May-June 2018, Issue 80 See all issues to date at 503rd Heritage Battalion website: Contact: [email protected] http://corregidor.org/VN2-503/newsletter/issue_index.htm ~ 173d Photo of the Month ~ “Brigadier General Richard J. Allen (left) Commanding General of the 173d Airborne visits the 1/50th headquarters at Camp Radcliff (An Khe). 1/50th Battalion Commander Jim Woodall on the right. Late 1968.” See tributes, to General Allen on Page 33, and Colonel Woodall on Page 75. (web photo & caption) 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / May-June 2018 – Issue 80 Page 1 of 90 We Dedicate this Issue of Our Newsletter in Memory and Honor of the Young Men of the 173d Airborne Brigade & Attached Units We Lost 50 Years Ago in the Months of May & June 1968 “As in every war, the best never come home. They never get the chance to grow old. Some may forget them -- we won't.” Irv (Bugs) Moran, 173d LRRP Wayne Lynn Harland, 20 John Melvin Durham, 20 SGT, 173d LRRP, 5/1/68 SSG, B/1/503, 5/4/68 “A true American Hero. Wayne and I “John is my friend. John and I both served together in the 82nd Airborne arrived in Bein Hoa at the same time and Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. and in the were assigned to the same company. We 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam in 1966, were together from around June 2,1967 1967 and 1968. Wayne and I, along with three others, to his last day in May 68. We had great plans for each volunteered for the Brigade's Long Range Recon- other once we were done. I received orders to come naissance Patrol Platoon and served together in that home two weeks later. His loss was one of my biggest unit until my return to the States in April of 1968. of the year. I still think of him and smile.” Larry Egan Wayne was subsequently K.I.A. on May 1, 1968. He was an outstanding paratrooper who was extremely calm John William Moran, 20 during the most extreme conditions. We served CPL, B/1/503, 5/4/68 together on many LRRP missions. The photo of Wayne (Virtual Wall states A/2/503) on this site (Wall of Faces) was taken at the conclusion “I first off would like to say thank you. of one of those missions. I think of Wayne often.” Thank you for everything you have done Irvin Moran, 173rd LRRP 1967-68 serving our country. I did not know John personally but my grandparents did. Both my grandma Holland Irwin Langham, 18 and my grandpa were friends of John's father. My CPL, B/2/503, 5/3/68 grandparents were members of the Sheraden Legion “Holly and I were high school class- where John's father Norman attended. They did not mates. His mom was one of my English only know John because of his father but John had Teachers. Holly was one year younger than attended the dances held at the Legion. My pap told me me and we were only acquaintances not John was a great kid and would always ask my gram close friends. I remember Holly as bright and clever, and ‘what do you put on a sandwich first?’ When they found cheerful. He was a good person with a great sense of out about John's death, my gram was heart- broken; she humor. He was talented and full of hope and promise loved that kid. I wanted to post this remembrance to for the future. He had friends and a family who loved say that John is never forgotten and his stories are still him. Holly was killed in Viet Nam nearly a year before I being told today. I wanted to thank him for what he did went over. I do not know the details of his death, but I for his country. He risked his life for the safety of others. think of him often. Thank you Holly, you won't be I appreciate everything you have done and you will forgotten.” Unsigned always be remembered.” Brittany Kent Sutton Mobley, Jr., 19 SP4, B/1/503, 5/4/68 (Virtual Wall states A/2/503) “We knew each other in the 173rd Abn. I was there when he died. I am from the Tarboro, NC area so we had something in common. Sutton, we all called each other by last names, was a very good guy. I remember him as a quiet and easy going fellow who always did his best and never (Tributes continued….) complained. I thought a lot of him and was very upset when he was hit. So many of our guys died. Bless him and his family can be proud of him because he was a 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / May-June 2018 – Issue 80 Page 2 of 90 HERO!!” Steve Harper Robert Samuel Allen, 20 Cortland Ellis