Vol 3 No. 30          TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS          July 22, 1968

Index

Tropic Lightning Hails Division Association

At Cu Chi
Gen Abrams Confers DSC's For Heroism

   CU CHI - General Creighton W. Abrams, Commander of U.S. Forces in Vietnam, arrived here July 9 to present the Distinguished Service Cross, our nation's second highest award for heroism, to four 25th Inf Div soldiers.
   The four honored soldiers were Captain Malcolm C. Otis of B Trp, 3d Sqdn, 4th Cav; Second Lieutenant Gordon F. Kelley of Co C, 2d Bn (Mech), 22d Inf; Sergeant First Class Vincente T. Dydasco, Co C, 1st Bn, 27th Inf and Staff Sergeant Daniel L. Ireland, Co C, 2d Bn, 14th Inf.
   Arriving at Cu Chi at 9:15 a.m., General Abrams landed at the 2d Bde helipad where he was met by Brigadier General William T. Gleason, acting division commander.
   Following the presentation, Gen. Abrams spoke directly to the soldiers.
   "We're here this morning to pay tribute to the heroic accomplishments of four men.  That's what makes the world worth living in . . . men.  Good men, courageous men and strong men . . . men who believe in themselves; men who believe in their government.
   "As long as we have enough men willing to sacrifice to be free, we will continue to have that freedom."
   CPT Otis, of Vicksburg, Michigan, was cited for action on January 31 of this year.  He played a decisive role in the defense of Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base during the Tet Offensive.  His troop was called upon to repel an enemy penetration at the west end of the air strip.
   2LT Kelley of Bar Harbor, Maine, received the DSC for valorous actions on January 2 while defending Fire Support Base Burt, eight kilometers from the Cambodian border.
   SFC Dydasco of Guam personally destroyed seven enemy bunkers when his unit came upon an enemy force of unknown size October 28, 1967 in the Boi Loi Woods.
   SSG Ireland, of Mooresville, Indiana, earned his DSC on Operation Yellowstone January 17, when his unit came under intense attack.  After being knocked unconscious by an exploding claymore mine, he took over a machine gun from the wounded gunner and blasted away at the enemy.
(More on Page 6)
   

HELLO BABY-SAN - Specialist 4 Milton L. Welch of Detroit, waves hello to local Vietnamese children during a 2d Bn, 14th Inf, 25th Inf Div sweep three miles southwest of Saigon.

Bucket No Good As Cong Cover

   3D BDE - The elusive Viet Cong are well known for their ability to hide almost anywhere.  Sometimes, though, Charlie is found in places that surprise even experienced field troops.
   Such was the case with Second Lieutenant Stephen A. Degnan from Reno, Nev, forward observer for Delta Co, 3d Bn, 22d Inf.
   While the company was conducting a day patrol northwest of Saigon, two VC were spotted running toward a nearby treeline.  The "Regulars" opened fire on the fleeing enemy and moved in to sweep the area.
   Advancing through a vegetable patch, LT Degnan spotted a shallow well and stopped to investigate.
   "I thought the VC might have hastily stashed something down there," commented the FO, "so I hauled up the bucket. I found myself staring at a Viet Cong."
   The enemy soldier had been holding the bucket over his head to avoid being seen.
   

NVA Starts Action-Packed Nite

   2D BDE - An NVA officer caught out after curfew and a face-to-face duel with "Charlie" were just part of an action-packed night for the men of the 1st Bn, 27th Inf's Recon Plt.
   The excitement began when the platoon's lead element encountered a man on the outskirts of Hoc Mon after curfew.  The platoon leader, First Lieutenant Robert J. Foran, Jr., of Waldwick, N.J., stopped him for questioning, and the "Wolfhound" soldiers searched the bag he was carrying.  Among its contents were an NVA "Hard Corps" scarf and documents, identifying him as an NVA officer.
   When the scarf was removed the man tried to escape but infantrymen opened fire as he broke away.  A more thorough search of his body revealed a loaded, ready-to-fire 9mm pistol strapped to the inside of his leg under his clothing.
   At the same time the lead element was interrogating the NVA officer, the rear security element halted and began questioning three men out after curfew.
   As they were getting organized, the patrol received intense AK-47 rifle from their right flank.  One of the three detainees was killed by enemy rounds during the fight.  The other two attempted to escape but were killed as they dashed into a nearby hootch.
   Soon after the right flank came under fire the left flank also drew fire.  Illumination rounds were called in, and the platoon opened up with all organic weapons, including M-16's, M-60's, M79 grenade launchers and claymore mines.
   During the fight, Private First Class James T. Bailey, Royal Oak, Mich., came face to face with "Charlie."  He recounted the incident: "During the fight I couldn't see what was going on so I got up and attempted to move around the hootch that was blocking my view.  Just as I did I came face to face with a VC carrying an AK-47.
   "Out of instinct I dropped backwards to the ground.  I had my weapon on automatic, and as I dropped I gave a steady pull on my trigger.  I think he did the same with his AK.  I guess my M-16 was faster than his weapon."
   "This morning after breakfast," Bailey continued, "I noticed an AK hole in my pants leg entering in the front and exiting at knee level."
   Sergeant Frank E. Langford, of Madison, Ala., also had a close call during the exchange.  He recalled that while the squad was receiving fire from the right he "happened to check our rear and saw a VC crawling up on us.  I slowly turned and let him get within 10 meters of me and then opened up with my M-16."
   

