Home » Santa Clarita News » Hometown Heroes - Our Veterans » Stanley Cockerell: From Vietnam Veteran To Newhall Resident

Stanley Cockerell: From Vietnam Veteran To Newhall Resident

Uncle Sam’s Greeting

As recently reported on Vietnam combat Veteran Robert Good, when the 9th Infantry Division reactivated for combat in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in the spring of 1966, Southern California was hit hard with draft notices. This held especially true in the San Fernando Valley, where many 18 – 20 year old young men were instantaneously thrust into the United States Army. Many newly minted soldiers ended up in basic training with their high school and neighborhood buddies. It was a crazy time, but for us, sons of World War II veterans, we were simply summoned to do what our fathers had done before us.

Eternal Valley Banner Static


Sponsored Articles


Vietnam Veteran Bill Reynolds is our KHTS Director of Veteran’s Affairs. If you know a local veteran, please email us at Hometownheroes@hometownstation.com.

Zero Dark Thirty

Such was the case of my good friend Stan Cockerell, who was drafted out of North Hollywood on May 17, 1966. He went through basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Riley, Kansas. At age 18, Stan was a bit younger than many of us, but he was fit as a fiddle and tough as nails — he proved to be a brave soldier. Fast forward to our June 19 Battle Near Ap Bac Village just south of Saigon, our battalion was conducting a search-and-destroy mission to locate and eliminate the 500-man strong 5th Nha Be Viet Cong Battalion. Intelligence pinpointed their exact location, so off we went at “zero dark thirty” via Navy landing craft without a thought of what a horrific experience lie ahead.

All Hell Broke Loose

It was mid morning as we trudged from rice paddy to a tree-line to cross yet another rice paddy, when another intelligence report indicated a large VC force was seen nearby. We boarded those same landing craft and moved further up a narrow winding river, where we unloaded mid-morning on June 19, 1967. Our 2nd Platoon was lead element when all hell broke loose. It was promptly realized that the Viet Cong were entrenched in heavily fortified bunkers to our immediate right across a small stream. They opened up with everything they had… 50 Cal machine guns, RPG’s and automatic rifle fire. It was loud and chaotic as we all scrambled for cover behind a low berm bordering that stream, but in the opening burst, we had soldiers falling left and right. That afternoon, we all for fought for our lives and for each other….

Calling on Volunteers

Meanwhile, back at our Navy barracks ship, USS Benewah, Sgt Dan Kerr had just returned from R & R and Stan Cockerell was hospitalized and bedridden due to a mild case of malaria and cellulites. He was about to be prepped for surgery when suddenly the medical staff rushed about preparing the ship’s hospital for incoming wounded soldiers, not to mention setting up the morgue for our dead soldiers. The call went out for all volunteers to grab their gear, weapons and ammunition and proceed to the ship’s helicopter pad to join the fierce battle being waged near Ap Bac Village. Stan and Sgt Kerr did not hesitate. Soon, they were dropped just to the rear of Charlie Company, when suddenly they witnessed one of our Med-Evac choppers being shot down from about 100 feet in the air. What they saw horrified them and all of us. As that chopper was hit by heavy machine gun fire, it rocked and lurched, and out fell our good buddy Forrest Ramos, with the chopper coming right down on him. Stan said: “At that moment they knew they were in the fight of their lives.”

Assaulting the Viet Cong

With bullets flying everywhere, Stan and Sgt Kerr bravely maneuvered forward with much-needed ammunition for their Charlie Company troopers. Late that afternoon, Captain Herb Lind ordered his remaining troopers to board a Navy landing craft to assault the Viet Cong on the other side of that narrow stream. It didn’t take long to rout the beleaguered VC fighters, and those who were still alive ran like rabbits. Little did we know during that fierce battle that Alpha Company was literally wiped out with 31 KIA’s and almost all others wounded; Charlie Company lost 11 killed in action with many more wounded during the melee. Stan said, “To this day, I feel guilty for not being there with my buddies when the fighting began and for not getting wounded like almost everybody else.”

Honorable Discharge

Before departing Vietnam, Stan experienced more firefights and several more battles, earning him a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Combat Infantryman Badge, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Device. It’s noted that when our 2nd platoon arrived in Vietnam in January ‘67, we had 45 soldiers, but by September ’67, we were down to 13 of those original soldiers, including Stan.

After receiving his honorable discharge in May of 1968, Stan became a prop master with Paramount Studios, where he primarily worked on location. Samples of his assignments are “We Were Soldiers,” “The Natural,” and “Geronimo” that featured actor Wes Studi, who also served in the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta. Stan retired from the motion picture industry in 2008, and these days, we can always count on Stan to attend all of Santa Clarita’s patriotic ceremonies. Stan enjoys caring for his yards and performing home improvement projects, but most of all, he loves his family gatherings. On September 13, 1969, Stan married his neighborhood sweetheart, the beautiful Linda Walters, and they have two sons, one daughter and six grandchildren that keep Stan and Linda really busy.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Hometown Heroes - Dignity Memorial

Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 - Santa Clarita News - Santa Clarita Radio

Stanley Cockerell: From Vietnam Veteran To Newhall Resident

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Bill Reynolds - KHTS Director of Veteran Affairs

I’ve lived in Santa Clarita since 1980 with my wife, with whom I have two wonderful children and five beautiful grandchildren.I’m the first son of a World War II veteran and an Australian WWII War Bride. Instead of being born in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Sydney, Australia, I was born in Mineral Wells, Texas. After moving around various small west Texas towns and having lived near Sydney, Australia, my family finally settled in the San Fernando Valley in 1955. I graduated from Cleveland High School, attended Pierce College and worked at General Motors in Van Nuys. In the spring of 1966, I was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam. I recently starred in National Geographic’s Emmy nominated documentary, “Brothers in War” now seen on Netflix. Read about "Hometown Heroes - Our Veterans" series, click here...