In their last assignment with Task Force South, which includes the 3d Battalion 503d Infantry, Bravo Troop accounted for 42 Viet Cong KIA and over 60 enemy positions located and destroyed, according to Warrant Officer Jim Reeder, of Fremont Ca, Bravo Troop's Liaison Officer. Reeder pointed out that B Troop's mission is "to provide an extra immediate reaction capability for the 173d Airborne Brigade in both locating the enemy quickly and in containing him to prevent escape."

   B Troop's striking force includes the Gunships and a specially trained quick reaction AeroRifle Platoon that can be deployed by Hueys to mop up an enemy area after the Cobra's have prepped with miniguns, rockets, and grenade fire.

Power Packed

   The Huey Cobra, an awesome spectacle of firepower, is equipped with three miniguns, each gun having the capability of firing 4000 rounds a minute. Thirty eight 2.75 rockets and a 40mm grenade launcher complete the Cobra's arsenal.
   In addition to conducting their own operations as a self-supporting quick reaction Strike Force the Troop can react quickly to provide fire support for other units of the Brigade in contact. Bravo Troop has operated as far north as Khe San and as far south as Phan Thiet.

   The last two weeks of August produced the highest number of enemy killed for any like period this summer, as elements of the 173d Airborne Brigade scored heavily in four different areas of operation.
   Heavy contact with the enemy was made in Operations Cochise/Dan Sinh, McLain/Dan Thang, Walker and Binh Tay- a new operation the 4th Battalion 503d Infantry joined near Ban Me Thuot.
   Highlighting the action was a week long Search and Clear Operation along the coast east of Bong Son by elements of the 1st and 2nd Battalions 503d Infantry, in conjunction with the 40th ARVN Regiment and 1/69th Armor. The action, a part of Operation Cochise/Dan Sinh resulted in 110 enemy killed in the first six days several hundred suspects detained and large amounts of enemy supplies and equipment captured in scattered contact.
   Alpha Company 1/69th Armor working with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, got the first big prize when they uncovered 35 enemy bodies less than a week old killed by artillery.
   Nearby, only a few hundred meters from the South China Sea, Paratroopers of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, led by First Lieutenant Ian McPherson of Tonawanda NY, came in contact with two squads of VC. After the 45-minute fire fight supported by Helicopter Gunships and Naval artillery, 10 Viet Cong were found dead while Alpha Company sustained no casualties. Within a couple of hours after the battle, more than 60 Viet Cong suspects of military age without proper identification were apprehended.
   The next day, Alpha Company, 2/503 Infantry, found day-old graves of 17 VC who were killed by artillery and small arms fire.
   While on a similar operation nearby, Delta Company troopers threw a hand grenade in a cave entrance to clear a suspected enemy hideout resulting in a secondary explosion. Examination of the interior led to the discovery of three VC killed, a 45 cal pistol, a Chicom grenade and assorted personal gear.
   Twenty miles southeast of Da Lat in operation McLain Dan Thang, Alpha Company and the 4.2' Mortar Platoon of the 3rd Battalion and supporting Artillery repulsed an NVA Battalion killing 45.

4th Bn Strikes

   AN KHE— Two Sergeants who been in Vietnam less than two weeks helped foil a Viet Cong ambush recently near An Khe.
   Sergeant First Class Edgar Irizarry of Bravo Company, 1/50th (Mechanized) Infantry, from Corpus Christi Tx, spotted three Viet Cong spider holes in the underbrush as his column of Armored Personel Carriers moved through a valley.
   "In the third hole I saw a Viet Cong," said SFC Irizarry who opened up with his newly acquired M16 rifle and alerted the rest of his Platoon.
   Elements of Bravo Company and the Scout Platoon of the Mechanized Unit had been conducting a Recon in Force Operation eight miles west of An Khe just south of Highway 19. The VC lay in wait, but Irizarry triggered the ambush before the Mechanized Infantry men had moved into the killing zone.

Charged Enemy

   BONG SON— A Paratropper played matador recently with a 2,000 pound water buffalo. Fortunately for the troops, the buffalo gave up the chase. The bulky beasts of burden are a common sight in the rice valleys along South Vietnam's north central coast, so the men of Alpha Company, 2/503d Infantry didn't give it much thought when they saw the buffalo approaching their area.
   "But, all of a sudden," said Sergeant John Paulk of Ocala Fla, "the big thing started charging right at us, and it looked like he was heading right for me. Somebody said don't fire," continued Paulk, "but, I wasn't one for waiting around. I put three shots in the air real quick and he stopped short and hightailed it in the other direction. I know they've got 18 inch horns," grinned Paulk afterwards. "However, I feared his hooves much more than his horns."