Sampans Seem Like Shooting Gallery - 3/22

   2D BDE - Like ducks in a shooting gallery, the Viet Cong in sampans floated past a 3d Bn, 22d Inf, ambush patrol set up on the banks of the Saigon River.
   "Soon after we had set up the ambush we spotted a series of sampans floating down the river with the tide towards Saigon," Sergeant Daniel L. Geotz, said.  "It was difficult to see, but it looked as if there were as many as 12 sampans."
   The sighting was reported to the Bravo Co Commander, First Lieutenant Dean Walker, to gain clearance to engage the sampans. Geotz explained that clearance was needed because a nearby ARVN compound was resupplying by sampan.
   "It was agonizing to watch these sampans float toward us without being able to do anything about it.  But in a few seconds we received the clearance to open fire," Geotz said.  "We could see VC jumping out of the sampans after we opened fire."
   Before the fighting stopped, 12 Viet Cong had been killed and six of their sampans destroyed.
   

BG Long New ADC-M;
Arrives From USAREUR

   Brigadier General Glen C. Long arrived 11 July in the 25th Infantry Division to assume duties as Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver.
   He replaces Brigadier General Donald D. Dunlop who is now serving in Bien Hoa as Deputy Senior Advisor, III Corps.
   General Long was born in Grimes, Oklahoma on 16 August, 1918.  He was graduated from high school in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1935 and from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, in 1940, B.S. in Chemical Engineering.
   He entered active duty with the 2d Inf Div as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry in 1940 under the provisions of the Thompson Act and was commissioned in the Regular Army in July, 1941.
   During World War II, Gen. Long served successively as a Co CO, Regimental S2, Bn Executive and Bn Commander, 363d Inf Regt, 91st Inf (Powder River) Div.  In Italy, he commanded the 3d Bn, 363d Inf Regt during the Rome-Arno, Northern Appenines and Po Valley campaigns.
   For its action during the Northern Appenines Campaign, the 3d Bn, 363d Inf Regt was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.  Gen. Long was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star medals and the Purple Heart.
(Continued On Back Page)
   

Page 2                           TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS                           July 22, 1968

Decorated

Earn Points For Diploma At Cu Chi School Center

   CU CHI - Going to school in a combat zone?  Many 25th Inf Div soldiers are doing it through the facilities of the Education Center at Cu Chi.  Daily except Sunday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. soldier students attend high school and college-level classes.
   Some of the course offerings: English, Introduction to Business, Accounting, College Algebra, International Relations, Western Civilization, Sociology and Psychology.  These courses and others may also be taken as correspondence courses handled through the Center.
   After completing any of the college-level courses a soldier may take a standardized test.  Upon passing it he receives a Certificate of Completion which is accepted as credit by the majority of colleges in the U.S.
   The Center also administers the General Education Development (GED) test for those who have not completed high school and wish to obtain an equivalence certificate.
   To teach at the Center, instructors must have at least a Bachelor's degree.
   The Education Center also counsels those who want to attend college after the service.  The Center has many college catalogues, directories and fact books and will obtain upon request information on any educational institution in the U.S.
   In addition, the Center also gives advice for "early outs."  A soldier may be discharged up to 90 days early if he has a letter of acceptance and plans to attend an accredited college or university during those 90 days.  After learning the last possible day of registration a soldier will usually be home 10 days before.
   The Center also has representatives in Tay Ninh and Dau Tieng to handle counseling, correspondence courses, "early outs" and GED testing.
   

