U.S. Army Armor & Mech-Infantry Units in Vietnam:
“NEW” Private First Class, 11ACR. Fatigues:
This Trooper, having had prior service with the 198th Infantry Brigade, knew all about being a “Leg” or being Infantry-and walking with full field packs with his first tour of Vietnam, now he’s reenlisted and a corporal, and may have been happy to not have to “Hoof-It” everywhere anymore, albeit working with “Tracks” had its own issues, where one felt like all they did was maintenance, He may have been grabbed up right off the tarmac on arrival, or been in a Repo-Depot awaiting orders to somewhere, some had pre assignment peppers, but were grabbed by units needing men asap.
11th Armored Cavalry Division, Mechanized - Infantryman:
The 11th Cavalry’s bloodline goes back to early 1901 when the 11th Cavalry Regiment was formed-up at Fort Meyer, in Virginia. They would chase Poncho Villa in 1916 into Mexico, The commander had been William Jones Nicholson.
In the later 1930s things were heating up in China and Europe, and the 11th Cavalry was at Presidio of Monterey in California, then moved to Fort Ord, then by 15 May 1940 they had moved to Camp Clayton, where they completed their temporary training. Then they went on maneuvers at Fort Lewis in Washington State, then traveled back to Presidio of Monterey end of August 1940.
The Regiment was then detached from the 2nd Cavalry Division, the 11th was now a separate regiment. By 12 June 1942, they would now be part of an 'Armored Force', moving to Fort Benning in Georgia, on 10 July 1942. The 11th Armored Regiment was constituted on 11 July 1942, as part of the national army getting assigned to the 10th Armored Division, using the troops, and equipment from the 11th Cavalry Regiment, they were organized at Fort Benning.
The group continued moving around and in November 1941, they were at Camp Seeley in California, then jumped over to Live Oaks, California near the end of July 1941, then came back to Camp Seeley in mid-September 1941, then moved over to Camp Lockett on 10 December 1941. Never finding a place to call home, The 11th Cavalry Regiment was then deactivated on 15 July 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia, with all the elements being given to the 11th Armored Regiment, as the development of the 11th Cavalry Group began, and the 11th Tank Group.
The 11th Tank Group was then constituted on 19 July 1943, as members of the National Army. They were activated at Camp Campbell in Kentucky, on 28 July 1943 as a separate group. They got reorganized again, and renamed, becoming the HHC, 11th Armored Group early December 1943.
Then the remainder of the 11th Cavalry disbanded, on 26 October 1944. The regiment moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee on 22 June 1943, and then Fort Gordon on 5 September 1943. The 11th Armored Regiment was broken up on 20 September 1943, As part of the 10th Armored Division, the 11th Tank Battalion shipped out from the New York Port of Embarkation on 13 September 1944 and landed in France on 23 September 1944. The battalion participated in the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns, and was located at Schongau, Bavaria, Germany on 14 August 1945. HHC, 11th Armored Group was converted and redesignated HHT, 1st Constabulary Regiment on 1 May 1946. HHT, 1st Constabulary Regiment was inactivated on 20 September 1947 in Germany.
Reassembly began at once, and the 11th ACR was organized on 30 November 1948, merging the 11th Cavalry Regiment and HHT, 1st Constabulary Regiment. then using the HHT-1st Constabulary Regiment merged into the 11th ACR as HHT, 3rd Battalion, 11th ACR on 30 November 1948.
Then the 11th Tank Battalion was consolidated into the 11th ACR in early January 1951. Then the 95th Tank Battalion was consolidated with the 11th ACR’s 3rd Battalion on 1 October 1958. As the Vietnam conflict came to an end the Air Troop was inactivated, on 20 March 1972, Then the 2d Squadron was inactivated on 6, April 1972 also in -Country. But then the Air Troop and 2d Squadron getting, activated on 17 May 1972, in Germany, the Cold War, being still active.
And in the mid-80s the Air Troop was enlarged, 3rd Battalion the 4th Squadron “Thunderhorse”, as the Combat Aviation Squadron. They had to reflag the 14th ACR. They were located at Downs Barracks, and their job was to patrol devising East and West Germany. In the late 1980s the 11th's 4th Squadron (Air was to operate the first air assault school in Europe, called the Blackhorse Air Assault School, right in Fulda.
