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Jay and Leigh
Livermore didn’t get an official welcome when they returned home from the Vietnam
War.
On
Saturday, New Richmond VFW Post 10818 made amends for that by conducting a military salute
to the brothers 40 and 37 years, respectively, after their arrival back in
Also
honored was Thomas Lemmons of
New Richmond
VFW Post members Dave Green and Lee Shourds recently began the Welcome Home Program after
reflecting on the anonymous return of
The
post conducts ceremonies for veterans of the conflicts in
Shourds,
the post’s quartermaster, reads the veteran’s military history and then presents
him or her with an album containing awards and a record of their service. The post’s
color guard is present to lend pageantry to the ceremony.
Also on
hand for Saturday’s ceremony at the St. Croix County Government Center in Hudson were
members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle organization dedicated to showing
respect to military veterans.
Jay and Leigh
Livermore’s sister Sharon LaCosse of
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| Thomas
Lemmons, left, and 1968 |
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Lemmons’ wife, Joy, read about the Welcome Home Program on the Internet and called
Green to request one for her husband. Green is a
Green
asked the
“I
don’t know what to say. It’s nice,” Jay Livermore said with a catch in his
voice following the 15-minute ceremony. “I’m pleased and I’m moved.”
Jay
said the real hero of the
Leigh
and the rest of the members of the Army’s Echo Co. Recon, 1st Battalion, 1st Air
Calvary Division received the Silver Star Award for their participation in the 1970
incursion into
Leigh
said that Jay, four years his senior, was his hero.
Jay was
drafted into the Marines and spent 1967 in
Jay
graduated from
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| Flag-bearing members of
the Patriot Guard Riders encircle the gathering held to honor three veterans of the
Vietnam War. |
After returning from
Leigh
is the operations manager of Cardinal Distribution’s
“It
didn’t really bother me to not have a ceremony or a big welcome home,” Leigh
said. “My parents and my family supported me really, really well. And the community,
too. I’ve always had a good support group right here in town.”
About
40 family members and friends of the veterans attended the Saturday’s ceremony.
Lemmons
was clearly moved by the ceremony.
Green
had gotten him to make the trip north by telling him they were going to welcome home
veterans of the
“I
didn’t have any idea this was going to happen,” Lemmons said. “It’s
awesome. You guys are beautiful. I’m so honored. I’m so blessed. Thank you very
much.”
He
remembered a general telling his mother when he returned home wounded from
“He’s
not the boy you sent over,” the general said.
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Green can be contacted by phone at (715) 246-4052 or by e-mail at dave@vfwwelcomhome.com.
Shourds’ phone number is (715) 425-8857 and his e-mail address is lee@vfwwelcomehome.com.
You can learn more about the Welcome Home Program online by clickin below:
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Associates
of
AVVA
remains affiliated with Vietnam Veterans of America, lending the expertise and leadership
of its members in all of VVA's programs. Leave No Veteran Behind!
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~ I Understand, I Know and I care ~ |
| The
Air
We
volunteer as
our
chosen service and by our thoughts and actions shall always uphold
the prestige, honor
and high esprit-de-corps
of our we
realize that a parachutist is not merely a soldier
who arrives by parachute to fight, but is an elite shock
and
that his country expects him to march farther and faster, to fight harder, and to be more self-reliant than
any other soldier. Parachutists of all allied belong
to this great brotherhood.
We
shall never fail our fellow comrades by shirking duty or training, but will always keep ourselves mentally and
physically fit and shoulder our full share of the task,
whatever/wherever/whenever/Whomever Why`s
Ever they Are.
we
shall always accord our superiors fullest loyalty and will always bear in mind the
sacred trust
we have in the lives of the men we accompany into battle.
we
shall show other soldiers by our military courtesy,
neatness
of dress, by our care of weapons and equipment… that we “Army
of One!” We’ll
endeavor always… of
training and morale Toward our Brother parachute troops And
in the support of Our National
Homeland Security.
we
shall respect the abilities of ALL
our enemies. we will fight fairly and with all Our might… Surrender
is not in Our creed.
We
will
display a high degree of initiative and will
fight
on to our objective
and mission, Until we be the lone survivor. we
shall prove our ability as fighting
soldiers
against
any
enemy,
on any
field of battle,
not by quarreling with our comrades in arms or bragging about our
deeds.
we
shall always realize that battles are won by an army
fighting as One,
that we fight first, blaze the path into battle for others to follow, and carry
this
battle
to its’ end. we
belong to
the
finest unit
in the world. By
our actions and deeds alone, we speak for our fighting abilities.
we will strive to uphold this honor
and prestige of
Our outfit,
making our country
proud of the
173rd
Airborne
Ranger
unit
to which we Represent.
