Team 33 ARVN 23rd Division

MACV Team 33 – ARVN 23rd Division.

This Page is intended for the discussion of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Team 33 located with the ARVN 23rd Division.

383 thoughts on “Team 33 ARVN 23rd Division”

    • You’re not alone Reggie… I’m still ‘vertical’ and turn 77 in about five weeks…:-)

      And like you, I remember.

      IIRC, Richard Gudat is still with us as is ARVN Dr. Hai from the 23rd ARVN Division.

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    • Same to you Reginald. Quiet day here in SE Colorado near the Wet Mountain Range.

      Fifty-one years since I was part of the MACV Team 33 group with the 23rd ARVN Division at Kontum for the siege.

      Maybe you’ve visited Jack Heslin’s Battle of Kontum web site?

      thebattleofkontum.com/

      “Nunc Imos”…:-)

      Jack Finch ( MACV Team 33 AUG’71 – AUG ’72)

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  5. Hello! My dad, Retired PSG, Albert Forster was part of 33rd ARVN battalion and division in late 1960’s during vietnam war). He is still alive (93 yrs old) and would love to find any publications about it. My dad was mentioned in a book written by a Vietnamese general who was Commander over the 33rd ARVN division in the delta. My dad can’t remember the Commander’s name but he signed the book he wrote and sent it to my dad. It was later stolen from my dad when he was stationed at an army base in Fort Bragg, NC. Any info you can provide to help us get a copy of the book or at least view it online would be most appreciated! Thank you all for your service!

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      • Hello Steve,

        I’m sorry that I didn’t see this sooner…but my father passed away last August 2023…I never located the book that talks about him in Vietnam. 

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  6. Good Morning
    I’m seeking information regarding A-233 Ban Don (Trang Phuc) in II Darlac province. It converted to RF/PF in September of 1970. I was kept on site until MACV could assign advisors. There was just a radioman, me, and a Captain on his second tour assigned to the camp.The radioman and I were SF assigned to the camp and temporary fill-ins until MACV could assign advisors. I left from there to Kontum and MAC-SOG. Just wondering what/who took over when was reassigned..

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  7. Well short of going back to Vietnam, I’ve frequented BMT via You Tube video; it’s amazing how it’s changed. I have to get used to the current manner of spelling, Buon Ma Thuot. They tell me the coffee is still very good. 🙂

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    • Hi Reggie, hope you are doing well and can still enjoy BMT coffee! Most Vietnamese grocery stores carry both whole beans and ground. Packages say from BMT but not what plantation, but still strong and best served as cafe sua (evaporated carnation milk coffee).
      Only remembered you coming to the Bangalow mess with the Mohawk pilot.
      I/we were the 362nd Tropo team at the edge of the BMT Airfield.
      Aloha, Harold Shiroma

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      • Harold Shiroma, I was with the 361st Tropo at Camp Coryell 1969-71. Help me with my memory….did we ever work together?

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    • Thank you all for bringing back many memories of my time spent at Bam Me Thuot (as I spelled back then). I thoroughly enjoy reading your comments. I was assigned to Team 33’s HQ from mid-Oct 70 to mid-Jun 71. I was transferred down from Team 24 in Kontum along with SFC Anderson. We worked in the G1/personnel office. I do have memories, some good and some not so during my time and since I was one of the fortunate ones to make it back, I feel blessed. Several years after leaving, I visited with SGM Franklin Hance who was then working in the Recruiting Command in Kansas City. He was a great soldier.. I sincerely appreciate you all sharing your thoughts.

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    • Thanks for the YouTube suggestion. I looked at it last night and could not reconcile that broadcast with my pictures of the Dalat Hotel from 1965.

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  8. Can’t believe it’s been 52 years for me. Still kicking around though. With Tm 33 from Jan 1971-Jul 1972.

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      • BMT but flew into Kontum after it died down a bit in April/May. I was Lt Wagner’s payroll guard (LOL) at some point during this . He later became a LTG. Had the pleasure of seeing him when he was with the 75th Rangers at Lewis some years later after ‘Nam.

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        • Excellent… I remember him as a young 1LT at BMT and then saw him briefly at Kontum after the NVA / B-3 Front were finally withdrawing…Glad his career went so well and for you too, still ‘vertical’ after 50+ years… Keep it safe…:-)

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      • Jack, not to jump in the middle of this but I got to Kontum just before you left. My first introduction to you was the picture in the Stars and Stripe of your rear end and you were crawling down a trench. If I remember correctly there was a little something about the NVA throwing a grenade at you?

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        • Your memorym remains excellent Pat…

          A few days later John Paul Vann flew up with a copy of Pacific Stars and Stripes with the same photograph of me in the ditch with a baseball grenade and propping my helmet up on my M16-A1 (like in an old John Wayne war movie) to see if the enemy would shoot at it or call out when they saw it so I could throw the grenade. Instead I see a teenaged sapper trying to prime a Chicom stick grenade and reflexively jerk the rifle to lose the helmet and drop it down one handed and fire what I hope will be center of mass. Must have jerked the trigger too soon as instead the round hit him in the head and I have a JFK Zapruder film type image of the effect…Not exactly my best John Wayne shooting moment…:-(

          Anyway Vann joked “Finch, I see Franjola managed to get your best side in the papers! Well done son” as the image is kinda centered on my ass as Franjola didn’t have a lot of room to frame what he figured might be his final picture ever taken considering the jam we were in and risk of being overrun at any moment…:-)

          Long time ago… He wrote an interview with the NY Times when he got home and I remember him saying that we were missing for so long his fatigue trousers had slipped down below his waist from crawling about in the drainage ditch and if we stood up we’d get shot with him with his trousers around his ankles… Ridiculous he called it then… Funny now but not so much then… Matt died a few years ago and I still miss his humorous commentary on a difficult war.

          As to history, the various captions (of which my now dead parents save one) all said “CPT Jack Finch of DelRay Beach Florida waves his helmet at advancing South Vietnamese troops during the siege at Kontum”

          Not so much, was as described above. We were barely holding on with massive US and ARVN air support to included air-dropped supplies and B-52 Arc Light strikes.

          But gotta buck up the morale of the folks at home.

          Now, after 50 years, I doubt any historians care…

          Makes ya wonder about how much is accurate in those same history books.

          Jack

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          • Agreed! I have been collecting histories concerning the Highlands and learning some interesting things that occurred early in the war. It was like “Terry and the Pirates” in 1965. At least five different armies in Darlac. Like you I wonder about the truth of these war stories.

            Thanks for bring us up to date on the events of 1971, etc.

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      • Jack, you’re right about history. By the time I showed up things had pretty well settled down. I had been in country almost a week and was in Nha Trang to manage telephone installs when the helicopter with CPT Hall was shot down. The next day found me on a Huey to Kontum as the new signal officer. A short time later (along with a major that I can’t remember his name) we were sent to Camp Halloway to represent the Team in Mr. Vann’s funeral service. So the summer went on, COL Rhotenberry was replaced by Corps CoS (fortunately LTC Bricker held everything together). Shortage of folks found me as Deputy Advisor to 44th Regt at Firebase November. Interesting work for a signal officer. A few months later the 44th rotated out and I think the 45th took over FBN. Shortly thereafter it was overrun and LTC Morse (?) fought his way south and eventually came across the Division relief (4 tanks) heading to the firebase. He got back to the TOC about 0200 covered with mud, sweat, cordite and carrying the secure KY8 crypto! Aside from the disaster (in October I think) where hundreds of ARVN teams were choppered to villages north of Kontum with the understanding a cease fire was imminent and where ever the flag flew the village would belong to them. No cease fire and for several weeks a few stragglers would arrive at FBN. Most were never seen again. Anyway, things slowed down and I was on R&R in Hawaii when the cease fire was finally signed. Was unable to return but I heard later hostilities continued for a while and the North used that time to strengthen their hold in the country side. Sad ending in spite of our good intentions. Good to hear from you and realize some of my memory cells still work. Take care/pat

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        • Thank you for the additional details. Was unaware of Rhotenberry’s “firing”… Likely the death of Vann removed his protector?
          Was unaware of the FB November conflicts after I left in August with MAJ Gudat, who BTW is also still alive…Jack Heslin also going strong but I am unsure of the status of Tom McKenna and some others. BG Ba has died although Dr. Hai is alive. LTC Bricker has also died along with MAJ Burch. So we are perhaps among the last of the surviving members of MACV Team 33 during the Battle of Kontum.

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      • I served with you in 1965-65. I was promoted to E6 while serving as unit enlisted rep. I was the only one in that section until you arrived from Korea. I continued a career in the military that covered 32 years and retired as a CW3. I am now 85.

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  9. Anyone here know Paul E. Mulazzi from Connecticut? Served 69-71. Trained at Fort Benning and Fort Dix. Possibly Team 33. He passed on in 2000 but among his memorabilia were a Bronze Star ribbon and an II Corp – ARVN 23 Division Patch. He also claimed to have been shot in the posterior and still had the bullet in his body but no Purple Heart or Bronze Star was listed on his DD-214. Any info would be appreciated. In letters home he also mentions being in the hospital from his gunshot wound.

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    • He was a bored gate guard who volunteered to be an RTO with the 1st Battalion, 45th Regiment, 23rd ARVN Div, Not sure about bronze star or purple heart as I never worked with him. He was a young guy, funny and likeable. His unit came across a Mountard Village on one op and he was messing with a crossbow an some arrows and cut his finger. His team mates advised that the arrows were dipped in poison to kill the game faster, He lost, was sure he was going to die and was pissed when everyone laughed at him.

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  11. I was first assigned to the MACV Corps Headquarters in Pleiku. While in Saigon awaiting transportation up country, the VC penetrated the compound. Captain Ed Fleming, whom I was to replace was nearly cut in half by machine gun fire. I saw him in Hq, USAR, Japan in our next assignment. He was wearing a colostomy bag. Our Military Personnel Center (FE), Japan, processed for onward movement several Advisory Team 33, officers who were seriously wounded during Tet. Heard about the entire Grand Bungalow burning down, and was disappointed it had to be destroyed by a careless soldier who tried to light a sterno can he supposedly filled with highly combustible gasoline. At least I can proudly day I lived in the same hunting lodge from which Teddy Roosevelt hunted game without leaving the surrounding balcony and shooting at game that roamed the then thick jungle where a SF B Team was based in my time there.

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  12. I has never looked at this site in the past, until Sp5 Jesus Sanchez, our classified clerk in the admin office started relaying stories about his time there. Our SA was LTC Wendt in July 1965, followed by LTC Elam Wright, then by Col (full colonel on his assignment). I remember very well Co Chi, who was nice to me and a terrific administrator. LTC Wright grabbed her to be his personal secretary. Wright was noted fir having an escape trap door at the side of his bed and was rightly concerned about occasional attempted penetrations. DEROS, the monkey, Gen (Ret) Maxwell Taylor, Martha Raye, Sheba, the missionaries are all vivid memories. So is the wheel-bound star in “I The Jury.” The clerk who “died of an illness” at Fort Bragg was assigned to my XVIII Airborne Corps section. I visited him at the old Walter Reed Army hospital. He had terminal cancer. Captain. Eugene Franklin, my best buddy advisor with 2d BN, 44th RVN Infantry was killed on a S&D mission at about midnight. He was SDO and I was accompanying him on a guitar when he was alerted to move out. He was shot in the back. The last American to see him alive was Sergeant “Short Round,” Franklin’s right arm. A bunch of us took Franklin’s body to Ton Son Nhut air field after raising hell in Saigon. Among the “Sports Fan” were then Captain Gerringer (MSC), Evans, Cox (Ord), Bergman (sp) (INF), later BG Hickman and Burdeshaw. A helicopter pilot was having drinks me at the Bungalow bar one night, the next night he was KIA when high caliber rounds penetrated his seat up into his butt and upper body. Like Franklin, left two toddlers. A USAF bird dog pilot whose hootch was next to mine tried to get me to go on his daily mail runs to other advisory teams. I turned down his offer for a sure bunch of air medals. He was last seen being chased by VC after he crashed landed. Last three letters in his surname were “SKI.”

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    • I remember many of the names in your posting. I was a member of the security detachment from May 65 to May 66. I was also clerk for the detachment commander for that year

      It’s great to hear about the guys who passed through the Grand Bungalow and enjoyed our steaks.

      Peace

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      • I was there Dec 64 to Dec 65 and I was the classified document custodian and message Center clerk.  Capt Soriano was the Admin Officer.  Remember DEROS the bear cub that used to roam the compound until he got too big to let him loose in compound.  I roomed with PFC Jose Cruz. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

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        • You probably were a replacement for our Jerome Gohrick with same job description – Sheba took care of the bear cub and I built the large glass enclosure for him and he was our “Team Mascot”, found wandering at the Air Vietnam Airport, grieving over his Mother Bear – He grew in size and when I left in May 1964, he was spoiled rotten and ate all he could, which us guys helped with!!!

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      • Arrived Ban Me Thuot east airfield on may 20, 1963 – was company clerk to Col Madden and Sgt Majors Edward and Cassell – my room mate was sam van scoyoc – sgt pettit was supply sgt, jerry gohrick was classified documents clerk – great memories of the renovated Grand Bungalow, complete with a movie theater, super mess hall and pride and joy was build of our tennis court where matches were many and I was awarded a little chrome trophy as winner of the games – still sits on my bedroom dresser on this date February 4, 2023!

