Vol 2 No. 48 TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS December 4, 1967
Index
Unit Page | Unit Page | Unit Page | Unit Page |
1/5 3 | 2/12 3 | 2/12 8 | 341 Avn Bn Photo 6 |
1/5 Photo 3 | 2/12 Photo 3 | 2/22 3 | 341 Avn Bn 6 |
1/27 Photo 1 | 2/12 3 | 2/27 3 | 588th Engr 4 |
1/27 3 | 2/12 Photo 7 | 2/27 7 | 65th Engr 4 |
1/27 3 | 2/12 7 | 2/27 8 | 65th Engr 4 |
1/27 7 | 2/12 7 | 25th Inf Div 8 | Iron Triangle 8 |
2nd Bde 8 | 2/12 Photo 7 | 3/22 7 |
Iron Triangle Operation Begins
WATCHING - Framed by tall grass and twisted stumps of a cratered landing zone, 1st Bn, 27th Inf “Wolfhound,” soldiers prepare to move into the Iron Triangle on Operation Atlanta. The multi-brigade operation is designed to clear the long time Viet Cong stronghold near the Cu Chi base camp. (Photo by SP4 Gary Gatliff) |
Page 2 TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS December 4, 1967
Decorated
Distinguished Flying Cross | |
MAJ Charles T. Brown Jr., Co A, 25th Avn Bn CPT Lawrence W. Yager, Co A, 25th Avn Bn 1LT Donald W. Doty, Co A, 25th Avn Bn |
CWO David S. Nobriga, Co B, 25th Avn Bn WO1 George R. Harrison, Co A, 25th Avn Bn |
Bronze Star Medal (Valor) |
|
2LT Charles H. Skuhr Jr., Co B, 1st Bn, 27th lnf SSG William J. Cotton, Co A, 4th Bn (Mech), 23rd lnf SGT James E. Marsh, Co D, 4th Bn, 9th lnf |
SP4 Malcom Cartee, Co A, 2nd Bn, 12th lnf PFC Steven E. Collier, Co B, 1st Bn, 27th lnf PFC Charles T. Fowlkes, Co D, 4th Bn, 9th lnf |
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) |
|
MAJ William C. Godwin, HHC, 25th S&T Bn MAJ Henry F. Williams, HH&S Btry, 3rd Bn, 13th Arty MAJ Thomas D. Watkins, HHC, 1st Bde CPT Johnny M. Butler, HH&S Btry, 7th Bn, 11th Arty CPT William F. Kelly, A Btry, 1st Bn, 8th Arty CPT Oler P. Williams, Co C, 3rd Bn, 22nd lnf CPT Jimmy L. Jackson, HHC, 25th lnf Div CPT Paul D. Mc Namera, HHC & Band, 25th lnf DISCOM CPT William E. Duey, 25th Admin Co CPT James E. Bristol, HHC, 2nd Bn (Mech), 22nd lnf CPT Bernard Mc Ternan, Co C, 125th Sig Bn CPT Walter C. Tucker, HHC, 2nd Bde ILT Noel L. Bergeron, HHC, 25th Inf Div 1LT Warren S. Coonce, Co B, 2nd Bn (Mech), 22nd lnf 1LT Ronald H. Cox, Co D, 3rd Bn, 22nd lnf 1LT Philip R. Winter, A Btry, 7th Bn, 11th Arty 1LT David C. French, Co B, 4th Bn (Mech), 23rd lnf 1LT Willie E. Maxwell Jr., HHC, 2nd Bn, 14th lnf 1LT Albert V. Cito, HHC, 2nd Bde 1LT Stewart T. Rynone, Co B, 25th S&T Bn 1LT Jerry R. Takier, Co A, 2d Bn, 12th lnf WO1 William N. Hedge, HHC, 2nd Bn (Mech), 22nd lnf SFC Anthony Wolitski, HHC, 25th S&T Bn SSG Larry Brittain, Co B, 2nd Bn, 14th lnf SSG Milan D. Kovach, HHC, 4th Bn (Mech), 23rd lnf SP6 Tom J. Owen, HHC, 1st Bn, 27th lnf SSG Willard A. Spressert, HHC, 4th Bn (Mech), 23rd Inf SP6 John S. Zuber, HHC, 25th lnf Div SSG Omar R. Unangst, 25th Admin Co |
SP6 Robert N. Van Horn, B Trp, 3rd Sqdn, 4th Cav SSG Harvey E. Walker, HHC, 4th Sn, (Mech), 5th lnf SGT Henry E. Brown, Co E, 65th Engr Bn SGT Norman J. Chaput, HHC, 2nd Bde SGT Robert E. Hilburger, Co C, 2nd Bn, 12th lnf SGT Rex L. Mc Donald, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th lnf SGT Robert E. Mullin, Co B, 125th Sig Bn SP5 Eluid Nieves, HHC, 1st Bn (Mech), 5th lnf SGT Gerald R. Dunham, Co D, 3rd Bn, 22nd Inf SP4 Michael Cors, 25th Admin Co SP4 Billy D. Dell, Co B, 3rd Bn, 22nd lnf SP4 Ralph E. Turner, Co D, 3rd Bn, 22nd lnf SP4 James Carter, HHC, 2nd Bn, 27th lnf SP4 Calvin Clark, 25th Admin Co SP4 Manual Florez, 25th Admin Co SP4 Ronald Musser, HHC, 2nd Bde SP4 Ronald R. Wirsing, 25th Admin Co SP4 Clinton E. Battle, Co C, 2nd Bn, 14th lnf SP4 Joel W. Bucher, HHC, 25th lnf Div SP4 Malcom D. Cartee, Co A, 2nd Bn, 12th lnf SP4 Richard J. Minadeo, HHC, 2nd Bn, 12th Inf SP4 William Clark, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th lnf SP4 Henry L. Dunmore, Co D, 1st Bn, 27th lnf SP4 Charles A. Ellis, Co D, 1st Bn, 27th lnf SP4 Arthur T. Griffin, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th lnf SP4 Richard D. Gruber, 1st Bn IMech), 5th lnf SP4 Richard James, HHC, 2nd Bn, 27th lnf SP4 Matthew F. Kritzer, Co D, 1st Bn, 27th lnf |
