Seeking The Rest Of The Story: Two Gold Star Family Members And Their Quest To Understand Lam Son 719

This interview with two close relatives of Paul Sgambati and Charles Anderson is a good supplement to Don Pipes’ interview, where he discusses how Paul and Charles were Killed in Action on March 3, 1971, at LZ Lolo in Laos on Operation Lam Son 719. Rosemarie Parillo (on the left) is Paul Sgambati’s sister, and Anita Sargable (on the right) is Charles Anderson’s sister-in-law. Both women begin the interview describing their relatives. Rosemarie recalls that her brother, Paul, was very active and a “chick magnet,” while Anita remembers Charles as a wrestler, a lifeguard, and someone who liked to water ski. Charles and Paul communicated with home through letters and recorded cassette tapes. Their helicopter was shot down on March 3, 1971, and both women remember initially being notified that Paul and Charles were “missing in action,” but the Sgambatis received the death notification on the 6th, and the Andersons on the 9th. Charles, who was decapitated by the helicopter rotor, returned home a week later and was buried at Arlington. Paul returned on March 9th, and the family was able to view his body (“he looked good”). The church was “jam-packed” for his funeral. Both women recall later receiving a black chest containing their belongings from overseas. Over the years, the women have made contact with Paul and Charles’ friends from the war. Rosemarie recounts a visit from Don and Beverly Pipes, where they sat around the kitchen table sharing memories of Paul. One question that Rosemarie always had was whether or not her brother had been left alone wounded and alive. Don assured her that Bob Morris (see his interview with Ron Azdell) stayed with Paul, and even though he was unconscious, Bob kept talking to him and giving him water until he was evacuated. Meeting Paul and Charles’ friends from the war has helped the women piece together the story of the final mission into Laos and gain a better understanding of who Paul and Charles were.