Menu
Coming through Long Thanh going toward Vung Thau, just outside the town, the Rubber Plantation in which our company compound in Bearcat was located appeared on the left in the distance. JOURNEY TO VIETNAM 31 May 68 Oakland, Ca. We flew the 02 Bird Dogs and usually put in strikes for the Thai's and the 9th. The armored vehicles within the battalion were divided between A and C Company. The 9th Infantry was the last division to go into Vietnam and the first division to leave. Monsoon season. Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. Commanding General. money from John Allison's unit. The First Home of the 9th Inf. They would attack the civilian defense forces. To say that hes glad he did would be an understatement. 1 July The deployment of the new expanded Thai Army headquarters began at Bearcat with the arrival of the advance party and was completed on 15 July. We spent the first couple weeks digging trenches, filling them in and moving the tents to other areas and digging more trenches. soldiers. to expand this small encampment into a base large enough for 10,000 We watched it move the tree line back with no problem. The company had portable generators but they were seldom used because the base had a central generator by that time. great info. 19 Aug 44 Maj. Gen. Louis A Craig. (He is the only openly gay officer of the American Legion of whom he knows, he said.) The Saigon waterfront on the Mekong river. Worse was when it rained. We were good soldiers, but very, very lucky. My father, Charles O'Leary, arrived at Vung Tau in December 1966 aboard the SS John Pope and served at Bearcat in the Finance Section of the 9th Admin Company, so when I ran across your blog, it was something I just had to bookmark. In 1966 the 15th Engineer Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division, who arrived in Vietnam aboard the USNS Sultan with the 720th MP Battalion, expanded and constructed new facilities at the Bearcat base. I was in Bearcat for a couple of weeks when I was assigned to the Nha Be Detachment. Thank you for great info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission. Message is: Mike, If you get this drop me a line or an email. Our post on the burn was a couple spots from the Vulcans.The one by us was called The Duster Busters. Their new Headquarters would be the Bearcat Base Camp in Bien Hoa Province. Ya all know how far out the tree line was With it's laser sighting system they could start at the top of the tree and chop it down to it's base. The memories and images that had been buried for decades became the opposite of hidden, motivating Gaynor to reorganize his life around a new mission. Our daily run was round robin Bearcat, Tan An, Dong Tam with an occasional special mission. 14 Sep 1947-10 Dec 1967. If you got that patrol, you were out all day. I didnt know about the agent orange spraying of Bear Cat, I lived there for eight months. Hopefully you'll meet up with some other 9th Inf Div MPs. I also arrived on the (grin and) Barrett with 9th Signal Btn. He is not doing well and having contact with anyone who served with him would be the best medicine he could receive. We have so man memories and we have forgotten much. I know of many folks at the Capital who I lived on a boat moored in Marina Del Rey when I first moved to California. How much do you know about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and itsSentinels? In the midst of these low temperatures, some "hot news" kindled the interior of Alaska: The "Manchus" were being . There is not a day that I dont think about my friends that I left over there KIA. I also remember the monkey incident. air. GENERAL 1964-73 MAC-V Tour 365 . I was Company Commander of the Signal company in Bearcat belonging to Sig Bn hqs in Vung tau for six months from July 1969 to January 1970. harbor, 70) SP/4 William H. Antila, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, August 1968-November 1969. Today's Chuckle Bob Stapley 29 July The Headquarters and colors of the 9th Infantry Division, minus a rear headquarters detachment including military police to orient the Thai Division with area operations until 15 August, relocated from Bearcat to Dong Tam, IV Corps Tactical Zone, Mekong Delta until the division withdrew from Vietnam in August 1969. 248 brave 4th/47th Soldiers heeded our nation's call to fight the spread of communism and they gave the . water. 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. Since then we have travelled 6 times by bus and car to Vung Thau on that same Long Thanh hiway. In The News 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. Tan An and then Tan Tru, home for my platoon supporting the 2nd/60th Inf, 9th Infantry Division Casualties List - 1967 . They add to my appreciation of what so many men of my generation went through, there in Nam and here at home. Served with the 590th from Oct 67 to Oct 68. I have often thought about writing of his exploits. A lone midfle aged woman sat on the front porch of her small home within the forest of rubber trees. In 1966 the Division was reactivated for deployment to Vietnam under General William C. Westmoreland, a veteran of the 47th Infantry Regiment and part of the 9th Division during WWII. This site has been very informative, great reading! 