2ND-BTN

Advanced Party - Cu Chi

Unit History

Major Operations

Battalion Flag

Congressional Medal of Honor

1968 Operational Results Summary

Airlift to Hue

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Battalion Commander - Colonel Richard Tallman
Command Sergeant Major - Sergeant Major John Dobransky

Brigadier General Richard Tallman
Died: July 9, 1972 An Loc, South Vietnam due to hostile fire.

2ND BATTALION

ADVANCED PARTY

Members of the Advance Party departed between the 17th and 24th of November 1967. The battalion deployed to Vietnam on 13 December with the exception of a twelve-man rear detachment which followed on the 16th and 28th of the month.

The battalion flew into Bien Hoa and then moved to Cu Chi by truck convoy. They remained at the 25th Infantry Division base camp for thirty days of in-country training.

From Vietnam Album, created from a 1969 aerial photo, anamorphically distorted, and labeled according to unit locations in 1967.


Battalion Senior NCO photo

December 1967 - December 1968 - a brief outline of the accomplishments of the 2/501st (Report obtained from military archives by Lenny Kaminski)

2ND BATTALION (AIRMOBILE), 501ST INFANTRY UNIT HISTORY FOR 1968

GENERAL

The 2nd Battalion (Abn), 501st Infantry began the new year in the III CTZ operating in the vicinity of Cu Chi, RVN. In January, the entire Battalion airlifted to Hue in Northern I CTZ. During the remainder of the year, the Battalion operated within a 50 kilometers radius of Hue. Operations during the year included, reconnaissance in force, search and destroy, cordon and search, and security missions. Contact was sporadic and ranged from encounters with individual trail watchers to engagements with reinforced platoons in well-prepared defensive positions. During the year, three different individuals commanded the Battalion: LTC Richard Tallman (1 an-27 Apr 68), LTC J. A. Heiter (27 Apr-4 Nov 68), and LTC J. C. Wilson (4 Nov-).

Also during the year, the Battalion reorganized from an airborne to an airmobile configuration while continuing to perform all missions assigned.

Major operations the 2nd battalion took part in.

March 21, 1968
Late in the evening the North Vietnamese mad a daring attack on the night defensive perimeter of the 2/501st using B-40 rockets as covering fire. Using small arms, automatic weapons, and direct artillery fire, the paratroopers drove the enemy force off, killing 22.

April 11, 1968
Two days of fighting by A, B, and D Co:s, 2nd Bn, (Abn), 501st Inf, was conducted as another village full of NVA was cordoned 10 miles northeast of Hue along the "Street Without Joy." A sweep of Phong Dien village following a night of constant bombardment resulted in 66 enemy dead and 26 weapons captured.

April 16, 1968
Eighteen miles north of Hue elements from the 2/501st discovered an enemy base camp containing 20 underground tunnels and bunkers, Stored in the tunnels were 1.000 AK-47 rounds, 20 rounds of 60 mm mortars and various medical supplies.

April 17, 1968
A battalion-size cordon was conducted by paratroopers of the 1/501st and A/2/501st around the fortified village of Dong Xuyen three miles north of Hue, Following Army aviation, artillery and tactical air strikes, the "Geronimo" troopers entered the village. killing 53 enemy in three days. Eight more kills were recorded by the "No Slack" paratroopers of B Co" 2nd Bn. (Abn), 327th lnf.

April 21, 1968
Near Thon Kim Doi village, five miles north of Hue, C/2/501 paratroopers spotted and killed two Viet Cong. The fleeing enemy led the airborne riflemen to the village, where an enemy company was waiting. Early that evening, paratroopers from A/2/501 and B/2/501 air assaulted into blocking positions; completing the cordon of the village, The enemy body count at the end of the day rose to 21. Illumination continued throughout the night as the enemy employed heavy volumes of automatic weapons and RPG fire in an unsuccessful attempt to escape the village.

April 22, 1968
At first light, the multi-company paratrooper force poured suppressing automatic weapons fire on the enemy location while calling for more artillery and air strikes. At the close of the night's action the Screaming Eagles were credited with 47 NVA kills and seven weapons captured.

BATTALION FLAG

The flag 3-foot hoist by 4-foot, with fringe 2 1/2 inches wide,the embroidery is the same as in other flags from the same period. The flag made in 1963 for the HQ, 2 Bn. 501st Infantry The flag came from the estate of Col. Gerald G. Chikalla who commanded an infantry battalion in the 101st in 1972.

This is believed to be the flag carried by the Battalion (2/501 101st) in Vietnam

CMH

501st soldiers receive the Congressional Medal of Honor - Joe Hooper and Clifford Sims of D/2/50st.

Joe Hooper, of D/2/501st, the most decorated soldier of Vietnam, 37 medals. On March 7, 1969, President Nixon
presented him with the Congressional Medal Of Honor.

