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Taken in the 3rd platoon hootch at Cobb Bridge. Jim Whalen on the left, Doug Whiting in the center, and Joe Bonifas on the right. Jim and Doug were part of third platoon that tripped a booby trap July 10, 1969 just across the river from Tugboat. Jim was badly wounded and Doug was killed. Doug was Joe's best friend and even 30+ years hasn't erased the pain for him. |
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| Benny Valdez on the left, Joe Bonifas in the middle, and Doug Whiting on the right. Taken at Cobb Bridge. Just off of Doug's shoulder you can see some of the village just outside our lines. Notice that Valdez is carrying an M-14 rather than the M-16. |
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| The grave of Doug Whiting. When Joe and I met in Columbus, Ohio in Nov., 2000 he talked a lot about the night that Doug was killed. As he talked you could see that he was reliving the whole thing in his mind. I don't beleive he knew that he was crying while he spoke. After getting out of the service Joe made a trip to California to visit Doug's family and the gravesite. |
| Taken at Hotel Battery. l to r: possibly Dan Libby, Unknown, Lester Jones, probably Lt. Lloyd Lindsey, Unknown. The unknown Marine on the far left may be Dan Libby. |
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| Joe Bonifas and myself at the Holiday Inn in Columbus, November 21, 2000. It was a GREAT visit. |
| From Joe Bonifas |
| From Joe Bonifas |
| From Joe Bonifas |
| From Joe Bonifas |
| From Travis Skaggs |