Richard Ray Landers KIA May 2, 1968
Richard Landers was born and raised in California and was Killed in Action on May 2, 1968.
Tony Martisauskas was born in Germany. His parents, fleeing post war Communist East Germany, immigrated to America and the family settled in Northwest Indiana. At the age of seven Tony became a US citizen and after high school Tony joined the Army to serve the country that gave his family the opportunity to live in freedom.
The Vietnam War brought them together at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the spring of 1967 when they became members of the 3rd Battalion, Airborne, 506th Infantry. They became friends during training and on the boat to Vietnam and in combat that friendship deepened into the bond that only brothers can know. All this would end for Rich on a beach in Pham Thiet, Vietnam; for Tony the bond endures to this day.
On the night of May 2nd they were assigned to guard duty down on the beach by the Club. After dark, sampans began approaching their area and they became engaged with a superior enemy force which ultimately overwhelmed them, resulting in Rich Landers being Killed in Action and Tony unconscious and dying from a gunshot wound to the head. Tony survived due to the excellent work of the medics and Doctor Andrew Lovy, our Battalion Surgeon.
After having ribs used to repair his head wound and physical therapy Tony returned home to Indiana. Like most returning Vietnam Veterans Tony received no help for his survivor’s guilt which haunts him to this day.
In 2000 Tony reluctantly came to Fort Campbell for a reunion and reunited with his Currahee Brothers and their families.
The following are his words in a message to me.
Mike, the reunion in 2000, held @ Ft. Campbell was a nervous, but anticipated one for me, and very special. It was my 1st, after being talked into attending by JB
Nevertheless, being extremely self-conscious of my inability to no longer being able to ambulate w/ the aid of a cane, I didn't know what my peers or fellow paratroopers would think after not seeing them for over 30 plus yrs?
Upon arrival, I called the hotel the Gomes family was spending the night, and Kaye re-assured me that Jerry was anxious to rendezvous in the morning.
After the intros, and re-intro, after many yrs, it was time to head for the base.
After touring the military museum, old barracks, we proceeded to the parade grounds for the changing of command ceremony followed by a parade in which I was talked into to be a participant, and I'm thankful to Jerry and Kaye for treating me like a human being.
Mike you have to understand I not only knew I was suffering w/ PTSD, @ the time, but had withdrawn from the social scene due to ridicule for being disabled, physically challenged , or whatever term you want to use.
Continuing the tour , and hooking-up w/ some of the people I knew, I was informed that Rich Landers widow, Dianna , and her two sons were @ this reunion, and that they wanted to meet me.
This really got my adrenaline going, and I felt as though I had to leave altogether, but it worked out in the end.
Gomes asked if I would be willing to present her, and her sons w/ a Screaming Eagle flag signed by some of the paratroopers in attendance.
Reluctant at first, and looking for excuses not to go through with the private presentation, I asked Jerry if he would do the honor, but told me that it would be appropriate coming from me , because I was w Rich when he was killed.
I told Gomes again, I don't know what to say, he said you'll find the words.
I did just that. After the presentation, I'm uncertain of which of his sons approached me, and asked me what happened to my dad?
Mike, that blew me away, I wasn't expecting that, but overall, it turned out fairly well, and some of the stress built up for over the yrs. was relieved.
This began Tony’s long and winding road to come to grips with surviving, while Rich did not. After hearing about the “Goatwoman” doing portraits of KIA’s from the War on Terror, he contacted her and commissioned at his personal expense a portrait of Richard Landers. The painting now hangs in Tony’s home, a permanent reminder of a Brother lost in Battle.
Tony and his wife Julie are frequent visitors to our home and I am proud to call him my Brother.
For more information on Kaziah Hancock, aka the Goatwoman, the president and founder of Project Compassion, who does free paintings for fallen Iraq and Afghanistan KIA’s, and who did the Landers portrait, visit the following website.
http://www.kaziahthegoatwoman.com/PCSF/project_compassion_v2.html
This was at times a sad story but I felt it should be told for the benefit of all.
Mike Krawczyk