Posted on Nov 29, 2016
Americal Division stands down and departs - Nov 29, 1971 - HISTORY.com
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The U.S. 23rd Division (Americal) ceases combat operations and begins its withdrawal from South Vietnam. The division had been activated in Vietnam on September 25, 1967, after which it assumed control of the 11th, 198th, and 199th Infantry Brigades (and associated support troops). Its headquarters was at Chu Lai in I Corps Tactical Zone and division troops conducted operations in Quang Nam, Quang Tri, and Quang Ngai Provinces.
In 1970, the division continued to fight in the Duc Pho, Chu Lai, and Tam Ky areas along the coast. When the division headquarters departed South Vietnam, the division colors were returned to Fort Lewis, Washington, where the Americal Division was officially inactivated. The only unit that remained in South Vietnam was the 199th Infantry Brigade, which continued to conduct operations as a separate brigade.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson
In 1970, the division continued to fight in the Duc Pho, Chu Lai, and Tam Ky areas along the coast. When the division headquarters departed South Vietnam, the division colors were returned to Fort Lewis, Washington, where the Americal Division was officially inactivated. The only unit that remained in South Vietnam was the 199th Infantry Brigade, which continued to conduct operations as a separate brigade.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson
Americal Division stands down and departs - Nov 29, 1971 - HISTORY.com
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Vietnam War
Warfare
Military History
American History
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski, the word Americal always takes me to Gary Sikes. I've posted this about Gary on different RP threads previously.
First Lieutenant Thomas Gary Sikes was a 1962 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, Jacksonville, FL and a 1967 graduate of Mercer University, Macon, GA.
Lieutenant Sikes was the 2nd Platoon Leader, of C Company, 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment (The Professionals), 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal (23rd) Division, United States Army Vietnam.
When Lieutenant Sikes gave his all on December 20, 1968, in the Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam he left a wife and a one month old son that he never even saw.
His name is located on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, DC at coordinates 36W 053.
Gary Sikes was my friend.
LTC Stephen F. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Lou Meza
First Lieutenant Thomas Gary Sikes was a 1962 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, Jacksonville, FL and a 1967 graduate of Mercer University, Macon, GA.
Lieutenant Sikes was the 2nd Platoon Leader, of C Company, 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment (The Professionals), 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal (23rd) Division, United States Army Vietnam.
When Lieutenant Sikes gave his all on December 20, 1968, in the Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam he left a wife and a one month old son that he never even saw.
His name is located on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, DC at coordinates 36W 053.
Gary Sikes was my friend.
LTC Stephen F. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Lou Meza
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
LTC Stephen C. - Thank you and bless your dear friend Thomas - may he rest in peace. I also have a few names that I know of very well that are on that wall also. Bless them all.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT Lou Meza - Lou, do,you remember Door Gunner Rick Gregoire, killed by the main rotor hitting him in the head, after their ship crashed?
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Thanks for reminding us that the division which became infamous because of the My Lai massacre stood down and departed the Republic of Vietnam on this day in 1971 SP5 Mark Kuzinski
The Americal Division was unique in many ways including more people remembered that named that the 23rd Infantry Division.
Here are some images: Repo Detachment; Bob Hope special 1969; board with Americal Division units patches displayed on; M.A.R.S. Chu Lai 1971
Hopefully history will be kind to the Americal Division so that the honors from WWII and Vietnam will be foremost in their minds.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/americal.html
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
The Americal Division was unique in many ways including more people remembered that named that the 23rd Infantry Division.
Here are some images: Repo Detachment; Bob Hope special 1969; board with Americal Division units patches displayed on; M.A.R.S. Chu Lai 1971
Hopefully history will be kind to the Americal Division so that the honors from WWII and Vietnam will be foremost in their minds.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/americal.html
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
World War II Divisional Combat Chronicles
Maj. Gen. Alexander M. Patch, Jr. (May-December 1942) Brig. Gen. Edmund B. Sebree (January-May 1943) Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge (May 1943-April 1944) Maj. Gen . Robert McClure (April-October 1944) Maj. Gen. William H. Arnold (November 1944 to inactivation).
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Thank-you for this divisional history, the story of the Americal Division from Guadalcanal to Vietnam!
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