1-9114 .?0t/IS'. All~{versary .Etlition .-1961 Kontum Honors Ivy For Dak To Fighting FAMOUS FOURTH With ·Words, Gifts Vol. 2, No. 5 CAMP ENARI, VIETNAM December 10, 1967 ~111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111~ DAK TO - The Kontum Pro U1e council, .i we are extremely § -'· . - . . :'_ ". ' DE.PARTMENT OF THE ' ARMY . ,. . .-,, ~ vincial Council paid tribute and_ grateful for this expression of presented gifts to U.S. soldiers appreciation for what the men =' '_ .HEA00UAR:rERS . 4TH INFANTRY (IVYI D IVISION' ··. = fighting in the Baltle Of Dak To. of the 4th Division and other "The U.S. soldiers came here brigad~s (fighting in the cam 6 to protect our land, and to light paign) have done." i=-= -'. AVDD~~~ ~rnc;p~f~~;~~~~~~ ,t~~IN~ ~!~ERAL . 6 November 1967. 1====_ for our democracy and territo The general said the showing rial integrity," said Hue Dinh · of appreciation "was especially This year·.marks the 50th Annivel'sary of the 4th Infantry Xuan, council chairman. important for the parents of Division. In celebrating its Golden rear, we reflect with pride He added that the people of those boys who have given § on the history o.f the. division. ·From its initial training § the Kontum Province admired their lives in the defense of free § grounds at Camp Green in 1917, ·to the World War I battleground § the American soldiers for tirnir doni" during the Battle Of. Dak valor and sacrifices in .the Dak =: of Meuse Argonne, to the ·D-day landings on Omaha Beai:h and on \ - ~ 'l'o area. · Dak To Wrnp-111>-Pagc 3 through the Siegfried Line in War II and now in Vietnam § ~lorld ~ "We came here first lo thank To. He commented that the men the U.S. Army which is here or the 4th Division have a spe fighting:. combat· division, ii: mark of high praise to .the men '1ho and to thank the people who i n 1967, ·the 4th has achieved a unexcelled. It is a cial · appreciation, themselves, =_ have served.in its ranks." ~pirit · -=====_~======have fou ght and died here," the for tl1e people of the Central council ·chairman added. Highland provinces. We stand in a moment of history, thousands of miles from .our Mr. Hu e also presented Major General Peers said the divi "homeland." fighting a war undreamed of by the forebearers oT the General William R. P eers, Ivy sion's soldiers "would like to do Division commander, with a everything . possible lo 'Insure division colors. The techniques and mode of warfare have changed model Montagnard house along these people their freedom." · since the di vision fought iri the "big" wars, l/ut the mission is with crates or' bananas and The units which were the still the same and its accomplishment just ~s vital:' the preservation papayas in appreciation of the object of the council's apprecia of individual freedom and the rebuilding of a nation. To date we U.S. inilitary effort. tion belong to the 4th Division, have accomplished this mission to a degree that has earned the Accepting the gifts on behalf the 173rd Airborne Brigade and praise and respect 9f our contemporaries. of. his men, General Peers told the 1st Cavalry Division.
As all of us look to the future, it is our duty to continue the traditions exemplified. by 'our cornrades-in-anns durin~ fifty Cacti's Kountry Kitchen years before us. _ ~ ~~(.'51~ Adds Tang To C-Rations W. R. PEEJ!S DUC PHO - Company A, Isl followed by breast of turkey un Battalion, 35th Infantry was sta der bullets with a pecan and J.la,jor General, USA tioned on bleak, muddy Hill 481 peach cobbler, coffee and cigars _ Commanding § northwest of Chu Lai ror over . for dessert. That's just one of ¥.i11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111.111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111i1111111111i11111111111111i11111111111E two weeks, subsisling on C-ra our meals, though. We've also tions and not liking it at ail. had ti1e foxhole dinner for two, . "We thought that there must Un can casserole, cease fire 41 Enemy Bodies found be a better way," said Second · casserple and, one morning, we Lieulenant Richard Duncan (Ox· had eggs benedict." nard, Calif.), Weapons Platoon Lieutenant · Duncan says that leader. So, acting_upon U1is re this luxurious cooking docs pre· Blackhawks Foil NV A Ambush solve, he gathered about him the sent a few prol;>lems though, es CAMP ENARI - "They sure force to assist convoy personnel, lain Clarence Be Hartman (Wil combined culinary talents of his pecially obtaining the necessary picked the worst place along said there were elements of at liamsport, Pa.) disi::ovcrcd the platoon to form Four-Zero's spices, onions and sauces. · th e highway to set up their am .least .five different enemy bat enemy located on the south side Kountry Kitchen. "And, every once in a while,., bush. That's one or the most talions. of the road in mostly open ter· Staff Sergeant J ohn A. Boy he added, "we have had meals traveled pieces of terrain in our The action took place along rain. The tanks moved quickly, lan (Riverside, Calif.) was ap burn up when we get called out area of responsibility," was the the highway just three to four firing canister rounds and .50- pointed chief chef, while Spe for fire missions. It's well worth way Major Robert A. Wolfe hundred meters from where the cal. machine guns as they thun cialist 4 Clifford Callaway (Co the trouble though." · · (Dallas, N.C.), · operations of Ivy cavalry men were guarding dered up lhe hill toward the ag vina, Calif.) served as chief KP. ficer, 2nd Squadron, Isl CavalrY,, a vital bridge along the heavily gressors. Private First Class Norman described the action in which a traveled route. They immediate Sawyer ls responsible for procur North Vietnamese Army element ly informed headquarters or the Convoy personnel crouched be ing the necessary spices and Regular l!ses attempted to ambush a U.S. con impending b a t tie and then hind trucks to lend a hand wilh ingredients. Since the res laurant voy on . llighway 19E. moved out to assist. Other cav small arms. is located in his bunker, 2LT Grenade For Ivy Divis Ion intelligence alry units in the vicinity were Minutes later Troop A, led by Duncan is the proprietor-major· sources reported that the enemy notified and ~onverged on the Captain Ronald P. West (Wau domo. · soldiers were part of the · 18th ambush site from both sides, watosa, Wis .) rumbled in from What type of meals docs the Catching Fish E.ngineer Company, 8th Engi trapping the enemy. the north. The enemy was rout Kountry Kitchen turn out? BAN BLECH (1/22) - PFC neer Sapper Battalion. Officials Troop C Flrs·t ed and with · no place to flee, "Well," said SSG Boylan; Bud Roach (Celest, Tex.), Com of the 2nd Squadron, !st Caval Troop C was first to arrive. few escaped. "the other evening we had soup pany C, lst Battalion, 22nd In· ry, which sent a reactionary The unit, commanded by Cap- Moving In de j(\ur which was a bean soup, fan try, has a strange way of ·Having blocked the enemy fishing. force, the Blackhawks waited as Having sever'll old grenades air strikes pounded the enemy Golden ~ Year that needed to be destroyed, his Division Artillery Fires positions, and then moved in to end Uie skirmish. See Photo-Page 3 The enemy body count was 41 ·index . · platoon leader pulled the pins Its One-Millionth Round killed and four detained. Six Generals congratulate Ivy· and tossed tiiem into a nearby CAMP ENARI (DlVARTY) trucks were destroyed by enemy men-Page 2 stream. ing one million rounds of am lire and four others damaged. After the explosion, there, One million rounds · of artillery munition to the various units. ammunition can do quite a 'bit Division's WWII corre· floating on top of the muddy "Commendation· s h o u Id be There were a total of 65 ve water, were five or six pan-size of damage: If you don't believe given to the truck d r i v e rs, hicles In the convoy cnroute · spondcnt-.l'age 4 . it, ask the enemy. fish: ammo handler~, and gun crews from Qui Nhon to Pleiku, but Without wasting a second, Artillery units organic and who each contributed vitally to they were so widely dispersed Story of two world wars In . pictures-Pages, .6-7 PFC Roach jumped into the attached to 4th Division Artil doing the job," he added. . that only a few actually fell river and using his steel pot as lery recently levied the one-mil Majqr George Cronin . (West within the killing zone of B-50 a net, waded around and col lionth damaging artillery round mont, N.J.), Division Artillery rockets and automatic weapons Ivy Division In Vietnam-' lire. Page 8. lected the stunned fish. on the enemy since the division assistant operations officer, also That day for lunch, he rolled has been Jn Vietnam. praised the different units and Besides the dead on the baltle .New memorial .for · 1vymen the cleaned fish In C-rallon Major Ralph C. Evans (Pitts sections for working together as lielil, the NV A left 23 weapons, burgh) , Division Artillery am -Page 9 ·· · crackers and over th e flame of a team. including several B-50 rocket a heating tablet, fried them. munition officer, said there is "One million? I think that's launchers, a light machine gun Early Ivy DMsion c~rp.: Uesults? a "lerrilic feeling of satisfac quite a few rounds," .he said and numerous automatic weap· tion" that comes from provid· ,. 