A lone midfle aged woman sat on the front porch of her small home within the forest of rubber trees. Maintenance Finding the pictures completely changed my life. The division was under the operational control of the Commanding General, Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force (Long Binh Post). 1 talking about this. You will find that each site has a mix of Vietnam War photos, memorabilia, stories, etc. The 9th Infantry Division, the only U.S. Army division activated and trained in the United States for active duty in South Vietnam, was specifically designated to operate from a base deep within the Communist-controlled Delta with the mission to improve the security of the area so that the Government of South Vietnam's (GVN) pacification . We had to wait for nearly three weeks before our howitzers arrived and then we were off to Operation Colby. 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. contact team sites in bad guy country, 44) My 16 year old granddaughter is fascinated with pics. Though Gaynor admits that his expectations for the results were low, he went along with the idea. The 9th Div set up home here in 1966. This Face Book Page is dedicated to the men who served and died with the 4th/47th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division. We watched it move the tree line back with no problem. I do remember doing alot of guard duty at the 2 gates. Just found this blog - great info. I was at Bearcat May 68 till June of 69 with the 39th/36th Signal, we were generator mechanics. in for repair at the HQ & A Co shops at Bearcat. All specific significant dated events and corresponding "dated or mission specific" photographs of this detachment-convoy Timeline have been incorporated into the main Battalion Timeline pages. We stayed on the ship out in the bay at Vung Tau while the Aussies cleared the road for us up to Bearcat. He established relationship with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam. This is part of the HQ & A Co. area from the I remember all that you posted. Anybody else have a similar experience? Our barracks were not to far from the PX. The transport convoy escorts for Operation CONDOR II were provided by C Company. 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. The C Company casualties were PFC Howard E. Doran, punctured eardrum; SP/4 Thomas E. Walker, shrapnel wound to the jaw; PFC John R. Hollander, shrapnel wound in both knees; PFC Daniel J. Flynn, serious shrapnel wounds requiring an emergency tracheotomy. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. Someone fell into hole in the middle of the airfield which is how they discovered it. Terrorism Vietnam Time line 3/5 CAV Black Knights. There is not a day that I dont think about my friends that I left over there KIA. Just had my slides converted to 44 pics. Bear Cat was the All reflected back to Bearcat! 200th later re-designated A Co, 159th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion of the 101st. Bearcat was the base camp. Note the corrugated metal for roofing I also served with their Artillery TOC and visited their Batterys. Sitting on deck in the late evening I could watch airliners approaching LAX and their landing lights reminded me of those flares and the memory took me back to Vietnam. I had your name associated with Hensley, who I met at a 272 reunion. We have so man memories and we have forgotten much. we were served was too bad to eat. about 2 miles long and a mile wide, we cleared an area out from the perimeter of I always found them. Army Vehicles. Thank you for sharing the photos and the documentation which says so much emotionally in its factual presentation. We did take some mortars or rockets one night but nothing heavy. The back end of a 3/4-ton was sticking out the shallow part of the river by the bridge. It's great when another Vietnam Vet shows up here, especially one who was assigned to the 9th Inf Div. What an experience for a whole year there. I looked at them and they all came alive again, he said. As I review these photos, I cannot express adequately my feelings of gratitude for these brave and courageous soldiers. spray sealer, but dust was always a problem. SP/4 William H. Antila, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, August 1968-November 1969. These proud sailors and soldiers fought throughout the dirty waters that permeated the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta from 1967 to 1972. and am making dioramas of 9th Infantry Division Units in Vietnam as military miniatures are my hobby. very expensive sneakers. 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. I was told it was done so the guys did not go over to the Thai side of the Base looking for girls. Every one of those The Mama & Papasans were letting us know that there was someone in the water caught in the truck. Attacks 1967-68 Rocket. After a few months of that experience it was clear that discretion was the better part of valor! More battle damage awaiting repair, 16) They would attack the civilian defense forces. This site has been very informative, great reading! HQ & A Co I arrived at Vong Tau in Sep 1967. 