Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 31, Ed. 1 Monday, February 4, 1980 Page: 2 of 12
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2A-Borleson Star, Monday, February 4.
TAX OFFICE OPENS-It was moving-in day Friday for the county tax office in
the Burleson Sub-Courthouse in Suite No. 5 of the Basden Building on SH 174.
Debbie Powell of Burleson is the tax clerk in the new office, which will be open
Mon-Fri. from 8-5. Car registrations and title transfers are two of the functions
that now can be taken care of in Burleson. Star Staffoto.
County Questions
R-O-W Expenses
Vietnam Remembered—PART II
First Combat Mission
BY FRANK C. BADDER
That June morning in Vietnam’s Central Highlands
began normally enough. A quick check of the mission board
told me we had a resupply mission to Ben Het.
I’d been on flight status for two weeks now and this was to
be my first encounter with the normal routine of a combat
helicopter unit. The first two weeks had been spent in train-
ing as a gunner on the helicopter for the commanding
general of Il-OOrpl
It was a relief to read “Ben Het” on the mission board. No
sweat. Ben Het was “cold” - no enemy activity had been
reported there in months, but the scars left by VC rockets
were sufficient proof that it hadn’t always been that way.
I skipped breakfast and was the first one to reach the
helicopter~a Bell “Huey”. I checked my machine gun,
repacked the ammo belt and went mechanically through
the motions of preparing for the morning’s mission. The
rest of the crew straggled in eventually and we prepared to
take off.
The mist was still rising from the strip in Pleiku when we
lifted off in formation with a dozen other birds and headed
west past Artillery Hill, through the pass, then dog-legged
north past Kontum and Dak To before heading up the west
side of the northern mountain corridor to Firebase Ben Het.
That’s when I got the first indication that something
wasn’t quite right. The mission board had clearly said,
“Resupply-Ben Het,” but we were only a few “clicks”
away now and on final approach and we hadn’t stopped to
pickup any supplies.
Stashed away near the Cambodian-Laotian border, Ben
Het bulged some five hundred feet above the jungle floor.
The knobby peak had been bulldozed clean of jungle
undergrowth, turning it into a brown spot in a sea of green-
like a pimple in need of pinching.
We landed on the strip near the outer perimeter-right
next to a pile of ammo crates and C-rations that looked very
much as if they were waiting to be taken somewhere. The
pilots filed into a jeep which bounced them to the command
bunker near the top of the hill.
I was busily inspecting a shrapnel fragment when the
jeep bounced back down the hill again about an hour later.
That’s when we got the truth. Ben Het was only the pick-
up point. The real mission was to resupply Dak Seang, a few
miles to the east. For the past month, Dak Seang had been
under seige by two battalions of hard-core North Viet-
namese regulars. Thirty-one helicopters had been shot
down there in the last 30 days.
My knees went to rubber and my stomach felt as if it had
a cannonball in it. I’d never been under fire before.
The next hour-sitting there waiting to go-was the longest
hour I’ve ever lived. Dying couldn’t be nearly as hard as sit-
ting there waiting to die. It’s not like anything you can im-
agine.
I nervously alternated between pacing up and down the
landing pad and attempting to either sit or lie on the hot,
stamped aluminum floor of the helicopter. I checked and
repacked the ammo belts, then did it again-over and over. I
had to be SURE. I worked the action on my machine gun
repeatedly, changed out the barrel, then changed back
again.
And I prayed.
When the pilot finally signalled the go-ahead, I was on an
emotional roller-coaster-afraid to go but oh-so-thankful
that the waiting, at least, was over.
The bird climbed slowly, almost lazily into the dense
jungle air. It gets very cold at 3,000 feet with the doors open,
but somehow I didn’t notice it that day.
The “LZ” (landing zone) at Dak Seang was only big
enough for one bird at a time and I was in a frenzied state
when they call out our number over the mission frequency.
“Chalk three!” It was like a pistol shot. Two birds had
been in and out again without taking fire, but that was a
typical strategy of the enemy-to get you to relax and think
he wasn’t there today.
Down we spiraled toward the brown spot called Dak
Seang.
That’s when something snapped in me. The overwhelm-
ing fear suddenly was replaced by an irrational and
somehow pathetic rage.
I scoured the jungle floor for the tell-tale tracer line that
would inevitably rise to greet us. WHERE WERE THEY?
My thoughts were screaming louder than the shriek of the
chopper’s turbine engine.
I huddled there behind the twin triggers of my gun, wat-
ching the ground climb to greet me. And I remember pray-
ing for the opportunity to kill another human being.
“Oh please, God, let one of those little slant-eyed bastards
stick his head up just long enough for me to squeeze the trig-
ger and watch his brains explode! It’s HIS fault I’m here!
Please, God, let me kill him!”
