CHU LAI - In their second major engagement in a week, infantrymen from the 23rd Infantry Division's 1st Bn., 52nd Inf., 198th Inf. Bde., combined with gunships from the 174th Avn. Co. to kill 26 enemy soldiers, wound and capture four, detain five, and destroy a Viet Cong training site south of here.

Echo Recon combat assaulted into an area outside the village and broke up into three-man groups to cordon the entire area. Sgt. Douglas C. Eldridge, acting platoon leader, took his element down a small trail. When an NVA soldier popped out of a spider hole on the edge of the trail and aimed his rifle at the small unit, Eldridge shot a three-round burst and killed the

A nearby group heard the firing and approached to lend support. Sgt. Thomas Hazelhorst spotted another NVA trying to escape to a small river. His unit pursued and detained the enemy after an M79 grenade round had wounded him.

Meanwhile, Maj. Charles E. Getz, battalion commander and director of the operation, had spotted another concentration of enemy nearby. Echo Recon was again on the move. the Ready Rifles were inserted into the enemy location and immediately produced results.

Four Viet Cong were killed even before the last helicopter had time to leave. After being inserted with the recon unit, Spec. 4 Michael McPeters killed two enemy as he hit the ground while firing both grenades and rifle rounds from his new over-and-under M16/M79. Eldridge and Hazelhorst also killed one each.

Spec. 4 Charles Todd, spotting a Viet Cong carrying a rifle trying to evade the barrage of firepower, pursued the VC almost 1,000 yards before capturing his foe. The VC had hidden his weapon in the pursuit, but showed Todd where to find the weapon on the way back to the rest of the element.

Again Getz, hovering over the area in his helicopter, spotted a large concentration of enemy soldiers only 300 yards from the fighting. He joined the ground troops to lead the attack on the enemy position.

A platoon of Delta started its move to the link-up point and Echo Recon did the same. Gunships were already on station and had the enemy's back covered. The only way the enemy could move was into the teeth of the converging elements.

The linkup was successfully made at the point desired and the combined elements assaulted the trapped enemy. Hazelhorst found three Viet Cong killed by gunships. Two more enemies fled at the sight of the approaching element, and Hazelhorst's men brought them down.

The gunships had expended their ammunition, but another platoon of C. Co, D was inserted to serve as a blocking force. As the attack continued, Delta killed three Viet Cong, Echo Recon wiped out seven more who were hiding in spider holes.

The largest action of the seven-day period occurred Nov. 17 in an area 60 miles southwest of Kontum City, when men of B Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cav., received small arms fire while on a visual reconnaissance mission. Tactical air support was requested and strikes were made against the enemy position. Eighteen enemy soldiers were killed and 17 structures and 15 bunkers were destroyed.

Ten miles northwest of Quang Ngai City, men of Co. D, 1st Bn., 52nd Inf., and aircrews of the 174th Assault Helicopter Co. flew into three landing zones. Contact with an enemy force was made at each landing zone, leaving a total of 11 enemy killed and seven individual weapons captured.

In other 23rd Infantry Division operations that day, men of Co. A, 4th Bn., 31st Inf., found three tons of corn piled on the ground in an open area nine miles southwest of An Hoa. The corn was in good condition and was evacuated.

Later in the same day, the same unit was responsible for finding a cache containing two 122mm rockets, one 82mm mortar, one RPG launcher, 500 Chicom grenades, three 7.62mm light machine guns and 30 60mm mortar rounds, All items were in good condition and were evacuated.

An element of C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cav., spotted a bunker while on a visual reconnaissance mission 30 miles northeast of Phuoc Vinh. Suspecting enemy activity, they engaged the position with organic weapons, killing one NVA soldier and destroying an AK47 rifle.

Later in the day, Co. A, 1st Bn., 12th Cav., made contact with an estimated enemy force of three or four individuals, 18 miles northeast of Song Be. The Skytroopers, carrying out a ground reconnaissance mission, called in aerial and ground artillery as well as their own organic weapons. The action resulted in one NVA killed and one CKC rifle captured.

While flying a visual reconnaissance mission northwest of FSB Snuffy, gun crews of A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Air Cav., observed and fired upon two enemy walking along a trail 15 miles northwest of Song Be.

Soldiers of Co. A, 1st Bn., 7th Ca., found eight bunkers and 12 huts containing 74 82mm mortar rounds, seven 60mm mortar rounds, five 75mm howitzer rounds, 10 57mm recoilless rifle rounds, 16 RPG rounds, 106 grenades and 1,900 small arms rounds.

On an afternoon reconnaissance mission, pilots of the 16th Air Cav. Spotted signs of activity in the southern tip of the Hatchet area o An Xuyen Province. Light observation helicopters moved in and killed one VC attempting to cross a canal. When more were spotted moving toward a bunker, Cobra gunships were called in.

Ivymen of A and C Troops, 1st Squadron, 10th Armored Cav., reacted Nov. 21 when and 8th Trans. Gp. convoy was ambushed by an undetermined-size enemy force employing RPG and mortar fire 29 miles east of Pleiku City in Military Region 2.

Seven enemy soldiers were killed and supplies of rice and ammunition were captured as elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade combined efforts with units of the 75th Rangers in engaging an enemy force in a base camp eight miles southwest of Phu My Nov. 22.

