Music is "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" By Rolling Stones
Air Soldiers
Horse Soldiers
Huey UH-1M (Gunship)
Huey Air Drop
On 01 July 1965, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated. It was made up
of resources of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and brought to full strength by transfer of
specialised elements of the 2nd Infantry Division. As a part of this reorganisation, the 2nd
Battalion, 23rd Infantry was redesignated the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd
Battalion, 9th Infantry was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. On 03 July
1965, in Doughboy Stadium at Fort Benning, Georgia the colors of the 11th Air Assault
Division (Test) were cased and retired. As the band played the rousing strains of GarryOwen,
the colours of the 1st Cavalry Division were moved onto the field.
Within 90 days of becoming the Army's first air mobile division, the First Team was back in
combat as the first fully committed division of the Vietnam War. An advance party, on board
C-124s and C-130s, arrived at Nha Trang between the 19th and 27th of August 1965. They
joined with advance liaison forces and established a temporary base camp near An Khe, 36
miles inland from the costal city of Qui Nhon. The remainder of the 1st Cavalry Division
arrived by ship, landing at the harbour of Qui Nhon on the 12th and 13th of September, the
44th anniversary of the 1st Cavalry Division. In the Oriental calendar year of the "Horse",
mounted soldiers had returned to war wearing the famous and feared patch of the First Cavalry
Division. The First Team had entered its third war - and the longest tour of duty in combat
history.
On 10 October 1965, in "Operation Shiny Bayonet", the First Team initiated their first
brigade-size airmobile action against the enemy. The air assault task force consisted of the 1st
and 2nd Battalions, 7th Cavalry, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry and
the 1st Battalion, 21st Artillery. Rather than standing and fighting, the Viet Cong chose to
disperse and slip away. Only light contact was achieved. The troopers had but a short wait
before they faced a tougher test of their fighting skills; the 35-day Pleiku Campaign.
On 23 October 1965, the first real combat test came at the historic order of General
Westmoreland to send the First Team into an air assault mission to pursue and fight the enemy
across 2,500 square miles of jungle. Troopers of the 1st Brigade and 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry
swooped down on the NVA 33rd regiment before it could get away from Plei Me. The enemy
regiment was scattered in the confusion and was quickly smashed. The 3rd Brigade joined the
fighting on 09 November. Five days later, the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry air assaulted into the Ia
Drang Valley near the Chu Pong Massif. Landing Zone X-Ray was "hot" from the start. At
Landing Zone X-Ray, the Division's first medal of honor in the Vietnam War was awarded to
2nd Lt. Walter J. Marm of the 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry. The fighting, the most intensive
combat in the history of the division, raged for three days. When the Pleiku Campaign ended
on 25 November, troopers of the First Team had killed 3,561 North Vietnamese soldiers and
captured 157 more. The troopers destroyed two of three regiments of a North Vietnamese
Division, earning the first Presidential Unit Citation given to a division in Vietnam. The enemy
had been given their first major defeat and their carefully laid plans for conquest had been torn
apart.
25 January 1966, began "Masher/White Wing" which were code names for the missions of the
3rd Brigade in Binh Dinh Province. The mission ended 6 March 1966, with the enemy losing its
grip on the Binh Dinh Province, however its name would be heard again and again during the
next six years. On 01 April 1966, the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry was activated at Fort Carson,
Colorado. using the personnel and assets of the 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry, The unit joined the
1st and 2nd Battalions of the 7th Cavalry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. In
August 1966 the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry was sent to the southernmost end of II Corps to
bring the long months of "Operation Byrd" to a productive finish. In 16 months the 2nd
Brigade fanned out from Phan Thiet, the capital city of Binh Thaun Province, and cleared from
the enemy from the area.
The need for rice by the famished Viet Cong was the catalyst for Operation Paul Revere II
which commenced on 02 August 1966. Significant contact with the enemy did not occur until 08
August, at LZ Juliett. Company "A", 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry came under heavy fire from a
reinforced enemy battalion. In several hours of intense fighting, Alpha Company turned back
repeated mass attacks. Timely artillery and air strikes eliminated the opportunity for the enemy
to surround the Skytroopers. The roar of helicopters from two companies from the 1st
Battalion, 12th Cavalry arriving at LZ Juliett frightened the enemy, causing them to flee.
