Contents From    VOL. IV, NO. 1    January 4, 1971
                  173D AIRBORNE BRIGADE


Sky Soldiers
Strike Again



Mailing Contraband Is 'Numbah Tenh'

   LZ ENGLISH- The Department of Defense, US Bureau of Customs, and the US Post Office Department, are expressing increasing concern over the many contraband items entering CONUS in parcels mailed at postal units in RVN.
   Many of these items are especially designed to kill or maim. These items in postal channels are a danger to life and property and are direct threats to the personnel and equipment of the postal transportation and delivery system. Recent items detected include C4 plastic explosives, ordnance such as anti-personnel mines with detonators, claymore mines, fragmentation grenades, automatic weapons with ammunition, and incendiaries. Additionaly harmful narcotic and hallucinogenic substances are being imported through the mail.
   Active measures are now employed to intercept these non-mailable items. Parcels are being examined in US customs and postal channels. Postal clerks are enforcing the provisions that parcel contents and value declared and the sender/adddessee be properly identified. Items presented for mailings with the contents declared in other than definitive terms and or improperly addressed will not be accepted. A rigid inspection program has been inititated to identify and remove non-mailable items that may be entered into the mail. Use of fluoroscope machines and mine detectors has been increased for examination of parcels by postal and customs officials. The mailer of firearms, explosives and narcotics can expect to be caught and punished.

School For Marksmen

   LZ ENGLISH - An advanced marksmanship school for the 173d Abn Bde is scheduled to be in operation in Cha Rang Valley by sometime in January. Instructors from the 25th Infantry Div have been assigned to conduct the school operation and are now in the process of setting up ranges and facilities. According to Cpt Glenn Rice, Brigade Plans Officer, the 17-day course will be offered to Paratroopers who have at least three months in the field, but have more than six months left in-country. "The school primarily would like to recruit men who have demonstrated a high degree of skill and reliability in the field," said Rice.

'Does His Thing' To Help Ambush

   LZ UPLIFT- The Squad sized element moved into the outskirts of a small village. Their job was to ambush the trail that passed by some isolated hootches and went on into the village. The Squad Leader tapped on the door. An extremely old Vietnamese answered. Due to the language barrier Sgt 'Sam' Sampson had a little problem explaining to the old man that they were ambushing the trail, that he was to be very quiet, and not leave the house tonight. The young sergeant, a resident of Denver Co, further apologized for the inconvenience.
   Sp4 Mike West of Hermosa Beach, Ca, was pretty surprised when 'Pop' came running out and started jabbering at him. A few minutes later he understood. 'Pop' didn't want West to set the Claymore mines up like he was. He showed West that by moving two mines he could cover the same area. . . and not blow any holes in the garden if they had to fire them.
   The next GI involved with 'Pop' was Sp4 Bobby Seale, when he came out and offered Seale a bowl of steaming rice. Leaving half of the men outside, the others went in for a brief visit with 'Pop'. There they were treated like honored guests, a little rice, a little bread, a thimbleful of rice wine, and a lot of thanks. He explained that the VC had been harassing the village quite a bit lately. He was glad that there were soldiers there to protect him.
   'Pop', as the GI's were now calling him, explained that if it rained the GI's were welcome to come in and sleep inside. Sampson thanked him and explained that it wouldn't be possible. He had to have all the men outside where they could react quickly if needed.
   Then they went back ouside, to hide in the shadows and wait for the VC. 'Pop' came out a little later and sat beside one of the GIs. He was an old hand at war...he kept quiet and out of sight. There they sat, a young GI and an old Vietnamese. They were both out of place and lonely. The VC had taken the old man's family away from and they had taken the GI away from his family.
   Both waited...one for eventual peace and one for eventual DEROS, and somehow neither one was looked upon as a 'foreigner' anymore.

