MACV Team 27 – Binh Dinh
This Page is intended for the discussion of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Team 27 located in Binh Dinh.
MACV Teams
Military Assistance Command Teams Vietnam
MACV Team 27 – Binh Dinh
This Page is intended for the discussion of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Team 27 located in Binh Dinh.
MACV Teams 
Does anyone know or remember any of these fine soldiers? They are listed on a plaque that was presented to My Father In Law Jim Cavanaugh at I believe the end of his first of two tours. Jim has become very sick. I’m in the process of making a shadow box so my son who is Jim’s best little buddy always has something to remember the service his Papa provided for his country. I’m looking for any pictures anyone might have with Jim that they would want to donate to this project? I apologize in advance if I’m asking too much.
PRESENTED TO
JAMES J. CAVANAUGH (My Father In Law)
IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE
WHILE ASSIGNED TO MACV TEAM 27 BONG SON RVN 1967-68
CPT HERBERT J SMITH III
SFC PLUTARCO E FONT
SFC DAVID L COHEN
SSG ROBERT I MARTIN
Jim and I worked closely together in the administrative office at the Binh Dinh Province headquarters, team 27. Jim then transferred to the MACV subsector team at Bong Song where he served as radio operator. I can still picture Jim in my mind after all these years. Please convey my prayers and best wishes to him. I hope he still remembers me.
Craig,
Thank you for responding. I wish I could tell you he would remember you. He has been diagnosed with a form of Dementia and has been in a skilled facility going on three years now. His wife since he returned from Vietnam continues to visit him everyday. His daughter and only child whom I married go back to see him every week with our children. His condition is continually declining now to the point where he barely recognizes any of us. It’s terrible to see the man that he was become what he is today. My son is his best buddy and he always showed him his medals, badges and a few pictures. Along with the plaque I’m putting together something to honor Jim’s service. I never served in the military but I have the utmost respect for anyone that has. I want Jim’s time in the service to honored because it should be. This is my email address if by chance you have anything like a picture or I dunno anything with Jim in it. Or if you know anyone that might. Jason.Easton@aroconllc.com
I would be glad to reply to any correspondence and share with pictures of Jim over the years that I’ve known him. He’s truly a wonderful person
Unfortunately I don’t have any photos to share and I wish I could remember some of the names of the team members Jim served with at Bong son but my memory is blank. I do remember Jim as being a great guy who was really happy when he was transferred to Bong Son to be an RTO. He was very highly thought of by everyone he served with. I know it isn’t much but I hope that helps a little.
I have a few pictures of the Phu My district headquarters after April 20th,1968 to Oct. Anyway to share the pictures on this site?
The website doesn’t have the technical ability for posting photos or videos.
Would it be possible to make the website share pictures? It would be great to have that ability for anyone subscribed! After almost fifty years it would be great to see things like that
Trying to get it right.Craig our team team 27 sub sector located in the village of Phu My with RFPF.soldiers.My position Village Hamlet / Infantry advisor.We had 4 Newzeland attached medics Senior NCO.Fitzgerald also Ret.SGM.Ben Hasley we remained friends from the time I left around Apr.15/1968 was also with me 14/16 Dec.as medic when we encountered too many NVA .Mg.Drew was also there.Our RTO. John Brunson,Dick Maldanoda.Hope this’ll help clear up thing’s.You can get after action report as they are all declassified but do have dates incorrect.Regards Ssg.Dick Hall
Dick,
I left Vietnam in July ’68 so am not familiar with anything that happened in our province after that. Some of the names you mention don’t ring a bell but as I mentioned earlier I knew Major John Drew well. Like me, he was from Spokane, Washington. Binh Dinh was fairly quiet during the 18 months I was there from Jan. ’67 to Jul. ’68. About the only exception was Tet ’68 when we got hammered in Qui Nhon, but the ROK Tiger Division came in and cleaned out the VC.
Hi,
My 5 man team from the 173d Airborne Brigade arrived at the Phu My District headquarters on April 20, 1968. We did many training operations with the RFPF soldiers. I was the medic on the team and I learned about a Catholic Church/orphanage not far from our base of operations in the village of Phu My and the District Headquarters. The orphanage was being run by some Catholic nuns and they cared for dozens of Vietnamese children. The orphanage received no support from the Vietnamese government and no support from the Vietnamese people. This was an orphanage that had very little, including clothes for the kids, food, or medical supplies. I started going to the orphanage when possible. The Catholic nuns told me the VC had visited them and also warned them to stop accepting aid from the Americans. The VC put a bounty on my head. While I was on a mission a MACV? medic went to the church and was killed by a mine. I was not allowed to return to the “Stone Church” and the orphanage.
If anyone can tell me the soldiers name that was killed trying to give aid to children I would be extremely grateful. My 5 man team was reassigned sometime in October of 1968. I wish I could provide a better window for the time frame. April 20th to October. I found this web site doing some research on a book I am writing regarding my time in VN.
I found a letter I wrote home that states we arrived at the Phu My District headquarters and found 27 Americans living and working in this old French Villa in support of the Vietnamese.
