1970

May 1970

May Assigned to 20 as gunner May Assigned to 20 as gunner, no more mortar track. General and Colonel stated that the 4/12 was the best outfit in the 5th Div. (Taylor) 4 May 1970The National Guard kills 4 students at Kent State.From Klinsky’s War Dairy:6 May Pedro:18 hit another small mine - it's 3rd.  No one hurt.7 May Pedro:66 hit a small mine.14 May Pedro:Watched a LRP team from a couple klicks away getting fired on by some gooks last night.  Cobra came and hosed the area around them.  We went in to extract them this AM.  Pete (my driver) spotted…

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April 1970

Took first chopper ride April 3 took first chopper ride. Operating on the beach, cold rainy (Taylor)April 8, 1970“26 took an RPG through the road wheels and hit a guy in a fox hole. DiSanto was TC, I was gunner, Jerry Beverage was loader, Chet Misa was the driver, and Tom The Gook was a passenger. Tom was medivaced with a bullet in the leg.” (J. Sharpe)John Sharpe wrote that an RPG hit A26. Photo of RPG hole on Track A26 The night was April 8, 1970. We had just set up our NDP north of Cua Viet. The area was flat and…

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March 1970

We made the switch 1MarWe made the switch [to Sheridan tanks] on or about March 1, 1970. John 26 The following was contributed by 3rd platooner Robert Klinsky, from his war dairy:2Mar1st platoon spotted 10 gooks across the river today.  Made a sweep but never saw them again - natch.5MarAndy Shuller had a blasting cap go off in his face (oops).  Drew blood and blurred his vision but will be OK.  Medivac'd by boat.6MarA gook sampan boat hit a river mine.  4 killed plus 1 with broken back & neck.  We pulled a sweep and stayed out an extra night.7MarScrew up in…

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February 1970

Monsoon ends From G. Gersaba’s War Dairy:01FebCua Viet:We got here 2 days ago. 1-2 caught fire 3 miles before we reached here. The batteries have mysteriously reversed polarity, they tell me. The days have sped by, unlike our track. Otherwise, on the way over here, we went through Quang Tri City for the first time in my tour. Tripped out on the sidewalks, shops, traffic cops, etc., I was surprised to see that a real city exists here. Since I came in country the only city I’ve seen was Saigon.02FebCrossed the Cua Viet today, going north. Nice day to ride…

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January 1970

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 1968 CPT Kenneth G. Carlson, Oct 68-Mar 69 CPT Larry R. Robinson, Mar-Sep 1969 CPT William C. Kaufman, Sep-Nov 1969 CPT Matthias A. Spruill, Nov 69-Feb 70 CPT John L. B. Smith, Feb-May 1970 CPT Robert R. Richards, May-Oct 70 CPT Woodrow W. Waldrop, Oct 70-Apr 71 CPT Edward E. Helton, Apr-Oct 71 January 1970 2 January After a fun filled New Years on the bunker line at Charlie 2 (C2), the Cav…

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