MACV Team 5 – Phu Bai
This Page is intended for the discussion of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Team 5 located in Phu Bai.
MACV Teams
Military Assistance Command Teams Vietnam
MACV Team 5 – Phu Bai
This Page is intended for the discussion of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Team 5 located in Phu Bai.
MACV Teams 
Hi Guys – This is a great page to connect.
I am an (old) OV-10 pilot. I flew out of Danang but did my Prairie Fire missions out of Phu Bai and Quang Tri from Aug 71 to Oct 71. I would like to reconnect with guys that I worked with at those two sites. At the time I would put in Teams of SVN and indigenous troops with a American team leader. As the rules changed we could only put in teams with SVN leaders the last few missions in September 1971. But we always had our American special forces running the intel office and the command post.
Is there anyone that was there or have info during that timeframe.
Thank you so much,
Ray Belz
I am trying to locate anyone who worked with me in Sept 1971 – Anyone who was involved with Insertions – or the CP at the AFB – Thanks
Jim Newsome…
I don’t remember this Capt. Perhaps like you said, he may have arrived after us. Or, could be that we were MACV Team 3. When I got there we had a Lt. Col “Pick” Leibenguth and after he left, Saigon send a ‘chubby’ Major. Also, like you say, we never had any part of Phu Bai or Eagle. We spent the whole time in Hue or DongHa (op Lam Son). Nice to know at least a couple of us are still around.
Rick Lorenz
Pic must have been promoted after I left in Nov of 70 to ETS. What went on after I left?
Andrew..
This is a little cumbersome.
You can email me @
ktmprod@gmail.com
Wes
Go ARMY
Beat Navy….
Wes,
Is it Wes or Rick? Where are you now? I’m located in GA. Are you on Facebook? I’m easy to find. It’s James H. Newsome on Facebook.
I remember Maj. Leigenguth and the Maj. who replaced him, but I can’t remember his name either. I hope there’s more than a couple of us still around. We did a poor job of keeping up with each other.
James
Jim, I was with the 15APS (AF) Detachment thruout ’68. We lived the first half at MACV Team 5, in the stables at the villa. There were seven of us assigned. Caught my eye that you are in Georgia. I’m in Effingham county. You close? Frank W
Frank
I live in Warrenton GA, which is Warren County. I split my time between there and St. Simon’s Island, GA.
My dad was part of MACV advisory team 5. Received his purple heart on Feb 6 when the barracks got bombed. I have a pic of him in his bombed out hooch. We don’t know much about what he was doing- of course he was tight lipped. (ha ha). His name was Gordon K. Fetkenhour (ret. Col.).
remember his name. I was at the compound on Feb 6 ’68 (and go to church every 2/6). We were a special detachment of USAF billeted at the compound. Capt Russo USA, was our bunker commander and he along with several officers made us learn all the small weapons the Army used and some infantry tactics. Your Dad was part of that. On the 6th, we used all of that training. Thanks to MACV 5 staff, I can type this reply.
Am trying to find CPT James Heinz, 1st DARRS team, Camp Eagle, down the road from 8th RRFS in Phu Bai. 1971-1972
I was with the 1st DARRS in Hue from 70-71. I don’t recognize that name so I guess he came in after I left.
You are the first person I have come across who was specifically assigned to 1st DARRS. I arrived in Phu Bai, 8th RRFS, comm center in Aug 71, was sent to 1st DARRS at Camp Eagle, between Phu Bai and Hue in Nov 71 and stayed until Dec 72. Went to Saigon in Jan 73 and sent home two weeks later. Ft Hood, 303 ASA BN
Charles,
I left sometime during the summer of 71. For the life of me I can’t remember the exact month. One of these days I’ll go back through my orders and see if I can pinpoint it. But you certainly arrived to the 1st DARRS a few months after I left.
We lived in the old French military compound in Hue, but our work location was across the Perfume River in the Citadel at the 1st ARVN Division HQ. I was the only advisor working directly with our counterparts on a daily basis. The rest of our unit was either MPs or guys advising our G2 staff at MACV. I spent most of my day with the ARVN, or flying out to firebases collecting raw intel from the ARVN counterparts. I did put in some time at our comm center as it had to be manned 24/7.
Our comm center was a duce and a half with an expandable work room. I seem to remember some of the guys who left after me telling me that they broke down the compound and moved it.
I finished my last year and few months at Vint Hill Farms in Virginia. Even though I had a couple years to go when I got back from Vietnam I received an early out of the Army as Vietnam drew down.
