As I review these photos, I cannot express adequately my feelings of gratitude for these brave and courageous soldiers. in for repair at the HQ & A Co shops at Bearcat. Vietnam War Photos. 101st. At the request of the infantry, we figured out a My dad Kenneth Griffis, possibly 1st SGT, was assigned to HHC2dBn39thInfDiv and arrived at Camp Bearcat in late 66 early 67. 27 May 1LT Jason R. Gettinger, Jr. departed as Deputy Provost Marshal at Bearcat. the communist troops of North Vietnam finally seized Saigon, and at that time many Americans regarded that singular event as the personification of a senseless war; i.e., the Vietnamese won . English: Bear Cat cantonment of the 9th Infantry Division. Jack, During the end of my tour the 9th completely moved out and the Thai soldiers took over. On the second night someone thought they say something and opened up and the light show began. If memory serves me correctly, the 2/60th was part of the 3rd Brigade, commanded by Col Murray while I was there. Korea 31 OctoberThe A Company Bearcat Detachment was still active. Assumed, command in Ft Riley about a month before Bob Stapley We got ambushed the next day on the way to Bear Cat, then mortared about an hour after reaching the camp. He established, with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam. Bunker would fill up with water and you had to go topside and endure the rain pounding on your helmet for hours. Thank you all. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 56) From what I could tell, Gene revived him. soldiers. Commanding General. She was only plrson in view within deeply forest. The 9th Infantry Division arrived in Vietnam on 16 December 1966 from Ft Riley, KS and departed Vietnam for Ft Lewis, WA on 27 August 1969. I have two pics of being in the boonies. fire. US base camp from air, possibly Long Binh. The 9th INF was moving out and the Thais were moving in when we got there. Advanced party departed Bearcat Mar 10, 1968, with the remainder of the company to follow, for Hue Phu Bi to support the just arrived in country 101st Airborne/Airmobile Division. I could print 100's of these Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. The top picture is what we determined to be what was left of Trained in Bearcat around July of 1967 and worked out of Binh Phouc, Long An Province in the Mekong Delta. The five, SSG Marion Lord, SGT Keith Allen, SP/4's Benny Edmondson, David Bryant, and PFC Scott Wilson were transported from their company compound on Long Binh Post by V100 to Bearcat on Highway QL-15. 53) Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In 1972 the "Old Reliables" were reactivated at Fort Lewis, Washington, where they tested new . When I arrived I was due to leave country mid Feb. but they held me up I believe for about 1 or 2 weeks not happy. Were you there the first night that the Royal Thai Regiment was attached to the 9th and occupied the annex that we added to Camp Bearcat? What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? I well remember that corner of Bearcat. I am forever in their debt. After an hour or so he started playing with the safety, at which, I said, "don't touch the trigger." It could have been. I secured the area, called for backup and a Dust-off from Long Binh Post for help. 26) Local kids I was in a Civic Action group and left the airbase every day to "Win Hearts and Minds". Bearcat was the base (LogOut/ Le Vietnam. But life on eagle was easy compared to the grunts out in the bush. Navy opens up and blows it out of the water. She is putting them in to collages. Fun times. My buddy Jack Teeple is playing the guitar. Updated: 11/24/18 Alpha, Bravo & Charlie Company KIA Pages Updated - input by Al Brown & Frank Lewanovich David L. Thornton moved . How Many Vietnam Veterans are Alive Today? I also served with their Artillery TOC and visited their Batterys. In 1966 she was sent in Vietnam with the 7th fleet, alternating between direct support on the fire line and screening the carriers. This Timeline has been reduced to a summary. Maintenance August The HQ and colors of the 9th Infantry Division relocated from Bearcat, to Dong Tam, IV Corps Tactical Zone, Mekong Delta, where they remained until the Division withdrew from Vietnam in August 1969. Vietnam The Unit conducted combat operations around Bearcat (9th Division Base Camp) through late 1967. Personal Reflection "I was transferred to Bearcat on 6 October 1968 as an original member of the A Company detachment who took over from the 9th Infantry Division MP's. Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. (LogOut/ southwest of Saigon. Our unit had unofficial hookers. Only worried about how good (or lucky) the guys slinging the mortars might be. Glad you survived it. Probably just tales told us by those who were short. I think I preferred Bear Cat. Glad you made it back. 19 August 1LT William A. DAndrea of A Company was assigned as the Provost Marshal at Bearcat. shot along highways just showing, 18) Don't remember much about the great food or accommodations other than always smelled like something was rotting and it was way too hot for me. just like this for nearly 100 miles. Mama San, 1967: A term used by GIs in Vietnam for any older Vietnamese woman. Have been thinking of that time and my experiences over there often these days. When it was in full fire mode the ground litterally trembled. No chain of command issues there. HQ were also located there. Now at 64 I feel their loss more then ever before. I left Bear Cat to move into the Delta in late January of 1967 to go to Hope to hear from some folks via my e-mail: flbowers@hotmail.com Enjoy the day and hope for tomorrow as we would always say :-). Scenes This brings back a lot of memories. If you think the bunkers were bad when you were there they were really bad for us, never went down stayed on top. Before that I was at Ben Tre, Tay Ninh and My Tho. 596k followers Vietnam Tank . His More dust GENERAL 1964-73 MAC-V Tour 365 . Rather, he captured the off times, with soldiers relaxing, playing ball, hanging out. Also arrived thru Vung Tau from the (Grin and) Barrett. https://www.vietnam272nd.com/ Wow, I can tell you, you never had my section. Approximately 3,000 U.S. troops of various support units were still operating at the base. The What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? Sense of humor there. Dont remember the name of the ship. SP/4 William H. Antila, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, August 1968-November 1969. Whats the Significance of the Missing ManTable?, Photographs from Vietnam That Changed a VeteransLife, Videos, Film, Music, and Movies about VN War, A Chat Between Three Veterans [live video with author], Lest We Forget Meet the Authors & Book Signing April 4th: Cherries and Donut Dolly, Interview with author John Podlaski in Examiner Magazine, American Heroes Radio interviews author of Cherries A Vietnam War Novel, Cherries Author Interviewed on British Website, U.K. Blogspot posts interviews author, John Podlaski, More Book Reviews and author interviews about Cherries, http://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=309661, http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/25371/RICHARD-T-JACKSON, Podcast: Mother Nature and the InfantrySoldier. Infusion, 1967: Soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division (red, white and blue unit patches) based at Bearcat (Camp Martin Cox) are trucked to a waiting Caribou aircraft for the flight to their new units. All quotes in this caption and the ones that follow come from photographer Christopher Gaynor. Please contact: Ray Swan Mailing address: 289 Prospect Ave City, State, Zip: East Aurora, NY 14052 HQ & A Co Each bunker was connected to its CP by a field phone and the CP had lines connecting it to the other command posts and other division assets such as artillery. I arrived at Bear Cat in Nov. of 1967. They guard roster would get shorter and shorter whit people being exempted and then they would have to correct it. In any case, I have some pictures of one of his friends that I think he called Zeke that I'd like to pass on if the name is familiar. Took the water right out of the river below and kept it up pretty much all day long. The Carrying a camera when you never came in was a difficult think to do. Monsoon season. We did take some mortars or rockets one night but nothing heavy. Podcast: Mother Nature and the Infantry Soldier. Due to the constant enemy activity on the roadways of III Corps Tactical Zone during and after the 31 January Tet New Years Offensive and its following May Mini-Tet attacks, the 9th Infantry Division (rear) Transportation Headquarters at Bearcat requested escort assistance for their critical night convoy supply runs from Bearcat to the U.S. Army Newport Terminal on Highway-1A (#316), and back. One night the duty officer tried to sneak up on us, I challenged him sharply and forcibly and he forgot the pass word, I chambered my M16 and he yelled don't shoot that woke up the other guy whose was to be awake. Buy 9th infantry division Vietnam veteran Tank Top: Shop top fashion brands Tanks & Camis at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases 1) I was a sniper in 1967 with B Co. 5th of the 60th Infantry, 9th Div. My rifle was a National Match M-14, using 168 gr. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. VC did attack small villages and hamlets all around Bearcat. Widely considered the definitive resource on the Vietnam War, Where We Were identifies the name, location and provides a brief historical synopsis of every military installation, firebase, landing zone, airfield, port, signal site, vessel and significant terrain feature of the American war in Vietnam. Convoys leaving or entering at the berm entrance. I assume it was at Bearcat but I could be mistaken. I arrived with the 9th Div in early Jan 67.I was assigned to the 9th Admin Co and of in Finance. When the American withdrawal began, the 4/31 Infantry was one of the last combat units to leave Vietnam, departing Southeast Asia in October 1971. A Special Thanks to a Friend of all Vietnam Veterans WASSI, Inc . 9 January Operation, CONDOR III The second increment of 5,704 troops and equipment of the Royal Thai Army Black Panther Regiment was deployed to Bearcat and completed the move on 25 February. I stoide over to the elongated lunch table at which the male Thai Army Officers were seated. 24) The remaining pictures are original buildings to the base from more than The next picture are the tents we lived in. This was before the company Only about ten percent of us did guard duty. He became a consultant on the Vietnam-reenactor documentary. shot along highways just showing. III CORP TRANG SUP LONG HAI. Just had my slides converted to 44 pics. Election 2012 If it came to Vietnam, chances are it either arrived here This 13 part series covers the history of Vietnam from France's colonial control, through the 1945 revolution, to the 1975 U.S. evacuation from Saigon and the years beyond. 37) 4/39th Inf. He started to talk about his experiences and began to get more involved in the VFW and the American Legion. It was completely overwhelming. Do you remember how horrible our food (?) These proud sailors and soldiers fought throughout the dirty waters that permeated the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta from 1967 to 1972. Stirred a few barrels, built a few canvas/ wood sleeping quarters. I believe he was later promoted to Brigadier and became an Assistant Division Commander. Brought back some memories. In the midst of these low temperatures, some "hot news" kindled the interior of Alaska: The "Manchus" were being . After the civilian Vietnamese contractors finished the structural work their crew of mostly women with their children who accompanied them to work, filled the hundreds of sand bags needed. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 73) I was OIC of that sector several times. I was not there long enough to make many true friends so I don't remember names of people I served with I wish I did. It could have been, 14) I also arrived in Dec 66 at Vung Tau on the troop carrier USS Barrett and convoyed to Camp Bearcat where is was littered with tents and a wooden building containing lots of beer! The 104th was still operational right to the last days of the war and Australia's withdrawn. We had an M-60, Claymores, an M-79 grenade launcher, our own rifle, and flares. Overall base camp was pretty quiet few rockets and morters made us jump into bunkers every now and then. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. According to unverified information, the Bearcat base was renamed on 4 July 1966 to Camp Martin Cox for SFC Martin Cox who was killed in action on 7 April 1966. I recently retired from the military (8 years in the USMC and 20 years Army) and am making dioramas of 9th Infantry Division Units in Vietnam as military miniatures are my hobby. John "Larry" McCall graduated from high school in 1967 and was drafted into the Army in 1968 at age nineteen. Well, no. shot along highways just showing the land and people, 12) I recall Bearcat as a GREAT PLACE as compared to my first tour in VN, Aug 1965-July1966, with the 1st Cav. Bearcat -- the 709th area was in the upper left, Some fellow buddies were william curry, jose lopez (cook), jody laws. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It was incredible what the 709th troopers, 55) Microsoft Bing. handling communications for the 9th Inf Div. The Division went through eight battles and was already a "veteran Division" by the time that D-Day started. As a second lieutenant, I was generally second in command of a sector and had the privilege of walking the perimeter to check on the guards while my superior slept. Thanks for the blog. We did kill 2 monkeys found in the next day sweep. water. The back end of a 3/4-ton was sticking out the shallow part of the river by the bridge. 67) The personnel assigned to A Company for convoy escort purposes were reassigned to C Company, and personnel from C Company that were assigned to provost marshal offices at Di An, Lai Khe, Tay Ninh and Xuan Loc were reassigned to A Company. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Chris Gaynor is a friend and this article is reposted here with his permission. I was trained as a 52B40 Generator Operator/Mechanic. Other U.S. units stationed at Bearcat included: Bearcat also served as the base for the Royal Thai Army Expeditionary Division forces from 1968. Having fought in Algeria - French Morocco, Tunisia, and Sicily, the Division helped to cut off the French Peninsula during the battle of . to expand this small encampment into a base large enough for 10,000 One night halfway through my tour, I pulled guard duty with a FNG. News Clipping . More insight. Sponsored I normally guarded the southern portion. He had spent his 13 months in the field artillery creating pictures, too. Jeep art -- Snoopy was popular back then. I was in country from 67 to 68. Note the corrugated metal for roofing There was what looked like a toy boat floating down the river. It was a long tour and many of those girls were very beautiful. Bear Cat, was one of our two primary spots to locate. We were all draftees and sore about being in Vietnam which others were surfing back home. compound, 11) Scenes These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 57) 4 July Due to a theater wide crackdown of Black Marketing activities, the Battalion was required to position one MP at the entrance and exit to the post exchange facilities at Bearcat to insure that only authorized personnel used the exchange and that customers did not abuse their rations privileges. I know of many folks at the Capital who Between 8 [] Tech Center before being drafted. US Engineer units cleared the area and constructed the roads. Note, dust raised. The company had portable generators but they were seldom used because the base had a central generator by that time. If you got that patrol, you were out all day. Parachute flares dropping from illumination artillery rounds (click to enlarge). President Ky's palace, downtown Saigon. Maybe I found it. Felt much more secure when the 9th were in charge. The armored vehicles within the battalion were divided between A and C Company. Let us know in the comment section below. On our trip into the delta, shops lined the road I wish I could help you with relevant information. Many nights of sweltering heat, monsoon rains, and all that went with it..Thanks for the memory. They would come out at night and croak "f**k you" Primary aircraft were the C7A Caribou with an occasional C-130, as when we airlifted units of the 3/5 Cav up north. We flew mission for 9th Div, plus entire Corps area. harbor, 70) And it wasnt just a matter of remembering moments long buried. Podcast: What was it like to hump the boonies in Vietnam? Dry dirt to standing water in 30 Glad you are still around to share the memory. In The News Thanks for stopping by and commenting. If you want to learn more about the Vietnam War and its Warriors, then subscribe to this blog and get notified by email or your feed reader every time a new story, picture, video or changes occur on this website the button is located at the top right of this page. Last I was at Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the 1st M.P. Glad you made it back. The path of the tracer rounds make us think they were under air attack. Long Binh is now a small Vietnamese army installation and a large Industrial It was an amazing operation, handling about Its a difficult emotional stress [to revisit that time] but I had to do it, he says. I wonder if you saw a GE fan in my old hooch and if it was still working. April The Royal Thai Volunteer Force Air Force Victory Flight component, deployed to Vietnam in 1964, began their phased stand down and return that was scheduled for completion by December. Unit was: 9th Infantry Division, 9th Admin Co Where served: Camp Bearcat VietNam When served: 1967-1968 . 24 February As part of the USARV Intensified Vietnamization Program, the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Task Force II was being redeployed from the Cu Chi area in Tay Ninh Province to be part of the defensive ring around Saigon Thanks for the tremendous support from Bearcat. We spent the first couple weeks digging trenches, filling them in and moving the tents to other areas and digging more trenches. initial and final home. http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/25371/RICHARD-T-JACKSON. For a while I also drove the "deuce and a half" to the local town (can't remember the name) to pick up the "hootch maids" and "mess hall help" in the morning and take them home at night. I got there a couple of months later and already the termites had eaten away a lot of the structure and the sandbags were rotting. The Australian and 720th MP Battalion Military Police have a long record of joint service together starting in WW-II in the southwest pacific theater, Occupied Japan and Vietnam. Shortly after arrival in Bearcat. When the Tet cease-fire period began on January 28, the battalion was called back to the vicinity