Were all the Americans assigned to this location MACV? Thank You.
No. The MACV team at Phu My consisted of no more than 9 – 10 men. Any other Americans there were with different units of assignment, but definitely not MACV.
Thank you. Did MACV have their own medics at Phu My?
On April 3-4 phu my 1968 we were infiltrated by sappers Mg.WASHINGTON was senior advisor team 27.he had replaced Mg.John Drew . He did a great job directing what support we got from 1st Cav. from LZ English about 10 miles north of us.The advisors did the fighting with the loss of two civil affairs attach to our team names I will not make known, the other civil affairs did a great job many sappers were stop in the wire by them. I was infantry advisor SSG.Dick Hall.I left the team as my tour was over. Team 27 was changed to team 2 which makes it hard to research.we all did the best we could.
Correction – I was at Team 27 Province HQ in April 1968 and Major John Drew was NOT the senior advisor for Team 27. Drew was a district senior advisor at Phu My District, which was subordinate to the province team 27. I knew John Drew. Like myself, he was from Spokane.
Mg.Drew was senior advisor team 27.of you say he wasn’t then who was?I served with him until he was assigned to a position at I don’t know afterwards and yes I remember him telling me he was from Seattle area tall,red headed we got along well.He was senior in the fight at My Chan 14-15 December.when 1 of our outpost was 675 RFPF was lost to a battalion of NVA.I called for support an older model gunship Blitz —/can’t remember 27 saved our ass.My call was Golf 4 at Phu My 67-68 .John Drew was there.
I knew Drew well. He was at Phu My District – one of 9 district teams within Team 27. The team 27 senior advisor was LTC George Bicher. Prior to Bicher it was LTC Lindsey Rupple.
Trying to get it right.Craig our team team 27 sub sector located in the village of Phu My with RFPF.soldiers.My position Village Hamlet / Infantry advisor.We had 4 Newzeland attached medics Senior NCO.Fitzgerald also Ret.SGM.Ben Hasley we remained friends from the time I left around Apr.15/1968 was also with me 14/16 Dec.as medic when we encountered too many NVA .Mg.Drew was also there.Our RTO. John Brunson,Dick Maldanoda.Hope this’ll help clear up thing’s.You can get after action report as they are all declassified but do have dates incorrect.Regards Ssg.Dick Hall
Jim Alkek, Dinh Khanh District Team, Khanh Hoa Province Team 46
I have a OCS friend who was on Team 27 District Team at Anh Khe for 17 months and later at Quin Nhon working for the Phoenix Coordinator. He currently lives in Thailand and sent me a note recently giving some Team 27 info. The Anh Khe team worked with the Benhar Tribal people and the District Team was located in an old French Mission.
DSA was Maj Frank McGuier (sp?)
1SGT was Hershel Rose
SSG John Farmer
RTO Tom Bender
Temp Replacement DSA Frank Burns (QM Corps)
LT John W Green
Cpt Ray Ott
LT Chris Bishoff
I sent him a link to this page. Hopefully he will contact some of you.
I brought some Bahnar Yards to An Khe in Dec 1966. Always glad to hear about them.
Hello, I am wondering if anyone knew my father, Calvin Brown. He was on Adv Tm 27 Sep 64-Sep 65 and was medic. He was an E-5 at the time he was there. Any memories will be much appreciated.
Gentlemen,
Thank you for your service to our country, and to the Republic of Vietnam. I am the son of a ARVN major, Major (Lt Col select) Nghi Xuan Dang. I was hoping to see if any of you gentlemen know of him or served with him during your time in the region. He told me he received a Bronze Star from the U.S. Army in rescuing a MACV team from annihilation. I hope this story helps or sparks any recognition of my grandfathers name.
Thank you for your time.
Tyler Dang
Do you know what province
Did either of you watch the pbs series on Viet Nam
I did.
by the way Craig I found SSG Fanning’s write up, my CMIT teammate. It’s at donmooreswartales.com/2018/03/07/john-fanning/ I guess he went on to get a Silver Star. He was a funny guy and super knowledgable. He passed away several years ago at 87.
Thanks Chuck. I remember Fanning pretty well.
I was with team 27 from June 67 to June 68. I don’t remember any of this
I vaguely remember your last name. That’s about it. I worked at province HQ in Qui Nhon in the administrative building with MSG Ai Hammond. LTC Bicher was senior military guy on board, and senior civilian who was Province Senior Advisor was a guy named Chalmers Wood. I think he may have been CIA.
I am trying to find anyone who may have served with my Uncle SSG Robert H Millwood. He was a medic at the time and was with Adv Tm#27 in 65 and 66 and then with Adv Tm# 42 and 46 in 69 and 70. Any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. He was stationed at Ft Benning and was buried there in 1971.
I wish I could help, but am unable to. I was with Team 27, Binh Dinh Province, from January 1967 to July 1968. I would have just missed him.
Mr. James,
Did you know my father, Maj. Walter Washington?
I don’t think so. I don’t recall that name. Was he at one of the Team 27 districts?