Do you remember any of the guys names who were there when you arrived?
James
I knew a James ( I think) Newsome in 97th Co. OCS, graduated May ’69. That you? I was on MAT 37, Advisory Team 36, in Pleiku Province, 1970-71. Wrote a book on it, PAWNS OF PLEIKU. Monty Vogel
Monty,
That was not me.
James
Gentlemen, my name is James (Jim) Hamrick Jr. I was with Major Whitaker and the original DARRS Team 1 in Hue in 1970. We had a small site in the Inner City and stayed at the MACV compound across the river. I have some records that might have more names – I will look. I was an O5C, Radioteletype Operator, Sp4 and my callsign was either Canary or Biggy Rat. We worked out of 291A Expandable Van with maps on the west wall covered with plexiglass and backlit from the bottom. We had a AN/GRC-142 radio for text messages. We got our support out of Phu Bai. I also went to Quang Nai with Capt. Karbley for the standup.
I will wee what records I can find and get back to you if you wish.
Jim Hamrick SSG
whatever info you can find is truly appreciated
Jim,
I was at the 1st DARRS from the fall of 70 to late summer 71. We had to be there at the same time. I worked directly with the ARVN unit at the Inner City compound but also helped prepare briefings in the 291A Expandable Van at the 1st ARVN Division HQ and MACV HQ. I’ll be interested in the names you find. I was Sp4 and Sp5 while there.
James Newsome
We had expandable deuce and a half also. I was 72B and 05H. maps on the west wall covered with plexiglass and backlit from the bottom. We had a AN/GRC-142 radio for text messages. We got our support out of Phu Bai.
I transferred there in July 70-till Nov 10 70 when I ETS’ED, do you show my name. Me and Delone were the only 2 MPS there. I worked days, he worked nights.
Andrew
James Newsome here. I was at the 1st DARRS from 70 to summer of 71. I was the advisor for the ARVN and spent most days at their compound in the Citadel or flying out to fire bases to collect their intel.
so you took Maj Liebenguth’s place. I also remember a Cpt. Allen coming up from Phu Bi a lot.
I was a Spec 5 when I left. Most of the men worked in the truck behind the 1st ARVN Division HQ. There were a couple of us who worked directly with the ARVN in their compound at the Citadel. I was one of those. I would also work in the truck on occasion filling in as guys rotated through R&R, but most of my days were spent flying to fire bases and working at the ARVN compound in direct support of our counterparts.
Boy did things change after the Maj left. At that time, he was the only who went to out ARVN counterparts. He took me over there a few times. the w/o in charge of the arvn’s. The Maj also was the only one who went up to the fire bases. He took me along a few times as his security. He had a plane at Phu Bi that would fly him down to Saigon, he would be gone a few days at a time. A few times I was with him at Phu Bi, he would go into a room with a keypad Id. Whoever took over after him must have changed things. We worked out of that trailer.
Last names: Rice, Noble, off top of my head. There are more just cant think of them right now
I’ve tried to reply but do not see my comments. Will copy below. Sorry if this is a duplicate.
Charles,
I left sometime during the summer of 71. For the life of me I can’t remember the exact month. One of these days I’ll go back through my orders and see if I can pinpoint it. But you certainly arrived to the 1st DARRS a few months after I left.
We lived in the old French military compound in Hue, but our work location was across the Perfume River in the Citadel at the 1st ARVN Division HQ. I was the only advisor working directly with our counterparts on a daily basis. The rest of our unit was either MPs or guys advising our G2 staff at MACV. I spent most of my day with the ARVN, or flying out to firebases collecting raw intel from the ARVN counterparts. I did put in some time at our comm center as it had to be manned 24/7.
Our comm center was a duce and a half with an expandable work room. I seem to remember some of the guys who left after me telling me that they broke down the compound and moved it.
I finished my last year and few months at Vint Hill Farms in Virginia. Even though I had a couple years to go when I got back from Vietnam I received an early out of the Army as Vietnam drew down.
Do you remember any of the guys names who were there when you arrived?
James
Last names I remember are Rice, Noble and our E7 Spence, was big guy from AL who had worked for Gov Wallace. We also worked in the duce n half you mentioned. It was within a compound in Camp Eagle. We worked there with a RATT rig also. Our team was 2 teletype operators, 2 intel guys, 1 electronics repair, our NCO and CPT. We had highest security clearance in Army. Gen Abrahams and his CSM, USAPAC commander once came to our site for a briefing just from our team. Lots of people tried to get in our compound but did not have clearance. We use to turn O6’s down cause of their clearance. We flew to different firebases to help ARVN with commo issues. Also did couple things with Air America. If I come across other names will let you know.