1>aigns,-ragc 12 ;;. "Some of the best damn fish rather emphatically. ons. I've eaten," replied the Regular. Page 2 IVY LEAF December 10, 1967
UNITED STATES ARMY THE CHIEF OF STAFF HE UNITED STATES MILITA CE ·COMMAND VIETNAM 'TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF MANDER THE 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION It is a pleasure to extend the Army's heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the officers and men of the distinguished 4th Infantry Division on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary. TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE For half a century, the 4th Infantry Division has been "Stead 4TH INFAN'fRY DIVISION fast and Loyal" in its service to ou r country. The heroic participa December 10th marks the 50th Anniversary of the 4th In tion of the Ivy. Division on the battlefields of France during World fantry Division as a key member of the Army team. The proud War I set the pattern for its victorious exploits during World War h_erit~ge of the "S~eadf!lst and Loyal" Division includes ·participa II. . . .. - tion m the.great victories of World .Wars I and II: the cracking of Today, serving in Vietnam, the 4th Infantry once more up the Hindenburg Line; the stopping of the Kaiser's forces at the ga tes of Paris; the drive on Cherbourg after the landing at Utah holds its proud tradition. As its members help to defend a small, Beach; and the. repulsing of the determined German drive dn'ring the beleaguered nation, they can take pride in the contributions they Battle of the Bulge. are making to the security of that country and to the freti world. Today, you have once again. been called upon to fight an enemy Such courageous action as that displayed in Operations Paul Re bent on aggression and conquest. vere IV, Sam Houston, Francis Marion and MacArthur will long Since your·arrival in Vietnam over a year ago, you have taken part in some. of our greatest victories of this war. Again and again be remembered in our history. you have met the enemy on the battlefield and .defeated him. Be I join with all members of the United States Army in honoring tween battles you have devoted .your energies to, assisting the peo the 4th Infantry Division on its golden anniversary, and in voicing ple of the Republic of Vietnam in the rebuilding of their nation our confidence that it will fulfill future missions with tl!e same against a backdrop of-war and terrorism. Such steadfastness in bat tle and compassion for the victims of enemy terror in the country- professional competence that has characterized its past achieve side have materially altered the course of this war. . ments ... I ain certain that future chapters of your division histoiy will . . , speak ·Of the courage, skill· and .dedication that yon are ·displaying :, in this just war 'against aggress,ion, and subversion. . , .. ~/A · ~ ~--~: . Jl ... ~ ~ General, United States Army W. t. WES'IMlRELAND Chief of Staff General , United States Anny Corrmanding Eve1i l'n RVN DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEAOOUAitTERS UNITED STA.TES ARMY VIETNAM OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMANDING GENEl1/l.L APO SAN P"RAN°CISCO 98378 Ideas Reap Dividends Ideas are valuable and in Viet technological ideas which may be On behalf of the officers and men of the United States Army, nam there are times when they can · able to materially advance the re Vietnam, I extend best wishes on the occasion of the 4th Infantry be measured in terms of lives saved search and ·development accom Division's 50th Anniversary. as well. as dollars. . plishments of the Department of Orga~ized · in 1917 to help meet our country's. commitments · ' 'l'he branches of the U.S. Defense. abroad during.- World ·War I, the Ivy Division's half-cei:itury· of his-· -Armed''Forces look to all military · ·Depending upon the tangible tory ·is a record of proud and professional service. Soldiers of the grades and civilian employees ·in all benefits to the ·service, the sugges Famous Fourth cracked the Hi11denburg Line in World War I. In fields of endeavor for suggestions. tion may earn cash awar
(Circulation 20,000) . BRONZE STAR i. . · IVY LEAF, an authorized weekly publication, is published by the CPT Brion J . McCar thy-HQ, 3rd supt Bn (Prov) CPT Jerry s. Groul-Co o. 41h Med Rn lLT Dennis L. Dauphln-Blry A, 2nd Sn, 91h Arty ILT Malcome S. Lindsay Jr-HHC, h i Bn , 69th Armor Command Information Division, . Office of Information, Headquarters 4th lLT Gory L. Formct-Co 8, lsl Bn, 9th Arly SSG Shelton L. Smllh-Blry A; 4th Dn, "42nd Ari'/ Infantry Division, for 4th Divis ion forces ond Is printed in Tokyo by Pacific ILT ThOmas C. Hauc:k-t-IHC, 3rd Bde, 4th Inf Div CPT •Ahtln 0 , Treodo-HHC, ht Sn, Ith Inf ILT Fronk 0 . Herblck-Hq&Svc Btry, 2nd Bn, 9th Arty MAJ · JomJs M . Ltt-HHD, 4th AVn Bn Stars and Stripes. ILT Patrick J . Kosperbauer-Hq&Svc Blry, 2nd On, 91h Arly SP4 Dennis M, Wllt-t-IHC, hi Bn, 12th Inf The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those lSG Harry K. Bu.Iler Jr-HHC, ht 8n, lSlh Inf CPT Wllllam A. Bo ker~o B, \st, Bn, 351h Inf 1 8 91 of_ the . Pepartment_ of .Army. This _pf) per. uses fa ~ili t ies of _ Arm ~d F~rfe s •.. ~~g ~:~~ ~ : ~·~~ 1':;~1~!~~H~~~:. 3~:d 8~~· 1~ttl~ ~~!Y _ --.. ~~ · ~:,~;':.~: l~~~~;~~~~}~d ~j>l ~n.t;-;',r, 0 v) Press file and Armed forces News Bureau to augment local news. Mc::11l1n g SGT Roy s. Dlxlon-t-lllC, 2nd Ode, "41h lnl Div SSG Donald C. Banord-HHB, 4th lnl Div Arly o?~r~ss : IYY LEAF, Office of lrlformotion, Hoadquarter1 4th Infantry ~~I ~~~~~et~~ ~e~;~~~_:.1~~r ~'er~st ~n.1 n1r"'~i~"' ~~g ~m~!· i:ut~!~~~;~2, ~.'\~ta~'n.42ft,hAr1':, 01v1s1on, APO U.S. forces 96262. Telephone: Famous 151 or 159. lLT John s. Pulnom-HHC, 2nd on, 413Sth 1n1 SPS Patrick F. Brown-HHC, 4th Engr Bn Commanding General , • , ••••. Major General W illiam R. Peers tLT Anthony F. Coggiono--HHC, lsl Bn, 3Slh Inf lLT Arthur U. Trulfllo--Co B. 1st Bn. Ith Int 1 1 Information Officer . . . . . • • • ...... Major Donald M. Kington f(j ::::e 1i.M~!:~o Ci:. ~~~d ~~~ :,~ Inf ~~~ ~::~ ~.' ~~~v~~;· 8 ~: ~,':h 1~r Inf STAff 1LT Lorrv L. Potlerson-Hq&Svc Btry, 4th Bn, 42nd Arty SSG Jomes P. Carter-CO C, 1st Bn, 3Sth Inf Officer-in-Charge : •• • , . , . Firsl lieutenant Fred M. Dyrsen Jr. f:g - ~11!