47th infantry regiment 9th infantry division vietnam 47th infantry regiment 9th infantry division vietnam

John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Artifact (AR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. The grenade taped to his hand might have killed him if the VC had found his hiding place. To Jim Littig, the way the end of the war unfolded was very irritating, with multiple failures by the government. At 0630 hours on the 27th of May 1944, the 9th Infantry Division was put on a six hour alert and events quickly began to happen. As he and his battalion had to move around Vietnam, it was often very tough to move around due to poor road conditions. Soon men were allowed to visit Winchester and London, followed by eight and ten day leave permits to go further afield. [6][50] The regiment had the distinction of another first; on 8 March 1945, soldiers of the regiment became the first infantry troops to cross the Rhine River, doing so at Remagen;[35][51] for its actions during the crossing of the Rhine, the regiment was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. Brice Barnes remembers his liking for Diane Warren's music and how it came to be a part of his time in Vietnam. for VIETNAM 1969-1970. Stationed in Berlin, the regiment remained there for a year;[60] the following year the regiment's 2d Battalion was inactivated at Fort Lewis, and the 3d Battalion was inactivated at Atlanta. E-5, Army, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Fort Ord, California; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Myer, Virginia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Landing Zone (LZ) Betty, Vietnam. After the column was devastated by an NVA ambush, wounded Americans were scattered in the darkness. Dances were organized and held on Saturday nights at the Alresford Town Hall (now the Alresford & District Community Centre), and also in many places in Winchester. While Richey's superiors typically got mad at the men in these situations, Richey knew it was important to keep loose once in a while. They were under siege. 1967-1968, * Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM During the journey in landing craft and troopships the mens thoughts would be of girlfriends and other friendships, tea and scones, mild and bitter, fish and chips and waiting for a double decker bus. One involves Laney Gardner, a man from Richey's home town, and a man named Arnt who liked to joke around. Menu. Captain Forrest still had to write a gut-wrenching letter to the mother of a missing soldier. After an RPG hit his gun, he regained consciousness and found his position nearly overrun. Welcome to the 2nd Battalion, 47 Infantry (Vietnam) Web Site! He managed to finally get himself on a tank crew through sheer will and intelligence. 9th infantry division vietnam 1967 bearcat. Request a Quote. WebWhat unit was Forrest Gump in in Vietnam? After firing every round he had, he saw a wounded American on the other side of the river. Part 1 of 5. Therefore, it does not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in its collections. 2023Ninth Infantry Division AssociationAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. Colombe. They had new wounded coming in constantly, and trying to care for all of them at once was emotionally exhausting. In order for VHP materials to be duplicated, we must receive written permission from the interviewee for you to obtain a copy of the recording unless the proposed use is limited to personal use, research, or other uses permissible by copyright law. Updated: 11/24/18 Alpha, Bravo & Charlie Company KIA Pages Updated - input by Al Brown & Frank Charles William Gill Collection. Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Unit of Service: 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, Location of Service: Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Vietnam, Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 10/22/2015), Charles William Gill Collection (AFC/2001/001/103230), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. // -->. This isn't going to work. We hold an Annual Meeting and Reunion each year and reach out to members through our quarterly Octofoil newsletter and this website. The first night, as he settled in with a cold beer, the radio crackled with pleas for help from a nearby special forces camp. The purpose of sailing to England meant only one thing a springboard to the invasion of the Continent. 