Hill 534, on the southern portion of Chu Pong Massif near the Cambodian Border, was the
location of the final battle of Operation Paul Revere II. It began on 14 August, after Company
"A" 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry suddenly ran into a North Vietnamese battalion and Company
"B", 2nd Battalion began slugging it out with enemy troops in bunkers. A total of two
battalions of Skytroopers were committed to the fight. When it ended the next morning, 138
NVA bodies were counted.
At the end of Paul Revere II, which had killed 861 of the enemy, a task force of the 2nd
Battalion, 7th Cavalry was organised for Operation Byrd. The task force was dispatched to
Binh Thaun Province, at the southern of II Corps, to support the Revolutionary Development
Program. This mission would last until the end of 1966.
On October 25, Operation Thayer II continued the drive to pacify the Binh Dinh Province. On
01 November, troopers of the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry became
engaged in a sharp fight with the 93rd Battalion and the 2nd Viet Cong Regiment. The action
took place in the vicinity of National Route 1 and Dam Tra-O Lake south of the Gay Giep
mountains. In Thayer II the enemy suffered a punishing loss of 1,757 killed.
On 13 February 1967, Operation Pershing began in a territory which was familiar to many
skytroopers, the Bong Son Plain in northern Binh Dinh Province. For the first time, the First
Cavalry Division committed all three of its brigades to the same battle area.
The division began 1968, by terminating Operation Pershing, the longest of the 1st Cavalry's
Vietnam actions. When the operation ended on 21 January, the enemy had lost 5,401 soldiers
and 2,400 enemy soldiers had been captured. In addition, some 1,300 individual and 137 crew
weapons had been captured or destroyed.
Moving to I Corps, Vietnam's northern most tactical zone, the division set up Camp Evans for
their base camp. On January 31 1968, amid the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year, the
enemy launched the Tet Offensive, a major effort to overrun South Vietnam. Some 7,000
enemy, well equipped, crack NVA regulars blasted their way into the imperial city of Hue,
overpowering all but a few pockets of resistance held by ARVN troops and the U.S. Marines.
Within 24 hours, the invaders were joined by 7,000 NVA reinforcements. Almost
simultaneously to the North of Hue, five battalions of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong
attacked Quang Tri City, the capital of Vietnam's northern province.
Following fierce fighting at Thorn La Chu, the 3rd Brigade moved toward embattled city of
Hue. The southwest wall of the city was soon taken after the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry
overcome severe resistance and linked up with the 5th Battalion. At this point, the NVA and
Viet Cong invaders were driven from Hue by late February. The Tet offensive was over. The
NVA and Viet Cong had suffered a massive defeat, with 32,000 killed and 5,800 captured.
After shattering the enemy's dreams of a Tet victory, the 1st Cavalry Division "Sky-Troopers"
initiated Operation Pegasus to relieve the 3,500 U.S. Marines and 2,100 ARVN soldiers besieged
by nearly 20,000 enemy soldiers. On 1 April 1968, the 3rd Brigade, making a massive air assault
within 5 miles of Khe Sanh, were soon followed by the 1st and 2nd Brigades and three ARVN
Battalions. Company "A", 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry led the way, followed by Company "C",
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry. After four days of tough fighting, they marched into Khe Sanh to
take over the defence of the battered base. Pursing the retreating North Vietnamese, the 1st
Battalion, 12th Cavalry recaptured the Special Forces camp at Lang Vei uncovering large
stockpiles of supplies and ammunition. The final statistics of Operation Pegasus were 1,259
enemy killed and more than 750 weapons captured.
On April 19 1968, Operation Delaware was launched into the cloud-shrouded A Shau Valley,
near the Laotian border and 45 kilometers west of Hue. None of the Free World Forces had
been in the valley since 1966, which was now being used as a way station on the supply route
known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The first engagement was made by the 1st and 3rd Brigades.
Under fire from mobile, 37 mm cannon and 0.50 caliber machine guns, they secured several
landing zones. For the next month the brigades scoured the valley floor, clashing with enemy
units and uncovering huge enemy caches of food, arms, ammunition, rockets, and Russian
made tanks and bulldozers. By the time that Operation Delaware was ended on 17 May, the
favorite VC sanctuary had been thoroughly disrupted.
In late 1968, the Division moved and set up operations in III Corps at the other end of South
Vietnam. In February 1969, Operation Cheyenne Sabre began in areas northeast of Bien Hoa.
The year 1969 ended in a high note for the 1st Cavalry Division. The enemy's domination of the
northern areas of III Corps had been smashed - thoroughly.
