JACK'S BLOG
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VietnamCAMP BEARCAT, HEADQUARTERS for the 9th Infantry Division, was about one mile in length by one half mile in width, surrounded by a berm of dirt pierced by two main entrances on the western side. A bunker manned 24/7 by the Military Police flanked both sides of each entrance. Other bunkers at each corner and evenly spaced along each side of the base camp were manned by junior enlisted personnel among the REMF (Rear Echelon Mother F***rs). Although the rear echelons (behind the lines) were considered safe in conventional wars, there were no safe places in Vietnam and standing guard was vitally important duty. Command of these bunkers was divided into four sectors, each with a Command Post (CP) manned by sergeants and company grade officers, also REMF. Each bunker was connected to its CP by a field phone and the CP had lines connecting it to the other command posts and other division assets such as artillery. As a second lieutenant, I was generally second in command of a sector and had the privilege of walking the perimeter to check on the guards while my superior slept. Three men were assigned to each bunker and they took turns sleeping inasmuch as we all had to report to our regular duty posts each day following guard duty. All built revetments atop their bunkers using spare sandbags so that they could sit guard duty without going inside where the air was stale and fouled by rotting wood and humidity. Many feared the structure that was supposed to protect them would fall around their heads at any moment thanks to unrelenting attacks by termites. The most unnerving aspect of guard duty was the fact that division artillery fired flare rounds to illuminate the ground outside the camp all night and they cast shadows that moved as they drifted slowly to the ground on parachutes. Often they swung to and fro making the shadows dance even more sinisterly. One of my men was scared back to his bunker when the casing from a flare round that detonated too close to the perimeter, fell to the ground next to him while he was urinating. I lived on a boat moored in Marina Del Rey when I first moved to California. Sitting on deck in the late evening I could watch airliners approaching LAX and their landing lights reminded me of those flares and the memory took me back to Vietnam.
Sometime after midnight, I would take our assigned vehicle, a three-quarter ton truck to our mess hall where baked goods were being prepared for the following day's meals in the relative cool of the night. I then visited each bunker passing out hot coffee and cakes. In the morning, I had to form a patrol to sweep the area outside the base camp to look for signs of enemy activity or tampering with the defensive lines of barbed and concertina wire. One evening before sunset, the guards at one of our bunkers had spotted activity about a quarter mile outside our perimeter. Since the area was “closed” to all civilians about an hour before sunset, I was told to take a patrol to investigate. I chose six men, two with M-79 grenade launchers and four with M-16 rifles. I divided them into two fire teams led by the grenadiers. We followed a deep drainage ditch that exited the camp perpendicularly and led past the road where the activity was observed. When we passed the last line of wire defenses, I stopped the men and explained our situation. We were on our own. There was no preplanned artillery support and we were too far from the perimeter for anyone to organize a rescue and come help us. Thus, I reasoned that we would have to attack fast and furiously if there was any trouble. Five of the men simply nodded their understanding and climbed out of the ditch onto open ground. The sixth had to be coaxed out. We found a family collecting dead wood for their charcoal furnace and loading it onto a three-wheel motor scooter. I left the men to scout the area to see if they had done anything besides collect wood while I went to check for contraband and encourage them to leave. Since none of them spoke English, I had to pantomime my communication. On the way back to our camp I began to wonder about the security of the ditch we had used to traverse the defenses. There was nothing in it to discourage anyone from approaching our perimeter. That night I installed trip flares and Claymore mines in the ditch. Possibly the Viet Cong in our vicinity were also REMF.
94 Comments
6/14/2012 01:25:44 am
Jack, you have created a brilliant and haunting explanation of why the war in Vietnam was so difficult to fight. The enemy was everywhere. The Viet Cong may only have three or four men out there, but fighting from the shadows, they could exact a terrible toll.
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12/20/2014 03:11:36 am
I agree Jack good job. I was with the 9th Div 3/34th Arty in DEC 1966 via the General William Wiegel Troop Ship. We disembarked at the port of Vung Tau and convoyed to Bear Cat Fire Base. I spent my time on the bunker pulling guard duty at night. If you stared at the tree line long enough you'd think it moved. Have Great Christmas!!
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Jack Durish
12/20/2014 04:04:10 am
Were you there the first night that the Royal Thai Regiment was attached to the 9th and occupied the annex that we added to Camp Bearcat? A monkey got hung up in the wire and started screaming. Their entire perimeter opened up. The path of the tracer rounds make us think they were under air attack. 8/20/2012 08:57:29 pm
I am not positive the place you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. Thank you for great info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
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Jack Durish
10/5/2012 03:58:06 am
Where am I getting my information? I lived it.
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Larry M Deihl
10/5/2012 03:47:15 am
great info. I arrived with the 9th Div in early Jan 67.I was assigned to the 9th Admin Co and of in Finance. Spent at least 1 night a week on guard duty in/on those great bunkers described. Many nights of sweltering heat, monsoon rains, and all that went with it..Thanks for the memory. Regards.