With the Soviet Union being dissolved in December 1991 Their tour of Germany came to an end (they had been there for 17 years),
Then the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed an aviation task force on 10 April 1991 to Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort, and then an operation to support the Kurdish relief effort. One month later, the three maneuver squadrons (1st, 2d, and 3d) with the regiment's support squadron, went to Kuwait for Operation Positive Force, an operation to secure Kuwait so it could rebuild from the war. By then the backup forces in Europe decreased, and the 11 ACR was inactivated on 15 October 1993, all remaining troops had departed Germany by the end of March 1994.
The 11th was Inactivated from 15 October 1993 to 15 March 1994 in Germany. Getting Activated again on 16 October 1994 (without the 3d and 4th Squadrons and the Air Defense Artillery Battery, and the Howitzer Batteries, 1st and 2d Squadrons) at Fort Irwin, California.
Spec. 4, 11 ACR. Mech-INF.
11-ACR. Operations In-Country came as the War was escalating, the Blackhorse Regiment was slated for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam on March 11, 1966. They engaged in the “guerrilla-fighting” methods of the communist forces there.
The uniform we’ve depicted, is of the ERDL, into the 1970s in Vietnam-these became an issue, so, ‘perfect’ it was good camouflage, lightweight, and tested, but very short-lived, being replaced by the BDU uniform. He likely would be issued a matching tropical cap, but this was available, and the helmet ditched, being used on base when in-coming motors hit.
CaptIN, 11 Armored Cav. Track sQUADRON Commander:
Capt. Lambert 11 Armored Cav. Track Commander may have served in such battles as Operation Quicksilver, Operation Fargo, The Tet Offensive, Operation Adairsville, and Operation Alcorn Cove, And constantly in the 11th made a good and effective fire team- that was constantly on moving throughout South Vietnam, They came in 1966, and the left near the end of operations in 1972. On 20 October 2009, President Barack Obama presented a Presidential Unit Citation to Commander John B. Poindexter and all Veterans of Troop A of the Regiment for their heroism along the Cambodian border on 26 March 1970.
Soon after watching many got burned inside them, as the picture shows, riding on the top of the vehicle was the method generally used, they would be blown off the top though if they hit a big mine, and obviously, there was no cover on the top, the idea of a firefight started the last place they wanted to be was inside the APC. The Captain, having had a tour with MACV previously in Vietnam, may have been reconsidering being assigned to the “Mechanized” 11th Cavalry Division.
Now here again this could have been used elsewhere than Vietnam during the period, and even after we pulled out of Vietnam, in the States, or Europe., though the early (Cavalry) insignia on the collar, later changed to a tank in the center of the crossed swords.
Skeptics (Like Me) have questioned the ability of tanks and APCs to struggle their way through the jungles of Vietnam. However, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment had innovative and thought-out tactics, they learned techniques that worked, and what brought negative results was some trial and error, The cheap - handheld RPG being the game-changer here.
But the enemy was not playing the game right, and their hit-and-run tactics and constant chipping away at the Cavalry and it was a frustrating hide-and-seek battle, the enemy having decades of knowledge of an area, many areas having thousands of hiding spots, and spider holes, as well as complete and complex underground fortresses, suppose this is not necessarily a Track Commander or Platoon leader like I was thinking but could be in an M-48 Patton Tank, from the collar insignia.
The procedures established a reputation of a relentless fighter. "Find the bastards, then pile on" became a slogan, then a way of life. The 11 ACR Trooper’s motto of 'Find the bastards, then pile on' was very much the plan, and what they had intended to do. And when they did, they were very effective. But chasing Charlie through the jungle would seem to always be in the enemy's favor, the US can find the enemy and call-in heavy fire support from mortars and artillery, to close air support and battleships at sea.
This air-mobile unit was often sent to search and destroy suspected enemies in areas accessible only by air. Having had a prior tour, he served with MAC-V then, possibly as an advisor with ARVN Forces.
The 11 Armored Cavalry, ever in movement, across the ground, added an Air Cavalry Troop in Vietnam, their own Aero-Rifle-Platoon (ARP), much like the 1st Air Cav, and 101st and many other elements in use by the Army as Helicopter support. Later tactics used an entire (ACAV) Troop using special lightened-up M113s that would be airlifted by C-130 Aircraft back and forth to hot spots, an effective and handy tool to have in the box.