Suddenly, though, we were on the ground and hands were
reaching in quickly to remove the load and we were off
again and over the side of the mountain and gone.
The silence rushed in. I couldn’t hear the engine. I
couldn’t hear the radios still crackling in my headphones. I
couldn’t see either, really-I was just sitting there, staring
blankly into a sort of grayness.
Slowly, the landscape came back into focus, the engine
noise broke through my shroud - and 1 realized we were
safe. Not a shot had been fired.
Later that afternoon we would learn that the enemy had
simply slipped away during the night.
And I felt cheated.
NEXT: Body count
Today Is County Filing Deadline
CLEBURNE - Johnson County Com-
missioners Friday took exception to a
what they termed “an excessive” re-
quest of the Texas Pipe Line Co. to lay
185 feet of pipeline on Farm-To-Market
Road 3048, two miles north of Keene, in
Pet. 2.
In a letter to commissioners, the
pipeline company stated it would fur-
nish labor and materials if commis-
sioners would pay $31,000 plus 18 per-
cent of indirect related costs.
In a separate matter and in a second
letter, the pipeline company, also, re-
quested the county pay 70 percent of a
825,000-plus project to lay 62-feet along
a right-of-way on Farm-To-Market
Road 3136 in Precinct 3.
Commissioners conceded they were
of
the opinion the county w responsible for
acquiring new righUafAvayMMd that
the pipeline company is responsible for
coBts in making line adjustments in ex-
isting right-of-ways.
They asked County Judge Tommy
Altaras to write a letter to the Texas
Highway Department engineer in
Austin to clarify what are the indirect
costs, what the expense is based on and
if the company is taking bids for the
work.
Judge Altaras said, “We haven’t
voted yet to pick up FM Road 3048. We
are still dealing with FM Road 3136.”
IN A RELATED MATTER. Judge
Altaras told commissioners that out of
27 parcels of land to be purchased for
right of ways on FM 3136, only 13 have
been acquired to date, leaving 14 still to
be acquired. He requested condemna-
tion of the remaining 14 parcels that are
blocking progress on the road improve-
ment planned Commissioners granted
the request.
He explained the condemnations will
mean owners will now have to go to
court to determine the exact value of
the land and abide by the court ruling.
Pam Davies, director of the Johnson
County Department of Human
resources and A.R. Lawrence, chair-
man of TDHR board, appeared before
commissioners with a request to
change a line budget item of $10,000 to
be used for counseling services to
parents and children, who come under
their care.
BURLESON STAR
(USPS-079780)
Second-Class Postage paid at
Burleson, Texas. 76028.
Wayne Hutson Editor & Publisher
James Moody Managing Editor
Chuck Hutson Advertising Mgr.
Subscription Price $9.25 Per Year
In Johnson and Tarrant Counties
Other areas of Texas, $12.25
Outside Texas, $13.50
The Burleson Star is an indepen-
dent newspaper published twice
weekly on Monday and Thursday in
the interest of Burleson and adja-
cent areas by Burleson Publishing
Company, Inc., 319 N. Burleson
Blvd. Burleson, Tx„ 76028. Any er-
roneous reflection on any individual
or firm will be corrected if brought
to the attention of the editor. Ad-
dress all correspondence to the
Editor, Burleson Star. P.O. Box 383,
Burleson, Texas 76028.
P08TMASTER: Send address
changes to Burleson Star, P.O. Box
383. Burleson, Texas 76028.
They said Title IV-B Funds that had
provided this counseling service in the
past have expired.
Each speaker concurred the counsel-
ing services with parents and children
had reduced the number of children
that had to be taken out of their own
homes and placed in foster homes,
where their board and room was paid
by the department.
“We did not have the counseling ser-
vice in 1977, when we had 144 referrals
and of this number 34 children were
placed in foster homes. In 1979, with
counseling services, we had 228 refer-
rals but it was necessary to remove, on-
ly 12 children from homes,” Mrs.
Davies said.
“If we are forced to drop the counsel-
ing services, then we will have an in-
crease in children in foster homes,” she
pointed out.
COMMISSIONERS GRANTED the
request to transfer funds within the
budget to provide the counseling ser-
vice and followed up with praise for the
work the TDHR is doing with abused
and neglected children in the county.
Commissioners directed County
Auditor Bob Wylie to advertise the sale
of county equipment; time, date, and
place to be announced later. Included in
the sale will be three county passenger
cars that were described as junk, but,
perhaps of value to someone, and one
road grader. Additional items may be
added later to the sale.
Judge Altaras announced than an
organizational meeting of the Johnson
County Industrial Foundation will be 1
p.m. Feb. 7 in the third floor county
courtroom. Altaras said the county
received its certification to form the
foundation Jan. 27, 1980. Five area
bankers make up the foundation board.
Altaras said the directors will draw
up by-laws, terms of offices and policy
guidelines, as well as name officers.