Red Cross Service Is Serving Troops

   The American National Red Cross serves you at Division Headquarters 24 hours a day.  A Red Cross staff member is on call in case of emergency, no matter what the time of day or night.
   An average of 1600 electrical communications are handled each month by the Red Cross office at Cu Chi.  These are usually messages concerning emergency leaves, birth announcements or health and welfare inquiries by family members.
   Approximately 750 communications made each month via air mail between the Red Cross field office here and Red Cross field offices or chapters in the United States.  These mail communications are not of an emergency nature but concern important personal and family problems.
   Emergency service for messages involving death or critical illness that arrive during off-duty hours or on holidays or weekends is provided by the Red Cross duty worker.  If the duty worker is not in the Red Cross office, you can contact him by telephoning Cu Chi 5000.
   The Red Cross office at Cu Chi is located in Division Headquarters next to the Staff Judge Advocate office.  Unit commanders and senior NCOs are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the Red Cross office and staff and to visit the office for information regarding Red Cross services.
   In South Vietnam and worldwide the American Red Cross annually assists one of three U.S. servicemen in the United States, South Vietnam and in 30 other foreign countries.  Red Cross messages to and from South Vietnam in behalf of U.S. servicemen average over 800 a day.  Three hundred and fifty Red Cross workers are serving U.S. troops at more than 60 locations in South Vietnam.
   Additional workers will be assigned as needed.  Twenty five Red Cross workers are serving U.S. troops at eight locations in Thailand.
     

Weapon Safety Healthy Habit

   Great care should be taken in the handling of all weapons.
   As professional soldiers, you, above all other people should know how to use caution and forethought when handling any kind of weapon.
   There is, however, a dangerous enemy to guard against with the use of the increased effectiveness of modern hand grenades, rifles and other weapons.  It is familiarity!
   Yes, you must get to know your weapons but you must never forget their potential.  Constant use can breed a careless attitude and lack of fear on the part of the user.
   Remember, a little fear, call it respect, for your weapon's capabilities.  Don't play games with them.  They can kill you as well as the enemy.

Chieu Hois Not POW's

   Every soldier must know about the Chieu Hoi Program and how to receive and handle returnees.  Once a returnee has been turned over to Chieu Hoi personnel, he will be treated properly; but during the initial contact errors can be made.
   A Chieu Hoi has been told through leaflets and loudspeakers that he will receive good care.  He has waited for just such an opportunity to turn himself in.
   The Free World soldier must remember that the VC is instructed to come in during daylight and unarmed.  The following points should be kept in mind:
   Anyone who voluntarily turns himself in under any circumstances will be given Chieu Hoi treatment.
   A returnee will be segregated from prisoners of war.  He will be treated with respect and made to feel he has made the right decision.
   He will be searched and placed under guard and may be interrogated to gain tactical intelligence.
   If the returnee has hidden weapons an effort should be made to locate them.
   Food, clothing and medical care will be provided as needed, and his name, rank, location and time he came in will be recorded.
   As soon as possible a returnee will be evacuated to a regional or provincial Chieu Hoi center.
   If the returnee has brought in weapons and these are not evacuated with him, he will be given a receipt to claim a reward.

The TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS is an authorized publication of the 25^th Infantry Division. It is published weekly for all division units in the Republic of Vietnam by the Information Office, 25^th Infantry Division, APO San Francisco 96225. Army News Features, Army Photo Features, Armed Forces Press Service and Armed Forces News Bureau material are used. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army. Printed in Tokyo, Japan, by Pacific Stars and Stripes.

MG F. K. Mearns  . . . . . . . . . Commanding General
MAJ Andrew J. Sullivan  . .  Information Officer
2LT Don A. Eriksson  . . . . .  Officer-in-Charge
SP4 Stephen Lochen   . . . . .  Editor
SP4 Bill Berger . . . . . . . . . . .  Editorial Assistant
   

Page 3                           TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS                           July 22, 1968

VC Training Sessions Minus One Officer

   3D BDE - Alert 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div troopers canceled a few Viet Cong training sessions when they killed a traveling enemy training officer in action north of Dau Tieng.
   Two platoons of Bravo Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf, flushed the pistol-wielding enemy from a winding maze of brick and bamboo hooches during a daytime reconnaissance in force.
   "He was trying to sneak across to the safety of the rubber trees," stated Company Commander 1st Lieutenant Earnest E. Tuggle.
   From concealed security positions along a road, the 3d platoon, led by 1st Lieutenant Alton Funderburk of Horatio, Ark., could see that the VC was carrying a .45 caliber pistol in his hand.  When he stepped into a small opening in the brush, the Americans opened fire.
   A search of the body revealed numerous documents, among which were several travel authorizations for movement between Viet Cong units in the field and an outline for use of the 75mm recoilless rifle.
   

