2nd Civil Affairs Company
2nd Civil Affairs Company
 
Home Page - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Brothers Found Page - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Brothers Killed - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Cmd, Staff and Teams - 2nd Civil Affairs Company awards Casualties - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Reunion - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Sightseeing - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Photos - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Photos Platoons
Lineage 1962-65 - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Diary 1966 - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Diary 1967 - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Diary 1968 - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Diary 1969 - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Diary 1970 - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Diary 1971 - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Books by 2CA Guys - 2nd Civil Affairs Company MPC - 2nd Civil Affairs Company Agent Orange
  
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PHOTOS  -  HEADQUARTERS  STAFF  and  EVENTS

x

Last Revision:   23  Jan  2024

Picture of  Larry J. Filbert - Supply (S-4) - Member of the Advance Party and Construction Foreman

Picture ID - Second Increment - Bingo D7 = Larry D. Hughes  from Tommy Pearson 1966-1968

Picture of American Force Vietnam Network - TV Weather Girl - Barbara Bobbie Oberhansky - 1967

Comments about 2021 Google Earth Image of II-FFV HQ and 2CA area - almost at bottom of this page

Picture of Joe Napp - Thanksgiving Day 2020 - Temporary Beard and now 'No Glasses !' - Lasik

Picture of Platoon Leader - Feb 1971  -  from Fred Dolder

Pictures of  "The Captain's Club Bar"  -  Christmas Day 1966 - from Joe Napp - 66-67

Pictures of 2nd CA Base Camp - the 1966 Christmas Eve R&R Event  -  from Hal Lynch - 66-67

Pictures of 2nd CA Base Camp - EM Area and Motor Pool - Tom Slusher - 66-68

Picture of XO Major Warren Buckingham - 1968 - from Capt Jerry D. Ritter

Names Added to Group Photo at Company HQ Bldg - 15 March 1969

Picture outside the Maintenance Shop Bldg - 1969 -  SP4 Dan Caldwell

Picture outside the Visiting EM Barracks - 1969 -  SP4 Dan Caldwell

Picture of  USAID  supplies at Civilian Supply Warehouse - 1969 -  SP4 Dan Caldwell

Aerial Picture of 2nd CA Base Camp Area in July 1971 -  LTC Robert Gruen

Photo Size - you can adjust the  ZOOM %  on your internet browser

to create a full size display on your monitor.

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We need  GROUP PICTURES  as well as pictures of the Officers, NCOs and Enlisted Men.

The pictures on this page are from the  Members of the 2nd Civil Affairs Company.

Thank You.  

x

The

Original Members

of the

2nd Civil Affairs Company

Fort Gordon, Georgia  -  16 Sep 1966

Original Photo Size  20.5" x 10"  -  split into two pictures because of scanner bed limitations

xx

Photograph Courtesy of

  Paul A. Lessard

CAPT  AG - Adjutant  1966-1967

  

xx

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
 9 
10
11
12
13

A

-
-
-
-
- -

PVT

Chris

Phoenix

PVT

Stan

Lukasik

PVT

Richard

 Mitchell

-
-
-
-
B

SP4

Thomas

Riggle

PVT

Paul

Menard

PVT

Clifford Kip

Mathison

PVT

Robert

Foster

PFC

Larry

Filbert

PVT

Robert

Roeper

SSG

Floyd

Wolcott

PVT

H. Chris

Schreiber

SP4

Walter

Ziegler

SSG

Levin

Ashby

PVT

Daniel

Hanzely

SSG

John

Sneed

SSG

Richard

Chapman

C

SFC

Ronald

Grubbs

SSG

Simeon

Corpuz

PFC

James

Christmon

PVT

Jerome

Buckman

SSG

Ronald

Gorman

PFC

James

Anderson

PFC

William

Unger

PVT

Marvin

Leacroy

CPL

Arthur

Tiber

PVT

Alex

Rohr

PVT

James

Tillotson

PVT

 Charles

 Transue

PVT

Wayne

Karna

D

PVT

Juan

Rodriguez

PVT

Robert

Ayers

PVT

John

Blamey

PVT

James

Barran

SP5

Robert

Olson

PVT

Hector

Nava

PVT

David

Eggleston

PFC

Paul

Cronan

PVT

Edward

Baran

PVT

R. Bill

Siegmund

PVT

Clifton

Taylor

SP4

Phillip

Denig

-
E

1-LT

Paul

Lessard

2-LT

Charles

Hooks

1-LT

Michael

Tepedino

2-LT

Dennis

Santillo

x

2-LT

Gary

Cusumano

2-LT

Robert

Solum

2-LT

Harold

Lynch

2-LT

Patrick

Garrity

2-LT

Ron

Schneider

1-LT

Karl

Yena

-
-
F

1-LT

Glen

Snow

CPT

William

Massey

CPT

Thomas

Watkins

MAJ

Edward

Saunders

LTC

JAMES

CONKLIN

1SGT

Ervin

Morlan

MAJ

Herbert

Whitehead

MAJ

William

Bowers

CPT

Richard

Church

CPT

Michael

Glynn

CPT

Joseph

Frankoski

2-LT

Joseph

Napp

-
G
-
-
-
-

PVT

Raymond

Rodriguez

2

CA

Guidon

PVT

Ronald

Melton

-
-
-
-
-
-

There were an additional 3 Officers and 26 Enlisted Men

who joined the unit after 16 Sep 1966 and

who did deploy with the Main Body in November 1966.

Some 17 year old soldiers in the picture above did not deploy with us

because they were  'non-deployable'  until they were  18 years old  as per DOD Regulations

Light Gray Background indicates known Deceased After RVN Service

     
 

Everybody Left Their Heart

in San Francisco

Going Across the Pond

 
       

Troop Ship

U.S.N.S.  Gordon

2nd CA  Main Body

Going Ashore

at Vung Tau

One of two  USAF C-123s

airlifted the Main Body from

Vung Tau  to  Bien Hoa  AFB

     

The

Second Increment

of the

2nd Civil Affairs Company

Arrived at  Vung Tau, RVN  on   22 March 1967

xx

Photography Courtesy of

Donald R. Kunego

SP4  1967-1968

xxx
xx  xx 1x
xx    xx2
x  x 3xxxx
xxxx4xxxx
xxx5xxxx
xx   6xx
xx x7xxx
xxx  8xxx
xxx  9xxx
A
?

PVT

Donald

Kunego

?

PFC

Richard

Parent

?

PVT

Irwin

Burakoff

PVT

Thomas

Daniels

?

PVT

Dennis

Dirks

B
?
?
?

PVT

Lewis

Kelly

PVT

Kenneth

Klepies

PVT

John

Smythe

PFC

Thomas

Pearson

PVT

Donald

Kloepfel

C

PFC

Robert

Walsh

?
?

PVT

Bruce

Tilford

?
?
?