In the summer of 1968 Colonel George S. Patton Jr., (he was the 39th Colonel of the Regiment and son of the famous George Patton of WWII Fame) would find his duty leading the regiment back to Saigon. Patton's Men would drive the NVA from the area and crush them in the process they would no longer have large-scale attacks in the area while the 11 ACR was there.
Captain Lambert has dabbled in marking his helmet, albeit not regulation. Guess he did not want to use a pen, though it may have looked better for a while. He has the Armored Cavalry insignia and the officers’ bars on the front. These helmets, were in general, not decorated up as were the Flight Helmets of the period, a small strip of colored-stuck-on plastic name tape on the back-maybe rank with it.
There motto on the unit insignia (DUI-Not Shown) is "Allons", which (in French) means "Let's Go". Painted in the back near the neck area, his Name, Rank, and the Regiment-in subdued form insignia. Pretty lightly marked up, it was far less common to doll up the armored CVCs, as with Flight Helmets though one saw stenciled numbers and whatnot.
The helmet as we got it had two layers of paint on them and as nobody used them but armored vehicle crewmen, left alone pretty much. This helmet is of the earlier generation and was seen from 1966 to 1967 and into the rest of the war.
Issued originally in a more Forest Green color rather than the dark olive green of the M1 helmets. Some painted their names on the front or vehicle names, say on the side, and some merely wrote on them with a felt tip pen.
AFV-Headphones: As a friend told me, they were not great but better than the AFV-Helmet. It may be backward. haven't found pictures of it in use-but surely it would tip to the back of the head if he wanted to wear an M1 type of helmet.
Living in the M113. There were 4 people assigned to each vehicle, a Driver, a Vehicle Commander on a rotating cupola, with a .50 caliber machine gun on it, and a side gunner, who operated out of the large escape hatch on the top, each providing a 7.62 mm M-60 Machine gun behind a small shield. But still riding in an aluminum vehicle with a bunch of fuel and ammunition in it.
The Track was their ride, their responsibility to maintain, their home, the supply wagon, and a way to get to the enemy. And generally loaded for bear, but they were vulnerable to RPG weapons, and Mines, as well as mortars, because of the box-like construction and the material they were made of.
It was up to the crew Commander, and Driver, and with the ACAV Kit the two gunners to keep the track up, and live out of, the 'Infantryman' of the Mechanized Force, sat in bunkers worrying, or after the ride out, to look for trouble, either attacking it or looking deeper, into the woods.... and into the bad-guy territory.
11th AMD. CAV. DIV., Corporal, Khaki- Going Home Uniform:
The Blackhorse Regiment arrived in Vung Tou, South Vietnam on 7 September 1966 and was commanded by Col. William W. Cobb. Operation Hickory (October 1966) produced the first enemy casualties inflicted by the 3rd Squadron and elements of the 919th Engineer Company in the vicinity of Phu Hoa. Atlanta" was the code name for the establishment of Blackhorse Base Camp, the new home of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam.
The men would fight in Operation Cedar Falls, Operation Junction City, Operation Manhattan, and Operation Kittyhawk in 1967, then in Operation Quicksilver, Operation Fargo, then the Tet Offensive, Operation Adairsville, and Operation Alcorn Cove.
K Troop was part of the 3rd Squadron and known as "Killing K Troop". The 3rd Squadron's nickname was "Workhorse". Shortly after its arrival in Vietnam, the 3rd Squadron engaged the Viet Cong for the first time. The squadron was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation for this period.
The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment ("Blackhorse Regiment"[1]) is a unit of the United States Army garrisoned at Fort Irwin, California. Although termed an armored cavalry regiment, it is being reorganized as a multi-component heavy brigade combat team. [citation needed] The regiment has served in the Philippines. American War, World War II, the Vietnam War, Cold War, Operation Desert Storm (scout platoons), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq War). The 11th ACR serves as the Opposing Force (OPFOR) for the Army and Marine task forces, and foreign military forces that train at the National Training Center.