He was Deputy G3 Advisor II corps Adv Team 27 MACV Binh Dinh Prov from Oct. 67 until June 68, before that he was District Senior Advisor, Phu My District
I was with Team 27 for 19 months – January 1967 to July 1968. His name doesn’t ring a bell. We did not have a deputy G3 position within our team. A G3 is a position with a regular division-size unit, such as the 4th Infantry Division, for example. As advisors, we did not have “G” type staff positions – they did not exist. The District Senior Advisor at Phu My during my tenure was a Major John (last name don’t remember) from Spokane, Washington, which is where I am from, so we got to know each other well.
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and answer my questions. My father choose not to talk about Vietnam it wasn’t until his death that i obtained his Military service records. His Officers efficiency reports from Vietnam are where i got the information. I was trying to get a better sense of his experience there and now i can see, from reading these posts, that the experiences of others gives me a good sense of what he may have had to deal with. Thank you, again.
You’re welcome, John. I can appreciate the effort you’re taking to find out more about your father’s military history. I’m sure he would be proud of you. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
Who signed his efficiency reports?
LTC. George A. Bicher, Chalmers B. Wood and Thomas C. Irvin. on one report on another were LTC. Robert S. Williams, LTC. G. Hale Hubbard and COL. Michael Gussie.
I knew Chalmers B. Wood and LTC George Bicher very well. I may have typed the officer efficiency report that has their signatures, as that was one of my jobs – preparing OER’s for signatures. Wood was the Province Senior Advisor – a civilian working for CORDS, and his civilian rank was Foreign Service Officer (FSO) level 2. Bicher was our Deputy Province Senior Advisor.
Thank you for replying. My father told me he was at Phi My for a short time as well. Is that place in the same district?
I’ve never heard of Phi My. It may have been a hamlet in the same subsector as Phu My District, but I can’t say for sure.
Mag.john drew was senior advisor tm. 27.I was infantry adv. Mag.Drew left around March 68.team 27 was infiltrated from apt 3/4 sappers we lost 2 men that were attached to us I will not mention their names the sappers left 28 Kia a lt. from 41st civil affairs caught them with a m60 also 3 in a close combat with me.the fight went on from 20 h.untill day light.i departed 10 days later.SSG. Richard (Dick)Hall God keep our losses.
I knew Major Drew fairly well. He and I were both from Spokane.
I believe you are referring to Major John Sammons.
Did you by chance know a SGT James Cavanaugh?
Yes, knew him well. He started out as clerk in the admin office at province HQ, then got moved to a district advisory team (An Khe, I believe) and worked as RTO in that job. He was a good guy.
Hey Craig…. sorry I didn’t ask this sooner. By chance would you happen to have any pictures with Jim Cavanaugh in them? We just recently moved him into a memory care facility. I’m hoping to find things from his time in country to give to him….my email is Jason.easton@aroconllc.com
Anything you could let me know how to find would be more than appreciated
Craig what is an RTO?
Craig also Jim always referred to a Captain Smith? Does that sound familiar? I’m trying to find out as much about him as I can. Jim is my father-in-law and has since been moved to a memory care facility. Any info you have would be great so I can share it with him
Radio operator.
Thanks
I was with team 27 from June 67 to June 68. I don’t remember any of this
I knew Jim Cavanaugh. Good guy. We assigned him as RTO with one of our sub-sector teams at An Khe.
You and I must have known each other, Charles, as we were living in rooms only a few feet apart at the MACV compound. I knew SSG Fanning. And I knew Major Rogers extremely well. In fact, after we both DEROS’d, he made LTC and I was a 20 year old SSG assigned at Fort Lewis, and he called me from the Pentagon one day and asked me to come and work for him. I had a young family at the time and turned down his offer because I knew we couldn’t afford to live in the D.C. area.
As far as the guy who was killed by the grease gun, I was on leave to the U.S. when that happened in Dec. 1967, and found out about it shortly after returning to Qui Nhon in January 68. I didn’t remember it being a Navy guy, although at my current age things aren’t as clear as they used to be. It happened in the room next to mine.
It’s great hearing from you. Sounds like you’re living an adventure. I stayed in and retired after 24 years. Got a commission through the Infantry school OCS in 1972, and retired as a Major. I was coming into the zone for promotion to LTC, but decided to hang it up as I was just plain tired of all the moves.
Hi, back to ya, yes, we must have known each other but I was in the compound so little I hardly knew anyone. Fanning and I both rented separate apts downtown, Lt. TOM stayed in officer quarters in the big bldg. We were given about a week off inbetween RF PF training cycles lasting 3 weeks with 3 live very productive night cordon and search ops of known VC hamlets. So in that week off Fanning and I were scarce. My upstairs pad was rented from a friend, a ARVN capt who lived below with family. His daughter got a crush in me which was cumbersome. I would help kids with English at night after school for I wasn’t a bar type. Word came down that all who lived off post had to quit and come back. We complied and good we did. That was not long before Tet! In a break from the Tet NVA over run of Qui Nhon, an ARVN pickup brought several KIA civilians shot downtown and dumped them in front of the head medic NCO’s quarters/clinic room, stiff as a board. Had we been downtown we would have been in that pile of corpses.