CHU LAI - If it's true that an army travels on its stomach then Viet Cong and NVA units will be in trouble this monsoon season. Infantrymen from the 23rd Infantry Division's 198th Inf. Bde. uncovered more than 40 tons of enemy rice in one week while working south of Chu Lai.

Echo Recon, of the 1st Bn., 52nd Inf., found the first large quantity while maneuvering south of Chu Lai. The recon unit found 20,000 pounds of rice stored in large tin drums. All the rice, polished and ready for use, was buried under about six inches of dirt.

When Echo Recon moved into the area, they received small arms fire from a nearby woodline. The Ready Rifles swept the area and found that they had killed four Viet Cong soldiers. The rice was found hidden in the bushes.

Four days later a rifle platoon from F Troop, 8th Cav., spotted a bin of rice south of Chu Lai. Alpha Co. A, 1st Bn., 52nd Inf., moved into the area to check out the aerial rice find. A total of 35,000 pounds of polished rice was found.

"All of the rice was buried in mortar containers except for three bins which had been spotted from the air," said Staff Sgt. James Eddos, a platoon sergeant for Alpha. "We had to do a lot of searching to find the rest of the rice that had been buried."

The rifle platoon found 2,000 pounds of rice nearby shortly thereafter to complete the rice find for that day. It took a CH47 helicopter three trips to evacuate the 27,000 pounds of rice to the Son Tinh district headquarters.

Later in the week, Delta Company, 1st Bn., 52nd Inf., found 32,500 pounds of rice while working in the open terrain south of Chu Lai. The polished rice was also found buried about six inches under the surface of the earth. Over 25 large tin drums were found in the heavily booby-trapped area.

LZ MARY ANN - The constant drumming of the rain on the shelter's roof accompanied the chanting of Vietnamese women and the urgent prompting of the American Army doctor for the pregnant woman to "push, push" her baby into being.

The heavy rains had delayed the arrival of the medevac helicopter and, thusly denied access to suitable medical facilities for the delivery. After delivery was completed, it became clear the baby was not breathing.

Only a few hours before, Capt. Gerald S. Wiviott, field surgeon for the 1st Bn., 46th Inf., 196th Inf. Bde., learned of the Vietnamese woman's troubled pregnancy on one of his frequent visits to the village of New Hau Duc, a resettlement area west of Tam Ky. Spec. 4 Kevin Smith, a medic from the battalion stationed in the community, informed Wiviott that the woman

The woman was taken to a small shelter near the helicopter pad to wait for the medevac. Continual rains delayed the arrival of the helicopter. The inclement weather, however, did not postpone the baby's birth. The midwife who had accompanied the woman conducted the deliver, assisted by the doctor. Smith, a Navy medic and a male nurse from MACV carried necessary medical equipment and supplies from the aid station to the shelter.

"As I urged the woman at the height of her labor to push down on her stomach, a group of women off to the side began to chant. They made a clicking sound which rose and fell in volume as the labor pains fluctuated," recalled Wiviott.

"The baby wasn't breathing after the midwife delivered it, and she didn't know what to do. So I took the baby from here and tried to remove the obstruction to the baby's breathing. I used a rubber tube as an aspirator to extract the blocking material from the baby's throat and lungs," continued Wiviott. "I alternately administered aspiration and artificial respiration until the baby began to breathe on its own."

THEY WENT THAT-A-WAY, seems to be the signal given by a pathfinder from the 101st Airborne Division as he directs helicopters from the 101st Assault Helicopter Bn. for a landing on a recently opened fire support base, south of Hue.

The amnesty program lets the drug user "turn himself in" without being subject to prosecution on drug charges. One stipulation is that the man must not be under investigation for drug violations before he requests amnesty. If he's busted" on a drugs charge after he seeks amnesty, he forfeits his freedom from prosecution.

"I am much more interested in getting a man into the amnesty program than arresting him on a narcotics charge," said Lt. Col. Everitt I. Perrin Jr., division provost marshal. "We don't even keep records as to who is in the amnesty program," he added.

Once a man requests help from a member of his unit or someone else he feels he can trust, he's part of the program. His battalion surgeon, who decides if the man will need medical treatment or hospitalization to make it through the crucial withdrawal, examines him.

The division surgeon, Lt. Col. E.A. Krekorian, pointed out that the man who can do the most for effective rehabilitation or withdrawal is the battalion surgeon. "The psychiatrist has no special mystique or incantations that can help the average patient more than a battalion surgeon can, "he said.

As important as the battalion surgeon is the program, the patient can make or break the whole effort. "My office is open 24 hours a day," said division Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Teddy R. Pope, "and the chaplain section has a man on duty around the clock. If a man wants to enter the amnesty program, we can help him get started," he said.

"If a man finds he wants to slip back to drugs, we may be able to help him stick to his intentions to quit by talking about the problem with him, helping him [get] his answers to his questions," he added.

