Posted by David Rice on April 27, 2008:

I was a Spec 5 in A Company of the Eighth Engineers and was later transferred to HHC, which was my unit when Colonel Broumas was killed. I remember the day like it was yesterday. I served on several of the fire bases of the First Cav, and occasionally Col. Broumas would come by. He always remembered my name, and always had a good word to say. I soon got the impression that he was a good and decent man. Later in HHC I was in charge of a pre-fabrication yard building rafters for C huts. He once came by, and we talked about the operation, and he seemed pleased, which made me feel very good. On the day of his death, as I walked past his office, I remember hearing him talking on the phone. Later when I learned of his death, I was very sad that my battalion commander and such a good person had perished. Major Ron Britz, the C company commander and a recently-arrived captain also died in the helicopter with Col. Broumas that day. It was a terrible day for the Eighth Engineer Battalion and one of the worst day I spent in Viet Nam. I think of him often, and I think of his family and what losing such a man must have done to them. If appropriate, I would like to express my condolences personally to them. I will always remember LTC Andre Broumas as one of the best officers I knew in the US Army. David Rice

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