Good to hear of your shift to Major and retirement ..nice story. I wonder if Rogers made his star? I was told NOT to talk to him about reup by my subsector CO and friend…he knew the war was BS and ordered me to ets and go to college, I complied and regretted it ever since. I wanted WO school actually and to change my Arty mos for supply and go to Germany…after 1 more year with the team in Qui Nhon. Rogers would have given me E6.
I don’t wanna spam the board here so if you like, cabrown3@gmail.com and eccondor on Instagram.
When I wasn’t bunked in my unauthorized but cozy quiet apartment downtown I roomed with Ssgt Fanning a d a black supply sergeant, around the corner where that supply sergeant had a couple/3 connexes he kept supplies in. The SF compound was immeidately on the other side of the connexes I think.
I was initially assigned as security but never worked security, wighin a month I was assigned to a spec op CMIT which were small 3 or 4 man embedded teams with 2 Viet counterparts. CMIT stood for Combined Mobile Improvement Team wherein a 1ST CAV CO and sergeant and a MACV SGT..(me) lived fully embeded with RF PF miitia.. I had started building an EM club at Barrack’s suggestion, with a few Viet workers though I was recuperating from a bad case of hep I got down in III Corps, Team 99 Duc Hoa. I was evacuated to Saigon then to Japan for about 5 weeks. Upon returning to VN I pulled some strings in MACV HQ Penntagon East in Saigon and was reassigned to Team 27, had enough of Team 99. Upon returning to 99 at Duc Hoa however to get my stuff, Then I was off to 27, orders in hand.
I much enjoyed the assignment of living 24/7 with and training Popular Force counter guerilla units in the wee hamlets. We’d do weekly night ops, the idea was to bring back live prisoners which we did. I remember one op we returned with 32, and our PF unit was about 30, a good ratio and our record take.
Lucky you
MSG Walter Barrack was one of my favorite NCO’s. I knew him well. He worked in our S3 at province level in Qui Nhon. Major William Rogers was our province XO. I worked directly under him and MSG Hammond, our Admin First Sergeant.
i was there too, phillip otey worked under msg barrack then later msg hammond, i handled a lot of the mail for the teams
Hey Phil, it’s me, Craig James. How are you doing?
Phil,
What is your email address? I’d like to correspond with you. Thanks.
i retired in 1995. came back from nam, got out oct 1968, reentered army 1971, went to nam again, got a 2 month drop due to draw down,went on recruiting duty, got out second time in 1971, reentered army again dec, 81 and stayed until i retired. to communicate i would rather use just plain email, potey49@yahoo.com, as i have problem on this sight. what all have you been up to ?
Damn, guys, this is so great. My email is cabrown3@gmail.com and eccondor on Instagram. I retired in 1995 at age 48 and moved in 1996 21 yrs ago to Cuenca, Ecuador, South America in the high (9000 ft) Andes out of civilian life as a gold smith/jeweler and high adventure outfitting mountaineering/SCUBA businesses. I worked closely in the 70s with an SF reserve unit at Ft. BENNING as mountaineering instructor…many of that group of fine guys were vets.
I was Googleing and chanced upon this site.
Oh, lol, there was an air force or navy EM gentleman from whom I purchased a captured M-16 in the MACV compound. I was issued an M-14 which I loved but toting it around was a bit heavy in the constant field work we did.
I note some commentary about bad luck with the RF PF…our guys learned well and did well, regret hearing about the down side…but there was a bell curve of aptness alright.
I’m writing this for Marie and Robert Hardy. Can anyone help?
Thanks, Vic Francis Qui Nhon Oct 67 Oct 68
Marie and Robert Hardy says:
February 13, 2017 at 9:50 pm
I am looking for Army Personnel that served with my husband in Qui Nhon from December 1967 to December 1968. He has really bad hearing and the VA Hospital is giving him trouble in getting hearing aids. They said we needed to locate some of his old unit to see if any of them had the same problem. Please if you or anyone served in Qui Nhon during that time period and has hearing loss and constant ringing in their ears could you please contact us either by phone (989) 277-5172 or email romarhardy67@frontier.com. We really could use some help. They are saying they have medical records that don’t show any problem. Well we have learned that the medical records from that time period were destroyed in a fire AND that the record keeping wasn’t what it should have been anyways due to the chaos over there. My husband served his country and deserves to get hearing aids provided for him. So if any one can help us by backing up the fact that there are others out there with this problem and that there was bombing or shelling constantly every night over head into the mountains it would be much appreciated.
My husband was a PFC with Advisory Team 27 in Qui Nhon from January 1968 thru December 1968. He was a company clerk and drove the Major or Colonel around. I did find one of his comrads a Warren Malugen who lives in Missouri. He also has really bad hearing problems and constant ringing in his ears. But if I could find more it would give us the (excuse the expression) ammunition to get my husband hearing aids through the VA. So any help we can find would be appreciated. Thank you so much for getting back with me. Marie Hardy – Robert Hardy
I was assigned to team 27. I was in Qui noun from June 67. June 68. I got hearing aids at Asheville VA hospital
I was assigned to team 27. I was in Qui Nhon from June 67. June 68. I got hearing aids at Asheville VA hospital
If it helps, I served with Advisory Team 27 in Qui Nhon from January 1967 to July 1968. I was successful in obtaining hearing aids from the Va Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, about 4 years ago, based on my service in Vietnam and a continuous ringing in my ears. Hope this information helps.