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      • I was at BMT from Otc 65 thu Aug 66. I think I remember you as one of the MP’s. Who was the Sgt in charge, the PMO? I can’t think of his name altho we served at Fort Sheridan together at one time.

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        • Spc4 Bridges was on the MP detachment. However he was not in charge. I can picture their Sargent but can’t remember his name. It seems that he ran an unlicensed blackjack game on pay day in the day room.

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          • That’s the guy! He also ran a somewhat suspicious game with Madame Lee, the one who ran the bar and Air Force barracks in town. He would pay you to make money orders with any extra you had left over from on your pay voucher..If you remember if you could only send money orders home for no more than what you drew each month. So if you drew $500 and only sent home a money order for $300,you had $200 left over. He would give ya $50 for the remainder. I served with him at Fort Sheridan.Nice guy. Hope he made out.

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    • I believe the soldier who died of terminal cancer was Sgt Charles Polley
      I have been researching him . I found a few photos of him receiving Bronze Star medal he is buried at Ft Bragg I received a photo of his grave.

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  13. Seeking info on Sgt Charles R Polley he was an advisior 2rd ARVN 1964-1965 received Bronze Star for his service .He was a Korean war vet with 7th division and later became airborne with 82nd airborne division in 1958. I believe he was in Vietnam several tours as an advisor later 1st Field force and was wounded.
    Was there when Gen Max Taylor visited the camp.
    He died in the service at Ft Benning of an illness on May 5 1969 and is buried there.

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  14. I was at the Grand Bungalow during that time and remember a guy in civics who drove a keep and carried a Thompson SG without the shoulder stock. Could that possibly be you. I have pictures of many team members and the compound at that time.

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    • No that was not me. I was no warrior, only carrier a 45 when going out to any one of the six special forces camps in uniform. I was there when James Garner came to visit. He sat down at the poker table and played one hand. He dealt himself a full house, won the hand and gave the money to the medical doctor, poised for pictures and was out the door. My wife had him send me a letter and pictures. He later went to the camp east of BMT and I have a picture of him taken by Capt Jerry Brown who was later killed while on patrol. Does anyone remember this.
      Lee Aldrich

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      • I remember this Lee. I sat with him on the hood of a Quarter Ton while he was leaving BMT. He was waiting for a chopper and the chopper was late. I can’t tell you how long it was but we sat there quite awhile. All he wanted to talk about was his time in the Korean War and Soldier stuff. He was very proud of his time in the Army. He talked about getting wounded in the Butt and assured me he wasn’t running away 🤣 He was humble, kind and a good American who just wanted to visit solders and share a couple of stories and a few laughs. I will never forget my time alone, sitting on a hood of a Jeep with this great American.🇺🇸

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    • I was a pseudo member of Advisory Team *33 from Dec 1966 to May 1967. I say pseudo because I was assigned as S 4 officer but was actually on loan to the USAID as an agricultural advisor working in civilian clothes. I visited all six special forces camps and all the ag offices in Ban Me Thout. If you don’t have the book, “No Sad Songs”, get it for your father. It is a compulation of the letters of Capt Gerald Brown who was killed while on patrol in May 1667. Names I remember are Col Silver, Capt Jones, Major Don Mullins. Major Mullins was in the same camp to the east of Ban Me Thout that Capt Brown was in. It was like a special forces camp but made up of Team 33 members.
      Capt Lee Aldrich
      Belmond Iowa
      aldrichtreefarm@mac.com

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      • I just spoke with my Father he was not at the airfield , he was in the bungalow, he remembers :Major Wieland, Capt August, SSGT Fox and SSGT Easter.

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      • My father was there in ’66. Would have to verify the specific dates. Always interested in anyone that may remember him during his first tour. Have some pics. At that time, he was Lt. William (Bill) E. Ferguson and that was his MACV assignment. I believe he spent quite a bit of time in the field and occasionally visited the Bungalow. He returned in ’68 to Long An as a Captain with the 2nd/60th. Lost him in an ambush Dec ’68. Anyone with info is appreciated. Can be reached at sferguson2394@gmail.com

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    • I served 65/65 as unit clerk with CPT Soriano. I continued a military and civil service career that spanned 53 years. I am now a retired CW 3 living in a suburb of Chicago. Davcw3ret@gmail.com. I am Dale Vilt.

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  16. Served with MACV Team 33 in Kontum from May 1973 to Feb 1973. Spent some time as Dpty Regt Advisor to 44th RGT at FSB November with LTC Kirby. Was on ‘R&R in Hawaii when ceasefire implemented. For the next 30 years years I never served with a better group of warriors.

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    • I was with MAC Team 33, 44th RCAT (Regimental Combat Assistant Team), 44th Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (ARVN).

      LTC Mcurdy was the Senior Advisor and I was his “Deputy Advisor”. In truth, as a 1LT was just an air strike caller/helicopter recon guy.

      I was assigned o/a July 5 and was with the Regiment until o/a October 20 (?).

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      • I was a battalion senior advisor with the 2d and later the 4th battalion of the 44th regiment a few years earlier(Feb 69 through Feb 70) while regimental HQ was in Song Mau and the battalions were in Phan Tiet, Phan Rang, Phan Ri Cua and Song Mau. My last few weeks the entire regiment was in Cambodia. Second battalion was also the security force for the first 4 year graduating class of the Da Lat military academy and my counterpart and I spent over 18 hours skids up to skids down in a huey flying over the entire event.

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      • So Ray, guess I replaced you since there weren’t any combat arms guys available. By this time there were no advisors at battalion level-only a lieutenant colonel and a captain/lieutenant at the regiment HQs. I know they were scrapping the bottom of the barrel to send the team signal officer (me) out to Firebase November. I left the 44th when they rotated out (Can’t remember which regiment replaced them) but shortly after the switch FB November was overrun. The lieutenant colonel was the only one at FB November that night (LTC Moore?) as his deputy was back in Kontum with us to get a hot meal and shower. Road was cut before the attack and he was unable to get back to the firebase. I was working the radios in the our TOC when we lost contact with LTC Moore. He managed to escape and commandeer an ARVN tank and get back to us about 0200. The NVA left in a day or two and we reoccupied until the base.

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        • Hi Patrick! I remember giving you my CAR15 as you headed for FB November! Mid-October, 1972.

          Can I have it back now??

          LOL & Glad to hear of you!!

          Ray

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          • Hi Ray. I would be happy to give it back to you except…… I went on R&R in Feb and was in Hawaii with my wife when they announced the cease fire. I tried to get back but no-one was allowed to return. So your CAR15, my grease gun, my Thompson sub machine gun and both my 45s were scarfed up by some one. BTW I loved that CAR15. One day I loaded my banana clip with all tracers so I could see where my rounds were going. We were flying round at about 1000 AGL and saw some bad guys on a trail. I emptied my mag (the tracers looked pretty) and when we started taking heavy machine gun fire we left. Unknown to me LTC Bricker was flying nearby and later asked “Who was that dumb ass that fired all tracers? Doesn’t he know the bullet is all tracer material and won’t penetrate a wild jacket after several hundred feet? ” I told him it was me and what did he expect from a signal guy? Good to hear from you. Hope all is well. We’re locked down here in Charleston (wife has several autoimmune diseases). Be glad when this is all over. Take care/pat

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  17. I am the son of Capt Edwin C Hodges who served on Advisory Team 33, II Corp, MACV. He served (Jun’68-May’69). Passed in Nov 2007. Doe anyone on this thread remember meeting or knowing him during this time. Would like to know more about his time there.

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    • I served in the 4/45th Aug 68 to Jan 69 when I moved to regt. I was with SSG Domingo Sambolin and Sp4 John McCourt in the 4/45th. See entries below. We were assigned down to Gia Nghia district for a spell – had several run-ins with NVA while there. Our battalion commander was killed by a command detonated mine along with his two body guards, our interpreter, and my replacement advisor, Lt Cumpf just prior to my leaving the battalion. 4/45th was a great battalion, well led and brave. Don Chapman

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      • I am the oldest son of Col Leo P Boucher Jr,. (LTC while in Ban me Tuit) Dad passed away on 5/22/2019 and is buried at Arlington. He never spoke much about his time in Vietnam until near the end of his life. I would love to hear some stories about that time if possible.

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        • HI, I was Senior Advisor to the 4/45 Bn & also went into Cambodia. That was my first week with your dad’s Regiment! Had been in Pleiku for over 6 months and was allowed to pick the unit I wanted next. The 45th was the best & most successful Vietnamese Infantry Regiment in the II Corps Zone – I know as I was one of the guys tracking everyone. He was a solid leader and some of his best advice was to NOT play pinochle for cash. We had professionals who earned a 2nd living off of folks like me.

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            • Did Col Boucher ever mention the outbreak of amoebic dysentery for the 45th Regt advisors? They had to call in the nearby Flight Surgeon to determine the cause of so many team members getting sick. (including me) Turned out we had an orphan of one of our Vietnamese soldiers who we had hired to clean our boots and wash our dishes/silverware as needed. Seems no one mentioned that he should wash the dishes first in clean water, THEN the boots. Flight Surgeon ‘quarantined’ our dishware and issued paper plates/bowls & plastic ware. I was lucky as I was treated at my battalion’s base on the volcano north of town while everyone else got US treatment which seemed to take much longer than mine. Wasn’t everyone on the Team, but quite a few as everyone in base camp at Ban Me Thout was exposed, just not those out on operations.

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        • Tried to reply earlier but don’t think it went through. Your dad was a great commander. He placed his troops first all the time. I met him in the mess hall when he came up sat down and informed me I now belonged to him. He said I could call him Lima Mike because he was my Lord and Master. He cut me some slack when on my first night on radio watch a fire blazed up in a barrel and being the new guy I was sure we were under attack and fired an M-79 buckshot round. Your dad came running outside in his pajamas, flip flops and .45 All he said was I wasn’t afraid to make a decision. Next day I was sent to a firebase. I have always said that if your dad said he was going to lead us to Hell, I’d look forward to the trip.

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          • JB, thanks for the kind words about my Dad. He never really talked about his time in Vietnam, except to say that he worked with good men! He called them his boys and genuinely appreciated them.

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    • i served with 4/45th Inf from april 68t0 mar 69 the senior advisor was Maj don Chapman rto sp/4 john McCourt
      Domingo Sambolin

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  20. Hello,

    From 1968 to 1969 my father Duane Hunt served as a medic with team 33. Does anyone remember him? I would like to know more about his time spent in Vietnam. He died in 1998 and did not talk much about his tour.

    Any information would be appreciated.

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    • I worked with Team 33 in the village of Di Linh. (part of Task Force South out of Da Lat)
      There was a medic with us for awhile, but I don’t remember his name.
      I do remember that he had a great sense of humor, and, after the army, he wanted to go to a school of mortuary science.
      Hope this helps a little, but probably not.

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      • Thank you for your response. The man you speak of could have been my dad. He had a wicked sense of humor and at some point he may have wanted to go into the mortuary science field, although he ended up being a building contractor. I remember him mentioning places like DaLat, Pham Thiet, etc. He had a translator he worked with and became very good friends with named Ha. He was at BMT as well and while there worked under a guy from Special Forces named Roy Durban in the dispensary.

        Thank you again for your response. I really do appreciate it.

        Rebecca

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      • Rebecca, here’s a long shot.
        I was looking through old pictures and one of them was of the medic I worked with.
        Send me an email address and I’ll send it to you.
        Like I said, it is a long shot that it is him, but ……..

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      • Our medic, Sp4 Samuel Van Scoyoc, was there with me, 1963 and 1964 – also my roomie, great athlete and super guy, from Illinois, I read he returned, finished training and was a Physician in his home state – His dispensary(?) was at the end of the Bungalow

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        • Hi Ron. thanks for continuing your replys..mucho appreciated. Maybe you can enlighten me with your Di Linh post.. After rotating back conus to Ft Lewis, I got TDY’d back to VN on same MOS but to Ton Son Nhut and Lang Bien Mtn outside of Dalat City to establish another Tropo sytem to replace the poor performing TSN – Ghia Nghia – BMT Pleiku system. I was in the Les Ravines Villa bombed out on Dec 31,1966 and had 2 NCOs that drove in a squad of ARVNs to back us up; would like to know is they came for the Di Linh MACV Compound or the ARVN Academy?
          Thanks and have a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!! Aloha, hs

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        • Dang, my super buddy, Sam Van Scoyoc, our medic, passed away 2 yrs ago and now this week, I have been notified that Jerry Gohrick, our classified documents clerk and our daily mail clerk, passed away last week – Not many of my original MAAG Tm #33 – May 1963 – May 1964 still living – I am 79 yrs old and have health issues but I am hanging in there

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          • I was there right after you. I was in BMT from Dec 64 to Dec 65. I also was in the Message Center snd was the classified documents custodian. Captain Soriano was the admin officer

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            • hello
              did you know staff sgt Charles R Polley ?i believe was assigned to Team 33 and Arvn 23rd division 1964-65 ? I believe he died of an illness in may of 1969 at fort Bragg.

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                • I am not sure ? i have a commendation letter signed by Col Donald Kersting senior Armor advisior
                  so I assume he was part of Team 33 23rd Arvn armor advisors ?