I don’t recognize any of those names. Our CO transitioned out with me and I know a few of my buddies were not far behind. There was black guy who should have been there at the same time as you. He was from GA. He came in to replace me and I trained him for a couple weeks before I left. I wish I could remember his name.
As far as clearances I agree. The only person outside our team permitted in the communication truck was the commanding officer of MACV for our area. He was a bird colonel. Even his G2 wasn’t allowed in to briefings, which irritated them a great deal. We prepared daily briefings for the Colonel, usually given by our CO who was a Captain or Major. The night shift’s responsibility was to write and type the briefing on index cards, and to update the map which covered one wall of the comm center. We started every morning by giving the briefing to our CO and answering his questions. Then he would review and often rehearse the briefing prior to the CO for MACV coming in for the briefing about 0900. It was our job to make our CO look good.
We did the same type of work you referenced. Each morning our CO and the G-2 would brief the O6 off this map which covered one side of the room. It had to be about 8″ x 4″ All I remember is our G2, CPT was a West Point grad and he could remember every unit within the last 30 days. How many K they had moved each day, etc. It was incredible to watch him recall this data. SP5 Noble was black guy when I was there. Our CO CPT Heinz, did a tour in 68 as airborne/ranger. This was his second tour.
I was there from July 70 to 11/10/70 ETS Was MP Maj Liebenguth was CO.
Andrew,
Yes, I remember Maj. Liebenguth as the CO when I arrived at p 1st DARRS. You and I would have been there at the same time, albeit a short overlap.
James
I was the day MP, DeLeon was the night MP. I remember a Mallory, he was mormom, A CIA guy would visit him all the time. he got promoted right when I was to, but I turned it down I told the Maj in 2 days I would be MR. I still regret that. The Maj was a good guy.
Andrew,
I do remember Mallory and that he was a Mormon. He was a nice guy. Several years ago I made contact with two guys I served with at 1st DARRS. Once was Greg Pfeiffer. The other was ? Lorenzo. Greg published two short videos about 1st DARRS.
Things sure changed after I left. Maj would take me up with him to fire bases and also had me do a few briefs. G2 Maj at that time was allowed in briefings with Col. Most days they were the only visitors. I gave Maj L many grey hairs with my screw ups, lol
I worked with Greg Pfeiffer for awhile.
Jim
I don’t remember him either. When I left, we had this old Major who never wanted to leave the Doezma Compound.
Wes Lorenz
My Father was with Team #5. 1968. Capt Carlton McGuire. Can anyone help me to find out and understand exactly what he did including the function of the team please? Does anyone remember him? I have a good picture of him when he was there but I don’t know how to post on this site. Any help would be appreciated, thank you all very much. Sincerely, Curtis McGuire.
I operated the Phu Bai Tacan for the 485th GEEIA SQ for most of 1970. Stayed in the BOQ hotel until the Ssgt I replaced left – then The Swamp with 101st ABN. I was the only enlisted AF airman I saw there.
there was an entire detachment of af next to the coachmen chopper unit….
I ran the racan in 67. Tdy to dong ha
I was with team 5 in 67 and 68 out of Da Nang . I maintained the Tacan and sometimes worked on the Marine unit as well.
I wish to correct the last statement made. I was at Phu Bai in 67 and 68 not Da Nang.
Was detached to Phu Bai in ’67.worked TACAN site for USAF. Also was their bartender. Moved on to Dong Ha to finish tour.
I was in the center bunker when the roof was blown off of the building. Cpt Johnson was on duty and one of the rockets came through the roof and exploded on the second floor right above our CP room. The top of the room was suspended by the rebar. Johnson was trying to get the medics to come out from Phu Bai to pick up our wounded and tried to drive the jeep outside the gate. Unfortunately, a piece of shrapnel had cut the coil wire so he ran out to flag out the ambulances. Rockets were still coming in and I thought this was brave of him. I revisited the building 15 months later upon returning to RVN with the 101st ABN. They were occupying the old 3rd Marine Division headquarters. The roof had been repaired and what had been our old mess area had been converted to a massive CP. I think the generator that we “procured” from the airfield in ’68 was still there. After the 3rd Brigade 101st left Phu Bai, the entire area was razed and fields of fire laid out around 8th RR. I remember destroying the old PX and Marine Chapel along with the command headquarters. The area was open to the VN for 2-3 weeks and they took much of the lumber and plywood. We burned the rest and when I left VN that time, the only thing standing was 8th RR and the defensive wire around it. I used to have an old pic of the building with the center part of the roof missing, but have not found it recently.