In July 1966, the first elements of the 4th Infantry Division left Fort Lewis for service in Vietnam. By Oct. 13 the Ivy Division was fully committed to its third call to arms. The 2nd Bde set up the first base camp at the base of Dragon Mountain. The camp was later named Camp Enari for Lt. Mark Enari who was killed in action and posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

On Oct. 26, 1966, the 1st Bde. took part in Operation Adams near Tuy Hoa, where it killed 491 terrorists. The 3rd Bde. saw action in Operations Junction City, Gadsden, Bremerton, Manhattan and Cedar Fall, taking a heavy toll against the enemy. The division also fought [in] Operations Paul Revere III and IV, Sam Houston, and Francis Marion. During Operation MacArthur the division drove main force enemy units from the long-held enemy strongholds in

Pleiku, Kontum, and Darlac Provinces. During the Tet offensive of 1968, heavy fighting at Dak To, Kontum City and Pleiku City left over 2,600 enemy dead. The enemy was then routed from his sanctuaries in the Dak Payou Valley and the Chu Pa Mountains.

A five-man team is teaching the courses, designed to guide the safety officer in his accident prevention and investigation efforts, from the U.S. Army Board for Aviation Accident Research (USABAAR). With headquarters at Fort Rucker, Ala., the Army's aviation center and school, USABAAR coordinates the Army's worldwide aviation safety programs.

The safety officers, who are assigned down to company level, provide grassroots contact for USABAAR. They run their unit's safety programs, insure that pilots and aircrews are kept informed of the latest recommended practices, and report information on accidents.

"The regular aviation safety officer course is a 13-week program at the University of Southern California," explained Maj. Richard L. Smith, who heads the aviation safety branch of the U.S. Army, Vietnam's office of the aviation officer, "but only a third of our aviation safety officers here in Vietnam are graduates of the program. The short course is our way of getting

Smith felt that the short course has played a part in the declining accident rate for aircraft in Vietnam. "When we had the first short course here last year, our accident rate was 23.3 per 100,000 flying hours. Not it is 17.6. The trained safety officer has been an important part of this improved record."

Fifty aviation safety officers have been scheduled to attend each of five 30-hour sessions. The four-day courses were scheduled between Nov. 17 and Dec. 10 at the University of Maryland classroom buildings on Long Binh Post.

"Our emphasis is finding the causes of accidents before they occur," said Capt. John H. Schleiver, one of the USABAAR instructors. "Too much stress had been placed on accident investigation - we want our safety officers to help their fliers prevent accidents. We could spend the entire 30-hour session going over regulations, but instead we try to give the aviation safety officer some basic guidelines and information and urge him to tailor his program to

Operational errors and mechanical failures each account for almost equal shares of aviation accidents in Vietnam, according to Smith. "The safety officer must keep in close contact with ground support personnel as well as the air crews to maintain safe operations," he said. The three major operational errors are low-level flight, midair collisions, and flying in adverse weather conditions."

QUANG NAM PROVINCE - Floodwaters rolled over this section of Military region 1 recently and for three days American servicemen, Vietnamese soldiers and civilians and Republic of Korea soldiers labored at saving the lives and homes of the inhabitants.

The Hoi Chanhs were there to help unload the big CH47 Chinook helicopters delivering supplies to the refugees of the flooding. The Hoi Chanhs helped in the rescue efforts of isolated families in Hoi An proper.

Tenorio, Chieu Hoi adviser for Quang Nam Province, tells of arriving at the center in a boat and finding scores of the Hoi Chanhs and their dependents trapped inside the building, clinging to the rafters. The center, at this time, was engulfed in floodwaters 10 to 12 feet deep. Tenorio made several trips through the current-ravaged streets of Hoi An bringing out a number of the families and obtaining boats to bring the others out.

Traitors--to the Viet Cong-though they may be, the Hoi Chanhs are finding a new better way of life. Any Hoi Chanh in Quang Nam Province must be at the center within five days after rallying to allied forces. During those five days they are interrogated, but are treated with respect and are generally made to feel welcome. Tenorio is constantly making the rounds of Hoi Chanh villages. To him the results are gratifying. When asked how many of the Hoi Chanhs have reverted back to communism, he has a ready answer. "In the last five years, exactly .01 per cent have gone back."

CAMP EAGLE - Ground elements of the 3rd Bn., 506th Inf., air elements of the 2nd Bn., 17th Cav., and guns from Btry. B, 2nd Bn., 320th Arty., all units of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), recently quelled an enemy mortar and rocket attack and killed 19 North Vietnamese (NVA) soldiers in the process.

At least two possible ammunition caches were destroyed in addition to a suspected enemy sampan in the action which occurred at dusk nine miles southwest of Hue in Thua Thien Province of northern Military Region 1.

At the same time, 16 enemy 82mm mortar rounds landed outside the perimeter at FSB Birmingham, five miles southwest of Hue. Ground elements of the reconnaissance platoon, 3rd Bn., 506th Inf., spotted approximately 20 flashes two miles south of the fire base. Quad.-50s (four .50-caliber machine guns), Dusters (40mm air defense artillery guns) and 105mm howitzers from Bravo Battery silenced the enemy mortar fire. In addition, Dusters firing on the

Meanwhile, a Cobra gunship from Alpha Troop and a UH1 (Huey) gunship from Charlie Troop, 2nd Bn., 17th Cav., were flying over the enemy mortar positions. They spotted muzzle flashes from the mortars and 20 enemy soldiers.

Fighting was scattered throughout the 1st Cavalry Division's area of operations in Military Region 3 Nov. 29. There were 12 enemy soldiers killed and 22 detainees were taken to a First Team fire support base for classification and interrogation.

