In Their Own Words Atroop 412 Cav Blog

Coming Home for Vietnam

My coming home day, 32 years ago from WallyDate: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 23:47:42 -0700 (PDT)Hey all,This is my coming home day, 32 years ago today I came home from the war. Came home on a beautiful summer day to one of the most memorable riots in L.A. history, and we have had some memorable ones.The day I came home is still vivid in my recolection, all my friends were at the airport, some had made banners, it was a really cool homecoming.I was glad, I was home. Uncertainty was in the horizon. I was not sure what my life…

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Basic Training

We are the Infantry now Dennis, having gone to Ft. Ord and singing that song, We are the Infantry, the mighty mighty Infantry, over and over, we should be entitled to the CIB.   However, after serving with you guys in Nam, you guys should also be awarded that badge. You do in our hearts. You guys saved me from walking and probably saved my life. I will never forget your contribution. Thanks. Buy you a drink in Vegas. (Bob Taylor) Hey Bob, do you remember what time of the year you were at Ft. Ord, I was there this time of the year, April, May,…

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Animals

The snake was 17 feet long! March 1969 From Bill McShane: First let me say that I was on the patrol with Freyler, when he got the constrictor/ python or whatever. I was given a mission to go out west of Nancy I think, to the foothills, cordon up the platoon and take a squad of infantry out and patrol on foot to see what we could find. After humping in a few steps, there were nine or so of us and a Chu Hoi, Freyler, on point, opened up. I crawled to his position to find him saying I…

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Personal Hygiene

Sundry Packs  SP packs (Sundry Packs) were sent out once or twice a month to the field they also had cigarettes and candy in them. Sgt. Bills the FO Sgt and I use to make out since we were the only ones in HQ that smoked Camels. Other than that my memory fades as to their origin the just seemed to appear on the supply tracks or choppers.Keith "Hogpen"! I think that about says it for me. okie/hogpen One time at Cua Viet I was standing on a track when the Colonel landed and told our Lt. to "have that man get a haircut"…

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Trooper Memories of 1971

  • Post category:1971

March 1971Pineapple,Found a letter "Tex" Keith L. Anderson, 3rd platoon,  wrote me in March of 71 after I was home and he had about 70 or so days left.  Might be a bit for the journal.  I believe I say he'd been located, if not, let me know cause I've got a line on him thru Terry.Keith wrote;"I don't guess you've heard about them running us off the Rock Pile.  Just before we went to Khe Sahn, they had us sitting on a hill just north of the Rock Pile.  We stayed there 19days.  When we went up there we…

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January 1971

History of the 12th Cav in Vietnam 27 Jul 1968 – 30 Nov 1971 According to the collective remembrances of it’s surviving troopers. CPT Errol D. Alexander, July-Oct 1968CPT Kenneth G. Carlson, Oct 68-Mar 69CPT Larry R. Robinson, Mar-Sep 1969CPT William C. Kaufman, Sep-Nov 1969CPT Matthias A. Spruill, Nov 69-Feb 70CPT John L. B. Smith, Feb-May 1970CPT Robert R. Richards, May-Oct 70CPT Woodrow W. Waldrop, Oct 70-Apr 71CPT Edward E. Helton, Apr-Oct 71 Recommendation for a Presidential Unit Citation for Lam Son 719 brought to light by Charles John Wayne Russell. The following information was provided by Short, Keith . (2000) C COMPANY,…

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