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Jack Durish
10/5/2012 03:58:59 am
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Glad you are still around to share the memory.
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9/11/2013 10:28:00 am
I also arrived in Dec 66 at Vung Tau on the troop carrier USS Barrett and convoyed to Camp Bearcat where is was littered with tents and a wooden building containing lots of beer! What an experience for a whole year there.
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Jack Durish
9/11/2013 10:38:13 am
It's great when another Vietnam Vet shows up here, especially one who was assigned to the 9th Inf Div. Glad to see you're still on the bright side of the grass. I hope that life is treating you well
Alan J Hodkinson
1/21/2015 03:01:54 am
I was on the perimeter the night the Thais opened up with tracers. I was also on the Barrett out of Oakland, Calf. This brings back a lot of memories.
Michael Mitchell
4/12/2017 01:19:46 pm
I remember pulling guard duty way to often in those bunkers.,usually near the drainage ditch at the end of the helipad and near the fuel blisters. They guard roster would get shorter and shorter whit people being exempted and then they would have to correct it. The worst thing beside the snakes was the rats. Woke up one night with one on my chest.
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Merton Hale
4/22/2019 05:18:45 am
I was with 9th Admin Finance Office from April 67 to April 68. Thus we were probably there at same time. I worked for LTC Foley in hq hotch. Nobody brought me coffee while on guard duty.
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Frank Bowers
7/3/2019 11:57:40 am
I was at Bearcat during the Tet Offensive in 1968 and recall how tough it was. I was a replacement guy so didn't know a soul but was welcomed by everyone. I recall the ground attacks and the cobra firing red lines with the tracers. WE were often hit with rocker and morter attacks as we all know. God bless us all. It has been 51 years but so many memories. Thank you all. Hope to hear from some folks via my e-mail: flbowers@hotmail.com Enjoy the day and hope for tomorrow as we would always say :-)
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Ken Heckman
6/14/2013 08:25:34 am
I was on the South Eastern corner of Bearcat with the 5/42 field artillery unit all of 1969. Thanks for the memories. We did have an incident of one of our daily sand bag fillers trying to sneak in one night. Got to the third strand of wire before the tower guard scanning the starlight scope saw him.
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Jack Durish
6/14/2013 09:46:56 am
Thank you for stopping by and taking the trouble to comment. I well remember that corner of Bearcat. I was OIC of that sector several times. Glad you made it back to remember...
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T.D. Brake
12/6/2014 04:13:24 am
I pulled guard on the South Eastern corner by the 5/42. I was with the 1011th S/S Co. I could sleep on my shift of guard with 5/42 artillery firing! I was at Bearcat 1968-69.
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10/10/2016 02:14:35 am
Hello Mr Heckman,
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Bill Jaxheimer
2/10/2018 02:21:40 pm
I too was with the 5/42 Field Artillery. I was FDC worked in the TOC. Pulled Guard duty 1 night only. FDC shift was on 8 hours and off 8 hours little time left to pull guard duty.
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Walter Francaviglia
6/22/2013 01:52:45 am
I remember pulling guard duty many a night on those rat infested bunkers at Camp Eagle. The bunkers belongs to the rats. We spelt on the ground always concerned about the stories of your buddies falling asleep on their watch and having your throat slashed by charlie sneaking past the wire. Probably just tales told us by those who were short. But life on eagle was easy compared to the grunts out in the bush. I was also a REMF but I never had the Tv sets, cold beers and movies we REMF were supposed to be enjoying every night in the rear along with those hot home cooked meals I heard about. Our food was so bad we would of welcomed C rations. Beans and Franks were worth big money if you could fine them. I still fell the pain for all those who never made it home. Now at 64 I feel their loss more then ever before.
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Jack Durish
6/22/2013 05:58:02 am
Sounds like you're struggling with the same issues that I am. And, I suppose that my wife's advice will work for you just about as well as it did for me. Well, God bless you and remember that life is for the living. Live it well so that they didn't die in vain.
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Rod Krumlauf
2/12/2014 07:18:46 am
I arrived at Vung Tau by ship Oct. 1966 with the 15th combat engineers. We were the ones who built Camp Bearcat. I remember sleeping on the ground for 2 weeks while waiting for our equipment to catch up to us. I was glad we had some of the 4th Inf there to protect us. I was the battalion machinist after the officiers found out I was a journeyman toolmaker working at the G.M. Tech Center before being drafted.
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Jack Durish
2/12/2014 07:38:50 am
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your memories. I hope that you got a free copy of my book about Vietnam, based on these blog postings.
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Michael Mitchell
4/12/2017 01:30:50 pm
I believe part of the camp is now a tank park. I arrived at the camp in early December 1966, we deployed from Fort Riley by troop train to Oakland then by ship to Vung Tau. Wish I could remember the name of our ship.
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Gerald E. Barney
4/1/2020 03:16:21 pm
First I thank Jack for this wonderful web site.
