battle of can re bridge

[larry crowder]

I am a first cousin of Lynn Crowder, and like Lynn, I served in Vietnam. In fact I served three tours albeit with the U.S. Army and spent twenty five years in the military. When I discovered this site I was overjoyed to find out more about what happened to Lynn. I was particularily proud of Lynn's actions. As a veteran of Vietnam and later of the first Gulf War a question came to me about the way Lynn and his fellow marines fought that night. By my understanding the highest ranking marine out there that night was a lance corporal/E3. Where were the higher ranking NCO's and officers? When Charlie was first spotted why did'nt someone call in artillery support? John Thomas mentions that the ARVN's with the unit vanished as soon as the first shot was fired and the headquarters bunker did not reinforce because they thought they had ample numbers to defend. This is all too typical of the bad things that happened to good people in Vietnam. Even after all these years I can't understand why.....it still seems to be a total waste of a good life and I will always regret that my cousin never made it back to the hills of mississippi to hunt and raise a family.

[Anita Bailey Lanier]

My three sisters and I are looking for information about my father, who we believe was the Commanding Officer of the 1st Military Police Battalion during the fire-fight at Cam Le Bridge in February of 1969. His name was Lt. Col. James D. Bailey. Our father never spoke of his time in Viet Nam and we never asked (which we regret now). He died at the age of 58 from bladder cancer. He would have been 74 years old if he had lived. We have read Lee Forester's account of the fire-fight at Cam Le Bridge and found a forwarded letter of appreciation to the marines who fought that day signed by D. M. Tennant and one signed by my father.
If anyone has any information about my father and his tour in Viet Nam, we would appreciate it. Thanks! Anita Bailey Lanier

[Fletcher]

Anita- I was at the Battle of Cam Le. I did not know your father, but he was the CO and I did recieve a meritorious promotion from him in April 1969. He presided over the small ceremony they had for me! Good luck trying to get information. Try the Guestbook at the www.1stmp.net website, I think more people frequent that source of information. Sempre Fi--Steve Fletcher

[Anita Bailey Lanier]

Steve, Thanks so very much for your reply to my message. I will definitely try the web site you suggested, and will pass the information along to my sisters. It is amazing how comforting it is to find even little pieces of information. Thank you so much! Anita