Craig James and Buz. My father was Wayne Cobb and he served in Vietnam from June ’67 to June ’68. He always told me he was stationed at Phu Cat. I am going through his old photos and documents and found photos of barracks or office with pole out front that says Phu Cat Subsector Advisory Team ’27. The building also says Phu Cat Advisory Team on it. This page is for advisory team ’27 and is for Qui Nhom so I am confused at where my father was actually stationed. The team 29 page says Phu Cat but the photo’s in his collection say Team 27 and Phu Cat Subsector. Any information or help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Phu Cat was a subsector that was part of Team 27. I worked at Team 27 headquarters in Qui Nhon city. We had 9 subsector teams. One of those teams was at the village of Phu Cat. We also referred to them as districts. Each of those teams consisted of about 7 men as I recall. Their mission was to train and advise Vietnamese regional and popular forces which were like village militia. Hope this helps. I seem to remember Wayne Cobb’s name.
Thank you. His radio call sign was Kickenrax. I have many photo’s I’d love to share with you and others interested. Operation maps with many markings he made on them. Pictures of the compound after Tet with rocket holes in roof. Propoganda material from the North left after Tet, etc. I’m happy to email them, I can be reached at chad.t.cobb@gmail.com.
Did he replace Sgt Kay
No, he was like a unit First Sergeant. Worked in the admin shop. He always smoked a cigar. Real nice guy.
Did u know Conte?
No. Did you know MSG Hammond (chief Admin NCO)?
Maybe
My memory isn’t to good
What did he do
Did he replace sgt Kay
Did u know captain Conte?
Hey Buz, you aren’t referring to CPT Monte McCall by chance, are you? If so, he was the Team 27 S1 Advisor.
Sgt Kay helped me get to be an E5 Sgt
I liked him a lot. I think he was the person who answered to.
I don’t remember the c130 fire
I left in June, around the 20th I think.
I didn’t get along with maj Sammons
Thankfully he left soon. I can’t remember why though. There was a West Point Captain who I liked. I don’t think he stayed too long.
I helped build the bar in the compound
It looked pretty nice when they charged
The plywood
One of the civilian got a new Int Scout
He gave me his old yellow jeep
John Sammons was pretty hard-nosed, but I really respected him. There was one time when my boss – a really sarcastic Master Sergeant (won’t name him), and I got into a shouting match with each other, and I said some things to him that I shouldn’t have. He tried to get me an Article 15, but Major Sammons stood up for me and somehow managed to get this MSG to forget everything. Not sure how he did that, but I think MAJ Sammons “had something” on this sergeant.
I remember SSG Kay very well. First name was Jim. Don’t recall any NCO who had reserve commission. Major John Sammons was our S3 Advisor at Province level. Captain Monty McCall was our S1 Advisor. One of our S4 Advisors, can’t remember his name, died aboard a C130 that was about to take off from Qui Nhon airport. Somehow the bird caught fire while still on runway, and I believe a lot of men died. We had two newly-assigned NCO’s – in-country transfers from another unit, an E6 and an E7 – who were ambushed and killed same day they reported to us. They were convoying out to one of the districts they were assigned to – forget which one – and convoy was ambushed. Both were killed. Happened June 68. I had just completed meeting with both of them to in-process them to Team 27 – had nice conversation, getting to know them a little. That afternoon both were dead.
Originally ssgt Kay was there,
I can’t remember the guys name
Another man was there as a ssgt also who was an officer in the reserves
I knew Major William Rogers very well. He was our Executive Officer, subordinate to LTC George Bicher who was our Province Sr. Advisor. I have a personal letter of recommendation that he wrote for me in 1968 as I was preparing to leave the Army at that time. I was surprised as I sat in the freedom bird getting ready to leave Bien Hoa air base July 1968 when the MACV Liaison NCO from Saigon brought me my promotion orders to E6. As a result I decided to re-up instead of getting out. Shortly after that, Major Rogers, who at that time had been promoted to LTC and was at the Pentagon after returning from Vietnam, tracked me down somehow and called me while I was assigned to Fort Lewis and asked me to come and work for him at the Pentagon. I politely said “no”, but it was a nice feeling that he did that. Yes, I knew him quite well.
Craig
Do you remember when the helicopter crashed into a mountainside at An khe?
What building do you work out of?
Did you Major Rogers?
Buz,
I vaguely recall a chopper crash at An Khe. Can’t recall details. The building I worked out of was a single story building adjacent to the province headquarters building, which was 2 levels.
I heard one was shot down…dunno if that incident was the same one, in 1968 maybe January?