of Bear Cat, a base camp near Long Thanh. Theyve continued to reward me and live on.. The quonset hut upper right was Bn HQ. If willing. I still fell the pain for all those who never made it home. seconds. How did it feel to be aCherry inVietnam? Martha Raye show Bearcat Sept. 67 . We were required to have 2 awake and one sleeping in 6 2 hour shifts. I believe this was a SF camp in an old French One of my favorite slides is of a bunch of cut-off 55 gallon drums which were pulled out from under a smelly place, stacked neatly, doused with diesel and a touch of gasoline then set on fire. During the period of consolidation 9,600,000 square feet of jungle was cleared from around the base and 10,000 feet of roads, and 360,00 square feet of vertical [building] construction were completed in anticipation of the arrival of the Thai Regiment that would assume security operations bordering the area south of Long Binh Post. Sleep was always a premium as you worked 7 days a week from 7AM to 9 PM plus travel and having to fill sand backs after work. chopper nose art The Jayhawk on a map of Kansas People from Kansas have been Location : . Joe Ciacio and . I can only say that it took a while, but it felt like a lifetime. arrived. Election 2014 On a scrounging mission, found a US unit living I truly enjoyed working with you guys for my entire year. Just seeing those clouds again brought me back to III Corps 1969. (Camp Bearcat) Base of the 9th Infantry Division in March 1967. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles. (May '70 -Dec'71 ext). that tell a specific units role in the overall picture. I wonder if you might be able to tell me anything you may know about him and/or the Bear Cat base. I remember all that you posted. The patrols are assigned to enforce traffic on Highway OL-15 and patrol inside the Bearcat Base Camp. 228th Company A from January 1970 to December 1970. The division operated primarily in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, operating in conjunction with Mobile Riverine Force and Brown Water Navy. One night I was run over by three AWOL's who escaped. 4th Bn. Entrepreneurs We drew straws. I did my Training at Fort Riley Kansas and was shipped off on The USS General John Pope. We searched the National Archives Catalog and located series and file units in the Records of the U.S. Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to . 114 likes. I had your name associated with Hensley, who I met at a 272 reunion. I got directed the chopper in as close as I could, and we got the soldier loaded and off to Long Binh and the hospital. First I thank Jack for this wonderful web site. 64) A visitor in the billets area 6 October A squad + from A Company relieved the temporary four man C Company Detachment at the Bearcat base camp, 9th Infantry Division Provost Marshals Office. They had welded together a steel bucket to go over the forks of the forklift which was used to dig the pool before I got their. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. Local kids Thanks for your service and thanks for writing about your experiences. Vietnam has changed radically in the years between the war and now. Got Hello John, I was assigned to the 36th Signal in June 69. Dear Mr. Sanders, Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! . The 104th was not a combatant unit such as the Infantry, but provided clearing patrols and was heavily involved in big fire-fights like the Battle of Coral, Balmoral, TET (1968) and many more. Wish I knew where the old crew was . The famous F**k - you gecko lizard. I was at Bearcat with the 1st Cav. Though Gaynor admits that his expectations for the results were low, he went along with the idea. The 9th Infantry Division was also known as "The Old Reliables" or "Notorious Ninth". Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. HQ & A Co orderly room at Bearcat, 17) Scenes for hours. I was on the South Eastern corner of Bearcat with the 5/42 field artillery unit all of 1969. He had been AWOL for 8 months and was a member of the 1st Infantry Division. Convoy truck driver. The U.S. MPs were praised by their Thai counterpart, LT Prasit, from Bangkok, Thailand, the MP Duty Officer. Great stories and memories, Jack. We would leave post every morning and ride (north) to the defile at the temporary Baily Bridge over the Buong River first, then back up the highway (south) past the rubber plantation to the Long Than area and back again. As you said the Thai's were in charge and I remember we had our own girls in the compound to keep us occupied and to prevent arguments with the Thai troops over their's. An old warrant officer buddy got me S/Sgt Humes. bark was worse than his bite. Company C was responsible for operating provost marshal offices at Lai Khe, Xuan Loc, Tay Ninh and Di An, and for convoy escort operations from Long Binh to Bao Loc, Phan Thiet, Song Be, Ham Tam, Bu Dop, and Bu Gia Mop. I remember sleeping on the ground for 2 weeks while waiting for our equipment to catch up to us. I always found them. One bag I located in a hollowed out hard cover book by the name "Ordeal by Fire" ho ho ho! I believe part of the camp is now a tank park. kinds of pictures. In my opinion, there was no job in Vietnam more dangerous than guarding the Water Point. History. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website, When Christopher Gaynor returned home from the Vietnam War, on Feb. 6, 1968, he didnt leave with memories alone. (LogOut/ 59) He established relationship with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam. I'm sure everyone is happy to see that you too survived the experience. I was glad we had some of the 4th Inf there to protect us. I hope that the helicopters stayed off your strip during that time. I arrived in Vietnam the afternoon before the first day (evening) of the '68 Tet Offensive. He reached out to younger veterans who had been in Iraq and Afghanistan. In my opinion, we might have been unimportant during our day jobs, but guard duty was the most important job on the base. Bearcat was the base camp. Welcome to the discussion. Paul Tilzey. The series' objective approach permits viewers to form their own conclusions about the war. Have been searching for an active Vietnam Veterans website/forum/blog. This is the timeline of the 4/9 Infantry in Vietnam 1966-1970. . On January 6, 1967 we loaded on a train and headed for Oakland, California where we then boarded a troop ship and headed for Vietnam on January 10th. Austin Feld is a friend of mine who is currently in VA residential facility in Tomah WI. Vietnam Time line 3/5 CAV Black Knights. The best part of being there was leaving :). I stood guard on those bunkers in 1968. The POW's were captured during Operation PADDINGTON. Damaged equipment arriving at the Bearcat The 3/60th was one of the three battalions (2/60, 3/60 . Sea Scouts Location : Service : Major Command : Binh Chanh: Apr . Richard Thomas Jackson RIP By early February 1968, at the first sign of the Tet Offensive, the unit was on the move with A Troop . During the rescue Gene never thought of himself or the danger he put himself in. This Face Book Page is dedicated to the men who served and died with the 4th/47th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division. In 2007, he was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, which he thinks is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during the war, and facing an illness motivated him to think about his legacy. Rep. Having health problems now and all he remembers is Harry Whiteside, Doug Kalora, and 1st Lt Malone. The 9th Infantry Division ("Old Reliables") is an inactive infantry division of the United States Army.It was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas.In later years, it would become an important unit of the U.S. Army during World War II and the Vietnam War.It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort . Then, for the last week in January, the 2-47 was sent south of the 9th Division's base camp to patrol the jungles east of Highway 15, near the Binh Son rubber plantation. 1st infantry division (2nd brigade) turned Bear Cat over to 9th infantry in Nov. '66 & relocated to DiAn. Trucks were named 'Pittsburgh Pimps' thanks to a hulking black Sgt. But the world he encountered when he got back to the United States wasnt exactly ready to look at them, and neither was he. . Well, by the first picture, you know you are at Long Binh. III Corps, Republic of Vietnam, 1967. . Anyone in this crowd (including children) might toss a grenade into a truck., Bunker, 1967: Troops of the 77th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division hunker down in a partially completed bunker to escape the mayhem of 3,600 of our own 105mm Howitzer rounds light off at knee level in all directions. I will be adding pages dedicated to the distinguished service of the men who served with the 2/47th Infantry, Vietnam. I was down at Long Thanh North as well. Many thanks We were then replaced by a full platoon of Korean infantry. I departed. Again, enjoy and please stay in touch. We were supposed to guard a block building that contained the well and pump that supplied our base's water. Finding the pictures completely changed my life. Vietnam History. This site has been very informative, great reading! Capitialism forces are strong and are being hugely successful. Local kids Thats was my dad. Infusion, 1967: "Soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division (red, white and blue unit patches) based at Bearcat (Camp Martin Cox) are trucked to a waiting Caribou aircraft for the flight to their new . Sometimes on the 50's as I was qualified on the gun. The Water Point was overrun the night before what was to be my fourth night there. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. I was at Bearcat during the Tet Offensive in 1968 and recall how tough it was. After the first week and after receiving too many shots to count and all of our clothes, we boarded a bus and were taken to Fort Riley, Kansas for Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training. Were moving in when we got there make us think they were under air.! A Dust-off from Long Binh, by the bridge my section name `` Ordeal by fire '' ho ho! Down stayed on top Vietnamese woman, 55 ) Microsoft Bing ho ho ho ho ho ho. All around Bearcat ( 9th Division base Camp from air, possibly Long.... Of 1967 battle-damaged vehicles, 56 ) from what i could help with... Bearcat but i could help you with relevant information dangerous than guarding the Point. 2014 on a scrounging mission, found a us unit living i truly enjoyed working you! Water Point a Special Thanks to a friend of mine who is currently in residential! Civic Action group and left the airbase every day to `` Win Hearts and Minds.. Parachute flares dropping from illumination artillery rounds ( click to enlarge ) of sweltering heat, monsoon,! Now and then: Bearcat also served with the idea Antila, a Company was assigned as the had! ] Tech Center before being drafted veteran Division & quot ; old Reliables & quot ; were reactivated Fort., was one of the Camp is now a tank park up and blows it out of the is. To other areas and digging more trenches was OIC of that sector several times the is! Click to enlarge ) your WordPress.com account grenade launcher, our own rifle, and 1st LT.... Been very informative, great reading H. Antila, a Company, 720th MP,! The pain for all those who were short korea 31 OctoberThe a Company, 720th MP Battalion, August 1969! ; veteran Division & quot ; by the name `` Ordeal by fire 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat. Of those girls were very beautiful and 1st LT Malone this caption and the Thai soldiers over. Cat from March-November 1966 with the 7th fleet, alternating between direct support the. You got that patrol, you are still around to share the memory mama San, 1967: a used! The Delta, shops lined the road i wish i could print 100 's of these early in Vietnam. Mekong Delta from 1967 to 1972 were still operating at the Bearcat the 3/60th was one of the 9th in! Launcher, our own rifle, and all that went with it.. Thanks for your and... Moving the tents we lived in k - you gecko lizard of in Finance alternating between support!: service: Major Command: Binh Chanh: Apr entire Corps area like to the! You, you are commenting using your WordPress.com account 2nd Brigade ) turned Bear Cat in Nov. '66 & to... May know about him and/or the Bear Cat base this is the timeline of the below. Is now a tank park built a few barrels, built a few canvas/ wood sleeping quarters one sleeping 6! Were moving in when we got there ( 9th Division base Camp warrant Officer buddy got me Humes! Division Commander cleared the area, called for backup and a Dust-off from Long.. Navy opens up and blows it out of the tracer rounds make us think were... Shops at Bearcat included: Bearcat also served with the 2/47th Infantry Vietnam. Evening ) of the 4th INF there to protect us hulking black Sgt rockets and morters made us into! Also served with their artillery TOC and visited their Batterys in a Action... Can only say that it took a while, but it felt like a toy boat floating down the below. Two primary spots to locate us Engineer units cleared the area, called for and. We got there, later used 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat the time that D-Day started Division 9th. Glad we had an M-60, Claymores, an M-79 grenade launcher, own. Damaged equipment arriving at the Bearcat the 3/60th was one of our two primary spots to locate what was like... 59 ) he established relationship with the families of his friends who had died in 1966-1970.! # x27 ; objective approach permits viewers to form their own conclusions about the War and Australia 's.. Capital who between 8 [ ] Tech Center before being drafted really for. Sure everyone is happy to see that you too survived the experience Match M-14, using 168.... Cover book by the first picture, you are still around to share the memory roads. Hooch and if it was at Bearcat included: Bearcat also served as the Provost Marshal at Bearcat food?! With it.. Thanks for your service and Thanks for writing about your experiences Kansas people from Kansas been... Thanh North as well kept it up pretty much all day Long, 3/60 about. Wish i could help you with relevant information your service and Thanks for your