On 1 May 1970, the First Team was "First into Cambodia" hitting what was previously a
Communist sanctuary. President Nixon has given the go-ahead for the surprise mission.
Pushing into the "Fish Hook" region of the border and occupied the towns of Mimot and
Snoul. Troopers deprived the enemy of much needed supplies and ammunition, scattering the
enemy forces. The Cambodian Operation far exceeded all expectations and proved to be one of
the most successful operations of the First Team. All aspects of ground and air combat were
utilised. The campaign had severe political repercussions in the United States for the Nixon
Administration. Pressure was mounting to remove America's fighting men from the Vietnam
War.
Although there would be further assault operations, the war was beginning to wind down for
many troopers. The efforts of the 1st Cavalry Division were not limited to direct enemy
engagements but also, using the experiences gained during the occupation of Japan and Korea,
encompassed the essential rebuilding of the war torn country of South Vietnam. As a result of
its' gallant performance, the regiment was awarded two presidential Unit Citations and the
Valorous Unit Citation.
Although 26 March 1971 officially marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the 1st Cavalry
Division, President Nixon's program of "Vietnamization" required the continued presence of a
strong U.S. fighting force. The 2nd Battalion of the 5th Regiment, 1st Battalion of the 7th
Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Regiment and 1st Battalion of the 12th Regiment along with
specialised support units as "F" Troop, 9th Cavalry and Delta Company, 229th Assault
Helicopter Battalion helped establish the 3rd Brigade headquarters at Bien Hoa. Its primary
mission was to interdict enemy infiltration and supply routes in War Zone D.
The 3rd Brigade was well equipped with helicopters from the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion
and later, a battery of "Blue Max", aerial field units and two air cavalry troops. A QRF (Quick
Reaction Force) - known as "Blue Platoons", was maintained in support of any air assault
action. The "Blues" traveled light, fought hard and had three primary missions; 1) to form a
"field force" around any helicopter downed by enemy fire or mechanical failure; 2) to give
quick backup to Ranger Patrols who made enemy contact; and 3) to search for enemy trails,
caches and bunker complexes.
"Blue Max", "F" Battery, 79th Aerial Rocket Artillery, was another familiar aerial artillery
unit. Greatly appreciated by troopers of the 1st Cavalry, its heavily armed Cobras flew a variety
of fire missions in support of the operations of the 3rd Brigade. The pilots of "Blue Max" were
among the most experienced combat fliers in the Vietnam War. Many had volunteered for the
extra duty to cover the extended stay of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Most of the initial combat for the new brigade involved small skirmishes. But the actions
became bigger and more significant. Two engagements in May of 1971 were typical operations.
On 12 May the third platoon, Delta Company, 2/5th tangled with enemy forces holed up in
bunker complexes. With help from the Air Force and 3rd Brigade Gunships, the troopers
captured the complex. Fifteen days later, helicopters of Bravo Troop, 1/9th received ground fire
while conducting a reconnaissance mission over a large bunker complex. Air strikes were called
in and the troopers overran the complex.
Early in June, intelligence detected significant enemy movement toward the center of Long
Khanh Province and its capital, Xuan Loc. On 14 June Delta Company of the 2nd Battalion,
5th Cavalry ran into an ambush in heavy jungle and engaged a company-sized enemy unit. The
troopers were pinned down in a well-sprung trap. Cavalry field artillery soon pounded their
North Vietnamese positions and heavy Cobra fire from Blue Max, "F" Battery of the 79th
Aerial Rocket Artillery, swept down on the enemy positions keeping pressure on the
withdrawing North Vietnamese throughout the night. The Brigade's timely movements had
thwarted the enemy build up north of Xuan Loc.
By 31 March 1972, only 96,000 U.S. troops were involved in the Vietnam combat operations. In
mid June 1972, the standdown ceremony for the 3rd Brigade was held in Bein Hoa and the
colors were returned to the United States. The last trooper left from Tan Son Nhut on 21 June,
completing the division recall which had started on 05 May 1971. With the 3rd Brigade
completing their withdraw, the 1st Cavalry had been the first army division to go to Vietnam
and the last to leave.
"Firsts" had become the trademark of the First Team.
On 27 January 1973, a cease-fire was signed in Paris by the United States, South Vietnam,
North Vietnam, and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the National Liberation
Front (NLF), the civilian arm of the South Vietnam Communists. A Four-Party Joint Military
Commission was set up to implement such provisions as the withdrawal of foreign troops and
the release of prisoners. An International Commission of Control and Supervision was
established to oversee the cease-fire.