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          • MAAG tm#33, was the latter segment of MAAG, and I was stationed at Banmethuot, South Vietnam – arrived there May 20, 1963, as administrative clerk for our team, which was advisors to the ARVN 23rd Infantry Division and Colonel Madden, was senior advisor, Lt Col Riggins was deputy senior advisor – Major Bible was our detachment commander, SgtMajor Edwards was my original first sgt, followed by SgtMajor Cassell,Capt Pasquariello was Engineer Corp liaison(He and I were given the duty of construction of a regulation tennis court to deter our alcohol consumption, it was a beauty and hard-contested matches were the highlight of the late evenings and weekends after Saturday duty was performed – Supply Sgt was Sgt Pettit, radio operator was Sp4 Buard and my roomy, Sam Van Scoyoc, was medical advisor – Training the ARVN troops was continuous but with limited good results, as the ARVN troops were not onboard with the advisor training as their love of their country was poor but we maintained our commitment of training to our ARVN counterparts and I rotated back to the United States and discharge from the US Army on May 25,1964 – Great memories of my team members for the rest of my days

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        • Our team #33, was under the command of Colonel Francis Madden, detachment commanding officer was Major Bible, I was our administrative clerk, Jerome Gohrick was classified documents clerk, Sgt Kenneth Pettit was supply sergeant and our team medic was Sam VanScoyoc, radio operator was PFC Buard – while there at Grand Bungalow, Banmethuot, along with local Vietnamese, we built our Mess Hall, officers quarters and the pride and joy was a bbq pit I designed and with locals we built a Texas size pit, which was used mainly on weekends, when I could bring back steaks on a “milk run” to/from Saigon, and great memories of all who picked out/cooked their steaks, there was a bar for officers in the main building of the Grand Bungalow and our enlisted bar/club was between barracks, with supply on the other end, where Sgt Pettit was in charge – Colonel Madden at a meeting of all, said there was too much drinking and wanted a rec area for all – Along with locals I supervised the building of a first class tennis court which became a favorite of all, whether spectating or playing – Again, let me point out that our Maag Advisory Team was advisors to the local ARVN 23rd Infantry Division and we took our mission serious, along with language interpretors, for clarity of instruction – This was May 1963 to May 1964, when I rotated back to the USA———Sp4 Ronald Joe Carlson

          Reply

  21. I was a Bn advisor to the 45th ARVN Regt, 23rd Div – 1968-1969. I reported to and was welcomed by COL Sage when I arrived at BMT. The day after my arrival I was assigned the 45th Regt. and was alerted of his chopper crash. My team sergeant SSG D. Sambolin and I were deployed to the crash site with five members of the division long range patrol. Our team RTO, John McCort, was not able to deploy with us. COL Sage, Gen An, the general’s wife, the pilot and copilot were killed. Both door gunners were thrown clear when the chopper hit the trees – they survived.
    Our little party was joined by nearby SF NCOs with two Montagnard battalions and chain saws who cleared an LZ for the recovery. The Montagnards would not allow the Vietnamese into their perimeter – they said the Americans could enter – the long range patrol, SSG Sambolin and I stayed outside their perimeter that night. The Army choppers did not return for us (weather) so we walked back to BMY over the next three days.
    Don Chapman

    Reply

    • hello
      Im so glad to hear from You
      i can be contact at 951-285-2505
      Please call me so can talk about our time in VN

      Reply

  22. I was FAC aircraft mechanic at East field from 21Jun68 thru 01Jul68, eleven days. It was a strange place, had an “Apocalypse Now” kind of feel to it. Found a vacant bunk in the newly built hooch. The old one was abandoned and cordoned off, supposedly due to an outbreak of dysentery. The 8 inch gun took some getting used to. It literally stopped you in your tracks mid-stride. Someone took me to Teddy Roosevelt’s Hunting Lodge one afternoon. The MPs used a mirror on a pole to search the underside of our jeep. We had a couple drinks in the club. The place was really impressive. I learned it was destroyed by fire just before I rotated. I remember having to leave the compound and traveling through a deep rutted path to get to the planes parked outside the wire, on the wrong side of the claymores. Had to light smudge pots on the edge of the landing strip, then park at the far end with the jeep’s headlights illuminating the airstrip whenever some camp came under fire. The pilots were a dedicated bunch. I had to move a dud 40mm out of one of the ruts one morning. I didn’t know squat about ordinance. I sat on the hood of the jeep and had a smoke while I figured that one out.
    SF had a fridge in the team hut with cold 33. It was a place to celebrate the last extraction or contemplate the next insertion. I wasn’t there long enough to know any of them well, but I sympathized with them. The missions were often highly risky, perilous, and always thankless. One guy I was friendly with came back with a captured AK and part of his ear shot off. I never saw him again. Then one of the planes went in to Nha Trang for extended maintenance without it’s maintenance log. Oops! I hustled to Nha Trang, but the damage was done. They figured I wouldn’t fit in because of my bad attitude. Well… that’s the reason they sent me there in the first place!!! de oppresso liber

    Reply

    • I was one of the M P’s Assigned to the Grand Bungalow at this time and can not recall the mirror on the pole. How ever, The 4th. Inf. Div. did send a bunch of their men to East Field with their own M P,s about the same time you are referring to. I made several trips out to East Field and we had Fess Parker, the movie star with us on one of them. This was in late April of 1968. The 4th. Inf. had just moved into East Field at this time. Not sure when they left the East Field area, but they were gone when I left East Field on a C123 home bound.in late Aug. 1968. Dirt air strip at the time.

      Reply

      • Hey Jimmy,

        Welcome back. I always remembered the MPs searching the undercarriage of the jeep because it was the first time I had ever seen that. My memories about Ban Me Thout are really vague. I think, and I have to stress that I can’t verify any of this, that the Yards hated the ARVN, a guy they called “Doc” slept in a body bag, a guy came back to find his dog missing and offered a reward for anyone responsible. I also think I remember two GIs with dogtags jammed in their teeth, but I can’t be sure where I saw that, I believe it was at the East Field. I watched a “duster” wipe out a hillside, very impressive. There was an Air Force mechanic that posted some pictures of the planes parked near the wire and of Fess Parker’s visit. I don’t know if they are still on the internet. It’s been almost 50 years and I had a lot of experiences in Viet Nam. I hope that you are healthy.

        Reply

      • Jimmy, I was there in 1966-1967 (5 July ‘66 – June 25th 1967) and we had a few movie stars and others visit us. James Garner came and so did Martha Ray. We also had some baseball players come and as you know it was always a treat when someone from “The World” came and saw us.

        Reply

      • I remember the dirt strip east of Banmethuot had just been finished by the Engineers Corps and first in-bound was my first view of a US Army Caribou in action – Such a hot rod of a bird, then watching loaded C123’s, at one end with pilot/copilot standing on brakes, bringing up engine’s rpm and then taking to the air – we first had H34’s, H21’s, L19’s and Otters, plus the bright shining prop planes of the Paymaster, on paydays – Farther east was Air Vietnam’s Airport with their civilian DC3’s, and having to fly on board with them was quite a trip, including animals of all types, some caged, on leashs or not – nasty flights – But now, they are all memories to me, which I cherish – My tour was May 1963 to May 1964, US Army, MAAG Tm#33

        Reply

        • Thanks for filling in things. I arrived about a year after you left. Used to ride shotgun on the truck to the paved airstrip.

          Dick Hollowell

          Reply

      • Fess Parker stayed in my suite that night he was at the Bungalow. He was a delight with the troops. He would have pics made of him being beaten in arm wrestling. You were probably the MP on duty when my boss Major (X) accidently fired his M16 through the roof while cleaning it. Panic for everyone. His room was above MP front gate position and over the clinic. He walked out of his room and looked around like who did that!! I was assigned a room there but did not get to sleep there much. I had rather be in the field with my ARVN unit than in that beautiful building with bad mess hall food, mosquitos, diesel fumes, gambling, booze, and drugs. I stayed healthy in the field and ate good fresh food with my counterpart.

        Reply

  23. Checking in. Assigned to Tm33 from 01/1971 to 07/1972. Intially assigned to G2 Section, then Security, and finally as RTO in DTOC. Sgt.

    Reply

    • Hello, Reg….I’m sorry I don’t remember you though we overlapped in the G2. I was an E5 OB Sgt along with E5 Darrell “Dusty” Baugess and E5 Mickey Rivers. The G2 was MAJ Joseph Turborg I believe. I was there from 06/70 – 05/71. As an added bonus, we flew frequently as operators the the Airborne Personnel Detector (APD or “Sniffer machine.”) Good duty at a good team!

      Reply

      • Yep, I remember you, Baugess. Also Maj. Turborg. Can’t remember the Cpt. who was a lawyer in civilian life from NJ (I think). Yes, I remember the sniffer missions we took over after you guys deros’d. Gil Hagen and I were replacements, we showed up around Jan 1971. The NCOIC was a hard-nosed E-7 from Poland I think, he was replaced by a MSG Harrison.

        Reply

      • Hey Bruce,
        Send me your email address. I have a photo of you and Major Lovings taken before we went to the Montagnard village.
        John Reddoch, 1st Lt. Infantry, Team 33 XO.

        Reply

        • Interesting to read your comments about MACV Team 33. Long time ago and sadly I don’t remember you as I was with MACV Team 33 from AUG ’71 until AUG ’72 and went with the 23rd ARVN Division when we moved north to Pleiku and then on to Kontum. Maybe we passed each other during the various moves? Glad you’re OK

          Reply

          • I was at Team 33 for a short time October ’71-April ’72. Were you a Captain at 23rd Division HQ working with Lt. Col. Hudachek?

            Reply

            • Hudachek was Team XO when we were in BanMeThout. I worked at that time for LTC McKenna as G3 Air. When we ended up at Kontum, I worked for LTC Bricker and MAJ Burch. And yes, I was a very young Captain.

              Reply

              • John, wasn’t that a picture of you on the front page of either the Army Times or Stars and Stripes spring ’72? (TM 33 Jun 72-Feb 73)

                Reply

                • More than likely… UPI photographer Matt Franjola (sadly now deceased) was there to take pictures of destroyed NVA armor and I was asked to guide him to the 44th Regiment where they had some. Unfortunately the D-10 Sapper Battalion decided to make a push and Matt and I ended up between the lines and were reported MIA by the ARVN in the area. Franjola took what he thought might be his last photograph if the two of us were overrun and that could be what you are referring to? Helmet atop my M-16A1 and a baseball grenade in my left hand to throw at an approaching sapper. Sad to say we saw each other at the same time, he was priming a stick grenade and I in desperation popped the helmet off brought the rifle down and fired at what I hoped was his center of mass. Oops, slight operator error as the round caught him in the head. Story is related in the book “Warriors” by Loren Christensen years later. Eventually Franjola and I crawled back through the water filled ditch which had ruined my radio when we first sought cover there. ARVN laughed their asses off as crawled through the wire all wet and muddy shouting Covan My etc. They told us they had reported us MIA, Presumed Dead hours ago… Anyway, the photo ended up in Pacific Stars and Strips and later in the NY Times. Before he died, John Paul Vann flew up to Kontum with a copy of the S&S issue and said to me with my friends present: “FInch, I see they got the best part of you on the front page!”… Hmm, since Franjola had little room to maneuver when he snapped the photograph and the center of the frame was my, as Forrest Gump might say… buttocks… So much for fame…:-(

                  IIRC you and I did a sensor emplacement patrol with ARVN down near Song Mao when you first arrived?

                  Long time ago…

                  Reply

                  • John, I remember the story as you related it to me when I first arrived. Glad to get the details that I have long since forgotten. I had been in Vietnam less than a week when I got put on a helicopter and sent to Kontum to replace CPT Hall. You left shortly after I showed up. Eventually I ended up with LTC Mcurdy at the 44th at Fire Base November. As a Ft Gordon trained signal officer that was a uniques experience. We were short officers and I think it was LTC Bricker who told me I could either volunteer to go to the 44th (it would look good on my record) or he would just send me! I don’t recall going with you on the sensor mission but I have to admit I was a little overwhelmed for a while. You’re right it was a long time ago but some of the events are still so fresh in my mind. Take care/pat

                    Reply

  24. Does anyone have information on the “pseudo Special Forces camp Buon Ea Yong run by Adv. Team 33 that was east of Ban Me Thout near the road to Nha Trang. Major Donald G. Mullins was the commander in early 1967. Capt. Gerald Austin Brown “Jerry, the Kool Aid Kid” was killed while on patrol on 16 May 1967. I have the book, “No Sad Songs” that is a collection of his letters home to Ft. Worth TX and the letters in reply.

    Reply

  26. I served with ad team 33 as a RTO, with the 4th batallion, 45th regiment, 23rd division from 1/68 to 3/69. I am trying to locate my officer, Major Don Chapman or sergeant SSGT Sambolin. Any info would be greatly appreciated. John McCourt

    Reply

    • hello John

      I m so glad to hear from You
      i can be contact at 951-285-2505
      Please call me so can talk about our time in VN

      Reply

    • hi John We must have gotten in Ban Me Thout about the same time. I was RTO for Maj. Brooks. I WAS THERE most of 68. I think i remember you. Alan Coates

      Reply

        • maj. Brooks,Capt. Bell, latter Capt. Taylor and I were with regiment. I also went out with the recon company and any of the batalions that were short handed. Do you rember Sgt. Driggers or Sgt. Nueman?