The Female Bites
Malaria A Serious Problem
A recent announcement from the Office of the Surgeon, Headquarters, U.S.
Continental Army Command (USCONARC), disclosed that malaria has cost the Army
more than 253,050 man-days lost during 1967.
In making the report, the Office of the Surgeon pointed out that more than
6,000 soldiers were infected with malaria while serving in Vietnam. Another
1,230 men, returnees from Southeast Asia, were reported as malaria cases in the
U.S.
Why? There is a good possibility many of the men did not follow the
anti-malaria rules prescribed by the Surgeon, Hq., U.S. Military Assistance
Command Vietnam.
Mosquitoes spread malaria, encephalitis and dengue fever. The MACV Surgeon
says every man is his own best friend in avoiding these diseases, providing he
does the following:
Take an anti-malarial pill weekly. In certain “hot” malaria areas, an
additional tablet must be taken every day.
Button up collars and roll down sleeves at dusk.
Use insect repellent on all exposed skin surfaces.
Sleep under mosquito nets and spray enclosed areas liberally with an aerosol
bomb.
These are personal measures. In addition, the individual must cooperate
fully in his unit’s anti-malaria actions.
Service in Southeast Asia really calls for firm adoption of the motto, “An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Use your head. Follow the rules. Man-days lost can be reduced to terms of
combat effectiveness. (MACV)
Will Your Friends Kill You?
SAIGON (MACV) - Reports of servicemen carrying explosive devices in personal
baggage have triggered grave concern about the possibility of disastrous
situations aboard aircraft.
Commanders of U.S. Armed Forces elements in Vietnam have been directed to
take additional steps to prevent U.S. servicemen from transporting in their
personal baggage dangerous materials as explosive devices while traveling aboard
aircraft.
The actions planned will include briefings, physical inspection of luggage
and instructions to be included on individual travel orders.
Spokesmen at MACV say the practice of carrying explosive materials in
personal luggage poses grave danger to passengers and air crews of both military
and civilian aircraft.
Steps to be taken include:
1) Briefing of all Armed Forces members regarding prohibited explosive
devices aboard aircraft, the extreme danger involved and the penalties
associated with violations.
2) Physical inspection, to the maximum extent possible, of all personal
baggage for explosive devices at processing centers and assembly points.
Initial inspections most likely will be made at unit level.
3) All travel orders will contain special instructions prohibiting the
carrying of any type of explosive device in personal baggage aboard military or
civilian aircraft.
The actions described pertain to all who are traveling on permanent change of
station, temporary duty, leave, R&R and permissive TDY orders aboard Military
Airlift Command, MAC charter flights and all other military aircraft operating
from or within the Republic of Vietnam.
