1st  AA Platoon

attached to the

1st Infantry Division's  Second Brigade  at  Phu Loi  and later at  Di An  (Zee On)

CPT  Melvin P. Vios,

1-LT Harry V. Ryerson,

  SP5 Nolan Wells,  SP5 Mark Gdowwsk,

SP4 Robert Joralemon,  SP4 Ballard,  SP4 Richard Routh,

SP4 Albert Ellis,   PFC Marvin Leacroy,  PFC Hollace 'Chris' Richardson

CPT  Mel  Vios

He flew HOME for his  R&R

back to HAWAII.

1st  AA Platoon

attached to

MACV Team  100 and later to MACV Team 44

Gia Dinh

SFC Robert G. Gulley

1969-1970

The 1st Platoon Office at the

Gia Dinh CORDS Building

included a Roof Top Helipad

for  'AIR AMERICA'  Birds.

SGT Arthur R. Tiber (C)

Operation Cedar Falls

1967

SP4  Ray Vega

working on a project  at

Bu Nard III

  Special Forces Camp

US-AID  Pig Farm Project

Yes Ma'am,   hold your nose !

It is not a Perfume Factory

 

Not exactly

the

Continental Hotel

in

Saigon

or

Company HQ

in

Long Binh

The 2nd AA Platoon's

New Home

in Cambodia

And

there is no place like home

after a spring shower.

Orphaned Cambodian Girl

Alone and Afraid

Working with

Cambodian Boy Scouts

3rd  AA Platoon

attached to the

1st Infantry Division's  3rd Brigade   at  Lai Khe

1-LT Robert Allan "AL" Kozu

SSG Ronald Gorman,  SP4 East.  SP4 Benzel W. Brown.  PFC Charles Transue,

SSG Ronald Gorman

Phu Loi

1966

3rd  AA Platoon

attached to the

MACV Team 43   at  Cu Chi

CPT Richard F. Schulze,  1-LT Robert W. Petzold,  1-LT Jerry C. Cooper,

  SSG  Frank H. Turnbull, 

SP4 James Burford,   SP4 Ronald G. Thomas,   SP4  J. Stanley Phillips

xx

1-LT Robert Petzold,  1-LT Jerry Cooper,  SSG Frank Turnbull,  CPT Richard Schulze

SP4 James Burford,  SP4 Ronald Thomas,  SP4  Stan Phillips

xx

4th  AA Platoon

attached to the

9th Infantry Division's  1st Brigade  at  Bear Cat  near  Long Thanh

CPT Joseph Frankoski  (CO-66)

1-LT Harold C. Lynch  (CO-67)

SSG Levin U. Ashby,  SP4 Robert Tompkins, PFC Alex P. Rohr,  PFC James Barron

PFC Borrego,   PFC Buck,  PFC Hughes

2-LT Richard Sanders  (CO-67)

9th Inf - Mine Clearing

the road to Lo Tra

to conduct a MedCAP

near Bear Cat

4th  AA Platoon

attached to

MACV Team 86 at Tan An

 

4th Platoon Vehicles

SNAP   and   CRACKLE   and   POP

not shown is the Platoon's  3/4 Ton Truck named   KELLOGS

4th Platoon Picture  -  circa 1970

1-LT Dave Arkovich (C)  escorting

MG Jack Wagstaff  (II-FFV Deputy CG)   and   COL Beckner  (II-FFV G-5)

through a  4th AA Platoon Project  at

Luong Hoa # 7, Ben Luc  District, Long An Province on 2 Nov 1970

1-LT Dave Arkovich (CO, 4th AA Platoon)  and  LTC Curtis Brewer  (CO, 2nd CA)

and other MACV Team 86 Members (at right)

CPT  Ralph W. Polce

1966-67

In 1971

the U.S. Army had

a new uniform of the day

Bermuda Shorts

2-LT Steve A. Dennis

Do you remember "the HI " ?

And, Left Thumb, Left

PFC Pierce  and  PFC Cull

Building  Bridges

Builds  Relationships

Certainly not the Golden Gate

but important to the people.

Important that  THEY BUILT IT.

Living at the  MACV District Advisory Compound

Utilities and the Infrastructure  need a bit  of improvement  !

 

 

 

Water Well Project

Tay Ninh, 1969

Final Inspection

by the residents

No Machine,  Hand Excavate

the Hospital Foundations

SP5 Dave Walker,  SP4 Schnell,

SSG  Jimmie Sanchez

Hospital Building - Going Up

next to the Building Columns

SSG Sanchez  and   SP5 Walker

7th  AA Platoon

attached to the

25th Infantry Divisions's  1st Brigade  at  Cu Chi

CPT Thomas 'Del' Watkins,  1-LT James D. Weiskopf

SSG Simeon Corpuz,  SP5 Mowery,  PFC Jerome Buckman,  PFC James Tillotson

PFC Irwin Burakoff,   PFC Jack D. Gardner

CPT Thomas "Del" Watkins

Platoon Commander

1966-67

2-LT James D. Weiskopf

Admin Officer and later C. O.