The OPFOR trained U.S. Army forces in mechanized desert warfare following a Soviet-era style threat until June 2002, when the OPFOR and the 11th ACR changed to portraying an urban/asymmetrical warfare style of combat U.S. soldiers facing operations abroad.
From June to December 2003, members of the 11th ACR deployed to Afghanistan, where they helped to develop and train the armor and mechanized infantry battalions of the Afghan National Army.
These specialized units would defend the Afghan capital during the country's constitutional convention. In January 2004, the 11th ACR deployed to Iraq. The 11th ACR was not reorganized under the U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System but has been reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System.
Armored Storage Depot: There was a lot of equipment used during the cold war, and though many never left Vietnam, those went to the ARVN when we left, and the Communists when they took over the country- used them to invade Cambodia. So many were stationed in Europe and the US. on Depots-maintained but not used all the time. these would be run from time to time and greased etc.
Sergeant First Class, Adjutant General Branch, Custer-Division, (prior 11th Armored Cavalry), Class A Uniform:
My attempt at blowing this crappy photo up has not worked that well but I'll try telling a story about the US. Armies, 11-ACR. Operations in the country came as the War was escalating, the Blackhorse Regiment was slated for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam on March 11, 1966. The regiment started specialized training for combat against the guerilla fighting methods of the communist forces there. As he has the patch and ribbons from the conflict- guess he served there on the early deployment. His going home uniform, he's now attached to the infantry, looks like the 85th CD Division, named after the cavalry commander George Armstrong Custer, it was a Stateside, Training Division at this time I believe...wherever they're stationed, or assigned to their command structure.
The regiment's upgrades used M-113 ACAVs instead of the M-48 Patton tanks, completely replacing the M-114 used then in reconnaissance platoons, which may have existed in European and CONUS areas of operation for some time. The M-114s sent to Vietnam in 1962, had been soon removed from the list, as they proved quite inadequate for use there.
The M-48s, on the other hand, would still be quite useful, it had followed in the procession from the T-26, M-46, and 47 lines of chassis and were built from 1952 to 1959, by 1969 it was getting a bit long in the tooth. It was used till the 90s with the M-60s, which by then were working with an obsolete hull, and a limited budget for upgrades, it was the first to use reactive armor of the '70s.
During the time in Vietnam, the Tank companies, remained the same with their M48 Patton tanks, serving good service, however, the enemy knew their stuff too, and the B-10 and B-40 rockets, as well as RPG-7s as well as Mines, were used well, and it worked against the tanks well too. On the soldier’s collar is the (EM) version of the Adjutant General's Corps insignia, he assists with the General’s Staff.
Colonel George S. Patton IV (son of World War II General Patton) commanded the 11 ACR in Vietnam and recommended to General Creighton Abrams that some of the army's new aluminum M-115 tanks (Sheridan’s) for combat testing. then in January 1969, M551 Sheridans were sent to the 3rd Squadron 4th Armored Cavalry and the 1st Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry.
The differences in the organization of Regimental Cavalry Squadrons and Divisional Cavalry Squadrons, in 1st Squadron 11th ACR, the Sheridan’s were issued to the ACAV troops, replacing three M113s in each platoon, but in 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, the Sheridan’s replaced M48A3 tanks with some speculation on how they would work. But the Army later was satisfied with the Sheridan tank, At the end of 1970 over 200 M551s would be in South Vietnam Raising Hell. and taking many casualties in the process.
The Class A's, I bought from a guy, it all seems to be the real McCoy, he is a lifer, and an old timer at that, with a large Ribbons Bar and plenty of Hash marks on the sleeves, A very nice example to represent the unit, He is a Sergeant First Class. He has the patch and ribbons from the conflict- guess he served there on the early deployment. This is how he looked after he got home, He’s now attached to the 85th CD Division, named after the cavalry commander George Armstrong Custer, it was a Stateside, Training Division at this time I believe...wherever they were stationed or assigned, linked to their command structure. The objective of the Adjutant General Corps is to "maximize operational effectiveness of the total force by anticipating, manning, and sustaining military operations. Buroughocratic work, paperwork, and getting all the systems at hand for the Army to co-operate and function together, and to keep it all working smoothly in short, and letting the boss know what’s going on with daily reports.