4/9 Plays Robin Hood

   1ST BDE - A 25th Inf Div, 1st Bde medic donated 5,500 piasters that he confiscated from a Viet Cong to the Tay Ninh Orphanage.
   Private First Class David Foster of Orange, Tex., was on a reconnaissance in force patrol with Co A, 4th Bn, 9th Inf when the "Manchu" infantrymen made contact with an enemy force.
   "I confiscated his weapon and was searching him for documents when I found the money.  I guess he must have just gotten paid," related Foster.
   "Before I was assigned to Alpha Co I was with the S-5 Civic Action Team.  We used to help the orphanage in Tay Ninh.  I didn't want the money so I thought why not help them out," commented Foster.
   When the battalion returned to Tay Ninh Base Camp, Foster went with the S-5 section and presented the 5,500 piasters to the orphanage.
   

25th Division Ensures Graduation
Of Cu Chi High School Students

   CU CHI - A large part of the credit for a successful graduation of high school students at Cu Chi must go to the 25th Inf Div.
   The very existence of the Cu Chi High School can be traced to the protective ring placed around the area by ARVN and 25th Div soldiers.  The classrooms are bullet scarred, and the walls are pocked with shrapnel.  But the school still functions and recently graduated a large class.
   Using money from the Aid in Kind Fund, Captain Michael Broadbear of Atlanta Ga., civic action officer for the Division Support Command, purchased enough cloth to make 70 dresses and 30 shirts for graduation gifts.
   "These clothes along with other gifts went to the children of Cu Chi who lost their homes during the Tet offensive," explained Broadbear.
   Music was provided for the ceremony by the 25th Div Band and several shows were produced by ARVN soldiers including a song by a Vietnamese WAC.
   Guests of honor at the graduation were Colonel Ochs, deputy advisor of III Corps, and Colonel Nhon, province chief of Hau Hghia Province.
   During Colonel Nhon's speech, he directed part of his address, in English, to the American soldiers thanking, "the U.S. 25th Division on behalf of the Vietnamese soldiers, civilians, and future generations . . . for their help and assistance in making this graduation possible."
   

Long Haul No Sweat For M-88

   CU CHI - What the 725th Maint Bn recovery team thought would be an ordinary mission turned out to be almost more than they could handle.  But, the M-88 tank retriever proved its worth as it pulled not one but two vehicles totaling twice its weight back to Cu Chi.
   Warrant Officer Albert E. Fox of Vincennes, Ind., track commander from Headquarters and Company A, received word from Trang Bang that a 155 howitzer was stuck in the mud and its engine was dead. But when he arrived at Trang Bang a half hour later, he found not only a howitzer, but also another tank retriever disabled.
   When the first tank retriever had gone in to get the howitzer its front axle bearing had burned up, and the track fell off.  Sergeant Bobby Cole of Troy, Tenn., and Specialist 4 Lorney Deist of Kalispell, Mont., went into the deep mud to connect the cable.
   After the vehicles were pulled to hard ground, the damaged track from the retriever was pulled in and loaded on a truck.  Fox, Cole and Deist made the final connections to the damaged M-88 and howitzer and Specialist 4 Allen D. Garnor of Muskego, Wis., driver of the tank retriever, started the M-88 for the long pull home.  Pulling twice its weight, the tank retriever made it back to Cu Chi in less than an hour.
   

NARROW DIKE - Private First Class Louis J. Maccouax of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., carrying a 90mm recoilless rifle, recovers in stride after falling off a dike during a 2d Bn, 14th Inf sweep near Saigon.  (PHOTO BY PFC ROBERT BOYLE)

Woman Keeps Up Pace With Fast Infantrymen

   1ST BDE - A middle-aged Vietnamese woman with the stamina of an American infantryman earned honorary membership in the 4th Bn (Mech), 23d Inf.
   While sweeping a series of villages 13 kms northwest of Saigon, the 25th Inf Div company discovered a woman in their midst.  Ignoring her, they continued their house-to-house search.
   But, the woman remained with the company as they waded through rice paddies and canals.   After she had followed the Tomahawks for more than a mile, the Company Commander, Captain Henry Montgomery of Memphis, Tenn., had his interpreter ask her to go back.  However, she responded that she wanted to be with them.
   The infantrymen picked up the pace in the hope that the woman would not be able to keep up.  But she was persistent and stayed with the company.
   Realizing the peril she would be in if the company got into a fire fight, Montgomery asked his interpreter to tell her:  "You are now an honorable member of the Tomahawks."  Upon hearing this, she politely bowed to the captain and with a smile on her face left "her" company.
   