I was from South Dakota
What’s your name
My name is Craig James – I was living in the MACV compound in Qui Nhon, and the guy (can’t remember his name) who was killed accidentally by the grease gun was killed in the room next to mine. I was on 30 day leave to the states when it happened, and didn’t find out about it until I returned from leave. I was the Admin NCO for Advisory Team 27 province HQ in Qui Nhon. I in-processed all new arrivals to the team, handled casualty reports, supervised mail operations, etc. I remember your name, Jerrol.
I was on my 2nd tour, billeted in the other room next to the accident. A couple navy gentlemen jnfamiliar with the peculiarities of that fire arm were playing with a captured .45 smg, aka grease gun, one got shot in the heart. The survivor was shipped out for a while to recoup mentally for it was his buddy who died. I heard the shot, someone cried out “Help me!”, I went next door immediately to see what happened, the man lay freshly dead on the floor in some blood, his heart area had a gun shot wound, too grave, died immediately, nothing I could do. A very sad accident. I knew hardly anyone in the compound, we were in the field almost constantly, a 4 man MACV team CMIT 7, we were a roving inf advisory/training team of four with two Viet counterparts, we trained RF PF in night ops and fought with them in several subsectors. Ssgt Fanning and 1st Lt. Tom Higdon both TDY from 1ST Air Cav in Anh Ke and Plieku were two of my team members. I was the MACV component, arty 13B MOS, RTO and jeep driver. CMIT stood for combined mobile improvement team assigned to get RF PF up to snuff. The idea worked great…night cordon/search ops in known VC hamlets, using the trainees live. Great results. We lived exclusively with our RF PF in their villages.
Major Rogers was a favorite of mine. I regreted ETSing in April after TET. I really liked working under Rogers. He told me he had just devised a mobile CP using a truck van. Major Rogers was tops.
Sgt. Charles Brown 65-68
Craig
I am in San Antonio, now fully retired. I stayed in the Army until I retired in 1980. Then I had a career as a VP for Finance & Administration for a couple of the Texas A&M Universities. I also have had an interest in going back to Vietnam but have not made it.
All I can say is it’s really good to be in contact with you Jose, after all these years (50 years in 2017 – wow.) I stayed in and retired in 1989 after 24 years. Obtained commission through infantry OCS at Ft Benning in 1972, and eventually retired as a major. After retirement, became an HR Manager for several different organizations in this area, and retired again from the electric utility industry in 2013. Now my wife tells me what to do. We have a mini-farm – couple of horses, chickens, fruit trees, vegetable garden, etc. Wife is a master gardener. I’m still an apprentice, step 1. She hasn’t promoted me yet.
I’ve “Googled Earth” Qui Nhon, Vietnam, but it looks so much different today that I can’t recognize anything.
I’m trying to remember the other team members at Binh Khe. Who was your major, and the others? I can picture the major, but can’t remember his name. Seems that you also had a MSG (maybe PSG?) first name of “Bennie” or something like that.
Craig
– Measure your life by loss, not by gain.
Not by the wine drunk, but by the wine poured forth.
For love’s strength is found in love’s sacrifice.
And he who suffers most has most to give. (From Streams In The Desert, by L.B. Cowman)
It was msg Barrack I believe. He suffered an eye lid wound during a bomb run and was awarded a purple heart. He was one kick butt top kick. I arrived from medevac in japan, light duty, started building the EM club in the MACV compound, but fortunately Msg Barrack or Major Rogers put me on the CMIT team…which I liked much..that was soldiering field work exclusively.
The only other casualty I knew was when the pay helicopter was shot down, I knew one of the pay guys but forget his name, all were killed aboard.
During ’68 TET when Qui Nhon was over run by NVA and retaken by our RF PF and ROK troops, one of the compound guards from Maine! I forget his name, was shot in the lower abdomen while talking fo me. I was atop the watch tower at the back of the compound. He was standing in front of the Senior medic’s quarters and a stray round hit him. I clammored down the tower and attended to him, he was calm and cool, courage city. The medic showed up immediately as well. He was evac’d to Hawaii and returned with the bullet slung around his neck. The bullet missed my head by not much.
I only was in the army from 65 to 68, first tour was in arty at Bien hoa and later Phu Loi.
Craig
It is good to hear from you. Have you heard from anyone else that was in Bing Khe at the same time. Where are you living.
I’m in Spokane, Washington, Jose. Good to hear from you also. No, I haven’t heard from anyone else who was at Binh Khe. I pretty well lost track of everyone after DEROS back to the U.S. in July 1968. Just recently something has stirred me about my time in Vietnam. A very close friend who was a COBRA pilot and is married to a VN gal is flying to Vietnam this week with his wife to visit her family. For some reason that has got me stirred up. I wish I could go back there for a visit and to see the place where I lived during that time. Where are you at?
Craig
– Measure your life by loss, not by gain.
Not by the wine drunk, but by the wine poured forth.
For love’s strength is found in love’s sacrifice.
And he who suffers most has most to give. (From Streams In The Desert, by L.B. Cowman)
I was at the district Binh Kne on highway 19 from about june 1968 to June 1969. Is this were you are talking aoubt?