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Bill Jette
4/2/2014 11:30:44 am
I was with 5/42 at Bearcat from June 68 thru June 69 as an artillery surveyor and shell recon (chasing down those incoming 122mm rockets that would come in randomly). When gun batteries weren't being moved, we spent the rest of the time pulling guard, KP, sandbagging/building bunkers...and my favorite S_ _ T Burning detail!!!!
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Jack Durish
4/2/2014 11:46:30 am
I'm always happy when another member of the 9th wanders by and leaves a message. Thank you. And thank you for burning IT. Better thee than me...
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Ernie Johnson
12/24/2016 10:05:36 am
Bill I was a surveyor at Bearcat May 68 to July 68. 2nd TAB 26th Arty. I remember all that you posted
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Harv Dahl
3/7/2015 12:23:24 pm
Jack,
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Jack Durish
3/8/2015 03:36:54 am
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to share your story with us. I would love to see the photo and, with your permission, add it to the blog. Also, did you earn your dragon pin for eating with the Thai Regiment?
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James Sabella
4/8/2015 10:26:19 am
I was a FTG REMF in June 69 (550th Signal) and pulled guard duty at Bearcat 3 consecutive nights before I was detached and sent to the Naval Combat base at Nha Be. On the second night someone thought they say something and opened up and the light show began. I never saw anything or fired but it was nerve racking. We did take some mortars or rockets one night but nothing heavy.
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Jack Durish
4/8/2015 11:37:55 am
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. You were there about a year after I left. I wonder if you saw a GE fan in my old hooch and if it was still working. I plugged it in shortly after I arrived and left it running when I left. The only times it stopped were when the generator quit. It was so hot that I couldn't touch it, so I left it for the next person...
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James Sabella
4/8/2015 12:39:14 pm
Jack,
Bill Helmkamp
4/22/2015 04:39:30 pm
I, an American, served with the Thai's, 11.5 months. The guys and I ran Bearcat Arty. I also served with their Artillery TOC and visited their Batterys.
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Jack Durish
4/23/2015 08:12:25 am
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Glad you survived it
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Dave Opatosky
7/13/2015 01:44:05 pm
In 1969, I was a USAF radio operator with a FAC unit attached to the Thai Army at Bearcat, my last six months in country. Before that I was at Ben Tre, Tay Ninh and My Tho. We flew the 02 Bird Dogs and usually put in strikes for the Thai's and the 9th. Just happened to see your site and it brings back alot of memories.
Jack Durish
7/14/2015 02:06:22 am
Dave: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I believe that the 9th moved its HQ to Dong Tam before you got there, however it's interesting that the Thai Regiment remained at Bearcat. I hope that the helicopters stayed off your strip during that time. They sometimes landed on it while I was there and some (especially the Chinooks) blew pot holes in the surface which made your take offs and landings uncomfortable/dangerous.
Dan Schallhorn
1/10/2016 10:55:55 am
I came over on the Barrett with the 9th Signal Bn. in Dec 1966.
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Jack Durish
1/20/2016 05:48:01 pm
You were lucky that you were in those bunkers when they were first built. I got there a couple of months later and already the termites had eaten away a lot of the structure and the sandbags were rotting. Glad you made it back. Thanks for stopping by and commenting
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Ben Anson
12/6/2018 07:31:17 am
I also arrived on the (grin and) Barrett with 9th Signal Btn. (I think B company). Do you remember how horrible our food (?) was for the first month? I lost nearly 30 lbs. The meat (?) we were served was too bad to eat.
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Charlie Steadman
2/4/2016 09:43:25 pm
I was an Air Force radio operator assigned to the 9th ID at Bearcat as one half of the two man TALO (Tactical Air Liaison Officer) team about June 1967 to May 1968. I basically was a one man aerial port supporting the 9th's airlift requirements of men and supplies at the Long Thanh airfield. Primary aircraft were the C7A Caribou with an occasional C-130, as when we airlifted units of the 3/5 Cav up north. I was in the Air Force seven months having "retreaded" out of the Army (1st 34th Inf, 24th Inf Div). Our daily run was round robin Bearcat, Tan An, Dong Tam with an occasional special mission.
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MSgt Suzanna F
7/14/2020 02:10:24 pm
The other half of that TALO team wouldn’t have happened to be Charlie Head, would it? That’s was my dad. I’d be interested in talking.
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richard godwin
3/4/2016 12:34:01 pm
I served in bearcat July 69 through July 70.
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3/4/2016 06:00:55 pm
Once upon a time, when I was still working and somewhat "flush", I used to treat myself to an occasional manicure. The manicurists were invariably Vietnamese and they invariably asked me the same question: "Did you leave any Vietnamese children behind?" I often wondered if they were really asking: "Are you my daddy?" Well, no. I abstained which sometimes makes me wonder what the hell was wrong with me. It was a long tour and many of those girls were very beautiful.
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Todd Leasia
3/9/2016 07:36:34 am
Great stories and memories, Jack. I was a medic with the 133rd Medical Detachment at Bearcat in 1969 and 1970. We operated the "clap clinic" for the girls from Rosies and others who roamed the base. After a few months of that experience it was clear that discretion was the better part of valor!