~°:1 ~!!;:.C: 1 'J. ~·, 1 51 ~n~"i 1 ~ 611~ 1 Arty :~g 5~~11: 1 E~· ~~~~~:_~,!:.c.15~n~:.dtt~'h 1 ~~f Div Editor . . • • • • • . • • • . . . . • . . . . Specialist A Richard M. Newman W01 Mlchoel Mork~m-4th Admln Co, 4th Inf Div MAJ Garold Tlppln-HHC. ht en. 3Sth Int IJ acember 10, 1967 IVY LEAF Page 3 Battle Of Dok To Stops Major NVA Effort By Sl'4 Richard Newman copiers and long range recon but a new enemy offensive land said the Batlle Of Dak To hastily dug graves beneath the CAMP ENARI-The. Baille or naissance patrols, NV A were could be launched there in a few was "the beginning of a great · jungle floor, "I would say that Dak To di ed 23 days after ii found In the hills surrounding weeks, according lo military defeat for tho enemy." we have killed a minimum· of began on Nov. 3, although Ivy Dak To. observers. Major Gen era I William R. 3,000 and possibly as many as Division elements, and those - Ivy Division Ready The Baille 0£ Dak To ended Peers, 4th Division commander, 4,000." under the division's operational Enemy pressure on the Mon as swiftly as it began. Enemy staled Utat no one would ever While total enemy damage is control, continued lo make spo tagnard villages around Dak To activity in the area died over know for sure how many NV A impossible to assess there seems radic contact with North Viet for support of various types night as Hill 875 was-J;!lplured. had been killed. He said Jl one little doubt in the minds of the namese elements . mounted. Vietnamese patrols in In Washington when Illli 875 counted those killed by air and men who fought that they did The battle which nelled lite Al the area reported seeing NVA was taken, General Westmore- artillery strikes and burled in indeed win the Bailie Of Dak To. lied forces 1,641 NVA by actual entering the Dak To hills. body count was referred to by The Ivy Division had its first major commanders in Vietnam signs that the NVA was ready to as the most significant action in fi ght. All these Indications were ,,l conlirmed and amplilied by a I the Central Highlands since the I 1965 la Drang campaign and one single North Vietnamese soldier , ,. who surrendered on Nov. 2. I ... the major battles of lite war. That Cbieu Hoi gave the Ivy \ 01 "' During the Batlle Dak To Division information on. weap ....., more than 1,869 air strike. sorties were flown over the Dak To area ons, positioning of the NV A .. ' tioops and makeup or troops. as 32 B-52 strikes were dropped The Bailie Of Dak To began to the. densely covered Jungle Nov. 3. · floor. Armed helicopters !iew The batlle was fought in two ~<'\~... , 1,101 sorties and over 137,991 parts. ' artillery rounds pounded enemy The· first part was between ,~r . ' positions from 64 artillery tubes. Nov_ 3 and 12 as the 3rd Bat l The significance of the batlle talion, 8th Infantry captured Hill I I is in what the enemy intended 724 and other Ivy units, includ #, ' lo do and. the NV A strength in ing the 3rd Battalion, 12th In the area committed lo that mis lantry had significant contacts. · sion. lllore Units -~AM~VIA ~ Baille Plan General Wiiliam C. Westmore lnitlaily it was thought that land, Military Assistance Com I the NV A planned to overrun two m and, Vietnam, commender, ' Vietnamese government" outposts visited the batUe area and based r 72.t and the 4th Division outpost in on intelligence and fighting com , the lowlands of Dak To which mitted lo the Ivy Division two ,, are surrounded by hills of some more brigades for the Bailie Of ~ magnitude. However, these tar Dak To. gets appear far too insignificant The second and bloodies t in light or the enemy capability stage of the battle was from < revealed as U1e days went by Nov. 13 to Nov. 26 as the 3rd -more than a NVA division was . Ballalion, 12th Infantry caplur, committed to the action." ed Hill 1338 and the 173rd Air \I The objective of taking Dak To borne Brigade took possession of seemed as U10ugh ii was the be Hill 875. . . BATTLE OF DAK TO-The areas of major contact and hllls captured by the Ivy Division, and those . ginning or an eflorl lo pour The NVA probably could have under ·its· 011crallonal control, during the lintue Of Dak To are shown above. . across South Vietnam's strate melted into the. dense impene · . (USA Sketch by SP4 Richard Garramone) gic waist. .The B~tlie Of Dak To trable jungle accol·ding to mili was won by the 4th Infantry tary men in U1e area, but In- · Division because every objective stead, they chose to fight. From Theory To Practice: -· was taken and the enemy loss in The conquering of the hills lives was greater than the al surrounding Dak To was more ' lies'. than a process of heavy fighting. The NVA must have been Possession of hills was made working over the Dak To hills with a metltodical destruction of Bullets Pull Off Squeeze Play for at least three months, and bunkered hilltops with endless possibly longer according to sen air strikes and artillery bar By CPT Paul Gross sleep face of the mountain that on the dense jungle floor of the formed the valley's northern valley. This was · followed up ior American officers. The bunk rages. BAN BLECII (l/8)-A squeeze er systems stretched across nu Swift End boundary and immediately pre with gunships and artillery from merous hills. The four NVA regiments-plus play. Ball , catcher and runner pared a landing zone. Choppers the Bullets' fire support base. Ivy intelligence was keeping a are now reported regrouping on collide in a cloud or dust at soon brought in the morlarmen The sun soon set and the val close watch on NV A troop activ the Vietnamese side of the Com home plate. An umpire's deci and equipment to support the ley became a smoky dark silent operation. Dusi from the chop jungle area once again. At first ity. Via Air For~e . planes using bodian border. No Immediate sion determines the success or special camera equipment, hell- threat of renewed battle ls seen, pers had barely settled when the light, Company C started to ap failure of the play. Someone lubes started pounding the val ply the pressure again, but wins and someone loses. It's ley and escape routes. somewhere, somehow, the ene· that simple. With the three sides of th e my seemed to virtually disap valley screened, Company C pear from the area. ·nut last week's "Operation slarte<;I to sweep toward Ute val Operation Squeeze Play ls Squeeze Play" carried out by ley down orr the· .high ground over. elements of the 1st Ballalion, from the south. Soon word was There are no umpires here. received from the CIDG unit No one can say who won or 8th Infantry wasn't so sim11le and blocking on the west that they the umpire's decision may nev who lost, but a lo t of men did were in contact with an NVA a lot of work in that 24-hour er be known. force. The contact only lasted period. These people can get Plans for Operation Squeeze for a minute as the enemy some satisfaction Crom their ef Play were made wh en intclJi broke and headed toward the fort since they deprived the ene gence information indicated that souUieast. my of his sale sanctuary. elements of the 33rd North Enemy DJsa1> 1> ctlrs One soldier was overheard to Vi etnamese Army Regiment An air strike was called and say, "Boy I'll bet Charlie sure were lo ca ted in an elongated the F -100s laid their destruction has a headache after all that." valley near here. The theory of the operation was to seal off the narrow 2nd Brigade Has Last passes on th e east and west ends of the valley wi th Civilian Irregular Defense Group uniL5. The northern side of the valley Francis ·Marion Fight led up a sleep mountain. On this bald-headed mountaintop, the CAMP ENARJ-The 2nd Bri commander, and. Lieutenant Reconnaissance Platoon of Com gade's 1st Battalion, 22nd Infan Colonel Harold B. Birch (Fl. pany E, 1st Bat\alion, 8th In try scored the las.t contact of Leavenworth, Kan.), battalion lanti·y was to block on the the Ivy Division's Operation commander, on the ground lend north ern side wiUt the mortar Francis Marion. ing their experience, the action platoon In a supporting role. was fast and furious. It was a relatively small con Air strikes and artillery were Paper To Action tact, but for most of the Regu called in to silence the enemy The squeeze of the operati on lars in Company B, it was their guns. The lvymen swept the· would come from Company C li rst contact. battlefield that day and the next by means of four platoons on Two platoons of Company B and found 56 enemy bodies. line sweeping into the valley landed on a preselected lamling The fleeing enemy left behind from the south. zone with orders lo sweep the 40 AK-47 rifles, two heavy ma surrounding area. A sweep turn chine guns and m any NVA On the morning of Nov. 1, the ed out to be unnecessary as Ute packs as well as an assortment typewrtllen pages of the opera platoons ocgan lo flush the of otlier equipment. NICE CATCH-PFC Bud Roa1h (Celcst, Tex.), 1st Battalion, 22nd tion