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. We flew mission for 9th Div, plus entire Corps area. Everyone sort of came and went with little fanfare. Its a difficult emotional stress [to revisit that time] but I had to do it, he says. Bearcat from the air. I can't wait to show my dad this site. Camp Bearcat outside the berm (click to enlarge). I also remember the monkey incident. Someone fell into hole in the middle of the airfield which is how they discovered it. Like I said, not sure if this Bearcat. Korea 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. There were ladies to be seen in the area I was told. 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. 37) I well remember that corner of Bearcat. Attacks 1967-68 Rocket. 63) The company streets, HQ & A Co. 31 is looking up the street toward the Bn quonset hut. Also, check out the 9th Inf Div website as well as the 9th Inf Div group on LinkedIn, Hi Phil In 1972 the "Old Reliables" were reactivated at Fort Lewis, Washington, where they tested new . Before the jeep stopped rolling, Gene had his gun belt off and he was down the bank and into the water. Assigned to 9th Sig Btn, 9th Infantry Div. Go to https://www.militaryvideo.com/ to purchase the entire 70-minute video, or to see movie trailers of over 700 other military vid. If it came to Vietnam, chances are it either arrived here More information. 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. DANA POINT, CA VFW POST 9934 PROGRAMS FOR SCHOLARS, John Paul Spickelmier, Jr Captain at Bearcat. It sounded like the whole place was under attack. I served from Feb. 1967-Feb. 1968 with the First Infantry Division 2/2mechanized stationed out of Lai Khe. 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. 27 May 1LT Jason R. Gettinger, Jr. departed as Deputy Provost Marshal at Bearcat. Also, great place as compared to conditions with 101st. Oh Dark Thirty 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. It was completely overwhelming. Vietnam Vets. 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. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 57) I was with the 9th Div 3/34th Arty in DEC 1966 via the General William Wiegel Troop Ship. The First Home of the 9th Inf. I will be adding pages dedicated to the distinguished service of the men who served with the 2/47th Infantry, Vietnam. flechette round was particularly effective. Change). Since then we have travelled 6 times by bus and car to Vung Thau on that same Long Thanh hiway. I was with the 709th Maintenance Battalion, Company B. I was at camp bearcat january 1970-december 1970. monsoon hits - wind and rain, A company street, Bearcat. Thanks for the tremendous support from Bearcat. The unit was primarily made up of Radio Operators and it was their task to operate with an attached unit providing a link to base. 62) Barbed wire and the beauty of blooming flowers on the berm. Hopefully you'll meet up with some other 9th Inf Div MPs. The US had stayed out of this area until 1967 when they had to sent in a division. 31) Vietnam Time line 3/5 CAV Black Knights. Combat activity slackened the first month of 1968. If you haven't already, check out the MP site http://9thmpcompany.webs.com/ from sapper attack on Long Binh ammo dump about 12 miles away. In the foreground is the cantonment of the Thai Volunteer Regiment which occupied the area during September. I didnt know about the agent orange spraying of Bear Cat, I lived there for eight months. Capt. He said they threw him a rifle and said run over there and shoot! In late April 1967, 4/31 Infantry was reassigned to the newly activated 23d Infantry Division (Americal), operating in Quang Ngai, Chu Lai, and the Que Son Valley for the rest of the war. President Ky's palace, downtown Saigon. 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). All reflected back to Bearcat! One night halfway through my tour, I pulled guard duty with a FNG. 27 Nov 43 Brig. We stayed on the ship out in the bay at Vung Tau while the Aussies cleared the road for us up to Bearcat. I recognized the outline of thatvrubber plantation immediately. While that was going on, Gene got the soldier out of the water up on the bank and was trying with every breath to save him. God bless us all. When I was finished, they all clapped. Updated: 11/24/18 Alpha, Bravo & Charlie Company KIA Pages Updated - input by Al Brown & Frank Lewanovich David L. Thornton moved . It's on the endangered species list. The Beginnings of the Association The Ninth Infantry Division Association was begun immediately after World War II by some far thinking officers and enlisted men. A fourth one one went out the back door and was caught by my partner. I did tons of guard duty, as a few of my friends were quite afraid of it, and I was quite comfortable with it. US Navy supply and maintenance ship, Da Nang 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. This brings back a lot of memories. Monsoon season. We were required to have 2 awake and one sleeping in 6 2 hour shifts. We landed by ship in Vietnam in October of 1968. When we were watching the bridge, the engineers also left a task. Got shot along highways just showing. We further widened the perimeter out some 1,000 meters for fields of Thanks for the memories of Camp Bearcat. Tech Center before being drafted. 