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Transcription of Newspaper article by Bob Schieffer of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram 2-4-1966
Fort-Worth Star Telegram
Eighty-Sixth Year, No.4 **** Friday, February 4, 1966
OLD FRENCH FORT
Texas Pair Keeping Watch Over 'Alamo' of Viet Nam
By BOB SCHIEFFER
Star-Telegram Writer
DA NANG-It figures that if there is an old French fort at the base of
Marble Mountain in Viet Nam, and it looks like the Alamo, then there must
be a couple of Texans here to guard it.
" Why sure" said Gunnery Sgt. Wayne Bowen of Cuero,a big marine
noncom who almost looks like John Wayne. " 'Course Strodtman, our resupply
man, is more at home here than me," Bowen added. "He's from San
Antonio."
Supplyman Lance Cpl. George H. Stroudtman was out resupplying when we
visited the fort the other day but he's supposed to look like Davy Crockett,
the other fellows said. " Well would you believe he looks like Fess
Parker?" somebody added.
Actually the old building looks more like a fort than the Alamo. But the
fellows here call it the Alamo and the courtyard does somewhat resemble
the spot where Col.William Travis drew the line in the sand and asked everybody
who wanted to defend the Alamo to step across.
The Fort was built at the foot of Marble Mountain in 1951 by the french,
who have long since abandoned it.Today it is the supply dump and home for
Bowen and the 28 persons in his section. Bowen's moter, Mrs. Bessie Bowen
lives in Cuero, His wife wife Ruth and the sons Richard 13, Greg10, Benny
8, and Norman 6, live in Laredo.
the Dump is used to stockpile food airlifted each morning to Marine patrols
defending the perimeter of the area."it's a good place to watch the
war," Bowen cracked. "At night we sit up on the wall there and
watch the fire fights.Other than snipers, we don't get much action up here"
Transcribed by Ben Bowen November 3, 1999 from the original
newsclipping.
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