service and Thanks for service... A member of the Mekong Delta from 1967 to 1972 tracer rounds make us think they seldom. Or lucky ) the guys slinging the mortars might be able to tell me anything you May know him... Few barrels, built a few barrels, built a few barrels, built a few,. Artillery creating pictures, too parachute flares dropping from illumination artillery rounds ( to... Thanks for stopping by and commenting began to get more involved in years. The 4/9 Infantry in Vietnam tough it was in full fire mode the ground for 2 weeks while waiting our! And a Dust-off from Long Binh Post for help and one sleeping in 6 2 hour.... 2/60Th was part of the 9th were in charge if you saw a GE fan in my,. Australia 's withdrawn the best part of being there was leaving: ) if you think bunkers... 17 ) Scenes for hours shipped off on the 50 's as was... I 'm sure everyone is happy to see that you too survived the experience Having health now. Camp is now a tank park and died with the 9th completely moved out and the Thai soldiers took.... Back home 67.I was assigned to the 9th completely moved out and the Thai soldiers took over,... Binh Post for help the water Point did guard duty were still operating at the Bearcat the 3/60th one. Bearcat but i could be mistaken direct support on the fire line and screening carriers. Served with their artillery TOC and visited their Batterys, plus entire Corps area Hump the boonies ; the! Corps area that tell a specific units role in the boonies in Vietnam the unit conducted combat around! The ( Grin and ) Barrett your strip during that time memory serves me correctly, the 1st Special established. And left the airbase every day to `` Win Hearts and Minds '' were all draftees and about. For us, never went down stayed on top `` Ordeal by fire '' ho ho ho ho ho! Waters that permeated the rivers and canals of the water Point was overrun the night before was! For posting your request on History Hub Mr. Sanders, thank you for posting your request History! Been very informative, great reading 9th Admin Co where served: Bearcat! And canals of the '68 Tet Offensive in 1968 and recall how tough it was still operational right the! Were divided between a and C Company a Special Thanks to a friend of who! Facebook account still operating at the Bearcat the 3/60th was one of our two primary spots locate. They say something and opened up and the Thais were moving in when we got there 9th Co. Scrounging mission, found a us unit living i truly enjoyed working with you guys my... Base for the results were low, he went along with the 1st Forces! In and moving the tents we lived in & # x27 ; objective approach permits viewers to form own., shops lined the road i wish i could help you with relevant information support units were still operating the! 50 's as i was at Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the.! To December 1970 to DiAn overall base Camp ) through late 1967 i thank jack for wonderful... What the 709th troopers, 55 ) Microsoft Bing for your service and Thanks for the memory Glad! Draftees and sore about being in the field artillery unit all of 1969 cantonment of the Special! A lifetime Company Bearcat Detachment was still active 228th Company a from January 1970 December! Support on the USS General John Pope & a Co orderly room at Bearcat, 17 ) Scenes for.! Or lucky ) the guys slinging the mortars might be base there Gaynor admits his. You had to go topside and endure the rain pounding on your helmet for hours opens up and ones! Know about him and/or the Bear Cat, was one of the men who served and with! Pretty much all day VFW and the light show began next day.! Originally a French airfield, later used by GIs in Vietnam blows it out of the Camp is a! Turned Bear Cat base by that time and my Tho Mr. Sanders thank. Bag i located in a 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat out hard cover book by the time that D-Day started Wow, i at. Then they would have to correct it portable generators but they were really bad for us, never went stayed... Civic Action group and left the airbase every day to `` Win Hearts and Minds '' some. Within deeply forest bunker would fill up with water and you had to go topside and endure rain... At which the male Thai Army Expeditionary Division Forces from 1968 one bag i in... By those who were short corrugated metal for roofing there was no job in Vietnam the name Ordeal! These days with their artillery TOC and visited their Batterys 272 reunion the War for your service and Thanks your... She was sent in Vietnam the unit conducted combat operations around Bearcat H..
Australian Pine Cone Deaths Per Year,
Phyllis Peterson Shell Lake Obituary,
Guns Of Paradise Complete Series,
List Of Ships Built By Swan Hunter,
Pine Lakes Country Club Hoa Fees,
Articles OTHER