Action began when an observation helicopter of Btry,. C, 2nd Bn., 20th Arty., and two gunships of Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cav., received ground fire one mile north of Ham Tan. While there were no friendly casualties, three NVA soldiers were killed.

In other action, a warning device detonated on the perimeter aroused an element of Co. C, 1st Bn., 7th Cav. Immediately afterward, the Skytroopers received small arms fire but quickly established fire superiority. Artillery was called in and at the conclusion of the battle, four enemy soldiers were found dead and two AK47 rifles were captured.

Elsewhere, elements of the 1st Squadron, 9th Air Cav., were greeted with rocket-propelled grenade rounds and small arms fire upon entering a bunker complex. The Skytroopers returned the fire with organic weapons and were supported by tactical air strikes. Five enemy were killed.

In Military Region 4, the same day, Darkhorses of the 16th Air Cav., 13th Combat Avn. Bn., 1st Aviation Brigade, killed six enemy six miles southeast of VI Thanh in Chuong Thien Province, while in support of the ARVN 21st Division.

While on visual reconnaissance, light observation helicopters spotted one Viet Cong attempting to conceal himself in a camouflaged bunker. Upon closer observation it was discovered that the area wa a bunker and hootch complex. Gunships immediately moved in, killing six enemy soldiers and destroying four bunkers and three hootches.

In other action, elements of the 23rd Infantry Division uncovered a nine-ton salt cache in Military Region 1. (Note: there is a typo on the name of this unit) Men of Co. A, 1st Bn., 4th Inf., came upon the salt while operating eight miles southwest of Tam Ky. The salt cache was evacuated. 1

As insertions continued, Viet Cong B40 rockets and automatic and small arms fire was encountered. Darkhorse Cobra gunships engaged the enemy killing two VC. As the enemy retreated the Cobras struck again, claiming two more enemy lives.

Captured in the operation so far: 7,000 pounds of corn, 2,700 pounds of rice, 508 Chicom (Chinese Communist) grenades, 140 pounds of plastic explosives, six Chinese light machine guns, 14 122mm rockets, 52 60mm mortar rounds, 12 105mm artillery rounds, two complete 82mm mortars, two 82mm mortar rounds, 17 75mm recoilless rifle rounds, three SKS rifles, six AK47 rifles, 1,000 rounds of AK47 ammunition, two 9mm pistols and 800 blasting caps.

In Military Region 1 Nov. 27, 23rd Infantry Division soldiers found a cache containing eight tons of salt. The discovery was made by Co. A, 1st Bn., 46th Inf., seven miles southwest of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province. The salt was evacuated.

While on visual reconnaissance mission for the 2nd Bn., 1st Inf., a soldier of the 196th Inf Bde. observed three NVA soldiers northwest of Tam Ky. Infantrymen engaged the enemy with small arms fire, killing all three.

farther east in South Vietnam. Most of the captured supplies were hidden in bunkers and caves along the Phu Bon River, which is a major north-south water route. Several tunnel complexes dot the vicinity being explored.

Skytroopers of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) supported by the U.S. Air Force air strikes engaged an undetermined-size enemy force in a four-hour battle 10 miles northeast of FSB Mace in Military Region 3 Nov. 28. Three enemy soldiers were reported killed.

In Skytrooper ground action, Co. C, 1st Bn., 7th Cav., killed two enemy soldiers while on a reconnaissance mission four miles north of FSB Green. Co. A, 2nd Bn.,12th Cav., killed two enemy soldiers while flying a visual reconnaissance mission.

"The companionship is also great," Donald interjected. "When we get a letter from home we can sit around and talk about old times back in the States. It helps a great deal. We wouldn't change the situation for anything."

McCracken, as any Chinook pilot, has good reason to feel the uneasiness of possibly being shot down while flying over enemy territory. The size of the aircraft makes it a target that would be almost impossible to miss while coming into a hot landing zone or flying below heavy overcast.

To U.S. and ARVN soldiers on landing zones scattered throughout the 23rd area of operation, the sight of the 178th Box Cars means water, food, supplies and mail. To the crew of chopper No. 436, "It makes you feel like you're doing something worthwhile," commented Spec. 4 Fay Brudos, one of the three door gunners for the aircraft.

CU CHI - Two brigades of the 25th Infantry Division - a division distinguished by its combat record throughout World War II, the Korean War and now Vietnam - have been redeployed from Vietnam to the U.S. Pacific reserve.

The 25th Infantry (Tropic Lightning) Division was born at Schofiled Barracks, Hawaii, on Oct. 1, 1941. It was formed from the 27th and 35th Inf. Regts. of the old Hawaiian Division, which had been in Hawaii since 1921, and had the 289th Inf. Regt. which had been part of the Hawaiian National Guard.

MACV sent out a request for additional combat units in December 1965 and once again the 25th Infantry Division responded, this time with its 4,000-man 3rd Bde. Operation Blue Light, the largest combat airlift on record, transported the brigade from Hawaii's Hickam Air Force Base to the Central Highlands at Pleiku.

In Tet of 1968 and 1969, Tropic Lightning soldiers were called on to defend the Vietnamese capital. The speed of their reaction, combined with the violence of their onslaught, stunned the Communists, effectively stopping the attacks on Saigon. The 3rd Squadron, 4th Cav., received the Presidential Unit Citation for its 1968 defense of Tan Son Nhut Air Base.