125801718854 Once there, medic Daniel Torres volunteered to stay with those who couldn't move and protected them through the night with medicine and a machine gun. of the 47th. [8][59] In July 1963, the 1st Battalion was reactivated as a part of the 171st Infantry Brigade. (Source: Army Battle Casualties & Non-battle Deaths in WWII, Final Report, 1 December 1941-31 December 1946 Mediterranean & Europe.). [24] The division was garrisoned around Winchester and during this time a number of personnel married local women. WebThe 9th Infantry was disbanded for the last time in 1848. Mike Morris describes the hour long battle with an NVA unit that made an unusual frontal assault. Medic Marvin Cole nearly had a Chinook land on top of him in the fog. There were army talks, firing on the range and marching in full combat gear inevitably accidents happened, especially from drivers trying to push a tall truck through Winchester West Gate tower archway. (Caution: coarse language.). The Army was short of officers, so when Jim Littig finished his basic officers course at Ft. Benning, he was sent to Ranger school the same day with jump school to follow. Tom Agnew was apprehensive on the way to Vietnam and wondering if he was up to the task. WebBack to Search Results Veterans History Project Service Summary: War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: 2nd Battalion, 47th [57], In July 1947 the regiment was reactivated at Fort Dix. When daylight came, it was a grim scene, with hundreds of enemy dead. It was determined that they weren't going out far enough and on the second patrol that ventured further, Jim Bolan and the combined unit ran into the back of a VC ambush. The latter was to become the 9th Infantry Divisions Headquarters, where VIPs were received and the estate was used as a storage depot for food and arms. Christmas 1943 was a much happier period than the previous Christmas spent in North Africa. If the interviewee is deceased, their next-of-kin may grant written permission. D-Day. [56][35] In December 1946, the regiment was deactivated in Germany. On the 24th March 1944 Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, arrived in Winchester. It was a group of wounded men who had pulled themselves together after the ill fated march to LZ Albany and were lost in the dark. He had applied to Pathfinder school and was waiting for a slot when he got a lesson in how things get done in the Army. The Early Modern Brigade, 1958-1972", "New center to put faces with Vietnam names", "Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission: Who Is William Matz? This occupation is confirmed by a plaque on the wall adjacent to the doorway. However, before being allowed to leave camp and fraternize with the local people they had to attend classes. When he located the besieged squad, the battle became intense and they were in danger of being wiped out. Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans. WebA group for Veterans and Active Duty Soliders of the 2nd Battalion 47th Infantry Regiment. [24][35] Medical supplies for the regiment had been lost during its movement from England to Normandy, but were replaced and captured German vehicles were pressed into service by the regiment's medical detachment. Aside from taking leaves to nearby London and partying in Alresfords many pubs, the soldiers of the 47th Infantry Regiment had someone special to help keep their minds away from the stresses of combat. from assignment to the 4th Infantry Division, Redesignated 1 February 1966 as the 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry; Web2nd Brigade 2-66 to 9-67. With the rest of the platoon, he set out to find them and bring them back. While in the hospital at Fort Knox, Richey told his parents to come by themselves to pick him up. On a lighter note, he remembers the songs that he heard there and that take him back to that time. After the column was devastated by an NVA ambush, wounded Americans were scattered in the darkness. After having fought in French Morocco, Tunisia and Sicily, the men of the 9th Infantry Division boarded the troopship and headed for England on the 11th of November 1943. Private First Class William P. Fesken, Served with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam. Though it was challenging at times, there was a lot to be gained from serving there. It was originally published on the www.alresford.org website, and I got the permission to republish the article. [64]:128143, During the Tet Offensive, in early February, the regiment fought heavily in and around M Tho in Operation Coronado X. Reactivated in 1940, the regiment fought during World War II in North Africa, Sicily, and Western Europe, then was inactivated in 1946. Click below to see how you can help us expand our mission. [61] As of December 2013[update], 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment is stationed at Sand Hill; the battalion falls under the 194th Armored Brigade, and Maneuver Center of Excellence. Cemeteries & Memorials; Burial Search; About Us; Education; Facebook; Twitter; YouTube; Instagram; [17] Following the Great War, the army contracted in size;[18] due to this downsizing, the regiment was inactivated in 1921. [8][59] although, the regiment was withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System and was reorganized into the United States Army Regimental System. Posted on 25 fevereiro, 2023 by 25 fevereiro, 2023 by [8] During the remainder of the 1970s and into the late 1980s, the 2d and 3d Battalions remained with the 9th Infantry Division. The Division fought in eight campaigns in