A man`s real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, In nothing else is he poor.
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B~
30`s ...
Then & Now.
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The Healing
Aspects of Helping
by Bridget C. Cantrell,
Ph.D. Over the course of a year my
relationship with The
173rd Airborne Brigade
was formed through an ongoing e-mail exchange with the chaplains on the ground in Iraq.
These paratroopers
of the 173rd
made the night
combat
jump
in early 2003 to open up and secure the northern front in Iraq. In mid 2003, we began
communicating with key people of the 173rd Airborne, and soon thereafter I contacted Chuck
Dean and collaborated with him on writing and designing a new course workbook. The focus
of this book, (“Turning
Your Heart Toward Home”),
is to help those returning from the war reintegrate and rebuild relationships with loved
ones at home. As a result of working together on this project an invitation was extended
to us to provide information about the ramifications of the impact of war on the returning
combat troops from Iraq. My years of experience in counseling and working with veterans
and families through the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD Program was
invaluable in bringing simple understanding about combat stress to these troops who had
just returned from combat in northern Iraq.
We arrived in Vicenza,
Italy
on May 24, 2004 and were escorted to Camp Ederle,
the home of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, by Army chaplains Major Tom Wheatley and
Captain Steve Cantrell (no relation to me). These wonderful men did an excellent job
in arranging all our meetings and services. As well as our logistical needs, they
helped setup battalion-sized meetings plus individual and small group counseling
sessions with the troops. On the 25th of May, 2004 we had the
opportunity to address the issues of Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
with over 2500 men and women from three battalions and one artillery battery of
paratroopers. When the program was then turned over to me I presented a power
point introduction to describe the basic aspects of PTSD and readjustment
issues. The presentation was given in a way to offer psychological tools to enhance
coping skills and illuminate some of the challenges they may encounter along the way. To help these soldiers gain an
understanding of what to expect from witnessing, and participating in combat, it was
critical to “normalize” their symptoms and reactions. This was accomplished by
stressing the idea that what they are feeling, and perhaps acting out, is not out of the
ordinary. However, I explained, that this is common in those who experience such stressful
and traumatic events as found in combat. Our purpose on this mission was NOT to
alarm the troops, who were so fresh out of combat, but to help them understand some
of the reactions to stress and the “signs
along the trail”
that they may be experiencing (and many were). It was important to give them a simple
understanding of PTSD and to “normalize” their responses to life after war.
If done properly there is a greater possibility that they may be able to recognize
and avoid some future problems that could otherwise cause prolonged, unpredictable and
adverse effects. Our days were spent by presenting information to large groups, small focus groups and individuals. We believe that many of these troops came away with more effective tools to help them with present and future readjustment issues. As time goes by we currently continue to pray for and communicate (via e-mail and USPS mail) with some of the troops whom we were so privileged to meet while there. It is our hope that this is just the first of many open doors for us to continue to work in unison with the U.S. military in caring for the troops and their families.
Sincerely, Hearts Toward
Home International (360) 714-1525 inquire@heartstowardhome.com
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173rd Airborne Brigade troops get help in strengthening war-torn marriages.
But
if local military leaders have their way, those soldiers won’t be worrying about
potentially hostile situations within their families. “A
soldier who is confident in the state of their marriage is a better soldier,” says
Chaplain (Maj.) David Beauchamp of The 173rd Airborne Brigade. “From
a chaplain’s viewpoint … what’s going to last longer: the Army career or
the marriage? Hopefully the marriage is going to last longer.” But
in today’s Army, where long deployments seem to be a never-ending prospect, marriages
are thought to be more at risk. However, neither the 173rd — which spent a year in
Iraq before returning last spring — SETAF, nor U.S. Army Europe keeps statistics on
divorces to prove or disprove that theory. Chaplain
(Maj.) Leon Kircher, chaplain for the 22nd Area Support Group, which includes Vicenza,
counseled some of the 173rd’s couples who were having trouble during and after the
deployment. He said some relationships did end in divorce. “Not
as many as I thought there could be,” he said. “To say it was epidemic?
No.” Both
chaplains attribute that to a strong effort by the various agencies at Caserma Ederle
charged with supporting families while troops are away. And both think the effort will be
better for the upcoming deployment. Chaplains
will lead 300 couples — representing about a quarter of those married in the brigade
— on overnight retreats at Lake Garda before the deployment. Col. Kevin Owens, the
173rd commander, allocated thousands of dollars from brigade funds to pay for the retreat.