1966-67

Neil Alvarez (L)

and

Clarence Johnson (R)

circa 1969

Ed Thompson

Delivering the Payroll

Vung Tau

circa  1970

Civic Action Success

requires local participation

Cronan  (L-R)  Gant

Cao Dai Orphanage

Swings Project - Before

Eggleston (L-R) Gant

Cao Dai Orphanage

Swings Project - Complete

Tay Ninh

 

The Viet Cong attacked and shot up the school

and then they set fire to the desks and the books which in turn burned off the wooden roof.

- - -

The 8th AA Platoon  secured the materials

for the new metal roof, to rebuild the desks as well as new text books and school supplies.

- - -

The people of  Tay Ninh  supplied the labor

to repair the school,  to paint the building  and  to install the new metal roof.

- - -

Successful Civic Action Projects require civilian participation

SFC William L. Timmons

(1967-68)

did return in 1971

and served as

" the Last " First Sergeant

of the

2nd  CA

from April 1971 until July 1971

when the Company

was inactivated.

1-LT  Timothy J. Calnen (L)

SFC William Timmons (R)

1967

SP4  Paul D. Shaffer

1967

     

Attending Local Sporting Events builds relationships

xx

1-LT Timothy J. Calnen (L)  and  Major Diaz - MACV SubSector Advisory Team (R)

ARVN Captain Moi  -  the Phu Khuong District Chief  (C)

Cao Dai Priests  behind in white

1969

Team Members

Rotate Home

but

The Need Remain

and

the Assistance Continues.

CPT Richard Meirowitz (L)

Buddhist Monk (C)

Orphanage Manager (R)

Ben Tre -  1969

CPT  Richard Meirowitz (L)

1-LT  Jimmie Loftus (R)

with the Kids at an Orphanage

Ben Tre - 1969

9th  AA Platoon

attached to

MACV Team 49  at   Xuan Loc

1970

CPT Martin Santillo,  1-LT Eugene Stefaniak,  1-LT Christopher Murphy

SSG William Olmstead,

  SP5 Earl Campbell,  SP4 Richard Madrid,  SP4  Michael Garvey,  SP4 Anthony Christiana

SP4 Timothy Pickard

9th Platoon Members - circa 1970

( L - R )

SP4 Mike Garvey (white shirt),  SP5 Earl Campbell,   new guy ??,   SP4 Anthony Christiana,

SP4 Timothy Pickard (partial in blue shirt),  1-LT Chris Murphy,   SSG William Olmstead

 

Excited Students

going to a school

for the first time in their lives.

The School was a CA Project

and run by Buddhist Monks

      

ON  CHUNG

an unsecured Montanyard  Village

the VC-NVA attacked and burned it seven times

and

It was Rebuilt  7  Times

    

SP4 Timothy Pickard

1970

    

10th  AA Platoon

attached to the

4th Infantry Division's   3rd Brigade  at  Dau Tieng

1-LT Christian M. Provenzano

SP5 Harper,  PFC Byrd,  PFC Roeper,  PFC O'Connor

PFC Haynes,  PFC Jensen

2-LT James W. Jones

reflagged in Aug 67 as the

25th Infantry Division's  3rd Brigade

2-LT Charles Wray

SP5 Marcel L. Deschenaux

LT William Spaniard,    LT ??,    PFC Charles Transue,   ??,    SSGT Mel Loveday

CPT Donnie C. Faircloth (Walter Coles),   ARVN SGT ??,   SP4 Stan Lukasik,   ARVN CPL ??,   ??

( L - R )

Mar-May 1968

SP4  Chad  Spawr

with Platoon Guard Dog

BEAR

An Loc - 1968

SP4  Chad  Spawr

with  House Girl ,  a VC Spy !

Note the platoon priorities

Empty BUDs + Full Ammo Boxes

SP4  Chad  Spawr

with  CHARLIE  the monkey,

a VC secret weapon

'he bites the hands that feed him'

CPT Walter E. Bakle

with WW-II Carbine and two 30 Round  Banana  Magazines

circa 1968.

