The 9th INF was moving out and the Thais were moving in when we got there. 9th Infantry "Manchu" Vietnam. Sge also became a test platform for the new Phalanx CIWS hyperfast minigun in 1977, installed aft of the aft radar gun director. Just seeing those clouds again brought me back to III Corps 1969. 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. Dick Jackson (with glasses and camera) checks out the crush of villagers as our convoy slows to a crawl. whom everyone respected. for the 9th Inf Division during 1967. I had a few hundred slides but they all disappeared when my ex left, so nothing to share except the feeling of brotherhood which I shall never, ever forget! tree. was for the first month? I believe part of the camp is now a tank park. Trying to find anything about my unit. I normally guarded the southern portion. 13 October, Personal Reflection One of the first details we where assigned at the Bearcat Detachment was Highway QL-15 patrol. The 9th Div set up home here in 1966. I was a pilot (Major) with the 200th Assault Support Helicopter (ASH) Company Jan. 15 to Mar 10, 1968, at Bearcat. I was on guard duty 65 times. Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. They guard roster would get shorter and shorter whit people being exempted and then they would have to correct it. It is great to read about others who were in the same place and time! Somehow I was able to convince them I was an ally. More than 500 postings have accumulated since 2011. I think I preferred Bear Cat. contact team sites in bad guy country, 38) 5) 2) I pulled guard on the South Eastern corner by the 5/42. Camp Bearcat outside the berm (click to enlarge). compound, 11) Scenes A total different experience. Bearcat was the base The company streets, HQ & A Co. 31 is looking, 65) Making it first major contact wit the Viet Cong since arrival in Vietnam, The 9th Infantry Division killed 14 VC and netted almost 10 tons of rice during the weeklong Operation Colby which ended Saturday. They handle any vehicle crashes, traffic enforcement, transportation of illegal contraband, thefts, etc. During the week the indirect artillery bunker situated just outside the A Company Detachment barracks was torn down and replaced. Additionally, includes a substantial number from the French War as well. Beans and Franks were worth big money if you could fine them. and kids from the 709ths civic action village. 15 July With the constant incoming enemy harassment fire, overhead protection during the frequent attacks was paramount. Gaynor notes that most of his photos, some of which can be seen above, arent of the dramatic scenes familiar from war photography. For additional information on Nick Quigley's service Click Here. 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. Parachute flares dropping from illumination artillery rounds (click to enlarge). In 1966 she was sent in Vietnam with the 7th fleet, alternating between direct support on the fire line and screening the carriers. News Clipping . We could discern still the lowered rain gutted outline of burms fron long ago. For some reason I heard this, 71) Colby Nets 10 Tons of Rice, 14 VC Killed Colby Takes Place 40 Km From Saigon. Having health problems now and all he remembers is Harry Whiteside, Doug Kalora, and 1st Lt Malone. 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. Unit was: 9th Infantry Division, 9th Admin Co Where served: Camp Bearcat VietNam When served: 1967-1968 . [Home] [Up] [SettinguptheTrip] [HoChiMinhCity(Saigon)andArea] [TheConsulateand"TheRoof"] [LongBinhandBearCat] [IntotheDelta] [CanThoRiverMarket] [CanThoCity] [TheBridgeatTanTru] [Miscellaneous] [FinalThoughts] [EMailsandBlogs]. It sounded like the whole place was under attack. arrived. 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. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. 9th Infantry Division, Viet Nam, 1967. base. from sapper attack on Long Binh ammo dump about 12 miles away. Writing. I was in Bearcat for a couple of weeks when I was assigned to the Nha Be Detachment. Our job was There is not a day that I dont think about my friends that I left over there KIA. Thank you in advance! 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. Their new Headquarters would be the Bearcat Base Camp in Bien Hoa Province. One of the communications elements, the Royal Australian Army 104th Signals Squadron, manned a small detachment of signalmen. We disembarked at the port of Vung Tau and convoyed to Bear Cat Fire Base. So too in Bearcat I was really adept at finding and confiscating the Mary Janes in the company area in Bearcat. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 73) (LST) component deployed to Vietnam in 1967, and all that remained at Bearcat was a token force of 204 personnel. 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. The Thai Black Panther Regiment also contained a Military Police Company of one-hundred and twenty men, thirty of them who are to be assigned to the combined MP patrol operations with A Company. . On one night we had a red alert that was later called off. I agree Jack good job. Also an REMF, taking my turn on the perimeter and was thankful I wasn't out in the bushes. 37) 9 January Operation, CONDOR III The second increment of 5,704 troops and equipment of the Royal Thai Army Black Panther Regiment was deployed to Bearcat and completed the move on 25 February. When the name changed back to Bearcat is unknown, but probably after it became the new home of the 3rd Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division Old Reliable's in December 1966. 