Younger enlisted soldiers and their spouses will get most of the spots. “It’s
expensive,” Beauchamp said. “But if we can save marriages, it’s worth
it.” Those
participating will focus on communication, forgiveness and commitment, he said. Each
partner will be given a commitment coin to carry during the deployment. “It’ll
be a reminder to them that they’ve got responsibilities toward another person,”
he said. “Not only for the soldiers, but also their spouses.” In
fact, Beauchamp said every married couple in the brigade would get a chance to participate
in a commitment ceremony and receive a coin. Those not on the retreats can participate at
the base chapel. The Protestant Women of the Chapel is sponsoring an event targeting
couples Jan. 21-22 that’s called “Battle Proofing Your Marriage.” During
the deployment, Kircher said chaplains will be working on both ends to help couples in
need. He said it will be possible to arrange phone sessions to counsel both partners
together or separately. The
chapel plans to hold weekly gatherings for spouses with free child care so moms — and
dads — can get together to eat, talk, shop or visit local sights. Kircher said he
hopes the informal gatherings will give spouses a chance to share problems and solutions
with one another. The
chapel also will sponsor monthly retreats for spouses during the deployment, focusing on
potential problems and solutions. “It’s
like tuning up a car,” Kircher said. “Sometimes you don’t even realize it,
but something could be wrong.” In
the field, Beauchamp said he’ll be leading a 40-week course using the best-selling
inspirational book, “Purpose Driven Life.” Kircher will be sending out
concurrent messages to the community, so those on both sides can follow along. After
the deployment, couples can participate in the Army’s “Building Strong and Ready
Families” program. Dozens participated after the last deployment, Beauchamp said. And
the chaplains hope there will be more opportunities this time if there’s a need. Kircher
said commanders realize that helping soldiers keep good relationships with their spouses
has become a key part of the deployment process. “One
thing that weighs on a soldier’s mind is if their family is being taken care
of,” he said. “When they’re out on a patrol or inspecting something, you
don’t want that to be the first thing on their minds. They’ve got to be focused
on the job at hand.”
DRտլGrafiX |
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Vicenza soldier sentenced to three years
 Morris
pleaded not guilty to obstruction of justice and making a
false official statement, but was found guilty at the two-day court-martial, which
concluded Thursday.
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Go`in Ta War Again... February
25, 2005
“It’s
hard to believe another year of training has come to an end and we are on the eve of
deployment,” Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya, commander of the Southern European Task Force (Airborne),
told hundreds of Americans and Italians gathered in the base theater Wednesday. Kamiya
and the SETAF headquarters staff are heading to Afghanistan
to begin what is expected to be a yearlong deployment leading U.S.
peacekeeping efforts. The SETAF colors were furled Wednesday in a ceremony held
indoors because of the weather. “I’ve
been told that Afghanistan can be a very cold, snowy country this time of year,”
Kamiya said. “Vicenza is such a great host city that it recently snowed here twice to
prepare us for Afghanistan.” And
both Kamiya and SETAF’s top enlisted soldier, Command Sgt. Maj. Iuniasolua Savosa,
say the troops are ready. “Absolutely,”
said Savosa, adding that SETAF and its major subordinate unit, the 173rd Airborne Brigade,
have known about the deployment for almost a year. “[The
notification] was so far out, we knew we could get the soldiers trained to do the
mission,” he said. SETAF
will take over for the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division. Kamiya said it would be the
first time a nondivision-size headquarters staff has been assigned to take over a mission
run by a larger unit. He and Savosa credited the U.S. Army Europe headquarters staff for
contributing support and personnel to make it happen. Of
course, SETAF will be far from alone in country. The 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne
Division, elements from the Giebelstadt, Germany-based 12th Aviation Brigade and the
Illesheim, Germany-based 11th Aviation Regiment and other reserve and active-duty units
from the States and the Pacific theater will soon be serving in Afghanistan. The
NATO-led International Security Assistance Force is also in country and is expected to
take a greater role in peacekeeping efforts during SETAF’s year in Afghanistan. An
Italian commander is scheduled to take over ISAF from a Turkish counterpart during that
span. Kamiya
told Italian journalists after the ceremony that he expects to have a good relationship
with the Italian commander “given the fact that we both come from the same host
nation.” Advance
elements from Joint Task Force-76 are already in Afghanistan and the SETAF headquarters is
expected to join them shortly. Some units, both on base and elsewhere, won’t actually
be in country until after SETAF takes command on March 15. Kamiya
said his thoughts and emotions about the deployment probably echo that of most of his
soldiers.
