Posted on Jul 29, 2017
101st Airborne Division arrives in Vietnam - Jul 29, 1965 - HISTORY.com
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The first 4,000 paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division arrive in Vietnam, landing at Cam Ranh Bay. They made a demonstration jump immediately after arriving, observed by Gen. William Westmoreland and outgoing Ambassador (formerly General) Maxwell Taylor. Taylor and Westmoreland were both former commanders of the division, which was known as the “Screaming Eagles.” The 101st Airborne Division has a long and storied history, including combat jumps during the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and the subsequent Market-Garden airborne operation in the Netherlands. Later, the division distinguished itself by its defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
The 1st Brigade fought as a separate brigade until 1967, when the remainder of the division arrived in Vietnam. The combat elements of the division consisted of 10 battalions of airmobile infantry, six battalions of artillery, an aerial rocket artillery unit armed with rocket-firing helicopters, and an air reconnaissance unit. Another unique feature of the division was its aviation group, which consisted of three aviation battalions of assault helicopters and gunships.
The majority of the 101st Airborne Division’s tactical operations were in the Central Highlands and in the A Shau Valley farther north. Among its major operations was the brutal fight for Ap Bia Mountain, known as the “Hamburger Hill” battle.
The last Army division to leave Vietnam, the remaining elements of the 101st Airborne Division returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where today it is the Army’s only airmobile division. During the war, troopers from the 101st won 17 Medals of Honor for bravery in combat. The division suffered almost 20,000 soldiers killed or wounded in action in Vietnam, over twice as many as the 9,328 casualties it suffered in World War II.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. Burroughs Cynthia Croft SSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SSgt Robert Marx PO1 Tony Holland Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey
The 1st Brigade fought as a separate brigade until 1967, when the remainder of the division arrived in Vietnam. The combat elements of the division consisted of 10 battalions of airmobile infantry, six battalions of artillery, an aerial rocket artillery unit armed with rocket-firing helicopters, and an air reconnaissance unit. Another unique feature of the division was its aviation group, which consisted of three aviation battalions of assault helicopters and gunships.
The majority of the 101st Airborne Division’s tactical operations were in the Central Highlands and in the A Shau Valley farther north. Among its major operations was the brutal fight for Ap Bia Mountain, known as the “Hamburger Hill” battle.
The last Army division to leave Vietnam, the remaining elements of the 101st Airborne Division returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where today it is the Army’s only airmobile division. During the war, troopers from the 101st won 17 Medals of Honor for bravery in combat. The division suffered almost 20,000 soldiers killed or wounded in action in Vietnam, over twice as many as the 9,328 casualties it suffered in World War II.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. Burroughs Cynthia Croft SSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SSgt Robert Marx PO1 Tony Holland Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey
101st Airborne Division arrives in Vietnam - Jul 29, 1965 - HISTORY.com
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Thanks for reminding us SP5 Mark Kuzinski that the 1st Brigade (Separate) of the 101st Airborne Division landed at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam on July 29, 1965.
As a separate brigade it was designed to be a stand-alone brigade as opposed to a divisional brigade. 1st Brigade organic aviation assets arrive in Vietnam in September 1965, the USNS General Leroy Eltinge returned to Cam Ranh Bay. Six pilots arrived aboard the ship, with six OH-13 helicopters (including Captain Ron Miller, 1Lt Edgar Schneider, 1Lt Leonard F Keys, CW2 Bob Steele, CW2 Bill Marchman, and WO1 Ken Wymer). They were attached to the Headquarters, 1st Brigade (Separate), 101st Airborne Division for administrative purposes.
After a brief period where the Soldiers acclimated themselves and received all their equipment, the 1st Brigade (Separate) went into action.
The 1st Brigade (Separate) was called the "Nomads of Vietnam" because they moved so
often. They were known as a fire brigade; when a fire (big trouble) broke out, away they went
toward the trouble. Around 50 enlisted men, NCOs, crew chiefs, mechanics and other
soldiers, were assigned to the Air Section
In early 1967, the 1st Brigade (Separate) acted as a rapid reaction force, reinforcing
American and South Vietnamese forces when necessary and responding to enemy attacks. In less that 2 years, they had become experts in rapid helicopter assaults.
Image: 1965-07-29 Troopers of the First Brigade of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division arrived at Cam Ranh Bay on July 29, 1965
"The 1st Brigade (Separate) of the 101st Airborne Division landed at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam on July 29, 1965. It was the third unit to be shipped to the new war zone and was comprised of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 327th Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry.
After a brief period where the Soldiers acclimated themselves and received all their equipment, the 1st Brigade (Separate) went into action.
