These these pictures were given to Ron Davenport (Stix) by Tom Stokes (S-3 actual at the time) at the first reunion. They were taken by Brian Howard, another 1/1er, acting as a Bn. Photographer. There was also a Division Combat Photographer assigned to us that day. Time frame had to be end of May, beginning of June, 1967. Descriptions from Stix (H&S Scouts).
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This was LtCol. Bell’s last operation, one day, with his
replacement Lt.Col. Petro. It was a joint ARVN, and Marine (1/1) effort
centered on the islands. We moved out before light that morning to set up
a blocking force while the ARVNs were to sweep the island.
This was, by the shadows, taken around noon. Can’t help but notice the trench that was common to the area. |
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This is from earlier in the day. Major Stokes and Lt. Chupik (spl?). I have to locate the picture I scanned from for the names of the other two. The one in the back was killed later on the river. |
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This is during the loading of the boats we were to take back to battalion. Scout, Dan Hart, loading one of the local children that needed medical attention (non-combat related). |
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Scouts James Yuill and John Wallace before casting off. |
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Scout by the name of Vielli (spl?) with another scout and, I think, one of the comm guys. |
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This is from earlier in the day. Maj. Tom Stokes and Lt./Col. Van D. Bell Jr. |
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Lt./Col. Bell helping someone onto the boat. My team was at the end of those on the shore. I wound up on the same boat pictured here. |
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Far boat with Wallace and Vielli. Near boat with Crissman in
the bow and an unknown scout in the rear.
Note: You can just see part of boat in the front of Crissman. One of the scouts, Greg Irvin, was in this boat, or a similar one when he was killed along with two of the comm guys. "Chicken Hawk", Bruce Streetman (scout), stood up and polled that boat back to shore where the Corpsmen were waiting. It didn’t help.....
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This is right after they opened up on us. Myself, and another Scout, Bob Headricks were hanging over the bow trying to cut threw a cable that was strung across the river, keeping us from moving. |
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Lt./Col. Bell on the "spit". |
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I thinks this is during the firing. |
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Another on the "spit". |
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When we were moving back over to the friendly side |
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Another pic moving to the friendly side I think. |
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Still on the "spit". |
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Major Tom Stokes, the Bn. Operations officer, on the friendly side. |
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Lt./Col. Bell on the hook. Tom Stokes on another radio, and one of the radio operators. There was a lot of artillery called in on the island. |
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This would be looking north, after we started moving out for battalion. |
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Bell, Pietro, and Stokes before we moved out back to battalion. |
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Just before we set in for the night. |
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This is the "spit" the command boat wound up at. I call it round two, our turn. :-) |