He
cited apprehension, confidence
and excitement, before addressing anxiety. “You’re
trained to a razor’s edge and you
just want to get there and get the game going,” he said. All
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Remember |
McCarthy, from the Boston area Just a kid of a hundred an nineteen. A guy I knew, damn near all day. As soon as he closed his eyes to sleep he`d piss all over himself but he was O K, after all, He`d been there damn near all day. He humped a 60 and felt no pain he could`nt feel anything anymore, His eyes had died and may be his soul. He`d been there damn near all day. He wouldn`t hit the dirt in an ambush He`d turn and face Mr Charles, with a smile. He`d walk ahead pissin bullets he`d been there damn near all day. He could look at me from time to time but he could hardly talk. He was O K He`d been there damn near all day. He had no more fear they said he was good He had no more feelings He`d been there damn near all day. He was calm no matter what He didn`t mind c-rations He didn`t mind anything He`d been there damn near all day. No one noticed that he`d changed any more than he noticed them he was just passing through He`d been there damn near all day. And when he left to get on that bird He wasn`t excited after all ... He`d been there all day.
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The world of risk is the world of reality. If you weren`t aware of what`s really going on, you wouldn`t be taking the risk in the first place! |
Back 
When...
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Con
 
Herd |
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'Nickel and Dime' Tactics Too Expensive for Charlie
LZ
UPLIFT - A Platoon of 3d Bn, 503d Inf, has been nickle and diming the VC/NVA to death.
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STAND
IN THE DOOR ! Then on February 22, 780 Sky Soldiers jumped from streaking C-130 aircraft from 1,000 feet in the air to land on a 1000 by 6000 foot rice paddy near the Cambodian border. The 2nd Battalion, 'We Try Harder' Sky Soldiers received only light sniper fire as they descended on the huge clearing. Simultaneously, two more Battalions of Sky Soldiers were heli-lifted to adjacent landing zones and immediately the biggest Allied offensive of the war was on.The first part of their mission was complete: with lighting speed the Airborne task force had jumped into combat, blocking the VC from the refuge of the Cambodian border. As Junction City moved into March and subsequently led to Junction City II, the hard fighting Paratroopers were credited with killing 304 VC soldiers. With the completion of Junction City II and the return of the Paratroopers to Bien Hoa to begin a new operation, the 173d had already that year demonstrated its fighting ability.
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Large Cache Unearthed By 3rd Bn Sky Soldiers
LZ
UPLIFT-
Sweeping through an enemy base camp approximately 15 kilometers west of LZ Uplift, Sky
Soldiers unearthed a large cache of enemy food, arms, and ammunition, including a 75mm
recoilless rifle. The cache has been described as the largest found in recent months here
in northern
Binh Dinh Province.
It may grow larger as the search continues.
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His Men Are Real Profesionals
By
Sgt. Tom Faulkner BONG SON- It early was afternoon and already heavy clouds of fog had swallowed the mountain tops and was settling into the valleys along the north central coast of Vietnam, 40 miles north of Qui Nhon. Making a quick analysis of the weather and terrain, Cpt James M. Grimshaw, Company Commander of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Alrborne Brigade decided to hold his position and gave the word to dig in for the night. Grimshaw checked his map and gave the Company's coordinates to his radio telephone operator (RTO) who immediately called them in to the rear. He briefed his Platoon Leaders on where to position their men and sent out reachouts to Recon the area. A man of average height and weight, Grimshaw of Bristol Pa, takes on the appearance of just another Paratrooper in the field yet a closer look sets him apart as a leader. Unusually calm and relaxed but confident in his decisions, the 26 year old Commander shows no stress from the pressures of command. He gave a sigh of relief as the dropped his heavy rucksack to the ground and began setting up his position for the night. His movements were automatic and in minutes he was sitting on his air mattress under his poncho which was stretched between four small trees. A veteran of 21 months in Vietnam, one year as a Special Forces Advisor to the ARVN troops and 10 months with the Brigade, a night in the jungle was nothing new to Grimshaw. Leaning back on one elbow, he took out a cigar he had been saving for just such a moment and spoke quietly, "There is a great difference in operating as an advisor and as a CO of troops. The most difficult thing about being a CO is that everyday I must put the man and the mission in the proper perspective and prepare myself psychologically for what must be done." Grimshaw thumbed through his notebook and then stood up and walked over to his RTO who was changing batteries in the radio. He told the radio man to get a list of all needed supplies and equipment from the men and call it in to the rear. The young Paratrooper told Grimshaw he already had the list and would call in right away. The CO smiled and walked back to