   BONG SON— A former Viet Cong Officer recently saved the life of a Paratrooper who was caught in a deadly booby trap. Nguyen Thanh a Kit Carson Scout, crawled 30 feet to clip a trip wire entangled in the boots of SP4 Charles W. Scudder of Kansas City, Mo.
   "I was moving toward a gap in a hedgerow when it happened," said Scudder. "I pushed aside a bamboo stick, took a couple of steps and heard a sharp click. All I could think of was booby trap !"

Stood Rigid

   Scudder then looked down and saw a thin strand of wire caught on his left boot and twisted behind his right foot. Keeping his cool, Scudder turned his head to the soldier behind him. "I think I'm in a booby trap," he said. "Get some help." For the next 20 minutes the 25-year-old paratrooper with Alpha Company, 2/503d Infantry waited rigidly in place afraid that the slightest twitch might set off the bomb. The area surrounding Scudder was cleared of all troops and an Explosives Ordnance team was summoned.

Examine Trip Wire

   "My feet were stationary but I think my knees were knocking," recalled Scudder afterward. "I tried smoking a cigarette." The explosives experts moved in and examined the wire, but were unable to see the trap because of camouflage.
   It was then that Thanh, a former VC Company Commander who had rallied to the Allied Forces, arrived and inspected the situation. The 38-year-old Thanh urged SP4 Scudder to remain rigid and backed off quickly.

   "Mister MP" of the 173d Airborne Brigade is finally going home after three extensions and 27 months.
   Staff Sergeant Benjamin Whipple came to Vietnam with the Brigade from Okinawa in May of 1965 and has participated in more combat operations than he would care to remember. "I can honestly say its been a great experience," said Whipple, "and will definitely be an asset to me in civilian police life."
   Whipple will be joining the police force of his hometown in Detroit. He is leaving behind the high standard of performance he demanded and instilled in the Brigade MPs.

   LZ English- The 173d Airborne Brigade recently activated a new Battalion called the Special Troops Battalion (Provisional). The new unit will be an administrative headquarters to provide supervision and coordination of administrative and logistical activities for eleven subordinate units.
   The Special Troops Battalion will not exercise operational control over any of the subordinate units. Operational control will remain as it has been right along. Promotional policy, disciplinary authority and efficiency ratings of Officers will not be part of the Special Troop Battallion Commander's duties.
   According to Major James D. Stanton, Commanding Officer of the newly formed Battalion, "The major responsibilities of the Batallion are to ensure that subordinate units comply with curent regulations, directives and policies and to arrange coordination between subordinate units and Brigade Staff Sections."

Advises Sections

   The Battalion Commander also advises Staff Sections having operational control of its subordinate units on the operational readiness or the units. The Commanding General will also be kept abreast of the logistical and administrative situation within each of the subordinate units.
   The eleven units comprising the new Special Troops Battalion will be: Headquarters and Headquarters Company; Troop E,17th Cavalry; 173d Engineer Company; 173d Signal Company (Provisional); 39th Scout Dog Platoon; 75th Infantry Detachment (Combat Tracker); 172d Military Intelligence Detachment; 51st Chemical Detachment, 46th Public Information Detachment and 24th Military History detachment.

   BONG SON- Thinking of going to Bangkok for Rest and Recuperation? You might take a few tips from Specialist 4 Clark Marshall, an RTO with Charlie Company, 2/503d Infantry, who recently returned from the capital of Thailand.
   "Bangkok is very much Americanized," said SP4 Marshall of Columbus, Ohio. "After your plane lands you are driven by bus to the R & R center over a modern four-lane highway." Following the briefing at the R & R center, the weary Paratrooper will be looking for a good place to stay. "I paid $30 for five days and nights, which is about average," said Marshall.
   "There are over 5,000 licensed bars in Bangkok and most of them have American style 'rock 'n roll' bands," Marshall continued. "All of the theaters show American Style pictures with Thai write-ins for the natives," he added.

Girls Friendly

   The girls ? "They are out of sight and very friendly." However, Marshall cautioned that a public display of affection, like walking down the street holding a girl's hand is taboo. It's considered bad manners and irritates the Thais. What's done in private is a different matter," SP4 Marshall smiled.
   As far as American sports, there is bowling, pool, holse racing and auto races. Marshall also took in some Thai boxing and found it very interesting. They use their feet, hands elbows and knees. It's pretty brutal," he said. "A lot of the people speak English and communicating is really no problem," he said adding that the people are very hospitable and "treat you like a king."

Sights to See

   One place worth visiting is a park called "Timland." Marshall recalled, "You can learn a lot about the Thai culture and traditions there. They have a display of trades and arts, cultural dances and ceremonies and native musical instruments Also in Timland," he said, "I rode an elephant which was really a big kick." One of the outstanding tourist attractions in Bangkok is an eighteen-and-one-half-ton solid gold Buddha. Marshall visited this and many other temples and shrines, including the palace where the 'King and I' was filmed. He also saw the bridge which inspired "The Bridge on the River Kwai."
   American food is readily available in Bangkok. The 22 year-old Paratrooper found Thai food "good but a little spicy." A one day trip to the beach is offered by the R and R center. "There are also swimming pools throughout the city," he added. As far as expenses go, Marshall said, "I spent about $300, plus what I spent on clothes." As a final warning, Sp4 Marshall concluded, "Watch out for the beer. It's twice as strong as American beer."