While in Vietnam, the heroism of the men of the 25th Infantry Division is attested to by the fact that 11 have been recipients of the nation's highest award-the Medal of Honor. Also, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses have been presented and 934 Silver Stars awarded.

The event was the dedication of a new 40-bed tuberculosis ward at Tay Ninh Hospital, in the city and province of the same name. Representatives of the Republic of Vietnam, the Philippines and the United States were in the crowd of 200 to watch the two-story edifice turned over the TB-stricken residents of the province.

Lt. Col. Curtis A. Brewer, commanding officer of the 2nd Civil Affairs Co., whose 6th platoon was responsible for supervision and construction of the structure, and Lt. Col. Robert B. Osborn, II Field Force G5, represented II Field Force headquarters.

Capt. Joel Boroff, commanding officer of the 6th platoon, was awarded the Vietnamese Public Health Medal First Class for his contribution to the project. Other American soldiers who worked on the construction of the TB ward were presented certificates of appreciation from the minister of health.

Few in Tay Ninh Province remember when Capt. James S. Soileau arrived in Vietnam in November 1968. Assigned to the 541st Med. Det. of the 187th Helicopter Assault Gp. at Tay Ninh West base camp, Dr. Soileau began spending most of his off-duty time working at the hospital in the city.

His charisma awakened an unprecedented enthusiasm toward life among those round him. The Vietnamese, in particular, adored him. From this, they soon came to learn that improvements could be made in their lives and surroundings. The seed was sown. From it grew the idea of a new TB ward. The Vietnamese took their case to the ministry of health, requesting funds needed for the project. The request was approved and the Philippine Contingent team at the readied plans to begin construction.

A month later, things looked better. Construction had begun but was moving sluggishly. Enthusiasm waned. On Dec. 7, the Philippine team's tour in Tay Ninh ended and the project ground to an abrupt halt.

Eight months later could be seen the towering figure of a stout American lieutenant perched on the roof of the TB ward directing the efforts of the scores of workers as they put the finishing touches on the new ward, scheduled for completion early in August.

LZ STINSON - In a recent operation about two miles northeast of LZ Stinson, Co. C, 1st Bn., 52nd Inf., zeroed in on what authorities believed to be the weapons company of the 48th Viet Cong Regt. Seventeen VC were killed in the action.

Coming across a fresh Viet Cong grave in the middle of thick vegetation, the men decided to check out the area. Cutting their way through the vine-laden jungle terrain, the infantrymen stopped to take a breather near a small stream.

After the gunships came in, the security afforded by the caves was soon evident. When Co. C started to move, the enemy greeted them with a volley of rifle and machine gun fire. Gunships were again requested.

The well-concealed rock formation with its moss-lined walls and vine-covered passageways offered its occupants an ideal sanctuary. The nearby stream provided water. Judging from the amount of equipment found in the crevices, the site apparently was an often-visited Viet Cong arms depot.

Having secured the area, the GIs set up camp about 700 yards from the arsenal and started a thorough search of the crevices. Charlie Company took three days to search through the rocks, uncovering weapons stored there.

"Donations of more than 2,000 dollars from the men of the battalion have been used for the purchase of cement and other building materials," remarked Capt. James H. Kenton, the battalion civic action officer. "The people needed a school and we wanted to build one, so we got together with them and built one," Kenton added.

A primary school in the hamlet of An Luong Dong, 15 miles south of Hue, was without study desks when they contacted the civil affairs office of the 3rd Bn., 506th Inf., 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), and asked for aid.

"The entire project, the desks and the latrine, is of benefit to both the Vietnamese and us," Wainwright added. I'm glad that we can help the people like this, and I'm sure they enjoy working for their future."

Brigadier General M.J.L. Greene, assistant commander of the 25th Infantry Division, labeled the project "a lasting monument to the friendship and achievements of Phuoc Hiep village and the 725th Maintenance Battalion."

The two-room structure is the first high school in the Phuoc Hiep area, and represents the last civic actions project of the 725th. During the year, the battalion constructed three other schools while maintaining an orphanage.

Materials donated by the Qui Nhon Support Command aided another new school, built by Vietnamese Regional and Popular Forces. The school, built adjacent to the troops's housing in Qui Nhon, has three classrooms and serves 260 children.

Darkhorses of the 16th Air Cav., 13th Combat Avn. Bn., made strikes Dec. 3 on several areas of the U Minh Forest in northern An Xuyen Province within Military Region 4. Initial reports counted five enemy dead after scattered encounters.

Again in Military Region 4, Dec. 2, 16th Air Cavalrymen killed five Viet Cong in an area north of the U Minh Forest in Kien Giang Province. LOH crews handled the three midday contacts. In the first encounter, gun crews bore down on enemy troops running across an open area, killing two. Shortly after, LOH crews killed two more Viet Cong who had been spotted making their way across a bridge toward a bunker. In their last contact of the day, Darkhorses killed a lone enemy soldier who had been found concealing himself in tall grass.

In clean-up operations within military Region 4 Dec. 5, units from the 13th Combat Avn. Bn. accounted for a total of 19 enemy dead in sporadic contacts while in support of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In the Hatchet Head area south of the U Minh Forest, crews from the 16th Air Cav. killed 11 Viet Cong in an afternoon engagement.

