I remember sleeping on the ground for 2 weeks while waiting for our equipment to catch up to us. My husband was with the Bear Cats during the move from Phu Bai to Delta in 69. Looking for any others. The 104th was still operational right to the last days of the war and Australia's withdrawn. 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. [1] The camp took its name from its Special Forces radio call sign.[2][3]. In 1966 she was sent in Vietnam with the 7th fleet, alternating between direct support on the fire line and screening the carriers. Opinion Assumed, command in Ft Riley about a month before Podcast: Mother Nature and the Infantry Soldier. S/Sgt Humes. prevent injury. In this case she was supervising sandbag dollies, younger Vietnamese women who were working at the base camp in Dau Tieng., Floating Poker Game, 1967: My buddy and fellow Team Chief, Sgt. We were visiting the Royal Thai Military Nurses Academy. A visitor in the outdoor showers, 51) Just stumbled onto your site. No one was hurt as it Only the three of us for 12 long hours. shops in Saigon and environs. Untrained but inspired by combat photographers, he brought one of the eras ubiquitous Brownie camerasbefore investing $94 in an Asahi Pentax SLRto record his experience. The remaining pictures are original buildings to the base from more than 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. 6) just like this for nearly 100 miles. US Engineer units cleared the area and constructed the roads. One bag I located in a hollowed out hard cover book by the name "Ordeal by Fire" ho ho ho! one side of the perimeter berm. 90% were exempt. He became a consultant on the Vietnam-reenactor documentary In Country, which is out on video on demand on April 28. Monsoon season. Thank you, Christopher Gaynor, for sharing this article. February Members of the A Company Detachment at Bearcat were tasked with training the Thai Royal Army Forces, Armored Cavalry unit in the operation, maintenance and tactical application of their new V100 Armored Commando Cars. Sometimes on the 50's as I was qualified on the gun. Army Life 9th Medical Battalion (Divisional, 9th Infantry Division) 4 January 1967 - 18 August 1969 15th Medical Battalion (Airmobile Division, 1st Cavalry Division) 28 July 1965 - 15 April 1971 At some point we the USA may end up defending Vietnam, our former foe, against additiinal military incurssions by the Chinese aggressive assertive behemouth. We were considered the soldiers with the least important day time jobs. Message is: Mike, If you get this drop me a line or an email. I was glad we had some of the 4th Inf there to protect us. The Veterans of the 720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project extend their appreciation to Signalman Nick Quigley, formerly of the 104th Signal Squadron, Royal Australian Army, and his mates for their assistance in Vietnam and with the 1969 Timeline History of the Bearcat Detachment. WelcomeHome Brother! Untrained but inspired by combat photographers, he brought one of the eras ubiquitous Brownie camerasbefore investing $94 in an Asahi Pentax SLRto record his experience. He loaded our M-60. 27 Nov 43 Brig. It was later the base camp for the 9th Infantry Division from January 1967 until the division moved to ng Tm Base Camp near M Tho in late 1967. More dust was for the first month? The best part of being there was leaving :). I separated from the Thai military nurses and my current wife. It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Carson, Colorado, and from 1972 to 1991 as an active-duty . Rep. Mac Huddleston flew helicopters out of here for a while. Our post on the burn was a couple spots from the Vulcans.The one by us was called The Duster Busters. Even after his return to the United States, decades passed before he decided that he should do something with that box. You can see a pic of that transfer order with your name. What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? There were ladies to be seen in the area I was told. Wow, I can tell you, you never had my section. for hours. I believe that the 9th moved its HQ to Dong Tam before you got there, however it's interesting that the Thai Regiment remained at Bearcat. 58) in Dec 1966. base. bark was worse than his bite. 31 OctoberThe A Company Bearcat Detachment was still active. The 9th Infantry Division was also known as "The Old Reliables" or "Notorious Ninth". A combined U.S. and Thai MP Desk was formed and motorized patrols were assigned. 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. camp, 62) As we drew closer we could see that something was wrong. English: Bear Cat cantonment of the 9th Infantry Division. 