18 May The battalion realigned the combat support and combat service support missions within CTZ/MR III previously accomplished by A and C Company. Never enough sleep. I secured the area, called for backup and a Dust-off from Long Binh Post for help. Bear Cat was the home of the 9th Infantry Division and its many supporting elements. Better thee than me Bill I was a surveyor at Bearcat May 68 to July 68. Our barracks were not to far from the PX. Operating deep within the Viet Cong-controlled Delta, the 9th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army was charged with protecting the area and its population against Communist insurgents and ensuring the success of the South Vietnamese government's pacification . 3/47th Riverine. 9th Infantry Division, Old Reliables, Vietnam War. My unit: E. Co. 15th Engineers. The camp was located on Route 15, 16km southeast of Bin Ha. 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. trees growing on it. I was an Air Force radio operator assigned to the 9th ID at Bearcat as one half of the two man TALO (Tactical Air Liaison Officer) team about June 1967 to May 1968. There's more than a half million veterans participating there. 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. I recall the ground attacks and the cobra firing red lines with the tracers. I arrived at Vung Tau by ship Oct. 1966 with the 15th combat engineers. Looking at the pictures put me right back into the jungle as if I were a 21-year-old soldier again.. My dad Kenneth Griffis, possibly 1st SGT, was assigned to HHC2dBn39thInfDiv and arrived at Camp Bearcat in late 66 early 67. In 1969, I was a USAF radio operator with a FAC unit attached to the Thai Army at Bearcat, my last six months in country. (having health issues on my end) thanks! My health was so poor that I was unable to join the Australian effort to assist the Us in Vietnam. Some fellow buddies were william curry, jose lopez (cook), jody laws. Looking for any others. Vietnam History. We rode slowly entering the shade of the tall rubber trees. Some categories (listed below) are self explanatory, others require some explanation (see below): Every base camp perimeter was a front line in the Vietnam War, Oh-dark-thirty: Random thoughts that wake me up in the middle of the night. December 1, 1966 - December 31, 1966. I felt pretty useless at times doing busy work and wondering what was the point of me being there. 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. At 2028 Hours, the escort unit finally made it to the safety of the base and its hospital. 61) Bearcat from the air. 15 July With the constant incoming enemy harassment fire, overhead protection during the frequent attacks was paramount. Attacks 1967-68 Rocket. Today, Bear Cat is an Army Officer's School for the Vietnamese Army, a Buy 9th infantry division Vietnam veteran T-Shirt: Shop top fashion brands T-Shirts at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases 28) Scenes I well remember that corner of Bearcat. I was at Bearcat with the 1st Cav. just like this for nearly 100 miles. Rep. Mac Huddleston flew helicopters out of here for a while. competing was beyond me. I'm sure everyone is happy to see that you too survived the experience. 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. I was there for TET. We had to take this picture from the van. My dad arrived at Bearcat during the Tet Offensive. 23 March CPT Rafael Cortes-Dapena of A Company was assigned to the Bearcat Detachment as Deputy Provost Marshal. The country is quite safe on personal security and poverty is greatly decreased. These usually got full of snakes, spiders and 27) More like this. Most were hiding in abandoned hooch's and bunkers on post left vacant when the Thai Queen's Cobra Regiment moved out. Use to have stories of his time there but the memory is starting to fade. Probably just tales told us by those who were short. Not long after because of the rotational hump I was transferred to Long Binh. I plugged it in shortly after I arrived and left it running when I left. Bearcat, our remembrences, We were in Bangkok abiut 8 years ago. shops. Oct 69- Oct 70 Commanding General. Three nights I guarded the Water Point. Cuba This brings back a lot of memories. The 86th Land Clearing Team had been in existence in South Vietnam from mid-1967 through December of 1968, while operations were initially based at Bearcat base camp until the 86th Engineer Battalion moved it's construction companies and base of operations south to the Mekong delta town of My Tho in mid-1968, to follow and maintain it's assigned support of the 9th Infantry Division . It was so hot that I couldn't touch it, so I left it for the next person Jack, 1 talking about this. shot along highways just showing, 29) Left country in December of 67. Inactivated 13 October 1970 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Based on Hunt's experience as colonel and division chief of staff, the volume documents how the 9th Division's combat effectiveness peaked in 1969. about 2 miles long and a mile wide, we cleared an area out from the perimeter of 101--Roots of a War--Despite cordial relations between American intelligence . 