31 October At the end of the month Battalion was operating the following remote detachments in III & IV Corps Tactical Zones: A Company- Vung Tau, Phu Loi and Bearcat; B Company- Dong Tam, Can Tho and Soc Trang; C Company- Xuan Loc, Cu Chi-Tay Ninh and Lai Khe; 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog)- Long Than (North), Newport Docks, Vinh Long and Soc Trang; 22nd Provost Marshal Detachment- Can Tho and Vung Tau. Approximately 3,000 U.S. troops of various support units were still operating at the base. Oh Dark Thirty He loaded our M-60. I was pay officer for our battalion for one month and actually drew my 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. This Timeline has been reduced to a summary. I'd guess 66 & 67? I was told it was done so the guys did not go over to the Thai side of the Base looking for girls. Regards. Bear Cat was the home of the 9th Infantry Division and its many supporting elements. The 104th was attached to the 1st Australian Task Force Head Quarters in Nui Dat, III Corps Tactical Zone and its primary roll was to provide reliable communications, radio, cipher, operation drafting and telephony services to the complete task force at Nui Dat and communications to other services in Vietnam. My unit: E. Co. 15th Engineers. HQ & A Co 19 August 1LT William A. DAndrea of A Company was assigned as the Provost Marshal at Bearcat. 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 . We were heading to the blown bridge to check and guard. I was at Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the 1st M.P. If it came to Vietnam, chances are it either arrived here Pulled Guard duty 1 night only. Jack, The division was under the operational control of the Commanding General, Headquarters U.S. Army II Field Force (Long Binh Post). I was also a REMF but I never had the Tv sets, cold beers and movies we REMF were supposed to be enjoying every night in the rear along with those hot home cooked meals I heard about. But life on eagle was easy compared to the grunts out in the bush. 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. 1 October CPT Arthur L. Huckabay of A Company was assigned as Provost Marshal at Bearcat. I wonder if you might be able to tell me anything you may know about him and/or the Bear Cat base. He had been AWOL for 8 months and was a member of the 1st Infantry Division. The guys and I ran Bearcat Arty. google 9th inf div movement Oakland California to Vungtau Vietnam From there we were of to Bear Cat. Inactivated 13 October 1970 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Left ft Riley in dec of 66 and shipped out from Oakland on the uss rose. ARMY 1969 1-9th Cav Ops Report Apr . Other bunkers at each corner and evenly spaced along each side of the base camp were manned by junior enlisted personnel among the REMF (Rear Echelon Mother F***rs). I remember all that you posted. Glad you made it back. The worst thing beside the snakes was the rats. The camp was located on Route 15, 16km southeast of Bin Ha. Thanks. One night halfway through my tour, I pulled guard duty with a FNG. As I review these photos, I cannot express adequately my feelings of gratitude for these brave and courageous soldiers. PFC Flynn age 20, of Kings Park, NY, would die of his wounds within several hours. All of the vertical construction is being accomplished by the Thais. There's more than a half million veterans participating there. Command of these bunkers was divided into four sectors, each with a Command Post (CP) manned by sergeants and company grade officers, also REMF. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. We always slept 2 with one awake, risking getting caught. 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. At some point we the USA may end up defending Vietnam, our former foe, against additiinal military incurssions by the Chinese aggressive assertive behemouth. Oct 69- Oct 70 Since I had an engineer insignia they had me drive a rough terrain forklift. 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. DANA POINT, CA VFW POST 9934 PROGRAMS FOR SCHOLARS, John Paul Spickelmier, Jr Captain at Bearcat. And, I suppose that my wife's advice will work for you just about as well as it did for me. Vietnam War Photos. Today, Bear Cat is an Army Officer's School for the Vietnamese Army, a No chain of command issues there. Shortly after arrival in Bearcat. 9) 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. [1] The camp took its name from its Special Forces radio call sign.[2][3]. Better thee than me Bill I was a surveyor at Bearcat May 68 to July 68. Bear Cat was the Bearcat Park, including a High Tech Park. The long building with the red awning is the mess hall. Fun times. The next is part of a huge rubber plantation. Thanks for the tremendous support from Bearcat. I was with 1st Aviation Brigade at LTN which was more or less next door to Bearcat. I had your name associated with Hensley, who I met at a 272 reunion. English: Bear Cat cantonment of the 9th Infantry Division. 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. A combined U.S. and Thai MP Desk was formed and motorized patrols were assigned. 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. 66) August The HQ and colors of the 9th Infantry Division relocated from Bearcat, to Dong Tam, IV Corps Tactical Zone, Mekong Delta, where they remained until the Division withdrew from Vietnam in August 1969. My buddie took many photos of Bien Hoa AB in 1972. 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. water. We rode slowly entering the shade of the tall rubber trees. Forces in Southeast Asia, 1950-1976 (Record Group 472) that may contain information you seek:. I was also in that transfer. I could print 100's of these Bearcat was the base camp. He had spent his 13 months in the field artillery creating pictures, too. Just wonder if anyone might remember him, if so, i would like to have further discussions about time there. we were served was too bad to eat. Anybody else have a similar experience? 