Keith Albert
12/13/2022 09:19:42 am
Served with the 590th from Oct 67 to Oct 68. Went TDY with 86th Engr. Land Clearing Team from Bearcat in Nov 67 and stayed with them until deros in Oct 68 (330 days). Never got paid for that year because the 590th lost those of us who didn't return after our 90 day assignments. Still have issues with the Dept. of the Army recognizing my time with the 86th and VA because of Dept. of Army's issues. Still looking for a roster from that time frame to show I was there.
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Krystal Garcia
2/27/2024 05:02:06 pm
Keith, I'd love to connect. My father was in 86th Engr there the same time as you. He died in 94 when I was 14. I'm trying to learn what his experience might have been like... I served myself, Air Force, and these kind of questions and insights have became more important to me. If you could... Rayne24@gmail.com
Danny Carter
6/7/2016 09:17:50 pm
I arrived in Nov 68 and stayed until Nov 69. I was with the SLS (Special Liaison Section) out of II Field Force to the RTAVV. I worked for the US Army Commanding Officer of Bear Cat, first for Col Crittenberger and then for Col Mittlestadt. First one was killed in helicopter crash after leaving for a Battalion command position. I am not able to get much information on my unit because we all came and left at different times and came in alone. A picture of my office is on your web page. It is next to the HQ's for the RTAVF.
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7/24/2016 06:28:03 pm
Welcome to the discussion. I'm sure everyone is happy to see that you too survived the experience. It is kind of sad that we didn't deploy and return as units. Everyone sort of came and went with little fanfare. But keep watching this blog. Others have connected here. I also highly recommend RallyPoint.com. There are hundreds of thousands of veterans as well as active duty personnel connecting there. Good luck.
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Roy Barber
7/24/2016 11:21:55 am
Just stumbled onto your site. Trying to find anything about my unit. Good stuff. Brought back some memories. I was at Bearcat from Nov.68 through Nov. 69 with the 1st CAV - Co. B, 228th (Chinook outfit). Also an REMF, taking my turn on the perimeter and was thankful I wasn't out in the bushes. Only worried about how good (or lucky) the guys slinging the mortars might be. Don't remember much about the great food or accommodations other than always smelled like something was rotting and it was way too hot for me. The best part of being there was leaving :)
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Robert Stanford
3/9/2022 11:00:39 am
I was at Bearcat with the 1st Cav. 228th Company A from January 1970 to December 1970. I was trained as a 52B40 Generator Operator/Mechanic. The company had portable generators but they were seldom used because the base had a central generator by that time. Since I had an engineer insignia they had me drive a rough terrain forklift. Think front end loader. Our unit had a swimming pool between the officers club and the EM club. They had welded together a steel bucket to go over the forks of the forklift which was used to dig the pool before I got their. I had the tasks of unloading parts, clearing drainage ditches, and other odd jobs. For a while I also drove the "deuce and a half" to the local town (can't remember the name) to pick up the "hootch maids" and "mess hall help" in the morning and take them home at night. I felt pretty useless at times doing busy work and wondering what was the point of me being there.
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Thomas Adkins
1/13/2017 12:21:26 pm
I was down at Long Thanh North as well. (May '70 -Dec'71 ext). Thanks for the tremendous support from Bearcat. One night halfway through my tour, I pulled guard duty with a FNG. He loaded our M-60. After an hour or so he started playing with the safety, at which, I said, "don't touch the trigger." Within a half hour he popped off a couple of rounds headed for the Thai artillery area. Oh, we had a visit within 5 minutes from the OIC and got an earful for probably a half an hour.
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James O'Leary
4/4/2017 05:13:11 pm
My father, Charles O'Leary, arrived at Vung Tau in December 1966 aboard the SS John Pope and served at Bearcat in the Finance Section of the 9th Admin Company, so when I ran across your blog, it was something I just had to bookmark. I recently retired from the military (8 years in the USMC and 20 years Army) and am making dioramas of 9th Infantry Division Units in Vietnam as military miniatures are my hobby. The photos on your site are going to be helpful in recreating Bearcat in miniature. I can't wait to show my dad this site. Thanks for your service and thanks for writing about your experiences.
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John King
5/16/2017 07:09:36 am
I was with 1st Aviation Brigade at LTN which was more or less next door to Bearcat. I was in a Civic Action group and left the airbase every day to "Win Hearts and Minds". What a joke. We just wanted to bring our hearts and minds back in one piece. VC did attack small villages and hamlets all around Bearcat. They would attack the civilian defense forces. I also pulled a lot of guard duty facing the rubber plantation. I could not see ten feet into the rubber. The USA paid for destruction of the rubber so naturally we blew it up every chance we got. We were all draftees and sore about being in Vietnam which others were surfing back home.