Did You Know

   Did you know that normally the flag is flown from sunrise to sunset; however, among other places, it may also be flown both day and night over the east and west fronts of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
   

Page 4-5                           TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS                           July 22, 1968

CHECK-UP - A Cobra gunship of D Trp, 3d Sqdn, 4th Cav, is checked by maintenance personnel and the crew chief during a routine inspection.

	TECHNICAL INSPECTOR - Staff Sergeant John Eichenmiller of B Co, 25th Avn Bn, circles a worn bushing in the engine compartment of a helicopter during a periodic inspection.
AVIONICS MECHANIC - Private First Class Gene P. Eisele (right) and crew chief Specialist 4 John Albers of D Trp, 3d Sqdn, 4th Cav, work on gear box and tail assembly of a UH-1D helicopter.
	CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS - Mr. Ted Tanfield (left) of Lantana, pla., and Mr. Don Proesly of Springfield, Mass., work on the engine of a helicopter inside the maintenance hangar of the 20th Trans Co.

They 'Keep 'Em Flying'

   CU CHI - Many hours of hard work and skilled maintenance are required to keep each helicopter in the 25th Div in safe, flyable condition.
   Repairs and replacements are checked and double checked.  Reams of paper are used in filing work orders, repair slips, historical documents and the almost infinite number of other things necessary to the success of every combat mission that is performed by the pilot and crew of a helicopter.
   The most intimate contact between man and machine exists with the crew chief of each craft.  It is his responsibility to make a daily inspection, usually before the first flight of the day or after the last mission in the evening.
   According to Specialist 4 John Albers, crew chief with D Trp, 3d Sgdn, 4th Cav, "A crew chief looks mainly for anything loose - rivets working, bolts slipping, stuff like that.  Leaks are another important item," explained Albers, of St. Louis.  "Often a small leak will mean that a coupling is loose or a part is worn."
   Most minor repairs are done on the spot by the crew chief.  Any job too large to handle or parts that need replacement are referred to the unit's maintenance personnel who have the skill and experience to conduct second and third echelon maintenance.
   Private First Class Gene P. Eisele of Great Neck, N.Y., is a typical helicopter mechanic.  His schooling in the Army "consisted of two separate courses.  I went through one course on general aircraft maintenance," explained Eisele, a "stablehand" of D Trp, 3d Sqdn, 4th Cav.
    "When I finished that course I was sent to a specialized school where we spent most of our time actually working on helicopters."
   The aircraft mechanics, often working hand-in-hand with the crew chiefs, conduct numerous inspections and replace worn or damaged units.  A task that requires massive work or rebuilding is referred to E Co of the 725th Maint Bn or the 20th Trans Co.
   In huge hangars capable of holding more than 20 helicopters at a time, skilled technicians and avionics mechanics perform major repairs on helicopters.
   "A lot of the work involves replacing engines and rotor blades," related Specialist 4 Maurice A. Dieterly, a member of the 725th Maint Bn from South Lyon, Mich.
   "We have sheet metal, electrical, armament and other shops capable of doing virtually any repair or replacement work necessary," emphasized Dieterly.
   Numerous safeguards and inspections have been implemented to make sure that the helicopters are always in top shape.
   After every 25 hours of flight the ships are given a thorough inspection by maintenance personnel and after 100 hours a Periodic Inspection is conducted.
   "On these inspections," explained Staff Sergeant John Eichenmiller, a Technical Inspector (TI) assigned to B Co, 25th Avn Bn, "I spend from two to three hours just going over each craft that comes in.  One of my biggest responsibilities is to insure that all repairs are made correctly," he said.
   Eichenmiller, a resident of St. Petersburg, Fla., needed five years of experience with helicopters before he qualified for a job as a TI.
   The capabilities of the ground crews servicing the helicopters of the 25th Div can best be summed up in the words of one pilot: "I'd stake my life on the mechanics - I have to - and they've never let me down."
   