HHC 1/69, M88 Recovery Vehicle Commander:
The 69th Armored Regiment had derived in 1940, and it would serve in World War II (1941-45), the Korean War (1950-53), then came Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, and to the Iraq War, and into the era of the never-ending War against Terrorist's the world over.
But we’re focused on the 1960's era and the VIETNAM period of the unit's history. And that starts when 'A' Company was committed within two hours of its disembarking from Landing Ships (LST’s) the Republic of Vietnam in Saigon, to be a reaction force, going directly into combat in the Filhol Rubber Plantation west of Saigon. Their first major combat operation was in April 1966 in the Hobo Woods and on the trails of the Filhol Rubber plantation again, northwest of Saigon. This operation proved the value of Armor in reducing the number of friendly casualties while significantly increasing losses to the enemy. 69th Armor tankers learned on-the-job, the importance of rear and flank security, they used the deadly canister in the dense jungle was devastating. The 52-ton M48A3 more than earned its stripes during this initial two-week blooding and the unit set the example for the future tactical employment of Armor in Vietnam, however, the enemy learned, the Soviet-made RPG could take one down as well.
B companies would suffer losses in the Plei Me/Duc Co corridor, paralleling the Cambodian border where they encountered Battalion sized NVA elements moving through the Central Highlands area one of the main infiltration areas of the enemy. 1st Platoon, B Company earned the Presidential Unit Citation for actions pertaining to August 1966, at LZ 27 Victor, a small Korean enclave in the triple canopy jungles of the Ia Drang-Chu Pong mountain area, some nine months earlier, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) fought some rather savage battles with Main-Force NVA units.
The Regiment commander, LTC. Fairfield was promoted and LTC. Clyde O. Clark took over the 1/69. The bulk of the battalion moved to Qui Nhon in May of 1966 on an LST, then traveled overland along the infamous QL (Highway) 19 to join B Company at Camp Enari near Pleiku, the home of the 4th Infantry Division at the time. Lieutenant General (R) then a Leutnant Colonel Paul S. Williams, Jr. took command of One-69th Armor, March of 1967, and continued operations in support of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Company A was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division until October of 1967. During this period Alpha Company supported the three Sky Trooper brigades in heavy combat operations along the South China Sea coast, distinguishing itself in savage fighting against Main Force Viet Cong, encountering countless fortified village complexes in Binh Dinh province and the Bong Son plain area. For its actions, 'A' Company was awarded the Valorous Unit Citation
A Company completed its mission with the 1st Cavalry Division in October 1967 and returned to Camp Enari with Battalion HQ. Earlier, in September, the battalion, along with the other elements of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division became part of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division swapped brigades as their operations in mixed places made it easier. LT.C. William Grant then took command of the 1/69 Armor Battalion new operation was securing the primary routes of communication on QL-19, between Qui Nhon on the coast and Duc Co on the Cambodian border, they also worked QL 14. The routes were notorious for ambush's going back to the First Indochina War of the 1950s. The battalion kept these vital roads open for re-supply for units engaged with the North Vietnamese thru November 1967.
For actions during a reaction force operation just prior to Tet in January 1968, Spec. 5 Dwight Hal Johnson, gunner on B11, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
The 1/69th Armor had played a critical role in the defense of Pleiku, Kontum, and at Dak To and also along Highway 19 during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The battalion displaced its forward headquarters in March, from Hwy 14S to Camp Radcliff at An Khê, under the operational control of the 173rd Airborne Brigade to join in Operation Walker, fighting along the coastal plain near Bong Son again.
A Company provided security along Highway 19 between An Khe and Mang Yang Pass On the 10th of April, a regimental size ambush assaulted a convoy by the 95B Regiment killing 45 VC and capturing seven crew-served weapons, unbelievably lucky, only American was killed. Then LT.C. Theodore S. Riggs took command of the battalion in March of 1968, and then they moved to An Khe. Meanwhile, B and C Companies went to work OPCON to the Republic of Korea's 'Tiger' Division, headquartered at Camp Thunderbolt near Qui Nhon, and they would support in Operation Maeng Ho 11. Elements B Company engaged the 18th and 22nd NVA Regiments, and the 2nd VC Main Force Regiment in heavy combat from 10th to 25th of April near Ky Son, killing over 100 enemies.