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Harold '' Harry'' Ingram
7/6/2017 11:56:33 am
HI to all My Name is Harry Ingram arrived RVN Aug 1967 with the 548th Maint Co out os Ft Benning our heavy equipment didnt arrive as scheduled was sent to 11th ACR at Black Horse got back to the 549th in Jan 1968 then transfered to the 590th at Bearcat trying to contact anyone that was there guys on my contact team that went to the Mekong Delta are you out there Blair, Nueman or Newland Edward went over to gunships in the Bounty Hunter platoon My best Friend Sorry to tell you Ed died of cancer at the age of 49 went back to Vermont to see him before he passed Great Trooper Best t all Harry
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Ray Akridge
8/7/2017 12:51:02 pm
Hey. My dad arrived at Bearcat during the Tet Offensive. He said they threw him a rifle and said run over there and shoot! He told me a story about guard duty. I assume it was at Bearcat but I could be mistaken. There was what looked like a toy boat floating down the river. They couldn't get the chain of command to approve firing on it. Apparently this goes on for a while and the toy starts getting closer to a navy boat. No chain of command issues there. Navy opens up and blows it out of the water. Turned out to be a bomb. Like I said, not sure if this Bearcat. I know that's where he spent most of his time.
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Russell Johnson
8/20/2017 05:53:26 pm
I arrived in Vietnam the afternoon before the first day (evening) of the '68 Tet Offensive. Spent the night getting rocketed, mortared, and shot at in Bien Hoa. We got ambushed the next day on the way to Bear Cat, then mortared about an hour after reaching the camp. Didn't get issued a weapon until the following day. Fun times. Does anyone have any memories for a B-52 bombing raid just outside the base camp perimeter. I seem to remember them finding a tunnel complex the lead into the camp. Someone fell into hole in the middle of the airfield which is how they discovered it. I was with the 709th Maintenance Battalion, Company B.
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Jose Guajardo
9/26/2017 09:09:54 pm
I was at camp bearcat january 1970-december 1970. I was with the 229 self service supply company. Some fellow buddies were william curry, jose lopez (cook), jody laws. Looking for any others.
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Jack Durish
9/27/2017 09:13:59 am
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Good luck locating your buddies. Also check out RallyPoint.com. There's more than a half million veterans participating there
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Phil Hesseltine
12/26/2017 01:04:56 pm
I arrived at Bear Cat in Nov. of 1967. I was an in country transfer from the 272 MP company to the 9th MP. I do remember doing alot of guard duty at the 2 gates. We had to check units going out and those coming in. When I arrived I was due to leave country mid Feb. but they held me up I believe for about 1 or 2 weeks not happy. I fondly remember Bob Hope putting on a show. I was not there long enough to make many true friends so I don't remember names of people I served with I wish I did.
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12/26/2017 03:04:06 pm
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Hopefully you'll meet up with some other 9th Inf Div MPs. Also, check out the 9th Inf Div website as well as the 9th Inf Div group on LinkedIn
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3/25/2018 09:08:09 pm
Hi Phil
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John Brennan
5/15/2018 10:59:54 pm
Hello...My brother served with Dco, 2/60, 9th. from 1969-70...Sgt. Donald T. Brennan....I am in Vietnam right now retracing his steps...Any pointers?
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5/16/2018 09:43:11 am
Thank you for visiting my website/weblog and commenting. I hope that you are enjoying your time in Vietnam.
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John Janson
10/8/2018 02:35:00 pm
Hello Jack, excellent blog. I was at Bearcat May 68 till June of 69 with the 39th/36th Signal, we were generator mechanics. Our barracks were not to far from the PX. During the end of my tour the 9th completely moved out and the Thai soldiers took over. Felt much more secure when the 9th were in charge. I remember when B52 would drop miles from us it still shook the hell out of the barracks. If you think the bunkers were bad when you were there they were really bad for us, never went down stayed on top. Thanks for the blog.
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James Sabella
10/10/2018 05:55:06 pm
Hello John, I was assigned to the 36th Signal in June 69. I guess we just missed each other. I was in Bearcat for a couple of weeks when I was assigned to the Nha Be Detachment. As you said the Thai's were in charge and I remember we had our own girls in the compound to keep us occupied and to prevent arguments with the Thai troops over their's
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James Paul Coover
10/23/2018 09:38:11 am
68--69 5th 42nd hauled ammo and supplies to 155 gun units. Trucks were named 'Pittsburgh Pimps' thanks to a hulking black Sgt. whom everyone respected. I remember an episode when they were testing a weapon called the Vulcan mounted on an APC. It was one of 3 in country on its trial run. Ya all know how far out the tree line was ... With it's laser sighting system they could start at the top of the tree and chop it down to it's base. When it was in full fire mode the ground litterally trembled.
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John M. Janson
12/3/2018 04:23:20 pm
James, I was there when the Vulcan's first arrived. Our post on the burn was a couple spots from the Vulcans.The one by us was called The Duster Busters. We watched it move the tree line back with no problem. Glad you made it back.