PFC

Harold

Tarrant

--
D

PVT

Larry

Lucero

?

PVT

John

Berkman

PVT

Richard

Ryals

PFC

Thomas

Varner

?

PVT

Larry D.

Hughes

PVT

Ronald

Thomas

--
E

PFC

C. Daniel

Terrell

PVT

Thomas

Dill

PVT

Wayne

Olson

?

PFC

Dennis

Pierce

?

PFC

Robert

Sayles

?
--
F
--

PVT

A. Wayne

Lewis

SSG

James

Penn

SFC

Jesse

Bryant

MSG

Lewis

Jones

SGT

?

Vega

--
--
--
G
--

PFC

Vincent

Miller

PFC

Albert

Blaney

PVT

Wayne

Lang

PVT

Darrol

Ashworth

xx
--
--
--
H
--

PFC

Robert

Gardner

--
--

2

CA

Guidon

PVT

Melvin

Lyons

----xx-------
--------------
--------------
35 of the 49  Second Increment  PVT (E2) and PFC (E3)  were Regular Army - three year volunteers

Medic  Thomas James Daniels  was   KIA   on  17 Sep 67

(Vietnam Wall  26-E,  Line 82)

after being transferred  from the 2nd CA  into

C Company,  2nd Battalion,  34th Armor Regiment  in  II-CTZ

Light Gray Background indicates know Deceased After RVN Service
 
 
 
 

Spacious State Room

for the

Second Increment

Rick Parent and Don Reyes

note

their images in the mirrors

     
 
 
 

Before the 2nd Increment

arrived in RVN,

there was a pleasure stop at

Subic Bay in the Philippines !

 
     
 
 

March 22, 1967

The Second Increment

coming ashore at Vung Tau

from the troop ship

U.S.N.S.  General William Weigle

     

Vietnam

Plantation Base Camp

Long Binh

1966

GOOD MORNING,  VIETNAM  !

November 20, 1966

  

The  Advance Party's   first image  of the Plantation Base Camp,  Long Binh

The BOQ Tent of the 9th Transportation Company (Airborne)

Good Living in 1966

   

The 2nd Civil Affairs Headquarters Building would be built to the right in a few weeks

 

The  Equipment Ship  arrived on December 4, 1966

  

a few days before the first troop ship arrived.

  

The first   13 Team AA - Platoon Headquarters   deployed on 14 and 15 Dec 1966.

We had extra M-151 Jeeps and  M-37  3/4 Ton Trucks

awaiting the arrival of the Second Increment Officers

for activation of the  15th - 22nd Platoons  in July and August of 1967.

   

Note - the lush Green Vegetation  before  the expansion of

the 90th Replacement Battalion  and  the 3rd Ordnance Battation's  Ammunition Depot

     

One of these Jeeps was stolen by a U.S Army Major from the G-5 at II-FFV

before the Lockable Gate and the Motor Pool Maintenance Building were completed.

 
 

 

The Main Body's

Day One 'In-Country'

December 6, 1966

- - -

Plantation Base Camp

Before Any Buildings

just

Bare Ground and Tents

The Boat Trip was Dry !

but

Bartender  Hal Lynch

found some   Class VI  rations

K P   Detail - 'Day One'  in-country

Dishes - LT Schneider (R)

Utensils - CPT  Lessard (C)

Drying - CPT  Church (L)

 
 
 

The  Water  Buffalo

Faithful Service until the very last day

The One and the Only - Water Trailer

Plantation  Base  Camp

Construction Projects

Dec 1966 - Mar 1967

xx

Before any building,  there was the  FIRST BUNKER

xx

 
 

In the beginning,  there was nothing,  then there was something.

From a seed a tree grows,

  one sand bag at a time  -  started before the hiring of day laborers !

     

A few months later.

The Bunker survived  TET,

improved with a lookout,

other positions were added.

     
Christmas  Day  Morning  -  1966

THE  BAR   at the  CAPTAIN'S  CLUB

in the back of the G.P. Tent   in the  2CA Tent City  -  before any Buildings.

( L - R )

Michael Glynn,  Thomas 'Del' Watkins,  Joseph Frankoski,  (S-3) Major Edward Saunders,

Paul Lessard,  Stuart Slingerland, M.D.,  Ralph Polce (in Uniform), and Bill Massey - bare back.

note the

Buffet Table w/ some C-Rats,  the Imersion Heater Dishwasher  and  'the 'Class VI'  Bar' (R)

'Good Living'   from  Nov 66  thu  Jan 67

Yes, there once was a time before buildings and

the  DEW DROP INN   (the 1967 name for O-Club) .

xx 

Building Projects

xx

 

LTC James S. Conklin

was shocked at the failure of other units at the Plantation

to build permanent housing for their Enlisted Men  !

xxxxx

He ordered the immediate construction of Aluminum Hooches

first for Enlisted Men and then for the NCOs.

   

BOQs, Offices and Motor Pool Maintenance Buildings would follow later.

The WABTOC Lumber Kit would not be wasted on tent frames or wooden floors.

LTC Conklin was a 'Mustang' and wanted The Men out of the mud before the monsoon hit   !

The Adams Huts

The first EM Barracks was completed on  5 Jan 1967

just 30 days after the arrival of the Main Body

and the second EM Barracks was completed  just two days later  on  7 Jan 1967.

When the Company was stood down,  there were three Adams Huts for the NCOs and EMs.

    

Concrete Foundation

Anderson,  Paul Menard,

Ingwaldson and 1SGT Morlan

Aluminum Frame

for the

EM and NCO Hooches

Finishing the Roof

and with pink insulation.

Ingwaldson,  Morris,  Filbert

 
  
   

Cook Out celebrating the Completion of the Base Camp Construction Project

January 1967

The first two  Enlisted Barracks  were completed on  5 Jan 1967  and  7 Jan 1967.

The Main Body had been "in-country" for just one month.

( L  -  R )

Dick Ingwaldson,  James Anderson,  James Christmon,  Chris Phoenix,

Clifton Taylor,  Max Morris,  Dan Hanzely,

standing

Ron Melton,   Larry Filbert,   SSG Richard Chapman

from the William G. Unger Collection

 
 
 

PRIVACY FENCE  in Vietnam

Before it became popular stateside.

Designed and built by  Base Camp Construction Foreman  SP4  Larry Filbert  (R)

and in the picture are

Clifton Taylor,  Paul Menard,  James Anderson  and  SSG James Green (L-R)

from the William G. Unger Collection

   

WABTOC  Kit

California's Finest Red Wood

already 1,000 years old.

Headquarters Building

Completed

12 February 1967

Vehicle Maintenance Shop

Late Spring

1967

     

Senior Officers & NCOs

without

an Engineering License

should not design sidewalks !

