"All the photos were taken during Feb-Mar '68. Somebody (?) had taken all the photos and given them to my dad as a gift when he left the squadron in Mar 68. At that time, he mailed them home to me." Hank Johnson

Tony Hoyer reviewed these photos and they are published here in the hope that you can identify these soldiers and the event.

These photos may be of A Troop Blues in 1968.

Photo 01, Into the hole! Who is this brave Blue going into the hole? What is the writing on his helmet?

Photo 02, Searching the dead! is written on the back of this photo. Who is this brave Blue coming out of the hole? What does he have? Who are the other guys? Why are so many wearing M60 ammo belts?

Photo 03, Hand grenades in! is written on the back of this photo.

Photo 04, Who's first? Found the hole. Who are these guys?

Photo 05, Anyone in there? Notice the M16 ammo belt around his shoulder and side.

Photo 06, Grenades in! is written on the back of this photo.

Photo 07, Let's go in! Someone is first. What a job.

Photo 08, Cocked pistol! Notice the cocked pistol and blue bandana. PFC with wedding ring.

Photo 09, Gas mask! Coming out with his gas mask on.

Photo 10, Dragging 'em out by their heels! is written on the back of this photo.

Photo 11, M60! Note the double bandolier of M60 ammo. There appears to be a hole in the shadow to the front.

Photo 12, Run by fire in spider hole! is written on the back of this photo. Note the headphones and radio on his back. He is carrying two canteens of water.

Photo 13, Take a break! Time to rest. Note the AK-47 on his back. He is also carrying two canteens of water and a rappelling rope. His C-Rations are in the sock below the canteens.

Photo 14, Sgt Jerry Alexander, Houston, Texas, captured AK-47! is written on the back of this photo. Note the two CS Gas grenades and machete on his back. This may be a SKS rifle and not an AK-47.

Photo 15, Evacuation of captured salt! is written on the back of this photo. Note the M79 grenade launcher carried by the Blue on the right. The third Blue is carry extra water canteens around this neck.

Photo 16, Salt! is written on the back of this photo. Who are these Blues?

Photo 17, Out of the water! Sometimes getting out of the water canal is difficult. Got to work as a team.

Photo 18, Bridge! Sometimes you don't get wet. Brave Blue moves along the VC trail.

Photo 19, Insertion! OK, let's go, time to hit the ground. Who flew number 5 lift ship? Who are these guys?

Photo 20, On the go! I think they are taking off. What do you think?

Photo 21, Loading up! I think the salt is on the way out. End of another successful day. Who are they?

Photo 22, B40 rocket & launcher! is written on the back of this photo. This appears to be LT Dick Laesque, A Troop, Aero Rifle Platoon, Ground Leader, Blues, 1968. Who is the other soldier?

Photo 22. I think the sergeant in this photo is Larry Gentry. Len Litscher

Photo 23, Sergeant and M60! I want him on my side. I think he is ready. Who is this?

Photo 24, Wounded in action, medic at work! is written on the back of this photo. Looks like the medic is washing out the CS gas in the eyes after the tunnel work. Does anyone know these guys?

"Photo 24, Wounded in action, medic at work!" looks familiar to me. Surprisingly, the memory comes from Sep. 1999 and not 1968. Jim Sapp brought a 'pile' of clippings and Cav mementos to the reunion at Radcliff that year, and if my memory is correct, this photo was on the cover of a Pacific Stars and Stripes edition from 1968 that Jim's wife uses in her work as a school teacher for lessons re: the Vietnam War. The Trooper in the photo would be Sgt. Dennis Carlin, A-Troop scout observer, if I'm on the right track with this thought. The date of this photo would be Feb. 24,1968 if that is Carlin. The action associated the shoot down of Sapp, Carlin, and McCloyn is included below. (From VHPA KIA pages) Joe McCloyn, who was killed that day, had been with A-Troop only a month, being a replacement for Dale Puishis who was killed a month earlier on Jan. 22,1968. In my mind I question how and why Col. Johnson would have been on the ground at the time of the action, but who knows? Perhaps this roll of film contains photos from more than one event and possibly Col. Johnson passed his camera off to a trooper who was going in with the recovery forces to retrieve the downed crew. If I'm connecting the right memories with this event, this crew recovery was long and difficult. There was concern that Dennis Carlin wounds would cause him die from loss of blood before the downed crew could be reached by friendly forces. I'll stop here and let others who were more closely involved with the action that day expand on this theme if they wish. Ernie Lamb A-Troop Scouts '67-'68

Photo 24 is a picture of Dennis Carlin just before he was raised up on the litter through the trees. The picture was taken by a sergeant in Headqarters or our troop HQ. To get away from the boredom of HQ he would go out with the troops to take pictures so he may have had other shots on the roll. By the time we were shot down Col. Johnson was gone and Col. Inglett was Troop commander and flying overhead. Hope this information helps. Jim Sapp A Troop Scouts 67-68

Infantry Hole!

Contents

Bob Young mailto:youngr@charter.net
Revised: May 30, 2001

Infantry Hole!

Contents

Bob Young mailto:youngr@charter.net Revised: May 30, 2001

Bob Young mailto:youngr@charter.net
Revised: May 30, 2001