The Brigade was ordered into the Song Con Valley, about 20 miles northeast of the town of An Khe. During one mission, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry encountered heavy enemy fire at their landing zone. Three company commanders were killed and the contact was so close, air support and artillery could not be called in until they pulled back. That night, 100 sorties and 11,000 rounds of artillery hit the enemy. The next morning, the 2nd Bn 502nd Infantry was pulled out. They later discovered that they had landed in the middle of a heavily entrenched enemy base.
For the rest of 1965, the 1st Brigade (Separate) continued to mount patrols and interdicted the enemy supply lines.
At the beginning of 1966, the enemy greatly reduced his operations. In May, the enemy began massing in the Pleiku and Kontum Provinces. The 1st Brigade was moved from An Khe to Dak To, a Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) base camp in the northern area of South Vietnam. Here a South Vietnamese force was surrounded by the 24th North Vietnamese Regiment. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered in to reinforce the South Vietnamese position.
After evacuating the South Vietnamese forces, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry established their lines inside the abandoned camp and sent C Company forward in an exposed defensive position. On the night of June 6, the 24th NVA Regiment attacked C Company in a brutal assault. In a desperate attempt to stop the enemy advance, the commander of C Company called in air strikes on top of his own position, killing NVA and Americans alike. It was a hard decision to make, but it worked. The 24th NVA Regiment pulled back long enough for A Company 1/327 Infantry to be brought in by helicopter to reinforce the C Company positions. With the arrival of A 1/327 Infantry, the 24th NVA Regiment began to retreat.
The soldiers of 1st Brigade (Separate) pursued the enemy and several large scale air attacks were called in. Hundreds of enemy soldiers were killed but the 24th NVA Regiment managed to escape into Laos.
In October and November, 1966, the 4th Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Divisions were heavily engaged with enemy forces in the Kontum Province. When it became clear that the enemy was attempting to withdraw into Laos, a massive helicopter airlift of the 1st Brigade (Separate), 101st Airborne Division landed just as the enemy was crossing into Laos and safety. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered into reserve at Phu Yen.
In early 1967, the 1st Brigade (Separate) acted as a rapid reaction force, reinforcing American and South Vietnamese forces when necessary and responding to enemy attacks. They had become experts in rapid helicopter assaults.
In April of 1967, the 1st Brigade (Seperate) was attached to Task Force OREGON and placed under operational control of the III Marine Amphibious Force and moved to Chu Lai. At Chu Lai, the 1st Brigade (Separate) assisted in a large-scale pacification effort in the Quang Tri Province. Later, the 1st Brigade (Separate) was called in to assist a Marine battalion finish off an enemy attack around Khe Sahn, which would be the scene of a long, bloody siege in 1968.
In the fall of 1967, Task Force Oregon was reorganized into the 23rd Infantry Division, better known as the Americal Division."
http://www.angelfire.com/rebellion/101abndivvietvets/page15history101.html
1st Brigade organic aviation assets arrive in Vietnam
During September 1965, the USNS General Leroy Eltinge returned to Cam Ranh Bay. Six (6)
pilots arrived aboard the ship, with six (6) OH-13 helicopters (including Captain Ron Miller,
1Lt Edgar Schneider, 1Lt Leonard F Keys, CW2 Bob Steele, CW2 Bill Marchman, and WO1
Ken Wymer). They were attached to the Headquarters, 1st Brigade (Separate), 101st Airborne
Division for administrative purposes.
After a brief period where the Soldiers acclimated themselves and received all their
equipment, the 1st Brigade (Separate) went into action.
The 1st Brigade (Separate) engages in several operations
The Brigade was ordered into the Song Con Valley, about 20 miles’ northeast of the town of
An Khe. During one mission, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry encountered heavy enemy fire at
their landing zone. Three company commanders were killed and the contact was so close, air
support and artillery could not be called in until they pulled back. That night, 100 sorties and
11,000 rounds of artillery hit the enemy. The next morning, the 2nd Bn 502nd Infantry was
pulled out. They later discovered that they had landed in the middle of a heavily entrenched
enemy base.
For the rest of 1965, the 1st Brigade (Separate) continued to mount patrols and interdicted
the enemy supplies lines.
At the beginning of 1966, the enemy greatly reduced his operations. In May, the enemy
began massing in the Pleiku and Kontum provinces. The 1st Brigade was moved from An
Khe to Dak To, a Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) base camp in the northern area of
South Vietnam. Here a South Vietnamese force was surrounded by the 24th North
Vietnamese Regiment. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered in to reinforce the South
Vietnamese position.