SSG Joe R. Hooper (D/2-501 IN) was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hue, Republic of Vietnam, on 21 February 1968. Staff Sergeant Hooper, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as squad leader with Company
D. Company D was assaulting a heavily defended enemy position along a river bank when it encountered a withering hail of fire from rockets, machineguns and automatic weapons. Staff Sergeant Hooper rallied several men and stormed across the river, overrunning several bunkers on the opposite shore. Thus inspired, the rest of the company moved to the attack. With utter disregard for his own safety, he moved out under the intense fire again and pulled back the wounded, moving them to safety. During this act Staff Sergeant Hooper was seriously wounded, but he refused medical aid and returned to his men. With the relentless enemy fire disrupting the attack, he single-handedly stormed three enemy bunkers, destroying them with hand grenade and rifle fire, and shot two enemy soldiers who had attacked and wounded the Chaplain. Leading his men forward in a sweep of the area, Staff Sergeant Hooper destroyed three buildings housing enemy riflemen. At this point he was attacked by a North Vietnamese officer whom he fatally wounded with his bayonet. Finding his men under heavy fire from a house to the front, he proceeded alone to the building, killing its occupants with rifle fire and grenades. By now his initial body wound had been compounded by grenade fragments, yet despite the multiple wounds and loss of blood, he continued to lead his men against the intense enemy fire. As his squad reached the final line of enemy resistance, it received devastating fire from four bunkers in line on its left flank. Staff Sergeant Hooper gathered several hand grenades and raced down a small trench which ran the length of the bunker line, tossing grenades into each bunker as he passed by, killing all but two of the occupants. With these positions destroyed, he concentrated on the last bunkers facing his men, destroying the first with an incendiary grenade and neutralizing two more by rifle fire. He then raced across an open field, still under enemy fire, to rescue a wounded man who was trapped in a trench. Upon reaching the man, he was faced by an armed enemy soldier whom he killed with a pistol. Moving his comrade to safety and returning to his men, he neutralized the final pocket of enemy resistance by fatally wounding three North Vietnamese officers with rifle fire. Staff Sergeant Hooper then established a final line and reorganized his men, not accepting treatment until this was accomplished and not consenting to evacuation until the following morning. His supreme valor, inspiring leadership and heroic self-sacrifice were directly responsible for the company's success and provided a lasting example in personal courage for every man on the field. Staff Sergeant Hooper's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army. (General Orders No. 24, April 17, 1969)

Clifford Sims, D/2/501st, Delta Raider

21 February 1968

SSG Clifford Sims (Posthumously) was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hue, Republic of Vietnam, on 21 February 1968. Company D was assaulting a heavily fortified enemy position concealed within a dense wooded area when it encountered strong enemy defensive fire. Once within the wood line, Staff
Sergeant Sims led his squad in a furious attack against an enemy force which had pinned down the 1st Platoon and threatened to overrun it. His skillful leadership provided the platoon with freedom of movement and enabled it to regain the initiative. Staff Sergeant Sims was then ordered to move his squad to a position where he could provide covering fire for the company command group and to link up with the 3d Platoon, which was under heavy enemy pressure. After moving no more than 30 meters Staff Sergeant Sims noticed that a brick structure in which ammunition was stocked was on fire. Realizing the danger, Staff Sergeant Sims took immediate action to move his squad from this position. Though in the process of leaving the area two members of his squad were injured by the subsequent explosion of the ammunition, Staff Sergeant Sims' prompt actions undoubtedly prevented more serious casualties from occurring. While continuing through the dense woods amidst heavy enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Sims and his squad were approaching a bunker when they heard the unmistakable noise of a concealed booby trap being triggered immediately to their front. Staff Sergeant Sims warned his comrades of the danger and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the device as it exploded, taking the full impact of the blast. In so protecting his fellow soldiers, he willingly sacrificed his life. Staff Sergeant Sims' extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army. (General Orders No. 83, December 12, 1969)

22 February 1968

S3, 2d Bn (Abn), 501st INF
(Daily Staff Journal or Duty Officer’s Log “Declassified”) (0100-2400);

