Dennis Papendick Remembers COL Bill STAM

Dennis Papendick Remembers COL Bill STAM

During my tour in Saigon I worked for and with Col STAM in the Comptroller's Office, USARV Headquarters.  He was indeed a kind, gentle person.  I would only amend his son's account by noting that he retired from the USARV Comptroller's Office, to which he was assigned after completing about six months in Vietnam as finance officer of the 1st Air Cav.  He was particularly proud of one accomplishment with the 1st Air Cav.  Almost immediately after deployment to An Khe, he and the other members of the finance office obtained some cement, laid a concrete floor, and built a shower, with hot water.  The water, heated by the sun, was in a couple of 55 gallon drums suspended about 10 or 12 feet above the concrete floor.  I can personally confirm that after a hot, humid, dusty day in An Khe, that hot shower was terrific.”