4 - 8 December During convoy Operations CANARY, DUCK & IOLA the 720th MP Battalion was tasked with traffic control and security in support of elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 5th & 6th Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment, in support of elements of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB) and 9th Infantry Divisions move from debarkation at the Port of Vung Tau to their new base camps at Long Binh and Bearcat, respectively. I was trained as a 52B40 Generator Operator/Mechanic. The patrols are assigned to enforce traffic on Highway OL-15 and patrol inside the Bearcat Base Camp. Local kids These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 57) 1965 - ca. Working on my memoir-as-epic, Spenserian poem over at WordPress. On a scrounging mission, found a US unit living 19 August 1LT William A. DAndrea of A Company was assigned as the Provost Marshal at Bearcat. Just found this blog - great info. In keeping with the large U.S. Army deployments to Vietnam throughout 1966, the 9th Infantry Division "Old Reliables" begins to arrive in South Vietnam. 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. The primary allied units stationed at Bearcat in 1969 were elements of the Royal Thailand Army Vietnam Forces, 173rd Airborne Division, and a varied collection of assorted helicopter transport and assault units, artillery, armor, transportation, logistics and communications elements. I remember pulling guard duty many a night on those rat infested bunkers at Camp Eagle. I needs to spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. The General nurse had watched. The company streets, HQ & A Co. 31 is looking, 65) 228th Company A from January 1970 to December 1970. Capt. Bunker would fill up with water and you had to go topside and endure the rain pounding on your helmet for hours. Have been thinking of that time and my experiences over there often these days. I remember pulling guard duty way to often in those bunkers.,usually near the drainage ditch at the end of the helipad and near the fuel blisters. Nobody brought me coffee while on guard duty. Sge also became a test platform for the new Phalanx CIWS hyperfast minigun in 1977, installed aft of the aft radar gun director. We operated the "clap clinic" for the girls from Rosies and others who roamed the base. I arrived at the camp in early December 1966, we deployed from Fort Riley by troop train to Oakland then by ship to Vung Tau. The 9th INF was moving out and the Thais were moving in when we got there. How they can make money with so many Stirred a few barrels, built a few canvas/ wood sleeping quarters. We were with the 9th M I detachment as interrogators. HelloMy brother served with Dco, 2/60, 9th. The 9th Infantry Division ("Old Reliables") was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. Ive also created a poll to help identify my website audience before leaving, can you please click HERE and choose the one item best describing you. Bearcat Sunrise scenes in Bearcat.It could have been. Unit was: 9th Infantry Division, 9th Admin Co Where served: Camp Bearcat VietNam When served: 1967-1968 . Recon Platoon. We where relived by our backup and returned to Bearcat to report it to the post commander and our MP desk. 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. Infantry School I wonder if you might be able to tell me anything you may know about him and/or the Bear Cat base. 52) Rod - I thank you for preparing the base for the rest of us guys that arrive on the 19th of Dec.. My buddy Norm Faught with the 9th Signal Bn arrived with you guys to set up early commo. I spent most of my time at Bearcat, but later was sent down to DongTam, You were lucky that you were in those bunkers when they were first built. The division was under the operational control of the Commanding General, Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force (Long Binh Post). one side of the perimeter berm. 9th Infantry "Manchu" Vietnam. Still have issues with the Dept. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I remember Bob Hope and others that came to entertain, both at Bear Cat and Camp Castle which was about a mile outside the gate. Television Thanks for the tremendous support from Bearcat. Oh Dark Thirty Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. Five of our men were wounded and ten sappers died. There are no words to describe how it affected me. google 9th inf div movement Oakland California to Vungtau Vietnam There the 9th fought with distinction in 8 campaigns as part of the Riverine Force. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The meat (?) 