Courtesy of Pete Jones - the SOTCW Vietnam War Study Group
of resources of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and brought to full strength by transfer of
specialised elements of the 2nd Infantry Division. As a part of this reorganisation, the 2nd
Battalion, 23rd Infantry was redesignated the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd
Battalion, 9th Infantry was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. On 03 July
1965, in Doughboy Stadium at Fort Benning, Georgia the colors of the 11th Air Assault
Division (Test) were cased and retired. As the band played the rousing strains of GarryOwen,
the colours of the 1st Cavalry Division were moved onto the field.
Within 90 days of becoming the Army's first air mobile division, the First Team was back in
combat as the first fully committed division of the Vietnam War. An advance party, on board
C-124s and C-130s, arrived at Nha Trang between the 19th and 27th of August 1965. They
joined with advance liaison forces and established a temporary base camp near An Khe, 36
miles inland from the costal city of Qui Nhon. The remainder of the 1st Cavalry Division
arrived by ship, landing at the harbour of Qui Nhon on the 12th and 13th of September, the
44th anniversary of the 1st Cavalry Division. In the Oriental calendar year of the "Horse",
mounted soldiers had returned to war wearing the famous and feared patch of the First Cavalry
Division. The First Team had entered its third war - and the longest tour of duty in combat
history.
On 10 October 1965, in "Operation Shiny Bayonet", the First Team initiated their first
brigade-size airmobile action against the enemy. The air assault task force consisted of the 1st
and 2nd Battalions, 7th Cavalry, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry and
the 1st Battalion, 21st Artillery. Rather than standing and fighting, the Viet Cong chose to
disperse and slip away. Only light contact was achieved. The troopers had but a short wait
before they faced a tougher test of their fighting skills; the 35-day Pleiku Campaign.
On 23 October 1965, the first real combat test came at the historic order of General
Westmoreland to send the First Team into an air assault mission to pursue and fight the enemy
across 2,500 square miles of jungle. Troopers of the 1st Brigade and 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry
swooped down on the NVA 33rd regiment before it could get away from Plei Me. The enemy
regiment was scattered in the confusion and was quickly smashed. The 3rd Brigade joined the
fighting on 09 November. Five days later, the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry air assaulted into the Ia
Drang Valley near the Chu Pong Massif. Landing Zone X-Ray was "hot" from the start. At
Landing Zone X-Ray, the Division's first medal of honor in the Vietnam War was awarded to
2nd Lt. Walter J. Marm of the 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry. The fighting, the most intensive
combat in the history of the division, raged for three days. When the Pleiku Campaign ended
on 25 November, troopers of the First Team had killed 3,561 North Vietnamese soldiers and
captured 157 more. The troopers destroyed two of three regiments of a North Vietnamese
Division, earning the first Presidential Unit Citation given to a division in Vietnam. The enemy
had been given their first major defeat and their carefully laid plans for conquest had been torn
apart.
25 January 1966, began "Masher/White Wing" which were code names for the missions of the
3rd Brigade in Binh Dinh Province. The mission ended 6 March 1966, with the enemy losing its
grip on the Binh Dinh Province, however its name would be heard again and again during the
next six years. On 01 April 1966, the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry was activated at Fort Carson,
Colorado. using the personnel and assets of the 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry, The unit joined the
1st and 2nd Battalions of the 7th Cavalry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. In
August 1966 the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry was sent to the southernmost end of II Corps to
bring the long months of "Operation Byrd" to a productive finish. In 16 months the 2nd
Brigade fanned out from Phan Thiet, the capital city of Binh Thaun Province, and cleared from
the enemy from the area.
The need for rice by the famished Viet Cong was the catalyst for Operation Paul Revere II
which commenced on 02 August 1966. Significant contact with the enemy did not occur until 08
August, at LZ Juliett. Company "A", 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry came under heavy fire from a
reinforced enemy battalion. In several hours of intense fighting, Alpha Company turned back
repeated mass attacks. Timely artillery and air strikes eliminated the opportunity for the enemy
to surround the Skytroopers. The roar of helicopters from two companies from the 1st
Battalion, 12th Cavalry arriving at LZ Juliett frightened the enemy, causing them to flee.
Hill 534, on the southern portion of Chu Pong Massif near the Cambodian Border, was the
location of the final battle of Operation Paul Revere II. It began on 14 August, after Company
"A" 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry suddenly ran into a North Vietnamese battalion and Company
"B", 2nd Battalion began slugging it out with enemy troops in bunkers. A total of two
battalions of Skytroopers were committed to the fight. When it ended the next morning, 138
NVA bodies were counted.