	SUPPLY SPECIALIST - Specialist 5 Larry C. Shelton, Hiawassee, Ga., with Company E, 725th Maint Bn, checks the stock number on a vital part.  Each replacement unit is carefully filed and a log is kept on the number of replacement units on hand.
FLYING PROOF - A slick takes off from a chopper pad with a load of supplies for a field location.  Daily technical inspections of the helicopters insure reliability for the missions of resupply.
	CREW CHIEF - Specialist 4 Klaus Schoels of Lancaster, Pa., checks the tail rotor of a 25th Avn Bn UH-1D helicopter before the morning's first flight.  The pre-flight inspection often calls for acrobatics to do the job right.

NEW ROTOR - A blade is placed on a UH-1D helicopter by maintenance personnel of the 725th Maint Bn. Inside the giant hangars, largest structures on the Cu Chi base camp, helicopters can be repaired under any weather conditions.

Page 6                           TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS                           July 22, 1968

Honored Soldiers Of the 25th

CPT Malcolm D. Otis
   "For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:  Captain Otis distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon.
   "Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army forces launched a major attack against the Saigon area with the mission of seizing control of critical allied military installations.  One of the largest attacks was directed against the west end of Tan Son Nhut Air Base.
   "Arriving at the gate of Tan Son Nhut, he immediately deployed his troop to the west into the face of the insurgent forces.  Without losing the impetus of his maneuver, Captain Otis then wheeled to the south and attacked directly into the enemy flank.
   "Throughout the seven and one-half hour battle for the hotly contested terrain, Captain Otis countered each enemy movement with a flanking force and heavy fire from his guns.  Continuously exposing himself to the intense enemy fusillade, he moved from position to position on the battlefield, directing the attack and encouraging his men's fight.
   "When the enemy had been decisively beaten, he directed his forces in a detailed sweep through the area.  Captain Otis's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."
   

2LT Gordon F. Kelley
   "For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:  Second Lieutenant Kelley distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions of 2 January 1968 as a platoon leader of an infantry unit defending against a massive enemy attack on Fire Base Burt.
   "The insurgents struck the camp with a murderous night mortar barrage.  Lieutenant Kelley personally insured that his men were under cover and that they were fully prepared for the ground attack which followed.
   "The vanguard of the assault went directly into Lieutenant Kelley's platoon position.  Throughout the ensuing eight hour battle, he moved from position to position to adjust his platoon's fire, relocate weapons, inspire his men and supervise the treatment and evacuation of wounded personnel.
   "Although painfully wounded by shrapnel, Lieutenant Kelley refused medical attention and repeatedly braved the relentless enemy fire to adjust air strikes and artillery to within fifty meters of his own position.  These strikes and the well-directed fires from his superbly led infantrymen repulsed the fanatic assault.
   "Second Lieutenant Kelley's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and United States Army."
   

SFC Vicente T. Dydasco
   "For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:  Sergeant First Class Dydasco distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 October, 1967 as platoon sergeant with an infantry battalion on a search and destroy mission in the Boi Loi Woods.
   "While clearing a night defensive position, a sister company became heavily engaged by an unknown sized enemy force.  As Sergeant Dydasco's platoon moved to aid the beleaguered force, an enemy complex consisting of sixty well-fortified bunkers connected by fighting trenches was encountered.
   "Immediately deploying his unit to provide covering fire he and three others advanced to locate the insurgents.  He observed three Viet Cong moving to another bunker and wounded one before his weapon jammed.
   "Armed only with grenades, he crawled after the enemy.  Upon reaching the bunker they occupied, he hurled grenades into it, destroying the fortification and killing the insurgents.
   "Completely disregarding his personal safety, he maneuvered among the hostile fortifications and destroyed seven bunkers with well-placed grenades.
   "His force encountered intense automatic weapons fire, and he fearlessly advanced alone to find the location of the emplacement.  With bullets striking all around him, he crawled through the complex.  A sniper in a tree opened up on him, and he killed the insurgent with a deadly burst from his rifle.
   "He continued his tenacious advance, located the enemy gunner and destroyed his position with a grenade.  He then led his platoon in a orderly withdrawal to allow artillery strikes to soften the enemy positions.
   "Sergeant First Class Dydasco's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."
   

