I-Corps was A Company's AO (Area of Operation) in
Vietnam. This area had the most intense fighting and the highest
casualty figures. 53 percent of all American combat deaths occurred in I
Corps. Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Thua Thien Providences accounted for 40
percent of all American deaths.
Alpha Company departed
from Fort
Campbell, December 1967. 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.
John H. Cushman - 2nd Brigade Commander, Vietnam 1967 - 1968
Major General Cushman would later became Division Commander
April 1972 - August 1973 |
A major reorganization took place on 3 February 1964, when the 2nd
Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division was activated at Fort Campbell,
replacing the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 501st Infantry Regiment. The
new 2nd Brigade's original organic battalions were the 1st and 2d
Battalions, 501st Infantry, and the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry.
December 13, 1967 - The 2nd Brigade deploys to the Republic of Vietnam
by C-141 aircraft from Campbell Army
Airfield and arrived at Bien Hoa Airbase on 13 December 1967.
December 15, 1967 - The 2nd Brigade’s colors arrive at Cu Chi base
camp,Republic of Vietnam.
Over the next five years, soldiers of the "Ready to Go" Brigade
participated in twelve campaigns, compiling a distinguished combat
record as well as an enviable reputation for success in the
rehabilitation of a war-torn nation. The President of Vietnam personally
decorated the colors of the Brigade three times, twice with the
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and once with the RVN Civic Action Honor
Medal.
The Brigade returned to Fort Campbell in April, 1972. |
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BEWARE THIS MAN
Listen you citizens, and listen well,
When stories are told of men in hell,
Look at the man, and give him ear,
For this man knows the meaning of fear.
Look for the man with a 101st crest,
He fought with giants, He's one of the best,
He knows what it is to fall from the sky,
To fight like a man, and yes, even to die.
He fought with men, a special breed,
True to their oath, the Paratrooper's Creed,
Those men of iron who have a bond to keep,
With comrades below in graves to deep.
He fought in the day and he fought at night,
He killed in anger and he killed in fright,
He buried his dead, and then wondered in awe,
"This killing of men, is this God's law?"
A task he had, and hell would pay,
Before this trooper would quit that day,
So he kept on fighting and hunting VC,
For a world, which someday, might freer be.
A warning to you, who laugh and scorn,
This man did not fight for a cause forlorn,
He's done his job, more than his share,
So beware of him when he enters your lair.
This man means trouble for all your kind,
You shrinks and cowards, with a sick, soul and mind,
Beware his temper, that you do not burst,
Because he's a fighter-from the 101st.
2ND BRIGADE PARATROOPERS
AUTHOR UNKNOWN |
The President of Vietnam personally decorated the colors of the Brigade
three times, twice with the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and once with
the Republic Vietnam Civic Action Honor Medal.
June 19, 1968- Colonel Cushman accepts the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with
Palm Unit Citation from President Nguyen Van Thieu of the Republic of
Vietnam at Hue. The streamer is added to the Brigade Colors.
June 20, 1968- In Hue, South Vietnam’s President Nguyen Van Thieu
presented Col. John H. Cushman and the paratroopers of the 2nd Brigade
Task Force with the country’s Presidential Unit Citation for their
combat record since deploying to I Corps in early February. From
February until this date, the task force paratroopers killed 2,382
enemy, detained 257 suspects, and captured 724 enemy weapons. |
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2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division was Awarded the Republic of Vietnam
Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968 -
General Order No. 21, Department of the Army, 8 April 1969
Extract from General Orders No. 21,Headquarters, Department of the Army,
Washington, D.C,.8 April 1969 -
II. 5. The Cross of Gallantry with Palm has been awarded by the
Government of the Republic of Vietnam for outstanding service during the
period 19 April 1968 to 15 August 1968 to:
THE 2D BRIGADE, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIRMOBILE) and its assigned and
attached units:
2d Brigade, 100st Airborne Division (Airmobile), Headquarters and
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry
2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry
1st Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry
1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Artillery
2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry
Company C, 326th Engineer Battalion
Company B, 326th Medical Battalion
Company B, 501st Signal Battalion
2d Platoon, Company A, 801st Maintenance Battalion
Forward Support Element,501st Supply Company
265th Radio Research Company
34th Public Information Detachment |
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This trooper was with the 1/501st, this snake
was on the compound. The Vietnamese told us it was a Black Mamba.
South Vietnam camp near HUE August 1968 |
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Our job at the camp was to relay night ambush map grids to the
Battalion, and our ambush sites to the South Vietnam troops. A funny
thing though, we had to use code over the radio to give out
positions, but the Vietnamese did not. So just think, when they gave out
positions, there was no code that they used, just their own language.
Any North Vietnam soldier or Viet Cong who was listening to their radio
would know exactly where our troops were set up at night...SCARY
THOUGHT.
August 1968 South Vietnam camp near HUE City. Comments by Mike Connell |
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21 December 1967 - Platoon leaders and platoon sergeants from 2nd
Brigade begin accompanying units of the 25th Infantry Division in local
operations in the Cu Chi district, Vietnam.
16 January 1968 - 2nd Brigade ends its “in-country orientation and
training phase” and conducts OPERATION NORMANDY in the area around Cu
Chi, Vietnam.
21 – 30 January 1968 - The 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, the 2nd
Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, the 1st and 2nd Squadrons, 11th ACR
begin Operation ATTALA/CASEY, conducted a reconnaissance in force
operation against the 165th PAVN Regiment in Binh Duong Province.
21 January 1968 - 2nd Brigade takes part in operations within AO Attala
around Minh Thanh in the Michelin rubber plantation. 12th Aviation Group
provided 75 CH-47 sorties to move the brigade, combined with a four
serial ground convoy. |
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