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Ben Anson
12/4/2018 08:56:17 pm
Also arrived thru Vung Tau from the (Grin and) Barrett. Assigned to 9th Sig Btn, 9th Infantry Div. Mainly did guard duty & convoys during my tour. Good to see others from the same experience. Good to contact other people from Bearcat.
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Ben Anson
12/5/2018 03:54:18 pm
I read that you took food to the guys on perimeter. Wow, I can tell you, you never had my section. That would have been very nice in the night. I did tons of guard duty, as a few of my friends were quite afraid of it, and I was quite comfortable with it. I normally guarded the southern portion. Sometimes on the 50's as I was qualified on the gun.
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SGT. William Hicks, "Prince of Darkness'
2/18/2019 12:35:07 pm
I did my Training at Fort Riley Kansas and was shipped off on The USS General John Pope. Spent a relatively short time at Bearcat then went to Dong Tam. Worked with 4/47th and E-50th.
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John mcneill
5/26/2019 08:27:01 pm
I arrived at Vong Tau in Sep 1967. Don’t remember the name of the ship. From there we were of to Bear Cat. The 9th INF was moving out and the Thais were moving in when we got there. I was with the 590th. I was there when TET of 68 broke out and all hell broke loose. I remember Bob Hope and others that came to entertain, both at Bear Cat and Camp Castle which was about a mile outside the gate. Not long after because of the rotational hump I was transferred to Long Binh. I think I preferred Bear Cat.
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Fred Cox
3/29/2020 12:13:26 am
Also assigned to 590th as 26W(26C)... General Pope was the troop ship... 21 days to cross the Pacific... Stopped at Okinawa and then to Vung Tau... We were scheduled to disembark early morning pre-dawn but had to wait until late in the day to go ashore because gunships had to clear the beach... Flew to Bearcat in the belly of a transport carrying deuce and a half's... Sling seats on the edge of the fuselage... Slept in tents while we built bunkers and waited until our barracks were completed... I've got a bunch of slides that I've got to get digitized... Does that bring back memories?
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Fred Cox
3/29/2020 12:23:00 am
Also rotated from 590th at Bearcat to 147th LEM at Long Binh...
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Claudia Stapley
6/3/2019 06:47:19 pm
I'm not very good with the lingo, so forgive me in advance. My dad was C Co. 36th Sig. Bat. handling communications for the 9th Inf Div. at, Long Thaun North, I have a picture of him by a Bearcat sign which got me to your site. I'd guess 66 & 67? Bob Stapley
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Dan Schallhorn
7/18/2019 11:26:05 am
I was in the 9th Sig Bn at bearcat also, via USNS Barrett, Dec 1966 to Vungtau
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Pat O'Connor
1/3/2020 04:43:05 pm
I was at Bear Cat from March-November 1966 with the 1st M.P. Co. Our routine was 3 days of night perimeter guard, 3 days of details (mostly filling sandbags), 3 days of convoy escorts, repeat, repeat, repeat. 1st infantry division (2nd brigade) turned Bear Cat over to 9th infantry in Nov. '66 & relocated to DiAn.
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B Davis
7/4/2020 05:20:47 am
God damn - you are one brave MotherF-er.
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John Paul Spickelmier, Jr Captain at Bearcat
8/22/2020 07:09:23 pm
I was Company Commander of the Signal company in Bearcat belonging to Sig Bn hqs in Vung tau for six months from July 1969 to January 1970. I had voluntarily extended my duty in Vietnam after having served as Combat Motion Picture Team Leader the previous 12 months in various interesting locations throughout the country, to include Dong Tam.. As a preteen, my mother used to hide her homemade chocolate chip cookies. I always found them. So too in Bearcat I was really adept at finding and confiscating the Mary Janes in the company area in Bearcat. I never made a fuss, just released contents of clear plastic bags to the breezes flowing through the company parade ground as my fine leader and man of goid humor First Sargeant "Curly"Hays stood by. One bag I located in a hollowed out hard cover book by the name "Ordeal by Fire" ho ho ho! Sense of humor there. There were ladies to be seen in the area I was told. I did manage to marry with a Vietnamese lady when stationed at Bearcat. Next assignment was STRATCOM, Okinawa where I determined a long marriage was not to be. But harkening back to Bearcat, my Company Clerk and command driver wrote me that the garden my wife had planted in front lawn of Company HQ was being well taken care of by the Company members. In the year 1999, my newer wife, also Vietnamese, and I motorcycled to Bearcat from Saigon. Coming through Long Thanh going toward Vung Thau, just outside the town, the Rubber Plantation in which our company compound in Bearcat was located appeared on the left in the distance. I recognized the outline of thatvrubber plantation immediately. We turned onto the dirt road from the hiway and headed for the edge of the rubber plantation and the area our Signal Company had existed 30 years before. We rode slowly entering the shade of the tall rubber trees. We could discern still the lowered rain gutted outline of burms fron long ago. All wood of buildinfpgs was gone. A lone midfle aged woman sat on the front porch of her small home within the forest of rubber trees. She was only plrson in view within deeply forest. It was an eerie feeling. Since then we have travelled 6 times by bus and car to Vung Thau on that same Long Thanh hiway. We always look to the left to view that same corner of the Bearcat location from years ago. Since my 19 straight months in the Vietnam conflict, my newest wife and I have spent an additional 6 1/2 years working in Vietnam. US Embassy, University