WO Robert P. Cosgriff, copilot of the command and control ship, reported, "The LOHs spotted one VC in a hole and closer investigation turned up a string of bunkers." Cobra gunships were called in; they made three air strikes into the area, killing the 11 enemy soldiers. Earlier that morning, LOHs from the same unit spotted movement near the mouth of a river approximately five miles southwest of the Hatchet Head area. The helicopter crews fired on the enemy, killing four. The last contact of the day came in the evening south of Can Tho. LOH crews killed one Viet Cong in a woodline.

Elsewhere in southern Military Region 4, the Vultures of the 162nd Assault Helicopter Co., 13th Combat Avn. Bn., saw morning action northeast of Thoi Dinh. The Vulture gunships were credited with killing three enemy soldiers.

In Miliary Region 1, combat action Nov. 30, the 23rd Infantry Division Headquarters and Chu Lai military compound received about 20 122mm rockets; casualties and material damage were light. Elsewhere in the 23rd's area of operation, an armored personnel carrier from the 1st Squadron, 1st Armored Cav., detonated a 100-pound antitank mine five miles west of Tam Ky.

Soldiers of the 23rd killed 11 enemy and found three tons of rice in Military Region 1 Dec. 1. South of Chu Lai, members of a 198th Inf. Bde. patrol sighted 10 enemy soldiers. The U.S. troops engaged with small arms fire, killing eight and detaining the remaining two soldiers. Another 198th element killed two enemy soldiers southwest of Chu Lai. Northwest of Duc Pho,

In action within Military Region 1 Dec. 2, soldiers of the 23rd killed three enemy and uncovered a large store of rice. Operating southwest of Chu Lai, men of Co. D, 1st Bn., 52nd Inf., spotted and killed three North Vietnamese soldiers evading detection. Later while searching the area, they uncovered four tons of rice buried in the ground along a hedgerow. Three tons were destroyed and the remaining ton evacuated for redistribution.

In 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) action in Military Region 3 Dec. 1, three U.S. soldiers were wounded in two incidents. An 8th Engr. Bn., fuel truck was ambushed near FSB Karen. The driver and the passenger were slightly wounded by rocket-propelled grenades that struck the vehicle. Two miles north of FSB Green an unknown size enemy force while exploring a bunker complex attacked an element of the 1st Bn., 7th Cav.. The Skytroopers called for artillery and air support resulting in five enemy killed. U. S. casualties were nine wounded.

An element of the 1st Squadron, 9th Cav., Dec. 4, while flying over an area to check the results of the previous night's bombings approximately 10 miles southeast of FSB Ares, found four dead Viet Cong and one wounded enemy. An element of the Blue Team was inserted to evacuate the wounded prisoner to the 15th Med. Bn. at Phuoc Vinh. While searching the area, Blues found a bunker complex that looked like a training center for Viet Cong. The structures were outfitted with desks and blackboards. An AK47 rifle was also found.

Units of the 101st were inserted into mountainous jungles about 18 miles southwest of Hue in northern Military Region 1 Dec. 5. While moving through the jungles, men of the 1st Bn., 327th Inf., came upon an enemy machine gun position manned by four NVA soldiers. Cobra gunships were called in from Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cav,., where they destroyed the position and killed all four enemy. Troops on the ground killed three additional enemy during the day.

Screaming Eagles of Co. D, 3rd Bn., 506th Inf., discovered four enemy bunkers containing an arms cache while on a reconnaissance patrol about 15 miles south-southeast of Hue in Military Region 1. The cache consisted of two rocket launchers, five rockets, an ammunition can containing eight rocket-propelled grenade fuses and 50 pounds of rice. The launchers were evacuated and the rest of the cache destroyed.

In Military Region 3 Dec. 5, one enemy was killed and 13 bunkers were destroyed by 25th soldiers near FSB Kien north of the Boi Loi Woods. Co. C Wolfhounds of the 1st Bn., 27th Inf, killed the enemy in a brief contact. One AK47 rifle and a Viet Cong rucksack were captured. In other Tropic Lightning action, men of Troop D, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cav. destroyed five bunkers, and an additional eight bunkers were destroyed by soldiers of Co. D, 1st Bn., 27th Inf.

BEARCAT - Often life in a combat zone is not too different from life in any other part of the world. Day-to-day aspects of life normally associated with peacetime activity are often found in the Republic of Vietnam.

The classes are night courses much like those that any college would offer. Due to the situation hover, the "school bus" is somewhat unusual; it is OD green, has rotor blades and is more at home in the air than on a road.

It all began when Capt. Lesli D. Jones, Sgt. Donald M. Brown, Spec. 5 Randolph L. Wirth and Spec. 4 Stephen P. McGinn, found an opportunity to earn college credit through the University of Maryland's Far East annex at Long Binh.

Jones is a current and qualified rotary-wing aviator for the UH1H. He is the battalion's signal officer with a previous tour in Vietnam as a Hq. Co. commanding officer. Jones is pursuing a degree in communications engineering and is the school "bus driver".

Wirth is pursuing a degree in sociology. Brown is the commo Teletype team chief for 22nd [222nd] Aviation and acts as a door gunner for the school bus run. He is just a few hours away from earning a degree in industrial education.