          Reply

          • Sgt Driggers was in our 45th regiment team. I worked for Major Wegan (later MG at FORSCOM) then Major Brooks. SFC Alecia was in my 3 Bn team when I left. I may have your pic.

            Reply

            • Hi Larry Sgt Driggers was a really nice guy. Maj. Brooks left BMT a little before me. I got to see Maj. Brooks again at Ft Riley Kansas.I think SFC Alecia gave me alittle OJT when I first got there. If you have my pic I sure hope I didn’t damage your camera too bad.

              Reply

  27. I’m looking for anybody who might have served with SGT Robert J Williamson. Bobby Joe was KIA on the 1st day of Tet, 31 Jan 68 in Gia Dinh Province while leading a SV Ranger Squad. He was my best friend in high school and the only info I found about him is from his profile on the “Wall” site. I know he received the DSC posthumously for his actions that day. All I’ve got is this info: BDQ Adv Tm 33, ADV Tm 100 HQ MACV. TIA.

    Reply

  28. Hello, i just got a security guard armlet/brassard with an macv patch on it. It has “James Edwards US 52690416” written on the back. I was wondering if there was any way to find who this was, rank, where he served etc.

    Thanks

    Reply

  29. Hi everyone,

    My dad was 1LT Diep Dang in 1st and 3rd battalion 45th regimen. Does anyone contact information for Capt. Hillman or LTC Quartson? I apologize if the spelling is incorrect.

    Thank you for your help in advance.

    Sincerely,
    Brian Dang
    DangGS3@gmail.com

    Reply

  30. Was at BMT 69-70 with the Air Force. Lived in a hut near the Bungalow. Worked in Intelligence in a bunker there and also on the little shack for the FAC’s on the air strip. Had some great and bad times there – the Bungalow was a great building.

    Reply

    • Renovating/restoring/improving the Grand Bungalow, a former official hunting lodge for French and Vietnamese and others, was a on going issue from the day I got there, May 20, 1963, under the direction of Colonel Madden and Major Bible…Movie theater created,officers club, new mess hall, new barbque pit, new tennis court and new security improvements, fences, gates, lighting and etc….There was only 20 men in our MAAG Advisory Team #33, from a full bird colonel to a PFC, all working with our Vietnamese Infantry counterparts…………..Great memories

      Reply

      • Ron, Edith; I was detached there 6/64 – 6/65, with the 362nd Signal Company, operating the Tropo Radio repeater between Pleiku and Gia Ngia….long distance telephone circuits between Pleiku and Saigon (you may remember NCOIC SFC Bernard?). the site was out on the highway side of the dirt field.. Ron, thanks for the great living quarters, mess hall and other Bungalow facilities. Was there about a month when CINCPAC gave a heads-up to pack up and go home,,never happen, GI!!! in July the Gulf of Tonkin started all the sh_t, the Montagnards rebelled and knocked off several ARVN/CIDG folks at a SF camp (Bu Prang?) and came into town across and camped out across the Bungalow in the soccer field while the SF big boys negotiated a peace deal with the Saigon mucky-tee-mucks!
        They cut the power off to the Bungalow so Navy sent a huge 100KW diesel unit that barely fit between the mess hall and power transformer hut. I got plenty of stories there, including what Flores? mentioned about the bear…A Lt Col? was jacking with him and he got bitten on the hand! And that monkey Charley, that damned GIs always poked him with a stick to piss him off!
        What a memorable year in Ban Me Thout!!

        getting late, and hope to share stories with you all!

        have a good one,
        so sorry about my vocabulary…Xin Loi!
        Aloha,
        Harold Shiroma
        Richardson TX
        email: honomu@aol.com

        Reply

        • Wow, what a mess, you witnessed, it was all so beautiful, calm, laid back, we worked with ARVN, Buddhists outside town and started the very first Ranger Montagnards, all worked together, then whamo, such a shame – Thanks for info

          Reply

        • Memories!! I was there at BMT from December 1964 to December 1965 and I do remember some of your comments.

          Reply

        • Yes I was there from December 1964 to December 1965 and I was the one that posted the story on DEROS the cub bear that used to roam throughout the bungalow until he got too big and had to be caged. The name was arrived at with a contest to name the cub bear but don’t recall who the lucky winner was.

          Reply

      • Does anybody in the central highlands, remember the large tree lizards, that yelped at night making X rated sounds??? This was 1963-1964 for me

        Reply

        • Yes, we called them “f..k you” lizards
          They were quite a surprise to us on guard duty at 0200.

          Richard Hollowell May 1965-66

          Reply

            • Oct 7, 2019. yup, these f_u geckos were the brown, fat onese about the size of a small cucumber, except brown..its camo color made it difficult to spot up in the rafters, even during the day time! The long tail ones are lighter brown in color…taste like chicken!!

              Reply

    • Hi Larry. Remember you well. Radio Operator Bill Perkins here. The morning the compound burned down I had gotten off work at the DTOC and just climbed into my bunk when the fire started. Would love to hear from you and any other guys from our team. The one I remember most was Sgt Posey. He was quite the character. Be well

      Reply

      • Great hearing from you Bill – I do remember you well. I remember Posey and Owens (he was Intell) I’m in PA now – lot’s of Agent Orange related things going on with me – nothing good. I wish you well my friend – take care.

        Reply

        • Larry and Bill, Air Force guys, any of you remember VNAF Radar Platoon Sgt Chieu? He and his wife had the Bungalow laundry contract from Chi Ba while I was back there in 64-65. He had a light blue civilian jeep, cute wife too! Harold Shiroma

          Reply

      • Hey, my name is Robert Magruder and I was assigned to MACV in Ban Me Thout at the MACV Headquarters, the former hunting lodge of President Theodore Roosevelt and I was there the day the compound burned down. One of our soldiers was cooking in his
        room and some way, some how it got out of control and a fire was started which resulted in the entire compound catching on fire and burning down. I remember the ;DTOC radio container I use to come over and make calls back home from time to time. I was there from February 1969 to February 1970.

        Reply

  31. My dad’s MACV info info lists him as being an advisor to 2nd Bat., 44th Inf, 23rd Inf. Div of ARVN. Would he have been in the MACV facility or HQ in Ban Me Thout or would he have been in some other outpost? Wondering how that might have worked.

    Reply

  32. Trying to see if I’m asking the right crowd about my dad. His first tour was June ’65-May ’66 as 1st Lt. William E. Ferguson. Don’t have much info on where he was, only that he was an advisor to 2nd. Bat., 44th Inf. Regiment, 23 Inf. Div. Any help or direction is appreciated.

    Reply

    • I’m afraid I won’t be of much help. I was senior advisor to 2d Bn 44th Regt in 69 and 70 – several years later. The name sounds familiar, but don’t know why.

      Reply

  33. With Team 33 from August 68 to August 69. Came to RVN as Spec 5, promoted to SSG while there. Worked as a order of battle analyst in the G2 section. Left the army after my tour.

    Reply

    • G2 buddy of mine. Saw your post and had to reply. Still in S.C.? Almost 50 years…unbelievable. Hope life has treated you favorably.
      Ever had any contact with McGee, Hunnemuller, White, Thorne (retired Police Capt. in Chicago)???

      Reply

      • NIce to hear from you. Still in SC. Have talked to Bruno Kalkstein. Had letter from Don Zelesko (Canada); Paul Wight (Virginia). Bruno lives in Las Vegas and has a good bit of information on our unit buddies. Will have to find the letter and update you on the ones that have died. Don’t want to put names down from my memory. Still working and pastoring a small church, but think this is going to be the year I’m finally going to retire.

        Reply

  34. I remember the Strategic Hamlet programs, in Darlac Province, took a while to get all on board, but worked out good, increased our relations with the local populace, especially the Montagnards

    Reply

  35. Hello all,
    I am only a local Vietnamese boy that grew up in the city of BMT, my father is Lt. Colonel Lu Phung, he was in charge of G2 for 23rd ARVN Army division from 1967 to 1974. I used to travel with my father to MACV bungalow. If anybody recognizes the name or can please give me some information I would love to see all the pictures of 23rd HD or anything related to BMT, I can contacted by emailing me to llu@csudh.edu.

    Reply

    • Sgt. Davis signing in; served Jan 1967 to Feb 1968. Radio operator for Col. Silver, reported to Cpt. and DTOC we never thought Bungalow complex would be attacked as Green Beret Team adjacent to compound had intel we were Ok. Then 1st Tet intel advised and forecast big time problems coming in 1968. Started sand bagging roofs of compound, layoff of all house keeping workers, knocked down wall of soccer field across street. It was a major blow out. During 1967 General Westmoreland visited compound, James Garner, numerous USO troupe’s and movies every night. When Tet hit everything changed. Total under estimate made of VC enemy living within our vicinity. We had 5500 Arvn tropes in our command, 110 MACV Military advisors.
      Any other radio operators, or anyone else serving at that time, would be happy to hear from.
      Don Davis
      Arrived in Country rank E2, left as Sgt. E-5, went to Fort Campbell Kentucky discharged Aug 1968

      Reply

      • I was the M P on the Bungalow gate the night That our people ran out of the compound and started knocking down the wall with vehicles that were parked in front of it. I had to stop one guy that was backing a jeep into the wall. I was trying to tell him that if that jeep went through that wall that he was going to be hurt or killed. Before I could make him understand what I was talking about some one said the Col. said to stop knocking down the wall. There were several big holes in the wall by then.

        Reply

      • Hello Don, I am doing some research to put together the puzzle of my father’s travels. I am surprising him with a shadowbox of patches and medals (which were never issued to him) so I want to be sure everything is accurate. He was at BMT from May 67- May 68. He was in the 208th signal, under 52nd aviation attached to the 155th AHC. I believe he was at Camp Coryell from what he describes. His forms state he was a radio tech but from his stories he did a little of everything as I am sure you all did. He keeps referring to the “ice house”, and a bar/restaurant that was half a block from there. Do you guys remember where the ice house was located, or restaurants nearby? I thought it would be nice to find some images of the places he remembers. By the way, my dads name is SP4 Vear Clyde Hall

        Reply

      • A1C Chuck Price signing in and was in Det 2, 14th Aerial Port in 66-67, at the Airfield. I knew a couple of the 5th Special Forces guys next to us, one a Captain, and the other a First Sargent who’s probably still there lol, but have forgotten their names. But their Vietnamese interperter, a little guy everybody called Andy was a mainstay for the year I was there and a good guy. Don, you and I must have been there at the same time because I was eating the day Westmoreland came to visit and he actually walked up behind me at my table and put his hand on my shoulder and asked me if I was gonna eat the piles of food I had on my plate, to which I responded “yes sir”, and went beck to the food!! The Army guy who ran that chow hall was awesome and I wish I could remember his name!! We had football games every Sunday (Officers vs Enlisted) and they got bloody at times! Colonel Silver was a good guy and a decent Commander. I remember the actress Kim Novac coming to visit. I bunked across from a guy named Davis who was rooming with a guy named Leon Harris, both of whom became good friends and were funny as hell. That’s all I’ve got for now, but being in Ban Me Thuot in 1967 was a cake walk, and when friends of mine who were also in country at that time start telling war stories I just clam up and listen while they spill some pretty wild stories.

        Reply

      • Don, Al Paxton here. I was there from July ‘66 to June ‘67. I was with the 43rd Sig Bn. Detachment supporting Team 33. I remember Col. Silver very well. When I got there in July ‘66 Col Adamson was the Senior Advisor and Col Silver was the DSA. James Garner and I sat on the hood of a quarter ton after he talked to us. So fun to hear from someone who was there when I was! I left as a SPC/4 and rotated back to Ft. Knox. Good to hear someone else who remember Col. Silver and when James Garner came through. Were you there when Martha Raye came through? Anyway if you want to talk further my email is afpaxton@comcast.net

        Reply

      • Hello Don. I am trying to find information about my deceased father. Going through his Army items I found a Commendation Medal that lists:
        MOBILE ADVISORY TEAM 33, IV CORPS TACTICAL ZONE for Service SEPT. 1967 to SEPT. 1968. Looking at your timing, perhaps you remember: 1st LIEUTENANT JOSEPH A. GEE ?

        Reply

      • Don, I was there with the 43rd Sig detachment from 5 July 1966 to 25 June 1967. I remember Westmoreland on the compound and James Garner was the real treat! I was a big Maverick fan and couldn’t wait to meet him. After he talked to us in the Bungalow I had time with him after. We sat on a quarter ton and talked about him when he was in the Korean War. He said he had been wounded n the back side and made it clear he wasn’t running away. Great down to earth guy.

        Reply

    • I remember your dad, he reported to DTOC, Col. Davidson was one of the Officers in charge at that time, he in turn reported to Col. Silver, who I believe was promoted to General after serving his tour at BMT. It will be hard to trace very many people who served at that time, we are all 70 plus years old now.

      Reply

    • In 1955 my father was appointed Deputy Province Chief Of Ban Me Thuot, replacing his French counterpart Mr.Noblot (spl?) when the French were leaving South VietNam. We lived in one of the two bungalows. When I returned to Ban Me Thuot in 1971, the bungalows disappeared- it was reported that they burned down. I spent 2+ years with the ARVN 23rd Inf Div and knew its headquarter staff including the G2 chief.
      I was able to find the old pictures of the bungalow which was later used as MAAG then MACV team 33 headquarter
      HG

      Reply

      • Did you happen to remember, or hear your father mention, a MAAG office there in the 1950s with the last name Knecht per chance? That was a fairly small contingent in the 50s working with the French.