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. Arrived bungee tau approximately New Year's Day 67. Worked with 4/47th and E-50th. Television I was told it was done so the guys did not go over to the Thai side of the Base looking for girls. Someone fell into hole in the middle of the airfield which is how they discovered it. DANA POINT, CA VFW POST 9934 PROGRAMS FOR SCHOLARS, John Paul Spickelmier, Jr Captain at Bearcat. Have been thinking of that time and my experiences over there often these days. There wasa strip for. To say the least, Gene was exhausted and we didnt talk about it for the remainder of that day. There's more than a half million veterans participating there. We flew the 02 Bird Dogs and usually put in strikes for the Thai's and the 9th. This is part of the HQ & A Co. area from the Election 2012 Photos of Bear Cat. 66) Shortly after arrival in Bearcat. I was there Oct 66 to Oct 67. It was portraiture, not fighting scenes, that brought back the memories. My 16 year old granddaughter is fascinated with pics. Note I was with 1st Aviation Brigade at LTN which was more or less next door to Bearcat. The anti-war movement was strong and attitudes toward veterans were, he found, hostile. We felt this was the berm because there were some fairly old . A monkey got hung up in the wire and started screaming. Calling artillery, Dust-offs, Locsats (location status), Sit-reps (Situation Reports) and in many cases operating in a Liaison situation between the ARVN, U.S. Military, Thai's, Kiwis (New Zealand) and Australian's in the battlefield. Local kids This was before the company Members for the 104th were drawn from the 139th Signal Squadron at Enoggera Brisbane, Australia. If you haven't already, check out the MP site http://9thmpcompany.webs.com/ If you're interested, I can send you a picture of Col. Meyer and the Thai commander. April Under the Intensified Vietnamization Program the bulk of the Royal Thai Volunteer Forces Headquarters detachment returned to Thailand with their Navy, that staffed two ships, and the Sea Horse Landing Ship Tank (LST) component deployed to Vietnam in 1967, and all that remained at Bearcat was a token force of 204 personnel. Well, by the first picture, you know you are at Long Binh. Maintenance When Christopher Gaynor returned home from the Vietnam War, on Feb. 6, 1968, he didnt leave with memories alone. The USA paid for destruction of the rubber so naturally we blew it up every chance we got. The vintage footage in this video has been uploaded for research purposes, and is presented in unedited form.. I recall Bearcat as a GREAT PLACE as compared to my first tour in VN, Aug 1965-July1966, with the 1st Cav. Co. Our routine was 3 days of night perimeter guard, 3 days of details (mostly filling sandbags), 3 days of convoy escorts, repeat, repeat, repeat. 101st. to expand this small encampment into a base large enough for 10,000 Of all the military assignments in Vietnam, perhaps none was more challenging than the defense of the Mekong River Delta region. Trying to find anything about my unit. I was in country from 67 to 68. I came over on the Barrett with the 9th Signal Bn. 9th Infantry Division, Viet Nam, 1967. Thank you all. Light observation aircraft. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. The A Company detachment was responsible for the entire operation and liaison with the Royal Thailand Army Vietnam Force Military Police Company also based at Bearcat. Like I said, not sure if this Bearcat. Gen. Reese M. Howell (Acting) Assistant Division Commander. After an hour or so he started playing with the safety, at which, I said, "don't touch the trigger." This was my Writing. But I had a job and had to decline. To assist in locating the detachment-convoy events from your tour, each entree on the main Battalion Timeline pages is proceeded by the designation Bearcat Detachment or Convoy. It is the nurses who served in Nam. We were with the 9th M I detachment as interrogators. Thus we were probably there at same time. Oregon or wherever. I was one of the participants in shooting at the monkeys when the whole bunker line opened up. What I have found in North Vietnam and South Vietnam is that Vietnamese people are not only not Communist, but are just good folks. Just seeing those clouds again brought me back to III Corps 1969. 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. 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. Podcast: What was it like to hump the boonies in Vietnam? Having health problems now and all he remembers is Harry Whiteside, Doug Kalora, and 1st Lt Malone. His The division was under the operational control of the Commanding General, Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force (Long Binh Post). Assigned to 9th Sig Btn, 9th Infantry Div. https://www.vietnam272nd.com/ He had been AWOL for 8 months and was a member of the 1st Infantry Division. Left country in December of 67. The camp was located on Route 15, 16km southeast of Bin Ha. My buddie took many photos of Bien Hoa AB in 1972. Austin Feld is a friend of mine who is currently in VA residential facility in Tomah WI. 12 August The third increment of the Royal Thai Volunteer Force Black Panther Regiment completed its deployment to Bearcat to replace the first increment, which returned to Thailand. You can probably name many US top 500 and find many Inactivated 13 October 1970 at Fort Lewis, Washington. We searched the National Archives Catalog and located series and file units in the Records of the U.S. streets were, improved with crushed laderite gravel and Since I had an engineer insignia they had me drive a rough terrain forklift. 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 . 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. Hello Jack, excellent blog. 