At the end of Paul Revere II, which had killed 861 of the enemy, a task force of the 2nd
Battalion, 7th Cavalry was organised for Operation Byrd. The task force was dispatched to
Binh Thaun Province, at the southern of II Corps, to support the Revolutionary Development
Program. This mission would last until the end of 1966.
On October 25, Operation Thayer II continued the drive to pacify the Binh Dinh Province. On
01 November, troopers of the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry became
engaged in a sharp fight with the 93rd Battalion and the 2nd Viet Cong Regiment. The action
took place in the vicinity of National Route 1 and Dam Tra-O Lake south of the Gay Giep
mountains. In Thayer II the enemy suffered a punishing loss of 1,757 killed.
On 13 February 1967, Operation Pershing began in a territory which was familiar to many
skytroopers, the Bong Son Plain in northern Binh Dinh Province. For the first time, the First
Cavalry Division committed all three of its brigades to the same battle area.
The division began 1968, by terminating Operation Pershing, the longest of the 1st Cavalry's
Vietnam actions. When the operation ended on 21 January, the enemy had lost 5,401 soldiers
and 2,400 enemy soldiers had been captured. In addition, some 1,300 individual and 137 crew
weapons had been captured or destroyed.
Moving to I Corps, Vietnam's northern most tactical zone, the division set up Camp Evans for
their base camp. On January 31 1968, amid the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year, the
enemy launched the Tet Offensive, a major effort to overrun South Vietnam. Some 7,000
enemy, well equipped, crack NVA regulars blasted their way into the imperial city of Hue,
overpowering all but a few pockets of resistance held by ARVN troops and the U.S. Marines.
Within 24 hours, the invaders were joined by 7,000 NVA reinforcements. Almost
simultaneously to the North of Hue, five battalions of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong
attacked Quang Tri City, the capital of Vietnam's northern province.
Following fierce fighting at Thorn La Chu, the 3rd Brigade moved toward embattled city of
Hue. The southwest wall of the city was soon taken after the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry
overcome severe resistance and linked up with the 5th Battalion. At this point, the NVA and
Viet Cong invaders were driven from Hue by late February. The Tet offensive was over. The
NVA and Viet Cong had suffered a massive defeat, with 32,000 killed and 5,800 captured.
After shattering the enemy's dreams of a Tet victory, the 1st Cavalry Division "Sky-Troopers"
initiated Operation Pegasus to relieve the 3,500 U.S. Marines and 2,100 ARVN soldiers besieged
by nearly 20,000 enemy soldiers. On 1 April 1968, the 3rd Brigade, making a massive air assault
within 5 miles of Khe Sanh, were soon followed by the 1st and 2nd Brigades and three ARVN
Battalions. Company "A", 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry led the way, followed by Company "C",
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry. After four days of tough fighting, they marched into Khe Sanh to
take over the defence of the battered base. Pursing the retreating North Vietnamese, the 1st
Battalion, 12th Cavalry recaptured the Special Forces camp at Lang Vei uncovering large
stockpiles of supplies and ammunition. The final statistics of Operation Pegasus were 1,259
enemy killed and more than 750 weapons captured.
On April 19 1968, Operation Delaware was launched into the cloud-shrouded A Shau Valley,
near the Laotian border and 45 kilometers west of Hue. None of the Free World Forces had
been in the valley since 1966, which was now being used as a way station on the supply route
known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The first engagement was made by the 1st and 3rd Brigades.
Under fire from mobile, 37 mm cannon and 0.50 caliber machine guns, they secured several
landing zones. For the next month the brigades scoured the valley floor, clashing with enemy
units and uncovering huge enemy caches of food, arms, ammunition, rockets, and Russian
made tanks and bulldozers. By the time that Operation Delaware was ended on 17 May, the
favorite VC sanctuary had been thoroughly disrupted.
In late 1968, the Division moved and set up operations in III Corps at the other end of South
Vietnam. In February 1969, Operation Cheyenne Sabre began in areas northeast of Bien Hoa.
The year 1969 ended in a high note for the 1st Cavalry Division. The enemy's domination of the
northern areas of III Corps had been smashed - thoroughly.
On 1 May 1970, the First Team was "First into Cambodia" hitting what was previously a
Communist sanctuary. President Nixon has given the go-ahead for the surprise mission.