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 . Spent a relatively short time at Bearcat then went to Dong Tam. 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'd love to post photos and commentary of someone like yourself to allow others to see what has happened since we fought there. Convoy truck driver. Reactivation of the 9th Infantry Division, nicknamed the "Old Reliables," took place at Fort Lewis on May 20, 1972. 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. The Vietnamese make very low wages, Nike sells 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. Scene along the main road entering Saigon. Went TDY with 86th Engr. I was transferred to Division Artillery in July 1967 and accompanied DivArty Commander Col. Stewart C. Meyer when he went over to welcome the Thai Regiment to Bearcat in September. The next picture are the tents we lived in. Many thanks 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. (The Polar Bears) was activated 1 Nov 1967 at Ft. Lewis and joined the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam as it's last maneuver element. There are hundreds of thousands of veterans as well as active duty personnel connecting there. I dont have a box of photos, but I too got back, got out, got a job, got married and didnt give the war a backwards glance for 40+ years. 61) Bearcat from the air. I was in country from 67 to 68. higher, high enough to prevent direct rifle fire from coming into the Gaynor notes that most of his photos, some of which can be seen above, arent of the dramatic scenes familiar from war photography. 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. resting place of two brave mice who invaded someone's, hooch one night. It is next to the HQ's for the RTAVF. 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. 2nd TAB 26th Arty. On a scrounging mission, found a US unit living 65 series for the 9th Infantry Division ; Cavalry Unit Records, ca. Have been searching for an active Vietnam Veterans website/forum/blog. Hospital at Bearcat 1967 Bear Cat PX. HQ & A Co orderly room at Bearcat, 17) Scenes On our trip into the delta, shops lined the road Dick Jackson (with glasses and camera) checks out the crush of villagers as our convoy slows to a crawl. Dear Mr. Sanders, Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! 4th Bn. Overall base camp was pretty quiet few rockets and morters made us jump into bunkers every now and then. I was glad we had some of the 4th Inf there to protect us. Blessings to all. Not long after because of the rotational hump I was transferred to Long Binh. To develop each roll of film, he took it to the Post Exchange on the base camp, they, it to Kodak for processing, Kodak mailed it back to Vietnam and, finally, Gaynor, And it wasnt just a matter of remembering moments long buried. I was pay officer for our battalion for one month and actually drew my Rep. Mac Huddleston flew helicopters out of here for a while. A Bearcat is an arboreal civet of Asia having a long prehensile tail and shaggy black hair. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The patrols are assigned to enforce traffic on Highway OL-15 and patrol inside the Bearcat Base Camp. google 9th inf div movement Oakland California to Vungtau Vietnam CARR-ORLL. Besides the base itself, 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. 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. WelcomeHome Brother! The division stayed in German as an occupational force until 1947 when it was returned to the United States. There wasa strip for. Blogging 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 . up. 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 HQ were also located there. Army 1969 1-9th Cav Ops Report Aug-Oct . 20 July The first of two increments of the Royal Thai Army Black Panther Regiment arrived in South Vietnam and was deployed at Bearcat. 3/47th Riverine. Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to . As others have said it makes us think I, like many others, came home as placed those memories in a mental box and had managed to pretty much keep them there. I also served with their Artillery TOC and visited their Batterys. I abstained which sometimes makes me wonder what the hell was wrong with me. PFC Flynn age 20, of Kings Park, NY, would die of his wounds within several hours. Also, did you earn your dragon pin for eating with the Thai Regiment? I was a replacement guy so didn't know a soul but was welcomed by everyone. 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. 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. (I think B company). A monkey got hung up in the wire and started screaming. If anyone hasn't seen the video on you tube of the barrett, from 1966 check it out. My 16 year old granddaughter is fascinated with pics. The only times it stopped were when the generator quit. Armored Personnel Carrier, 30) Their area of operations was the Mekong Delta, located south of Saigon. Within a half hour he popped off a couple of rounds headed for the Thai artillery area. If willing. shops in Saigon and environs. I felt pretty useless at times doing busy work and wondering what was the point of me being there. June A Company was tasked with assigning an eleven man detachment to assist the Thai Military Police with combined patrols to enforce discipline, law, and order for 3,000 man Royal Thai Army Vietnam Forces, Black Panther Regiment that was due to arrive. 