were turned inlo blisters enemy from the heavy vogata- Ivy Division intelligence o/Ci Infantry, dls11lays his catch aftir a recent fish ing adventure. Instead and sweat. tjon almost immediately. · cers identified the NVA unit as of a worm, he lured the fish wilt an old grenade. The Reconnaissance Platoon With both Colonel Charles an elemeqt of the 95B NVA (USA Photo by SP4 James Doyle) of Company E labored up the Snilf!n (Arlington, Va.), brigade Regiment. Page 4 IVY LEAF December 10, 1967 Co B, 4th Medical Bn Keeps Hopping With· Dak To Casualties 11y Sl'4 Steve Frye DAK TO - During \he Batlle James A. Harper (Los Angeles), Ol Dak To the men of Company Company B's co mmanding o! B, 4lh Medical Battalion proved Iicl!r. themselves to ·be an efllcient and '!'he wo und ed were taken care skilled group ol men. of and then evacuated to the The first seven days of the 71st Evacuation Hospital at battle were really hectic for Pleiku. these men. They numbernd only Chinooks Used 25 including 0£1ice1·s, but they Not one of the men died at performed the remarkable Lask Company B's clearing station. of treating lhe casualties that One . man's heart had stopped were received during the strug· beating but the medics brought gle for Hill 724. him back lo life. The remainder of the medical "There were two things which company was operating a really contributed to our suc· similar installation at the Oasis, cess," said CPT Harper. "One just west of Camp Enari. There was the use ol Ch i n o o k hell· DRESS R!GllT- llclico 11t crs from the 119th Assault llelicoplcr Company wait for supplies a nd troops to were many nights that the men co1iters in evacuating the wound be loaded at the Ivy Division's Dak To headquarters during the Baille Of Dak To phase of 011eratlon only sle1it three or lour hours. ed to the hospital. With the use MacArthur. (USA Photo by Sl'4 Alex Strouser, 124th Sig 11n) Before th e 173rd Airborne of th ese 1ieli co1iters, the men Brigade moved in to the area, were a·ble to evacuate several Company B was the only clear wounded to the hospital in a Black Jack Falls Into Village ing station In the area. II nec single trial. Since the chopper cessary, th ey were responsible was able to land outside the for aiding the 1st Iltigade or th e hospital there was no need !or 4th Division, a battalion of the ambulances. Regulars Rush To Bird's Side 173rd, South Vietnamese Army "We really had some good BAN BI.F.Clf (1/22) - "Air where his buddies' craft was Tom. Martin (Patterson, N.J.) units, Civilian Irregular Defense support," added the doctor. "We Group forces, Special Forces craft down!" down. triggered a hidden booby trap. got the transporlation within "I was in this hooch and had units and approximately 1500 minutes after rec1 ucsting it." Chilling words that turn a pi The fallen helicoptc1· lay on lo t's stomach and send chills its side. The tail boom was just started \o lift the lid of a Engineers. The other contributor was the Swlrtly Setu1i down his s1ii ne. cocked at an angle, and pointed wooden box with the muzzle of X-ray machine. With this ma· skyward like a menacing linger. my rifle, when someU1ing went Within 36 hours after they chine they were able lo deter· It ·might be the guy he was whisUing past my ear," he re· · ai-rivcd at Dak To, some three mine whether or not ll was having coffee with that morning, Flying cover were gunships, or maybe just talking looking for revenge nnd provid call ed. . or ·1our days belo1·e the fighting imperative lo install a chest to minutes A Chinook a1Tivcd, and fo a began, Company B wus fully drainage tube to penons who before. ing protection while the crew or swirling blast of hitting dust operationnl. This Black Jack pilot knew the do w n e d ship scrambled had received chest wounds. The aboard the hovering craft. The gently lifted the crippled helicop "You never know wh en some ~ doctor said that many or Ute what must be done. ter to safely. men would have died if this Sweeping down out ol th e blue ctew's i n juries were minor, thing like this is going [o break mostly cuts and bruises. out, so you have lo be ready knowledge had not been avail· Vietnam sky, lhe Black .Tack at. all limes," remarked Captain able. craft dropped into the village M i 1> u t cs after th e craft crashed, a reaction force from Texas Senator the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry's flrcbase assaulted into the vii· Visits , Division Herningway Ivy's PIO ._During lage to search and secure the area. · CAMP ENARI - Senator Led 'by First Lieutenant ··Jim John G. Tower (R-Tex.), a Ilascal (gverett, Wash.), the member ol !he ~enate . Armed lleguhirs quickly fanned out and Services Committee, made a Division's WWII Campaigns covered all the trails leading two-day o£1icial ins1iection ol the into the village before beginning 4th Infantry Division and Its CAMP ENARI-When public soley as a correspondent for cause within his little band he support units. ii1lormation offices and public Collier's magazine. Yet, he put had a public relations officer, a !heir search. 11 The Senator not only visited information officers were just himself on full combat status lieutenant as an aide, a cook, a It was real quick· action," the base camp of the division at beginning to be concclyed •by the when he and his band o! French driver, and photographer and a remarked Specialist 4 James Camp Enari, but also the for U.S. Army in World War II, the and American irregulars were special liquor ration. The unit Doyle (Bethesda, Md .). "We hit ward bases of brigades, engi 4th Inla1itry Division already credited with bei ng the first was equipped with every imagi the . ground and set up a hasty neers, cavalry and . airborne had within its midst a renown Allied unit to enter Paris. nable American and German perimeter around the downed unit supporting the infantrymen. ed writer-coqespondent-histori· The force had already liberat weapon leaving most people craft. Things were. pretty tight Senator Tower was escorted an as its own public relations ed the Ritz Hotel and were cele wi th the impression that they when we received a few incom during his tour by Major Gen: man. brating lhe event wi th magnums were carrying more ammunition ing rounds as we began to ·ran era! William R. Peers, 4th Di Ernest Hemingway was not a or champagne nt the bar when and alcoho\ thau n division. out." . vision commander, and Major member of the Allied forces dur General Phillppe Leclerc came The band o! lneg uiars dressed The village wassecured by the James Trussell (Fort Worth, ing World · War II. Y e~. where marching into Paris with what in German sergeant's uniforms Regulars and the engineers Tex.), escort o£1i cer. the Ivy Division went so went he though t was the first expedi· which they decorated with U.S. were lilted in and began lo On his lour the senator visited Hemingway and his band ol tionary force. insignia. Hemingway wore the prepare the downed ship !or ex the 1st Brigade. Ile and his irregulars. Hemingway left the impres ·patch of the Ivy Division on his traction. party had Thanksgiving Day Hemingway was accredited sion that he was a general, be· left shoulder. As the search ol the village dinner wilh severn.l Ivymen Hemlngwai"s hi stm·y of the continued, Private First Class from 'fexas. 4th Division is written on the pages of his WW II books as the experience of any author influ Cover ences what he writes. The suc Overhead Tough cinct and lucid style ol Papa Hem ingway was the hard-boiled ' life he led with the division and As Bunker Fills Over the violence he founil. DAI(. TO-You've got problems when your bunker only has rOOJ)l In 1944, Hemingway was in· fo r three and yo u're the fourth. · jurcd in an automobile accident Originally, Captain Terence M. Bell (Plymouth, Mich.), Com· during a blackout in London. A pany D commander, 3rd Battalion, 8th In!dntl'y, and Private 1''1rst few clays later, with 52 stitches Class Michael A. Anderson (Dayton, Olrio), radio operator, dug in his head, above the protpsts out a foxhole on a knoll southwest of Dak To and covered it with of his doctors, Hemingway was sandbags. They tell just enough space fo r a third man. with the lvymell' at the start or The day after Company A and Company D had blunted n North the Allied Invasion of France at Vi etnamese attack on the knoll, Lieutenant Colonel Glen Dean Normandy. Belnap (Cal'lisle; Pa.), battalion commander, was among the Isl When Hemingway got up the Brigade's high ranking of!icers discussing war plans with CPT Bell energy or when he "necde