Ideas Are Needed, Especially In Nam
Ideas are valuable and in Vietnam there are times when they can be measured
in terms of lives saved as well as dollars.
The branches of the U.S. Armed Forces look to all military grades and
civilian employees in all fields of endeavor for suggestions that can help do a
job with greater efficiency or provide savings in manpower and costs.
The need for these is obvious, particularly in Vietnam.
A good suggestion may help accomplish a job faster, better or cheaper;
simplify or improve operations, methods and organization; conserve materials and
property; promote health and improve working conditions; reduce the likelihood
of accidents; and it may improve morale through better personnel services.
Also sought through the various suggestion programs of the services are
patentable inventions that may be used to benefit the American public.
Servicemen and women and civilians can submit scientific or technological ideas
which may be able to materially advance the research and development
accomplishments of the Department of Defense.
Depending upon the tangible benefits to the service, the suggestion may earn
cash awards ranging from $15 up to $25,000.
The basic idea behind the various suggestion plans of the services is that no
one knows a job as well as the man or woman who does it. The offer of cash is
an inducement to the individual to draw on his knowledge, experience and
imagination to find better ways to do the job. The prospect of saving the lives
of fellow servicemen fighting in Vietnam or providing them with more efficient
support operations or better tools to do their jobs is an added inducement.
Take a good look at your job very soon. Can it be done better with savings
in time, money and manpower? If so, why sit on the idea when you can sell it to
your services’ suggestion program? (MACV )
Chieu Hoi Rates Go Up
SAIGON (MACV) - The number of civilian and military members of the Viet Cong
ranks who have rallied to the Government of Vietnam in the Chieu Hoi (Open Arms)
program this year continues to rise, as this year’s total hit more than 4,200
above that for the entire year of 1966.
Recent reports show that 2,171 left the Viet Cong ranks between the dates of
Sept. 9 - Oct. 20, raising the 1967 figure to 24,646. The 1966 total for Hoi
Chanh (returnees) was about 20,400.
Chieu Hoi is a program that encourages military and civilian Viet Cong, their
political cadre and soldiers of the North Vietnamese Army to rally to the
legitimate government of the Vietnamese. It offers the hand of friendship and
the hope of a new life for those who do.
Included in the latest compilation of Hoi Chanh figures were 1,562 military,
494 civilians and 115 in other categories.
Since the program was started by the South Vietnamese government on April 17,
1963, a total of 72,733 of the enemy have become Hoi Chanhs.
Highest monthly and weekly totals for the four and a half year program were:
5,577 for March 1967; and 1,198 for the week ending March 11, 1967. The average
weekly rate of Hoi Chanhs during the current year is 587.
Discharge Cert In Color
U.S. Army personnel being discharged after Dec. 15, 1967, will be issued a
new discharge certificate. The size of the certificate has been changed, and
the U.S. eagle is now printed in full color. The words “Army Of The United
States” have been changed to “United States Army.” A green vinyl folder with
the War Office Seal stamped on the front cover will be made available
exclusively for encasing the discharge certificate prior to issuing or mailing
it.
Airlines To Suspend GI Fares
WASHINGTON (ANF) - Officials of a majority of U.S. civilian airlines have
informed the Defense Department that Military Reservation Fares will not apply
during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Normally, servicemen on leave can travel on civilian airlines at two-thirds
the usual fare, but the special rates will not apply because of the high rate of
travel during the holiday season.
Military reservation fares will not apply during the following times:
0001 Dec. 15 through 2400 Dec. 16
1200 Dec. 17 through 1200 Dec. 18
0001 Dec. 20 through 1200 Dec. 23
1200 Dec. 24 through 1200 Dec. 25
1200 Dec. 29 through 1200 Dec. 30
1200 Dec. 31 through 2400 Jan. 3
Additionally, servicemen are cautioned that unreserved seats will be
extremely limited during the holidays, making travel by Military Standby Fares
difficult.
The TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS is an authorized publication of the 25th Infantry Division. It is published weekly for all division units in the Republic of Vietnam by the Information Office, 25th Infantry Division, APO San Francisco 96225. Army News Features, Army Photo Features, Armed Forces Press Service and Armed Forces News Bureau material are used. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army. Printed in Tokyo, Japan, by Pacific Stars and Stripes.