thx for this info. was billeted dong da 65-66, in converted horse stalls, worked the airfield phu bai for usaf. if find pics would love to see them. Bob bates
was looking for info my uncles mess card I found says moac team 5
specialist Les Alcorn was his name
I A long with about 15 air force member were bulleted there in 1966 – 67. Along with mostly army and a marine demolition personnel. Had to drive along a road to the air base at phi bia. It was a exciting place and time.
I was there that day (believe it was Feb 6). We were in the dining room when the rockets hit the roof and blew out the windows, etc. I was part of the Det 4, 15th AP living with Team 5 (7 of us) and assigned to the Air Support function at the air field. I was in South Bunker at the time you mentioned (facing Hwy 1). One of our Airman (D. Ice) was on the second floor balcony and was seriously injured, another Airman (Murray) was in North Bunker, behind us and was struck in the head by shrapnel. I clearly remember thinking ‘who was trying to get out of the gate area when we were still under fire and How did those (very impressive) Medics and ambulance manage to know so quickly and enter the compound’. You just answered that questions. ps our bunker also had a really great army officer, Lt/ then Capt. Russo (spelling may be off)
Was also at Team 5 during Tet. In fact I was the OD the first night of Tet .Will try to find a picture of Captain Latos room after the rocket attack you described . Do you remember Walter Cronkite visit to the compound?
Thx for info. Was blessed to be out of there Aug 66. USAF , worked airfield, slept in converted horse stalls next to villa. Time in my life I’ll never forget, nor want to.
Do you remember Lt (Capt) Rizzo??
thx for the up-date; explains why haven’t been able to find the “villa.” Means a lot your up-date.
thx for input. We had same arrangements (the building, the stables, etc.) We were hit on Feb 6, 1968 and the top floor of the big building was destroyed, 7 Army, 2 USAF serious injuries. No KIA. We had to find an area in the trees at the SE end of the field and build our own hootches. Amazing what everyone accomplished (when you look back). If you find a pic of the building, let me know (I think there is a Cemetary there now) FW
Was at team 5 during tet offensive, in fact the OD the first night we got incoming 31 Jan. The AF CO was 1Lt Cole I think. Sorry, no pictures of the bldg exterior but I have a pic of the room that got blown up early Feb, belonged to Capt Latos (retired as LTCol).
This is great info. The AF Det Cmdr in Jan 68 was Lt. James Corbett. The building got hit bad on Feb 6, 68. The first major hit was through the dining area. Would like to see that pic if possible. I was in that area.
For a friend, was the AF Det part of the 360th CSS?
This will sound stupid and I’m sorry. I’m not sure what the 360th CSS was. Our small group was Det 4 of the 15th Aerial Port Squadron out of Da Nang (although we only saw Da Nang arriving in country and leaving) Sorry not more helpful. FW
Tom Gyllenswan was there, Phu Bai in 1968. Originally he said he was at Hue. Hope to get more info from him. Was hoping to get Tom started on the togetherweserved web site. The 30th CSS would have been a support group.
Myself, I was at Udorn RTAFB, 73, with the 432nd TFW. Avionics troop.
don’t know, was there 65-66 August, only 3 AF personnel til build up started in July. bb
Would like to locate an Army Officer assigned to MACV Team 5 in ’68. He was, at the time, Lt and then Capt. Russo. (not sure of the spelling) He commanded our ‘South’ Bunker during the ground incursions. Really great Army leader and West Point Grad. USAF Det 4, 15APS
I was part of the Army Security Agency at the 8th Radio Research Field Station in 1966-67.
I was there 1971-1972
Thua Thien province. MACV spook house near the very large Marine Base 1967-68. There for the TET party. Still looking for John Boyd from LA Calif – wore all kinds of uniforms to move about – Green Beret; 2 or 3 tours (John – not me) Thanks for any response. stoney burke – Texas
Hi, I am John Boyd’s brother
I would really like to speak with you,
Hey Jeff – saw ur notice regarding John – ur brother. been waiting a long time to hear about him. if we are speaking about the same person, i hope u can update me as to what happened to John. He told me that his plan was to stay in country forever. please update me as much as possible regarding ur brother. thanx; look forward to ur mail. lee (stoney) burke – Phu Bai/Hue – 1967-68
Hi Stoney,… yes i believe we are defiantly taking about the same person, I really need to speak with someone that knew him in country. Can i get a phone number and call you?