Dennison, 20 CPL, B/2/503, 5/5/68 CPL, C/1/50th, 5/5/68 (Virtual Wall states A/1/50th) “Ellis and I served together in C “PFC Robert S. Allen was killed during Company, mortar platoon. On that day the Battle of An Bao on May 5th, 1968. of May 5, 1968, we entered the battle This action was one of the most significant dropping mortar rounds close-in on battles experienced by the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry enemy positions surrounding us. I did not learn of Ellis' during its tour in Vietnam. PFC Allen was seen bravely injury until I returned to the unit a couple weeks later. directing fire from his armored personnel carrier (APC) Everyone liked Ellis. Congratulations to his parents for in an attempted counter attack as his A Company was instilling good values in this man.” Bill Bontemps surrounded by a vastly superior force. His heroic efforts ended when his APC was hit by enemy RPG fire.” [Taken from ichiban1.org] Bruce Richard Backes, 21 SP4, B/2/503, 5/5/68 (Virtual Wall states C/1/50th) “SP4 Bruce R. Backes was the radio telephone operator (RTO) for the Platoon Leader, Lt. Harry Wilson, during the Battle of An Boa in Binh Dinh Province (May 5-7 1968). At Cortland 'Ellis' Dennison, 55E-009 (top, right). noon, on May 5, 1/50th ‘A’ Company forces were (Photo Credit: Ed Alvey) attacked and outnumbered 10 to 1 by a regiment of the Malcolm Cyril Dulac, 36 North Vietnamese Army. ‘A’ Company forces were 1SG, A/1/50th, 5/5/68 overrun and took heavy casualties when Charlie “Dear Dad, I remember your love. Company was called in to reinforce the besieged Alpha I missed you all my life. There are Company. Upon arrival, the enemy, who had fallen scars where love should be. I never under- silent to allow the ‘C’ Company troops to enter the stood war or why you had to go there. ambush zone, opened fire with an intense and sustained But as I grow older I am very proud of your commitment barrage of small arms, automatic weapons and B-40 to your country. I just find it sad that the world today rocket fire from three sides. Bruce was mortally does not honor what a service our soldiers provide to wounded in the neck while keeping pace with the the country. I did have a good step-father who served in platoon leader as he positioned the third platoon troops the Army in Vietnam too. He just died on October 2, for battle. Fierce fighting ensued on both 1/50th 2006. He was a good man, so dad if you meet him up Companies and additional reinforcements from ‘B’ there shake his hand. He did right by your little girl. Company, 1/50th Infantry and ‘B’ Company, 1/69th And tell my brother and my children I love them. I love Armor were called in to battle the huge enemy force.” you always. Denise. From his daughter,” [Taken from ichiban1.org] Denise Dulac-Stark (Tributes continued….) Left to Right (Standing): Ron Heinecke, Norm Poage and 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / May-June 2018 – Issue 80 Matt Morrison...in front: Bruce Backes and Tim Voncina. Page 3 of 90 Rest in peace with the warriors. (Photo Credit: Norman Poage) ~ A Note from The Virtual Wall ~ resupply, medevac, and reorganization for a counter- “The After Action Report for the fight at An Bao gives attack could be completed. At the same time, Bravo this sequence of events: 1/50, reinforced with a tank platoon from Bravo In early May 1968 intelligence reports indicated that 1/69, moved from LZ UPLIFT to LZ ICHIBAN and an enemy Regimental headquarters and an artillery turned toward the contact area, approaching from unit had taken up residence in the Southwestern the east. At 1700 Charlie 1/50 and the supporting Crescent foothills in Binh Dinh Province. Continuing Bravo 1/69 tanks began a counter-attack from their US search efforts had failed to locate enemy units, position to the west. As nightfall approached, the and the only significant contact was an unsuccessful Charlie 1/50 force was directed to halt more or less night probe against LZ OLLIE on the night of 04 May. in place and to establish a night defensive position, On 05 May the bulk of 1LT Dennis Hinton's ‘A’ which they did. At midnight, or shortly thereafter, Company 1/50 Infantry was directed to conduct a Charlie 1/50 and the tankers received a badly needed reconnaissance-in-force toward BR895783, north- munitions resupply - just in time, as it turned out, west of LZ UPLIFT.