Maj.Gen. F. K. Mearns . . . . . . . . . . . Commanding General
Maj. Bernard S. Rhees . . . . . . . . . . . Information Officer
1Lt. Larry Rottmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . Officer-in-Charge
SSG Dave Wilkinson . . . . . . . . . . . NCOIC
SP4 Dave Cushman . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor
Page 3 TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS December 4, 1967
Bible In A Pocket Saves A Man’s Life
DAU TIENG - Since arriving in Vietnam SGT Stewart Smith, Norfolk, Va., a
member of the Recon Plt, 2nd Bn, 12th Inf, has carried a Bible and was glad he
had it during a recent attack on the forward base camp of the battalion 112 kms
northeast of Saigon.
The 3rd Bde, 25th Inf Div, soldier was moving forward to reinforce a position
of the perimeter which was under heavy fire.
“I had just started to move when I was hit and knocked to the ground,”
related Smith.
Lying on the ground Smith could find no wound so he moved to the forward line
of the perimeter.
“The next morning I found out why the bullet hadn’t done any damage,”
continued Smith. “Luckily it had been stopped by the Bible I always carry.”
Ironically enough the bullet had penetrated to a page which had a passage of
Paul to the Colossians, which reads, “We give thanks to God and the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always to you.”
No doubt, Smith will never forget to give thanks and will carry his Bible for
the remainder of his tour.
FOXHOLE SERVICE - Using a foxhole as an altar, Chaplain James Tobin holds a mass for men of the 2nd Bn, 12th Inf, who are participating in Operation Diamondhead. (Photo by SP4 Joseph Hettermann) |
Swimming Pool Dedicated
DAU TIENG - The 3rd Bde, 25th Div. swimming pool was officially named the 1LT
Joel T. Willis Memorial Pool in a ceremony here recently.
“Lieutenant Willis will be remembered by all those who knew him,” commented
COL Kenneth E. Buell, 3rd Bde commander. “His perseverance and bravery were an
example for all of us to follow.”
When Willis of Stockton, Calif., first saw the swimming pool built by the
French at the Michelin Rubber Plantation base camp, he recognized that it could
be one of the biggest morale builders the unit could ever have.
At this time, the huge 13-foot deep pool had decayed from many years of
disuse. The bottom was coated with several feet of muck and trash, the shower
room below was strewn with waste and the paint had cracked off the walls.
Willis, then the Special Services officer, organized workers to clean up the
pool. He worked quickly and within a month, the water surged into the freshly
painted walls of the main tank.
From that day on, the “swimming hole” at Dau Tieng has been a welcome site
for the men coming back from Operations Junction City, Manhattan, Cedar Falls
and many more. Two or three days of the “good life” around the pool revitalizes
the combat weary soldier and gives him something more than a tent to return to.
For “Joe” Willis, the men using the brigade pool meant something special to
him and he volunteered to serve with them in the field.
One month after Willis left for duty as a platoon leader with the 2nd Bn (Mech),
22nd Inf, an enemy claymore mine ended his life.
Live Artillery Demonstration Proves Worth
A Viet Cong-smashing artillery tactic being demonstrated by a 25th Inf Div
battalion commander recently had very real results.
Company commanders of the 1st Bn, 27th Inf “Wolfhounds,” watched LtC David
Hughes explain the use of minimum range artillery fire.
Used to defend base camp perimeters, the tactic involves lowering a 105mm
howitzer to its lowest elevation and firing point blank at advancing enemy
troops.
While Hughes spoke, a perimeter guard reported enemy activity on three sides
of the camp. The demonstration quickly turned into the real thing, and the
company commanders got a live fire example of what the tactic could do.
Marching To Battle
Army marching drill recently directed a 25th Inf Div platoon lost in high
grass and brush to a Viet Cong position where they detained two enemy soldiers.
The platoon, an element of the 1st Bn, 27th Inf “Wolfhounds” was making a
combat sweep as part of the 2nd Bde’s Operation Kolekole when the lieutenant in
charge became disoriented.
At the same time, brigade commander COL Edwin W. Emerson of DeLand, Fla,
radioed Wolfhound commander LTC David Hughes of Colorado Springs, Col, that he
had spotted two VC ahead of the unit.
Hughes’ solution to the problem came as he orbited over the lost platoon in
his command helicopter. He gave the platoon leader marching commands over the
radio.
With a series of column rights, column lefts, and forward marches he put the
unit on line in front of the VC position.
The platoon assaulted and captured both armed enemy soldiers with no
casualties.