his position and sat down. "These Airborne troops are real professionals. They have a great deal of pride and although many are citizen soldiers (draftees) while they are in the Army they perform as professionals," he said proudly, "and they are highly motivated with a great deal of esprit." Reflecting on his experiences in Vietnam, Grimshaw pointed out that there has been a large shift of enemy forces in the last three years. Before the big enemy units were concentrated along the DMZ, now they are infiltrating into the Saigon regions. Throughout the rest of Vietnam, they have broken into tiny bands to conduct harassing and ambush tactics. Cpt Grimshaw attributes this to the great devastation that the NVA and main force VC have come under from vast allied air superiority. As a light rain began to fall a Squad Leader came up and told Grimshaw that he was moving his ambush team down the hill near a creek. They briefly discussed tactics and the Paratrooper moved out quickly. The CO's eyes followed the Squad leader into the trees. Having spent more days in the field than he would perhaps care to remember, Grimshaw has had the opportunity to see the Airborne Soldier in detail. "American troops are getting a lot better training today than ever before," declared the Commander. "Our young NCO's are terrific. They are doing jobs over here that would have been undreamed of in previous wars. I think this is particularly significant because we are said to come from a soft society." Looking around at his men cuddling under their ponchos in an effort to keep the rain off themselves and their cooking fires, Grimshaw continued, "These troops adjust well to jungle warfare and hardships." Although the objective of all wars is the same, find the enemy and destroy him, different tactics have been employed in Vietnam. Captain Grimshaw explains "As the enemy has broken into small units and moved deep into the jungle, we have had to do the same. Many times my Company is broken up into 'Hawk Teams', small, squad size units which can move quickly and quietly and have proven very successful in finding the enemy. He paused then added, "Fighting is not unlike wars of hundreds of years ago. In many instances, it's man against man, skill against skill and our soldiers are proving the better." The curtain of night fell quickly and a chilling wind whistled through the thick jungle canopy and the few remaining fires were snuffed out. Another day had ended for Captain Grimshaw and his Paratroopers but more work lay ahead as the night patrols set out to search the rugged terrain for their elusive enemy. As Grimshaw described it, "It's a cat and mouse game where patience is a great virture." His unusual ability to lead, coupled with his knowledge of the enemy's tactics has gained him total respect from his troops and has set him apart as one of the most capable Company Commanders in the 173d Airborne Brigade. As one Sky Soldier decribed him, "I consider myself fortunate to have Captain Grimshaw as a Company Commander. I couldn't tell you what really makes him a good CO but I do know that you only have to see him in action to know why some men are leaders."
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1/503 Catches Enemy Asleep
By
SP4
James Stringer BONG SON- Three NVA soldiers recently had a rude awakening as an element of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade on a search and clear mission 40 miles north of Qui Nhon caught them in their hammocks. Hearing voices, Pfc Leroy Manuel of Jackson Ms, Pointman for Bravo, peered through a hedgerow and spied three NVA lounging in their hammocks and one was returning his stare. Simultaneously, Manuel and the NVA opened up, but before the rest of the Paratroopers could come on line, the three enemy escaped leaving their rucksacks, binoculars and one M-2 carbine. "I know I hit one of them because we found blood near their discarded gear," reported Manuel. Following the blood trails, the Sky Soldiers spotted the wounded man with his AK-47 hiding in one of the hedgerows. He was quickly eliminated by automatic weapons fire. "We returned to the point of initial contact and had called in a chopper to pick up the captured weapons," said 1Lt Charles Avakian of Whitinsville Mass, the Platoon Leader. As the men were putting up perimeter security, another NVA was spotted. "I saw him crouched in a spider hole," said Sp4 Ronald Germunson of Minneapolis, "so I opened up with my M-79." Upon searching the body, he was found to be an NVA officer and carried several documents, two Chicom grenades and a 32 caliber pistol. Tardiness
Spoils NVA Trap
BAN ME THUOT- Procrastination on the part of a band of NVA
bushwackers proved fatal to them recently when Paratroopers of the 4th Battalion caught
them still setting up their ambush site.
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Lucky
Pair Just Miss Booby Trap
By PFC Paul Sheehan BONG SON- Some days a man is just pure lucky, and for two
Paratroopers of 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry a recent sun-drenched morning on the north
central coast of South Vietnam was just such a day.
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3/503d Kill 45 Enemy
BAO LOC— Mortarmen and Infantrymen from the 3d
Battalion, 503d Infantry aided by Dusters and 155m Howitzers from supporting Artillery
units recently killed 45 enemy in repulsing a Battalion-sized attack on a Fire Support
Base near Di Lihn about 21 miles southwest of DaLat.