Then LT.C (Maj. Gen. Retired) Stan R. Sheridan then assumed command of 1/69 Armor in September 1968, the HQ again moved, this time west to the area of Landing Zone Oasis. The 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division started working along QL 19W and conducting numerous reconnaissance-in-force operations to the Cambodian border. During this time one provisional tank detachment was taken from each line of the companies. They would support elements of the 101st Airborne Division and the 44th ARVN Regiment in the Phan Thiet-Song Mao area.
The battalion continued operations west of Pleiku and along the coastal plain during 1969 working with 4th Inf. Div. and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. B Company became a reaction force for route security all the way to a Special Forces border camp of Ben Het. Bravo Company's 1st Platoon and it was the only time U.S. and NVA armor fought each other, on the night of 3 March. The U.S. tanks overwhelmed the enemy and they fled, the M48s had destroyed 2 of the PT 76 tanks and a BTR-50 fighting vehicle.
Later L.TC.s Leo M. Brandt, Donald J. Pagel, and MAJ George Latturner each commanded the battalion for a few months, from April to December 1969. The battalion continued supporting the 4th Infantry Division along Highway 19 seeing heavy battles at LZ Schueller, An Khe, Plei Djereng, and Plei Me.
Then, LT.C. James L. Marini was put in command in December of 1969, they fought on until the battalion stood down with the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and returned to the U.S. in mid-1970. They were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Award, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Vietnam Civic Action Award First Class.
**** Note the CIB should be over the Jump Wings! I’ll fix this somehow at some point!
“New” Enlisted Man, 1st Cavalry Division, Tanker.
1st Cavalry Division, Armored Regiment, 1970:
The 1st Cavalry Division 'Developed the 'Air Mobile' Concept into war and brought it with them to Vietnam. And they did a magnificent job! They developed effective ways to assault the enemy, and they fulfilled their duty. However, they were not the only division with helicopters, in fact, the Helicopter would be used by all the various units in Vietnam, helicopters were used “in mass”, but the 1st Cavalry did it their own way, the Cavalry way, highly mobile, with a lot of fire-power, they were also the largest use of helicopters alongside the with 101st Airborne Division.
When the inevitable Stand Down came, on the 26th of March 1971 at Bein Hoa, Various US. Troops and the Air-Cav. began to come home, after the Division had been ”In-Country” for some 66 months, the 3rd Brigade staying till the end of the US. involvement.
Starting this uniforms story in the mid-1960s, with the 4th Infantry Division getting deployed from Fort Lewis to Camp Enari, in Pleiku, in the Republic of Vietnam on 25 September 1966. and the 4th served there for more than four years, before they returned to the States, to Fort Carson, in Colorado on 8 December 1970.
The 3rd Brigade's battalions officially became part of the 25th Infantry Division in the exchange for the battalions of the 25th's 3rd Brigade, in Quang Ngai Province as part of Task Force Oregon. The two brigades would operate in the Central Highlands area in II Corps Zone, but the 3rd Brigade, with the division's armor battalion, moved to the Tay Ninh Province, northwest of Saigon they were to be one of the elements involved in Operation Attleboro kicked off in September and went into November of 1966, and then again in Operation Junction City (February to May 1967), both operations took part in War Zone C.
They operated from different places as the war ' wore on' as the situation changed around, they were deployed at Pleiku from SEP. 1966 to FEB. 1968, then they went to Dak To (MAR. 1968 -APR. 1968), and Pleiku (APR 1968 -FEB. 1970) then to the An Khe / Pleiku area operating therefrom (APR. 1970 -APR. 1970), and in the end An Khe from APR. 1970 to DEC. 1970.