Please note,

the Guide Wire from the pole

for decapitation of the

occupant of BOQ Room #101

 

Additional Sand Bag Protection

for the

New Ammunition Bunker

near the

Headquarters Building

to make it

 " RPG  Proof "

     

O F F   L I M I T S

to

Officers

The  EM  Club

for the 2nd Civil Affairs  and   the 9th Transporation (Abn)

 
Entertainers
 
Projection Booth

1960s Drive-In Movie

without

Cars or Girls

 

Shit Burner

Excrement

was burned every day

by

Shit Burner (Abn)

Shit Burner  (Abn)

with

Bill Unger and Don Reyes

Shit Burner (Abn)

'hand carried' his Briefcase

into Plantation every day.

Every night, he carried his Briefcase out on a metal stake

'All the Way'  home, Sir.

     

  

Win the Hearts and Minds

    

 
 
 

WHAM Flag

Win the Hearts and Minds

1-LT Dennis Santillo

11th AA Platoon

11th Armored Cavalry

 
        
 
 
 

The Motto on the

2nd Civil Affairs Company

Headquarters Building Sign

" SEAL THE VICTORY "

 
     

xxxx

Company Headquarters

Staffs and Specialty Teams

xxxx

   

Company  Commanders

  

LTC James S. Conklin

First CO of  2nd CA

1966-1967

 
     

LTC David E. Wade

CO

1967-1968

The only CO

to serve a full year tour.

Company Badge

Yellow Field & Red Stripes

design derived from

ARVN Flag

authorized by

Major Charles R. Kelly

Major Charles R. Kelly

CO

1968

   
 
 
 

LTC John F. Shannon

CO

1969

 
 
 
 

LTC  Harold V. Madden

Commanding Officer,   2nd Civil Affairs Company

Visiting a Platoon with the  11th Cavalry  near Snoul, Cambodia - 1970

Pouch under right forearm has $ 10,000 for Soladium Payments to Cambodian Civilians

 

1970

Commander and Headquarters Staff

LT Richey,  CPT Harris, MD,  MAJ Dauber (XO),  CPT Hull (S-1)

LT Tenzer,  MAJ Manzo (S-3),  LTC Mullins (CO),  LT Fraser,  LT Shelton (S-4)

     
     
Company Commander and Platoon Leaders - 16 Feb 1971
Rear Row
LTC Mullins
LT Prud'homme
Cpt Dolder
Cpt Arkovich
Cpt Cold
Cpt Stefaniak
Cpt Bush
CO,  2CA
5th Plt
1st Plt
4th Plt
12th Plt
9th Plt
7th Plt
Front Row
Cpt Bethard
Cpt Onstot
LT Lalli
Cpt Krueger
Cpt Barnes
LT Babcock
LT Murphy
3rd Plt
10th Plt
6th Plt
2nd Plt
5th Plt
11th Plt
8th Plt

xx

Executive Officers

(XO)

xx

 
 
 

MAJ  Edward J. Saunders (L)

1966-67

decorated and promoted (LTC)

by  BG Lekson   (R)

- - - - - -

Next assignment for

the new LTC Saunders was

CO of the Civil Affairs School

at Fort Gordon - Dec 1967

 
     
 

MAJ  Warren  Buckingham

1968-69

 

MAJ  Robert A. Wolff

1969

     

    

First  Sergeants

(1SGT)

     

 

1SGT Ervin Morlan

1966-67

Future SGM

1SGT John M. Harrison

1968-69

     
 
 
 

William  L.  Timmons

The   Last   First Sergeant

1971

Previously served in the 2CA as

PSGT 8th Plt, Tay Ninh, 1967-68

 
     

xx

Administration

(S-1)

Adjutants and members of the staff

xxxx

CPT  Paul  A.  Lessard

The  First  Adjutant

1966-67

1-LT CPT  Glen L. Snow

1967

     

Admin Section and Mail Room

Original HQ Building - 1967

( Front to Rear )

SP4 Dennis L. Pierce,   SP5 James C. 'Andy' Anderson,

SP4  Don Reyes - inside the Mail Room

and

SP4 Tommy Pearson (from Phuoc Vinh) at window

   
 
 
 

SP5 Max Morris

Admin Specialist

TDY Duty Station at  II-FFV   S-1

 
     

CPT Jerry D. Ritter

Adjutant S-1

1967-1968

CPT Jerry D. Ritter

Adjutant's Office

Bullet Hole in DEROS Board

CPT Jerry D. Ritter (L)

MAJ Charles R. Kelly (R)

visiting the 5th AA Platoon

at Dong Tam

   
 

CPT Jerry D. Ritter (L-R)

S-1  Team Meeting  at BOQ

with Specialists

Reyes,  Martin  and  Pierce

 
     
 

CPT Albert H. Jolly

Adjutant  S-1

1969-1970

 

SP4 Alnis G. Grants

Admin Specialist

1969-1970

     

CPT David F. Hull, Jr.  (L)

Adjutant  S-1

1970-1971

SP4  Ed Thompson

Admin Specialist

1970

SFC Charles E. Clark

First Sergeant

1970

   
   
 

SP4  Ed Thompson

at the Headquarters Bldg

with Bunting for the

Change of Command Ceremony

July  4, 1970

 
   
  
 
   
 

SP4  Richard Bridges

1970-71

Note - the Rotary Phone

much improved from

Bell Crank Field Phones

WD-1 Wire  and

#22 Switchboards

 
   

The  S-1  Team

SP4 Sommers.  SP4 Christon,  CPT Hull,  SP4 Kleinschmidt,  SP4 Bridges

Inspecting an Unusual Package from the Mail Room,

a Care Package from home,

Real American Food - a stateside Sausage

Beats the Mess Hall Chow and C-Rats  -  Any Day  !

     

xx

Operations

(S-3)

Operations Officers and members of the staff

xx

Major  Herbert  Whitehead

Operations Officer - 1966

Previous 11th Abn, 187th Arty

1945 Jump in the Philippines

1950 Jump into NORTH Korea

 

MAJ   Dudley Coleman

Operations Officer

1967

'Always a Great Listener, then

asked a few Great Questions'

     
 

MAJ  William C. Massey

Operations Officer

1967

- - -

He was U.S. Army Reservist

Civil Affairs Branch Captain

who volunteered for

Active Duty and  RVN

He served 2 tours - 1966-68

Platoon Leader,  S-3  and  XO

 
     
 

CPT Peter A. Maurek

Operations Officer

1968-69

SGT ???