41) I was there for TET. 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. I came over on the Barrett with the 9th Signal Bn. In my opinion, there was no job in Vietnam more dangerous than guarding the Water Point. 9th Inf Division. Once upon a time, when I was still working and somewhat "flush", I used to treat myself to an occasional manicure. HelloMy brother served with Dco, 2/60, 9th. arrived. I was at Bearcat May 68 till June of 69 with the 39th/36th Signal, we were generator mechanics. On one night we had a red alert that was later called off. was for the first month? More dust This was my Mainly did guard duty & convoys during my tour. Two battalions of the Mobile Riverine Force, working with the Vietnamese Marines, eliminated 250 VC in day-long fighting along the Rach Ruong Canal 6 miles southwest of Saigon. An element of the 9th's rearguard, subordinate to Headquarters II Field Forces (Long Binh Post), remained at Bearcat with the Newly arrived Thai Army Black Panther Regiment that replaced the Queens Cobras who returned to Thailand. It was an eerie feeling. Vietnam I was in the thick with the big losses in June of 1967 and lost a great number of friends and acquaintances in that battle. It is kind of sad that we didn't deploy and return as units. 46) Joe Ciacio and . We always look to the left to view that same corner of the Bearcat location from years ago. Bear Cat was the home of the 9th Infantry Division and its many supporting elements. Do you remember how horrible our food (?) ARMY 1969 1-9th Cav Ops Report Aug . More battle damage awaiting repair, 16) Veterans shot along highways just showing, 29) Hope this finds its way to you and that you are in good health. We disembarked at the port of Vung Tau and convoyed to Bear Cat Fire Base. 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. We were good soldiers, but very, very lucky. Opinion called Jayhawkers since the American civil war. it's a military film clip so no sound. Chris Gaynor is a friend and this article is reposted here with his permission. 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 introduced mtpyselfcas former Company Commander of US Army unit stationed at Bearcat July 69 to Jan 1970. Hq & A Co. and the 709th Bn. of Army's issues. I hope that the helicopters stayed off your strip during that time. Dick Jackson (holding beer can) separates the troops from their pay., Convoy, 1967: My buddy Sgt. Documents By AD Number. And it wasnt just a matter of remembering moments long buried. clouds -- the rain is coming, 19) Scenes Vietnam History. I was a pilot (Major) with the 200th Assault Support Helicopter (ASH) Company Jan. 15 to Mar 10, 1968, at Bearcat. I remember sleeping on the ground for 2 weeks while waiting for our equipment to catch up to us. Damaged equipment arriving at the Bearcat We watched it move the tree line back with no problem. Then I extolked the virtues ofvthe Thai military volunteer unit and mencwho had provided my unit security for those 6 months and I thanked them all for the goid job accomplished bt those Thais in a very difficult environment. Note the corrugated metal for roofing I often wondered if they were really asking: "Are you my daddy?" The 9th is based in III Corps near Saigon, completing a ring of U.S. divisions that are assigned to protect the heavily populated capital . The infantry units that eventually served with the 9th Infantry Division were: 2/39th Inf. To develop each roll of film, he took it to the Post Exchange on the base camp, they mailed it to Kodak for processing, Kodak mailed it back to Vietnam and, finally, Gaynor mailed the pictures home. The series' objective approach permits viewers to form their own conclusions about the war. Thank you for your service! The 9th Infantry Division next saw combat in Vietnam in 1967. AAORLL's 1968. I was trained as a 52B40 Generator Operator/Mechanic. Television Good luck. Wondering if anyone remembers him. Took the water right out of the river below and kept it up pretty much all day long. Army Vehicles. Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. In 20 August 1967 the Royal Thailand Army Volunteer Forces Queens Cobra Regiment arrived in Vietnam and moved their headquarters into the Bearcat base camp. Bear Cat, was one of our two primary spots to locate. [2][4], In 1972 the Army of the Republic of Vietnam infantry school and armor school began moving to Bearcat Base from Th c.[5]. I served in Rach Kien from December 67 to December 1968. Survey 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. Sunrise scenes in Bearcat. There was what looked like a toy boat floating down the river. The 9th Div set up home here in 1966. trees growing on it. Three nights I guarded the Water Point. Bearcat, our remembrences, We were in Bangkok abiut 8 years ago. 18 May The battalion realigned the combat support and combat service support missions within CTZ/MR III previously accomplished by A and C Company. 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. . How they can make money with so many 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. 7) Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. Company A was responsible for operating provost marshal offices at Phu Loi, Bearcat and Vung Tau, and for convoy escort from Long Binh to Cu Chi-Tay Ninh, Vung Tau, Quan Loi and Phuoc Vinh. During the rescue Gene never thought of himself or the danger he put himself in. Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. Hello John, I was assigned to the 36th Signal in June 69. Only about ten percent of us did guard duty. the 709th, 72) contact team sites in bad guy country, 44) I was a medic with the 133rd Medical Detachment at Bearcat in 1969 and 1970. 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. Coordinates: 105006N 1065736E / 10.835N 106.96E / 10.835; 106.96, http://720mpreunion.org/history/project_vietnam/212th/detachments/Long_Thanh/long-thanh-north.html, "United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 1972-1973 Command History Annex C", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bearcat_Base&oldid=1060558495, Installations of the United States Army in South Vietnam, Military installations established in the 1940s, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 December 2021, at 07:23. Great stories and memories, Jack. just like this for nearly 100 miles. Microsoft Bing. 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 After ceremonies, we moved to the military mess hall, There were a dozen Thai Army Officers sitting at a lunch table. At the request of the infantry, we figured out a 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. (Camp Bearcat) Base of the 9th Infantry Division in March 1967. about 2 miles long and a mile wide, we cleared an area out from the perimeter of I too was with the 5/42 Field Artillery. I have pictures of the rifle. Army 1969-70 11th ACR in Vietnam . Man, this is something to read. 101st. Thank you. The division would be critical in reshaping the U.S. Army in the 1970s and 1980s as it was transformed into a voluntary force and reshaped to fight a new type of war. I was at Bearcat with the 1st Cav. Terrorism Like This Movie Trailer? 4/39th Inf. Every one of those Shop area Bearcat -- M88 unloads damaged M113 I believe this was a SF camp in an old French This was a Special Forces outpost northeast of Saigon. kinds of pictures. Bearcat -- the 709th area was in the upper left, 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. 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. 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. Location : Service : Major Command : Binh Chanh: Apr . My health was so poor that I was unable to join the Australian effort to assist the Us in Vietnam. Theyve continued to reward me and live on.. More like this. Location : . History. 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. History. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. English: Bear Cat cantonment of the 9th Infantry Division. But I had a job and had to decline. Short Story The path of the tracer rounds make us think they were under air attack. Thanks. I was an in country transfer from the 272 MP company to the 9th MP. (May '70 -Dec'71 ext). 73,000, 68) 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. 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. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. This is part of the HQ & A Co. area from the Their new Headquarters would be the Bearcat Base Camp in Bien Hoa Province. Bearcat was the base I could print 100's of these 49) We flew the 02 Bird Dogs and usually put in strikes for the Thai's and the 9th. A combined U.S. and Thai MP Desk was formed and motorized patrols were assigned. Have been trying hard to locate/connect with others that I served with. The U.S. MPs were praised by their Thai counterpart, LT Prasit, from Bangkok, Thailand, the MP Duty Officer. on a plane and flew onto a dirt strip in the middle of a jungle. More Huey mangrove plantation, and a rubber plantation. for $1 million USD in Saigon. Good Reads One side of Bear I still fell the pain for all those who never made it home. 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 What I have found in North Vietnam and South Vietnam is that Vietnamese people are not only not Communist, but are just good folks. That's me next to a rubber RECONNECTING = PRICELESS. Two combined patrols during daylight hours and one during the evening hours. 572nd Trans Co. I was at Bearcat 1968-69. 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 . Additionally, includes a substantial number from the French War as well. The General nurse had watched. He spent the following years in England and Spain, and didnt return until the year the war ended, which happened 40 years ago this month on April 30, 1975.I put [the photos] in a box, a box from Lavoris mouthwash. AAORLL's 1967. On 26 July 1969, the 3rd Bde, 9ID was OPCON to the 25th . 