Bill Allen

Anyone with information on the unit Bill served would be appreciated.

From records gathered Bill Allen took it upon himself to create the very first 11th LIB website in 2006. He continued working on the site until he passed away, roughly around the 2008 timeframe.

"Bill Allen saw the need for an 11th LIB web site several years ago. He got the site up and running only to be hassled by a group that called themselves, " Friends of MY LAI." Bill dealt with this battle as best he could. Like he dealt with things that happened during his life. In the end it was exposure to toxic defoliants that claimed him. I did not know Bill personally but I am told he only wanted to build a site so guys could find each other. Nothing is ever so simple. Bill may have known that the pain of the 11th LIB was so great it must be seen for what it is. A calling to forever condemn acts of mass murder. A calling that was begun when mankind first went to war, before Jesus, and will end when war or mankind exists no more."

The above tribute was written by Tommy Skiens who took over the website when Bill Allen was too ill to continue.

The following letter was written to Tommy Skiens.

Dear SSgt., Thanks for your tribute to Bill Allen. We became friends through e-mail and then the phone. The last time I spoke to him he was extremely weak and had open incisions that would not close. I would have loved to help take care of him. He told me that sounded good. I live in Texas and Bill was in Michigan. Within days of that he fell off the screen. No answers to e-mail or phone calls. That was the last I heard. Do you have his date of death or any other info? Bill was so kind to me as I sought information on Cpl. Jerald DeLong, Bravo Company, 1/20th, 11LIB who was KIA 12Oct70 in the Song Ve Valley. When I first e-mail Bill I didn't know much but he helped me find out so many things about Jerry's last hours. Bill was a great man in many ways that I knew even from so great a distance. He had compassion on a middle-aged woman dealing with grief and seeking healing over 30 years later. He even sent me his Americal and 11th LIB patches that he had worn on his uniform. They now are in a display case in honor of Jerry and also, by way of his kindness, in honor of Bill and all the men of the 11th. I loved Jerry very much and still do. I love and care about all of you vets. God bless you with peace.
Marie Gantenbein
Belton, Tx.

Thank you for your service Bill Allen and may you rest in peace.

Tommy Skiens

Served with the 4/3 11th LIB in 1968

After Bill Allen's passing, Tommy Skiens stepped up to the plate to make sure the 11th LIB website lived on. Where would we be without Tommy and his love for the 11th LIB? Thank you Tommy.

Tommy Skiens included more and more information that he thought his 11th LIB brothers would like to see on a website. Fall of 2012 Tommy decided to pass the torch, so that he could devote his attention to his first love, the site Buffgrunt.com.

As of the update of this site in 2022, it was found that Tommy Skiens passed away in late summer or early fall of 2021. The Buffgrunt website no longer exists or that we could find. Anyone with any further information, please contact the webmaster, thank you.

Again, we thank you Tommy for all your hard work in continuing the 11thlib.com and helping to bring it to where it is today. Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace.

Donna Barnes

Donna had joined the 11th Light Infantry Brigade Veterans Association Facebook page (now the US ARMY 11th Light Infantry Brigade) on her husband's behalf in 2012. Danny Barnes her husband; served Echo Co, 4th/21st, 11th LIB; had been looking for years for anyone that had served with him during his time in Vietnam. Since becoming involved with the Facebook group, Donna decided, with her husband's urging, to take over the 11th LIB website in September 2012 when Tommy Skiens stepped down. The website has evolved and is now a responsive website which may be viewed on smart phones and tablets. The website is continually updated and added to, so we encourage you to visit often.

This year, 2022, the website saw another major upgrade. More information and a process to continually update and add information pertinent to the 11th Light Infantry Brigade.

This site outlines the units of the 11th Light Infantry Brigade, casualties of the entire brigade, as well as, by unit reported by DoD to Coffelt Database. We invite comments and additions. Contact the Webmaster with any information you may have.