Operations NCO

1968

     
 
 
 

SFC Robert G. Gulley

Operations NCO

1969-1970

 
     

SP4  James W. Cobb

Operations Specialist

1969-1970

ARVN Sergeant  Tuwar

Operations Translator

1969-1970

     
 
 
 

1-LT Richard G. Graham

Asst Operations Officer

March 1970

Author  of the book - WOUNDED

 
     
 

Captain Chuck Gilmer

Operations Officer

July 70 - Dec-70

 
     

Supply

(S-4)

Supply Officers and members of the staff

xx

1-LT Joseph M. Napp

2-LT Charles D. Hooks,   SSGT William G. Johnson

SP4 Clifton W. Taylor  -  Communications

SP4  Ronald R. Melton  -  Food Service

SP4 Thomas Riggle - Supply

SP4  Christopher Phoenix  -  Vehicle Maintenance

1966-1967

  

The First Two Men assigned into the 2nd Civil Affairs in May 1966 were

SSG Ronald K. Grubbs

promoted to SFC in Summer of 1966 and again later

in September 1966,  he was transferred out  and  promoted to Warrant Officer - (WO-1)

Mister Grubbs,  a few years later,  he retired as  Chief Warrant Officer 4 - (CWO-4).

   

PFC-SP4 Larry J. Filbert

the first Supply Clerk Typist and Second Man assigned into the unit

if we had it stateside,  Larry typed the requisitions.

In Vietnam,  he was the Plantation Base Camp Construction Foreman.

He designed everything and

and with some help from the  Men of HHD Detachment,   Larry built it  !!!

     

The Key Members

of the

S-4 Team at Fort Gordon

in late May 1966.

Initially SSG and later SFC

Ronald K. Grubbs

and

Pvt-SP4  Larry J. Filbert

Outstanding Soldiers.

SFC Ronald K. Grubbs

The First Man

assigned into the 2nd CA.

The Smartest Decision

the US Army every made !

And again later in 1966,

Promoted to Warrant Officer.

 

SP4 Larry J. Filbert

as a

Member of the Advance Party

The First Man 'Off the Plane'

Sorry LTC,

the Stewardess  directed

Larry  to be the  First Person

to De-Plane.

     
 
 
 

SP4 Clifton Taylor

May 1966 - Nov 1967

The  Only  Original Team Member

to have completed a full tour +.

And a very, very fine person !

 
      

SSG William G. Johnson

Supply Sergeant

Late 1966-67

SP4 Thomas Riggle

Admin Specialist

1967

   

The Company's  Supply Building  was completed on 19 Feb 1967

   

 

Motor Maintenance Team (Prov)

 
 
 

SP4  Christopher J.  Phoenix

Team Leader

Acting Motor Sergeant

Maintenance & Motor Pool

At one time, our only mechanic !

Aug 1966 - Nov 67

 
     

SP4 Thomas R. Slusher

Vehicle Maintenance

Ready to go as 'Security'

on a Supply Convoy

SP4  Richard J. Parent

Vehicle Maintenance

Motor Pool 1967-68

SP4  Harold M. Tarrant

Parts Specialist

Motor Pool 1967-68

 
 

3rd Plt PSG  Ron Gorman

was impaled into the barb wire

while signalling

his ARVN Jeep Driver

to drive over the Oil Change Pit.

The ARVN driver accelerated

and did not hit the brakes !

PSG Ron Gorman had

5+  Broken Vertabrae

Size of the Hole

in the

Motor Pool

Maintenance Building

Look from the Ramp

and

Oil Change Pit

     

 

Food Service Team (Prov)

Chef Ronald  R. Melton

1966-67

Volunteered to deploy with

"his friends"  in 2nd CA

after Mess Team was disbanded

 
 
 

  

Supply - 1967-1971

 
 
 

1-LT  Charles Douglas Hooks

S-4  (Sep 67 - Nov 67)

Joe Napp's first and last order

to a friend and successor

" Sit down,  job is yours "

and my last official duty

photo of a good friend.

 
     
 

CPT Joseph Marino

Supply Officer

1969-1970

   
     
   
 

SP 6  Thomas Blume

Assistant Supply Sergeant

1970-71

     

Public Health Team (NA)

based out of the

2nd CA's  Plantation Base Camp, Long Binh

working with the

61st Medical Dispensary

  

CPT Stuart Slingerland  (1966-67)

CPT Derick P. Pasternak,   SP7 Frank H. Turnbull (1969-70)

CPT Parker F. Harris  (1970-71)

Stuart Slingerland, MD

Captain

1966-1967

Derick P. Pasternak, MD

Captain

1969-1970

Parker F. Harris, MD

Captain

1970-1971

 
 

SP7   Frank  H. Turnbull

Combat Medic

Medical Specialist

Linguist

several local languages

     

Civilian Supply Team  (BE)

based out of the

2nd CA's  Plantation Base Camp,  Long Binh

 
 
 

USAID Supplies

at the 2nd CA Warehouse

SP4 John Giordano (L) and

SP4 John Berkman (R)

circa 1969

 
     
 

SGT  Michael Lydick

1970

Note - the Rotary Dial Phone  !

 

SP4  William T. Sears

1970

 
 

Civilian Supply & Transport Team  (BB)

based out of the

2nd CA's  Plantation Base Camp,  Long Binh

2-LT Don W. Ellen,

SP7 Oswald Kinat,   SP4 John Giordano,   SP4 Ken Eckhardt

 

 

 

 

 

 

SP7 Oswald 'Ozzie' Kinat

at Long Binh

1969

   

Automotive Maintenance Team  (DA)

based out of the

2nd CA's  Plantation Base Camp,  Long Binh

Motor Sergeant - SSG Jerry L. Burns (L)

Mechanic - PFC William A. Avant (R)

1969

     

PFC Dale R. Vernon

Mechanic 1969

SP4 Daniel Caldwell

Mechanic 1969

PFC William A. Avant,  Jr.

Mechanic 1969

     

CPT Ellsworth Peter Rowinski

   Maintenance Officer

1969-1970

??????

Maintenance Record Clerk

1970

SP4  Larry  Locke

Changing a Flat Tire

1970

     
 
 
 

SP4  Lee Jackson

1968-69

The Under-Vehicle Work Pit

in the Maintenance Shop

much upgraded since 1967

with a two-tone paint job

 
      

     

Base Camp Housekeeping

       

Mrs. Ring

9th Trans Co Mess Hall

1966

Mrs. Ring

Fam Cai Nhan  (? sp) BOQ Housekeeper  66-67

originally from Kien Hoa

Mrs. "Li" Tien Park

TPark25@yahoo.com

NCO-EM Housekeeper  66-67

     

 

T E T    1 9 6 8

Before the  VC and  NVA  began their assault on

  II-FFV  Headquarters from

Ho Nai  and the  Widow's Village   ( family housing for the ARVN  KIA )

the VC and NVA

EXECUTED  up to a hundred

Innocent Base Camp  Day Workers,  Women  and  Children

because

they  "would warn"  the Americans of the  VC-NVA's   pending attacks

and

the VC wanted to  " Win the Hearts and Minds " of these Vietnamese

not at the Ballot Box of a Free Election

but rather by showing them that

their political power came out the barrel of a gun  !

