More Sights and Sounds from the War in Vietnam

A Huey brings supplies. The LZ (landing zone) is cut in the jungle in a low spot not preferred by pilots. The helicopter blades present a danger to the troops unloading.

54th ARVNs Excel in Combined Operation

FIREBASE PISTOL - Recently the 2nd Bn. (Ambl.), 501st Inf. and the 2nd Bn., 54th Regt. ARVN conducted a combined operation two miles north of the Ruong Ruong Valley, 25 miles south-southeast of Hue.

The area of operation for the mission was approximately 20 square miles of rugged mountainous terrain located six miles northwest of the southern tip of the A Shau Valley. According to MAJ Jeff Chancey, El Paso, Tex., 2nd Brigade S-3, "This was an area which, in the past, was infested with enemy. However, the extensive and thorough search operation revealed no significant signs of enemy activity."

Even though there were no signs of enemy activity, LTC Michael Boos, Fayetteville, N.C.," 2/501 battalion commander, expressed continued high praise for the 54th ARVN Regiment's ability to grasp the air mobility and search and attack concepts of the 101st.

"I am continually impressed with the calibre of the men of the 54th Regiment," commented LTC Boos. "We have and are still learning from these men. We have definitely proven that American and ARVN soldiers can participate in combined military efforts to produce successful operations. This is the second successful mission we have completed in recent weeks." LTC Boos indicated that mutual respect between the 2/501st and the 54th Regt. continues to grow as operations increase.

Army Reporter, March 1971

"Drive On" Troops Journey to Hope

FIREBASE TOMAHAWK - It isn't as significant as Plato’s allegory of the cave. It isn't as long as the journey of progress of Bunyan's pilgrims. And it will probably never gain fame as an exodus. But the story of the faithful trek of a small group of soldiers from the 101st toward the lights of Firebase Tomahawk, enroute to Hope, ended with charity.

Though the Yuletide season is past and Bob Hope and his crew have gone, 15 men of Co. A, 2nd Bn. (Ambl.), 501^st Inf. will never forget the show.

"We know Bob Hope is being thanked by a lot of people, officials and representatives," said SSG Mark Hawk, Lafayette, Ind., “but we just wanted to write to him and let him know that we’ve adopted the motto: ‘We’d walk miles for Hope.’” And they did.

“The day before the show, we received the message that we were going,” explained SP4 Wilson Scheirer, Whitehall, Pa. “We weren’t near a landing zone (LZ), so we couldn’t get a ride back to the firebase on a helicopter.”

In late afternoon the platoon started the slow three-mile journey through thick jungle across streams, and over mountains. At dusk, they set up a defensive position in a bomb crater.

With two miles to go through thick vegetation, and with the fog setting in, limiting visibility to a few feet, the crew was on the move before dawn.

“So that we could keep track of each other and not get separated, we put shiny-backed leave on every man’s rucksack,” said PFC Mike Nehl, Lemmon, S.D. The luminous-backed leaves grow wild on low shrubbery in the mountains.

After hours of chopping and trudging, the men heard the sound of trucks traveling on Highway QL-1, near Firebase Tomahawk.

“I called the firebase on the radio,” said SP4 Scheirer, “and told them I could hear them, but couldn’t see them because of the clouds.” Within a few seconds the firebase came to life, truck lights blinking and horns sounding to guide the crew in.

The men got front row seats and considered the singing of “Silent Night” as the highlight of the show. “I think we’re all looking forward to calm silent nights, concluded PFC Nehl.

Screaming Eagle, Feb 71