The elements make up the 4th ID. varied as they all do from time to time, but it goes something like this. there was the 2nd Battalion, 9th Artillery (105 mm, (from 25th ID, August 1967 we think to April 1970), 5th Battalion, 16th Artillery (155 mm), 6th Battalion, 29th Artillery (105 mm), 4th Battalion, 42nd Artillery (105 mm), 2nd Battalion, 77th Artillery (105 mm) (to 25th ID, August 1967? Maybe, to December 1970), 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry (Armored) Division - Reconnaissance, 4th Aviation Battalion, 4th Engineer Battalion, 4th Medical Battalion, 124th Signal Battalion, 43rd Chemical Detachment, 4th Military Intelligence Company, some other dedicated reconnaissance elements was Company E, 20th Infantry (LRP), Company E, 58th Infantry (LRP), Company K (Ranger), and the 75th Infantry (Airborne), then there was 4th Administration Company the 4th Military Police Company,374th Army Security Agency Company, ‘In Country’ they were known as 374th Radio Research Company (RRC) and of course the Division Support Command. The 25th story is told several times on the site, but not normally to this depth, but why not, the 25th InfantryDivision’s battalion stats in Vietnam are, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry (Mechanized), 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry (to 25th ID, August 1967 - April 1971), 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry (from 25th ID, August 1967- December 1970), and 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry (Separate, November 1970 approx.. to January 1972), 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry (to 25th ID, August 1967? December 1970), 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry (to 25th ID, August 1967? December 1970), 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry (from 25th ID, August 1967? April 1970), 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry (from 25th ID, August 1967 -December 1970). Not to mention the 704th Maintenance Battalion (Possibly where this uniform starts to fit into the story), the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry (Armored) Division Reconnaissance, there was the 2nd Battalion, and 34th Armor Regiment (to 25th ID, August 1967 - December 1970), and the 1st Battalion, and then the 69th Armor (from 25th ID, August 1967 -April 1970) more on this later...but there was also the34th armored regiment assigned for a time.
The Division earned Presidential Unit Citation (Army), and a Battle Streamer embroidered with SUOI TRE, VIETNAM. They also earned the Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK for operations there, also to note...Vietnam': Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; the Tet Counteroffensive, and Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII.
The 4 Infantry Division paid a price for their honors in the Vietnam War, the after-actions reported casualties as 2,531 killed in action and 15,229 wounded in action, it is however far better than the reported amount of people the enemy suffered, defining that would be tricky but several times more for theirs.
As his helmet depicts...this troop was from 2/8(Mech) HQ-9., so he may have dissipated in Operation HINES. The Troop appears to be part of the 'Wrecking Crew' the fellows who brought in the knocked-out, and broken-down vehicles back to the base, they like using the M88, a massive vehicle, with only an M2 Browning Machine Gun to protect the crewmen. As for the 8th Infantry Regiment, they were known as the "Fighting Eagles", the Regiment's lineage goes back to their participation in the Mexican War, American Civil War, Philippine Insurrection, Moro Rebellion, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, and then in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Iraq Campaign. The unit had been reactivated on 15 July 1947 at Fort Ord, California where it was reorganized and redesignated, on 1 October 1963 as the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry.
The 1st Battalion 8th Infantry won nine campaign streamers for action in Vietnam from 1966 to 1970, participating in operations Sam Houston, Francis Marion, Don Quin, and Paul Revere III. The Vietnamese government awarded the 1st battalion the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Civil Action Medal First Class. Alpha and Charlie Companies were awarded a cluster to their presidential unit citations for extraordinary heroism in the Republic of Vietnam. Companies A and C sought out, engaged, and decisively defeated an overwhelmingly larger force by deploying small, isolated patrols and conducting company and platoon-size reconnaissance-in-force operations. It was inactivated on 10 April 1970 at Fort Lewis, Washington, and reactivated on 13 September 1972 at Fort Carson, CO.
Reorganized and re-designated on the 1st of October 1963 as the 2nd Battalion, (As this troop helmet depicts) 8th Infantry, it was relieved from an assignment from the 1st Infantry Division and moved to the 4th Infantry Division. It was inactivated on 13 September 1972 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The unit was reactivated on 1 August 1984 at Fort Carson, Colorado. It was inactivated again on 15 December 1989 and then relieved from assignment with the 4th Infantry Division. Reassigned on 16 December 1995 to the 2nd Armored Division and activated at Fort Hood, Texas, then it was relieved on 16 January 1996 from assignment to the 2nd Armored Division and reassigned to the 4th Infantry Division.
*Note the CIB and Jump Wings are in the reverse order, and against regulation, and before I hear about it too much I better reverse this, Dang I hate that I didn’t notice before taking the pictures..