The 10th AA Platoon Area was not exactly the same as

the facilities and buildings in the 2nd CA Headquarters at the Plantation

BEAR

the Team Mascot

"going for a ride in the jeep"

and

lucky to live inside the wire

SP5  Paul A. Menard

Linguist

In Early 1969

then in his

3rd Year with 2nd CA

Thieu Ta  Phue

visiting the 10th Platoon Area

just before the award ceremony for

SP5 William A. Clepper's   Bronze Star (V)

picture below

11th  AA Platoon

attached to the

11th Armored Cavalry  at  Blackhorse Camp at  Long Giao  south of   Xuan Loc

1966 - 1967

CPT Michael G. Glynn,  1-LT Dennis Santillo,

SSG Lavallee,  SSG John W. Sneed,  SP5 Carl Estenik,  SP4 Clifford  'Kip'  Mathison,

1967 - 1968

PFC  Al Blainey,  PFC Tom Dill,  PFC Kleipeis,   PFC Don Kunego

2-LT Elliott,   2-LT  Michael Gerson

CPT Michael G. Glynn

Blackhorse Camp

1967

SSG  John Sneed (R)

showing  Pig Farm Project

to visiting 2nd CA Co

  1SGT  Ervin Morlan (L)

2D CIVIL AFFAIRS COMPANY

SEAL THE VICTORY

Right Shirt Pocket Metal Pin

Courtesy of Carl Estenik

Carl Estenik

1966-68

Relocating the S-5 Office

within Blackhorse Base Camp

 

Don Kunego (R)

preparing for Leaflet Drop

on Psy Ops Mission

 

2- LT  Michael Gerson

Summer - 1967

11th  AA Platoon

attached to the

29th Civil Affairs Company, Third Marine Amphibious Force (3-MAF) in  I-Corps

1968 - 1969

Vo Dat Team

  xx  

12th  AA Platoon

attached to the

101st Airborne Division  at  Bien Hoa AFB

1-LT  CPT  John J. Martin  (67-68)

SSG Trevor N. Long,    SP4 Alton P. Bush  (66-67)

SP4 Bruce W. Tilford,   PFC Thomas Hequet,

  SP4 George W. Scott,   SP4 Robert R. Geib  (67-68)

       

 

    

 

PFC  Tom Hequet

standing under a

village election poster for

Gen Nguyen Cao Ky

      

CPT William C. Massey

Platoon Commander

1966-67

Extended for Second Year

was S-3 and then XO in 68

SSG  F. R. 'Wally' Wolcott

ARVN Interpreter  Nia

enjoying a leisurely

sunny afternoon.

1966

Life begins with a Tent (L)

and then

Sand Bag Walls are built

even later a

Screened in Porch is added

and finally

The LONE STAR Flag (R)

of the

Republic of Texas

The  LONE STAR  Flag

of the

Republic of Texas

and the

VC did not haul it down !

SSGT Wolcott and Carpenters

every project begins with

the 'first cut' of a saw

1967

SSGT Wolcott

advising the Carpenters

on the building of a school

1967

The  Cat Lai Base Camp  version of the   Atlantic City Boardwalk

Pioneer Living was normal in 1966  but  improvements were always being made.

- - - - - - - -

The Tents at the left were sagging after a Monsoon Rain

so  2"x4" Frames were built inside the GP (General Purpose) Tents,

if you want Hot Water for a shower or a shave, put an Immersion Heater into a Garbage Can,

need a Shower,  you use a  5 Gallon  Canvas Bag,

Table with Wash Pans and add a small Mirror and you can shave,

Sand Bag Walls to give some protection from In-Coming

Pallets and Planks  made  Tent Floors and Sidewalks.

and a

Palm Tree was planted  to make the place seem like the beach and the 'Jersey Shore'

CPT  Richard Church  with  Australian LTC John F. McDonagh and  MAJ John Donohoe

 

 

 

 

 

 

xx 

 

 

 

 

18th  AA Platoon

attached to  HHC,  9th Division  at  Bear Cat  (1967-68)

to work with the S-5  of the  Royal Thai Army

Queen's Cobras  Volunteer Regiment  of the  Black Panther Division

1-LT Earl C. Wright,   2-LT Henry 'Tim' Mather,

SSG Michael Fumai,   SP5 Carroll King,   SP4 Thomas Dill,   SP5 Carl Estenik

The 18th Platoon and Allies from Thailand

18 February 1968

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SP5 King,   SP4 Dill,  Thai MSG Annata,  LT Mather,  SSG Fumai,

Thai SGT Suchati,  Thai CPL Pissit,  Thai MSG Samruii

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1-LT Wright,   Thai Chaplain - CPT Vichote,   Thai S-5 - CPT La-Or

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THAILAND  translates into the  "Land of the Free"

  

     

  

 

 

 

1969

1-LT  Patrick McFarren;  CPT ???;  SP4  Cuthin;  Medic ???

