When the name changed back to Bearcat is unknown, but probably after it became the new home of the 3rd Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division Old Reliable's in December 1966. Have a look! Good to contact other people from Bearcat. 53) I was transferred to Division Artillery in July 1967 and accompanied DivArty Commander Col. Stewart C. Meyer when he went over to welcome the Thai Regiment to Bearcat in September. 4th Infantry Division. There are 10's of thousands of such The transport convoy escorts for Operation CONDOR II were provided by C Company. Capitialism forces are strong and are being hugely successful. Have been trying hard to locate/connect with others that I served with. AAORLL's 1970. Two battalions of the Mobile Riverine Force, working with the Vietnamese Marines, eliminated 250 VC in day-long fighting along the Rach Ruong Canal 6 miles southwest of Saigon. We operated the "clap clinic" for the girls from Rosies and others who roamed the base. Dick Jackson (with glasses and camera) checks out the crush of villagers as our convoy slows to a crawl. Photos of Bear Cat. Do not remember any fan but in the short time I was there I noticed some weird stuff. If you ever had company duty, youll know what Im talking about. They sometimes landed on it while I was there and some (especially the Chinooks) blew pot holes in the surface which made your take offs and landings uncomfortable/dangerous. US Engineer units cleared the area and constructed the roads. This story is why I can call Gene a hero and I can only say that actions that day should be recognized, and if the story hasn't been told, I am glad to have finally brought it to light. SP/4 Neil Vetrano, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, September 1968-November 1969. We drew straws. one side of the perimeter berm. After spending 6 months state side iI put in orders to return to Vietnam. Its elements provided heavy artillery support to the Battalions Tactical Area Of Responsibility during Operation STABILIZE from September 1967 through September 1970, when the base became home to the 25th Infantry Division who moved from Tay Ninh & Cu Chi and took over the civic action & security in the Battalion's former Tactical Area Of Responsibility until they stood down and returned stateside on. contact team sites in bad guy country, 44) Damaged equipment arriving at the Bearcat Hunt Jr. details the innovative strategies of the 9th Division in their fight to overcome the Viet Cong. Also an REMF, taking my turn on the perimeter and was thankful I wasn't out in the bushes. Glad you survived it. I needs to spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. Vietnam Vets. Nike has 38 plants in Vietnamand you thought they were made in I never saw anything or fired but it was nerve racking. My name is Christopher hill I landed Danang July 1 1968 I Corp area First Marine Division. There is not a day that I dont think about my friends that I left over there KIA. Our unit had a swimming pool between the officers club and the EM club. Gen. Reese M. Howell (Acting) Assistant Division Commander. A word of warning upfront, if you have a wallpaper removal task ahead of you're your in for a bit of work. I was a replacement guy so didn't know a soul but was welcomed by everyone. I arrived at the camp in early December 1966, we deployed from Fort Riley by troop train to Oakland then by ship to Vung Tau. Hope to hear from some folks via my e-mail: flbowers@hotmail.com Enjoy the day and hope for tomorrow as we would always say :-). Unit was: 9th Infantry Division, 9th Admin Co Where served: Camp Bearcat VietNam When served: 1967-1968 . The remaining pictures are original buildings to the base from more than In my opinion, we might have been unimportant during our day jobs, but guard duty was the most important job on the base. III CORP TRANG SUP LONG HAI. I'm not very good with the lingo, so forgive me in advance. These are examples of battle-damaged vehicles, 73) WelcomeHome Brother! Election 2014 The worst thing beside the snakes was the rats. Scene along the main road entering Saigon. We later flew to Lai Khe for his court martial. I hope that you are enjoying your time in Vietnam. My buddy Jack Teeple is playing the guitar. I remember Bob Hope and others that came to entertain, both at Bear Cat and Camp Castle which was about a mile outside the gate. Command of these bunkers was divided into four sectors, each with a Command Post (CP) manned by sergeants and company grade officers, also REMF. After opening the box, Gaynor began to investigate his own memories, digging out the letters he had sent home. It's on the endangered species list. 52) . The armored vehicles within the battalion were divided between A and C Company. Worked with 4/47th and E-50th. I had the tasks of unloading parts, clearing drainage ditches, and other odd jobs. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. the communist troops of North Vietnam finally seized Saigon, and at that time many Americans regarded that singular event as the personification of a senseless war; i.e., the Vietnamese won . Untrained but inspired by combat photographers, he brought one of the eras ubiquitous Brownie camerasbefore investing $94 in an Asahi Pentax SLRto record his experience. Many thanks 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry (Infantry) Arrived Vietnam: 1 Jan 1967 Departed Vietnam: 8 Aug 1969 Previous Station: Fort Riley Strength: 818. All my buddies from 40 years previously [were] looking at me from these pictures, even the guys who werent with us anymore. 1965 - ca. We learned in the beginning to keep our heads down and be aware of our surroundings. Now at 64 I feel their loss more then ever before. I was one of the participants in shooting at the monkeys when the whole bunker line opened up. were stationed here. Nose art on air cavalry Huey chopper. 9th Infantry Division. I am the 2nd cousin of PFC Daniel Joseph Flynn who was killed at Ben Cat on his way to the Bear Cat base on 25th May1968. At time it was unbelievably loud.One night the side of our bunker just fell way! During the rescue Gene never thought of himself or the danger he put himself in. Trying to find anything about my unit. Oh Dark Thirty Trail, Sihanoukville, Bearcat, Tay Ninh, Tiger Division, AN/PVS-2 Starlight scope, RF/PF, Regional Force and Popular Force militias, Armed Forces Network Radio, Kent State, National Guard, Di An Base Camp, 9th Infantry Division Association . Every possible . 