1st of the 1st CAV. Armored-Tanker, Captain 1970s:
1st Cavalry Division, Armor Vehicle:
So, the colors were moved to Fort Hood, Texas (Minus 3rd Brigade), passing the colors to the commander of the 1st Armored Division, and Major General James C. Smith and the commander took charge of the Division, and it was back home where it had been formed up some 50 years before.
The 1st Cav. would now become the 1st Cavalry Triple-Capability Division (1st Cavalry TRICAP) and the re-organizing, and redesignation of all the subordinate units began. In the redesigning of the division, they would now be made by 2 armored brigades, with 2 mechanized infantry and 4 armored battalions and 4 armored battalions spun into it.
I still retain 1 Air-Cavalry Combat Brigade as well, but this was structured into an organic air support battalion. Much more was added to fill in all the appropriate elements included to make it now an Armored Division with an Air Cavalry brigade.
The ‘Air Element’ (Brigade) was now structured to be used at Corps Level. So, they were then assigned to IIIrd Corps, which had a new mission assigned by (MASTER) Modern Army Selected Systems Test, Evaluation and Review. They would now be a 'Tri-Concept Identification' of combining Armor, Air Cavalry, and Air-Mobile operations.
The 'Horse Platoon' was added in January of 1972 (Sponsored by the 1st Cavalry Division Association). to be used to raise the Spirit of the only remaining Cavalry Division in the US. Army. It would be used for promotion and to save the heritage of the Cavalry.
The idea was to merge into one, the capabilities of ground elements of Infantry and Armor, with Air Cavalry mobilization of Soldiers and their Attack Helicopters (Sounds like the Air Cav to me?) but it was modernized and restructured, and the concept was looking at what sorts of vehicles they would be using. And on the 28th of February 1972, the 4th Squadron of the 9th was reactivated for TRICAP evaluations.
The First Cavalry had been the first Division in and the 3rd Brigade was the last out of Vietnam with the 1973 Cease Fire agreement signed in Paris with the (NLF) National Liberation Front Civilian Forces, the North Vietnamese Army Forces, and the ARVN Forces. Of course, we had promised support if that changed-but they knew we donned there, and many of the US Soldiers in POW Camps got to come home.
By 1974 many changes had been made and its many elements moved around to and from other units. They were pretty ironed out new equipment was becoming available- as the M48 phased out and M60s became the main battle tank, and the Huey-Helicopters were getting upgrades, and new designs developing. In 1975 the TRICAP evaluations came to an end. The division would participate in numerous REFORGER exercises and be used to test the new doctrinal concepts and equipment, soon including the XM-1 tank (Precursor to the Abrams M1).
The 1st Cavalry Division's assignment and structure changed significantly, and notably, the 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry, the division's most famous unit, was inactivated. And the 13th Signal Battalion had fielded mobile subscriber equipment (MSE), a secure digital communications system for corps and below units.
The Fiber-Bucket Armored Vehicle Helmets were widely not popular but needed for working with the radio / inner tank communications system, some used a radioman headset in preference. But the Captain here conformed but decorated it up a bit, respectively.
A vehicle Captain - probably a regiment leader has operated with the 1st Armored Division (C 1 / 1 Cav.) before coming to the 1st Cav. Division, having served with both outfits, he has them both represented on this helmet. It’s interesting the prior was added too and on the appropriate sides.
Note: the red paint on the microphone control box, the helmet was covered in red crosses / when it was de-militarized...hmm, hate that stuff, on the helmet, it could not remove without destroying the whole thing- so it's been re-furbished best we could. This is the third helmet that I got this done to it when buying. like cutting the breach out of an old gun, to make it not fire? The note-firing pin removed does it?
Some of these helmets were stored on their sides somehow and deformed, here again-it may be due to material brake-down, or just getting soft, but I've gotten them in some odd crushed-like shapes. The uniform consists of the M65 field jacket, and fatigue trousers, and to 60's style CVC helmet we took some time to refurbish the outside of the shell, which still shows its age on the inside, the microphone mounting still retains the red paint used to de militarize the helmet- spraying paint in a cross over the top in Rustoleum like paint and ripping off of some of the parts, the paint stuck well, and it would not come off- so we repainted over and redid the insignia.