Won’t Miss Next Week
Chaplain (MAJ) Thomas McInnes says he hopes never to miss another Sunday
service in the field with the 1st Bn (Mech), 5th Inf. The 25th Inf Div troopers
hope the same.
For nearly a year the 2nd Bde chaplain from Warren, Pa., has held regular
church services with the unit from War Zone “C” to the swamps of Hau Nghia
Province.
“Never once did we have trouble with the enemy mortar or sniper fire when he
was there,” recailled former battalion surgeon CPT Murray Rothberg of North
Plainfield, N.J.
Recently the chaplain missed a Sunday when the brigade headquarters underwent
an inspection. Just about the time the service would have started Viet Cong
mortar rounds began falling into the mechanized base camp. Several soldiers
were wounded.
McInnes has promised the men never to miss another service. They say they
plan to hold him to it.
Close Call As GI Is Surrounded
DAU TIENG - An alert listening post of the 2nd Bn, 12th Inf, accounted for
two VC killed and a very close call for SGT Roy Williams, Memphis, Tenn., one of
the soldiers who manned the post.
The 3rd Bde, 25th Inf Div, battalion had set up their forward base camp for
the night northeast of Loc Ninh when the VC began to probe the battalion
perimeter.
“It was very dark and I could hear the VC moving in on us,” related
Williams. “I wanted to make sure just where they were before we moved back to
our own perimeter so I continued to wait and listen.”
“All of a sudden I saw a VC right in front of my position so I opened up and
he fell,” he continued. “Then I heard one of his buddies mumble something
behind me so I whirled and let him have the rest of the magazine.”
After that the LP began to move back to the battalion’s perimeter but the VC
opened up on them and William’s helmet was knocked from his head.
“I found the helmet the next morning with a bullet hole which had penetrated
the steel pot,” said Williams, “but had stopped between the pot and my helmet
liner.”
Was the sergeant scared during the action? “SCARED, everything happened so
fast I didn’t have time to get scared until it was all over,” he said.
Four Women VC Are Killed
In a sharp exchange of small arms and automatic weapons fire north of the
Iron Triangle, a 25th Inf Div unit recently killed four enemy women soldiers.
The four were part of an eight-man force that attacked a small 2nd Bn, 27th
Inf “Wolfhounds,” ambush patrol.
LTC Walter Adams of Washington, D.C., battalion commander, reported the
fighting took place in jungle so thick that visibility was limited to a few
feet.
The women were dressed in full field web gear and all wore uniforms.
Later in the day the unit assaulted a bunker in an area so thick that small
recoilless weapon rounds were deflected before they could reach the position.
Soldiers repeatedly said they heard female voices inside but when they
approached they were taken under intense enemy fire.
“The enemy soldiers, male and female, that we are running up against in this
area are not stopgap forces,” said Adams, “they are real professionals.”
RUB-A-DUB - Long days in the field for long weeks on end can get a soldier mighty dirty, so members of the 1st Bn (Mech), 5th Inf, have come up with the answer-do it yourself. (Photo by SGT Roger Smith) |
Page 4-5 TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS December 4, 1967
Versatility, Expediency Opens Roads
Story And Photos By
SP4 J.F. O’Neill
U.S. Army engineers displaying versatility and expediency reopened two vital
roads near the village of Dau Tieng, about 80 kms northwest of Saigon, that were
rendered impassable by Viet Cong forces using explosives and mortars.
Engineers from Delta Co, 65th Engr Bn, found a multitude of tasks facing them
the morning after a four hour mortar attack on Nov. 9.
The ancient Bailey bridge on Route 239 that connects Dau Tieng to the outside
world had been partially destroyed along with a culvert and a Timber Trestle
bridge on TL14, a road used by the villagers of Xon Ben to bring their produce
to market, and U.S. armored vehicles used on reconnaissance and search and
destroy missions.
A preconstructed Float bridge from Echo Co, 65th Engr Bn, requiring several
sorties by Chinook from Cu Chi to Dau Tieng, was emplaced by Delta’s engineers
and engineers from the 588th Engr Bn to substitute for the damaged Bailey
bridge.
Using heavy beams, planking, corrugated steel pipe, and rich, red laterite,
two squads from Delta Co then proceeded to repair the damaged culvert and Timber
Trestle bridge.
