Please note:  SSN's have been deleted from the following transcript.

Specific SSN's will be provided to fellow Silver Spurs who request

them by email.

 

It should also be noted that Troopers Thomas W. KNUCKEY and

Philip C. TAYLOR perished during this operation.

 

                Document provided by Dan Sutherland

     

 

    Transcribed by Pam Young -- The Northwest Veterans Newsletter

 

 

              ---------------------------------------

                        Page 1

              ---------------------------------------

 

Official Orders                           Republic of Vietnam

NO. 639/SD5BB/CL/ADHT               Armed Forces of the Republic

                                    Viet Nam III Corps

                                    5th Infantry Division

                                    General Staffs

                                    Adjutant General

 

            CHAIMAN OF THE JOINT GENERAL STAFFS

           OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF VN

 

 

_In compliance with Decree no. 10-b dated 15/8/50, fixing the

 Gallantry Cross.

_In compliance with Regulations no. 74-b, dated 15/8/50, fixing the

 procedures of awarding the Gallantry Cross.

_In compliance with Regulations no. 614/a/II/SL, dated 1 July 70,

 fixing the systems of national defense organization, and of the

 Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam.

_In compliance with Instructions no. 655-402, dated 23/2/71, fixing

 the authorities of awarding medals to servicemen, alive or killed

 in action, within the Armed Forces of the Republic of VN.

 

                     DIVISIONAL LEVEL CITATIONS

                     --------------------------

 

1.  MIHALIK, DOUGLAS          CPT   3rd SQUADRON, 17TH AIR CAVALRY

2.  REAMY, KEITH T.           WO1               "

3.  FORD, JIMMIE S.           MAJ               "

4.  MARTIN, JAMES F.          CPT               "

5.  SHIELDS, ROGER D.         CPT               "

6.  LONG, MICHAEL E.          WO1               "

7.  SIMMONS, WILLIAM T.       CPT               "

8.  SACCO, JAMES A.           WO1               "

9.  RENSCHEN, PAUL S.         CPT               "

10. PETERSON, PAUL            CPT               "

11. JONES, ROBERT C.          WO1               "

12. LEE, EDWARD F.            WO1               "

13. PEARSON, BILLY H.         CPT               "

14. HUMPHREY, BENJAMIN        CPT               "

15. MILES, PAUL F.            WO1               "

16. JOHNSON, GEORGE R.        1LT               "

17. DODD, BRUCE P.            WO1               "

18. MC CANN, WESELY F.        WO1               "

19. TOBIN, GARY M.            CPT               "

20. BARTLETT, STEVEN R.       CW2               "

 

      Brave American pilots of 3rd Squadron 17th Air Cavalry, with

excellent combat experiences, distinguished themselves in supporting

ARVN units in SNOUL THEATER (CAMBODIA).  They have supported

effectively the 8th Regiment, which were attacking the enemy units.

Despite the heavy hostile anti-aircraft fire, the above servicemen

attacked the enemy targets, causing heavy casualties to the enemy.

Therefore, they have contributed great efforts to the victorious

results of the 5th Infantry Division.

 

 

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                        Page 2

              ---------------------------------------

 

 

                     DIVISIONAL LEVEL CITATIONS

                     --------------------------

 

21. GUNN, LEWIS B.            CPT   3rd SQUADRON, 17TH AIR CAVALRY

22. POAGE, ROBERT B.          CPT               "

23. SEIDEL, ALFRED W.         CPT               "

24. BARR, CHARLES M.          WO1               "

25. DULUCIEN, ALBERT G.       WO1               "

26. STEIN, HENRY M.           WO1               "

 

      Brave American pilots of 3rd Squadron 17th Air Cavalry, with

excellent combat experiences, have distinguished themselves during

the period from 25 May 71 to 1 June 71, in supporting the ARVN units

which were being surrounded by communist forces in Snoul Town

(Cambodia).  Despite the intense enemy fire, they have directed

effectively the air strikes against enemy targets, and therefore,

they have pinned down the enemy large scale offensive.  Besides they

have kept frequent contact with the ARVN ground commanders.  And

owing to the informations given by the above servicemen, concerning

the enemy maneuvers, the ARVN ground commanders could control the

battle field with great efficiency.  Therefore, they have contributed

great efforts to the victorious results of the 5th Infantry Division.

 

                     DIVISIONAL LEVEL CITATIONS

                     --------------------------

 

27. SWINFORD, MARVIN V.       CPT   3rd SQUADRON, 17TH AIR CAVALRY

28. NICOL, JOHN               CW3               "

29. CHODARA, LOUIS            CW2               "

30. EVANS, SCOTT A.           WO1               "

31. HANSEN, MARK S.           WO1               "

32. RICHARDSON, THOMAS        WO1               "

33. WILTROUT, TIMOTHY         WO1               "

34. BELL, RICHARD A. III      CPT               "

35. LAUFENBURGER, FRANK       CPT               "

 

      Brave American pilots of 3rd Squadron 17th Air Cavalry, with

excellent combat experiences, have shown meritorious services in

supporting TOAN THANG operations, in Cambodian territory.  Despite the

intensive hostile fire, those servicemen have kept frequent contact

with the ARVN 5th Infantry Division units, and have flown over enemy

positions in low-level, so as to give the friendly unit commanders

the latest enemy maneuvers.  Besides they have casualties, as well as

losses of weapons to the enemy.  Therefore they have contributed great

efforts to the victorious results of the 5th Infantry Division.

