letter to me ( Sp/4 Dennis Vernacchia - NCOIC of MARS Radio Sation ) from Asst General Manager and Radio Announcer John Scott offering to launch project "Vietnam Merry Christmas" and asking for logistics information.
September 20, 1968 - 101st Airborne Div CO, LTC Walter Price responds with logistical information to Asst GM John Scott of AM radio station KTKT in Tucson
Page 2 of LTC Prices letter - AS you can see, certain logistical info could not be given and the actual troop count was inflated to 1500, though there were actually just under 1000 troops operating out of LZ Betty at the time !
October 16, 1968 - This is local Tucson newspaper ad placed by AM radio station KTKT requesting donations from the Tucson community to create 1000 Christmas gifts packages to be prepared for all the troops stationed at LZ Betty.
Dec. 1968 - Upgraded MARS Radio Station quonset hut and Antenna System where calls to 'The World" were put through for troops stationed at LZ Betty, ( Phan Thiet ) and "Operation Vietnam Merry Christmas" is co-ordinated with Tucson Radio Operator, Garry Shandling
Spec/5 Dennis Vernacchia operating MARS Radio Station AB8AY, out of relocated radio station in quonset hut, puts radio-telephone calls through to the states for the troops stationed at LZ Betty and to co-ordinate "Operation Vietnam Merry Christmas"
On or about Dec. 25, 1968 - Santa arrives by UH-1 Helicopter to distribute Christmas gift packages to Currahees of 3/506, 101st Airborne Division ( my unit ) in the field, operating out of LZ Betty.
The troops also receive Christmas Cards and create a makeshift Christmas Tree !
Another appreciative trooper and his Christmas Tree creation
Sgt Jerry Stabile gets to sit in Santa's lap and tell Santa what he REALLY wants for Christmas - Sorry, but his request was censored and denied !
More very appreciated Christmas cards !
Santa tells this young trooper " I bet what's in this Christmas package is a lot better eating than those C rations!" ( Boxes in the background )
Another happy 101st Airborne Currahee trooper receives a Christmas care package !
...and just so no one is left out, Santa delivers a VERY SPECIAL Christmas Gift for "Charlie" ( the Viet Cong ) - It arrived Special Delivery and with Great Impact !
January 1969, Mr and Mrs Irving and Muriel Shandling, receive accolade from 101st Airborne Division Currahee CO, LTC Manuel A. Alves for their effort in getting Christmas package/gifts to LZ Betty and are appointed "Honorary Currahees" ! ( From Tucson newspaper )
Jan 10, 1969 - Letter of appreciation that accompanied the following certificate sent to Mr and Mrs Shandling by LTC Manuel A. Alves, 3/506, 101st Airborne Division - Currahees
Jan 10, 1969 - Certificate of Service presented to Mr and Mrs Shandling by 3/506 101st Airborne Div CO, LTC Manuel A. Alves Post Script - Although LTC Price had suggested 1500 packages be shipped to Vietnam by commercial delivery and because the military could and would/could not "officially" deliver them, the Shandling family managed to talk an Air Force Sgt/Loadmaster of a regularly scheduled Tucson to Tan So Nhut AFB C-123 flight that originated out of Davis Monthan AFB to literally smuggle small quantities of the packages on board and eventually over 900 packages made it to LZ Betty with the help of some crafty Vietnam Medivac UH-1 chopper pilots ! For more info contact - Dennis Vernacchia n6ki ( at ) amsat ( dot ) org