By Edward llymoff war with the Central Powers and Kaiser swept clear the Cotentln peninsula and ing division. In 1950 the Ivy Division !or Mllllory Editor, M. W. Lads Publlshlng Co. Wilhelm was the enemy of !hat era. They look part in the capture ol the· vital port the third time in its history prepared Vietnam Unit Histories Proltd went to war, these Doughboys or the Ivy of Cherbourg exactly 19 days after they to sail for Europe and the following year crashed ashore on the N o rm an - began a five year lour of duty as a part Fifty years ol glory! Division, to the beat of drums and to dy beaches. of the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza• the stirring lyrics of . songs like "Over The history of the Ivy Division spans Then, after taking part in the lighting lion (NATO) structure where it was sta- There," "It's a Long Long Road to Tip the three most recent generations of· near Periers, the division's Gis broke . tioned in . Germany. History had, indeed, through the left !lank of tlie German repealed itself. · Americans. In World War I the 4th Divi perary" and "Johnnie Get Your Gun ." Seventh Army, helped stem the enemy's Training, Combat-Ready sion soldier was called a Doughboy and The big guns along the Wes tern Front slopped !iring on the eleventh hour of driving allack toward Avranches and by After returning to the U.S. in 1956 the proved his mettle on the baltlefields ol the eleventh month, 1918. "The Great the end of August 1944 had moved on Famous Fourth Division was moved to ~·ranee . In World War II he was GI Joe . lo Paris, assisting the French 2nd · Ar War," as the · 4th Division's Doughboys mored Division in the liberation of their Ft. Lewis,· Wash., where it became both and in today's Vietnam conllict he's an called ii, was over. The division marched capital city. · a training division and a combat-ready Ivyman .. into Germany and remained as an oc "fire brigade" ready lo quell aggression cupation force until 1919. The division re History had repealed itself. An earlier wherever .and whenever required. · His military heritage was forged in turned to the tune ol "When Johnnie generalion of 4th Division Doughboys There was a requirement in early the muddy trenches of France in 1918, Comes Marching Home," and its colors had often visited Paris on leave from 1965, when the U.S. build-up began in the as he splashed ashore on Normandy's were retired until World War II. the trenches of the Western Front. Republic of Vietnam, to halt . communist Utah Beach in 1944 and beat the bushes History repeated itself 22 years arter Then to Germany, lo a mad dictator's inroads which threatened to engull this in the Republic or Vietnam highlands or the "the war lo end all wars." A new vaunted Siegfried Line was smashed· by small Southeast Asian nation. The dis generation of Americans was called to the division's Gis at Schnee Eifel. Hurl· ease· that began to spread like cancer along the coastal plain bordering the the colors in 1940 as the war drums beat gen Forest, Luxembourg, Dickweiler and alter World War II had reached into South China Sea in 1966-67. a terrible dirge in Europe. The enemy Osweiler, Sauer River, Foubren, · Wian· South Vietnam. The . Ivy Division's again was Germany allied to Japan and den, Prum River, OlzhCim, Rhin~ River, strength was bolstered with the infusion There are both simliarilies and dif sick from a. disease called fascism . Worms, Wurzburg, Bavaria and Meis of additional troops. Training for a com ferences between the military campaigns Once again there was a draft and bach marked the trail of the Famous bat role in Vietnam began in earnest in !ought by those past and present who with it the activation ol the 4th Infantry Fourth Division as it stormed through 1965. have served in the Famous Fourth Divi· Nazi Germany and helped topple the Division on June 3, 1940. The division's "Thousand Year Reich" proclaimed a The first elements ·· ol. the Famous sion. First the similarities whereby his· colors, from which hung the 1918 batlle decade -0arlier by Adolf Hiller. Fourth Division sailed for . Vietnam in t&ry ha~ ·repealed ilsell. streamers for the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel July 1966, just as Its predecessor units and Meuse-Argonne campaigns, were re A Short Occupation had preceded the, division in two .. earlier In late 1917 the division was formed moved from storage in the old War De They called it V-E Day on May 7, wars. These were the Ivymen of the 4th al Camp Green, N.C.• . a sprawling ram partment building and unfurled. 1945. The division's soldiers once again · Engineer Battalion· who arrived llrst at shackle military base lhal resembled GI Joe received these colors and had followed in the footsteps ol history._ " · the Dragon .Mountain base camp site to proudly carried them overseas in early For a very short time they were part of begi!J construction· and preparations !or the early months in Vietnam when Camp 1944 to England before the invasion of the Allied occupation army. But only for the arrival ol the °Ivy _Division. · · Enari was called Dragon Mountain base the continent. On June 6, 1944, heller a very short lime. . Once again history had repealed it- camp. In ."lhe winter ol 191Z-18 and early known as D-day, elements ol the 81b . ln On July 10, 1945 -lhe Ivy Division re- self. · · spring of 1918, llivver-type vehicles and lanlry Regiment splashed ashore on turned home and many ol its soldiers Today, the 4th Division is making his- . horsedrawn artillery bugged do,.;n in the Utah Beach; braved heavy fire from con 11repared to tackle the remaining enemy, crete emplacements manned by the lory as its troopers man-the largest divi slick and muddy dirt roads. Japan, wh en World War II came to an Wehrmacht and slugged through the ene end .. a little . more than ·a month later. sion area of operations· in ihe Republic First Division Members my's first line ol "Impregnable" de of Vietnam - 7200 square miles includ March 5, 1946. Once again inactivation ing 195 miles of border to patrol. Ivy Doughboys rolled out al dawn on the fenses . Smashed Through Sieel and the retirement of colors. But World troopers hold the distinction of having double and formed up for morning roll War II had not brought a peaceful world. fought simultaneously In the Central call, shrugging into their packs and The 82nd Airborne Division was iso· The "cold war" had begun to set in and Highlands, along the South China Sea fumbling wiih . iheir heavy· boltoaclion - lated and surrounded at Ste. Mere Eglise although many Americans were not · yet-· and as· far· ·south as III- Corps. :···- · - ·- aware ol it, an Iron Curtain had dropped Lee-Enfield riCles. These first members when the Ivy Division's Gis, now proudly In its present role in the Republic of referring lo themselves as the "Famous across Eastern Europe. A new disease of the 4th Infantry Division were drallees associated with totalitarianism had be Vietnam, history not only has been re Fourth Division, ... smashed through the gun lo menace the wartorn nations of .1ieated for the Famous Fourth Division from all parts of the U.S. and from enemy's ring ol steel to relieve the para the world - communism. but its troopers are also writing it by diverse backgrounds. America was at troopers. The division's fighting men then July 15, 1947. Reactivation as a train- their exploits In the cause of freedom. IVYMEN ·GO TO BATTLE TWICE AS WAR PLAGUES ACROSS EUROPE
~ , k: . '~".. f WORLD WAR I IVYMEN PASS THROUGH A BATTLE SCARRED TOWN IN FRANCl1 ON THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT-1?18.
IVYMEN DURING WORLD WAR II ADVANCE INTO A GERMAN-OCCUPIED .TOWN IN BeLGIUM-1944. MANY IVYMEN MAD A WORLD WAR I IVY BATTALION PITCHES CAMP ON A HILLSIDE IN FRANCE-1918.