9th Infantry Division Casualties List - 1967 . CARR-ORLL. SP/4 William H. Antila, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, August 1968-November 1969. shot along highways just showing, 23) 19 August 1LT William A. DAndrea of A Company was assigned as the Provost Marshal at Bearcat. IMPORTANT NOTES TO THE BELOW KIA CASUALTY LIST. I can't wait to show my dad this site. History. I do remember doing alot of guard duty at the 2 gates. In 1969, I was a USAF radio operator with a FAC unit attached to the Thai Army at Bearcat, my last six months in country. I wish I could help you with relevant information. When it was in full fire mode the ground litterally trembled. What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? There were ladies to be seen in the area I was told. I left Bear Cat to move into the Delta in late January of 1967 to go to Company A was responsible for operating provost marshal offices at Phu Loi, Bearcat and Vung Tau, and for convoy escort from Long Binh to Cu Chi-Tay Ninh, Vung Tau, Quan Loi and Phuoc Vinh. The 3/5 Cav was organized as a Divisional reconnaissance unit for the 9th Infantry Division and arrived in Vietnam with the Division in late 1966. Once upon a time, when I was still working and somewhat "flush", I used to treat myself to an occasional manicure. Note 31 October At the end of the month Battalion was operating the following remote detachments in III & IV Corps Tactical Zones: A Company- Vung Tau, Phu Loi and Bearcat; B Company- Dong Tam, Can Tho and Soc Trang; C Company- Xuan Loc, Cu Chi-Tay Ninh and Lai Khe; 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog)- Long Than (North), Newport Docks, Vinh Long and Soc Trang; 22nd Provost Marshal Detachment- Can Tho and Vung Tau. spray sealer, but dust was always a problem. Technology AAORLL's 1971. Bearcat Base (also known as Bearcat, Camp Martin, Camp Cox or Long Thanh North) is a former U.S. Army base near the city of Bin Ha in ng Nai Province in southern Vietnam. The 1st Special Forces established a base here and it was later the base camp for the 9th Infantry Division from January 1967 . 49% of the population were Viet Cong. * Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1967-1968 If memory serves me correctly, the 2/60th was part of the 3rd Brigade, commanded by Col Murray while I was there. I was at Bearcat with the 1st Cav. I was with 1st Aviation Brigade at LTN which was more or less next door to Bearcat. Thank you. Based on Hunt's experience as colonel and division chief of staff, the volume documents how the 9th Division's combat effectiveness peaked in 1969. 1973 for 3/5th Cavalry in Boxes 169-193 Since then we have travelled 6 times by bus and car to Vung Thau on that same Long Thanh hiway. I was in Bearcat for a couple of weeks when I was assigned to the Nha Be Detachment. Well, no. Thank you for sharing the photos and the documentation which says so much emotionally in its factual presentation. (He is the only openly gay officer of the American Legion of whom he knows, he said.) 59) 596k followers Vietnam Tank . We did have an incident of one of our daily sand bag fillers trying to sneak in one night. Somehow I was able to convince them I was an ally. Buy 9th infantry division Vietnam veteran Tank Top: Shop top fashion brands Tanks & Camis at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Later, the division was an important unit of the United States Army in World War II and the Vietnam War. For the purpose of continuity throughout this Website I have used the term Bearcat. (Camp Bearcat) Base of the 9th Infantry Division in March 1967. Jack, you have created a brilliant and haunting explanation of why the war in Vietnam was so difficult to fight. The country is quite safe on personal security and poverty is greatly decreased. Most were hiding in abandoned hooch's and bunkers on post left vacant when the Thai Queen's Cobra Regiment moved out. 48) When we were watching the bridge, the engineers also left a task. All of the vertical construction is being accomplished by the Thais. Wondering if anyone remembers him. Nobody brought me coffee while on guard duty. Thanks to Jack for this site. I remember when B52 would drop miles from us it still shook the hell out of the barracks. I also served with their Artillery TOC and visited their Batterys. I abstained which sometimes makes me wonder what the hell was wrong with me. HQ were also located there. Due to the constant enemy activity on the roadways of III Corps Tactical Zone during and after the 31 January Tet New Years Offensive and its following May Mini-Tet attacks, the 9th Infantry Division (rear) Transportation Headquarters at Bearcat requested escort assistance for their critical night convoy supply runs from Bearcat to the U.S. Army Newport Terminal on Highway-1A (#316), and back. It was later the base camp for the 9th Infantry Division from January 1967 until the division moved to ng Tm Base Camp near M Tho in late 1967. In the foreground is the cantonment of the Thai Volunteer Regiment which occupied the area during September. I remember pulling guard duty way to often in those bunkers.,usually near the drainage ditch at the end of the helipad and near the fuel blisters. I too was with the 5/42 Field Artillery. Assumed, command in Ft Riley about a month before 27 July 1LT Joseph L. J. Brillion, A Company, was assigned as the Bear Cat Deputy Provost Marshal. Bearcat was originally a French Colonial Forces airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. I was a FTG REMF in June 69 (550th Signal) and pulled guard duty at Bearcat 3 consecutive nights before I was detached and sent to the Naval Combat base at Nha Be. In 1966 she was sent in Vietnam with the 7th fleet, alternating between direct support on the fire line and screening the carriers. 12 August The third increment of the Royal Thai Volunteer Force Black Panther Regiment completed its deployment to Bearcat to replace the first increment, which returned to Thailand. Rep. I truly enjoyed working with you guys for my entire year. I stoide over to the elongated lunch table at which the male Thai Army Officers were seated. On our trip into the delta, shops lined the road I was a medic with the 133rd Medical Detachment at Bearcat in 1969 and 1970. 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Dad this site do remember doing alot of guard duty at the monkeys when the whole bunker line up!

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