After evacuating the South Vietnamese forces, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry established their
lines inside the abandoned camp and sent C Company forward in an exposed defensive
position. On the night of June 6, 1966 the 24th NVA Regiment attacked C Company in a
brutal assault. In a desperate attempt to stop the enemy advance, the commander of C
Company called in air strikes on top of his own position, killing NVA and Americans alike. It
was a hard decision to make, but it worked. The 24th NVA Regiment pulled back long
enough for A Company 1/327 Infantry to be brought in by helicopter to reinforce the C
Company positions. With the arrival of A 1/327 Infantry, the 24th NVA Regiment began to
retreat.
The soldiers of 1st Brigade (Separate) pursued the enemy and several large scale air attacks
were called in. Hundreds of enemy soldiers were killed, but the 24th NVA Regiment managed
to escape into Laos.
Mini-History: Aviation Platoon, HHC, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam July 1965 –
January 1972); Complied by Peter J. Rzeminski, 13417 Medina Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462,
C: [login to see] , H: [login to see] , [login to see] ; as of 20 October 2016
In October and November, 1966, the 4th Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Divisions were
heavily engaged with enemy forces in the Kontum province. When it became clear that the
enemy was attempting to withdraw into Laos, a massive helicopter airlift of the 1st Brigade
(Separate), 101st Airborne Division landed just as the enemy was crossing into Laos and
safety. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered into reserve at Phu Yen.
FYI LTC Stephen C. xx LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell LTC Bill Koski LTC Wayne Brandon
As a separate brigade it was designed to be a stand-alone brigade as opposed to a divisional brigade. 1st Brigade organic aviation assets arrive in Vietnam in September 1965, the USNS General Leroy Eltinge returned to Cam Ranh Bay. Six pilots arrived aboard the ship, with six OH-13 helicopters (including Captain Ron Miller, 1Lt Edgar Schneider, 1Lt Leonard F Keys, CW2 Bob Steele, CW2 Bill Marchman, and WO1 Ken Wymer). They were attached to the Headquarters, 1st Brigade (Separate), 101st Airborne Division for administrative purposes.
After a brief period where the Soldiers acclimated themselves and received all their equipment, the 1st Brigade (Separate) went into action.
The 1st Brigade (Separate) was called the "Nomads of Vietnam" because they moved so
often. They were known as a fire brigade; when a fire (big trouble) broke out, away they went
toward the trouble. Around 50 enlisted men, NCOs, crew chiefs, mechanics and other
soldiers, were assigned to the Air Section
In early 1967, the 1st Brigade (Separate) acted as a rapid reaction force, reinforcing
American and South Vietnamese forces when necessary and responding to enemy attacks. In less that 2 years, they had become experts in rapid helicopter assaults.
Image: 1965-07-29 Troopers of the First Brigade of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division arrived at Cam Ranh Bay on July 29, 1965
"The 1st Brigade (Separate) of the 101st Airborne Division landed at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam on July 29, 1965. It was the third unit to be shipped to the new war zone and was comprised of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 327th Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry.
After a brief period where the Soldiers acclimated themselves and received all their equipment, the 1st Brigade (Separate) went into action.
The Brigade was ordered into the Song Con Valley, about 20 miles northeast of the town of An Khe. During one mission, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry encountered heavy enemy fire at their landing zone. Three company commanders were killed and the contact was so close, air support and artillery could not be called in until they pulled back. That night, 100 sorties and 11,000 rounds of artillery hit the enemy. The next morning, the 2nd Bn 502nd Infantry was pulled out. They later discovered that they had landed in the middle of a heavily entrenched enemy base.
For the rest of 1965, the 1st Brigade (Separate) continued to mount patrols and interdicted the enemy supply lines.
At the beginning of 1966, the enemy greatly reduced his operations. In May, the enemy began massing in the Pleiku and Kontum Provinces. The 1st Brigade was moved from An Khe to Dak To, a Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) base camp in the northern area of South Vietnam. Here a South Vietnamese force was surrounded by the 24th North Vietnamese Regiment. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered in to reinforce the South Vietnamese position.
After evacuating the South Vietnamese forces, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry established their lines inside the abandoned camp and sent C Company forward in an exposed defensive position. On the night of June 6, the 24th NVA Regiment attacked C Company in a brutal assault. In a desperate attempt to stop the enemy advance, the commander of C Company called in air strikes on top of his own position, killing NVA and Americans alike. It was a hard decision to make, but it worked. The 24th NVA Regiment pulled back long enough for A Company 1/327 Infantry to be brought in by helicopter to reinforce the C Company positions. With the arrival of A 1/327 Infantry, the 24th NVA Regiment began to retreat.
The soldiers of 1st Brigade (Separate) pursued the enemy and several large scale air attacks were called in. Hundreds of enemy soldiers were killed but the 24th NVA Regiment managed to escape into Laos.