SSG Daniel L. Ireland
   "For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:  Staff Sergeant Ireland distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 January 1968 as an infantry platoon sergeant during a search and destroy mission of Operation Yellowstone.
   "Sergeant Ireland was moving with his company's point element when Viet Cong forces launched a savage attack on the unit.  He was momentarily knocked unconscious by an exploding enemy claymore mine but quickly recovered and delivered a devastating barrage on the attackers.
   "After killing two insurgents with grenade launcher fire, he moved across the bullet-swept battlefield to reorganize his men and direct their fight against the enemy.  Automatic weapons and rocket grenade fire struck all around him, but he refused to take cover and called for a machine gun to be brought forward.
   "The gunner was wounded as the enemy concentrated its full firepower on the vital weapon.  Sergeant Ireland immediately took charge of the weapon and covered the withdrawal of the point element to the company perimeter.  After moving back himself, he noticed that the wounded gunner had not reached safety.
   "Completely disregarding his safety, Sergeant Ireland dashed through a curtain of fire to his fallen comrade and carried him back to friendly lines.  He then returned to the raging battle and deployed his troops to more effectively repulse the continuing enemy assaults.
   "Repeatedly inspiring his men with his heroic actions in the heat of battle, he directed a tenacious defense which inflicted heavy casualties on the Viet Cong and forced them to flee.
   "Staff Sergeant Ireland's gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army."
   

Page 7                           TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS                           July 22, 1968

Colonel's Boots Are Made For Flying

By CPT LES RASCHKO
   1ST BDE - A day with an infantry brigade commander, is a picture of a colonel faced with a multitude of decisions, and one of a man constantly on the move.
   Colonel Fremont B. Hodson, of the 25th Inf Div's 1st Bde, serves as an example of a busy infantry leader always in motion.  The 43-year-old colonel from Greenville, S.C.. has averaged 180 hours in the air each month since taking command of the Lancer Bde as a Lieutenant Colonel on December 19th of last year.
   Under Colonel Hodson the 1st Bde has thus far killed 1,392 enemy soldiers, captured 352 enemy weapons and detained 37 enemy suspects in operations Yellowstone, Wilderness, Quyet Thang and Toan Thang I and II.  These operations saw the 1st Bde make contact near Cambodian border, drive deep into War Zone C, fight throughout Tay Ninh Province and meet the enemy as far south as Saigon.
   Normally a brigade commander is responsible for three maneuver battalions and support troops.  Since the Tet offensive additional battalions were placed under the operational control of Colonel Hodson.  At one time he had the operational control of seven maneuver battalions and was responsible for 90 percent of the division's tactical area of operations.
   Hodson was able to direct his troops over this huge battleground because of the airmobility supplied by, perhaps the commander's greatest aid, his Huey helicopter, known as a command and control (C&C) ship.
   The Huey chopper supplies the colonel with a bird's-eye view of actions on the ground as it continually circles above the fighting troops radioing enemy positions and command guidance.
   The C&C ship has often become a tactical fighting ship.  Both the colonel and his artillery liaison officer, Captain Ronald M. Howard, a 28-year-old native of Alexandria, Va., have killed Viet Cong as their ship swooped down on enemy they spotted from the air.
   Colonel Hodson takes a personal interest in his troops morale.  With a friendly smile and a genuine concern for their problems the colonel always stops to talk with the soldiers in the field, asking them where they are from and where they took their training.
   Meetings and briefings also make up a large part of the commander's day.  He attends his brigade's briefings at Tay Ninh and divisional briefings at the 25th Infantry Division's headquarters at Cu Chi.  Briefing VIP's such as Generals Westmoreland and Abrams as well as visiting senators and congressmen, is also a function of the brigade commander.
   The war of constant change and no front has added another page to military history - that of the flying infantry commander.
   

	COLONEL HODSON IN C&C - The 25th Inf Div's 1st Bde commander, Colonel Fremont Hodson, maintains radio contact with his infantry units on the ground as his command and control helicopter hovers over the action northeast of Cu Chi.  (PHOTO BY SP4 RICK ADAMS)
COORDINATING - Colonel Hodson coordinates with Lieutenant Colonel Alexandria Hunt, 3d Bde Executive Officer, at Dau Tieng as he leaves the 3d Bde's operations center reading the day's plans summary.  (PHOTO BY CPT LES RASCHKO)
	HODSON TALKS WITH TROOPS - Colonel Fremont Hodson talks with his soldiers in the field during a lull in the Bde's fighting near Cu Chi.  (PHOTO BY SP4 RICK ADAMS)
AT A FIRE SUPPORT BASE - With Nui Ba Den mountain in the background, Colonel Hodson discusses artillery at Fire Support Base Saint Barbara, as he waits to fly two enemy suspects detained by 1st Bde soldiers earlier that day to Tay Ninh.  (PHOTO BY CPT LES RASCHKO)
	IN THE FIELD - In the field with the 2d Bn, 34th Armor, Colonel Hodson gets a close look at what makes Charlie run.  (PHOTO BY CPT LES RASCHKO)