Commissioners also approved conti-
nuing membership in the County Judge
and Commissioners Association with
the payment of $100 annual dues; gave
Altaras permission to close out a
44-cent bank account in the name of the
Johnson County Courthouse Restitution
Account, which has been dormant for
over two years; and also gave the judge
permission to remove some old law
books from the courthouse attic.
“The law books are of no use to the
county now because the laws are out-
dated and they are creating a fire
hazard,” Altaras said. “There are also
some old tax forms stacked on the
floor.”
“ALTARAS SAID HE would deter-
mine if any of the books werevaluable
from a historical standpoint and if any
library or historical society would be in-
terested in them.
Garry Luker of Granbury, owner of a
land company, and making a bid for
District 23 state representative, re-
quested time before commissioners to
outline his qualifications for the office
he is seeking.
4Free’ Meal
Is Costly
An Alvarado man found more obliga-
tions than he anticipated Wednesday
night when he and another man walked
a $12.21 check at Pizza Inn here.
Restaurant employees notified
Burleson police and gave a description
of a car heading south on Highway 174.
The vehicle was located in Joshua and
police there talked to two men.
The men said they “forgot” to pay
and would return to pay the bill and
restaurant employees said that would
be satisfactory.However, that did not
satisfy Burleson police Who found one of
the men was wanted on warrants and
arrested him anyway.
★ Chamber
Continued from ^age t
itself. There were few buildings on 1-35
and fewer buildings between Renfro
and the Burleson State Bank.
“Where are we going to be 10 years
from now? Where will we be next year?
By the grace of God, I hope we will have
achieved some of our goals,” she con-
cluded.
The incoming chamber president in-
troduced other new officers who will
serve on the executive board: Ted
Whitley, first vice president and presi-
dent of the Good Life Ambassadors
Club; Frank Pace, second vice presi-
dent; Barbara Gieser, executive vice
president and treasurer
Serving on the board of directors for
1980 are Richard Bransom, Bob Cosby,
Wayne Hutson, Harold Putnam, Ken
Jenkins, James Jenkins, Robert Gam-
ble, Marion Howard, Butch Myres.
"OUTGOING CHAMBER PRESI-
DENT Wayne Hutson took a backward
look at some chamber Ac-
complishments in 1979, listing the ac-
quisition of a County Sub-Courthouse in
Burleson; the organizing of the Good
Life Ambassadors Club; and the con-
tinuation of the chamber’s annual
events, such as, the Tent Sale and an-
nua) Fourth of July Celebration to
name a few.
“None of these things could have
been done without the cooperation of
the entire membership,” he said.
He cited James Jenkins for his work
in helping persaude county officials to
approve a sub-courthouse; Carl and
Fran Basden for coming up with a loca-
tion for the county offices; Naomi
Cheslock, as membership chairman
and organizing the Good Life Am-
bassador Club; Jay Darnell for a suc-
cessful annual Tent Sale project; Bill
Spurgin, as banquet chairman and
organizing a Political Town Hall Rally;
Frank Pace for successfully promoting
and planning the Fourth of July
Celebration; Ted Whitley as top
membership salesman of the year by
signing up 3C new members this year
THE BURLESON VOLUNTEER
Fire Department, in being named for
the Community Distinguished Service
Award for 1979 now joins the illustrious
roster of other DSA honorees, Lloyd
Bransom in 1971; Wayne Hutson, 1973;
J.R. Schumaker, 1974; Bill Stribling,
1975; Dr. Dean Franklin, Dr. E.
Schmeltekopf, and Geroge Bransom
Sr., 1976; Ben Hill, 1977; Dr. and Mrs.
Donald C. Reifel, 1978; Joe Gude, 1979.
Bettie Wyatt, who chairmanned civic
clubs’ participation in the banquet by
providing centerpieces depicting their
activities, announced Burleson
Business and Professional Women’s
Club won first place and $25; Burleson
Arts and Crafts, second place and $15;
Cindy Myers’ Girl Scouts, $10 and third
place with an honorable mention going
to Nola Dunn Elementary School for
their entry of a floral arrangement in a
red Snoopy lunchbox surrounded by an
apple, pencils an4 tablejs. **
-She commended otter,;, entrifsj
American Cancer Society, Burleson
Band Boosters Club, Omega Delta
Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority,
Cub Scouts Den 2, Burleson Boys Club,
Burleson Garden Club, Burleson
Ministerial Association, Burleson
Mounties Riding Club, Violet Berna’s
Camp Fire Group, Daughters of St.
Ann, Eumathian Club, Town and Coun-
try Garden Club, Caddo Peak Girls
Scouts and Community Education.
RECOGNITION WAS accorded retir-
ing chamber directors Jay Darnell,
Curt Apel, Dwight Lilly, and Bill
Spurgin.