  

Truly, an

Unknown Lady  from  Ho Nai

gave a 15 Minute Early Warning to LRP from the 199th Infantry Brigade

May the hundreds who died in cross-fire batlle in the two villages,

Rest  in  Peace  !

  

The 21st and 22nd Platoons as well as HHD of the 2nd Civil Affairs Company

Buried the Dead.

            

     

War is Ugly and Horrible Beyond Belief.

Please read below  and  you will learn  ' THE REST OF THE STORY '

and,  " What would you have done ? ",   after you read below.

 
     

    "During the 1968 Tet Offensive, the North Vietnamese targeted training camps for South Vietnamese Soldiers (ARVN). One of those camps was located in an area known as Go Vap, north side of the South Vietnamese Capital of Saigon. The Go Vap Armor Camp was under the command of Lt. Col. Nguyen Tuan.  His armor unit was charged with protecting Saigon and Gia Dinh Province.

    "Colonel Tuan was not alone in the camp when it was overcome by a group of Viet Cong.  Col. Tuan was there, with his wife, his 6 children and his 80-year-old mother.

    "Nguyen Van Lem, who was also known as VC-NVA Captain Bay Lop, was the leader of the sabotage unit sent to the Go Vap Armor Camp during the Tet cease fire. The saboteurs took control of the camp.

    "Bay Lop, and his fellow Viet Cong, wanted Col. Tuan to show them how to drive tanks. Naturally, Col. Tuan refused.  As a result of his refusal, Col. Tuan was beheaded.

     "When the South Vietnamese Troops retook the training camp, they were stunned at what they found. VC-NVA Captain Bay Lop had not stopped with the murder of Col. Tuan. The soldiers also found the bodies of Col. Tuan’s wife, six children and his mother. Out of the six children, only a 10-year-old boy, who was seriously injured, survived.

     "The boy that survived the massacre. They shot him *** in the arm, leg, skull and thought he was dead.

    "Bay Lop was later captured and executed by General Nguyen Ngoc Loan and the image was captured by Eddie Adams.

    "At that time, General Loan was told by the CIA attaché who the prisoner was and what he had done to Col. Tuan and his family. General Loan told the American Press Corps afterward that had Bay Lop maintained his VC-NVA Military Uniform, he would have been treated as a POW. However, since he had changed his clothes and disguised himself as a civilian, General Loan did what he felt he had to do to a criminal and a murderer in a fog of  war.

     "I know that the American public saw the execution as barbaric and never forgave General Loan for such act. However, even as a Middle Schooler back then, I remembered Gen. Loan was alway in the front line with his men, going door to door, block by block driving out the VCs and bringing stability back to Saigon.

    "Gen. Loan was a loyal comrade, devoted supporter, confidant and good friend of Gen. Nguyen Cao Ky.  Both the Generals were thorns in the eyes of General Westmoreland and President Johnson.   In light of such feeling compounded by the American public’s outrage over the picture, the American administration put a lot of pressure to force Gen. Loan to resign. A battle wound and then a subsequent leg amputation ended the General’s military career.

    "Oh, Yes and years later,  that  'sole surviving son' ***  became  Rear Admiral (**) Huan Nguyen   in the U.S. Navy.

Thought you may enjoy a little piece of history.

From the Private Correspondence from a Very Good and Very Fine  AMERICAN  - T.D. Tran.

Who happened to be born in 1956 and raised in Saigon and came to the USA in 1972.

And the T.D. Tran Family were personal friends of the South Vietnamese Familes involved.

 
"  Now you know    THE  REST  OF  THE  STORY    "  !

The phtase at the end of every  'Closing Comments'   at the end of  Every Saturday's  Radio Broadcast

from the late, great, radio commentator   PAUL HARVEY   (1918-2009)  (on the air - 1951-2008).

xx

The Memories of our First Year

xx

Getting to RVN

  and

Getting Setup at the Plantation Base Camp,  Long Binh

aa

People,  Places  and  Things

xx

     

Easy Living   on the troop ship   U.S.N.S. GORDON

on a nice 30 day,  first class cruise,  across ' the Pond '

with time to contemplate and plan future careers - military and civilian

CEO Cusumano

Colonel Weiskopf,   Colonel Lynch   and   LTC Snow

James D. Weiskopf

Gary M. Cusumano

Harold C. Lynch

Glen L. Snow
     
 

1SGT Ervin J. Morlan

properly

The  Last Man  off the Boat.

 
     

Photos in the

Company Headquarters Area

Long Binh

 
    

Ron Schneider and Joe Napp (L-R)

Christmas Day  1966

  

Two Guys  from  New Jersey 

we reported for Active Duty at Fort Lee, Virginia  on the same day,

we went through  Officer s' Basic  together and had first unit assignments in Virginia,

shared an off-base house trailer in Augusta, GA  while  the 2nd CA was forming up,

our neighbors and trailer park sponsors were  Hal Lynch  and his wife,

served together in the 2nd CA in Georgia and RVN,

DEROS on the same plane,  got discharged at the same time in California

stayed one day in San Francisco  before  flying home to New Jersey.

 

1966  Christmas Eve  R&R  Events

LTC James S. Conklin 'stood down' the 2nd CA for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

for a special  'Christmas Day Meal'  after a week of C-Rats  to have extra food for Christmas.

      

Check out  'The Sunburn on the Neck and on the Arm'  on Joe Napp (L)

'these special sunburn gifts'  were earned during the Advance Party's November Arrival.

   

The  'fun work'  was reinforcing   Concertina Wire  on the Highway 1A1 while

  the Real Work was filling the   Sand Bags   for the floors and walls for the  Perimeter Bunkers.

All before the troopship came in  and   before  'Daily Hire Women'  were allowed into base camp.

     

( the  552nd MP Company Tents and Mess Hall are in the near background )

( 93rd Evacuation Hospital's  'Metal Roof Buildings'  are beyond the far tree line )

 

2-LT Dwight  L. Young

Plantation Base Tent City

December 1966

 

2-LT Dwight  Young

stopped by for a visit in 1967

brought his own Snacks

C-Rats

   
 

1-LT Ron  Schneider

DEW DROP INN

  Long Binh

1-LT Chris Provenzano  (L)

1-LT Charles D. Hooks  (R)

DEW DROP INN

  Long Binh

Unknown LT (L)

CPT Ralph Polce (C)

CPT William Massey (R)

DEW DROP INN

  Long Binh

  

Man does not live

by bread alone !

Creamed Chipped Beef

the Army's famous   S-O-S

is not a substitute

for a

great steak !

Chef  Ron Melton

Doctor Slingerland (plaid shirt)

2-LT James 'Red' Jones

 

Chef-in-Training

MOS - Barbeque Specialist

XO - MAJ Edward Saunders

       

Louis A. Stein  (R)

never  play cards with

Charles D. Hooks (L).