817 888 1660 – i am in and out all day, so try early morn – 9ish.
Jeff, I don’t mean to play Tag, so try again this eve. I am moving to another location for the day and nite, and should be able to hear the phone. stoney
Hi Owen, i don’t mean to play tag back at you,but i have had a busy day, and it’s still going can i call you at 9am central time? also if you get a chance can you send your email address to jeffrickolynn@yahoo.com so i can send you a photo of John in uniform when he came back from Vietnam
thanx for the call yesterday Jeff. anything u can think of that MIGHT HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT MESS WE CALLED WAR THAT JOHN MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED WOULD HELP…..COMMENTS, PICS, ETC. STONEY
________________________________
Hi Owen, i really enjoyed speaking with you yesterday, I sent you an email, could you pls ck your inbox and if you didn’t receive it, then please send a link to your email address to jeffrickolynn@yahoo.com i would like to start sending you some photos
John Boyd was in my squad. He was the most memorable individual in my outfit.
I was in Moc Hoa in 1969 Could not find team number which I have forgotten. I recently realized that my DD 214 does not have any mention of my time in the Delta. I was with the Big Red One until they deployed back to the states then I was assigned to Moc Hoa. I would appreciate any advice on how to get a corrected copy. thanks ?
Same problem 214 makes no mention of my time in Dong Ha , small USAF unit , six of us one tent underground bunker ( Dong Ha ) was very hot. We were fed by the villagers and felt like the forgotten few 1967.
Visited Dong Ha in 1968 from Hue/Phu Bai, Det 4, 15APS. Rough for all AF Detachments (on your own) Not 214’s but your military file shows “Counter Insurgency Experience, Viet Nam”. Only the Country is entered, not the Provence or post. We lived six months with MACV 5 and six months ‘on our own’! Except for 130’s, we never saw the USAF and we were nine Airman.
was assigned det 4, 15thaps, Hue phu bai, adv. team 5, macv – only 3 af at the time sept 1965-aug.1966. started building up with a few more af personnel late spring ’66. trying to find pics of the french villa the advisors stayed in; we billeted in the horse stalls next to same- 2 cots per stall. I was afsc – 60551 – usaf – e-4, bob bates. we worked out of a conex box, inside, at the end of the old hangar where usmc repaired helicopters – army at other end from us repairing, etc., fac planes. unloaded/loaded ac; helped direct planes where to park on tarmac.
On my plane ride over to Nam in 66, I sat next to MSG Ward. He went to MACV Team 5 (I believe) He won a SS or? while there. We also flew back together. I was way down south in the Everglades of the Mekong.
MACV Team housed a special small USAF detachment assigned to the Marines. Looking for photo of the old two story building MACV used at Phu bai.
I was there about that time, I have a photo somewhere with me sitting on the roof with the 50 cal
Was only in the MACV building a short time before moving to the air strip, then on to the cemetery off the end of the runway
Mike
USAF
Det 4 15 APS,
Finally someone from the same Detachment. I remember the.50 very well, on the second floor balcony, center. Who was your commander at the time?
Mike I was attached to Det 4 from 4/68-4/69 I stayed in a tent by the air field and then moved to the hotches we built at the end of the runway. I didn’t get to stay MACV but did get to eat there then with the Marines then the ARMY PCV. I remember a Mike, Perone, Woody, Weis, Brown, MacCelvey. Bill S
Hello Mike, I think I was there when your group pulled out of MacV compound.I was with the Comm. group with one Generator man. Would that be your group? Would you happen to have pictures of the compound?
Team 5 was next door to Dong Da ARVN National Training Center. In 72-73 the team house was home to various Marine Corp advisors and special teams along with Army team 5 members.
Advisory Team 5 was out of Phu Bai
Thank you Wayne.
Depends on the year. In1972 through the cease fire in 1973 we were advisors to the Dong DA National Training Center, basically next door. I was the tactics and weapons advisor, Maj. Victor G, Gilliland was the S3 Advisor and LTC George R. Underhill was the Senior Advisor.
does specialist les alcorn ring a bell he is my uncle