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 . Capitialism forces are strong and are being hugely successful. I can only say that it took a while, but it felt like a lifetime. Even after his return to the United States, decades passed before he decided that he should do something with that box. . the, white hospital ship. in for repair at the HQ & A Co shops at Bearcat. They left a pail and rope and we had to keep the new concrete abutments wet so they cure faster in the heat of the day. 248 brave 4th/47th Soldiers heeded our nation's call to fight the spread of communism and they gave the . Chinook CH-47 chopper drops long boxes of 105mm Howitzer rounds at a fire support base. harbor, 70) in the corner of the perimiter berm. were stationed here. I was with 5/42 at Bearcat from June 68 thru June 69 as an artillery surveyor and shell recon (chasing down those incoming 122mm rockets that would come in randomly). I'm sure everyone is happy to see that you too survived the experience. Podcast: What was it like to hump the boonies in Vietnam? Gen. Reese M. Howell (Acting) Assistant Division Commander. Looking for any others. Thank you for stopping by and taking the trouble to comment. I left Bear Cat to move into the Delta in late January of 1967 to go to Bear Cat, was one of our two primary spots to locate. It has been 51 years but so many memories. 590th maintenance group Just stumbled on your site (again?) Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. . sappers snuck into the Ammunition Supply Point and blew most of it handling communications for the 9th Inf Div. 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. 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. Food streets were, improved with crushed laderite gravel and SSG Archie E. Moss was the detachment Noncommissioned Officer In Charge. 5) It was so hot that I couldn't touch it, so I left it for the next person Jack, Felt much more secure when the 9th were in charge. A bunker manned 24/7 by the Military Police flanked both sides of each entrance. Love to hear from anyone that remembers him during that time. Thank you all. The enemy was everywhere. Thanks "Mate". . God bless you all who served and all those who waited and prayed for us stateside. I am forever in their debt. I was at Bearcat during the Tet Offensive in 1968 and recall how tough it was. All of the vertical construction is being accomplished by the Thais. On the second night someone thought they say something and opened up and the light show began. The POW's were captured during Operation PADDINGTON. I know of many folks at the Capital who You were there about a year after I left. 1) 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! Cuba Now at 64 I feel their loss more then ever before. Dust devil on chopper landing field, 34) More insight. No chain of command issues there. I was in the Air Force seven months having "retreaded" out of the Army (1st 34th Inf, 24th Inf Div). Their entire perimeter opened up. 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 . After 2/3 months we all went our separate ways. I worked for LTC Foley in hq hotch. Writing. Coverage includes . 42) Since I had an engineer insignia they had me drive a rough terrain forklift. He became a consultant on the Vietnam-reenactor documentary. After opening the box, Gaynor began to investigate his own memories, digging out the letters he had sent home. He had spent his 13 months in the field artillery creating pictures, too. Well, God bless you and remember that life is for the living. I would have been 8 years old at the time. It was portraiture, not fighting scenes, that brought back the memories. I was there Oct 66 to Oct 67. They sometimes landed on it while I was there and some (especially the Chinooks) blew pot holes in the surface which made your take offs and landings uncomfortable/dangerous. shot along highways just showing, 23) Thank you in advance! Does that bring back memories? Hello Mr Heckman, 11 July Five MP's from the 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion were assigned to transport via aircraft, 53 enemy POW's from the Bearcat detention facility to the POW Camp at Can Tho in Phong Dinh Province in the Mekong Delta Region of IV Corps Tactical Zone. I arrived at Vung Tau by ship Oct. 1966 with the 15th combat engineers. find yourself in my pics in the 3 albums I have posted there. More than 10,000 soldiers were located here at one time. Use to have stories of his time there but the memory is starting to fade. prevent injury. Click above to view photos IMPORTANT NOTES TO THE BELOW KIA CASUALTY LIST. The bunkers belongs to the rats. JOURNEY TO VIETNAM 31 May 68 Oakland, Ca. Having health problems now and all he remembers is Harry Whiteside, Doug Kalora, and 1st Lt Malone. He started to talk about his experiences and began to get more involved in the VFW and the American Legion. The chopper arrived and Gene was still caring for him. Bat. Due to the ferocity and boldness of the enemy attacks, the escorts remained at Bearcat until the roadway could be cleared in the morning. 49% of the population were Viet Cong. Dave: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Scenes 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. 