        Reply

        • My name is Todd Mortensen and my dad was SSg Arvin Mortensen he served as a medic in 1970 to 71 I was wondering if anyone remembers him

          Reply

  36. I was on the MACV team number 33 in BMT 1967 to 1968. Tet I. There with Mike Benge from “USAID”, who was taken POW during Tet I.Worked in provincial hospital, also with 5th SF group Buon Ho & Lac Thien. Cannot find ANYONE who was there or even in Darlac or with 23rd ARVN or the 155. Lt. Willis was the MSC officer. Travis, Yancy, PJ, Y-Jan, H-Djot and the rest. Will someone please contact me ?

    Reply

    • Radio operator: Running Batman 49er call sign 1967-68 BMT. Barnes in Nha Trang, had hundreds of calls with sub stations on single side band. Our tower was 135 ft tall in BMT, I climbed it once, swayed in the breeze, 23 sub stations, was not easy on the guys in the boonies, easily over run at night without Spookie and Gunship help from us.
      Equipment destroyed, not ever replaced. We were not kept up to make the real fight. Sorry to all who we could not cover due to lack of equipt.

      Reply

      • I am doing a newspaper story on a young man John Douglas Ward Jr. who was on team 33 and was a radion operator to the senoir advisor of 2nd battalion 23 ARVN. If anyone has any information I would appreciate it.

        Reply

        • Michael, I knew Doug well, I talked to him a few hours before he was killed, he was involved in some serious combat, the entire province was over run by Nva. He was a nice guy, spent a lot time with him.

          Reply

        • Knew him well. Best friend in Nam and was going to be my best man in my wedding. I have several pictures from our time there.

          Reply

      • Mike, I am Richard Hollowell Adv Tm 33 from May 1965 to May 1966. I am trying to research the situation with the Wycliffe Missionaries during Tet.
        I remember seeing them at our 4July 1965 celebration in the Grand Bungalow. I am retired with several former Wycliffe people and want to let them know what became of their friends. Now at Penney Retirement Community, Penney Farms, FL

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        • Richard, I was and Army Captain on loan to USAID as an agricultural advisor. Each weekend, I flew to one of the six Special Forces camps in Darlac Province. Hank Blood flew with me most weekends so he could become familiar with the Rada dialects. I have contacts with Hank’s daughter, Cynthia. Google “Henry Blood Vietnam” to find out his death. aldrichtreefarm@mac.com

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          • Lee, thanks for your response and efforts to discover more about these good folks. I am starting to be concerned that the people who know the facts of these events will be dying-off before we can get the story told. For my part, I was just a grunt, at night and the detachment commander’s clerk during the day. I saw quite a few things but didn’t really understand how they fit the overall story.

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        • We recovered the bodies. One missionary’s wife was out of country during TET. When she and her children returned after TET, she was given my suite in the Bungalow. The missionaries were the first people murdered because of their influence with the locals. I have a picture of their houses after the first day of TET ’68

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    • I was an Army Captain on loan to USAID as an agriculture advisor under Mike Benge. 1966-67. He is in Washington DC I think. I briefly talked to him in 1986,Micheal Benge,USAID chief; Henry Blood, Wycliff Bible translator; Betty Ann Olsen, Leprosy nurse, were all captured during Tet 1968. Henry and Betty Ann died enroute to Hanoi, Michael survived. Lee Aldrich aldrichtreefarm@mac.com

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      • Thanks for the news on the Wycliffe folks. I was in the guard detachment which was assigned to Ban Me Thout in May 1965. I remember them attending our 4th of July ceremony that year. I later learned that the PAVN had captured them during Tet 1968. I had no real information on their fate. I live in a community which has several Wycliffe translator members and will pass this news along. Chou

        Reply

        • I have email contact with Cindy Blood and am a friend on Face Book. She is a daughter of Henry Blood and is now a missionary in a library in the Philippines. I found her by going to the alumni of a boarding school there when she was a teenager. Her brother is still alive but I don’t know his whereabouts. Did you google: “Henry Blood Vietnam” for his story as told by Mike Benge, the USAID chief in Ban Me Thout that was also captured and held at Hanoi HIlton for 5 years.

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    • Yes, I remember Lt.Willis. I was one of the doctors on the MILPHAP team working out of the civilian hospital at walking distance from the Grand Bungalow, where I lived from March 67 until Jan 68. Other doctors working with me included Stan Bannock, Larry Climo,

      Reply

    • Hello James. I am trying to find information about my deceased father. Going through his Army items I found a Commendation Medal that lists:
      MOBILE ADVISORY TEAM 33, IV CORPS TACTICAL ZONE for Service SEPT. 1967 to SEPT. 1968. Looking at your timing, perhaps you remember: 1st LIEUTENANT JOSEPH A. GEE ?

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    • I worked under Mike Benge from Dec 1966 thru May 67 as a loaned army Capt to USAID for an agricultural advisor. I visited Mike in Washington DC after his release. Can find his if you desire. VC also captured Henry Blood the Wycliffe Bible translater and Betty Ann Olsen the leprosium nurse. The both died enroute to North VN. Iowa.

      Reply

    • Hi,
      My dad, Larry Franks, got to Ban Me Thout in Sept 1967. He said the first thing he thought was that the compound would be in deep $h1t if they were attacked. Unfortunately, that was right before Tet1968.

      Reply

  37. I was with TM 33 serving with the 53rd regiment, 23rd division from Dec 69 till July 71. Served at various times in all 4 battalions (Duc Trong, Dalat, Ze Lin Gia Nihia, Dak To and was in Bam Me Thuot several times for operational meetings. Greetings to all fellow teal 33 members

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      • Ron, what year was this?. We built the tennis courts in 1965/66. We buffaloed a VN ChumWei into giving us sacks of concrete in exchange for deuce and a half batteries. Later, we went back at night and bribed the Rhade guard to look the other way and stole the batteries back. We used “borrowed” grenade fences for the fencing.

        Reply

          • Colonel Madden, Sr Adv, got upset with our alcohol consumption, told me to go to Special Services, in Saigon, on a milk run, and pickup plans/specs for a tennis court…This was mid summer 1963, we actually had everyone on our Advisory Tm#33, playing tennis…Special Services, Saigon, saw me a lot…I laid out the barbque pit over by the messhall…I had a buddy in the commissary, Saigon, would radio me that my pallet of steaks had arrived, packed in dry ice..Great barbques and nickel beer(3.2 military) Lucky Lager and Olympia brands..I arrived in May 1963, rotated back in May 1964

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      • Was there, team 33, 1970-71. Used both the pit and the courts. I cannot thank you enough for leaving them for us.

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        • Did you know SSGT Arvin Mortensen or Doc or Morty he was tm medic for tm 33 and 25 he was there 70 and 71

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        • Walthall..were you the medical officer ? I was with 1/45 then Div Hqs then back to 45th, 4/70 to 11/71. Been a long time but still fresh in my mind.

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    • I was with 1st BN, 53rd Infantry Reg, 23rd ARVN Div from May 68 til May 69. Did my last 6 weeks at BMT. SSG Turner was my NCO I was 1st Lt.

      Reply

  38. I will keep in contact. You also are the only person I have been in contact in all these years (Over 50 years ago – WOW!!!!!) Email me in my personal email address so we can keep in contact. Later……….

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  39. I remember you well. Until you were assigned I was the only one in S1 except for two Vietnamese secretaries that spoke, understood little English. There was a driver Cya (CUAI) WHO was our driver who spoke relatively good English that was later arrested by the QC for being a VC. I will never forget my time in BMT. We were lucky as I understand that things really hot bad after I left. Please stay in contact. You are the only one that I have been able to contact in all these years.

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  40. You are right. I remember you now. Sgt Vilt right? If I remember correct we went several times to the city market there in Ban Me Thuot. There was also another fellow by last name of Stevens.

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    • I still have a lot of mementos from my time in Vietnam . At that time I had no idea that I would stay in the military for 32 years. A big thrill was to get my commission as a Warrant Officer. And also work for DOD for an additional 20 years.

      Reply

  41. Looking for MAAG Team 33 members who may have been there in 1962 when Sec.of Defense Robert S. McNamara was briefed (on his first fact finding mission to Vietnam) and who may have known Capt. Darrell Herrington? I’d like to hear from you if so.

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    • Wish I could help you, but I arrived at Bungalow Banmethuot on May 20, 1963, Capt Herrington would have been before my tour..Ya know, upon my arrival, Corp of Engineers was drilling water well, related plumbing, officers quarters between Bungalow and new mess hall, were built, new row of enlisted buildings, and the BBQ grill and tennis court were added, all within one year,,,Mars unit was set up at dirt airfield east of town establishing communications…Because, all we had initially was field phones to Pleiku hq and Saigon

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      • Thanks for the comeback Ron. Capt. Herrington was a close family friend, did another tour with MACV in 1967, passed away two years ago. I’ve been working on a book about Vietnam and he passed along some photographs, and some show them involved in doing some Engineering work in a river, lots of interactions with Montagnards. I can make out a Captain Beauchamp, and name tapes that look like Lt. Drinkwater, Lt. Tallant, Lt. Eidson, there’s a black Sgt whose name tape I can’t make out. The Grand Bungalow looks like it has some very fresh brown paint on it, with an archway sign in front of it that reads “MAAG-Vietnam US advisory Detachment 23rd Infantry Division.” Another sign on a hut identifies “Advisory Team 33 1st Bn 44 Inf Regiment” with the MAAG Insignia. If anyone is willing to answer a few questions from those early years please contact me. vchimes@comcast.net

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  42. I am thinking the elderly lady referred to as Sheba is the Lady that lived in the Bungalow and did sewing for us. She had her own room and I remember the sewing machine she had in it. She sewed some patches on for me. While serving as a Military Policeman on the Bungalow gate in 1968 I had several occasions to talk with her when she would pass through after returning from her trips to town. She was well respected by every one, and a very nice lady. Also, Do any one remember a First Sargent in the compound by the name of Witherspoon? (1968)

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    • Yes, Sheba was hired as supervisor of civilian personnel..We established a co-op mess association, wherein all the guys paid dues, we built the mess hall, barbque pit and hired locals to work in mess hall, houseboys and also hired Ms Gloria, local Vietnamese/Cambodian young lady who worked for Detachment Commander, Major Bible, who was in charge of all these activities..Tennis court construction was thru Special Services, Saigon, thru our Senior Advisor, Colonel Madden, and it came down to Captain Dominic Pasquariello, Engr Corps, for actual hands-on with local Vietnamese workers….My first Sergeants were Sgt Major Edwards, first, then Sgt Major Cassell, both made E9, while I was there – May 1963 thru May 1964

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  43. I don’t know exactly what the buildings were, but my Father took several photos of structures under construction. Seems they were intent on improving the camp and spent a good deal of time at it.

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  45. Looking for anyone who knew CPT Joe Weatherall who was an advisor to the 23rd Division in 1968 and 69.

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  46. I was arty liaison officer to 47th Reg in mid 71 at Phu Nhon. Was replaced and sent back to my battery next door (C/7/15FA-heavy) when we became short of LTs. Wa there for the rocket attack in June. Is this the right team for the 47th at that time? I only remember “Fast Eddei” and “Capt Flap” for names, which isn’t helpful!

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      • Maybe I’m confused. I was also with the 45th Rgt in Apr 71 at Dak To. Perhaps I’m reversing regiments? Rgt Cmdr was Col Minh, XO, LTC Trung and S-2 was Maj Cau. Don’t remember the names from Phu Nhon.

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    • Tom I served with Fast Eddie and Flap with the 48th Regiment out of Ban Me Thout and was at Phu Nhon. I was there when rockets came in and one hit a low boy or some type of truck just around chow time.

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  48. 5/22 was out at the Ban Me Thuot airport. Had two 8 inchers and 2 175s.
    Had a couple of TIAs few years and sorry but the memory is hazy about some things.
    Dont remember your dad

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  49. My Pops was with the 5/22 on a 175 crew. His name was Gerald Humble. May have went by Jerry. Hoping to gain as much info as possible.

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  50. I was there from april 70 to april 72. Worked in senior advisors office and admin office. Worked with Travis, Charlie Norman, Lt. Link and others. Made a lot of trips to airport picking up new arrivals and taking people leaving country.

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    • Hi George,

      We are still remember you. How are you? I am retired from Defense Finance & Accounting service two years ago and Co Chi retired from Homeland Security about three years ago. It is very nice being retired. How about you? What are you doing?

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      • Hi Mike. Been retired for a few years on disability. I wonder what happened to a lot of the Vietnamese nationals that worked for us when the country fell. I felt so sorry for them.

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        • George, I agree with you about the Vietnamese we worked with. I’ve spent the last 46 years looking at every video and news report showing Vietnamese faces looking for a familiar face. I’ve also spoken in Vietnamese to those I have run into and to my Vietnamese college students only to find out that I still speak more and better Vietnamese than these second and third generation Vietnamese Americans. Never have been able to find anyone who knows anyone I do. As a battalion senior advisor with the 44th regiment, I spent most of my tour out in the woods with about 500 Vietnamese soldiers. We put everything on the line for each other every day, and now I don’t know what happened to any of them or what I could do to help any of them that are still alive.