SGT  Frank Geyer  and  SP7 Ozzie Kinat

Manor House

Michelin Rubber Plantation

Dau Tieng

Village Street

CPT  ??? (L)

1-LT Gary M. Cusumano

1967

  

  

at Team House

Phuoc Vinh

he served

  Four Years  with  2nd CA

1966 - 1970

    

SGT Joe Lewis, Jr.

Phuoc Vinh Team House

1969

  

    

1-LT  Forrest  L. Horn

with a

Dog named " Lucy "

the newest Team member.

SGT  Arthur R. Tiber

    

SP4 Andrew 'Sonny' Spirito,  SSG Arthur R. Tiber,  SSG Robert Gach,  LT  Willie Mc Crary

19th Platoon Photo at Phuoc Vinh

circa 1969

  

SP5  Lee  Linthicum

with ARVN Interpreter

distributing food to

Cambodians

SP7   Frank  H. Turnbull

Medical Specialist

Linguist

several local languages

SP4 Michael E. Garvey

Interpreter of Music

and  Vietnamese.

But probably not Cambodian !

  

  

Landing Zone DAVID  in Cambodia

Unloading Refugees and food from the choppers.

The TREE on the far right horizon was the MedCAP station.

20th Platoon Hq

1-LT Harry B. Field, III  (R)

SP4 Stan Lukasik (L)

SSG Melvin Loveday

Quan Loi

1968

PFC Charles Transue

Quan Loi

1968

CPT Jerry K. Wall,   1-LT Joseph E. Siwy,  SSG Jurina,  SP4 Paul A. Menard

SP4 Paul A. Menard

Linguist

1966-1969

 

Ho Nai Village

House Destroyed

by VC/NVA

During TET 1968

Rebuilding Ho Nai

Laying New Foundation

CPT Jerry K. Wall (C)

1-LT Joseph E. Siwy (R)

New Home

Under Construction

After TET

Bui Chieu Hamlet  of  Ho Nai Village

CPT Gardner (L), LT Siwy (C)  and  CPT Doll (R)

22nd  AA Platoon

working directly for the

2nd Civil Affairs Company  at   Long Binh

CPT Eugene J. Doll,   SP4 Ed Martin

Captain Eugene J. Doll

1967-68

 xx 

1-LT William Schultze  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

SP4  John Januik

xx  

CPT John R. Snook

and

Unknown Lady

New Helmet & New Flack Vest

  

    xx

 

 

  

Australian Task Force Vietnam

    

CPT Dick Church (R)

with Australian Reporter

showing him a traditional Vietnamese meeting posture

The VC-NVA initially had a

do not shoot at WHAM

policy because

at the end of the war,

the VC-NVA would win

and get the benefits of  the

1-ACAU  building projects.

When the effectiveness of the

Civic Action Projects

was fully understood

by the VC-NVA,

a "Cash Bounty" of

US $ 50.00

was offered for the death of

an 1-ACAU Team Member.

The Civic Action Teams

were too successful.

The WHAM flags became the

target for VC Snipers

and the flags were removed

from the Aussie vehicles.

Some are now in museums.

xxxx

The ultimate evaluation of

Civic Action

EFFECTIVENESS

is the enemy's reaction !

xxxx

LTC John F. McDonagh (R)

(retired Brigadier General)

1st Australian Task Force

and

LTC David E. Wade (L)

2nd Civil Affairs

 

LTC ??  and  MAJ Donohoe

Members of  1ACAU

at the

DEW  DROP  INN

Never try to out-drink

the Aussie Major on the right  !

   

     

The Australians are great people  and  wonderful friends.

Never drink   Brandy and Ginger  with No Ice !

Never accept  an Australian's challenge  to play HIS  game.

No matter  'how silly or simple'  his game appears to be,   never accept  his challenge.

$ORRY  MATE,    YOU  LO$E  !

     

 

Australia

  

America's  Best  Friend

with us in both World Wars,   with us in Korea,   with us in Vietnam

and  even now

with us again  -  in Kuwait,  in Iraq  and  in Afghanistan !

Democracies always help one another

and

do not war against each other

    

The Thai S-5 Group  and  our 18th Platoon

18 February 1968

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SP5 King,   SP4 Dill,  Thai MSG Annata,  LT Mather,  SSG Fumai,

Thai SGT Suchati,  Thai CPL Pissit,  Thai MSG Samruii

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1-LT Wright,   Thai Chaplain - CPT Vichote,   Thai S-5 - CPT La-Or

   

  

xx

The Greatest Day of My Tour

DEROS  Day

Sun Rise

on

September 1, 1967

xx

..

"California,  California   Here We  Come,

Back,  Back  Where We Started From ...

- - -

Everyone has a home which is unique and special.

  There is no place like home !

..