In October and November, 1966, the 4th Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Divisions were heavily engaged with enemy forces in the Kontum Province. When it became clear that the enemy was attempting to withdraw into Laos, a massive helicopter airlift of the 1st Brigade (Separate), 101st Airborne Division landed just as the enemy was crossing into Laos and safety. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered into reserve at Phu Yen.
In early 1967, the 1st Brigade (Separate) acted as a rapid reaction force, reinforcing American and South Vietnamese forces when necessary and responding to enemy attacks. They had become experts in rapid helicopter assaults.
In April of 1967, the 1st Brigade (Seperate) was attached to Task Force OREGON and placed under operational control of the III Marine Amphibious Force and moved to Chu Lai. At Chu Lai, the 1st Brigade (Separate) assisted in a large-scale pacification effort in the Quang Tri Province. Later, the 1st Brigade (Separate) was called in to assist a Marine battalion finish off an enemy attack around Khe Sahn, which would be the scene of a long, bloody siege in 1968.
In the fall of 1967, Task Force Oregon was reorganized into the 23rd Infantry Division, better known as the Americal Division."
http://www.angelfire.com/rebellion/101abndivvietvets/page15history101.html
1st Brigade organic aviation assets arrive in Vietnam
During September 1965, the USNS General Leroy Eltinge returned to Cam Ranh Bay. Six (6)
pilots arrived aboard the ship, with six (6) OH-13 helicopters (including Captain Ron Miller,
1Lt Edgar Schneider, 1Lt Leonard F Keys, CW2 Bob Steele, CW2 Bill Marchman, and WO1
Ken Wymer). They were attached to the Headquarters, 1st Brigade (Separate), 101st Airborne
Division for administrative purposes.
After a brief period where the Soldiers acclimated themselves and received all their
equipment, the 1st Brigade (Separate) went into action.
The 1st Brigade (Separate) engages in several operations
The Brigade was ordered into the Song Con Valley, about 20 miles’ northeast of the town of
An Khe. During one mission, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry encountered heavy enemy fire at
their landing zone. Three company commanders were killed and the contact was so close, air
support and artillery could not be called in until they pulled back. That night, 100 sorties and
11,000 rounds of artillery hit the enemy. The next morning, the 2nd Bn 502nd Infantry was
pulled out. They later discovered that they had landed in the middle of a heavily entrenched
enemy base.
For the rest of 1965, the 1st Brigade (Separate) continued to mount patrols and interdicted
the enemy supplies lines.
At the beginning of 1966, the enemy greatly reduced his operations. In May, the enemy
began massing in the Pleiku and Kontum provinces. The 1st Brigade was moved from An
Khe to Dak To, a Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) base camp in the northern area of
South Vietnam. Here a South Vietnamese force was surrounded by the 24th North
Vietnamese Regiment. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered in to reinforce the South
Vietnamese position.
After evacuating the South Vietnamese forces, the 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry established their
lines inside the abandoned camp and sent C Company forward in an exposed defensive
position. On the night of June 6, 1966 the 24th NVA Regiment attacked C Company in a
brutal assault. In a desperate attempt to stop the enemy advance, the commander of C
Company called in air strikes on top of his own position, killing NVA and Americans alike. It
was a hard decision to make, but it worked. The 24th NVA Regiment pulled back long
enough for A Company 1/327 Infantry to be brought in by helicopter to reinforce the C
Company positions. With the arrival of A 1/327 Infantry, the 24th NVA Regiment began to
retreat.
The soldiers of 1st Brigade (Separate) pursued the enemy and several large scale air attacks
were called in. Hundreds of enemy soldiers were killed, but the 24th NVA Regiment managed
to escape into Laos.
Mini-History: Aviation Platoon, HHC, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam July 1965 –
January 1972); Complied by Peter J. Rzeminski, 13417 Medina Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462,
C: [login to see] , H: [login to see] , [login to see] ; as of 20 October 2016
In October and November, 1966, the 4th Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Divisions were
heavily engaged with enemy forces in the Kontum province. When it became clear that the
enemy was attempting to withdraw into Laos, a massive helicopter airlift of the 1st Brigade
(Separate), 101st Airborne Division landed just as the enemy was crossing into Laos and
safety. The 1st Brigade (Separate) was ordered into reserve at Phu Yen.
FYI LTC Stephen C. xx LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell LTC Bill Koski LTC Wayne Brandon
The 1st Brigade (Separate) of the 101st Airborne Division landed at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam on July 29, 1965. It was the third unit to be shipped to the new war zone and was comprised of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 327th Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry.
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