the European Theater from North Africa to the Elbe River in eastern Germany which included an amphibious landing in Sicily. var filename="../chopper.wav"; A nine hour journey carried the 47th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division down to Hampshire i.e. Transitioning into the climate of Vietnam, he had a lot to get used to. Charlie would disappear into his holes and only come out once the Marines of Mike company had left. As Marine Captain Ron Christmas fought to regain the city of Hue, he found the enemy adept at concealment and surprise. While he was beginning his shift as the night duty officer, Lawson Magruder would marvel at the wrecked helicopters brought back to base. His company command at the Cua Viet River was just the way Richard Jackson liked it. DAGO 73 (27 November 1968) VUA. That's what Tony Nadal told his boss, Hal Moore, as they launched a helicopter assault to search for the enemy. When daylight came, it was a grim scene, with hundreds of enemy dead. To Jim Littig, the way the end of the war unfolded was very irritating, with multiple failures by the government. It is Labor Day weekend, and we remember you all. if (navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer") Our soldiers never lost a battle there. Kent, January 1988 Special thanks to Roy Gentry ofwww.alresford.org and Vincent Z. Whaley of http://vincentzwhaley.com/MilitaryTributes/9th_photos_england_02.php, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), 39th Infantry Regiment at Sprimont Belgium, 9th Infantry Division in Winchester England, 47th Infantry Regiment in Alresford England, http://vincentzwhaley.com/MilitaryTributes/9th_photos_england_02.php. A Special Thanks to a Friend of all Vietnam Veterans In 1966 the Division was reactivated for deployment to Vietnam under General William C. Westmoreland, a veteran of the 47th Infantry Regiment and part of the 9th Division during WWII. [63] In addition to riverine operations, the regiment also conducted air mobile operations. Witness to War is a non-profit dedicated to preserving the oral histories of combat veterans through digital video interviews. He was there to call in air strikes, artillery, Medevacs and resupply. Location of Service: Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Gordon, Georgia; Tan Son Nhut Air Base and Bien Hoa, Vietnam. He was given free reign to take care of his area. Helmeted Bobbies courteously answered the mountains of questions, and driving on the left side of the road soon became natural. Personal Narrative. Part 1 of 5. [5][27] Following El Guettar, the regiment moved north, and fought in the Battle of Sedjenane, and soldiers of the regiment's 2d Battalion, were the first Allied soldiers in Bizerte. - Jennifer Cockerill. Richey tells a couple other stories about how his company interacted with the military equipment, specifically percussion grenades. [64]:114120 In August, and early September, the regiment operated in the Long An Province, supporting units from the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Two regiments of 1st ARVN Division launch Operation LAM SON 235, a nine-day search-and destroy operation in Quang Tri Province. His action during this time earned him the Navy Cross. He describes what he saw next as the worst thing he'd ever seen. Free time was only the beginning of the pleasures. The old Civic Cinema in Station Road, where the men couldrelax and watch movies. Keywords : On a lighter note, he remembers the songs that he heard there and that take him back to that time. Going into the Vietnam War, he understood and sympathized with the idea that the U.S. was looking to help the Vietnamese be better off. [49] During the Battle of the Bulge, the regiment served as a cornerstone of American resistance around Eupen. Personal Narrative. Another great attraction was afternoon teas served by a jovial lady with a limp, the men referred to her cafe as The Tea Pot but on making inquiries it was in fact The Blue Door in East Street, near where the National Westminster Bank is now situated. Now they were an experienced combat outfit and it was felt with a little polish and more training they could match anything Hitler had to offer. https://www.matrixgames.com/game/campai es-vietnam [8], In April 1996, the regiment was transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. WebBack to Search Results Veterans History Project Service Summary: War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division Location of Service: Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Vietnam Highest Rank: E-5 View full service history During Desert Storm, his unit was mobilized to provide support for training for that conflict. [38] On 22 June, the attack on Cherbourg began, with the regiment errantly being attacked by aircraft of the IX Bomber Command, and the 39th Infantry Regiment following behind its advancement;[39] by the 24th the regiment had broken through the enemy defenses, and along with the 39th, where fighting within the suburb of Octeville.