A fierce rocket and mortar barrage began the four-hour early morning battle and was
followed by repeated ground attacks. One Platoon of Alpha Company and the Dusters on the
perimeter plus the husky Howitzers firing direct fire stopped the enemy from overunning
the perimeter.
Accurate counter-mortar fire from the two 4.2 inch and the one 81mm Mortar crews of Echo
Company prevented enemy gun crews from knocking out their desired targets, the Howitzers.
All three crews continued humping ammunition and firing their guns even when incoming rounds were exploding all around and the enemy broke through part of the perimeter said Sergeant Mark Migliore of Wilmington, Delaware.
"After some initial shots, we began exchanging heavy fire," said Smith. "A
grenade landed right in front of me. I yelled, rolled over, got a bead on the guy who
threw it and zapped him with my M16." Savage fire continued from the entrenched enemy
position, and Echo moved back to call in helicopter gunships.
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Paratroopers Upset Viet Cong Ambush
By
PFC John Donlon TUY HOA- Four enemy soldiers recently found that it doesn't pay to hunt or ambush Paratroopers of the 173d Airborne Brigade as two separate incidents proved near Tuy Hoa, about 300 miles north of Saigon. Conducting operations in Phu Yen Province, Sky Soldiers of Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry discovered a small deserted enemy base camp. After setting up a night defensive position in the camp, one Squad went out to investigate what appeared to be a fresh grave about a hundred meters away. The Squad's security element spotted three Viet Cong following the trail the Paratroopers had made. A hasty ambush was set and the enemy soldiers were quickly destroyed. The following morning a Platoon from Bravo began sweeping the area to trap any other enemy in the area. "We had been following a trail for quite awhile when suddenly someone yelled ambush to the left," said Sp4 Terry M. Martin a machine gunner from Seelyville In, "We turned and charged the ambush before Charlie had a chance to fire a shot." One VC body was found but numerous blood trails indicated that many more had been wounded. In addition to the four enemy killed, numerous weapons were captured in the two day action. One AK-47, one SKS, one B-40 rocket launcher, one RPG machine gun, eight Chicom grenades, 260 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a variety of field gear constituted the cache. One Paratrooper commented "I don't think their ambush worked out quite the way they intended."
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Outnumbered Recon Teams Kill
12 NVA
Two Recon teams from E Co, 3d Bn, 503d Inf, while operating in the mouth of the Soui Ca Valley southwest of LZ Uplift, initiated contact with nearly 50 VC/NVA, got themselves surrounded and laid out at least 12 of the hapless enemy last month as Charlie failed in an attempt to take back what he used to own.Inserted by choppers after dark on the 27th of August, the two teams moved immediately into their ambush positions. Four hours later at 01:15 am, they observed several groups of four to eight enemy soldiers moving along a trail 100 meters to their front. Silently, four of the Paratroopers moved to a new position 10 meters from the path and counted 103 VC/NVA moving in one group. The total count of enemy observed was over 180 when they crept to within 3 meters of the trail. They waited for a lone VC and when he appeared, they converted him to a body count. The two teams remained together and rested during the day. That night they split up and set up ambushes about 300 meters apart. The plan was to spring an ambush and force the enemy to flee into the kill zone of the other team. If a large enough group came through both ambushes would be sprung simultaneously. Luck was with them. A group of nearly 50 enemy came along the trail. Coordination between the two teams was excellent, and both teams popped their claymores together. They followed the blasts of the mines with hand grenades, and waited for the enemy's position. Realizing that they were outnumbered, the two teams began to withdraw to the high ground behind them. And then the enemy opened up, from all points of the compass. Both teams were surrounded, one team had an M-60, and thanks to its firepower they were able to break through what the enemy thought was an airtight kill zone. The other team wasn't as lucky. Without a machine gun and with two men wounded, they had to stay where they were but cool leadership kept them from giving away their positions by firing their M-16s. Instead, the surrounded team tossed grenades, thereby inflicting casualties and keeping their exact locations unknown to the enemy. Meanwhile, help was on the way. Gunships that had been on station began raking the nearby hedgerows. A Shadow ship and a Stinger began working out. A Reinforced Platoon from A Co, 3d Bn, 503d Inf was inserted. Linking up with the "free" team, the Reaction Force fought their way through the enemy to the beleaguered band. As soon as they reached the frag-throwing Paratroopers, the enemy, or rather what was left of the enemy, duffed. The wounded men were extracted, and the Reaction Force swept the area that night. They found two bodies and one wounded VC/NVA. At first light, they swept the area again finding 10 more dead enemy, along with "beaucoup" blood trails and drag marks. If Charlie wants the Soui Ca, he'll have to do better than that. A lot better.
