The Havens Family
Our Little Cabin in the Big Internet Woods
Ken Havens in Vietnam
Before Vietnam
Ken grew up in western and central New York State. He attended Stockbridge Valley High School, was involved with a small band, and loved farming. He graduated from Morrisville Agricultural & Technical College (now called Morrisville State College) in Morrisville, NY.
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Growing Up
Click the link or photo above to open the album.
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Kenny and Me
By Jan Powers
Click the link or photo above to read a classic story about a teenage romance and the high school prom.
Ken's Vietnam Photos
Click the image above, or here, to open the album.
Dear Mom...
This is a collection of scanned images, page-by-page, of Ken's actual letters to Mom...
Ken's letters from Vietnam
Click on the envelope to open the letters --
LZ Jamie
Ken is pictured above just after receiving his New York State flag
from home.
The photo above is courtesy of Lee Dworshak, one of
Ken's squad members, pictured here in 2008.
Bob Kolling (left), another one of Ken's Vietnam
buddies, with Lee Dworshak (right) in 2006.
Click A Sad Day to read Bob Kolling's
eye-witness account of events on the day Ken died.
Visit Bob Kolling's Web site.
Charles Lindsey, medic who was with Ken the night he died.
Bobby Morgan
Visit his Web site, Recon Truck - a truly unique tribute to all veterans past and present with special emphasis on Vietnam service.
Ken's Movies
Before leaving for Vietnam, Ken bought an 8mm movie camera to record some of his experiences. After finishing a 50-foot roll of film, Ken would have it sent to Mom after processing. When he failed to return, this film record became especially precious.
The movies of daily life at and around LZ Jamie were digitized a couple years ago. Now, Ken's movies are on YouTube for the world to watch. They have been divided into Part 1 and Part 2 for you to watch, years later.
Ken Havens in Vietnam -- Part 1
Ken Havens in Vietnam -- Part 2
More recently, Ken's original 8 mm films were loaned to and restored by Lou Reda Productions for inclusion in the film series, Vietnam in HD, broadcast by the History Channel.
Ken's Resting Place
Bob Havens created a page of information, along with several photos of Ken, at the Find-A-Grave Web site.
Preview
On the Road...
Russ served ten years in the Navy, Bob spent six years in the Air Force, and in the late 1960s, when U.S. involvement in Vietnam was at its peak, Ken was drafted.
Ken served with the 1st Air Cavalry Division: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry. He was sent to Viet-Nam in May, 1969, at Landing Zone Jamie at the time of his death.
Jack Kerouac, the well-known author of On the Road, died on October 21, 1969. It was on that same day that Ken was killed while on a reconnaissance mission.
Not only did Ken's life end at only 23, the lives of all who knew and loved him were forever changed.
This page is dedicated to Ken and all Vietnam soldiers.