   Bong Son— A short time ago, the marketplace in Bong Son, a quiet province capital along the north central coast of South Vietnam was a tangle of motor scooters, garbage, trucks and people. The air was thick with the nauseating odor of rotting vegetables and gasoline fumes. Flies swarmed everywhere and mange ridden rats clawed through some of the shops, occassionally brushing against the vegetables on sale by sidewalk peddlers. Scores of children darted over jagged edges of rusty soft drink cans.

   The marketplace had grown increasingly more difficult to traverse as heavy trucks and torrential rains had gutted the clay surface with gaping holes. Despite the overcrowded apperance the marketplace had steadily lost its patronage because of the filth, and the local governing authorities had grown concerned.

Brigade Supported

   It was then that the District Chief contacted the Civic Action Office of the 173rd Airborne Brigade headed by Major Ronald Lawrence of Normal, Il. The two conferred with Major Karl Schmid of Maspeth, NY, the 173d Brigade Engineer, and plans were made for the Brigade to supply technical support and the town to supply the workers. Within days, Army dump trucks had dumped the first loads of fill on the marketplace road and bulldozers had moved into position. Dozens of volunteer Vietnamese lined the route with picks, shovels and rakes. The joint operation consumed three weeks in a scene reminiscent of "Cool Hand Luke."

Road Improved

   Before the project began it was difficult to manuever a small truck over the road. Now, two large vehicles have ample room. "The remarkable thing about this particular project," pointed out Major Lawrence, "was the amount of energy and enthusiasm the people put into it. The 173rd Engineers hauled close to 450 tons of fill and did some of the grading, but the Vietnamese did all of the rest of the work."
   Not only was the marketplace rejuvenated, but the road was rebuilt and hardpacked for a stretch of two miles. "Routes of communication are of key importance in under developed areas," explained Major Schmid. "From the villagers' point of view this project indicates that the people see some promise of hope, especially since they agreed ahead of time to do all of the labor."
   The Major was particularly pleased with the way the soldiers and civilians worked in total harmony. "The important thing," he said, "was that the idea to improve the area originated in the minds of the people." Because of its geographical location nearly all the inhabitants have to traverse the route to get to their jobs. Now 5,000 pass over the new road, with ease.

   AN KHE— The high pitched whine of a fork lift outside meant to the men of the Brigade Supply Office (BSO) that the morning had been a success. Needed supplies were on the way to the troops he the field.
   Moments before an urgent call from one of the Battalions had thrown Supply Office machinery into high gear. "We need C Rations," the message said.
   "We call fill a requistion within a matter of minutes if we have the stock on hand," said Supply Office NCOIC, Sergeant First Class Reid L. Russell of Westfield PA. "If not we can order from Qui Nhon and receive the filled requisition sometimes with in a day."
   The Brigade Supply Office handles nearly all supplies and equipment within the Brigade from pens to Armored Personnel Carriers. Over 1,000 tons of supplies are handled each month and an inventory of over $1,000,000 is kept.

Records Maintained

   Hundreds of requisitions are processed monthly requiring the BSO staff to fight mountains of paperwork to keep the Brigade supply ledger balanced. "Our job is to maintain all Brigade supply records excluding repair parts" said Major Joseph E Arnold, the Brigade Supply Officer from Bettendorf Iowa.
   "The amount of time required to till a request depends on the item requisitioned" he said. "If we don't have the item in stock" he added "we contact the Supply Depot that is closest to the requestor." "If they have the item " he continued "they send it directly to the unit that originally requested it, if the urgency requires."

Accuracy Important

   "Before we can provide this kind of service" commented SFC Russell, "we have to know exactly what the requester wants. The best way to ensure that the requestor will get the items he requisitions is to accurately maintain the supply records."
   The main office in An Khe has representatives at the Brigade Support Operations Centers in Tuy Hoa and LZ English and provides support to the 3d Battalion 503d Infantry in Bao Loc. A Brigade Liaison team at the Qui Nhon supply depot insures that Brigade requisitions are handled with utmost speed and accuracy.
   While the BSO handles the administration, Paratroopers of Charlie Company (S & S) operate the warehouse and transport the supplies to the units.
   "We dispatch at least one five ton truck a day to Bong Son with supplies" said Staff Sergeant Raymond P. Wainwright from Hauchuca City Az.

2/3/2001

Many Thanks to Bill Gile who Contributed This Issue

FIRE BASE 173 is an authorized Army newspaper published biweekly by the 173d Airborne Brigade for military personnel.

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Address all communications to: Editor, FIRE BASE 173, 173d Airborne Brigade, APO 96250.