 

 

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              ---------------------------------------

 

 

                      REGIMENT LEVEL CITATIONS

                     --------------------------

 

1.  WRIGHT, JAMES H.          CPT   3rd SQUADRON, 17TH AIR CAVALRY

2.  REIDY, ROBERT             1LT               "

3.  WILKINS, PAUL C.          CPT               "

4.  MILLER, JATIES D.         WO1               "

5.  STEELHAMMER, WILLIAM      WO1               "

6.  JOHNSON, JAMES            CPT               "

7.  WATKINS, ROGER R.         WO1               "

 

      Brave gunship pilots with great enthusiasm, have distinguished

themselves from 25 May 71 to 1 June 71, in supporting the ARVN

regiment units at Snoul Town (Cambodia), while being surrounded by

the enemy.  In spite of the great danger to their own lives, subject

pilots have supported the friendly units with effective air strikes

and have firred down all major hostile offensives.  Besides they have

given complete detailed information of the ground situations to the

ARVN commanders, who, with these dates would control the whole

theater more easier.  These servicemen have contributed a great deal

of efforts to the victorious results of the 5th Infantry Division.

 

                      REGIMENT LEVEL CITATIONS

                     --------------------------

 

8.  IVIE, CLARENCE S.         CPT   3rd SQUADRON, 17TH AIR CAVALRY

9.  GIBSON, PATRICK H.        WO1               "

10. PLANTER, MICHAEL T.       WO1               "

11. TURNER, ROBERT M.         WO1               "

12. MUSTIN, DANNY G.          WO1               "

13. SELDA, GERALD E.          WO1               "

14. TANNYHILL, JAMES W.       WO1               "

15. McWATERS, JOHN D.         WO1               "

16. BERGMAN, MICHAEL F.       1LT               "

17. NAPLES, BARRY J.          SP4               "

18. SUTHERLAND, DANIEL J.     SP4               "

19. DUSSEAU, THEODORE H.      SP5               "

20. CARLSON, LARRY G.         SP4               "

21. GARRISON, JOHN S.         SP4               "

22. BEASON, MICHAEL B.        SP4               "

23. BRIEDEN, NED A.           SP4               "

24. JOHNSON, RICHARD A.       SP4               "

 

      Excellent pilots and crow members in charge of medical

evacuations, having great sense of responsibilities, have shown

meritorious service in Cambodian territory, from 25 May 71 to

1 Jun 71.  While the ARVN regiment units were being surrounded by

large enemy forces, and were being shelled by hostile ground

artillery.  Subject pilots managed to land at combat zones to

evacuate the friendly wounded, regardless of the intensive enemy

fire.  Owing to those these servicemen have contributed a great deal

to the victorious results of the 5th Infantry Division.

 

 

              ---------------------------------------

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                      REGIMENT LEVEL CITATIONS

                     --------------------------

 

25. ROSE, EDGAR               SSG   3rd SQUADRON, 17TH AIR CAVALRY

26. BRYANT, ISAAC             SSG               "

27. BROWN, WILLIAM H.         SGT               "

28. BEASLEY, CRAIG O.         SP5               "

29. GROVER, ROBERT H.         SP5               "

30. JENNINGS, HARLAN W.       SP5               "

31. SAGER, WILLIAM C.         SP5               "

32. AMERSON, ROY J.           SP5               "

33. JAQUINS, CHARLES          SP4               "

34. MONTAGUE, CHARLES         SP4               "

35. COLEGROVE, ROBERT         1LT               "

36. PATTERSON, DENNIS L.      1LT               "

 

      Excellent American pilots and crew members, in charge of

observation having a great knowledge of specialities have

distinguished themselves in Toan-Thang operation, inside Cambodian

territory, by coordinating with ARVN infantry units.  In spite of

the intensive enemy anti-aircraft fire, subject servicemen have

observed calmly the whole combat zones, and have directed air-strikes

against hostile targets causing heavy casualties, as well as losses of

weapons to the enemy.  They have contributed a great deal of efforts

to the victorious results of the 5th Infantry Division.

 

 

"I certify this to be a true        APO 4287 date 11 June 1971

 translation"                       For the chairman of the

                              joint general staffs of the

      [signed]                armed forces of the Republic

   JOHN R JOHNSON JR                of Vietnam.

   CPT, AR

   Adjutant                   General CAO-VAN-VIEN

 

                              Commanding General

"A TRUE COPY"                       5th Infantry Division

                              Maj. General NGUYEN-VAN-HIEU

 

 

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vcg.htm

 

Posted:     27Jan98

      The Northwest Veterans Newsletter

      http://northwestvets.com

      E-mail:  bear317@aol.com