December 2008
E Company Patrolling Article Fall 2007
By Rick Stetson Unit Director
E Company was saddened in October to learn of the death of Raymond Hulin, one of the original members of the 9th Division long range patrol. The headline in the "Port Arthur News" read: "Local rodeo legend Hulin dies at 65." The article recognized Hulin for his induction into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame and mentioned his high school and college rodeo championships. In E Company, Hulin was known as a consummate patrol leader, a brave and dedicated sergeant who led his team with great distinction.
Ray Hulin had the quiet demeanor of a true cowboy and when he was in Vietnam, he never bragged about his many rodeo championships. Instead, he volunteered to lead dangerous patrols, like the night his team was inserted by boat on a place in the Delta that was called, and for good reason, VC Island. There, Hulin was met by automatic weapons fire as he waded ashore. The Navy commander threw the landing craft in reverse as the patrol members scrambled back on board, all except Hulin, who had managed to grab some bar armor as the boat backed away with all aboard returning fire. As the boat picked up speed, Hulin could no longer hold on and dropped off in the middle of the Mekong River. He was struggling to stay afloat while trying to get rid of a heavy pack that held extra ammo the team’s radio when E Company member Howard Munn jumped overboard and swam to assist the patrol leader until the boat could come alongside and pick them up.
Hulin survived that patrol and numerous others and his team brought back valuable intelligence about enemy activity in the division’s area of operations. His leadership was evident from the day E Company arrived in country and he was among the first in the unit to be promoted to sergeant and designated as a patrol leader.
When he was discharged from the Army in 1968, Hulin resumed rodeo competition and started an equipment company that manufactured his specially designed bareback riggings. Unfortunately, he was thrown from a horse in 1981 while riding in the Mesquite Rodeo and his back was broken, paralyzing him from the neck down. Doctors gave him less than a ten percent chance of surviving and he was placed on a respirator in order to breathe. Hulin defied the doctors’ odds and despite being confined to a motorized wheelchair and enduring constant pain, he lived for more than a quarter century after his accident always displaying the most positive of attitudes. His sister, Shirley DeCuir, was quoted in the "Port Arthur News" as saying, "Where he got the courage to do what he’s done, I don’t know. His strength, determination and courage are a legacy of a great man admired by many."
Besides Shirley, Hulin is survived by sister Sharon Raccaforte, daughter Stacy Hulin, son Steven Hulin and a grandchild, Cayden Hulin. Memorials can be sent to: Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 104, Walnut Springs, TX 76690. Family members will be notified of memorials made to the Hall of Fame.
In November, Jonesy sent out an email from Shirley Parrish who is setting up a fund so that Kenneth Frank can donate a kidney to his daughter: the Kimberly Frank Kidney Replacement Fund. Our unit has a history of responding to assist those in need so members who are able to do so can contact Shirley Parrish with a contribution at 12909 Tallowood Ct., Riverwood, FL 33579.
Shirley writes that she is looking forward to seeing everyone at our next E company reunion which will be held next May 14-17 in Colorado. Mac MacCallum made a recon of Colorado Springs last fall and reports there is much to do in the mountains. He has been busy arranging for a full slate of activities and tours and all E Company members are encouraged to attend. Reunion headquarters will be the Clarion Hotel Downtown, 1-800-477-8610. Be sure to mention E Company when making your reservations and if you plan to attend, be sure to let Jonesy know so he can add your name to those listed on our E Company web site.
Speaking of web sites, I recently received a nice email from the webmaster for the 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry’s web page. This distinguished unit was attached to the 9th Infantry Division in Nam. Since several of their members (including Robert Hill, Warren Lizotte and Michael Volheim) had transferred to the Lurps from the 6-31st, they wanted to know if our website could be linked to theirs. I replied that we would be honored to be linked to them. E Company members can check out their web site at: www,vietnam6bn31inf.com. On their opening page is a quote that I especially liked by an unknown author that reads: "A veteran is someone who at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to the ’United States of America’ for an amount of ’up to and including my life.’ That is honor and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."
To all of you who have at some point in your life written
that blank check, thank you for your service to our nation. Until next time,
stay safe and don’t forget that,
Rangers Lead the Way.