          I can relate to disability retirement. I’m headed back to the VA Hospital tomorrow afternoon to get scheduled for surgery to replace both knees and fix (wish they could replace) my lower back. Over the years, I’ve progressed (more likely regressed) from 10 to 30 to 40 and finally 100% service connected disability. The money is nice, but I’d give it all back with interest if they could give me back a functional body.
          Mike Dacus

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      • Mike – I am trying to get some information for the former XO of the ARVN 8th Cavalry, concerning an advisor colonel killed in BMT at the beginning of the Tet 68 attack. Co Chi may be able to help. If you are able to contact her, please ask her to contact me at amberg2c@cox.net. Nelson Voke, Team 4 (17th Cav), 1970-71.
        Would also like to hear from anyone else who knows something about this.

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    • I worked in Senior Advisor, Colonel Francis J Madden, office at Bungalow Banmethuot from May 20, 1963 until rotation May 20, 1964…Advisors to local based Vietnamese 23rd Infantry Division….Built the mess hall, texas size barbque pit and our beautiful tennis court, plus lotsa improvements to the bungalow – good duty

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    • George I was in BMT from April 70 to Nov 71, with the 45th Regiment initially then at Div Hqs and then back to 45th. Went to BMT in 2007. Population then was over 300,000. Hard to believe’

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  52. I was the 05B20 at Song Cau from July ’67 t August ’68. I remember Colonel BA who was the CO of the 23rd Division at the time. I believe that they were quartered in Tuy Hoa then. Later I know that they were moved all around the Country.

    I reall one specific incident in which some squads of the 23rd Division were flown into the LZ at Song Cau along with Colonel Ba. I had abount a week left on my tour and had managed to stay out of trouble until then. An NVA Squad had had inhabited a Hamlet out on the very tip of the Peninsula of Xuan Dai Bay.

    We staged a night helicopter assault (RFs, and PFs from Song Cau plus the 23rd Arvin guys). Unfortunately by the time we got out there they had already shot the Hamlet Chief and his wife (they had disemboweled her).

    I vividly remember jumping out of the Huey AFTER about 10-15 of the Vietnamese had done so! Naturally the chopper had gained altitude so when I finally jumped out I fell about 15 feet though the air. Luckily I landed in a big bush which helped to break my fall.

    The NVA Squad was never caught – they had apparently swam back to the mainland and thus escaped. Most of the guys who participated in the action got “paper” certificates of commendation. Of course it was written entirely in Vietnamese and they had misspelled my name on it, as well. These were presented to us at a farewell luncheon for the Major (Frank Underwood) and I by Di-We Troung the District Chief of Song Cau at the time.

    The next day Major Underwood took at C-130 to Saigon enroute to the States. He got a flight back almost immediaty (due to his rank, I guess). I had to wait about a WEEK to get a plane. I really didn’t mind as I just got a motel room on Tu Do Street and played “tourist” in Saigon, visiting the big PX there, the Public Library, Le Circle Sportif, and a bunch of very good restuarants on Tu Do Street and elsewhere.

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  53. Virgil – apparently we did overlap during that time but I really only knew the folks around the G2 shop as well as the ARVN’s we worked with. Obviously as an E5 I did not make the daily Div briefings but I have good memories about BMT and our duties as advisors. Was saddened when BMT became the first major city to fall to the bad guys at the end. I retired in ’87 as an E8 (P) and still live in the Ft. Huachuca, AZ area. Army Strong!

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  54. Bob, our time may have overlapped since i was with Tm 33 from Aug 70 to Jul 71. I was the Senior Adviser to the Division Logistics Battalion. Maj Sonsini (?) was the Senior G4 Adviser. i remember quite well the morning briefings at Division Hq.. The SF compound, being next door, was often a good change of pace. We lived in those one room BOQs on the perimeter behind the wire. You may remember that the Division SGM was ‘Yard.

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  55. I was a Team 33 E5 G2 advisor from Jun 70-May 71. A MAJ Turborg (sp?) was the G2 advisor, and I worked with E5 Darrel (Dusty) Baugess and Mickey (?). As noted, the Bungalow was gone and we lived in metal notches that were pretty comfy. I remember the ‘Yard village we passed on the way to Div HQ and the B23 compound where we could get fresh-made pizzas from the SF guys. Would love to hear from anyone that was there around the same time.

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    • I have heard about The Bungalow being gone but never heard how or when. I was Team 33 in 68 and 69. Col Henry Barber was CO then

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      • It burned down in 70′ a sgt. was heating some coffee in his room and knocked over the sterno and the place went up quick & hot. I was there when it happened.

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        • Hi,,,

          The Bungalow burned down December, 1969.

          I remember because Dick Works and I were forming Task Force 21 at Camp Swampy.
          My job was to fend off Colonels who wanted us to do jobs other than our mission.

          I was having lunch with the MACV Commander when the fire started.
          The rest is not for publication.

          Jim Hampshire’s platoon did the cleanup and built the steel huts that replaced the quarters.
          Jim was one of the Corp. of Engineer Platoon Leaders, ever!
          He should have had my job, if it had been just engineering, not fending…

          The destruction of The Bungalow was very sad and could have been avoided.

          Dave
          David McConville
          Deputy Commander Task Force 21, ’69 & ’70.

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          • I was in my hooch which was about 20 ft. away from the hooch that the E-5 knocked over the sterno can in …we heard some one hollering and when we looked out from our rooms the smoke was pouring out of his room; myself and a couple of the other guys from the security platoon tried to put it out but there was no way as I stated in my other post it burned and spread super fast & within minutes it jumped over to the main bungalow and the rest is history.

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          • I’m so sorry to hear how that fire started and how it destroyed the Bungalow. Have lots of fond memories in that place. One of the funniest was when the MPs decided they were going to convert a conex into a small holding cell. Guess they never thought about how hot it would get in there or what would happen if a prisoner was claustrophobic Man, one night we thought we were getting mortared again because of all this noise in the middle of the compound. It was a drunk 11b from 4th division who decided staying in BMT was much better than marching out of town with his unit I dont think anybody got any sleep that night

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            • I was a M P at the Bungalow from Mar. 68 to Sept. 68. That conex was placed near the supply room door and was not used to often. A mortor hit near it before I arrived at Banmethout and filled my room with holes. Also prior to my arrival a mortor struck the roof of the Bungalow and killed a captian in his room. I think his name was Davis. The Supply Sgt. was Sgt. Grice and his assistant was a guy named Dupre Lot of memories of the Bungalow and Banmethout. I spent a lot of time on the front gate . I remember opening it to let Gen. Westmoreland in an out of the compound. Fess Parker, Col Sage and Westmoreland all came riding in in that Ol Black 64 ford sedan with U S Navy stenciled on the side of it at different times. and no telling who else
              .

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              • The man killed was Douglas D. Crowe, CPT MI. He was the S2 advisor with the Darlac Province advisory team. His room was at the southwest corner of the south wing of the Bungalow. My room was at the northeast corner of the south wing. I vividly recall the explosion and later hearing of Doug’s death. I don’t recall if I’d made it out of my room when the mortar hit. Hopefully I’d made it to the 30 cal. machine gun nest outside my room. It was sandbag protected. I fondly think of Doug and recall him as being a very disorganized “organization” man. At times he was a “hardass” about efficiency. A few weeks before the Tet offensive I moved from reporting to Doug at the provincial team to the 23rd Division G2 shop where I opened the first G2 Order of Battle Target Center.

                Charles Casner
                1LT MI

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          • I was stationed at the Grand Bungalow when it burned, December 17 1969. I was working with the Rhade Montegards at this time, training some of them in the use of PRC 25 radios. Special Forces were using them at this time for scouts. I was with the Ban Me Thuot Signal Detachment at the time of the fire…, but was under the command of MACV during my second tour in 1970. SGT Franklin Hughes, Oklahoma

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        • I was there as well the morning it burned down. Was an Air Force ground radio operator who worked night before and just hit the sack when I heard the commotion. Was a very windy day and fire spread within minutes.

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        • Hi Mike
          I was there as well that day. Was a ground radio operator with the Air Force FAC unit. I had worked the night before and was in my bunk when I heard the commotion. What I recall is fire trucks pulling up but weren’t able to get any water on the blaze. It was a windy day and it spread in a matter of minutes. I also heard it started from someone using a stereo. I was in Ban Me Thout from April of 69 to April of 70. Would love to hear from or if anyone has any info regarding the Air Force guys who were there at that time

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          • Bill … it started with the sterno can, not a stereo as I said I was there almost immediately and seen the guy who started it & was trying to put it out which is how he was burned.

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            • I know it was a sterno Mike. I can thank spellcheck for turning it into a stereo. Lol.
              So long ago but still a vivid memory!

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      • Also the sgt. was burned pretty badly on his hands & arms when he was trying to put out the fire. I never seen him again after they took him to the hospital (he never came back to the compound) I was re-assigned to Song Mao.I had photos of the fire while it was going on; but a few years ago all my VN photos where lost due to a broken water line. The guy had put gasoline into a used sterno can to heat some coffee and knocked it over and the rest is history …. that creosote soaked teak burned fast & hot.

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      • Hell-o Col Barber, as I remember you replaced Col. Silver when he rotated out? You were either coming in or had just arrived as I was on my way out in Feb. 68.
        My question is, were the Bungalows gone when you got there? My parents saw them burning from a bombing raid, but I never understood what really happened. My radio room was under Col. Silvers room.
        I really enjoyed the people of BMT, such an unfortunate war.
        Thanks for any response,
        Sgt. Davis

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      • Slight correction….I was nurse advisor to the Montagnard nursing school at the time the Bungalow burned. I was not in BMT when it happened as I was ordered to Nha Trang “for safety” during the Christmas holiday. Bu Prang had been attacked (overrun?) and the rumor was that the newest NVA Division (forget which one but I heard it was the “refurbished” troops lost in the A Shau Valley) was set to take BMT. The PSA (Col Gannon) couldn’t risk losing a female nurse.
        Anyway….it was a medic from our Milphap team (19) heating up his lunch with C4 that caused the fire. One of the more talented team 25 members wrote a catchy parody to “Thunder Road” describing the incident. The PA and E (Procrastination, excuses, and alibis) came to put the fire out and but no water!!!….I still have a copy of the song…I have pictures of our guys cleaning up the AO which we immediately dubbed “the ashpile.”

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        • Hey Mary, my name is Robert C. Magruder and I was under the command of Colonel Gannon, who was the Providence Senior Advisor at that time. I remember the threat of attack from the NVA Division and we were on full alert and prepared for an all out attack on our compound. I think spooky saved us on more than one occasion. Good to hear that someone other than myself remembers Colonel Gannon.

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      • Sorry Todd, I do not. I do remember one of our medics as he as the baaad guy that had to administer our GG (gamma globulin) shots in the butt which were very uncomfortable! Unfortunately I do not remember his name.

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        • when I was there in 68 we had a young doctor, he was a captain. No medic that I remember
          strange duck
          one day after guard duty all of us sleeping in the guard shack between rotations got the crabs. Some genius must have been rolling around on those mattresses. That Dr shaved every single hair off his entire body! That is not comfortable in a Ban Me Thuot summer!

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        • Todd you gave me a GG shot…, damn that was the worst injection I’ve ever received. The reason everyone had to get the shot was because one of our generator operators came down with infectious hepatitus. We piled all his stuff out front of the bungalow and burned it. They flew him out to Nha Trang and we never heard from him again. I was an RTO and trained the Montagnard tribesman on the use of signal gear. I was in BMT from Jan 69 to May 70. Sgt Franklin Hughes, BMT Signal Detachment…

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          • GG shots?? gwaad, hurt sooo bad. administered based on body weight and I was a skinny kid in 1964. got a reaction and sick for for a week…butt so sore I could barely sit on the camode!!

            Harold Shiroma 36duece tropo.

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          • Hey Frank, I know our paths have crossed I remember that incident very well when one of your generator operators came down with an infectious hepatitis and you guys had to pile up all his belongings and burn it. I was in Ban Me Thout MACV Compound Team 33, from January 69 to February 70. My commanding Officer was Col. Gannon.

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  56. I was a Radio Op. at BMT from January to March in 65 until I was sent to Tuy Hoa (Team 28). About all I remember was the red dirt and the heat, got to Tuy Hoa and it was beach and rice paddys.

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  57. May 1963 to May 1964 personnel: Sr Advisor was Col Francis J Madden, Detachment Commander was Major Bible, Sgt Majors were Edwards and Cassell(2)- Supply Sgt was Kenneth Pettit – mail clerk was Jehrome Gohrick, radio operators were George Khria and Elmer Buard

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  58. Early 1964, SP5 from Philadelphia, turned in a 1049 to transfer out of adv tm 33 and Vietnam, transfer turned down, he goes to his room, shoots himself thru chest, Supply Sgt Pettit and I found him,small black power entry wound in front of chest, little red spot on his back, I ran to Sgt Major Cassell and Detachment Commander Major Bible, was told to load him on chopper, go to 8th field hospital, stay w/him and if he lives, bring his butt back..He was lucky, lived and I took him back to BMT, he went on hunger strike, got air lifted out several months later

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  59. I worked for MACV Adv Tm 33 from July 1964 to April 1972. I am looking or any staff and friends I worked with during this time.