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Lizards Add Zest To Menus
BAN ME THOUT- Barbecued lizard is the latest delicacy for
Paratroopers of the 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry.
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Brigade Whips VC, New AO for 4/503 The last two weeks of August produced
the highest number of enemy killed for any like period this summer, as elements of the
173d Airborne Brigade scored heavily in four different areas of operation. 4th
Bn Strikes
With less than a week in their new area of operation, four Companies of the 4th Battalion
made contact with NVA regulars in three separate incidents.
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Hawks' Patience Is Rewarded
In
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HOA, RVN-
Operation Bolling claimed 368 enemy dead in four and a half months of fighting here as the
Sky Soldiers maintained the momentum of their attack into areas controlled by the Viet
Cong and NVA. Fifty-five enemy were killed in a major battle December 27 to help push the body count over the 300 mark. Another of the largest actions of the operation occurred during the 'Tet Holidays' when Paratroopers of the 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry reacted to a request to assist C Battery, 6th Battalion Artillery in defending their fire support base early on January 30. Elements of the Battalion were lifted into the area where they made contact with an unknown size NVA unit. As the battle progressed, air strikes and artillery hammered the communist soldiers. The enemy broke contact late in the night. The next morning elements of the Battalion moved to Tuy Hoa Airfield. Shortly after, a gunship located an NVA Platoon in a nearby village. The Paratroopers swept the area, making heavy contact several times during the day. During the bitter fighting Sky Soldiers reported killing 77 communist soldiers and capturing 7 small arms. The Airborne Infantrymen suffered 16 killed. In addition to destroying the enemy on the battlefields the Sky Soldiers also denied them large stores of food. Twenty three thousand pounds of rice and 2,600 pounds of salt have been captured during Operation Bolling.
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Recent
ly
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There are 0ver 1502 of 0ur American Buddies Expended ~ Iraq |
Back When...
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The
Ho Chi
Minh
Trail
The Ho Chi Minh Trail has long been a source
of trouble for South Vietnamese and American Military Forces. It has served as the
lifeline in the Communist war effort; almost all of the war materials and man power of the
enemy are filtered down this trail. The first transports began in 1959. When Communist
leaders decided to strengthen and support the guerilla war in South Vietnam, the first
Communist combat units-- Viet Minh veterans, who had fled the
South to North Vietnam after 1954, started returning. These groups soon became the core of
the Viet Cong Army.
There are two main routes that they use to cross the 17th Parallel: one was down the South
China Sea by fishing boats, junks and freighters, the other was through the mountainous jungles of eastern Laos on foot, elephant and bicycle.
It wasn't long before the Communist Leaders realized the strategical importances of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and began to set up an intricate network of roads
and minor trails. Scores of thousands of Vietnamese peasants are being
forced to maintain the trail. They often have to work feverishly at night to move millions
of cubic feet of earth. At one point a bridge was discovered submerged a few inches below
the waters surface just enough so that it was impossibe to see it from the air. About 80% of the supplies for the Communist armies in South Vietnam come down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The percentage was much smaller when the faster and simpler-- but more dangerous sea route was used. Now more than ever, the main transports roll down the jungle paths of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Ever
since the savage fighting around Dak To, The 173rd Airborne Brigade had received a
countless number of letters from people expressing their thoughts. In the following letter
written by PSG Crvickshank, who was wounded during the battle, expresses his and the other
wounded Sky Soldiers ideas about the Brigade.
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Then...
