C 2/5 Cav - November 1968

Summary - November 1968

The airmobility of the 1^st Cavalry Division was in demand. To counter the increasing enemy threat to Saigon coming from the Cambodian border, the entire 1^st Cavalry Division moved from operations in the north to the III Corps Tactical Zone northwest of Saigon.

Comanche began the month in Quang Tri Province, the northernmost in the Republic of Vietnam, participating in Operation Comanche Falls III. Battalion headquarters was on LZ Nancy. After the move south on November 9 -12, operations began in the Quan Loi area - the rubber plantation area famous for red dirt.

Moving from I Corps to the Quan Loi area, November, 1968

Map from "The First Air Cavalry Division Vietnam, August 1965 to December 1969"

November 1

The company is released from the operational control of 3/5 Cav, and CAs to LZ Nancy. 3^rd Platoon remains securing bridges. (Source: 2/5 Cav S-3 Daily Journal dtd 1 Nov 68)

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November 2

Comanche CAs to the field. Later in the day, they are joined by 3^rd Platoon. The company is a blocking force for an ARVN taskforce, also a part of Operation Comanche Falls III. (Source: 2/5 Cav S-3 Daily Journal dtd 2 Nov 68)

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November 9 - 12

The day started early on November 9^th as the company boarded Chinook helicopters and flew to LZ Nancy. By the end of the day, the entire battalion had closed on LZ Nancy in preparation for the move south.

On November 10^th, the 2/5 Cavalry Battalion Headquarters, along with A and B Companies, moved to Quang Tri City, where they boarded Air Force C-130 transports for the flight to Phuoc Vinh.

Comanche moved the next day, on November 11^th. It was a late night flight, and the company did not arrive at the air strip at Phuoc Vinh until 8:15 the morning of November 12^th. (Source: 2/5 Cav S-3 Daily Journals dtd 9, 10,11, and 12 Nov 68)
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Phuoc Vinh from the air. Prior to the 1^st Cav taking it over, it was a smaller base run by the 1st Infantry Division

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Courtesy Richard "Doc" Bovie

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Thanksgiving

Maybe it wasn't always Mom's Thanksgiving feast, but we still had turkey and most of the fixin's - even out in the field. Bob Hrncirik carries his carton of chocolate milk, and a paper plate of chow, looking for a place to sit on the ground and remember what it must be like back home.

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Courtesy Mel Wilkison

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November - Exact Date Unknown

Obviously it was somebody's birthday, and this squad celebrated at Cu Chi. Standing left is Ron Dixon, the Squad Leader. Standing in the rear with no shirt but a party hat is Benjamin Harrison. The name of the man bending over and no shirt is not known. Standing to the far right is Joel Harvey. Squatting with the sleeveless OD T-shirt is another unidentified trooper. To his right, with his face hidden, is known only by the last name of "Lang" or "Lange." Facing left with the party favor is Rick Lamars. To his right of Bob Hutton, and next, sitting, is Jon Thunder. (Source: Bob Hutton)

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Courtesy Joel Harvey

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Updated September 29, 2006