Neubauer, John Frank, CN

The US Naval Forces Vietnam Command History contains the following entry: 
"The most serious incident reported by CB units occurred on the last day of the month at 1445H on a waterway near Kien Binh (WS 406 036) where the bodies of five USN Seabees were found. All the bodies contained gunshot and fragmentation wounds. Investigation of witnesses disclosed that five U.S. personnel armed with 3 M-16s and one pistol had been sighted in a Boston Whaler by Vietnamese personnel an hour and a half before, and ARVN units reported seeing U.S. personnel in a firefight in the same area. A Vietnamese eyewitness account indicated two VC sampans engaged the whaler, which was later found abandoned, with grenade and AK-47 fire on the Kinh Thot Not Canal. The five Seabees were attached to NMCB 74 and traveling from Cho Moi to Binh Thuy for minor medical treatment." The five Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 were:
BU2 Jerry B. Edmonds, Crossville, TN; 
CE3 Harold E. Asher, Tulsa, OK; 
EOCN Edgar P. Beck, Gowanda, NY; 
CN John F. Neubauer, Mount Vernon, NY; and 
CN Wayne S. Rushton, Eastlake, OH. 

MCB74 rock & roll band, RVN: Posted - Jan 11, 2013   Johnny was the lead singer in our Battalion band. I was the drummer. We had a blast playing many of the songs from the sixties. We played several times in the EM club at our home base in Bien Hoa.We also played at some of the battalion's detachment sites whenever we were able to arrange for transportation which usually ended up being on a Chinook helicopter. We had a whole lot of fun practicing & performing together up until the day Johnny was killed. We were told he was escorting a fellow Seabee back to Bien Hoa for medical care when their boat was commandeered by the enemy. Both Johnny and the fellow he was escorting were killed. The band never played again. UT2 Reed, John Michael, PO2 (TWS Member)

You are not forgotten On the morning of Dec.31,1970, I stood on a river bank in the Mekong Delta with John. I shook my buddy John's hand and told him to be careful. I could see the grave concern in his eyes. It was the last time I ever saw him alive. His death has haunted me for over 40 years. When you lose a close friend in war, you lose part of yourself. You are never whole again. My God hold you in his arms until we meet again. Your bud - Jim P. ' Seabees - Can do '  Feb 17, 2010 James  Paliani JJP0250@msn.com Served with John MCB-74 Charlie Co 704 Riverside Ave. Raritan NJ 08869.


FRIEND: YOU WERE A GOOD FRIEND AND ALWAYS HAD ME LAUGHING. WENT TO HAMILTON SCHOOL AND NICHOLS JR HIGH TOGETHER. ALWAYS THINK OF YOU ESPECIALLY AROUND XMAS. THANKS FOR BEING A FRIEND. Jun 23, 2009 JOHN MECCA PARTS@FRANKCHEVROLET.COM

I will always remember you: Johnny, Today I once again visited your name on the Wall of Tears.I think back of our school days around Hamilton school, the playground, High St. & Bleecker St. I remember when you joined the Sea Bees and I had previously joined the Marines. I was already back in The World when the news of your death came to Mt.Vernon. I stopped by to see Pat Campabasso at his Deli where you use to work. Pat was crying like a baby over your loss. We all cried, because your life was cut so short. I missed you and think of you thru the years. God bless you my brother. Mike Gregorio. Jun 13, 2009: mike gregorio mgreg144@yahoo.com boyhood friend 

A Good Friend: We called him Neubauer, not by his first name. that was usual for the crew from Mt. Vernon. We spent John's leave having fun as usual, going out every night and we were with him that last night before he shipped out for his final tour. John was a Patriot and a Hero and all his friends knew it. We miss you John and know that you are in Heaven. Oct 28, 2007 Richard  Lauricella lauricellar@bellsouth.net Deerfield Beach FL 33442 USA

I served with John at Detail Charlie, Cho Moi, RVN. John was killed in while en route to Bien Truy, not Bien Hoa. He was killed along with four other of my fellow Seabees. Anyone reading this who also served with MCB-74, Detail Charlie, Cho Moi - 1970-71 please contact me. All five men were true heroes and a credit to themselves and the tradition of the U.S. Navy Seabees. Can Do ! Feb 6, 2007 James Paliani, JJP0250@optonline.net Served with John - Detail Charlie  704 Riverside Ave. Raritan NJ 08869 USA MCB-74 - Detail Charlie - Mekong Delta - RVN 1-1-71 

Friend: When I remember Johnny, I remember his smile. He is still missed after all these years. Wednesday, November 10, 1999 Mellie DeMayo SHESTHE1LV@aol.com

Just Remembering: Johnny used to live across the street from me (on High St) we were friends, got the first real good behind beating for hitting Johnny in the head with my toy gun. (we were playing cowboys at the time). Went to Mt Vernon High together, then he left for NAM and was taken suddenly. Your missed buddy. Monday, June 07, 1999 Edward Strand brileystrand@msn.com Ft Washington,MD 20744