| Comments: Some E-mail from Leland:
I will always have the warmest feelings for the USS Vance.
After they rescued
me I returned to Danang AB, RVN and flew another 65 misions in the F-100 over
North and South Vietnam. On one mission I was able to contact the Vance while
I was near Haiphong returning from a mission. Just a short radio contact to
say hello and thanks again. I returned CONUS and left the USAF Sept,1965 and
started flying for United Airlines.
Retired after 32 years in 1996 and live in Calif. Have a faded picture of a guy
in a lifboat coming alongside the Vance. You can't make out the big grin but its
there. I still remember the wardroom waiting lunch for me which I appreciated but
just couldn't eat. Had swallowed too much salt water and My jaws were sore from
the bashing about when I ejected and it hurt to eat so I just had ice cream.
The
next morning was the dangerous part as the Navy helicopter picked me off the aft
deck and returned me to Danang. The ship was pitching and I made a couple of repels
off the aft deck house on the way up as the helicopter had trouble holding station.
I still fly with the Coast Guard as a crewmwmber on C-130s out of Sacramento USCG
Airstation. They humor us old guys in the CG Auxillary and we try to contribute a
small bit to help out. I still occasionally fly the last F-100D. Its big, ugly,
smokes a lot and makes a huge noise when you light the afterurner. The kids love
it at airshows and I still get a kick flying the big iron bird.
Should any of you
remember 9 April 1965 I will never forget the loud cheer you made as the whaleboat
came alongside the Vance. I have never forgotten that.
Thanks to each of you that were there.
I will never forget you, nor will I ever fail to be grateful. Lee Holcomb, Captain, United Airlines, Retired. From: Leland Holcomb Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 7:58 PM To: jbetters@ussvance.com Subject: Thanks for the nice note Hi Joe, what a nice surprise to get your letter and find that there is a Vance Association. I would love to recieve your news letter and would be happy to contribute for the postage or any fees to support the association. I am pleased to be named as an associate member considering my stay aboard was rather limited. Also, I never embarked nor debarked. Is there any rule about this? I remember asking the Captain (Ross Wright) "Permission to come aboard sir" I had floated around in my dinghy for several hours in which the sea maker dye from my survival kit had leaked. My flight suit and most of me was a bright green and my face and nose still a bit bloody. The Captain looked at this and replied, "I don't know whether I want you on my ship or not". He laughed and shook my hand and sent me to the shower. I will take the picture off the wall and see if can be copied and perhaps restored by computer enhancement. I will see that you get a copy for your history regardless of how well it turns out. I didn't talk to you on ships radio but checked in with the radar center as they monitored the UHF tactical frequencys. Also this was probably in May, 1965 which was the cruise before yours. Best regards, Lee Holcomb |