Special Tribute

Stanley Mensing

 

Photo by Mike Kukuk

 

Tribute by Pat Christensen

This is the only photo that I know of of Stanley Mensing, KIA on August 12, 1969. Stan was driving the M 48 TC'd by SSgt Godwin where we all encountered about 200 NVA outside of Quan Loi base camp in the middle of the night.

Stan was driving one of 2 big boys which was a ready reaction force for some tracks that staked out a spot on the hardball road leading toward Quan Loi, which was supposed to get a ground attack. There were 2 "blocking forces" that were posted waiting for these enemy forces. We got the radio call that the "other" segment of A Troop was coming under attack. We broke our perimeter and reacted to their location a couple of miles away. We drove into a firefight and Stan's M-48 was one of 2 that was immediately RPG'd. Stan was killed instantly, and the tank set on fire.
My track, A19 was the last of the column responding into this mess. It was a night unforgetable. SSgt. Lawrence Nolan was in the original group staked out which was initially attacked by the NVA.

The point of this is that here in the photo section is a guy we all liked that didn't get to come home with us.

 

Update: 19 July 2009

The Following email was sent to Pat from Stan's sister

• Hello, Pat!
  
  Wanted you to know, the site should be getting several looks from Stan's
  family and friends as we have shared with so many and are still passingthe word.
  Today I took the picture to church and showed it to some friends...One
  lady-Margaret simply started crying so I offered her the picture...she
  hugged it...another friend was a neighbor at the time ..he simply stared
  and could not speak as his eyes teared up...his wife did the talking so I
  offered him the picture and told him about the site..He also held thepicture tight...
  We had a baby shower for my niece today and the first 30 minutes was all
  about the tribute....you have touched so many with the simple words and
  the picture...everyone is talking about closure...and how great the guys
  he was with must be...So thank you again...
  But how are you and what do you do...Do the veterans get together in your
  area...we have a group that meets and marches in various parade...but
  especially the Veterans parade in our county....we've been teasing them
  about needing cars soon and they are agreeing..some day we'll see cars
  with flags and signs on them...
  I really feel remiss in not inquiring about you and some of the others...
  Are any of the guys disabled because of their service...some of the guys
  here are not physically disabled but a couple have had other problems...as
  time as gone on, they are better but I do not think it ever goes away...
  I ramble when I get started. My brother Jim was told by one of Stan's best
  friends Don Davis, that Stan had been injured once before- Stan swore him
  to secrecy...Do you know what that was? If not..it isn't really that
  important in the big picture.
  Please take care
  Special prayers for all of you at Mass today.
  
  Thanks again!
  Phyllis Mensing
• The following from Don Davis

• I read the tribute to Stan on the ¼ Cav site and it said that the one picture was the only “known photo”.  Here are some others that I have that he sent me.  The one with him in the helmet liner was actually taken in Texas but I included it anyway.  The one of the helicopter is taken in front of the same building as shown on the web site only the chopper isn’t there.  Jean, please pass these on to the rest of your family.

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