I was with Team 27 Qui Nhon, Binh Dinh Province, from January 1967 to July 1968. I worked at province HQ as admin NCO. Initially, LTC Lindsey Rupple was our Province Sr. Advisor. Later was replaced by LTC George Bicher, who was subordinated under civilian named Chalmers Wood when the CORDS organization came into being. About half of our province HQ team became civilianized under CORDS. Believe they were CIA organization, but never heard for certain.
I was with team 27 from june 67 to June 68. I was a radio operator. We worked out of a little white quanset in that compound. Some of the people were up stairs in a brick Building, others worked in a building across the compound. I was in the compound the night of the TET offensive. After tTET I would go out with the VN soldiers to villages to look for VC. We would check for pay stubs, most of the time we came under fire and would call in gunships or airstrikes.
I must have met you, but I don’t remember. We stayed at an old compound right on the south china Sea. One night there a Navy guy accidentally killed his friend with and old ww2 grease gun. I was a Buck Sgt.
Jerrol Veldheer
Jerrol,
I was living in the same compound. If I’m not mistaken I believe you were from Seattle. I was home on a 30 day “extension leave” over Christmas 1967 when the guy in the room next to mine was accidentally killed with the grease gun. I found out about it when I returned from my leave. I remember you.
We were night attacked by a btn of NVA in a subsector hq, a farm house in I forget the village name, about 45 minutes or an hour out of QuiNhon, right after Tet. Our trained Viet inf held em off, a Puff was called in which saved our butts. It wasn’t long after that buck sgt me ETS’d.
Hi Jerrol. My father Wayne Cobb was also a radio operator serving I believe at Phu Cat during Tet. I have several photo’s of the compound after Tet, rocket holes in roof, etc. His radio call sign was Kickenrax. I have some photo’s that show a building with sign Phu Cat Advisory and vertical rocket statue that says Phu Cat Subsector Advisory Team 27.
I was with Team 27 at Province HQ in Qui Nhon from Jan 67 to Jul 68. LTC Bicher was Province Sr. Advisor. I knew Major John Drew, District Sr Advisor of Phu My District. I was Admin NCO and in-processed all new personnel assigned to Team 27. 1SG Ai Hammond was our top EM at the province HQ. My email is maj1247@q.com if anyone cares to write. – Craig James, major, USA, retired
I was assigned as a district advisor from 4/67 to 11/67 at Binh Khe district in Binh Dinh province. Is there anyone else out there that was assigned to this district during this time. Hope to hear from you.
I was rto at team 27 binh khe from 1/66 to5/67 we had the gazebo built.
Curt
I was at Binh Khe Feb 67 to Nov 67. It seems that we overlapped a few months. Do you remember me.
not really what was your position there
I was there June 1968 to June 1969. The gazebo was great. Did you guys have the girls there with yo that we heard about? they were gone when I got there.
David:
I was at Binh Khe from April 1967 to October 1967. I left there when my father had a stroke and subsequently died.
Hello Jose. I was not at the district level, but was at the team’s province headquarters in Qui Nhon. I was with team 27 from Jan 67 to Jul 68, so I would have met you since I met and in-processed all new personnel, plus handled and distributed your mail to you. Binh Khe was one of our district teams, along with Hoai Nhon, Hoai An, An Khe, Phu Cat, Phu My, An Tuc, and Tuy Phuoc.
Does anyone remember my father Maj. Walter Washington, District Sen. Advisor 68-69, Phu My District, Binh Dinh province? Any information would be appreciated.
I GOT CROSS OF GALLANTRY (IND. AWARD) AFTER GETTING ORDERS TRANSLATED.MY CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE FOUND ABOUT15 LBS.OF MY.RECORDS FORGOT THE 3 ARTICAL 15.THEY WERE IN THE FILES ALSO.MANY ARVN. RECORDS.
Cpt StringerCpt. Ron Sheperd Must have been lost on the day left the team…Im sure of his name(Ron) we were over run 05-02-03-68.We had a new senior advisor, Ron was running the defense as i said we just got a new senior advisor and the sappers knew that.At day break he and i swept and met up with 41st.civial affairs Lt.can,t rember his name.He had put together an M60 over the roof he and 2 other 41st.caught them in the wire and most likely kept the larger force out..but lostLt.Sovisel and SFC. Williams.The 41st. Lt.was a slinder build wore glasses..1SGt Dick Maldando will know.Ron and i operated with RF/PF. many times. i remember so well he and i just sat down and could’nt believe the lose of 2 of our own.Maj. John Drew senior adv.had left about 2 weeks prior.I will get in touch with Dick Maldanado and let you know.Maj.Washington replaced him on DEROS.
I knew Major John Drew well. He and I were both from Spokane, Washington.
I was infantry advisor Team 27 Phu My SFC Ben Hasley medic retired CMSG. Dick Maldonoda 1st.Sgt.we stay in touch to this day…I would give anything to find the gunship,Blitz Creg 27..we found 2 bn. NVA 14th 15th dec 67.somehow we were point..fight went on for two days.Battle of Trung Xuan,My Chan.this old gunship saved our ass and i would kiss his in main st.I ask for fire at 100 meters,280* grape smoke..he was shot to hell but would,nt break off as i told him to.Said rounds were comming throug like fire flies.