Deuce  in Tennis  may be OK

but do not bet a month's pay

with a  Pair of Deuces.

CPT Lewis G. Abney  (R)

playing  Bridge

in deep contemplation

2 Hearts and Minds

or

One More Beer ?

Glen Snow (L)

Ron Schneider (R)

 

( L - R )

Pat Garrity,  Ralph Polce,

Joe Napp,  Paul Lessard,

and  Gary Cusumano

circa Jan  67

( L - R )

LT  Richard  Sanders - ?

John Martin,  Dudley Coleman

White Shirt - Dick Church - ?

Plaid - Bill Massey ?

( L - R )

Pat Garrity, Glen Snow,

Gary Cusumano, Joe Napp

Ralph Polce (L-R)

circa  Jan 67

  
 
 

" Koos, listen to Uncle Ralph "

from my Survival 101 Class

at Jungle Warfare School

'Two Beers prevent Dehydration'

 
 
 
 
 
 

1-LT Harold C. Lynch

4th Platoon

1966-67

 
 
 
 

XO Camouflage

Major Charles R. Kelly

could be either a

serious 'hard ass'

or a

prankster

but

some Junior Officer

certainly lost

at least bottle of

Chivas Regal Scotch

to get this picture !

LTC David Wade's Quarters,

a gift from the USAF,

already painted in

"2nd CA Camouflage"

which was truly used

as an

Aiming Pointed

for

122 mm Rockets

during the

1968 TET Attacks.

It was certainly repainted

after TET 1968 and

after LTC Wade's  PH

 
 

xx

After the First Year  " In-Country "

aa

People,  Places  and  Things

xx

The New Headquarters Building

circa 1968

located at the bottom of the original HQ parking lot

Supply Building on the left and the Old Headquarters Building on the right

a view toward the South-East looking at the 90th Replacement Battalion in background.

     

New Underground Command Post

near the Company Headquarters Building

xxx

A very PATRIOTIC Shovel - painted Red, White and Blue

was used to dig out the new underground Command Post.

ReBars being tied for the concrete floor;  Lally Columns and Roof  now in place.

Four men with shirts off working and five men watching.

In the hole - at left = Dennis Pierce; and ?

   

xx

Possibly a rehearsal for the Vietnamese version of the movie

ELEPHANT  WALK

but

without the actress  Elizabeth Taylor

or

The Water Buffalo  (R)  may have been

the NVA's Local Building Inspector  or  a VC Infiltrator

who was being escorted by 2nd CA Captain Eugene J. Doll (C)

on a tour of the  Plantation Base Camp.

They were greeted by

2nd Civil Affairs Company Adjutant  Captain Jerry D. Ritter (L).

Next stop  -  the slaughter house  ?

A fresh   Steak  is always better than  C-Rats.

  

xxx

1968 Bunker Enlargement Project  at the  Plantation BOQ Area

xxx

MAJ Charles R. Kelly (XO) leading an 'all-officer' sand bag placement team

xxxx

Standing (L-R):

CPT Jerry Wall,   LT Harry Field,   LT Ruhl Russell,   LT Bobby Chandler,   CPT James Krider,

LT Joseph Siwy,   MAJ  William Massey (S-3),  MAJ  Charles Kelly (XO),   LT Charles Wray

Back Row:   LT James Smith  and  LT David Geis   and   Kneeling in Front:  LT Harry Strahl

photograph above from the collection of

Captain Jerry D. Ritter

 
 
 

xx

Thanksgiving 1970

xx

L  -  R

SP4  George Millwood,  SP4 David Kleinschmidt,

SP4 Kenneth Jones  and  SSG Lawrence Way

in the Mess Hall of the 9th Transportation Company (Abn)

 

L - C - R

LT Alan White,  LT Mark Fraser,  MAJ Peter Dauber,

LTC Curtis Brewer,

MAJ Paul Manzo,  LT Michael Richey,  LT David Hull,  LT Robert Prud'homme

in the Mess Hall of the 9th Transportation Company (Abn)

 

xx

Members of the Unit in Company Area

Plantation Base Camp

Long Binh

xx

SP4  Paul A. Menard

Long Binh

1967

SP4  James Tillotson

visiting Long Binh

1967

SP4  Raymond S. Rodriguez

brought his vehicle in

for maintenance and

catching up on some  Zzzz

 
  

Dan Hanzely  and   Bill Unger

two beers to celebrate the

New EM Barracks - January 67

James 'Irish' Barron  (L)

and Alex Rohr  (R)  ???

The mind is

the second thing to go !

Please Help, the Names

circa 1967

SP4   Eribello 'Ed' Ponce,  MP

coming back from meal at

9th Trans Mess Hall

 
 
 
 

SP5  Nolan Wells

with male monkey

called, what else but

CHARLIE

1967

 
     
  Larger memorial image loading...  
 

Donaciano Reyes, Jr

promotion from PFC to SP4

the new SP4 Rank

'pinned over'  PFC Wings

on his right sleeve.

ARCOM - 17 Months in 2 CA

 
 
   
 
 
 
 

Tom Slusher

Enjoying Time-Off 1967

 
     
   
   

SP4 Dennis Weaver

at the Plantation

circa 1968

     

Neil G. Alvarez,  Larry J. Blocker,  Clarence Johnson,  John H. Giordano,  Daniel J. Caldwell

circa 1969

Platoon Members outside the Visiting EM Barracks  -   the Plantation Base Camp

 

Edwin J. Comrie, Richard Coulson (seated), John H. Giordano,  Larry J. Blocker,  Jose R. Rivera

circa 1969

Platoon Members outside the Visiting EM Barracks  -   the Plantation Base Camp

     

 

SP5 Kenneth Stout

Driver - Company CO

1969-1970

SP4  Bill Sommers

and  'GERTIE'  helping with

her internal GPS navigation

and early warning screeches

   
     
 

SP4  John D. Pennington

Motor Pool Mechanic 1969-70

Note Tree and Grass  between

EM Barracks # 2 and # 3

Everett Turner

Water Buffalo - Water Trailer

Rinso Soap  to wash the clothes

1969-1970

    
       
  

SP4  Arlon Spaeth

1970

SP4  Barry Bucher

1970

SP4  George Siebolt

1970

   
 
 
 

SP5  Peter Rothman

1970

 

SP5  Danny Chisolm

1970

 

SP5  Gary Bruce Smith

1970-71

AKA

"Spook"  and  "Greek"

SP4  Andre Christon

1970-71

 

SP4  Ric Bridges

1970-71

Company Clerk

Going to the Mess Hall

 
      
       
     

SP4  David Kleinschmidt

1970

Unknown

1970

     
 
 
 

SP4 Andy Christon

Mail Specialist

with Mascot  'GERTIE'

and

The  "Last Man"  in 2nd CA

 
     

xx

Officers in Company Area

Plantation Base Camp

Long Binh

xx

New  2-LTs  Reporting for Duty - July 4, 1967

recent graduates from the U.S. Army's Civil Affairs School at Fort Gordon

( L - R  )

Jack M. Lotker,   Frederick C.  D'Amico,   Harry B. Field  III,   Ratomir 'Roy' Bruk,   ??? Elliott

     
 

It  isn't  a  Foxhole !