FRIENDS IN FRANCE-1944. 4th DIVISION SOLDIERS ENTER THE WAR- TORN TOWN · Of PRUM, GERMANY-1945. IVYMEN GO TO WAR FOR THE THIRD TIME IN. THE DIVISION'S 50-YEAR HISTORY-1966. ur By 2LT Dennis Stellmacher VC captured and 33 returnees. ls Immeasurable. tlmated 40 rockets fired landed harmless CAMP ENARI - This year marks In the meantime, the division head- On April 6, the division began Opera ly outside the perimeter resulting in the 50th Anniversary of the Ivy Division. quarters became fully operational and tion Francis Marion as the brigades · re light casualties and damage. Since it was organized on Dec. 10, 1917, the division assumed control of opera- · deployed to provide surveillance of the the 4th Infantry Division has seen action · lions in the Central Highlands west of border area, to· protect the Edap Enang Francis Marlon Closes in both World - Wars I and II. It was Pleiku. The mission was to detect and resettlement area west of Pleiku and . to Operation Francis Marion terminated deactivated on March 5, 1946, after earn- destroy North Vietnamese Army units conduct search and destroy operations on Oct. 11 with the results or 1,203 enemy Ing three Distinguished Unit Citations infiltrating into the Republic of Vietnam. in areas where intelligence indicated in and the Belgium Fourrageres in World Tlie division force co.nslsted of two bri· creased enemy activity. killed· a nil 112 captured. War II. gades, the organic 2nd Brigade and 3rd Almost before the brigades could get Presently the division ls participating Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, under in Operation MacArthur. Launched on Reactivated on July 15, 1947 as a the Ivy ' Division's operational control, set in position, they were engaging NVA forces. The 2nd Brigade had light contact Oct. 12, tltis operation is covering a land training division, the Ivy Division went along with an armor battalion and an area greater than any other operation to Europe in 1951 under the North At- armored cava.try squadron. through all April, but the first few days !antic Treaty Organization Command and In May it ran into an NVA battaliori in in the past. Operation MacArthur's .com did not return to U.S. until September · Operation Paul Revere IV ended in bunkers south of the brigade's headquar bined operational areas encompass 7,200 1956. late .December and on Jan, 1, 1967, the ters at the .Oasis. Contact was then light square miles and 195 miles along the 2nd Brigade initiated Operation Sam until May 18 when a battalion from the Cambodian border. From 1956 until the fall of 1965, . the Houston to screen the Cambodian border 1st Brigade engaged another NVA bat On Nov. 3, one or the war's longest division participated in numerous train- between th.e Se San River and the Chµ talion. sustained battles began in an area south· ing and exercises an over the world.. Pong Mountains while the. 1st Brigade Nine Days In May west of the Dak To Special Forces In the fall of 1966 the division de- was participating in operations ·in the Camp in Konlum Province. Elements of ployed to the Republic of Vietnam, after Tuy Hoa area under IFFY control. For the following nine days, three the 4th Division's 1st Brigade made the intense training at Fl. Lewis, Wash. The In the nex't two months contacts with battalions of the 1st Brigade had almost initial contact with an estimated multi 2nd Brigade landed at Qui Nhon on Aug. the enemy increased so much that the continuous contact with multi-battalion regimcnt NY A force and In the ensuing 14 and moved on . to Pleiku to set up the 1st Brigade was moved to New Plei forces of the 32nd, 66th and 88th NV A days there was almost continuous con division base camp at Dragon Mountain . Djereng to assume responsibility for the Regiments in the mountainous region be tact between the well-equipped NVA and (now called Camp Enari). area east of the Se San River while the tween Due Co and New Piel Djereng, American units. Two additional U.S. The 1st Brigade followed on Oct. 5 at 2nd Brigade was to concentrate Its ef This offensive action by the 1st Brigade brigades were thrown Into the battle in Nha Trang and was airlifted to Tuy Hoa forts west of the river. apparently thwarted the major enemy an effo rt to seal off routes of escape on the RVN coast. The 3rd Brigade ar- offensive directed toward Due Co and for the enemy force. rived on Oct. 13 at Yung Tau and went Sam Houston Over Thanh An District Headquarters. Initially, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry IQ Bear Cat under the control of II Field During March, battalions from the On .Ju ly 12, a 2nd Brigade battalion and 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry took on ~·orce. Later in November the brigade 2nd Brigade were Involved In two heavy engaged at least one NVA battalion north the enemy units. Later, as the size or was attached to the 25th · Infantry Divi, enemy contacts. Al the beginning of o( the .Ia Drang River . near the Cam the enem)· force became clearer, the !st sion. . . April, the two brigades began to re- bodian border in a relatively short but Battalion, 8th Infantry was thrown into Operatfons Adams deploy and Operation Sam Houston end violent meeting engagement. The brigade the battle area - completini: the 1st ed on April 5, leaving 733 enemy dead boundaries were shifted towards the Brigade. Under the operational control of I during this 'operation. south lo "c.oncentrate division forces· in Field Force, the 1st Brigade launched the Due Co - la Drang area. Mortar attacks and human wave as Operation Adams in late October. The It was during this operaUon that divl saults by the North Vietnamese char baslc aim of Operation Adams was to 1ion's long range reconnaissance pa On July 23 another 1st Brigade bat acterized the Battle OC Dak- To. Over protect the South Vietnamese harvesting trols were consolidated Into platoons. one talion made contact with two NY.A bat 1,600 NVA were killed· by 4th Infantry the rice ·In the coastal Phu Yen Prov- · at each brigade and one division platoon talions o( the 32nd NV A Regiment just Division and other Allied units. lvymen ····:-ince. The operation lasted for nearly fi ve · with · the cavalry.squadron. These patrols south of Due Co and with treinendous scaled two important pieces of terrain months and was marked .by numerous were used extensively to screen the volumes of supporting fires destroyed around the Dak To headquarters - Hills small unit actions against elements of flanks of the maneuver elements and the enemy : units. 724 and 1338. The hills weren't taken the Viet Cong. During the operation High- also penetrated deeply into the jungle to On Au g. 23 the enemy launched a easily, and the heroic performances of way 1. was opened within the brigade determine the presence of enemy forces 122mm rocket attack on the 1st Brigade lvymen will Jong be remembered by area. The results of the operation were , and watch his movements. The value of command post and trains area at Jack everyone - including the defeated North 493 NVA/VC KIA, 25 NVA detained, ns the contribution of these small elements son Hole. All but five of six of the cs- Vietnamese forces. December 10, 1967 IVY LEAF Page 9 Once Caught Without Cover lvyman Learns To Take Cover lly Sl'4 Wayne Nicholas The digging bad gone slowly "This old NVA had spotted DAK TO - This time, when tree roots were frustrating his Paul behind a tree and was the two sniper rounds rang over effort-and when the North Viet· fixln' to get him," AK said. "He Specialist 4 Gene 'Mc Fall's head, namese Army haunched a major had a big smile on his face he headed for cov.l'r. attack on the hill, he had only when he saw Paul." SP4 Mcl'all was slanding just f i I l c d ·three sandbags. 'rhosc AK wiped that smile away 10 feet away from a well-dug three bags .turned out to be his quickly just as the enemy sol bunker at the :Jrd Battalion, 8th only protectiou from bursting dier had come within 20 feet of Infantry's new firebase between mortars, sniper fire and a hu PFC Solid and •wns· raising Jiis the hamlets of Kon Horing and man wave assault. rifle to fire. AK squeezed bis Dien Dinh, near Dak To. First Within Sight ·trigger first, felling his foe with A few days before, however, The first NVA within his rillc a single shot. It wns a different story fo1· the sights was coming towards one Company C Tvyman from New of AK's friends, Private First Two more North Vietnamese port, Ark., whom everyone calls Class Paul Solid (New Orleans), soldiers were headed toward "AK." Wh en the bullets started who had been acting as Com Company B positions when AK flying ovc1· his head that time pany C's "listening post" when fired again. AK had just started digging a the battle started and had gotten Then a sniper made the ·mis· foxhol e near a bomb crater on caught in front of the U.S. take ol shooting at AK from a nearby tree. l\IAN'S BEST FRIEND-Sharing your meal is all 1mrl o[ a friend Jiill 724. perimeter. ship that builds up between a tracker dog team leader and his dog. Another And Another SSG Wayne Reed (Akron, Ohio) treats his dog to a C-ratton bread. "llis bullets were hilting be (USA Photo by SP4 James Doyle) tween my legs. I looked around, Regulars Gobble Up spotted him ·and put six rounds into him," AK said. The sniper careen.ed from the Dog's ·Nose Leads Men Alter 'Turkey Bird' tree. Anotl1cr