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    • I was the Team Leader to the Regt from the ARVN Inf 23rd Div in Ban Me Thuot from Summer of 68 until Feb of 69 when I was MEDIVACED out to 239th Hospital in Japan…..later Retired on 70% in ’70. Lived in Bungalow. Boss was Col. Skelton (sp). My Xo better known (Major John Taylor). We kept Hwy 14 open mostly and provided protection for BMT.
      lewcox1932@hotmail.com

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      • LTC Cox,
        Just few lines to say hello and hope you are in the best of health. While I was with MACV Tm 33, I worked at the Administrative Office. I went to the US in April 1972 and the compound closed in October 1972. I still remember Colonel Skelton

        I never had a chance to go back to see my homeland.

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    • Co Chi, did you work in the orderly room at the bungalo? When I arrived there in May of 69′ I was temporarily assigned to the orderly room (I had absolutely no office skills as my mos was 11-c) I was 18yrs old & looked like I was 16 … I am sure I remember you trying to teach me how to type. I believe the Captain was named Rolff. If that was you and you remember me I have some questions about a Vietnamese girl who worked in the chow hall that maybe you can help me with … my email is ( 373mike@gmail.com ) I am happy to hear that you made it out and everything is well with you and your husband..

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      • Mike

        The girl you are talking about worked in the orderly room at the bungalow her name is Kim Ly. I worked at the Administrative Office. In 1972 I married and went to the United States. The MACV Team 33 closed in October 1972. All Vietnamese national workers got severance pay.

        I never had a change to go back to see my homeland, because I was busy working and raising my children. When I came to the US I worked for Defense finance & Accounting Service and Homeland Security. My husband got out of the service after 13 years and worked as a civilian. We both now retired.

        Please tell me the name of Vietnamese girl who worked in the chow hall and
        send to me her picture if you have so I can try to remember who she is. Thank you

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        • HI Mike,
          I was at MACV Team 33 for about 6 months from November ’71-April ’72. I remember when you got married to Co Chi and rotated to the states. Once you and I were driving a Jeep from East Field and got shot at and you “floored” it to get out of there. I have a picture of you as the “SG” at the front gate of the Team 33 Compound. Give me your email address and I will send it to you. My email address is John@JohnReddoch.com, I also have pictures of Kim Ly, Major Lovings (the hero of the Battle of Kontum), and Major Gudat, and many other pictures if any one wants copies.
          John Reddoch, 1st Lt, Infantry MACV Team 33.

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                  • The format is an issue. There were two options: the first was to post all comments chronologically based on the date posted. The second was to group comments based on when a specific subject or “conversation” was initially started. For example if someone made a comment in 2018, all subsequent responses to that comment would be grouped with that comment. The problem with the first option was that if someone made a post today about a comment made in 2018, no one would know what it was related to. So option two is used. Also when the site was created, it was not foreseen that today we’d be close to 20,000 comments.

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      • Sheba was in charge of all locals working at the Bungalow Banmethuot, while I was there from May 63 to May 64 – There was a little cambodian girl, named Gloria, who also worked there

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        • Mr. Carlson
          Sheba was a seamstress at the Bungalow Compound until Dec 1969 when the compound caught fire and she quit. I never heard about Gloria.

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    • Co Chi, it has been 40+ years; yes Kim Lee was her (the girl in the orderly room) name I remember now. I will send a picture of the girl who worked in the chow hall to you with her name. I put my email address in my other post & if you would email me I will get them to you as I would rather not post them on here. Do you know if Kim Lee got out? I work for DoD as a civilian in Florida …. will retire one day as I have the age & years so I can go when I feel like it ☺

      Reply

    • I was at BMT from December 1964 to December 1965. I worked in the admin office and was the Mail Clerk and Custodian of Classified Documents. I don’t know if you are the person I am thinking of. The CO was Captain Soriano and we were in an upstairs bungalow by the then volley ball court.

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      • I still remember you and Captain Soriano. He left BMT in 1966. He was very nice and helped me a lot. I left BMT in April 1972 for the US, and MACV Team 33 closed in October 1972. I bet you still remember Co Ba? She stayed and worked with Team 33 until it closed in October 1972. She was married to a Vietnamese man. She wrote to me only one time and I never heard anything from her after that. I don’t know if she left Vietnam or not.

        How about you? What you are doing now? Are you retired yet? We retired about three years ago. It was good to hear from you.

        Co Chi

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        • Looking for any one that knew Cpt Jack Reeves He was in Viet-Nam (MACV) 1966-1967 and 1970-1971. He turn 80 this year.
          and I doing a this is your life book. He has a house fire that burn all his paper. I am his 2nd wife so I know very little. If you can help.
          Thanks.

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      • I too was at Team 33 Nov 64 to Nov 65 as team clerk. Was promoted to E6 while there. Captain Soriano was not Commander of Team 33 but was the S1. Commander at that was LTC Laurence Browne. I was also personal secretary for him as I was the only clerk typist in the unit. I continued my service over a period of years and retired as W3 with 32 years active duty and also worked for the Department of The Army for an additional 20 years.

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        • Phil Crouch I was in security platoon with sgt Preston,Casey, Dunnigan,Deshazo,Davis. I played tennis with Col. brown a couple times,because I could return his serve sometimes.I rember captain Purdy,major Parsons.I rember DEROS would drink beer out of a can. Do you rember the one command revilie we had when the girl was screaming for sgt Alford to pay his putang and rice bill.? funiest thing ever. I rember Matha Raye coming and Jonny Unitas and Frank Gifford and the brothers 4

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          • Hey, Phil Crouch, was my Texas size barbque pit still there by the mess hall….I used to go down on milk run and bring back steaks in dry icepack pallet for the team members, along with Nickel beer on Saturdays – Then we all went down to the tennis court, which I also supervised its building – Just wondering if they were still there, when you were there???

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      • I was your replacement, as mail clerk. I arrived in May 65 with the infantry guards. Unfortunately the detachment commander discovered I had been a company clerk. That gave me two jobs, detachment clerk and guard at night. Then MSG Jetton gave me the mail clerk job when you left country. Remember the volley ball games and have several pictures of them. We had an AF Pilot who was about 6’5″ who was a spider. How he got into his “bird dog” I wonder? Thanks for your posting.

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    • I was in BMT from December 1964 – December 1965. I remember someone brought in a bear (cub) and he used to roam all over the compound until he got bigger and had to be caged. The cage was by the enlisted club if I remember correctly. A contest was held to name the bear and the winning name was “DEROS” – Date Eligible to Return from Overseas. Very appropriate name because all of us looked forward to that magic date.

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      • The poor bear got to be an alcoholic. The guys would feed him booze and beer and he would snarf it down. It was so funny to see it staggering around the compound. He was caged after he shit in the SgtMajors bunk. When he died, the medic Duffy and the Medic captain did an autopsy and declared he died of an enlarged liver. Remember the monkey Charlie??

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      • DEROS used to wander the compound at night. The Officer Club would leave a drink in a dish for him. More than once, while on guard I found him sleeping it off. He used to hunker down during the day and we wondered where he was until we had an alert. Col Brown had command bunker, in a CONX container we dug in under a Bunglow Building. To make this short DEROS had been sleeping on the Sr Adv’s map table. That was the end of him.

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        • Sheba’s family brought Colonel Madden a bear cub, this was approx June 1963…Col Madden would play with him outside his room in the Grand Bungalow, west of the orderly room…He got big and bigger and then he was taken back to the country…One time, the local Montagnards brought Col Madden, a beautiful bengal tiger, sadly dead, in the back of a oxen cart….Sgt Chao talked to them and they said it was for a rug in his room…..Col Madden got fuming mad and in so many words told them do not under any circumstances kill for trophies, period….

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          • I have seen a photograh of perhaps that very Tiger taken by my friend (the late) Capt Darrell Herrington who was there in 1962 and 1963. But it was in the back of a Truck with two ARVN soldiers (one is in Tiger stripes, may be Montagnards). In the picture a USAF Captain knelt down posing with it. Can anyone else provide any more information about the tiger or did you serve with Herrington? Would like to hear from you. I’ll see if the family still has it.

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            • I was there from Dec 64 to Dec 65
              I remember that cub bear. It would roam all over the compound. When it got a little too big it was put in a cage. There was a contest to name the cub bear and the winning name was
              “DEROS”.

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    • I left Bungalow Banmethuot on May 20, 1964….Sheba, local Vietnamese lady, was boss of all our compound local work staff

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    • I was part of the guard detachment which arrived in May 1965. The Compound commander discovered that I was also a Co Clerk and I also became the mail clerk and his clerk. I seemed to remember you Co. I left in May 66.

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      • 1965-66 bamuiba 33 Vietnamese beer Actually, i’m practicing my vietnanese right now. Troi oi I live in Augusta Ga Casey and i were squad leaders for the security platoon you were right we left to go to Gi niha

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        • I have some pictures of you two at our “half-way” party mixing drinks and smoking Col Browne’s cigars. Everyone looks serious.

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    • Was advisor to 1/45 from Apr 70-sep 70 then on Div G-3 staff and then back to 1/45 from Mar 71*Nov 71. Remember you well.

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      • with the 362nd Tropo detachment (hq Nha Trang) 6/64 thru 6/65…hootched in grand bunglow, repeater site(with 30ft inflatable parabolic antennas to Ghia Nghia and Pleiku) along side highway out to east field and shared with 178th signal HF detachment, just past air force/VNAF radar site. Interested to see BMT photos of post 1975.
        Harold Shiroma…email: honomu@aol.com

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  60. Can’t put a face with the name. Did you work with the regimental team, recon company, or with one of the four battalion teams?

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  61. Arrived Banmethuot, May 20, 1963, Colonel Francis Madden, Sr Adv, I was company clerk for our Advisory Team #33, helped build the mess hall, Texas style barbque pitt and best build was tennis court….US Army, Sp4, left May 20, 1964

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    • Did you know Wilfrid Bourgouis? He was in Ban Me Thuot from 62-64. He was undercover as an American business man. Don’t know if he used his real name. Most people called him Bill or Will. He died in there on Aug. 17th, 1964. I would really appreciate any information about my father. Thank-you!

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    • We were advisors to the Vietnamese 23rd Infantry Div, headquartered in Banmehuot..Our Detachment Commander was Major Bible, his clerk and our mail clerk was Jehrome Gohrick, sp4, from north dakota, my roommie was sp4 samuel van scoyoc, cool dude, also our medical representative, sharp guy, sgt Kenneth Pettit was supply sergeant, we had officers club in main hall of the bungalow, behind it was our theater where we had movies on thursday nites….sgt majors I worked for: Edwards and Cassell, both great guys….radio operators were george khria and elmer buard…Colonel Madden was one of the first sr advisors to get a new Huey chopper, assigned to him…

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  62. I served as an advisor for 1st Battalion, 45th Regiment 1970-71, including Cambodia journey. Went back to BMT in 2007. It is now a city of over 300,000. Guess most of city destroyed in 1975 attack. I only recognized the traffic circle downtown.

    ..

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  63. the funniest helo story i was personally involved in was one night during monsoon season we were called upon to assist with perimeter guard duty on the helo compound.
    We left the Bungalow and ferried down the road in jeeps to cover for the crew.
    I was Sgt then so was assigned sergeant of the guard.
    Sloshing through the incessant rain I was soaked to the bone.
    About then I saw the side door of a Huey partially open.
    Being an apparent genius…tongue in cheeek…I slid the door open a bit more and hopped up and in backwards.
    Ahhh, out of the rain for a few minutes.
    Almost simultaneously I heard “grrrrrr”…and a voice said “Sgt, that’s my dog and we came in here to escape the rain too.”
    Great, I thought.
    Then he laid the real bombshell on me….”be careful, I dont have him on leash”
    My first thought was how ironic it would be to be killed by an American dog while being a darn dumbie.

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  64. I remember driving Col. Sage to the 155th. at Camp Coryell a couple of times when he was leaving on a flight and his driver was not available. His assigned vehicle was a black 64 ford sedan with U S Navy stenciled on it. The power steering did not work on it and it was very hard to steer. Also, I remember seeing Gen. Westmoreland and Fess Parker riding out of the Bungalow compound in this same car. Col Rex R Sage was one of the best officers the Army had. He was well respected by everyone at the bungalow. I had several conversations with him in the front gate shack at the Bungalow at night when he said he wasn’t ready to call it a day. We had a lot of great soldiers in Ban Me Thuot and Those helicopters and crews aboard them did a good job of protecting us all. Thank you all for your service to our country. You were the best.

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    • I remember that ugly old Ford well, Jimmy. Col. Skelton preferred a jeep for his rides to the VIP pad, even when he had some serious rank in tow. Lt. Gen. Peers was a frequent visitor during my time, and he was another who put toughness over spit&polish in his priorities. Col. Sage and Gen. An were both very find officers who had not forgotten that they were soldiers. During the unpleasantries at Duc Lap, we spent a lot of hours on C&C there. On several occasions they had us pick up some wounded when we were headed back to refuel. This was despite the fact that we got shot up pretty bad the first time we attempted it.

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  65. I served with the 155th AHC from May ’68-May ’69, and commanded the aircraft assigned to Col Skelton for several months. I also served as copilot on numerous missions with Col. Sage and Gen. An. I was assigned a different mission on the day of their tragic crash, but was among the first on the scene. I remember both of those gentlemen fondly and admire their courage to this day. I am very curious as to whatever became of Col. Skelton and Col. Canh, and would appreciate any info. We have a group on Facebook entitled 155th Assault Helicopter Company and any of you who would like to join us there would be more than welcome.