It is the CO's  House Trailer

Long Binh

LTC  Robert W. Gruen - 1971

the last CO of the unit

 
     

    

Hamlet in 1966

   

Lest, we forget.

  

There was and is a whole "different world" outside of the base camps.

     

 
 
     

 

On the Road

Visits  to  Platoons and Towns

  

LTC  Robert W. Gruen

local public relations

Enjoying a beer,  Cheers !

SSG James Green - Opns NCO

visiting Bien Hoa

1966

     

xx

Promotion - USA

xx

 
 

Senior PFC William G. Unger (R)

explaining the privileges

and consequences of  RANK

to newly promoted 1966

PFC Stanislaw Lukasik (L)

 
   
 

Stan Lukasik and Bill Unger

Meeting again 2016,

Long Time  since 1967

 
     

 

Promotions

and

Medal Ceremonies

xx

William G. Unger

promoted to  SP5  by

LTC  David E. Wade

     

1SGT Ervin Morlan (C)

awarded medals by

LTC David Wade (L)

BG Lekson (R)

SP4 Christopher Phoenix (L)

awarded ARCOM medal by

LTC David Wade (cropped out)

BG Lekson (R)

MAJ  Edward Saunders (XO) (C)

awarded medals by

LTC David Wade (L)

BG Lekson (R)

 
  

LTC John F. Shannon (L)

awarding medals to

SFC  Robert Williams (C)

SP7  Oswald Kinat (R)

SP7 Ozwald Kinat

LTC Robert W. Gruen (L)

awarding medal to

MAJ Peter F. Dauber (R)

 
 

SSG Ronald Gorman

was awarded his Medals

after being released from a

Hospital in the USA

 

LTC Daniel Wardrop congratulating  Joseph E. Siwy  on his promotion to Captain

SSG Clayton R. Shaw observing at the right.

 

LTC Griffith congratulating CPT John Vassallo and 1-LT Clarence O. Miller

March 5, 1969

 
 
 
 

The Bronze Star Medal

is being awarded to

Sergeant James "Larry" Ramey

by the 2nd CA Commander

LTC  Robert W. Gruen

early summer 1971

 
     
     

..

The 2nd Civil Affairs Company

an assembly of the available Officers and NCOs

at the New Headquarters Building

Plantation Base,  Long Binh

15 March 1969

..

Rear
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
L-R

?

LTC

Joseph

Griffith

CPT

James

Densman

?

CPT

Richard

Schulze

1-LT

Gary LYNN

Revell

CPT

Arthur

Musser

?
?

1-LT

Peter

Ross

Rear
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
L-R
?

CPT

Joseph

Siwy

?
?
?

CPT

Jack

Keats

?

1-LT

H.  BUTCH

Cope

1-LT

Robert

Petzold

LT

Wellman

Front
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
L-R

CPT

Albert

Jolly

SFC

Robert

Gulley

Major

Glenwood

Cooper

?

SSG

Frank

Turnbull

?
?

SSG

Gerald

Ripley

?

SSG

Clayton

Shaw

Front

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
L-R
?
?
?
?

SSG

John

Zickus

?

SFC

William

Rutledge

SSG

John

Sneed

SP-7

Oswald

Kinat

SSG

Robert

Gach

The Picture Above has been split into Three Pictures Below ( L-C-R )

Hopefully, some faces can be identified and names add above.

   
 
 
 
xx

CHANGE OF COMMAND   Ceremonies

xx

 

Change of Command

July 4, 1970

LTC Madden  to  LTC Brewer

 
 

Change of Command

May 1971

LTC Mullins  to  LTC Gruen

LTC Robert W Gruen (L)

General ?? (C)

LTC Thomas Mullins (R)

LTC Robert W. Gruen (R)

accepting the

2nd Civil Affairs Guidon

 

Please, notice

the Monument in Memory of Charles Leroy Baldwin

Captain  KIA

in the picture at the right.

 
    

Unit  Citations

   

U.S. Army's  Meritorious Unit Citation - three awards

and the

Republic of Vietnam's Civil Action Medal - First Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

LTG  Julian Ewell  (II-FFV)

and

ARVN MG Pham Cao Ching

awarding the

Republic of Vietnam's

Civil Action Medal

to

2nd Civil Affairs Company

for meritorious service

1968 - 1969

What about recognition

for the Men and

the worked performed

in 1966-1967

and in 1970-1971 ?

   

If we were not Valorous,

were we at least Meritorious ?

    

Too Late Now

No  RVN  and  No ARVN.

 

The Platoons and the Teams  of the  2nd Civil Affairs Company

were often individually recognized  when they were attached to other units.

Please report awards to your platoons and teams.

   

   

American Women

  

The Nurses,  the Red Cross Volunteers  and  the USO Entertainers

   

Nurses

In their early 20s

EVALUATING

  

Who can be Saved !

and

Who can not  !

thus

Who must be Comforted  !

Surgical Nurses

and Doctors

  

12 Hour Shifts,

6 Days a Week

  

So you think your job

was rough ?

Nursing

  

There is a Good Part

    

Overseeing

the

Recovery

     
     

The

American Women

They did not

have to be there

but

they were there !

Red Cross Volunteers

aka

Donut Dollies

at the

Plantation Camp in 1966

 

USO Shows

  

Joy Wilkerson and

Playboy Bunny Friends

1966 

     
 

American Forces Network Vietnam

the Nightly Weather Forecaster

Barbara Bobbie Oberhansky

Everyone waited for

Her Forcecast of the weather

" Way Up Here in Hue "

 
     

   

THANK YOU to All

for

just being there for us !

- - - -

For those few minutes to write  that   post card they sent home

when I could not write one myself   (JMN - 25 Dec 66).

- - - -

For the few seconds to give that injection - after what seemed to be an eternity,

For the hours of monitoring vital signs  or  standing-by for a whole day,

For the many visits during a week,

For the few minutes of  just talking  and  hearing a  female voice.

