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Summary - July 1966

To be written

July 1

The battalion relieved 2/12^th Cav and took over the security of An Khe. (Source: Annual Historical Report, Calendar Year 1966, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, Operations in the Republic of Vietnam.)

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July 10

1LT George Long relinquished command of the company to CPT Charles "Chuck" Fry  (Pictured right).  (Source: Annual Historical Report, Calendar Year 1966, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, Operations in the Republic of Vietnam.)

Click on Photo to See Larger Version Courtesy Richard Bratton

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July 20

The battalion took over the security of Highway 19.  The boundary to the east was the area under control of Republic of Korea troops, and in the west at Pleiku.  During the rest of the month, the battalion escorted 61 convoys. (Source: Annual Historical Report, Calendar Year 1966, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, Operations in the Republic of Vietnam.)

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July - Exact Date Unknown

1st Squad, 1st Platoon taken at An Khe.    Identified by number: 1.  PVT Cates 2.  PVT George Guarente (original from ft. Benning) 3.  PVT Smitty 4.  SSG Edgar Irizarry, Squad Leader 5.  PVT Ortega 6.  SP4 William Grant  (wounded February 19, 1966)  Anyone knowing the identity of the other troopers, please email the Webmaster.  Notice the uniforms.  The 1st Cav had been in Vietnam since September 1965, yet some still had state-side fatigues and leather boots.  SSG Irizarry had jungle fatigues on, but was still wearing colored insignia, but with a subdued US Army tape.  The buck sergeant in the center was still wearing the white name tape. h

Click on Photos to See Larger Version Both Courtesy Edgar Irizarry

Edgar Irizarry found this deer skull and rack near the Mang Yang Pass on Highway 19, just west of An Khe.  While operating in the Pleiku area, 1st Cav units regularly traveled that road.  C 2/5 Cav took its many turns providing security along Highway 19.  (See July 20th, above) Mang Yang Pass was the site of the final annihilation of the French Groupe Mobile 100 by the Communist Viet Minh in 1954.  The once proud armored unit took the last final, fatal blow to French colonialism.

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Updated September 09, 2006