Rangers Bust Cherry

   LZ ENGLISH- A team of Rangers from N Co, 75th Rangers killed two NVA on a jungle trail in the Soui Ca Valley, about 40 miles north of Qui Nhon. One turned out to be a 'Cherry'...(a new man in-country).
   The Rangers were checking out a well trail when they spotted an enemy OP (Observation Post). The Red dived for his rifle, but the Team Leader, Sgt Charles Cash of Houston, opened fire first. At that point the second NVA jumped up only to be greeted by an M60 machine gun carried by Sp4 John Blake. The Rangers captured two rucksacks, pistol belts, medical supplies, and an AK-47.
   Some personal documents tipped off the Rangers about the 'Cherry'... he had been with his new unit two days.

Geronimo Medics Save Villagers After VC Raid

   LZ North English- Infants, aged women, and the unwary fell victim to Viet Cong sappers in Truong Lam on the first day of December. Countless lives were spared by an undaunted team of 173d Abn Brigade Medics led by their Battalion Surgeon, arriving only minutes after the attack to treat over fifty of the villagers under South Vietnamese care.
   The hamlet, about 50 miles north of Qui Nhon, was the scene of a bold and heartless terrorist attack by more than a squad of nearly-naked enemy guerillas. The enemy took advantage of a pitch-black midnight to score against civilians sympathetic to their own chosen Saigon government.
   Hurling explosive charges into each hootch, the Reds hit the village without warning, even though 2nd Plt, Co B, 4th Bn, 503d Inf's night position was only a stone's throw from the Pacification target. Just seconds after the explosions reached the ears of surprised Paratroopers, Cpt Hugh Martin, from Arcadia Fla, rustled up six other Medics at Battalion Headquarters, LZ North English and boarded a MedEvac Helicopter summoned for the distress. Martin, who had only five days under his belt as 4th Bn Surgeon, brought his team into the thick of the battle and directed them to hurry to the aid of the critically wounded.
   "The VC came in from the northern end of the ville, and were still struggling to escape from Bravo Company's Reaction Force as we arrived at the place," said the newly initiated Doctor. "We evacuated nine on the spot, treating less serious casualties as we found them," further commented Martin. "No language barrier that night-crying pain and agony is a universal tongue."
   Plt Sgt Charlie Graham treated multiple fragmentation wounds and worried constantly over seemingly inert enemy hand grenades that lay among the medical team, pins already pulled. It seemed that nearly every step he took in the dark revealed the thud of his boot against a frag. "They were scattered like stones in a quarry," remarked Graham. "I was sure that at least some of them would blow before we left." None of the team was injured although the village took high casualties. Deaths were cut to a minumum due to the prompt medical assistance.
   Five enemy sappers were killed outright by Co B. Early the following morning, the 4th Bn, Geronimos re-treated the minor casualties in the stricken village, evacuating 15 more in the more secure hours of daylight. Medical assistance will continue until the wounds heal in Truong Lam. (Note: this incident appears in the book 'Platoon Leader' by Lt James McDonough, 1985, Presidio Press)

LTC Farris New Brigade XO

   LZ ENGLISH- The 173d Abn Brigade's new Executive Officer, Lt Col Jack B. Farris Jr, Charlotte NC, believes the Army will have to become increasingly concerned with soldiers as individuals if it expects to maintain an all-volunteer force in the future. "The Army in realility is only a reflection of society, said the former 3d Bn Infantry Commander. "As society changes, the Army will have to change with it. There will have to be more benefits, allowances and opportunities in order to attract the brighter young men of today."
   A second tour Veteran of Vietnam, Lt Col Farris believes the South Vietnamese Army is at the point where it can take over the burden of fighting for itself. "The regular ARVN units have already proved their capability," he said, citing recent examples in Cambodia and Binh Dinh Province. "After we depart, however, it will be left up to the 'Regional-Popular Forces' to handle the situation at the grass roots level."
   A Vietnamese Airborne advisor for Binh Dinh Province in 1965-66, Lt Col Farris can attest to the success of the 173d Pacification Program. "In 1965 and 1966 the only secure areas in Binh Dinh Province was the town of Bong Son, and Special Forces Camps at FB Orange and LZ Pony, it is obvious what we have accomplished, since we have the entire area pacified now."
   Lt Col Farris is a 1958 Political Science graduate of The Citadel, from which he received an ROTC Commission.

