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Earlier in one of the exchanges vis-a-vis We Were Soldiers a debate flared up as to whether the character of Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now was based on an actual person or just reflected a pastiche of certain attitudes conjured up by John Milius. I contended that indeed the character was largely based on Lt. Col. John B. Stockton, squadron commander of the real 1st Squadron - 9th Cav of the First Cav Divison (Airmobile).
I did a little research and lo and behold Milius actually got the idea for the character from -- hold on to your hats -- Steve Kanaly of Dallas fame (Ray Krebs) who served as a radioman in Col. Stockton's outfit, was a mil. advisor on A Now, and suggested the character to Milius when they met at a skeet shooting range. You can learn all about it at the links below:
http://www.google.com/search?
q=cache:Mb5p7tq4B88C:film.tierranet.com/films/a.now/script.
html+Steve+Kanaly+%26+John+Milius&hl=en
http://www77.pair.com/timem/kanaly/indexm.htm
http://www.blu.org/b227th/page2.html
http://www.troa.org/Magazine/September2000/BookShelf.asp
http://www.google.com/search?
q=cache:6mq1aHbC0D4C:www.militaryhistory.com/vietnam/letter
s/2000/0600.htm+Lt.+Col.+John+B.+Stockton&hl=en
The final comment concerns the battles at LZ Albany and X- Ray. The American death rate would have been lower if the 1/9th Cav had been available. Unfortunately, due to Lt. Col. Stockton's actions on November 3-4, he was relieved of his command and the squadron laagered at the "Turkey Farm" near New Pleiku. This left the 3rd without the eyes and ears of the 1/9th Cav. The truth about this has never been told--but those of us who were there know the real story.
David J. Allen Brig. Gen. U.S. Army (ret.) Commander, Bullwhip Squadron Assoc. Ozark, Ala.
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