Banquet speaker, Banker Lee Herr-
ing of Grand Prairie, lived up to his bill-
ing as a humorist by keeping up a rapid-
fire run of jokes that had the audience
still laughing at one joke, while he was
telling another.
His moments of seriousness were
few, much to the delight of his au-
dience, but he did manage a few non-
laughter provoking remarks, when he
commended the chamber upon its spirit
and commented, “What you are doing
is one of the great things you will
receive out of life. . .serving your com-
munity, church, friends and family.”
“I’ve heard you are the fastest grow-
ing community in. . .is it Texas? or the
United States?. . anyway, you are do-
ing a great job,” he said.
Herring dramatized his
philosophy. . .“Laughter is just like
music for making'We-so sweet”. The
audience's laughter Thursday night
must have been music to his ears.
Invocation was offered by James
Horton, minister of Burleson Church of
Christ with benediction given by Rev.
Mike Wills, pastor of First Christian
Chruch.
Preceding the program and
speeches, students, dressed in blue
jeans, white shirts with red bow ties,
from the fifth grade at Nola Dunn
Elementary School, where banquet
chairman Bill Spurgin is principal, lead
the audience in unison repetition of
Pledge of Allegiance.
Philo Waters, David Vandersand,
Bryan Wenzel, Philip Pregeant, DeAn-
na Smith, Carrie Matzner, Andrew
Wheeler, Melissa Mangham, Michelle
Eller and Carla Storey recited original
thoughts on “What America Means To
Me”.
They were accompanied to the ban-
quet by fifth grade,-teachers, Ann
Brock, David Thompson, and Grace
Behnke.
And the banquet was not without its
special guests from out, of town, 249th
District Judge C.C. (Kit) Cooke,
District Attorney John MacLean, both
Alvarado, A.J. Lambert of Joshua
chamber officials from Cleburne and
Granbury, a sprinkling of political
aspirants, city officials Mayor Robert
Abies, City Manager Mark Sowa,
Burleson Independent School District
Superintendent Bill Stribling, school
board president, Maurice Shepherd and
representatives from Lone Star Gas Co
and Texas Electric Co.
Two more names have been dropped
into the County Tax
Assessor-Collector’s hopper at
Democratic filing headquarters in
Cleburne and will appear on the May 4
primary ballot to make a total of three
Johnson Countians to date seeking the
office now held by Dennis McWilliams.
McWilliams has indicated he will not
seek again the office he has held for 27
years. Ill health is one of the con-
tributing factors in McWilliams’ deci-
sion not to run again.
Jackie Morgan, an electrical con-
tractor from Rio Vista, and A.L. “Bud”
Sellers of Cleburne, a retired rancher,
dependent School taxman, who was the
first to file for the upcoming vacancy.
His contract with BISD ends this year.
Today, Feb. 4, is the deadline for fil-
ing for any of the nine county offices
that are on the line in the 1980 elections.
Incumbent County Sheriff Stuart A.
Huffman of Burleson and Fort Worth
policeman Delphus D. Runnels of
Cleburne both want the county law en-
forcement job and will have a face-off
in the May primary. Huffman is seek-
ing his third four-year term.
In a re-shuffling of positions, Pet. 1
PI. 2 Constable Sammy Glenn of
Cleburne has decided to challenge In-
cumbent JOP Vernon Asher, also of
Cleburne, for that office. While
Cleburne garageman Charles Hauk has
filed for the Glenn spot on the ballot.
Incumbents, seeking re-election
unopposed, are County Attorney Dan
Boulware, Pet. 1 Commissioner Bill At-
wood of Cleburne; Pet. 3 Commissioner
Loyd Reese of Alvarado; Constables
W.IJ. Gregory of Joshua, C.E. (Red)
Fannon of Alvarado, and J.W. Tackett
of Grandview.
Lowell Stroud, 62, of Cleburne has fil-
ed for Republican County Chairman,
Voter Registrations Returned
Ten chances to one if you have not received your Voters Registration
Certificate by now, it probably has been returned to the County Tax
Assessor-Collector’s office in Cleburne.
County taxman Dennis McWilliams said Friday his office has had “a
whole bunch returned since they were mailed around the first of
January. If a resident has moved or had a name change, the post office
will not forward them.”
“If you have not received your voting certificate,” McWilliams asked,
“please notify my office in writing of any change in name or address. If
you don’t have that little card you won’t be able to vote in any of the up-
coming important elections,” he pointed out.
Deadline for notifying the tax office in writing of any status changes is
March 1, according to McWilliams.
of Cleburne; County .Commissioners
Bill Atwood, of Clebifrne, Loyd Reese of
filed last week for the tax office job.
They join Ed Carroll, Burleson In-
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Hutson, Wayne & Moody, James. Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 31, Ed. 1 Monday, February 4, 1980, newspaper, February 4, 1980; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth761145/m1/2/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Burleson Public Library.