I was there 67 -68. I heard team 27 became another number
Do you know what district he was in?
Members of Team 27: I was not with Advisory Team 27 but was a District Senior Advisor with Advisory Team 32 out of Gia Nigha, Quang Duc Province. CPT Ronald W Shepard was with Team 27 and was a good college buddy of mine. Unfortunately he was KIA on 5/09/68 in Binh Dinh Province. Does anybody remember him and what happened to him? Would appreciate any information.
PS: Post identified me by my user name which I was not expecting. Name is Dale Stringer, CPT, U S Army.
Hello Dale. I researched the DOD casualty reporting system regarding your question about CPT Ronald W. Shepard. Information available does state he was killed in Binh Dinh Province but at the time he was serving with Advisory Team 52, not 27, according to their records. Hope this helps. If you Google search “Vietnam casualty list” you will eventually get to the site with all the details about him.
where is Phu My? I know where Phu Cat is
Jerrol,
Phu My is one of many, including a district in Viet Nam. You probably mean town (Thành Phố) Phù Mỹ in Binh Dinh Province, 54km north of Quy Nhơn. A village (Ap) Phú Mỹ is across the bay from Vũng Tàu (China Beach) near the city we called Sài Gòn.
Sp5 Thomas Hyde
Translator/Interpreter
41st Civil Affairs Team 4
Song Mao 1968-69
learncad@mchsi.com
Hey Tom, yes i remember you well..the arvns were blown away with your knowledge and translation ability.Dick Hall TM 27 67-Apr 68.Great Job.
I was in Phu Cat around 67 or 68 on op with 1ST INF arty, 1st tour.
Oops, it was another Phu Cat in III Corps! Lol. The II Corps Phu Cat mentioned… we drove through it a few times in our rickety ole jeep…before sappers were around. After I ETS’d in Apr 68 I heard the war got really serious, I guess Tet touched it off.
CWO Frank Brisker was an army slick pilot in Qui Nhon, worked with SF and Airborne Inf, his first month in country involved Tet, what a break in! I know Frank from grade school, small world. We stay in touch, he still flies a restored Huey, air rescue and air shows. Unfortunately he and I didn’t know we were neighbors in Qui Nhon. The MACV billeting compound on the beach by the way guys was one of the assasinated ex pres. Diem’s wife, aka Madam Nhu’s resorts, ahem…brothels. Oh, good to know we slept in a cat house for our tour, eh? Lol-
TO: Dick Hall
I am interested in your post. I am former 41st Civil Affairs, 66-67 1st Air Cav. AnKhe area.
Please see http://41stcivilaffairs.com/ We honor our fallen brothers.
I was with team 27 from June 67 to June 68I would train the RF & PF by going out in the field to small villages to look for VC. They were not very good soldiers.
I WAS WITH TEAM 27 PHU MY APR 67-68.IHREE OF US STAY IN TOUCH..LOTS OF QUESTIONS,WE WERE OVER RUN ,,SAPPERS 2 & 3 APR 68.2 US KIA ATCH. FROM 41 ST. CIV.AFRS. WE FOUGHT OUR ASSES OFF TO STAY ALIVE.NO HELP FROM THE ARVNS.INSIDE JOB.LZ. UPLIFT FEW MILES NORTH FIRED SOME ALUM. I DERSO.10 APR.ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING…SAPPERS LEFT BEHIND 19 KIA.3 10 FT FROM ME,COULD’NT MISS….DONT LOOK FOR AFTER ACTION,,IT NEVER HAPPENED AS FOR ANY RECORDS….WASHINGTON YOU FUCKED UP.SIN LOIA. TRUNG SI R. HALL
Lee Livingston permalink
November 28, 2014 11:29 am
TO: Dick Hall
I am interested in your post. I am former 41st Civil Affairs, 66-67 1st Air Cav. AnKhe area.
Please see http://41stcivilaffairs.com/ We honor our fallen brothers.
Team 27 did become Team 42. i was there March 68 to February 69. The transition happened during that period
I left in June 68 we were still team 27
I left in July 1968 and we were team 27 at that time.
I believe that team 27 was later designated as team 42 which was located in Binh Dinh Province.
I was at LZ orange from Nov. 1967 to june of 69. yes I think we were Team 27 then changed to Team II-44 (MAT II-44). I was the RTO at LZ orange. See more info at
George Benedict
Thank you Rick and George.
my name is tom lamb iwas on tm 42 from feb 1969to feb 1970 after our team was assembled we moved to hoi an district we were at the 5th s.f. camp called lz pony I believe district lz was named orange the conversion was to replace the cidg with arvn ‘I was ther for a couple of months then I was assigned to mat tm 27’ I am also not sure of team numbers .I know my orders said adv 42 …. after the conversion I was supposed to move with maj garret to lz orange apparently my slot had already been filled so nats. mats for me