NVA, about 90 feet . BAN BLECJI (1/22)-The "Turkey Bird" came to Company C, away, started to throw a gre· To Ve Suspects. I Body 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry loaded with Thanksgiving goodies. nade. He never got the chance BAN BLECH (1/22) - During lowed his nose nnd Jed a team As the company camped in a bamboo thicket, a Huey helicopter as AK s q u e e z e d off another Operation MacArthur, a big from the 1st Battalion, 22nd carrying the traditional golden turkey and all the trimmings, settled burst of M-10 fire. black Labrador l!etriever·by the Infantry to the location of two nearby into a newly-cleared landing zone. Then another one, peering name of "Butch," literally fol- suspected Viet Cong guides and To the Regulars of Company C, after just having spent several from behind a tree, was faif · the body of one dead North days in heavy contact with an ·).IN A batt;ilion, this Thanksgiving game. Vietnamese soldier. dinner had a special meaning. Close friends had fallen in the re· "lie poked his head around tl1e Engineers The tracker dog team, under cent battle and bowed heads spoke prayers of t11anks, etched with lrec once too many." the direction of Staff Sergeant sorrow. About 25 soldiers from Com Wayne Heed (Akron, Ohio), was There was turkey aplenty and seconds for all a nd the many panies D and C had taken cover Inserted into a roughly carved dirty-faced smiles simlte of thanks again for tl1e jungle meal. In the bomb crater when the Help l(eep landing zone during the closing fighting started. AK didn't be hours of daylight in hopes . of · Ills plate ove1~ nowing with food and pockets bulging with fresh cause he didn't think he would pursuing a possible NVA trail. . fruit, Private First Class Bob Eskow (Columbia, S.C.) ate with be able lo see the charging Dust Down "If the trails are not .too old, ·· delight. . "I wouldn't have missed this meal for anything," he·said. enemy. 0 1 CAMP ENAIU - The daily 0 reminder of a stateside dust hide,"~~e ! ftt~i"exp~"lainedws~~~! the. ~~t sergeant. ~:~~rli~ · Pa··' nthers Get Sp. ·1r1·1 Early bowl here al lhe base camp o[ Spending the night in the jun- the 4th Jnfanlry Division is gle with Company A, the team, gradually losing the ballle lo a as the first golden streaks o[ YUNG DAT AM - '!'he Pan Plans call for two huge trees rooms. pener1t\me. p\nnt constructed and light broko through the jungle · thers of the 2nd D a t t n l i o n with decora tions to be installed "The supply rooms have never operated by an engineer bat· cunopy, took. ore In hot pursuit. (Mechanized), Slh Infantry have in the battalion mess hall, a looked better," said Captain talion o[ the division. ucquircd the Christmas spirit single tree in the day room and Eric Fernandez (]\.fiaml, Fla.), "It was just after lunch, when early this year and a walk Less than a month ago· the Buch began to sl.1ow signs of artilicial trees in the Individual Headquarters Company com plant .was bulll by Company E, through the battalion area would supply rooms. The supply rooms mander. getting a real fresh scent," certainly verify this statement. 4U1 Engineer Battalion· and now remarked SSG Reed. arc also being painted and runs 24-hours daily. - The spirited Panthers have drapes are being made for the C;E'T Femandez explained that With the R e g u I a r's now begun decorating the area with windows. tlie · competition b ct ween the 1.'he peneprim~ .is· bein g used manning the point they. quickly all sorts of arti!icial decorations companies is a great morale in s1>raying the chopper pads came upon a small group of . Jncluding Christmas trees. Most , Captured weapons are dis booster . ancl ·roads in lhe camp, and NVA and . their suspected VC or the decorations have been pl~yed · on the walls. A public "The men have a feeling of dust is· being reduced to a guides. purchased from the division address system ls being in accomplishment. when· they go minimum. The resulting light left one post exchange while others have stalled. which will semi music about the job of keeping up with In addition to the two trucks NVA killed and two captured been created by .the Panthers into the mess hall, headquarters the other companies," said CPT used by the company in its plus several weapons. them ~e lvc s. complex and into the supply Fernandez. daily spraying of their assigned artas, the various companies and onits of the division also use other distributors In their respective areas. More than 200 55-gallon bar· rels of the . liquid are · issued daily by the engineers lo com panies for their spraying, ac· cording to Captain James M. Ruth (Washington, D.C.), Com· pany E commanding officer. The day crew is supervised by Sergeant Edward· Brown (Mar shall, Va.) and Specialist 4 George Atkinson (Barberton, Ohio). The night crew works from six p.m . lo seven the next morning, u n d er Specialist 4 Ronald Howard (Renseller, Ind.), supervisor. The two distributors used by Com1mny E are named "Black· Beauty." driven by Speciolist 4 John Hopple (llarrlsburg, Pa.) and his assistant, Private First Class Rol;ert White (J'eorla, Ill.) and "Mellow Yellow," driven by Private First Class Leo G. Porter (Midland, Tex.) and his assistant .. Private First Class Glen Hose, Jr. (Spring· fiold, Mo.) The night crew and drivers include Specialists 4 Daniel R . Bowstr (Waterloo, Iowa), llfor· ris \I/right (Richmond, Calif.) am! Uthan Coles (Mcllenry, Miss.) ·also Private Love Mas lllOMEN'fOUS 111EMOIUAL-Thls memorial h'1S been construclcd in memory of the lvymcu wlto have made the su11rcmc sacrifice sey (?ulton, Ga.) , driver, and over the LJast 50 ycnrs while serving with the 4th Jnlanlry 1Jivls io11 . Financed by the Division Claa1>ter of the 4th ))ivislon Assoclatlon the Pr i va t e First 'Class Jimmy memoriul was built by Company D, 4th Engineer llattalion. On the four concrete tablets arc mou11tc1l brass 11laqucs cominemoratlni; Smith (.fack'1Jnville, l'la.) Wnrld War I, World Wor II, \'let'?llm and Oll the fourth a memorial stutcmcnt. (USA Skei;cb by SP4 Jtlclmrd Garramone) Page 10 IVY LEAF Decembe;• 10, 1967 Bomb Crater Affords Drago~ns Protection During Heavy Battle DAK TO - A bomb crater is mortar in the crater and a ma spewing hot lead at Company an awful place lo be 'vhen the chine gun nearby by crawling B. enemy is shooting mortars at between the two points. Then the enemy lobbed back you. Dul that's where several And PFC Hosack helped bring two deadly shots or its own. The men from Company B, 3rd Bat the mortar up the crat~r by lirst round landed in the upper talion, 8th Infantry wcro the crawling down 11111 724, dlsas corner of the crater. The sec day the North Vietnamese at sembl\ng it and carrying its ond round landed moments lat tacked Hill 724 in Operation parts back. er in the wake of the lirst. MacArti1ur. One mortar had only lime Crater lilt Again It provides no overh ead cover enough to fire six or seven or PFC Walkowiak was over at wh atsoever and its immensity eight accurate rounds at · the the machine gun position wh en makes it a prime target. two machine guns that were the rriortar rounds landed. Private 1''irst Class Richard But PFC Peters was there. He Peters (Yreka, Cali!.) was heard the mortar rounds as they there. So was Private First were fired and sensed they were Class Bob Walkowiak (Detroit), Regulars' coming directly toward the crat and Private First Class Hugh er. Lying !lat against the crater Hosack (Alexandria, Neb.), plus wall, he somehow escaped be a lot of other brave men. ing maimed or killed. Mistake When the smoke cleared, PFC Just 30 or 40 meters away a Pete rs got up and looked machine gun kept the men o/ around .. the crater pinned there for But PFC Peters was still more than ll->-hours. Another Profitable alive. Sure, hell yes, and he North Vi etnamese was firing B- BAN BLECII (l/22) - The was still in the crater. 40 rockets at the crater. Regulars made a new friend as Grenades, l\1ortars the result of a mistake. SEARClllNG-Jvymen of the 2nd Battalion, 35th Iiilantry search a PFC Peters helped lob about Company C, 1st Batlsllon, hasllly abandoned enemy hut following a combat assault into the 30 grenades al the man with the 22nd Infantry had been conduct Redleg SGM Song Ve Valley west of Due Pho. rocket launcher. PFC Walkow ting cordon and. search opera · (USA Photo by ILT James 111. Cooke) iak coordinated the !iring of a tions in the village of Ban Rang, when a OH-23 helicopter landed Reenlists on the edge ol the village square. In addition to the pilot,. Brav.es Meet Well Equipped NV A. the chopper had another pas During ·Fight DAK TO (3/12)-Second Lieu 22 m·en and everything went line nel from enemy grenades and senger - a bewildered Montag CAMP ENARI - Nothing tenant William A. Ramirez, until we were about 30 yards mortars. nard. could change the mind o/ Ser (Johnstown, Pa.) 1st· Platoon from the top ol the hill," ex " We were almost Inside the The pilot escorted the con geant Major Kennetli R. Emer leader, Company C, 3rd Battal plained the lieutenant. "Then ail enemy. per.imeter wh en I. had to /used Mo11tagnard to .. the mill son (Columbus, Ga.) When h.e ion, 12th · Infantry, led his pla hell broke foose." tell the men to withdraw," re· tary information team which decided to reenlist. Not even a toon up Hill 1084 on a combat The NVA opened .up with au called the li euienanl. " Our fire