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Special
setup at Hohenfels helps
soldiers train for deployments to mountainous regions. Stars and Stripes September
25, 2004 HOHENFELS,
Germany — Nature takes
thousands, even millions, of years to form caves. At the Army’s Combat Maneuver Training
Center in Hohenfels recently, it took just four months. The center’s staff constructed four caves up to 100 feet long. Planning began in June,
and construction on all four caves was complete by Sept. 15. The center continuously works to
improve its training facilities. That includes its urban warfare training villages, where
soldier and civilian role-players from the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment at
Hohenfels buy furniture and other items at garage sales and flea markets to add to the
authenticity, said Lt. Col. Darin Blancett, deputy operations officer for CMTC Command
Group. While the
urban training sites replicate villages in theaters such as Afghanistan, operating in
an urban environment is not the only concern. “USAREUR has been deployed to
locations like [Afghanistan], and [U.S. Army Europe commander] Gen. [B.B.] Bell directed
that we replicate these environments — not specifically for Operation Enduring
Freedom, but for
any location where soldiers may need cave-clearing skills,” Blancett said. Although the center based its caves
somewhat on the model of manmade caves at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin,
Calif., the caves in Hohenfels are much more elaborate. The design had to be tweaked to
match the terrain and climate of Hohenfels. At a cost of $541,000, the caves were made with
pieces of 5-inch-thick concrete sewage pipe that range in diameter from about 5 feet to 6
feet, according to Knut Ogaard, master planner for the center who came up
with the original design of the caves. The insides of the caves were painted
in earth tones with a stucco effect that creates a texture similar to natural cave walls,
Blancett said. Numerous escape hatches with manhole
covers were built into the caves to provide easy exit access for soldiers in case of an
emergency, Ogaard said. The caves twist and turn with several
openings inside the caves that lead to dead ends. “We put in dividers, because
natural caves are not a straight shot; you have to maneuver around in them,” Ogaard
said. “The dividers help with the training because someone could be hiding behind one
of them.” Opposing forces will likely be hiding
in the caves and stockpiling weapons that units must find as part of the cave-clearing
training, Blancett said. A company from the 173rd Airborne used the caves for training on Monday, said
Sgt. 1st Class Eric Volk, an observer-controller from the training area. “They can use any means available
to provide light in the cave,” Volk said. “Some will use flashlights, others use
[night-vision goggles]. They may want to limit the number of flashlights they use in case
an enemy is waiting for them inside the cave.” Volk added that observing the trainees
in the cave is no more difficult than observing their training in the buildings and on the
streets of the mock villages. “One observer will already be in
the cave, and another follows the soldiers in to observe how they enter the cave,”
Volk said. For units such as the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which
deploys to Afghanistan next spring, the manmade caves in the training area could
save lives. “It is better that they practice clearing
a cave here under these conditions than encounter it for the first time downrange,”
Blancett said.
The Combat Maneuver Training Center’s Schwend cave sits in a former rock quarry in the massive training area in Hohenfels, Germany. Metal gates on the entrance keep wildlife out of the caves, which soldiers use to practice cave-clearing skills.
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Any0ne Out there Still |
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"Once
you say you are going to settle for second, that's what happens to you…--John
F. Kennedy
Your “Dusted Off`”
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Back When...
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Pilot Braves Typhoon To Save LRP Team
By
Sp4 Adrian Acevedo
BONG SON- A Helicopter Pilot from the
61st Assault Helicopter Company recently braved typhoon winds and rain to make a
dramatic rescue of a 173d Airborne Brigade Long Range Patrol which was being tracked with
dogs by a North Vietnamese Platoon.
Getting
Closer
During the next three hours, the NVA force kept closing with the team. The Paratroopers
however finally made radio contact with elements of the Americal Division and told them
their situation. The Americal passed the word on to the 173d. But, the team was told, that
no helicopters could fly in the typhoon which had been building up for a week, and to
continue on their escape and evasion course. No
Sign of Team
Pennington reconned the area but couldn't locate the team, so he moved out to make room
for Kyle. By this time, the team had made contact with the Choppers, and were told that
the Gunships were leaving because the ceiling was so low they couldn't bring suppressive
ground fire. Shocked
Me
"I thought all the Choppers had left," recalled Mossman, "so I was really
shocked when I saw that beautiful ship loom up suddenly out of the rain. It took about two
seconds for us to pile onto the Helicopter in spite the trees, clumps of bushes,
eight-foot elephant grass and the bouncing of the ship as it tried to keep steady in the
storm."
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an Then ~
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Complimentarty
CIB's
The 81st Infantry Brigade strikes
again.
DRտլGrafiX |
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" A Practice Jump In Italy..."
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Soldiers As a group of soldiers stood in formation at an Army Base, the Drill Sergeant said, "All right! All you idiots fall out." As the rest of the squad wandered away, one remained
at attention.
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Ricr0c `68 |
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H0
0-AH!
Tr00per Apprecieation.
Goin Home Tr00per?
Only in America!
VoTe 
HeRe?
RIC
r0C
Our BunKer~s.
Meric`a The ComPound~
Ric
r0c
Musical selection: Skirashikkur Earth Trybe.
RIC |
parachutist;
fully realizing the hazards of 
fellow 
trooper
are an
The
Department of the Army officially authorized the formation of 
The 74th
Infantry (
RAFIx~
The Way.
5/20/92
Airborne ? Send us Y0ur stories~
Let me explain the sharp contrast between the soldiers of today
who
r0C
@