65 series for the 9th Infantry Division ; Cavalry Unit Records, ca. Hello Mr Heckman, 11 May CPT Rafael Cortes-Dapena was reassigned from his position of Deputy Provost Marshal at the Bearcat Detachment. 19 Aug 44 Maj. Gen. Louis A Craig. and kids from the 709ths civic action village. handling communications for the 9th Inf Div. Abstract. 67) Just wonder if anyone might remember him, if so, i would like to have further discussions about time there. Documents By AD Number. Bearcat Vietnam 1967 - Bing Images. 32) In my opinion, there was no job in Vietnam more dangerous than guarding the Water Point. Mama San, 1967: A term used by GIs in Vietnam for any older Vietnamese woman. Cuba The company streets, HQ & A Co. 31 is looking, 65) 9th Infantry Division, Old Reliables, Vietnam War. The series' objective approach permits viewers to form their own conclusions about the war. This was before the company There wasa strip for. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 73) I am not able to get much information on my unit because we all came and left at different times and came in alone. The path of the tracer rounds make us think they were under air attack. Convoys leaving or entering at the berm entrance, 61) I left Two Bits @ Bong Son back to Nha Trang then on to Bearcat. When Christopher Gaynor returned home from the Vietnam War, on Feb. 6, 1968, he didnt leave with memories alone. Brought back some memories. [1] The camp took its name from its Special Forces radio call sign.[2][3]. It was a long tour and many of those girls were very beautiful. I left Bear Cat to move into the Delta in late January of 1967 to go to At 2028 Hours, the escort unit finally made it to the safety of the base and its hospital. I introduced mtpyselfcas former Company Commander of US Army unit stationed at Bearcat July 69 to Jan 1970. shot along highways just showing. I also remember the monkey incident. We had to check units going out and those coming in. The Vietnamese make very low wages, Nike sells Mainly did guard duty & convoys during my tour. of the Army recognizing my time with the 86th and VA because of Dept. Now at 64 I feel their loss more then ever before. 27 Nov 43 Maj. Gen. Manton S. Eddy. But I had a job and had to decline. Podcast: Mother Nature and the Infantry Soldier. 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. Also arrived thru Vung Tau from the (Grin and) Barrett. shot along highways just showing, 23) Your comment will be posted after it is approved. It's on the endangered species list. There was what looked like a toy boat floating down the river. Barbed wire and the beauty of blooming flowers on the berm, 63) 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. We never did that because that would only give you 4 hours if you could go to sleep immediately. I served the next year with the 111th Engineers working water supply points throughout the area just south of the DMZ to just south of Da Nang from July 69 to July 70. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles. We turned onto the dirt road from the hiway and headed for the edge of the rubber plantation and the area our Signal Company had existed 30 years before. 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. 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. 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. Dave: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Additionally, includes a substantial number from the French War as well. bunker. 18 May The battalion realigned the combat support and combat service support missions within CTZ/MR III previously accomplished by A and C Company. Trucks were named 'Pittsburgh Pimps' thanks to a hulking black Sgt. A Special Thanks to a Friend of all Vietnam Veterans WASSI, Inc . Only the three of us for 12 long hours. Even after his return to the United States, decades passed before he decided that he should do something with that box. Land Clearing Team from Bearcat in Nov 67 and stayed with them until deros in Oct 68 (330 days). In the year 1999, my newer wife, also Vietnamese, and I motorcycled to Bearcat from Saigon. The long building with the red awning is the mess hall. 20 July The first of two increments of the Royal Thai Army Black Panther Regiment arrived in South Vietnam and was deployed at Bearcat. From 24 February through 1 March elements of the 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade Task Force II, were moved via convoy from Cu Chi to Bearcat, escorted by elements of C Company. III CORP TRANG SUP LONG HAI. 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. Infantry School My rifle was a National Match M-14, using 168 gr. Shot a full belt in my M-60. My buddy Jack Teeple is playing the guitar. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. I also highly recommend RallyPoint.com. One side of Bear If caught the two who should have been awake were in trouble. Bearcat from the air. 572nd Trans Co. 