instructor, primary staff of newly opening International hospital near Saigon in Binh Duong Province. What I have found in North Vietnam and South Vietnam is that Vietnamese people are not only not Communist, but are just good folks. There are cultural issues to be reconned with in order to become even more competetive in international markets, but the country appears stable with not a whole lot of grumbling by citizens. Capitialism forces are strong and are being hugely successful. The country is quite safe on personal security and poverty is greatly decreased. Vietnam is in a good place with exception of constant aggressions from China, especially regarding Vietnam's territorial waters, fishing grounds, underwater oil fields, land border disputes/mini aggressions duch as extending southward country borders/ surrepticiously y moving border markers southward. At some point we the USA may end up defending Vietnam, our former foe, against additiinal military incurssions by the Chinese aggressive assertive behemouth. Bearcat, our remembrences, We were in Bangkok abiut 8 years ago. We were visiting the Royal Thai Military Nurses Academy. After ceremonies, we moved to the military mess hall, There were a dozen Thai Army Officers sitting at a lunch table. I separated from the Thai military nurses and my current wife. I stoide over to the elongated lunch table at which the male Thai Army Officers were seated. I introduced mtpyselfcas former Company Commander of US Army unit stationed at Bearcat July 69 to Jan 1970. Then I extolked the virtues ofvthe Thai military volunteer unit and mencwho had provided my unit security for those 6 months and I thanked them all for the goid job accomplished bt those Thais in a very difficult environment. When I was finished, they all clapped. I departed. The General nurse had watched. On the way downvthe steps leaving the building, she offered me a job as English Instructor at the military university. But I had a job and had to decline. All reflected back to Bearcat! I hope you enjoyed my brief reflections back in time to when I was a bit younger than I am today at 80 years of age. My father, a veteran of USA undeclared anti Japan war in China (1932), World War 2, and Korea was not inclined to share his terrors in mortal combat, though his photos do tell the story sufficiently for my education and expectations.
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12/4/2020 06:17:46 pm
Left ft Riley in dec of 66 and shipped out from Oakland on the uss rose. Arrived bungee tau approximately New Year's Day 67. We were with the 9th M I detachment as interrogators. Stirred a few barrels, built a few canvas/ wood sleeping quarters. After 2/3 months we all went our separate ways. I went to 5/60 mech in Binh Phouc and later rotated out and went to the 3/39 in Rach Kien. Left country in December of 67. A total different experience. Wish I knew where the old crew was .
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Stanley
5/31/2021 04:21:06 pm
I served in Rach Kien from December 67 to December 1968. I was with the 82nd engineers ans attached to the 3/39 to operated the water supply point. I truly enjoyed working with you guys for my entire year. After spending 6 months state side iI put in orders to return to Vietnam. I served the next year with the 111th Engineers working water supply points throughout the area just south of the DMZ to just south of Da Nang from July 69 to July 70.
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Don Griffis
1/31/2021 08:12:19 am
My dad Kenneth Griffis, possibly 1st SGT, was assigned to HHC2dBn39thInfDiv and arrived at Camp Bearcat in late 66 early 67. This site has been very informative, great reading! Just wonder if anyone might remember him, if so, i would like to have further discussions about time there. If willing.
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David New
7/22/2021 10:23:21 am
Gen inquiry fellas...
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Douglas A Pritchett
10/24/2021 11:31:55 pm
I was a pilot (Major) with the 200th Assault Support Helicopter (ASH) Company Jan. 15 to Mar 10, 1968, at Bearcat. We flew mission for 9th Div, plus entire Corps area. Advanced party departed Bearcat Mar 10, 1968, with the remainder of the company to follow, for Hue Phu Bi to support the just arrived in country 101st Airborne/Airmobile Division. 200th later re-designated A Co, 159th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion of the 101st. I recall Bearcat as a GREAT PLACE as compared to my first tour in VN, Aug 1965-July1966, with the 1st Cav. Also, great place as compared to conditions with 101st.
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Randy Bullock
11/5/2021 10:07:08 am
I was in a sapper attack while on guard duty and wrote an article for Vietnam Magazine: https://www.historynet.com/vietnam-sappers.htm Guard duty was quite dangerous, we just didn't realize how dangerous it was. Five of our men were wounded and ten sappers died. We were good soldiers, but very, very lucky.
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Randy Bullock
11/6/2021 12:15:55 pm
I was on guard duty 65 times. There were three of us per tower, with one on duty while the other two slept. We had an M-60, Claymores, an M-79 grenade launcher, our own rifle, and flares. Two shifts a night. Only about ten percent of us did guard duty. We were considered the soldiers with the least important day time jobs. 90% were exempt. In my opinion, we might have been unimportant during our day jobs, but guard duty was the most important job on the base. Three nights I guarded the Water Point. It was a post with one tower 5 miles out in the jungle. We were supposed to guard a block building that contained the well and pump that supplied our base's water. Only the three of us for 12 long hours. The Water Point was overrun the night before what was to be my fourth night there. We were then replaced by a full platoon of Korean infantry. In my opinion, there was no job in Vietnam more dangerous than guarding the Water Point.