ARMY ENGINEERS FROM DELTA CO, 65TH ENGR BN, EMPLACE A CORRUGATED STEEL CULVERT NEAR DAU TIENG. |
ARMY ENGINEERS HASTILY CONSTRUCT A TIMBER TRESTLE BRIDGE ABOUT 80 KMS FROM SAIGON NEAR DAU TIENG ON THE ROAD TO XON BEN. |
ARMY ENGINEERS FROM THE 65TH ENGR BN CONSTRUCT A FLOAT BRIDGE NEAR DAU TIENG. |
ARMY ENGINEERS REMOVE DAMAGED CORRUGATED CULVERT SO NEW ONE CAN BE EMPLACED. |
Page 6 TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS December 4, 1967
Big Service Station for Sky Travelers
Story And Photos By
SP5 Terry Richard
DOOR GUNNER FILLS CHOPPER BEFORE TAKEOFF. |
A CHINOOK GETS ITS TANK FILLED. |
The only service station of its kind in Vietnam is helping to alleviate some
of the problems that are connected with refueling a divisions’ entire helicopter
force.
The 341st Avn Det, under the 25th Avn Bn, built and is servicing the
refueling point at the Viking resupply pad.
The system, originally conceived by the II Field Force G-4 Office and 1st Log
Petroleum Directors Office, is capable of serving 30 choppers at one time,
whether they be Menehunes, Hueys, Chinooks or Flying Cranes.
Fifteen days were taken to build the system that has two large bladder tanks,
filled by POL tankers. The fuel is pumped from the tanks through three large
filters to insure the purity of the volatile liquid.
Along the 2,400 feet of pipeline there are 30 flexible hoses, capable of up
to 50 gallons per minute each, including four directly to the Chinook pads and
two for Flying Cranes. In an average day, 38,000 gallons of fuel will flow
through the pipes.
CPT Bobbie Pedigo, CO of the detachment and air field commander, stated,
“Five other systems are being put in now in the III Corps area. All are
patterned after the Cu Chi installation.” Pedigo added that “the system can
completely refuel a Huey chopper in slightly less than four minutes.”
With the new system, a bevy of helicopters preparing for a company sized move
can all refuel at the same time.
Even though no stamps are given with a fill up, the service is the best
possible.
THESE FILTERS INSURE PURITY OF FUEL. | |
ONE OF TWO FUEL BLADDERS INSTALLED BY THE 341ST AVN DET. |
Page 7 TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS December 4, 1967
READING LOCAL NEWS - This 25th Div soldier finds a little spare time to catch up on what’s happening while in a defensive position with the 12th Inf near Loc Ninh. (Photo by SP4 Joseph Hettermann) |
Glimpse Catches Five VC
A blood-stained leaf and a glimpse of a man darting into a hedgerow led to
the detention of five Viet Cong recently during a search and clear operation.
Elements of Bravo Co, 2nd Bn, 27th Inf “Wolfhounds,” were moving to secure a
night base camp when aerial observers spotted a man crashing into a hedgerow.
Within minutes, the 25th Inf Div officer came upon a spider hole concealed
with bamboo and mud. Nearby, he detected a branch smeared with fresh blood
stains.
Peering into the hole, he noticed a VC pistol belt and web gear, stepped
back, and fired into the hole.
A moment later the pistol belt came flying from the hole, followed shortly by
a VC with his hands raised.
An interpreter questioned him and the VC admitted he knew the location of
several more enemy.
He then led the 2nd Bde soldiers to a small house, where they found two men
hiding amidst furniture piled on top of a bunker. They also detained two women
living in the house. Officials later confirmed all five as VC.
SGM Wanted To Bust Him, But He’s In Wrong Army
DAU TIENG - When an Army sergeant major sees any of his troops in the field
violating noise or light discipline he usually lets them know it - and fast.
This is exactly what SGM Yukio Suenishi of the 2nd Bn, 12th Inf “White
Warriors,” did recently - but the man with the flashlight wasn’t a member of his
battalion.
The 3rd Bde, 25th Div, battalion had set up their command post for the night
in a small clearing northeast of Loc Ninh. At about 9:30 p.m., Suenishi saw a
group of men heading toward him through the rubber trees. The lead man was
carrying a flashlight.
“When they got to my position, I grabbed the lead man by the shoulder and
asked him what they were doing with the light on, and walking in the dark,”
related the Hawaiian veteran. “He just shrugged my shirt grabbing tactics and
the eight men quickly moved on.”
When the wandering group reached Delta Co’s position, a few feet from
Suenishi, they were recognized as Viet Cong and the lead man was tackled by 2Lt
John R. Oosterhuis of Ogilvie, Minn.