- - - -

Some truly  Great Women   stayed even longer  than our one year tours !

xx

 

  xxx

Sharon Ann Lane

 1-LT   U.S. Army Nurse Corps

xxx

was  KIA  on  6 June 1969

when 122 mm Rockets hit the 312th Evacuation Hospital in Chu Lai

xxx

and

xxx

7  American Nurses  died while on active duty in Vietnam

xxx

as well as

59 American Women

who were

American Red Cross Volunteers,

Journalists on assignments,

U.S. Government Agency Employees

or

  Orphanage Volunteers

who were executed when they were held as

Prisoners of War

  

American Women who died in Vietnam and in Laos

xxx

         

xx

DEROS

The Greatest Day of Every Tour

Date  Eligible for Return from Overseas  Station

xx

1SGT  John H. Harrison  (L) saying

Thank You   and   Good Bye

to some of the  Second Increment Men  in the Truck (L-R)

SP4 Vincent Miller,  SP4 Robert Walsh,  ?,  SP4 Thomas Varner,  SP4 Eddie Borrego

and  to

SSGT James Penn  (R)

next stop  90th Replacement Battalion - picture below

 

    

The  90th Replacement Battalion  in  Long Binh - 1969

and

the greatest words  you will ever hear  from a loud speaker.

- - - - -

" ATTENTION  in the compound.

All  ETS,  PCS  and  Special Leave  Personnel   in Group  67-xxx

report to Assembly Area  xx  and  be prepared to move out !

and

twelve hours later

" The plane has landed.   The Local Time in California is  xxx.

- - - - -

normally two hours earlier and one calendar day before the day you left Vietnam

because of the  International Date Line  and the  Time Zones.

  
 
 

    

STANDING DOWN

  

     

STANDING   DOWN

Summer of 1971

- - - - -

starting on the left,  then around the back  and to the front

SP5 Joseph S. Mingo (3rd Plt) ,  SP5 Pierre A. Joly  (8th Plt),

SP4 John Paul w/ pipe  (11th Plt),

SP4 Dave Watts (HQ)   and   SP5 James Unkerfer  (12th Plt)

     

VOLLEY  BALL  COURT   at the Plantation Base Camp in the later years

Facilities and life styles   certainly changed   since 1966

  

Rear  -  Dale R. Vernon,  Richard Coulson

Front  -  Alnis G. Grants  and  John H. Giordano

 

     xx

GOING  HOME

x  x

    

When we were ordered to  "STAND DOWN"  before our work was completed,

We said   " Yes, SIR ! "  Saluted and Moved Out.

- - - - - .

Most of us came back alive before the DeActivation

but

our Honored Dead were already home and  At Rest  with Full Military Honors.

- - - - -

We have pride in knowing that  we tried  to do our job and to

SEAL the VICTORY

and at the end,

  we did not cut and run,

we even sent our equipment home too !

    
 

3/4 Ton  M-37 Trucks

prepared for departure.

The  II-FFV - 2CA

Unit Designations Removed

 

Convoy Made Up and

Ready to Roll

to the Port of Departure.

Next stop  U.S.A.

      

   

The Last Picture of the 2nd Civil Affairs Base Camp Area

  

         

Company  Headquarters  Building

Summer of 1971

just before unit inactivation on  27 July 1971

Photo from  2-LT  Steve A. Dennis

 
        

  

The  'Large Building'  in the Rear is the  Plantation PX

owned and operated by former  2CA  1-LT   Harold 'Hal' Lynch   and

the front door was guarded by  2CA MP  SP4  Eribello 'Ed' Ponce.

  

The Chopper Pad and 2CA area - are not shown but at right - 200 yards

The  Long Binh Ammo Dump  was at far horizon.

 

  

LTC Robert W. Gruen was the Last Commanding Officer of the 2nd Civil Affairs Company.

When he departed the 2nd CA for his next assignment (TRAC),

He took a picture of the  Plantation Base Camp  as it was in  July 1971

Much changed from the "Tent Cities" of  November 1966

  

- - - - -

  

Need help with locating building in the Aerial Photograph.

Lowest Road in pix (L to R)  -  552nd Military Police Company

Second Road up from bottom of pix  -  2nd CA HQ,   BOQs,  Motor Pool  and  Warehouse

Third Road up from bottom of pix  -  Three Aluminum Hooches - 2nd CA EM Housing

Big Black Area is the  'newly paved'  Helipad.

       

 
 
Google Image of 2nd CA Base Camp Area - Today
 

Long  = 10 . 946  744

Lat  = 106 . 870  312

Elevation - 10 Meters

I put  "spaces"  between numbers above so you can read them.

Use the Period (Dot)  but  do NOT put the spaces in when you are typing in your numbers

10.946744,  (type a comma and then a space bar after comma, and finally) 106.870312

10.946744, 106.870312

 

In 2017, 2CA Mail Specialist Dick Ingwaldson (1966-67) visited Vietnam and Dick reported

the  II-FFV Plantation  HQ Buildings Complex   and   the old  PX Bldg  were demolished

and  those areas are now vacant land (2021)  but there is

a new Electrical Generating Station at the old Helipad and 53rd Signal Battalion Areas

but  and  BUT

The 2021 Google Earth Satellite Image shows

the Original Roads between the 2CA areas still exists:

start at the Stream that was our source for our Drinking Water

which was just below the 552 MP area and

the 552 MP Road that goes left around the corner up to:

the road between  2CA Motor Pool  to  2CA HQ  and the  9th Trans  Mess Hall;

and the road between the 2CA Adam Hut Hooches and the 53rd Signal Area - the Chopper Pad.

The entire area is now 100% Buildings - wall to wall.

  Not even space for one blade of grass, much less for one sand bag.

  

You must look at the 'Shapes of the Roads',  then everything falls into place.

JMN - (12 June 2021)

  

   

The Last Man in 2nd Civil Affairs

  

     
 

    

SP4 Andre Christon

    

 

On the  Last Day  when the  2nd Civil Affairs  "Stood Down",

there were only  a few of us  left at the Plantation.

  

A few Lucky Friends got on the first truck and they were going to fly home,

while other Friends got on the second truck and left for their new units,

then I was alone  and waiting for a ride to my next unit.

   

Suddenly,  I realized that

I was the   LAST MAN   to leave the   2nd Civil Affairs Company

27 July  1971 .

  

P. S.

Just before my tour ended a few months later,

I borrowed a vehicle and drove back to the Plantation.

The Buildings were exactly as we had left them,

the Office Furniture was still there  and  the Bunks  were in the Adams Huts.

I said   GOODBYE  to my home - away from home

and then

I got on a plane  and   I flew home.

  

   
     
 
 
     

xx

The Greatest Day of My Tour

DEROS  Day

Sun Rise

on

September 1, 1967

xx

..

"California,  California   Here We  Come,

Back,  Back  Where We Started From ...

- - -

Everyone has a home which is unique and special.

  There is no place like home !

..

 ...

 

My Father told me ...

 

the Body Grows Old

while

the Mind Stays Young.

Joseph M. Napp

1-LT QMC - Supply Officer

Plantation Base Camp 1966-67

Joe Napp  and  Daughter

Thanksgiving  2020

Covid Beard - No Glasses,  Lasik

  
  
 
   xxxxx

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