0100: A Co. receiving incoming Mortar Rounds.
0315: A Co. has had movement in their location. Some S/A incoming fire negative casualties.
0720: Kilo and Log ship arrived; 80rds of 81mm were loaded to go to 81mm mortar platoon,
90mm & ammo for B Co.
0818: BN perimeter receiving sniper fire from Northern part of woods vic. 693 223; C Co. is
sweeping this direction
0835: A Co. repushes VC heading toward CP. Take him under fire
0836: Have a squad in that area – threw grenades, may have got them
0910: 1st Lift B Co. on LZ
0845: Delayed Entry: Fr S3 to Bde 3: Lot of sniper fire going on our area. Have to clear and
secure area before B Co. can come in. Objective area is too big to clear. Have to sweep part
where sniper fire is coming from.
0850: Delayed entry to Bde: Have killed 1 NVA sniper
0918: 2nd Lift B Co. Complete
0930: 3rd Lift B Co. on ground now.
0935: 4th Lift B Co. complete
0940: Fr 3: C Co. has 3 WIA; need Medevac, 2 in the leg, 1 in the neck. Fr DOW R O.1 U 1.7
Medevac requested, aircraft 928 evacuate in 5 min.
1010: Medevac w/one litter patient complete from C Co.
1049: Fr TAC CP: Have 2 WIA, that should be evacuated, 3 more that have got to secure LZ
1115: Still working w/C ready to clear up objective 7 in 30, will move to 8 with B and A Co.
1117: 3 WIA have been evaced – 3 are remaining, 1 cannot get to yet, so far 6 from C Co. 1 from
recon. (Medic)
1145: Fr Rcn: Have killed 1 NVA sniper, am getting 4 KIA’s from C Co out now.
1150: Co has almost completed clearing 7 to the North, cleared 1 man north of it at the woods. Fr
BDE use M79. D 1/7 Cav is pulling down from the North.
1155: Fr Recon: Have picked up 4 KIA’s from C Co. Recon has 3 WIA (1 Medic) C Co. has 4
KIA and 6 WIA, C Co. going to sweep the remainder of the northern part of our AO.
1215: Fr Bn CO: for today, C Co. has 4 KIA, 6 WIA, Recon has 3 WIA. C Co. has 7 NVA, B, A
Recon has 1 POW
1220: B Co. receiving SA form our left, has some indirect splashes 200-300 to right.
1225: A Co. receiving mortar fire on left flank, about 50 meters 60 or 81 meters
1225: To Bde: Last Medevac complete 1145
1225: To Bde S2: Have 3 more wpns to report 2 – M2 carbines, RPG Rd 3, AK-47 rounds 16,
136 – 5.56, 46 rounds of .30 Cal, 1 Chinese stick grenade.
1307: Fr B Co to S3: Don’t get area until in contact; see a lot of people off my left running east.
1345: S3 got contact with FAC, ceiling good enough for strike
1346: A & B moving on line to move to RJ8. Recon is in position to secure South flank
1400: Bunkers being destroyed by engineers in vic. of OBJ 7
1403: A Co. starting to receive fire
1405: B Co. in contact with sniper and small arms
1430: A Co. has 1 KIA and 3 WIA
1433: B Co. receiving M-60 from left flank
1445: Medevac requested for B Co.
1450: B Co. has 1 WIA, need Medevac now.
1509: B & A Co. will try to start moving. A center plot reached woods where enemy loc.
1510: Medevac complete
1520: Fr A Co: If Recon will engage bunker on my right, I can get another element in there.
1530: A Co. about 75 meters in the wood have left center (declassified portion) in the woods right
flank still cannot get in and going to try to get in the woods and in that location.
1535: Firing broke out heavy again, B Co. in the woods
1535: Fr Co to C Co: Go in OBJ 8, and A & B, go around A Co’s right flank.
1546: Fr Co: Need log bird to pick up POW, same equipment for captured equipment, KIA not
ready for pick up.
1547: B Co: 30 Body Count at this time.
1550: A Co. moving up on the right getting RPG’s but are driving on into OBJ 8
1550: Fr B Co: Need Medevac for 3 personnel
1557: FR A to B Co: Civilian say VC are heading toward B Co.
1600: A Co. here VC crawling out of the grass behind them. Recon Platoon is going to move
against them.
1615: A Co. receiving fire from his rear, in the high ground, will fire M79 and try to flush them
out.
1630: Recon securing ground site: A Co. receiving fire, recon getting fire between OBJ 7 and
present location. A Co. getting lots of fire from field, fire coming from open field form the north.
1655: D Co, CP, 81mm Plat displacing to vic. only 8 now.
1712: B Co. has 5 WIA to be evaced
2020: Casualties today: A Co. 3 KIA, 2 WIA; B Co. 14 WIA (2 not evacuated) total 16; C Co. 4
Kia, 6 WIA; Recon 3 WIA 2 not evaced total of 5. Body count B-16, C-7, Rcn-1; POW’s C-1,
Recon 2; Wpns Captured today: 3 AK47, 1 LMG, 200 rounds of AK47, 136 rounds of 5.56, 11
blocks of TNT, 400 rounds of 7.62, 1 AP Mine, one Chicom stick mine.

1968 OPERRATIONAL RESULTS SUMMARY

Personal

NVA/VC KIA - 939

Weapons
Individual - 316
Crew served - 69

Ammunition
SA/AW - 143,000 rounds
RPG - 728 rounds
60mm mortar - 1, 133 rounds
82mm mortar - 1, 425 rounds
57/7 75mm RR - 149 rounds
122mm rockets - 10 rounds

Friendly Losses
US KIA - 128
US WIA - 658

Awards
Distinguished Service Cross - 1
Silver Star - 119
Distinguished Flying Cross 2
Air Medal - 463
Bronze Star with “V” - 367
Army Commendation Medal with “V” - 146

AIRLIFT TO HUE

In January 68, the entire Battalion was airlifted to Hue unknown troopers of A Company loading C-130's