The aggressive young officer wrenched the AK-47 assault rifle from the Viet
Cong’s hands, as the other Charlies scattered within the battalion’s defensive
perimeter.
One by one, the White Warriors hunted down the remaining VC in the dark,
until two hours later, four Viet Cong were killed and four suspects were
detained.
There were no US casualties.
1LT Becomes Jack Of Trades
A 25th Inf Div lieutenant became a jack of all trades recently when he held
four different positions in three days.
1LT Ronald J. Marsh of New Kensington, Pa., began the week as assistant S-2
for the 1st Bn. 27th Inf “Wolfhounds.”
When the regular S-2 was appointed a company commander, Marsh became chief
intelligence officer for the battalion.
Then the captain he replaced was wounded in action, so the headquarters
company commander took over the rifle company.
Less than 12 hours later, that captain was also wounded, so Marsh took over
the company.
Finally, another captain joined the battalion, so Marsh relinquished his
command, again less than 12 hours after it started.
Marsh is again acting as battalion intelligence officer.
Known As ‘Mr. Lucky’
DAU TIENG - A member of the 3rd Bde, 25th Inf Div, is being called “Mr.
Lucky” and for good reason.
PFC Samuel A. Spinuzzi was with the lead elements of Alpha Co, 2nd Bn, 12th
Inf, as they came upon a small VC base camp area.
With the base camp apparently deserted, the point squad continued through,
leaving the bunkers for the trailing elements to destroy.
Suddenly, Charlie opened up.
Spinuzzi’s squad, which was past the VC positions, hurried back to help
reinforce the ambushed men.
“As we approached a bunker, a VC jumped up and opened fire,” related the
young soldier. “I hit the dirt and rolled away but that Charlie was a pretty
good shot.”
Spinuzzi’s steel helmet had eight bullet holes in it and a ninth round had
ventilated his shirt sleeve. “Mr. Lucky” didn’t have a scratch.
Haste Makes Much Waste
DAU TIENG – “The Viet Cong must have moved out in a hurry,” said SGT James C.
Bradley of Jamaica, N.Y. “They just left the weapons laying there.”
Bradley was with the 25th Div’s 3rd Bn, 22nd Inf, during a sweep of the
jungles north of the Michelin Rubber Plantation when his company discovered a
recently occupied Viet Cong base camp.
While searching one of the huts in the camp, Bradley found eight bolt-action
rifles, a machine gun and a 60mm mortar tube lying on the floor.
“Luck was really with us,” commented Bradley, “because we soon found 16 booby
traps scattered around the area. Someone didn’t want these weapons to be
captured.”
LOWER AWAY - A CH-47 Chinook helicopter finds a tight squeeze getting a water trailer to the troops of the 2nd En, 12th Inf, located near Loc Ninh. (Photo by SP4 Joseph Hettermann) |
Page 8 TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS December 4, 1967
Infantry Surrounds The Iron Triangle
U.S. 25th Inf Div troops have launched another push into the long time Viet
Cong stronghold in the Iron Triangle, 46 kms northwest of Saigon.
The operation, named Atlanta, met heavy enemy resistance Nov. 21.
Two communist attacks on two forward support bases were beaten off that
night.
Infantrymen have killed 36 enemy soldiers since the operation began Nov. 18.
U.S. casualties are listed as six killed and 99 wounded.
The multi-brigade operation had met little resistance during the first three
days of sweeping the rubber plantations and thick jungles.
Several VC base camps were found during the first four days of the
operation. The camps were destroyed, along with nine tunnel complexes and more
than 40 bunkers.
In addition to the 36 communists killed, the infantrymen have captured 14
weapons and over 6,000 rounds of ammunition.
ZAP - An unidentified soldier returns fire during the opening phase of Operation Atlanta in the Iron Triangle. U.S. 25th lnf Div troopers are clearing the Viet Cong stronghold for the first time since Operation Cedar Falls early this year. (Photo by SP5 Terry Richard) |
Students Want GIs To Write
The Mercury Lions Club of Hampton, Va., is sponsoring a program called
“Project Mail Call.” The club has made arrangements with the local school
system of Hampton to furnish the students, both as classes and as individuals,
with names and addresses of men in Vietnam who would like to receive and send
mail to school-age children.
Since the project was started, back in September, 60 men have written and are
now corresponding with the students. However, the response from the schools was
so great that there are still over 200 classrooms wanting the name of a
serviceman with whom they can correspond.