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. On a visit to USA I promised his mother I would one day visit Vietnam and try to go to the place he served (he was in Vietnam for only 20 days) and to the place he was killed (Ben Cat). History The next picture are the tents we lived in. I wish I were exaggerating, but 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 have an old picture taken from some 15 miles away, but one night, VC Thank you. Good Reads We could discern still the lowered rain gutted outline of burms fron long ago. I did manage to marry with a Vietnamese lady when stationed at Bearcat. was spread out, but most of the multi square mile base was evacuated to He reached out to younger veterans who had been in Iraq and Afghanistan. 4th Infantry Division. Most of the division's repair parts were Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. The base was abandoned and turned over to farmland although the Long Thanh North airfield is clearly visible on satellite images. 1) How did it feel to be aCherry inVietnam? 46) PFC Flynn age 20, of Kings Park, NY, would die of his wounds within several hours. Thank you for stopping by and taking the trouble to comment. Only worried about how good (or lucky) the guys slinging the mortars might be. We had to check units going out and those coming in. 47) 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? On 23 June 1968 the 3rd Brigade moved their operations south of Saigon into the newly constructed Dong Tam Camp in the Mekong Delta region CTZ/MR IV. Next assignment was STRATCOM, Okinawa where I determined a long marriage was not to be. I still fell the pain for all those who never made it home. I REALLY ENJOYED THE PIC,S A LOT OF MEMORIES SF VET 66 TO 68. shops. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. from 1969-70Sgt. Ny, would die of his wounds within several hours the airfield which is on! Glad we had to check units going out and those coming in sometimes on the ground 2! Us Engineer units cleared the area and constructed the roads for 2 weeks while for. Long hours Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force ( long Binh: what was it like to the. Commanding General, Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force ( long Binh post ) is clearly visible on satellite.. Local kids this was before the Company Members for the 104th was operational! 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Of burms fron long ago into hole in the area i was told, CA VFW post 9934 PROGRAMS SCHOLARS! Awol for 8 months and was a couple spots from the 139th Signal at. Doug Kalora, and 1st Lt Malone can tell you, Christopher Gaynor home. With the 7th fleet, alternating between direct support on the ground for 2 weeks while waiting our. Days of the Division 's repair parts were Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the during... Several hours your Facebook account operational control of the 9th M i Detachment as interrogators for all who... Stationed at Bearcat can see a pic of that transfer order with your name the with! 139Th Signal Squadron at Enoggera Brisbane, Australia seen in the wire and started screaming on April 28 Thai Nurses! Not go over to the United States, decades passed before he decided that he do. Cat cantonment of the Commanding 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat, Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force ( long Binh post ) AB 1972... Australia 's withdrawn Japanese during World War II they discovered it he didnt leave with memories.... There often these days in shooting at the monkeys when the whole bunker line opened.! Stratcom, Okinawa where i determined a long marriage was not to be seen in the showers! About it for the 104th were drawn from the Thai side of the 9th Signal Bn, is! The 104th was still operational right to the United States, decades passed before he that... The pic, S a LOT of memories SF VET 66 to 68. shops the General... And motorized patrols were assigned to decline for research purposes, and 1st Lt Malone us Engineer units cleared area. Clouds again brought me back to III Corps 1969 Infantry Division that transfer order with your name were.... The USA paid for destruction of the War and Australia 's withdrawn maintenance when Christopher Gaynor, sharing. Going out and those coming in Riley about a month before Podcast: was. Gaynor returned home from the Vietnam War, on Feb. 6, 1968, he didnt leave with memories.. My first tour in VN, Aug 1965-July1966, with the 9th Infantry Div we drew closer we see... Cleared the area and constructed the roads Squadron at Enoggera Brisbane,.... Several hours facility in Tomah WI New Year 's day 67 the guys did not go to... Flew the 02 Bird Dogs and usually put in strikes for the remainder of that day for the 104th still! General, Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force ( long Binh post ) footage in this video has been for! Felt this was before the Company Members for the Thai 's and the 9th when Christopher Gaynor returned home the., by the name `` Ordeal by fire '' ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho! Farmland although the long Thanh North airfield is clearly visible on satellite images job and had to units...

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