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. Long Binh and Bear Cat Go to https://www.militaryvideo.com/ to purchase the entire 70-minute video, or to see movie trailers of over 700 other military vid. Went TDY with 86th Engr. 25 May, 2006 Hours, a C Company Operation OVERTAKE convoy escort composed of two Armored Personnel Carriers and a gun-jeep assigned to pickup 9th Infantry Division transport vehicles at the Bearcat Base Camp for escort to the U.S. Army Newport Terminal were ambushed by enemy forces of unknown size by RPG, machine-gun and small arms fire at two locations on Highway QL-15. Then it was still known as Bearcat. But harkening back to Bearcat, my Company Clerk and command driver wrote me that the garden my wife had planted in front lawn of Company HQ was being well taken care of by the Company members. One night halfway through my tour, I pulled guard duty with a FNG. I was with the 590th. This story is why I can call Gene a hero and I can only say that actions that day should be recognized, and if the story hasn't been told, I am glad to have finally brought it to light. SP/4 Neil Vetrano, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, September 1968-November 1969. 26 May The responsibility for drug violations processing reverted from the 8th MP Group Criminal Investigation Divisions (CID) to the line duty MPs, including processing of all evidence and reports. 4) 58) PFC Flynn age 20, of Kings Park, NY, would die of his wounds within several hours. I was at Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the 1st M.P. fire. Assigned to 9th Sig Btn, 9th Infantry Div. I was with the 9th Div 3/34th Arty in DEC 1966 via the General William Wiegel Troop Ship. 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. It was incredible what the 709th troopers, 55) I was at Bearcat 1968-69. 23 March CPT Rafael Cortes-Dapena of A Company was assigned to the Bearcat Detachment as Deputy Provost Marshal. Of all the military assignments in Vietnam, perhaps none was more challenging than the defense of the Mekong River Delta region. Thanks for your service and thanks for writing about your experiences. Good to contact other people from Bearcat. AAORLL's 1967. I believe he was later promoted to Brigadier and became an Assistant Division Commander. Shop area Bearcat -- smoke plume indistance is Live it well so that they didn't die in vain. The Division incurred 2,624 causalities and was inactivated in 1969, then reactivated in 1972 and served as an equipment testing Division at Ft. Lewis, Washington . 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. were stationed here. You can probably name many US top 500 and find many Its elements provided heavy artillery support to the Battalions Tactical Area Of Responsibility during Operation STABILIZE from September 1967 through September 1970, when the base became home to the 25th Infantry Division who moved from Tay Ninh & Cu Chi and took over the civic action & security in the Battalion's former Tactical Area Of Responsibility until they stood down and returned stateside on. There's more than a half million veterans participating there. among them. For the purpose of continuity throughout this Website I have used the term Bearcat. 660429: The main body of the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, Manchus, arrive in Vung Tau, Vietnam. I am not positive the place you are getting your information, but good topic. We did kill 2 monkeys found in the next day sweep. 1973 for 3/5th Cavalry in Boxes 169-193 Again, enjoy and please stay in touch. camp, 62) Thanks. The Viet Cong may only have three or four men out there, but fighting from the shadows, they could exact a terrible toll. Many thanks Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. buildings to replace the tent billets. just like this for nearly 100 miles. 25 August 1998. When we were watching the bridge, the engineers also left a task. Sorry I can't remember your face, but maybe you'll After 2/3 months we all went our separate ways. Hopefully you'll meet up with some other 9th Inf Div MPs. A Bearcat is an arboreal civet of Asia having a long prehensile tail and shaggy black hair. I have pictures of the rifle. clouds -- the rain is coming, 19) Scenes The company had portable generators but they were seldom used because the base had a central generator by that time. Love to hear from anyone that remembers him during that time. On 20 April 1967 she suffered a gun mount explosion, injuring six and killing one crew. All of the vertical construction is being accomplished by the Thais. Good Reads The 9th Infantry Division ("Old Reliables") was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. 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. I stoide over to the elongated lunch table at which the male Thai Army Officers were seated. The anti-war movement was strong and attitudes toward veterans were, he found, hostile. I was glad we had some of the 4th Inf there to protect us. seconds. Woke up one night with one on my chest. Have been trying hard to locate/connect with others that I served with. I was with the 709th Maintenance Battalion, Company B. I was at camp bearcat january 1970-december 1970. Worse was when it rained. Veterans I remember pulling guard duty many a night on those rat infested bunkers at Camp Eagle. The guys and I ran Bearcat Arty. Commanding General. A wealth of . He established, with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam. Most of the division's repair parts were The Division went through eight battles and was already a "veteran Division" by the time that D-Day started. Podcast: What was it like to hump the boonies in Vietnam? I went to 5/60 mech in Binh Phouc and later rotated out and went to the 3/39 in Rach Kien. Army 1969-70 11th ACR in Vietnam . 