Gerald Saylor — Remembrance of LTC John Stannard
Gerald Saylor served as a platoon leader in C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, under LTC John Stannard's battalion command. He wrote the following for Stannard's TogetherWeServed memorial:
Intelligence had reliable information that a large NVA unit was operating in the vicinity. We received orders to close with our sister Company B to have sufficient firepower should we encounter what was eventually proved to be the 2nd NVA Regiment. We didn't make it. We were sucked into an NVA ambush and took heavy casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Stannard had coordinated support, including a smoke screen between us and the NVA. However, at dusk he was dropped off at our night position. He visited each of the platoons, encouraging all. A head count revealed we were unable to account for several personnel, including the dog handler and his dog … LTC Stannard organized a volunteer group to search for the missing personnel. All were recovered, including the dog. For his action that night, LTC Stannard received the Silver Star.
I had no contact with General Stannard until several years ago when, in response to a Christmas card, he wrote of the history of Company C as if it had happened yesterday. He spoke of the good men we had lost, identifying each of them by name and date. John E. Stannard remembered. He remembered because he had a deep concern for the welfare of his men.