The final member of the group, McGinn, is trying for a degree in liberal arts. Because there are no more crewmember jobs necessary on the school bus, McGinn has unanimously elected the school bus monitor!

After completing a full day's work, the foursome dons their uniforms and prepare for the flight to the campus at Long Binh. One additional aviator is required to fly the ship with Jones because of regulations for night flying. There has never been any problem in getting the additional aviator.

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE but during the monsoon season the "Hook" brings the water to drink. A CH47 Chinook helicopter from the 159th Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), resupplies the Screaming Eagles with water at Fire Support Base Veghel, about 15 miles southwest of Hue.

FSB DRAGON HEAD - After two 1st Air Cav Cobra pilots were forced down in the jungles near here, they found they had two search parties out looking for them -- the members and friends of A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cav., and the VC.

Flying low level over a small hilltop, they spotted three VC running through a rice paddy on the other side. The pilots drove in firing their rockets. As he was pulling the craft up, Bartlett saw another VC run into the jungle cover and he turned to engaged.

Bartlett, an 11-month veteran, found himself unable to open his canopy, but quickly smashed the plexiglass cover with his breakout knife and crawled out. Dulin was trapped in the front seat. Bartlett smashed his canopy and pulled the unconscious copilot from the craft.

Hearing VC yelling to one another only 75 yards away, as they moved toward the fallen bird, Bartlett's first thought was to get away. He ran down the ridgeline, and then tried to find safety in the top of a tall dead tree.

"I wanted to get up, yell and wave my arms, but I knew better." Meanwhile the men of Alpha Troop spotted the fallen Cobra and the Blues rappelled to the bird. It was a Huey that discovered Dulin in a nearby field.

The copilot found himself walking around aimlessly through the jungle when he regained consciousness. He was only 50 yards from the bird and was returning toward it when he heard enemy movements on the other side of the Cobra. He ran down the ridgeline and into an open field. Still dazed from his experience, he hid himself in the tall grass until he saw a LOH and a Huey pass overhead. Dulin jumped up and waved his arms frantically. The Huey came down and pulled the young pilot to safety.

DASHING TOWARD a medevac chopper from the 23rd Infantry Division, these ARVN soldiers carry a wounded comrade to be flown back to Chu Lai. (Hornet emblem of the 116th AHC emblem on the back of the door gunner's helmet.)

Elements of the 23rd Infantry Division killed 13 enemy soldiers in Military Region 1 Dec. 13. Soldiers of the 3rd Bn., 21st Inf., killed six and found two enemy bodies as a result of artillery firing missions in the area. The other five killed were the result of scattered action throughout the 23rd's area of operation.

To the south in Khanh Hoa Province of Military Region 2, a U.S. Army convoy was ambushed by an estimated company-size enemy force on Highway 1 about 25 miles northwest of Nha Trang. The enemy employed small arms, rocket-grenade and mortar fire. A Republic of Korea infantry supported the convoy element and helicopter gunships. Contact was lost approximately two hours and enemy casualties are unknown. Seven U.S. soldiers in the convoy were wounded and convoy vehicles sustained light material damage.

Troops from the 198th Inf. Bde. killed 13 enemy soldiers in a series of contacts 10 miles northwest of Quang Ngai City in Military Region 1 Dec. 11. Action began when an element of the brigade, in a night defensive position, engaged six enemy with the aid of U.S. artillery about 4 a.m. A little after dawn the same element again made contact in a 2 1/2-hour clash. Thirteen enemy were killed, six suspects detained and six individual weapons and four hand

In Military Region 1 Dec. 7, an armored personnel carrier (APC) from the 1st Squadron, 1st Cav., detonated a 20-pound antitank mine two miles northwest of Tan [Tam?] Ky. The incident caused light damage to the vehicle.

During the week, 23rd Infantry Division soldiers uncovered several caches. In Military Region 1 Dec. 8, elements of the 2nd Bn., 1st Inf., found two caches containing 3.5 tons of rice four miles southeast of An Hoa. The rice was evacuated. To the north in Military Region 1 Dec. 9, elements of the 2nd Bn. found a cache containing 2.5 tons of rice seven miles southeast of An Hoa. The rice was evacuated to Duc Duc District headquarters. Another cache was discovered Dec. 12 in Military Region 1 by soldiers of Co. C, 4th Bn., 3rd Inf. The U.S. soldiers uncovered 11 machine guns, three 81mm mortar tubes, two radios and assorted recoilless rifle and small arms rounds 12 miles northwest of Duc Pho in Quang Ngai Province. This cache was evacuated.

Air cavalrymen of Troop C, 7th Squadron, 1st Air Cav., killed 12 enemy soldiers in Military Region 4 late in the afternoon of Dec. 12. The gunships were operating 25 miles northwest of Ca Mau in An Xuyen Province in support of an Army of the Republic of Vietnam element when they made contact.

At the same time in Military Region 4, helicopter crewmen from the 164th Combat Aviation Gp. observed and engaged an undetermined-size enemy force while in an area 27 miles northwest of Ca Mau. The bodies of 12 enemy soldiers were sighted in the strike area. There were no friendly casualties.

In Military Region 2 late in the afternoon of Dec. 7, helicopter crewmen of an element of the 17th Combat Aviation Gp. spotted an estimated 10 enemy soldiers in a bunker complex 29 miles north-northwest of Cheo Reo in Phu Bon Province. The crewmen engaged the enemy and were supported by tactical air strikes. Following the strikes, the bodies of eight enemy were observed in the area. Again there were no friendly casualties.