If any men of the 25th Inf Div would be interested in sending and
receiving mail through this program, they should write to
PROJECT MAIL CALL
Vietnamese. Help Their Own
Wives of Vietnamese soldiers, like their American counterparts, frequently
work to help support a family. This is not uncommon with wives of the 49th Regt
soldiers at Hoc Mon, 18 kms northwest of Saigon.
Nursery Built
To allow mothers of young children freedom to work and to provide education
for these children, a day nursery has been built at Hoc Mon by soldiers of the
49th Regiment with the assistance of the 25th Inf Div’s 2nd Bde at Cu Chi.
Much of the planning was done by MAJ Phuong, the regimental rear commander.
MAJ Donald Royal of Chattanooga, Tenn., second brigade civil affairs officer,
helped with the planning.
LTC Ma Sonh Nhon, the present regiment commander who took over after Phuong
left for another assignment, saw the nursery to completion.
Supplies Provided
The 2nd Bde provided some of the supplies necessary to build the nursery.
The 49th Regt supplied the labor and more supplies.
Hoc Mon, the dependents housing area, sports a commissary, a maternity ward
and a sewing class which makes school clothes for the children.
The soldiers of the 49th Regiment and the 2nd Bde have painted all the
classrooms at the Hoc Mon school, filled the previously muddy school yard with
sand, and constructed latrines.
“The brigade civil affairs section has provided some of the supplies,” said
Royal. “We have tried to channel some captured rice to the commissary at Hoc
Mon,” he continued.
The brigade holds MEDCAPS twice monthly in the village.
At a recent ceremony held for the nursery opening, Madam Nguyen Van Thieu,
the Republic’s first lady, spoke in praise of the joint effort.
Yearbook Order Date Extended
Albert Love Enterprises, Inc. has extended the deadline for ordering the 25th
Inf Div 1966-67 yearbook to Jan. 1. They credit this extension to the excellent
response received thus far, and their desire for troops just returning from the
field to have a chance at ordering. Purchasers may pick up an order blank from
their orderly room or at the Div Information Office. The book costs only $4.
25th Troops Buffaloed
Firing a mortar mission at night is tough enough, but when your aiming stake
is surrounded by angry water buffaloes and infantry troops need your help,
you’ve really got a problem.
The weapons platoon of Delta Co, 2nd Bn, 27th Inf “Wolfhounds,” faced just
that situation recently 53 kms northwest of Saigon when four buffaloes wandered
away from an old Vietnamese farmer and flocked around the unit’s aiming stake.
The stake is used at night by mortar crews as a reference point for rapid
aiming.
While the 25th Inf Div soldiers attempted to move the animals a combat patrol
radioed in a call for supporting mortar fire.
The old farmer and the crew members doubled their efforts, but the harder
they tried the madder the buffalo became.
After some quick calculations the crew fired the mission with a substitute
stake and the rounds landed right on target.
3rd Bde Kills 18 Near Base Camp
DAU TIENG - A recent search and destroy mission of the 2nd Bn, 12th Inf,
northeast of the 3rd Bde, 25th Inf Div, base camp accounted for a kill of 18
Viet Cong, destruction of three enemy base camps and a cache of ammunition and
other Viet Cong supplies.
The battalion, under the command of LTC R.D. Tice, had its largest kill of
the sixteen day sweep when Alpha Co and the reconnaissance platoon made contact
with an estimated company of the 271st Viet Cong Regiment, killing 14 enemy.
The ammunition cache, which was uncovered during the sweep, consisted of both
large and small arms ammunition. Included in the find were 300 rounds of AK-47
ammunition, 25 RPG-7 rounds, 20 boosters for RPG-7 rounds, 150 pounds of TNT,
200 feet of detonating cord, 5 CHICOM grenades, 1 mortar sight and 2 quadrant
plates.
In addition to the ammunition uncovered, the 2/12 “White Warriors” found
medical supplies and enough field gear to outfit a platoon of Viet Cong. Much
of the field gear found was new.
PARADE - As part of the opening ceremonies for the new Hoc Mon nursery children of 49th Regt soldiers march through the school courtyard. (Photo by SP4 George Hairston) |
Thanks to:
Joe Carey, 25th Admin. Co.,
for sharing this issue,
Kirk Ramsey, 2nd Bn., 14th Inf. for creating this page.
This page last modified 08-27-2005
©2005 25th Infantry Division Association. All rights reserved.