Page 8                           TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS                           July 22, 1968

BG Long Arrives

(Continued From Page 1)
   Following World War II, Gen. Long served in Austria where he was the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, HQ Zone Command, Austria.  He attended the US Army Command and General Staff College in 1950-51.  Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G2, Department of Army as a research analyst and as a Policy and Plans Officer.
   In September 1954, he joined the 24th Inf Div in Korea first serving as the Executive Officer, 21st Inf (Gimlet) Regt; second. Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, and third, Commander of the 21st Inf (Gimlet) Regt.
   He attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk in 1956 and from 1956-59 served on the faculty of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.  At the college, he was successively the Chief of the Defense Section, Offense Section, Department of the Infantry Division and the Chief Staff Section, Department of the Staff and Education Department.
   After attending and graduating from the National War College in 1960, he was assigned to Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE), as a staff officer in the Organization and Training Division.
   In 1962-63 he served as Chief of Staff of the 3d Inf Div in Germany.  In 1963 he was ordered to Washington for duty with the Defense Intelligence Agency.  Subsequently, he served in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army where he was the Chief of the Coordination Division and Deputy Director, Office Director Coordination and Analysis.
   In April, 1966, Gen. Long became Chief of Staff for the VII Corps in Stuttgart, Germany.
   The General's last assignment before arriving in Vietnam was Assistant Division Commander, 3d Armored Div spearhead, Hanau, Germany.
   

Bunkers Taken

   3D BDE - A combined air and ground attack north of Saigon netted eight Viet Cong bodies for a unit of the 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div.
   As Alpha Co, 3d Bn, 22d Inf was conducting a day sweep operation in rice paddies north of the capital, 16 enemy soldiers were spotted by supporting gunships.
   As the Hueys raked the area with heavy fire, the "Regulars" company advanced upon what proved to be a well-fortified bunker complex.
   "The VC tried to slow us down by sniper fire," said Company Commander 1LT Alfred D. Fletcher of Washington, D.C., "but our attack proved to be more than they could handle."
   As the enemy fled, the American troops moved in and conducted a thorough search of the bunker system.  They turned up, in addition to the eight bodies, eight AK-47 assault rifles and a pistol.
   

DA AWARD FOR SAFETY - Lieutenant General Frank T. Mildren, USARV deputy commanding general, presents the Department of the Army Award of Honor for Safety to Brigadier General William T. Gleason, acting commander of the 25th Inf Div.  In part, the award read: "The Division distinguished itself by effecting a significant reduction in accidents in comparison with its record for the previous year."  The Award of Honor is the highest award in the Army's Safety Program.  (PHOTO BY SP4 ROBERT SMITH)

Tomahawk Hails From School Of Hard Knocks

   1ST BDE - A professional Cowboy turned Tomahawk has found that the gridiron is not the only place to learn about teamwork.
   Sergeant Tony Jenkins, formerly a football kicking specialist with the Dallas Cowboys, is now the acting platoon sergeant with the 25th Inf Div's Recon Plt, 4th Bn (Mech), 23d Inf.
   Asked about the change of teams he said: "The infantry is very similar to a game on a Sunday afternoon.  You win or lose because of teamwork.  I learned this well while with the Cowboys, but the men in my platoon have taught me quite a bit more about teamwork.  I'm just proud to be a member of the Tomahawks."
   Jenkins, of Stamford, Tex., played varsity football for the University of Oklahoma, and as a kicking specialist caught the eye of many professional football scouts.  After several successful seasons in college, he signed with the Cowboys.
   

CHAPLAIN - Major Richard K. Martin, Brigade Chaplain for the 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div, conducts Protestant services for men of the 2d Bn, 22d Inf along the Dau Tieng to Tay Ninh road.  (PHOTO BY I LT J.M. O'BRIEN)

Thanks to
Allan Azary, 1st Bn. (Mechanized), 5th Inf. for sharing this issue,
Kirk Ramsey, 2nd Bn., 14th Inf. for creating this page.

This page last modified 8-12-2004

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