In Military Region 4 Dec. 10, the 16th Air Cav., 13th Combat Avn. Bn., conducted operations in the U Minh Forest as it struck an area of An Xuyen Province just inland from the South China Sea. While in support of ground forces, the Darkhorses spotted enemy troops running across an open area. Light observation helicopters were called to the location where they killed six Viet Cong. Later after making an insertion the Darkhorses were again making a

Dec. 8 in Military Region 4, the Vultures of the 162nd Assault Helicopter Co., 13th Combat Avn. Bn., killed four enemy soldiers in afternoon action while working in Bac Lieu Province northwest of Ca Mau.

Skytroopers of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) killed five Viet Cong Dec. 10 in light action in Military Region 3. Cobra gunships of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cav., killed three Viet Cong and detained one suspect while working in light rolling jungle 22 miles northeast of Tan Linh. 12 miles east of Phuoc Vinh in the 1st Bde. area of operation, the 2nd platoon

Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) killed three enemy soldiers and captured a small cache of ammunition Dec. 8 in Military Region 3. While on a ground reconnaissance mission six miles east of Phuoc Vinh, men of Co. B, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav., spotted one individual carrying a weapon. They engaged and killed the enemy with organic weapons and captured a rocket launcher. In other action, Skytroopers from Co. D, 1st Bn., 7th Cav., spotted and engaged three enemy on the site of now-closed FSB Connel resulting in the death of one Viet Cong and the capture of an AK47 rifle. During a third ground reconnaissance mission on the same day, an element of Co. A, 2nd Bn., 8th Cav.,engaged three individuals north of Xuan Loc killing one enemy soldier. Sixteen miles northeast of Tuc Trung, soldiers of Co. D, 1st Bn., 12th Cav., found a bunker containing 30, 60mm mortar rounds, 20 82mm mortar rounds and eight rocket-propelled grenade rounds. The ammunition was in poor condition and was destroyed in place.

Skytroopers killed three North Vietnamese soldiers and captured two AK47 rifles in light action Dec. 9 in Military Region 3. Co C, 1st Bn., 12th Cav., working in heavy jungle 35 miles east of Phuoc Vinh, killed two NVA and captured one AK47. The remaining dead enemy soldier and captured weapon were a result of Co. D, 1st Bn., 8th Cav., activity northeast of Phuoc Vinh. In other action the same day, four Skytroopers were wounded when Co. A, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav., ran into a booby trap 10 miles north of Phuoc Vinh. In Military Region 3 Dec. 12, Skytroopers uncovered an enemy communications bunker 14 miles southeast of Duc Phong. Troop E, 1st Squadron, 9th Cav., found the bunker, which contained two transmitters, two receivers, two transceivers, two telephones, two generators, two voltage regulators, two

In Military Region 3 on the evening of Dec. 10, an element of the 2nd Bde. ambushed an undetermined number of enemy nine miles west of Xuan Loc in Long Khanh Province. Small arms and automatic fire were exchanged. Five enemy soldiers were killed in the action, and four individual weapons were captured. There were no friendly....(original copy missing end of sentence.).

Elements of the 3rd Bde. discovered an enemy cache Dec. 8 while on a reconnaissance patrol about 17 miles west of Hue in Military Region 1. The cache included seven submachine guns, one rocket propelled grenade launcher with 12 rounds, 37 quarter-pound satchel charges and two fragmentation grenades.

"OPERATION CHRISTMAS," a project initiated by five California college students and designed to distribute 540 Christmas trees to servicemen in Vietnam, gets and assist from jolly ol'Santa (Spec. 4 Larry Shredl, a draftsman with 145th Avn. Bn.)

When Spec. 4 Henry Gallardo of the reconnaissance platoon, 2nd Bn., 502nd Inf., 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), read such a joyous notice atop the small peak which served as a resupply landing zone for his unit, his first thought was to immortalize his newborn. The name of his daughter on an empty ammo box lid and designated as the name of the LZ would do the trick.

Gallardo found another ammo box lid and carved "LZ La Dena" while Bridges finished "LZ Cody" on his sign. In a brief ceremony, the platoon dedicated the mountaintop to two little girls born within a week of each other while their fathers were patrolling the jungles of northern Military Region 1.

Due to the heavy rains, Co. D, 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf., was pulling out of the lowlands and into FSB Orange. The command element and the 2nd platoon couldn't make it. The distance was just too much for them to travel before dark. The paratroopers realized that they had better be on high ground for the night. They chose a knoll rising out of the rice paddies.

Sometime after 1:30 a.m. the flood reached its high point, about eight feet above the ground. A shadow aircraft from Phu Cat kept the area illuminated during the tense and trying night. The Co. D troops popped pen flares to keep the shadow on target.

Hertel's convoy was soon washed out. One by one the jeeps floundered and had to be left. Finally there was only the truck left. The MP escort was walking ahead as guides. Several times they were swept away only to be hauled back by ropes.

At daybreak Casper, the 173rd aviation platoon, flew to the rescue. It took five sorties of Huey helicopter to get the stranded men out of the trees. Using cable ladders, the men scrambled out of the trees and into the hovering birds.