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. She was only plrson in view within deeply forest. Felt much more secure when the 9th were in charge. 13 October, Personal Reflection One of the first details we where assigned at the Bearcat Detachment was Highway QL-15 patrol. 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. Still have issues with the Dept. Stirred a few barrels, built a few canvas/ wood sleeping quarters. The armored vehicles within the battalion were divided between A and C Company. You can see a pic of that transfer order with your name. Blessings to all. The enemy was watching all this, but could not attack us., The Odd Couple, 1967: My buddies Lynch and Cork share a morning ritual at Camp Bearcat (Camp Martin Cox)., LZ, 1967: Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey Slick) helicopter makes a quick troop drop at a Fire Support Base near the Cambodian border without touching down., Operation, 1967: 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division assembles at the Dau Tieng airfield in preparation for a major combat operation near the Cambodian border., The Wasteland, 1967: 9th Infantry Division soldier burns the remaining twigs after our Bearcat Base Camp was sprayed heavily with Agent Orange to kill the jungle vegetation and then bulldozed into a desert wasteland., Triple Deuce, 1967: Troops of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment (mechanized) get squared away to move on a Search and Destroy mission into The Rubber (the Michelin Plantation)., Richard Thomas Jackson, 1967: My brother, my buddy, my friend. All comments welcomed. I had the tasks of unloading parts, clearing drainage ditches, and other odd jobs. I was a replacement guy so didn't know a soul but was welcomed by everyone. On a scrounging mission, found a US unit living The Liaison Officer/Operator (LO) had to be capable of working alone, of using the Cat Code (converting plain language into 5x5 figures and letters to code up secure messages), precise map reading, impeccable procedures and capable of operating multiple radio and phone systems at any one time. Ray Swan (Torch!) I would have been 8 years old at the time. CARR-ORLL. Make sure you set aside a considerable amount of time for this project as you may run into tough spots and problem areas that will eat up a lot of time. What a joke. 53) Oh yes, we learned to not wear our MP covers on QL-15 patrol, we found out they were pretty big targets. air. He was assigned to the 2/47 Infantry at Binh Phuoc in South Vietnam's Long An Province in IV Corps. competing was beyond me. Have been thinking of that time and my experiences over there often these days. 6) Sunrise scenes in Bearcat. Got to the third strand of wire before the tower guard scanning the starlight scope saw him. My husband was with the Bear Cats during the move from Phu Bai to Delta in 69. Thousands upon thousands of military people of all types and Vietnamese What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? To review your tour in the Battalion Timeline, use the To Vietnam Main Index link above. History. Vietnam is in a good place with exception of constant aggressions from China, especially regarding Vietnam's territorial waters, fishing grounds, underwater oil fields, land border disputes/mini aggressions duch as extending southward country borders/ surrepticiously y moving border markers southward. Pulled Guard duty 1 night only. seconds.). I could not see ten feet into the rubber. Command of these bunkers was divided into four sectors, each with a Command Post (CP) manned by sergeants and company grade officers, also REMF. 9th Inf Division. I was a FTG REMF in June 69 (550th Signal) and pulled guard duty at Bearcat 3 consecutive nights before I was detached and sent to the Naval Combat base at Nha Be. The CO had Medical clear them and they had free run of the Hootches. Bear Cat, was one of our two primary spots to locate. Others have connected here. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. I hope that the helicopters stayed off your strip during that time. Thank you all. Since my 19 straight months in the Vietnam conflict, my newest wife and I have spent an additional 6 1/2 years working in Vietnam. More like this. More dust We landed by ship in Vietnam in October of 1968. Let us know in the comment section below. arrived. He was in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. Another time it was a cobra, 39) 22 August Discipline, law and order patrol and convoy escort activities were curtailed at the detachment due to the assignment of forty Battalion enlisted men and one officer in support of the Drug Abuse Treatment/Holding Center (DAHC) on Long Binh Post.
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