was working In coordination mortar attack. . assault to try and knock out a tomatic we a po n s, grenades, power diminished when the ma with Company C on the mission, When the time came, the ser North Vfo triaitiese Army strong mortars, ·a·rid sniper /Ire started chine guns were knocked out and spoke to him through the geant major and Major Philip hold. The assault lasted . about coming from both sides of their and the enemy started to gel team's interpreter. D. Brumit (Fresno, Calif.), ·5th 45 mlnu~es , but as 2LT Ramirez formation. The men kept ad the best of us because they were . '!' h e Montagnard had ap Battalion, 16th Artillery execu- . -- .. stated, " Those .. minutes seemed vancing. up . the ·. hill -until . their In bunkers th at were heavily· proached the Military Police at live ollicer, /lew to the Dak To like an eternity." two machine gun teams were fortified." the gale al Ban Blech, and had firebase where Li e u t e n a n t " We lelt ,our perimeter with knocked out ol action by shrap- The platoon started back tlown tried to speak with them. The Colonel Henry Evans, Jr. . (Alex the hill, carrying their wounded MPs thought that he was trying andria, Va.), battalion com with them all(\ ducking incoming to tell them about Viel Cong mander, had his forward com Bullets Hit The Dirt As s h r a p n e 1 and sounds from activity in the area, so they mand post. enemy snipers, who tried to get whisked him into a chopper to Almost as soon as the heli behind the withdrawing platoon. be questioned by the military copter landed, mortar rounds information team. began falling. Friendly Pack Attacks ·.. we had a dillicull time get . As it turned out, the Mon Just 20 minutes alter the ting back to our position because tagna rd had received some help lirsl rounds fell, SGM Emerson DAK TO - The men ol Com· pletcly demolished the light the t .e r rain was steep and from members of an engineer was reenlisted by LTC Evans as pany c, isl Battalion, 8lh In- weight rucksack, set off all the rocky," explained 2LT Ramirez. team in building a fence, and F-105 bombers were dumping lantry laugh about ll now but man's extra machine gun and Two companies ass aulted the wanted to !ind them and offer bombs on a nearby ridge, and w"hen the rounds began explod- M-16 ammunition. hill the next morning with no· his thanks. Dusters, 105mm howitzers, and ing and zinging over their " I guess It's kind ol runny opposition offered by the enemy. The Interpreter translated for tanks poured fire into the same heads it wasn't lunny at ail. now," said SP4 Daniels, "but we " The hill was taken the night the . Montagnard, who said, "I area. "W~ were moving up a slope," w~re actually pinn.~ d down by a before and the ones who were wish to thank the Americans A mortar attack might have Specialist 4. Ronald Danie 1 s fri endly rucksack. alive alter the lire fight got out for their help with my fence, made anoth ~ r man decide that (Springlield, Ohio) said, "when o/ th e area, " slated Captain but most ol all, I wi sh to thank 23 years were enough to serve the co mpany com m a n de r Donald M. Scher (Huntington you for the helicopter ride. It his country, but SGM Emerson t>assed the word back to take Cacti Escapes Station, L.I.) Company C com was the most wonderful thing !eels there is still more to do, a break. Everything was normal mander. that has ever happened to me." and he's going to help do it. until then." The weary company stopped Enemy Trap on the hillside and the tired Ivy TAM KEY - Specialist men plopped to the ground, Ronald Quinn, machine gunner, shedding their heavy rucksacks Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th loaded with lood, ammunition Inlantry, lully undc ~s tood the and other combat necessities. meaning of preventive mainte "We were on guard but rest nance the other day, when an ing," SP4 Daniels explained example of Charlie's lack of PM "Everyone was stretched out, possibly saved his foot. taking advantage or the break As SP4 Quinn walked through when we heard a sha rp pop and a peanut patch, he was suddenly all hell broke loose." snatched by what men ol the The men scattered for cover Cacti Green call a G.I. trap. as rounds began screaming The traps are known stateside through the area. It sounded like as bea'rtraps and are being uti a lull scale North Vietnamese lized ·by the North · Vietnamese attack with the sounds of ma Army north of Chu Lai to sup chine gun and automatic weap plement their other booby traps. , ons fire filling the air. SP4 Quinn hadn't seen the "We were watching for move trap which was lying In the ment, trying to ligure out where field and overgrown with plants. it all was coming from ," SP4 lie said he realized at the last Daniels said . ."The !Iring lasted moment before il sprang shut !or about ·30 minutes and then that he had stepped on someth stopped suddenly." ing unnatural but was still There was no ground attack or caught as he tried to pull his mortar barrage. The men ex foot back. changed glances as they moved The trap, luckily, was kept cautiously from their cover. from closing completely by the A .short· search ol the imme sole of his boot a·nd he was not di ate area uncovered the cause seriously hurt. The very thing ol .the mysterious attack. One ol which had made the tra1is so the men while setting down his ·eff ectively camoullaged, accord rucksack for the break, inad ing to SP4 Quinn, also had lei! vertently set oil a trip llare in the trap in poo r working con TRAIL BOSSES-A patrol from Com1>any A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry moves nlong a Jung!: trail his pack. The lirn, which com- dition. during recent action in Operation l\lacArthur near Dan llleeh. (USA Photo by SP4 James Doy le) HANDS FULL-This Regular's hands won'I be iull for long as he fills bis plate with Thanksgiving lliASH•'OR THANKS-Chaplain (CPT) Joseph Waldron (New York; dinner out fn the boondocks during Operation MacArthur. (USA .Photo by SP4 James Doyle) N.Y.) gives Holy Communion to a soldier from Company .A, Isl Ilallallon, 8th Infantry during a Thanksgiving Mass.-, ,. ·' ' · IVfmeil Take Time f)ut For .Tba~kjfJ;iilU'' By PFC Ralph Springer ' lain Waldron said. "This is the lraditioq.al 'golden turkey,; in- ' • ' · ' where I wanted· to spend my eluded mashed potatoes, sweet DAK TO - Three weeks 01 Thanksgiving; in the field, with potatoes, gravy, hot roils, veget bitler fighting . couldn't keep the men who have done so ables, pumpkin and raisin pie, Thanksgiving Day and most of much." fresh oranges, salad, and candy Its trimmings from an obscure, Alter the Mass, as' the chap- and nuts. jungled hill southwest or Dak To. lain spoke wllh · several ·of !lie SSG Newman, who fed all . men, a chopper whirled down four companies of the battalion Companies A and D, 1st Bat- into the tight landing zone. In ·· the field, was justifiably talion, 8th Infantry, since ar- There had been rumors all day, proud of his efforts. The mess riving In the 1st Brigade's area as the lvymen st rug g I e d used 40 turkeys, three cases of of operations around Dak To, through, that the only turkey dehydrated mashed . potatoes, have been in the field , moving they'd see would be the C-ralion seven cases of sweet potatoes, variety. 25 gallons of gravy, 1,600 hot and searching, catching fleeting · Aller the helicopter touched rolls, 800 pie~es of pie, eight glances of an elusive and deadly down, Star! Sergeant. Albert R. cases or oranges and three cases enemy. Newman (Columbin, S.C.) hop- cnch .. or ·candy · ond nu ls in It all ended for a few, .. brief ped out and began unloading bringing a Thanksgiving dinner hours Thanksgiving Day when hot mermite cans and crates, to the men of the battalion. Ch a p I a In (Ca11tain) Joseph boxes, pois and pans. Thanksglv- "It was a lot of work anil Waldron (New York, N.Y.) flew ing had truly arrived. we're going lo have to do il into the crude, bamboo-strewn Traditional Food again when Christmas lime rolls landing zone the two companies "Stall s c r g e 3 n t Robert around," said SSG Newman, had hacked out of the hillside. Stein (Columbia, S.C.) and I, "but It's really great lo sec Perched on the lip of a yawn- along with the mess personnel these men enjoying a hot meal." Ing bomb crater, Chaplain of Headquarters Company, As a I.as! turkey bone was Waldron held a Roman Catholic V(Orked for . two days .• on . all stripped .. and .a . last speck . of Thanksgiving Mass tor a group this," said SSG Newman, beam- potatoes wus scraped from a or men, tired and dirty alter ing at the · Thanksgiving least paper plate, · U1e men of Com weeks without clean· clothes or that was laid out on the ground. panics A and C turned once a hot meal. "Watching these guys' digging in p.gain to .digging in for the night. TRADITIONAL FOODS-The tra111lional 1"hanks11ivlng Day feast Turkey Comes is about the greatest satislac- They had a Jot to be thankful awaits hungry lvymen who later demolished Ilic meai'11s Ibey gave "I've been with all the men lion l could have." for. SSG Newman and Chaplain !banks for their wordly blessings. of this battalion today," Chap- The menu, centered around Waldron had seen to that. (USA Photo l>y SP4 James Doyle)
JUST LIKE MOM'S-A bl Battalion, 22nd Inlnnlry cook unco\'Crs REGULAR llELIGllT-These lsl Battalion, ~2nd lnranlry Ivymen waste no time as they dig into their his . w