Rangers Stay Ready- Spend Time On Tower

   LZ ENGLISH- "Before every mission we run through drills, rapelling, and extractions", says Sgt Charles Cash of Houston. "We can't afford not to, we could hit some bad stuff at any time. If we're the people in the field, we might have to come out by ladder or ropes. If it's someone else who's in trouble, we might have to go in and help 'em...again by ladder or ropes."
   Ladder or ropes; that's two methods the men of N Co, 75th Rangers, 173d Abn Bde in North Binh Dinh Province utilize to penetrate the dense jungle terrain. If there is no clearing that a helicopter can set down in, the Rangers climb down (by cable ladders)from hovering helicopters or more commonly, rappel from free swinging ropes.
   If the small unit Reconnaisance element gets trapped they can always be extracted by air. A 'Huey' will whip down, drop a ladder and hover while the Rangers scamper to safety. If the area is 'Hot' the Rangers use a quicker method; they tie ropes around themselves and their equipment. When the helicopter comes in it drops a long nylon rope. The Rangers attach themselves to the rope with a metal snap link then the helicopter pulls up and away, with the Rangers swinging freely below the aircraft. Since there is no way to get the men into the bird, they have to hang there until the Pilot finds a safe place to land.
   On any given day it's almost a certainly that there will be at least one team of Rangers out at the rapelling tower working. Whether they are descending the vertical wall in big bounds or taking one free leap to the surface, they are preparing. Preparing, as every Ranger knows, for the next time they stand on the skid of a hovering 'Huey'. Out goes the ropes, out goes the Rangers. They both disappear into the jungle below....swift, deadly, professional.

   Double Teaming against the outdoors in Northern Binh province at LZ English International Airport recently were the 173d Engineer Company and the famed Casper Aviation Platoon.
   New hard-charging Engineer honcho, Cpt Bill Murdy, of Houston and his numbah-one assistant, Plt Sgt Raumond Thomas and their men scurrying all over the tower and holding ropes while precision placement was made by Casper Pilots, Cpt Richard Blunt of Ozark Ala, Cpt Harley Baker of Clarksville Tenn, and Sp5 Curtis Blondell from Chilliwack British Columbia, the Crew Chief. Leaning out of the Chopper and helping direct is Door Gunner, PFC Jimmy Holmes from Kingston Mass, while our shutterbug Sp4 Russ Smith, Prescott Ariz, was gathering the information. The new air traffic control tower marches some 50 feet upwards.

4th Infantry Leaves An Khe

   LZ ENGLISH - In order to provide security for support groups and departing elements of the 4th Inf Division, the 2nd Bn, 503d Infantry of the 173d Abn Brigade has been assigned to An Khe. The temporary move, according to 2d Bn Operation's Officer, Maj Mickey A. Riggs, is primarily to secure the 18-mile berm around huge Camp Radcliff, former home base of the 4th Division. The 2d Bn is expected to remain at An Khe until at least Task Force Ivy, the last element of the 4th Division departs.
   "Considering the size of the area that must be secured," said Riggs, "2d Bn is doing a remarkable job. All personnel, resources, and transportation units of the Battalion are being utilized to their fullest capacity." Of primary concern to the Battalion is a heavy concentration of NVA-VC forces in the immediate area. An estimated six to eight NVA Battalion size units are operating in the vicinity of An Khe along with a hard-core VC sapper element. According to Riggs each possesses rockets, mortar and ground attack capabilities.
   Presently, Alpha, Bravo, and Delta Companies of the 2d Bn are securing the berm with the Recon teams of Echo Company operating patrols. Supporting Infantry operations of the 2d Bn are two Batteries and four Forward Observer teams from the 319th Artillery. Whatever the mission, 2d Bn, 503d Inf, 173d Airborne Brigade will be ready to move in and fight.