Pushing into the "Fish Hook" region of the border and occupied the towns of Mimot and
Snoul. Troopers deprived the enemy of much needed supplies and ammunition, scattering the
enemy forces. The Cambodian Operation far exceeded all expectations and proved to be one of
the most successful operations of the First Team. All aspects of ground and air combat were
utilised. The campaign had severe political repercussions in the United States for the Nixon
Administration. Pressure was mounting to remove America's fighting men from the Vietnam
War.
Although there would be further assault operations, the war was beginning to wind down for
many troopers. The efforts of the 1st Cavalry Division were not limited to direct enemy
engagements but also, using the experiences gained during the occupation of Japan and Korea,
encompassed the essential rebuilding of the war torn country of South Vietnam. As a result of
its' gallant performance, the regiment was awarded two presidential Unit Citations and the
Valorous Unit Citation.
Although 26 March 1971 officially marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the 1st Cavalry
Division, President Nixon's program of "Vietnamization" required the continued presence of a
strong U.S. fighting force. The 2nd Battalion of the 5th Regiment, 1st Battalion of the 7th
Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Regiment and 1st Battalion of the 12th Regiment along with
specialised support units as "F" Troop, 9th Cavalry and Delta Company, 229th Assault
Helicopter Battalion helped establish the 3rd Brigade headquarters at Bien Hoa. Its primary
mission was to interdict enemy infiltration and supply routes in War Zone D.
The 3rd Brigade was well equipped with helicopters from the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion
and later, a battery of "Blue Max", aerial field units and two air cavalry troops. A QRF (Quick
Reaction Force) - known as "Blue Platoons", was maintained in support of any air assault
action. The "Blues" traveled light, fought hard and had three primary missions; 1) to form a
"field force" around any helicopter downed by enemy fire or mechanical failure; 2) to give
quick backup to Ranger Patrols who made enemy contact; and 3) to search for enemy trails,
caches and bunker complexes.
"Blue Max", "F" Battery, 79th Aerial Rocket Artillery, was another familiar aerial artillery
unit. Greatly appreciated by troopers of the 1st Cavalry, its heavily armed Cobras flew a variety
of fire missions in support of the operations of the 3rd Brigade. The pilots of "Blue Max" were
among the most experienced combat fliers in the Vietnam War. Many had volunteered for the
extra duty to cover the extended stay of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Most of the initial combat for the new brigade involved small skirmishes. But the actions
became bigger and more significant. Two engagements in May of 1971 were typical operations.
On 12 May the third platoon, Delta Company, 2/5th tangled with enemy forces holed up in
bunker complexes. With help from the Air Force and 3rd Brigade Gunships, the troopers
captured the complex. Fifteen days later, helicopters of Bravo Troop, 1/9th received ground fire
while conducting a reconnaissance mission over a large bunker complex. Air strikes were called
in and the troopers overran the complex.
Early in June, intelligence detected significant enemy movement toward the center of Long
Khanh Province and its capital, Xuan Loc. On 14 June Delta Company of the 2nd Battalion,
5th Cavalry ran into an ambush in heavy jungle and engaged a company-sized enemy unit. The
troopers were pinned down in a well-sprung trap. Cavalry field artillery soon pounded their
North Vietnamese positions and heavy Cobra fire from Blue Max, "F" Battery of the 79th
Aerial Rocket Artillery, swept down on the enemy positions keeping pressure on the
withdrawing North Vietnamese throughout the night. The Brigade's timely movements had
thwarted the enemy build up north of Xuan Loc.
By 31 March 1972, only 96,000 U.S. troops were involved in the Vietnam combat operations. In
mid June 1972, the standdown ceremony for the 3rd Brigade was held in Bein Hoa and the
colors were returned to the United States. The last trooper left from Tan Son Nhut on 21 June,
completing the division recall which had started on 05 May 1971. With the 3rd Brigade
completing their withdraw, the 1st Cavalry had been the first army division to go to Vietnam
and the last to leave.
"Firsts" had become the trademark of the First Team.
On 27 January 1973, a cease-fire was signed in Paris by the United States, South Vietnam,
North Vietnam, and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the National Liberation
Front (NLF), the civilian arm of the South Vietnam Communists. A Four-Party Joint Military
Commission was set up to implement such provisions as the withdrawal of foreign troops and
the release of prisoners. An International Commission of Control and Supervision was
established to oversee the cease-fire.
Courtesy of Pete Jones - the SOTCW Vietnam War Study Group
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