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  66. The only MP I remember was a guy named Ken from NYC
    I was in a room directly across from the Conex that was used for a jail.
    And I rode machine gun in the Jeep several times for the MPs.
    Guess I was an adrenaline junkie
    I was there April ’68 but don’t remember Fess Parker being there. Sorry I missed him as I was a big fan.

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  67. This website is a great way to link things up, but I wish you could upload photos to it. Ive got camp photos, bungalow pics and whatnot, but no way to share,,,,,,

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    • was there in 69 to feb 70 do you have any scanned that could be emailed of take a couple of pictures of them would be great and welcome home!

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      • let me see if I can scan them for you. Theyre pretty old. send me an email address so i CAN UPLOAD THEM TO YOU IF IT WORKS Mark

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  69. I was only at the division advisory team about three or four times during my tour – mostly as a stop between Song Mau and Plei Ku or en-route to somewhere else. I did not go through as I processed out to go home because someone in the division team was cooking in his room and the lodge caught fire and burned to the ground a couple of months before we invaded Cambodia.

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  70. I was in Team 33 in both ’68 and ’69
    We were quartered in the Bungalow and were adjacent to 5th SF teams B23 and B50. Martha Raye was often with them and I think I remember her being shot in the ankle during Tet or soon after but my memory is like a sieve nowadays.
    We supported 5th of the 22nd artillery who employed two eight inchers and two 175mm.
    There was a small MP unit also in the bungalow. I can remember faces but names not so much (two minor strokes in ’02)
    I do remember Henry Barber as Lt Col or Col back then as we were often refered to as Barbers Bandits.
    I don’t ever remember being as wet as when I was Sgt of the guard during the monsoon season in the Bungalow.
    And that “hotel” someone refered to in Ban Me Thuot used to be a house of ill repute.

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    • I served with the B Co. 504 m p det. at the Bungalow from Mar. 13 until late Aug. of 1968. We relieved the 218 M P Detachment on Mar.15, 1968. I remember Col Barber, Col Sage, LTC Reed and First Sgt. Witherspoon. I pined a M P arm band on Fess Parker at the front gate of the bungalow in April of 1968 while he was there on a USO tour. I have a great photo of this. Another M P and myself invited him to ride form there to East Field in a M P jeep. He accepted the invite and I am still thinking we were the 3 dumbest people in Viet Nam at the time for taking this trip. If only the V C knew we were on the way it might not have ended well. Any way, Fess enjoyed the ride and he was not captured. RIP FESS PARKER:

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      • Does anyone remember me? I was SSGT Gene Roberts. My nickname is cowboy. If anyone out there served with me and can remember details of dates and times of any casualties or incidents that happened, please contact me. I am working on my VA claim and would be more than happy to assist anyone else with their claims as well with a buddy statement. I was on teams 7,12,and 33 during the years of 1965 -1969. I was a heavy transportation advisor.

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  71. I was the 23rd ARVN Div Logistics Bn Advisor at Ban Me Thuot in ’70 & ’71. The Bungalow was no longer there and for a short period of time many of us were quartered in a Vietnamese Hotel in Ban Me Thuot. There was Special Forces Team across the fence from our Team where I remember seeing Martha Raye relaxing. Co-located with us was the MACV Provincial Advisor Team. There were some other folks co-located us who didn’t discuss their jobs. North ?? of us was a SOG base which of course we were not allowed entry. It’s difficult remembering other Team members’ names but I’d be glad to hear from anyone stationed during the same time frame or any other.

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    • Major Bon: I believe you served with LTC Gotowickie (sp) and Colonel Nottage in the Regimental Advisor’s Office. If you were he, I was the G1 Advisor and most of the time adjutant to Colonel Nottage. We had several military clerks, drivers, and a Vietnamese civilian clerk and civilian dirver. I was there from late October 1970 to mid June 1971; having been transferred down from Kontum because of a drawn down in support personnel. I was a Captain at the time and after various assignments in the states, I went on to serve 3 years with the 3rd Inf Div in Germany and retired after 5+ years with the 197th Inf Bde (Mech)(Sep) at Fort Benning in 1988. 50 yrs past, I apologize because I have forgotten most of the names of the great soldiers we worked with but I do believe I remember you, having your desk up on the “throne” close to Colonel Nottage’s office. James (Jim) Vigent

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  72. We are trying to find my wife’s father, a Vietnamese national who was based at the phan thiet army base in 1974. I am hoping someone can possibly give us a helping hand to possible tracing services

    my wife’s father is a Vietnamese national who we believe served the Red cross during the Vietnam war (1973/1974 ), in Phan Thiet, Vietnam. We originally, believed
    he was based out of Phang Rang Air based, and we thought he worked for the American Red cross base, some 150km away from Phan Thiet. However, we think now that he may be have been working for Republic of Vietnam (Việt Nam Cộng Hòa),

    We originally thought his name was Tran Quang Thuc, however, it may be Tran Van Phuc or Tran Quang Phuc

    All my wife knows is that he was involved with carrying injured soldiers to helicopters. My wife’s mother said that he wore a light green 1 piece suit that you zip up from the groin. He also had hat that was light green hat that had a red cross on it – tall square type of hat. Black army type boots. The uniform had a red cross arm band (white color) possibly on the left arm. He is around 160cm tall and wavy hair

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    • I was a battalion senior advisor with the 2d Battalion and later the 4th Battalion of the 44th ARVN regiment of the 23d Division in 1969 and 1970. We operated out of Song Mau (regimental Hq), Phan Rang, Phan Ri Cua, Phan Tiet, Hoa Da, Da Lat, and in Cambodia. I also got pulled for two weeks for a Tactical Emergency to take over the 47th regimental advisory team at Kon Tum, Dak To, Ben Het, & Tan Kanh when their entire advisory team was killed or wounded and evacuated.

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      • Hey Mike,,, We worked together at Dak TO, Ben Het. I was Deputy Commander Task Force 21.
        We were your friendly engineers 17 klicks outside Ban Me Thout at Camp Swampy on QL21.
        We drained Dak To for you. You had your own swimming pool!

        I was there at MACV conferring with some Full Bull when the fire started.
        That is quite a story, not for general publication.

        A Platoon lead by Jim Hampshire did the clean up, and built the steal huts.

        Hope life is treating you well.

        Dave
        David McConville

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        • I spent less than a week at Tan Kanh. I was flown in from the field south of Song Mau and found that I was the regimental senior advisor because the entire advisory team had been wounded or killed. When I was there, there was an NVA sapper company holed up in the mess hall of the engineer compound at Ben Het. I assume that the good guys were able to take back their mess hall but never heard the outcome. I was busy trying to put in a CA on Rocket Ridge from Firebase 5. It was a mess – ended up with a platoon of Highland Scouts all by their lonesome, one dead pilot and a bunch of torn up hueys all chewed up by 12.7 mm machine gun fire. By the time we sorted this one out, a whole new advisory team showed up and I got to go back to my battalion in the 44th down in Song Mau.

          Retired from the Army, Retired from federal service with the Army as an operations research analyst and software engineer, Retired college professor, Teaching one course at a community college just to keep busy and keep my hand in. I’ll figure out this retirement thing one of these days.

          VA has said they are going to give me new knees, and I’m going in to the hospital tomorrow morning to find out what they’ve decided to do about my back and hips and when I’ll be more of a bionic man than I am now.

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    • For Phan Tiet information, I suggest that you look for someone who was an advisor for the 1st or 3d Battalions of the 44th Regiment, or the Ninh Tuan province team during that period. I was in Viet Nam earlier than the requested time, and was in and out of Phan Tiet, but was never based there with either the 2d or 4th regiments.

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  73. I have a photo of a sign, My dad was one of the “Founding Fathers” Ban Me Thout, MacV Adv Team 33. This was Probably around 1966. At the time he was Captain Robert L. Ament. Dad has since Passed on but as his Son, would be delighted to hear of anyone who remembers him.

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      • Collette,

        See my comments to Michael below. Many photos, unfortunately dad was not too great at writing notes on the back,,,,,

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      • Heck no. He was not shy about about telling a good war story, but nothing like that. My Dad was not a big guy, maybe 5-8 and 140-150 pounds at the time. He carried his own S&W .357 as a sidearm because he did not trust the .45 govt issue automatic. Sound like him?

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    • It was originally MAAG Advisory Team #33, Banmethuot, Vietnam, Darlac Province, Pleiku, Vietnam, was Province Headquarters-Other MAAG advisory Teams were located at Dalat, Phan Thiet, Phan Rang, Gia Nghia…I was stationed there and we renovated the Bungalow, supervisor was Captain Dominic Pasquariella, Corp of Engineers…I worked with him, drilling water well, casing same, plumbing same, built mess hall, officer billets, each side of the mess hall, immediately north of the Grand Bungalow…Officers were Colonel Madden, Lt Col Sage, Majors Bible and Radosavich, Sgt Majors were Edwards and Cassell, Supply Sgt was Kenneth Pettit, Security Documents Custodian was SP4 Jerome Gohrick and mail clerk, I was company clerk, Radio operators were George Kria and Elmer Buard – There was only 20 of us on the original team,,,Dirt strip east of town was cut in but Captain Pasquariella on a D6 Cat and Grader, Air Vietnam, local civilian airline, flying DC3 operated out of their civilian airport farther east of town….

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  74. I too, served with team 33, but I was there in 1967. Spent much time at “The Bungalow” and left for home on Christmas Eve for emergency leave. This was my second tour, having served with the 1st Infantry Division in Lai khe and Di An.

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    • Hi Michael,

      Some of the Photographs of my Dad I have are dated 1967, so maybe you did meet? He commanded a Camp with American advisors and a Montagnard force ala the Green Berets. The photos show his camp (two 155’s) and Village. Unfortunately, he was not so great at marking up the backs of the photos with info. His driver was a Black guy named Burton, and another one of his guys was named Tanzola. There is another photo with him and another guy named Ray Vogel. He does have a couple photos of the Bungalow as well, but he must have spent most of his time in the field. It also looks like he was promoted to Major at some point during his tour.

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      • I didn’t know your Dad but know exactly where that camp was.
        It was a Montagnard camp at Ban Me Thuot airport. We resurrected that old municipal airport for Air Viet Nam and our own military aircraft.
        There were two SF teams, 5/22 artillery with two eight inchers and two 175s.
        It was rocketed sometime in ’68 and I have Polaroids I took the next morning while it was still smoldering. The camp was totally destroyed.

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    • Hi Michael, I too was at the Bungalow in 1967 from July to Sept I was the S-2 Sgt under Major Sidney T. Wienstien (LTG Deceased) I was transferred to TM 30 near Cam Rahn Bay in Sep of that year. I don’t remember to much (The Major had us working 12 to 14 hrs a day 7 days a week.

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      • Rick, I was at the Bungalow from about april 67 until mar 68 I also served under Maj Weinstein, I was a sp 4 at the time, I was a 96b20 also drove for the Maj. Ban me thout was a good place to serve, Hated to hear that the Bungalow burned, It was called the best kept secret in Viet Nam,

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        • I was a CI agent in the G2 with Maj. Weinstein, and went out with the Montagnards recondo company . I was there for tet . Also there when we got mortared that killed a guy. Also there was a Lt. Floyd and another Lt. . and 2-3 Spcs . Was only there a few months and left June 68

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  75. In 69 and 70, I was a MACV team 33 battalion senior advisor for the 2d and 4th Battalions, 44th Regiment, 23d ARVN Division. I spent time in Ban Me Thout, and was pulled out of the field and sent to Tan Kanh in Kontum Provence when the entire advisory team of the 47th regiment (independent regiment) had been killed or wounded by mortar and rocket attacks until a new advisory team could be re-constituted, but the main stomping ground for the 44th was not either BMT or Kontum province. Our primary AO’s were Phan Rang, Song Mau, Phan Tiet, Dalat and even Cambodia.

    Care to expand your Scope?

    David M. Dacus, MAJ INF, retired

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    • My Senior Advisory from May 1963 until I left May 20, 1964, was Colonel Francis J Madden, super officer, very athletic, authorized our building a tennis court, in effort to stop the excessive drinking…He authorized the mess hall building, my texas size barbque pit, both the officers club and the nco club….He was very directive in his efforts and his counterpart with the ARVN 23rd Infantry Division was great and effective

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      • I just located and talked to Jerome Gohrick, member of advisory team #33, today….Talked quite a while and he told me that he and his wife went back to Banmethuot, Vietnam, 5 years ago, enjoyed the scenery, lots gone, lots new, stayed there 3 days, great trip….He and his wife liven in Las Cruces NM – He was our classified documents clerk and mail clerk while there

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    • Maj Dacus, sir I have a question maybe you can help me with…. when the 44th from Song Mao went to Cambodia (May or June 70′) we were dropped off at an abandoned FB as there was some evidence of that as there was un-exploded cluster bombs scattered around it and a couple old bunkers…my question is was there a name for that hill and the op? I remember the huey that crashed about 50 – 75 yards from where we were standing at the bottom of that hill & I believe the door gunner was killed. Any help you can give is very much appreciated.
      Mike H.

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