Hot Time In Valley

   LZ ENGLISH - Paratroopers from N Co, 75th Rangers had a 'Hot' welcome awaiting them on a recent CA (Combat Assault). The 'Huey' that landed them had barely made it back into the air before the Rangers were in a firefight. The CA was made into an abandoned Korean fire base located in the Soui Ca Valley.
   Apparently the Rangers surprised a NVA 'scrounging party' going through the deserted camp looking for food and equipment. Sp4 Don Vallencourt, Jacksonville Fla, was the RTO for Charley Team, firing his M-16 and trying to call in support at the same time.
   When the word reached TOC that the Rangers had set down in the middle of a NVA patrol they immediately scrambled Gunships to give air support to the embattled Rangers. Vallencourt was the man on the ground that had to direct the 'Hovering Hell' of the Gunships. "From my location, Direction 140 degrees, Range 100 meters, make your gun runs west to east, how copy, Over?" Everywhere Vallencourt pointed, there was the enemy. When he pointed...the Gunships struck.
   The Rangers led by Sgt Charles Cash of Houston, captured nine rucksacks that the Reds had abandoned in their escape. After further investigation the Rangers and 61st Aviation Company (Lucky Starblazers) were given credit for five kills.

Cav Medic Wins Silver Star

   LZ ENGLISH- A Combat Medic with E Troop, 17th Cav, 173d Abn Bde, has been awarded the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in action against Communist terrorists.
   He is Sp5 Jesus L. Garcia, of Hanford Ca, credited for saving the life of an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) driver during an ambush by a large size NVA element.
   His Platoon came under intense fire Sept 7 near 506 Valley, located southwest from LZ Uplift. During the initial contact, the lead APC was hit by three rocket propelled grenades and burst into flames. With disregard for his personal safety, Garcia jumped from the vehicle he was riding and moved to the disabled APC. Although he received multiple fragmentation wounds in the face, he continued to move to the disabled vehicle and jumped on top of it. "I looked through the flames and saw that the guys inside didn't have a chance, but saw the driver trying to get out, and that is when I came to his assistance," he said. Garcia pulled the driver out of the carrier, and then shielded the driver with his own body from incoming rounds until the enemy fire had subsided. A Purple Heart was awarded for the wounds received, Garcia was hospitalized for several days at 7th Evac Hospital at Qui Nhon. "I am proud of the award," said the 24 year old Californian. "I was just doing my job."

'Watson I Presume?'

   LZ ENGLISH - Two William Watsons, both Medics and members of Co B (Med), 173d Spt Bn, 173d Abn Brigade, re-enlisted recently on the same day. In a ceremony Nov 21 at the Company, Cpt James A. Whitaker (Dr), administered the oath of reenlistment to Staff Sgt William Watson Jr and Sp5 William A. Watson.
   SSgt Watson, who is married and from Fairbanks, Alaska entered the Army in 1956. He is assigned as the Platoon Sergeant, Clearing Plt and is serving his second tour with the 173d Abn Brigade.
   Sp5 Watson is from Redmond Oregon, entering the Army in 1959. He is serving as Medical Assistant in the Clearing Platoon.

3/3/2001

Many Thanks to CWO James Bradley, E/17th Cav,'70-'72 who Contributed This Issue

FIRE BASE 173 is an authorized Army newspaper published biweekly by the 173d Airborne Brigade for military personnel.
Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army.
Reproduction of all material other than copyrighted items is authorized.
Address all communications to: Editor, FIRE BASE 173, 173d Airborne Brigade, APO 96250.

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