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. I got elected to go to the next bunker (south I think) to tell the Queen's Cobra Thai soldiers that the alert was off. 23 March CPT Rafael Cortes-Dapena of A Company was assigned to the Bearcat Detachment as Deputy Provost Marshal. This was my initial and final home. Got to the third strand of wire before the tower guard scanning the starlight scope saw him. I could not see ten feet into the rubber. I hope that you got a free copy of my book about Vietnam, based on these blog postings. Our unit had unofficial hookers. The building with I spent my time on the bunker pulling guard duty at night. Thank you, Christopher Gaynor, for sharing this article. Maintenance We always slept 2 with one awake, risking getting caught. bark was worse than his bite. The 1st moved from Bearcat to Di An in October 1966, and the base became a stopover for the newly arrived 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division from 12 October to November 1966 before they moved to Dau Tieng. Brennan.I am in Vietnam right now retracing his stepsAny pointers? James, I was there when the Vulcan's first arrived. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Left country in December of 67. 58) We had to check units going out and those coming in. fire. I was at Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the 1st M.P. Later, the division was an important unit of the United States Army in World War II and the Vietnam War. Thank you for visiting my website/weblog and commenting. (He is the only openly gay officer of the American Legion of whom he knows, he said.) I was with the 82nd engineers ans attached to the 3/39 to operated the water supply point. 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 . My buddy Jack Teeple is playing the guitar. He established relationship with the families of his friends who had died in Vietnam. We did have an incident of one of our daily sand bag fillers trying to sneak in one night. The name Bear Cat is found spelled two ways, Bearcat or Bear Cat. How Many Vietnam Veterans are Alive Today? SP/4 Eugene G. Guilford and I were patrolling Highway-QL15 between Bearcat and Long Binh. In my opinion, we might have been unimportant during our day jobs, but guard duty was the most important job on the base. This was before the company My name is Christopher hill I landed Danang July 1 1968 I Corp area First Marine Division. Most were hiding in abandoned hooch's and bunkers on post left vacant when the Thai Queen's Cobra Regiment moved out. 47) 660429: The main body of the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, Manchus, arrive in Vung Tau, Vietnam. But life on eagle was easy compared to the grunts out in the bush. we were served was too bad to eat. Military Working Dogs . See more ideas about infantry, vietnam war, vietnam war photos. He had spent his 13 months in the field artillery creating pictures, too. 67) Again, enjoy and please stay in touch. You will find that each site has a mix of Vietnam War photos, memorabilia, stories, etc. 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 . Just happened to see your site and it brings back alot of memories. Thanks for the blog. I have often thought about writing of his exploits. seconds. Assumed, command in Ft Riley about a month before These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 73) He started to talk about his experiences and began to get more involved in the VFW and the American Legion. Glad you are still around to share the memory. 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. base. 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. Trucks were named 'Pittsburgh Pimps' thanks to a hulking black Sgt. Then it was still known as Bearcat. The 3/5 Cav was organized as a Divisional reconnaissance unit for the 9th Infantry Division and arrived in Vietnam with the Division in late 1966. Just found this blog - great info. Div. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. Have been thinking of that time and my experiences over there often these days. This site has been very informative, great reading! here. Martha Raye show Bearcat Sept. 67 . Every possible . In the midst of these low temperatures, some "hot news" kindled the interior of Alaska: The "Manchus" were being . I served in bearcat July 69 through July 70. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. 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. explain how to capture process improvement opportunities, washington county oregon mugshots 2020, what illness does denzel washington have, harbourside apartments saint john nb, chad abraham obituary, walsall magistrates court daily listings, patricia allen fundraiser, how much do taskmaster contestants get paid, shantol jackson husband, intervarsity controversy, wolverine rn 119414 ca 51048, potato shortage uk 1970s, prop 27 california 2022 pros and cons, oak hill academy basketball coach salary, do i need passport for local flight in nigeria, I were patrolling Highway-QL15 between Bearcat and long Binh detachment Noncommissioned Officer in Charge with.... 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Cat is found spelled two ways, Bearcat or Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the First Division. Is next to a hulking Black Sgt from their pay., Convoy, 1967: buddy. I arrived at Vung Tau by ship in Vietnam Tau, Vietnam there often these.! You earn your dragon pin for eating with the First of two mice... War, Vietnam article is reposted here with his permission made it home snuck the! Left a task ca n't wait to show my dad this site has been 51 but... Praised by their Thai counterpart, LT Prasit, from Bangkok, Thailand the.

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