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11/24/2021 04:50:29 am
Just stumbled on your site (again?) and thank you for it. Working on my memoir-as-epic, Spenserian poem over at WordPress. Have a look! All comments welcomed.
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Michael Monahan
10/16/2022 12:25:00 pm
Just found this blog - great info. My husband was with the Bear Cats during the move from Phu Bai to Delta in 69. Wondering if anyone remembers him. Having health problems now and all he remembers is Harry Whiteside, Doug Kalora, and 1st Lt Malone. Use to have stories of his time there but the memory is starting to fade. Love to hear from anyone that remembers him during that time.
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11/29/2022 04:03:34 pm
Man, this is something to read. I stood guard on those bunkers in 1968. I was there for TET. My unit: E. Co. 15th Engineers. On one night we had a red alert that was later called off. I got elected to go to the next bunker (south I think) to tell the Queen's Cobra Thai soldiers that the alert was off. Then they racked a 60 and scared the S out of me. Somehow I was able to convince them I was an ally. We have so man memories and we have forgotten much. It is great to read about others who were in the same place and time! Welcome Home Brothers!
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SCOTT HENDERSON
6/14/2023 03:29:05 pm
Stationed at Bearcat 68-69. 16 months and
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William C Allen Jr (Bill)
6/27/2023 02:40:14 pm
Thank You very much Jack and the others who have contributed to this site. It brings back memories, some good, some not so good. I was instrumental in forming the AOR Section, (Advanced Overseas Redeployment) for the 9th Admin Company from March, 1967 to March 1968. I was nineteen years old and my duties where to place returning Soldiers to their next duty assignment. Stress wasn't a word or considered back then, but I knew that every minute counted in getting that Soldier out of the field and on a plane.
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10/12/2023 09:41:19 pm
I was with the 407th Radio Research Detachment based at Quang Tri Combat Base for 9 months in 1971. I'm looking for specifications or guesstimates of the usual distance between guard bunkers on base perimeters. Our fairly small unit was responsible for two bunkers, though in "grey alert" conditions, we were tasked with manning only one. One night that 5 of us manned one of the bunkers and the next down the line was empty, a sapper squad moved through the next unit's sector of responsibility to lay charges and blow ammo bunkers quite some distance into the base interior, and their line of travel resulted in the 5 guys in the next occupied bunker having their throats slit (one forward in a rifle pit, one forward in an M-79 position and the other three in the bunker. I never stepped off the distance between out unit's two bunkers, but often wonder how far away my position the sappers actually were in passing through the perimeter.
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Ron Dranzo
1/22/2024 07:32:26 am
Thanks for the article. My father was at Bearcat from early Feb 68 - Oct 68 with A Company 2/47 9th infantry division for a while then was transferred to the Thai Queens Cobras unit and was a radio operator with them while they were out on their patrols.
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Holly Selvaggio
4/22/2024 03:56:46 am
Trying to find guys who worked on building FB Schroeder. Info is that the 86th Engineer Btn built it in 1969, My husband was there with the 9th in 1969. It was close to Dong Tam, and Can Giouc. Would appreciate some photos.
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James Irving
6/24/2024 01:49:42 am
I was with the first bunch from Aberdeen to form the 590th Maintenance Company at Ft. Lewis in spring 1967. We also had Service & Evac, Chemical,Supply and I know I’m forgetting somebody.Our first, first sergeant was a buck sergeant! Mt Rainier was beautiful in the morning. We left September 1, 1967 on the USS General John Pope to where we didn’t know where from Oakland. They gave us an address to send home when we stopped in Okinawa. But found out later it was an APO address. So it was a month before we got any mail! We got to Vung Tau late at night not knowing where we were till we saw the gun ship tracers circling a target. Next morning they flew us to Bearcat. I was a wheel & track mechanic (63H20) I liked working on trucks better than guard duty. We got chewed out by the duty officer because we were inside the bunkers one night when it was raining. He said “the reason the cots were on top of the bunkers was because of the snakes”! That got us back on top! Our company fixed the Thai Army vehicles. (tried to) We had a guy from Mount Airy, NC assigned to their base camp who built them a rice whiskey still! From what we heard our guys had the easy duty then. I had it so much luckier than most. I was there the whole year. Never had to go in the jungle. Some of our guys followed the Tree Crushers with their Contact Truck. Spent the night where ever they stopped in the jungle! After about 6 months they started replacing us so when our year was up the company wasn’t decimated. Shipped us to Long Binh the night before and the next morning we got on a Flying Tigers Airline plane for home. About froze to death! But man were we happy! At that time we didn’t realize how lucky we were. So many weren’t.
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