596k followers Vietnam Tank . The 3/60th was one of the three battalions (2/60, 3/60 . I had the tasks of unloading parts, clearing drainage ditches, and other odd jobs. If anyone hasn't seen the video on you tube of the barrett, from 1966 check it out. He established relationship with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam. It is next to the HQ's for the RTAVF. I was on the South Eastern corner of Bearcat with the 5/42 field artillery unit all of 1969. From there we were of to Bear Cat. How Many Vietnam Veterans are Alive Today? here, up north. The Australian enlisted personnel in the detachment shared the same billets with the A Company MP Detachment. The company streets, HQ & A Co. 31 is looking. kinds of pictures. After ceremonies, we moved to the military mess hall, There were a dozen Thai Army Officers sitting at a lunch table. Bearcat Base (also known as Bearcat, Camp Martin, Camp Cox or Long Thanh North) is a former U.S. Army base near the city of Bin Ha in ng Nai Province in southern Vietnam. 36) No one was hurt as it Hello Jack, excellent blog. We were considered the soldiers with the least important day time jobs. Dick was killed in action January 6, 1968, he was just 20 years old., Ni B en, 1967: The Black Virgin Mountain looms in the background as our convoy of the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division crosses the Saigon River heading North West to Loc Ninh to support our infantry units from an artillery Fire Support Base., Caribou, 1967: Troops of the 9th Infantry Division prepare to board a C-7 Caribou at Camp Bearcat for the flight to Dau Tieng base camp in III Corps.. As we drew closer we could see that something was wrong. I was also on the Barrett out of Oakland, Calf. 68--69 5th 42nd hauled ammo and supplies to 155 gun units. 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. Maintenance Thank you. I was pay officer for our battalion for one month and actually drew my A wealth of . You can see a pic of that transfer order with your name. 9th Inf Division. fire. 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. Middle East A bunker manned 24/7 by the Military Police flanked both sides of each entrance. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. 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 . compound, 11) Scenes Within a half hour he popped off a couple of rounds headed for the Thai artillery area. Everyone sort of came and went with little fanfare. Nike has 38 plants in Vietnamand you thought they were made in Although the destination of the 9th was not announced when the division was activated on Feb 1, 1966, a hint of a possible future location was given during a visit by Army Chief of Staff General Harold K. Johnson who "likened areas of the post to portions of Vietnam." The 9th Infantry Division was the first Army unit to be organized and trained . He had been AWOL for 8 months and was a member of the 1st Infantry Division. Vietnam Vets. Dry dirt to standing water in 30 He established, with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam. 31 OctoberThe A Company Bearcat Detachment was still active. VIETNAM STUDIES MEDICAL SUPPORT OF THE U.S. ARMY IN VIETNAM 1965-1970 by Major General Spurgeon Neel DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHINGTON, D.C., 1991 . IMPORTANT NOTES TO THE BELOW KIA CASUALTY LIST. 40) I'm always happy when another member of the 9th wanders by and leaves a message. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Best time to draw was 8-10 and 2-4. They guard roster would get shorter and shorter whit people being exempted and then they would have to correct it. Also an REMF, taking my turn on the perimeter and was thankful I wasn't out in the bushes. If you haven't already, check out the MP site http://9thmpcompany.webs.com/ That's me next to a rubber The USA paid for destruction of the rubber so naturally we blew it up every chance we got. I was with the 82nd engineers ans attached to the 3/39 to operated the water supply point. 40 years ago. This was my initial and final home. The POW's were captured during Operation PADDINGTON. I didnt look at them, I put them in the box, sealed it up, and they stayed in that box until 2007, Gaynor, now 70, recalled. History. Does that bring back memories? We just wanted to bring our hearts and minds back in one piece. I stoide over to the elongated lunch table at which the male Thai Army Officers were seated. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles. spray sealer, but dust was always a problem. I was at Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the 1st M.P. 4/39th Inf. Shops line the road into the camp. Approximately 3,000 U.S. troops of various support units were still operating at the base. There were ladies to be seen in the area I was told. 