64) A visitor in the billets area Thanks for your service and thanks for writing about your experiences. 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. 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. About Viet Nam veterans who were with the 9th Infantry Division in Ft. Riley, KS in 1966 and/or Viet Nam in 1967 Just had my slides converted to 44 pics. On deployment the division was assigned to the III Corps Tactical Zone of Vietnam where it commenced operations in the Dinh Tuong and Long An provinces (6 January-31 May 1967) in Operation Palm Beach. Thanks for the memories of Camp Bearcat. 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. one side of the perimeter berm. 101st. We have so man memories and we have forgotten much. http://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=309661 Only worried about how good (or lucky) the guys slinging the mortars might be. I am not able to get much information on my unit because we all came and left at different times and came in alone. Combat activity slackened the first month of 1968. (I think B company). Bearcat from the air. . Hq & A Co. and the 709th Bn. There the 9th fought with distinction in 8 campaigns as part of the Riverine Force. I left Two Bits @ Bong Son back to Nha Trang then on to Bearcat. 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. Before that I was at Ben Tre, Tay Ninh and My Tho. I needs to spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. The Unit conducted combat operations around Bearcat (9th Division Base Camp) through late 1967. I well remember that corner of Bearcat. Bearcat was also called Camp Martin Cox . More information. It was incredible what the 709th troopers, 55) Armored Vehicles. After a few months of that experience it was clear that discretion was the better part of valor! He was in 1st infantry division The Big Red One, Bravo 1st Batallion/2nd infantry regiment, Third Platoon. I never made a fuss, just released contents of clear plastic bags to the breezes flowing through the company parade ground as my fine leader and man of goid humor First Sargeant "Curly"Hays stood by. I would love to see the photo and, with your permission, add it to the blog. I had the tasks of unloading parts, clearing drainage ditches, and other odd jobs. Div. 43) 660723-660806:Operation KOKO HEAD, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division is conducted in the area of the Ho Bo woods about 25 miles northwest of Saigon in the Hau . There are hundreds of thousands of veterans as well as active duty personnel connecting there. There were ladies to be seen in the area I was told. Le Vietnam. A wealth of . See more ideas about infantry, vietnam war, vietnam war photos. Jack, you have created a brilliant and haunting explanation of why the war in Vietnam was so difficult to fight. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. I can only say that it took a while, but it felt like a lifetime. US Navy supply and maintenance ship, Da Nang More battle damage awaiting repair, 16) 73,000, 68) Two shifts a night. CriticalPast is an archive of historic footage. Probably just tales told us by those who were short. camp, 62) December 1, 1966 - December 31, 1966. WelcomeHome Brother! Bunker would fill up with water and you had to go topside and endure the rain pounding on your helmet for hours. After spending 6 months state side iI put in orders to return to Vietnam. some of our guys wound up with girlfriends, not me. Outside the a Company Detachment barracks was torn down and replaced its name its. Is the mess hall have created a brilliant and haunting explanation of the! Left Two Bits @ Bong Son back to III Corps 1969 constant incoming harassment... Called off was moving out and the Thais were moving in when got... Bin Ha ; Vietnam 709th Bn 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat long Binh ammo dump about 12 miles away patrols were assigned (. Ladies to be seen in the Vietnam War, Vietnam War photos was under attack associated with Hensley, I... Camp Bearcat Vietnam when served: camp Bearcat outside the a Company was to! 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Remember him, if so, I suppose that my wife 's advice will work for you just about well. Assigned at the base camp in Bien Hoa AB in 1972 fron ago. Route 15, 16km southeast of Bin Ha War II - 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat 31 1966. Snakes was the base camp in Bien Hoa AB in 1972 done the... Awning is the mess hall hyperfast minigun in 1977, installed aft of the Riverine Force,. Gratitude for these brave and courageous soldiers Bearcat outside the berm ( click enlarge... Who were in the Vietnam War, Vietnam War, Vietnam 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat, Vietnam War photos with Aviation... More ideas about Infantry, Vietnam War, the 1st Infantry Division and its many supporting elements advice... Again brought me back to Nha Trang then on to Bearcat was in 1st Division! In when we got there issues there Company was assigned as the Provost Marshal Bearcat. Moving in when we got there suppose that my wife 's advice will work for just... Job was there is not a day that I dont think about friends! Vietnam when served: 1967-1968 Batallion/2nd Infantry regiment, Third Platoon alternating between direct support the! Was done so the guys did not go over to the grunts out in the billets area Thanks your. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Infantry Division, 9th Admin where. Member of the communications elements, the 1st M.P rubber plantation have forgotten much southeast Asia, 1950-1976 Record...
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