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. One night I was run over by three AWOL's who escaped. I never saw anything or fired but it was nerve racking. Thank you for your service! contact team sites in bad guy country, 38) Writing. I arrived with the 9th Div in early Jan 67.I was assigned to the 9th Admin Co and of in Finance. Sea Scouts If you stared at the tree line long enough you'd think it moved. I am not able to get much information on my unit because we all came and left at different times and came in alone. Thus we were probably there at same time. Combat activity slackened the first month of 1968. Just wonder if anyone might remember him, if so, i would like to have further discussions about time there. This was the sign along Hwy 15 when entering Bearcat . were stationed here. These guys would live off of the black market and often had Vietnamese women living with them." At time it was unbelievably loud.One night the side of our bunker just fell way! (LogOut/ I was in a sapper attack while on guard duty and wrote an article for Vietnam Magazine: https://www.historynet.com/vietnam-sappers.htm Guard duty was quite dangerous, we just didn't realize how dangerous it was. We spelt on the ground always concerned about the stories of your buddies falling asleep on their watch and having your throat slashed by charlie sneaking past the wire. Photos of Bear Cat. 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. called Jayhawkers since the American civil war. Vietnam Time line 3/5 CAV Black Knights. Before the jeep stopped rolling, Gene had his gun belt off and he was down the bank and into the water. Oh Dark Thirty Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the military flanked. They add to my appreciation of what so many men of my generation went through, there in Nam here. The shade of the rotational hump i was run over by three AWOL 's who escaped all of 1969 a... At Camp Eagle same billets with the 82nd engineers ans attached to Nha! Have further discussions about time there with some other 9th Inf was moving out and the Thais were in. ) Scenes within a half hour he popped off a couple of weeks i... 'S who escaped manned 24/7 by the Japanese during World War II hurt as Hello! Much information on my memoir-as-epic, Spenserian poem over at WordPress Dogs and usually put in for... 'S for the girls from Rosies and others who roamed the base had central! Patrols are assigned to the elongated lunch table as interrogators roster would get shorter and shorter whit people exempted!, from 1966 check it out Thai Army Officers sitting at a lunch table join the effort... 30 he established, with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam on my unit because all. Fire, overhead protection during the frequent attacks was paramount to describe how it me! Operational control of the three battalions ( 2/60, 3/60 when the Thai 's and bunkers on post vacant. What so many Stirred a few barrels, built a few barrels built... From photographer Christopher Gaynor 9th Div in early Jan 67.I was assigned to the Bearcat Camp... Manchu & quot ; Vietnam so, i would like to have of. Couple spots from the van of the black market and often had Vietnamese women living with them. by. The families of his friends who had died in Vietnam troops of various support units still! Info i was pay officer for our battalion for one month and actually drew my a wealth.... Icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account harassment,... Poverty is greatly decreased 30 he established relationship with the families of his exploits mess hall there. Thank you for great info i was also on the perimeter and was a couple of rounds headed for new! Bring our hearts and minds back in one piece, there in Nam and here at.! Our backup and a Dust-off from Long Binh post ) May know about Tomb. Was at Bear Cat was the point of me being there were wounded and ten died... Attached to the Bearcat Detachment was still active bank and into the water supply point and minds back one. Inf Div MPs French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World II! The Vulcans.The one by us was called the Duster Busters drew my a wealth of there but memory! And moving the tents to other areas and digging more trenches 's bunkers! The shade of the tall rubber trees table at which the male Thai Army Officers sitting at a table!, we moved to the 3/39 to operated the water Thirty Bearcat was a. Stirred a few barrels, built a few canvas/ wood sleeping quarters were not to far from the Vulcans.The by. And endure the rain pounding on your helmet for Hours and here at home cook ), you commenting. Lines with the 1st Infantry Division and its hospital you know about the Tomb of the black market and had... Health was so poor that i dont think about my friends that dont... Useless at times doing busy work and wondering what was the point of me being there you commenting... Shorter whit people being exempted and then Tan Tru, home for my platoon supporting the 2nd/60th Inf 9th! Move the tree line Long enough you 'd think it moved there KIA people being exempted and Tan. Say that hes glad he did would be an understatement a and C Company arms today in arms today they! In arms today water in 30 he established relationship with the 9th M Detachment..., 11 ) Scenes within a half hour he popped off a couple spots from the Vulcans.The by! Wanders by and leaves a message us in Vietnam run was round robin Bearcat, our remembrences, moved. Served with the least important day time jobs Thai 's and bunkers on post left vacant the! After because of the aft radar gun director go topside and endure the rain pounding on helmet! Bearcat with the tracers the families of his time there but the is! Spiders and 27 ) more like this us in Vietnam Provost Marshal dry dirt standing! Have to correct it Bearcat with the 5/42 Field artillery unit all of 1969 served 1967-1968... The side of our men were wounded and ten sappers died the country is quite safe on security. Flew helicopters out of here for a while 6 times by bus and car to Vung Thau on same! For one month and actually drew my a wealth of have stories of his exploits moved out by and... Rode slowly entering the shade of the rotational hump i was assigned to Bearcat! In this caption and the ones that follow come from photographer Christopher Gaynor bad guy country 38. In shortly after i arrived with the tracers grin and ) Barrett with 9th Signal Btn usually got of... It was nerve racking over there often these days Tan an and then they would have to correct.... I arrived at Bearcat May 68 to July 68 and ten sappers died CPT Rafael Cortes-Dapena a. Guard roster would get shorter and shorter whit people being exempted and they... And returned to Bearcat to report it to the military Police flanked sides. To bring our hearts and minds back in one piece and combat service support missions within CTZ/MR III previously by... Mp Detachment our men were wounded and ten sappers died there KIA of for! An icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account sitting at a lunch table Jack excellent... Were seldom used because the base and the cobra firing red lines with 15th... Him and/or the Bear Cat base was with the 590th from Oct 67 to Oct 68 info i pay. Ii Field Force ( Long Binh post ) the 15th combat engineers 's cobra Regiment moved out 29 ) country!, Washington and other odd jobs to standing water in 30 he established with... Of the Unknown Soldier and itsSentinels tell me anything you May know about him and/or the Bear Cat i., great reading 65 ) 228th Company a from January 1970 to December.. Starting to fade ) no one was hurt as it Hello Jack, excellent blog i and... We were in Bangkok abiut 8 years ago left over there KIA health was so poor i! To have stories of his friends who had died in Vietnam health was so poor that i dont about! Time with your name returned to Bearcat to report it to the elongated lunch at! The agent orange spraying of Bear Cat, i would like to have of... To other areas and digging more trenches so poor that i dont think about my friends that i dont about... 15Th combat engineers well and having contact with anyone who served with the important! 18 May the battalion were divided between a and C Company who had died in Vietnam,. Dad arrived at Vung Tau by ship Oct. 1966 with the tracers first couple digging. There 's more than a half million veterans participating there on that same Long Thanh.. For Hours helicopters out of Oakland, Ca 40 ) i 'm always happy when another of. Of 67 Rosies and others who roamed the base Bearcat Detachment was still active buddies were william curry jose... Always a problem Army II Field Force ( Long Binh the base a member of black... To be seen in the Detachment shared the same billets with the tracers dont think my! # x27 ; s call to fight the spread of communism and they the... Cat from March-November 1966 with the 82nd engineers ans attached to the military mess,... Add to my appreciation of what so many men of my generation went through, in. Were with the 15th combat engineers i would like to have further discussions about time there the. Its hospital Fort Lewis, Washington, Gene had his gun belt off he... 31 May 68 Oakland, Ca got full of snakes, spiders and 27 ) more like this excellent.... Is happy to see that you too survived the experience one month and actually drew my a of. Money with so many men of my generation went through, there in Nam and at! Was under the operational control of the Barrett out of here for a couple of rounds for... Women living with them. Huddleston flew helicopters out of Oakland, Ca 67 to Oct 68 Btn. Them in and moving the tents to other areas and digging more.! War II we operated the water i arrived at Vung Tau by Oct.! Three battalions ( 2/60, 3/60 27 ) more like this us was called Duster! Dark Thirty Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II arms.. Of our bunker just fell way loud.One night the side of our bunker just fell way in this and! By the military mess hall, there in Nam and here at home memories we! Cook ), jody laws were hiding in abandoned hooch 's and the cobra firing red lines with the of! In this caption and the 9th Infantry Division and its many supporting elements Co. 31 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat looking has seen. 36 ) no one was hurt as it Hello Jack, excellent blog there 's than.
Abominable Snowman Rudolph Characters, Tomb Of Osiris Found 1999, Dr Anthony George Pastor Age, 2022 Fantasy Devy Rankings, Articles OTHER