Today we pause to remember SSG Rowland E “Butch” “Hoot” Gibson, KIA, January 22, 1967 while on a mission with Reconnaissance Team Indiana.

Today we pause to remember SSG Rowland E “Butch” “Hoot” Gibson, KIA, January 22, 1967 while on a mission with Reconnaissance Team Indiana. SSG Gibson was 22 years old and joined the Army in June 1962, finished signal school as the top man in the class and attended medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He also received weapons training and was Ranger qualified. He arrived in Vietnam in April 1966, two years after joining the Special Forces.
Few specific details other than those in SSG Gibson’s Silver Star citation are known about the mission of RT Indiana. Silver Star Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Rowland Edward Gibson (ASN: RA-16736294), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Detachment A-352, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Gibson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 January 1967 while serving as a Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese unit during a search and destroy mission. At the moment insurgents were sighted to the front of his unit, Sergeant Gibson organized his men to sweep into their positions. As his men approached a tree line, several Viet Cong companies, concealed and well-fortified, opened up with intense fire. While his men were pinned down, Sergeant Gibson maneuvered to the left with the intention of flanking the entrenched enemy. Determined to prevent his men from being surrounded and overrun, he crawled 40 meters toward the bunkers with bullets and shrapnel striking the ground all around him. During this selfless action, he was fatally wounded. Sergeant Gibson's gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

SSG Gibson was buried Riverview Cemetery, Clarksville, Tennessee. His friend Albert R. Forster shared these comments about SSG Gibson. A wonderful medic and human being who was taken from us much too soon.
Sgt. Gibson was our B team medic and went to Hiep Hoa in April 1966 to reopen the camp. He immediately started doing Medcaps for the local villages, and was highly respected by the local villagers. As the year progressed all of us left Hiep Hoa for other camps. Sgt. Gibson stayed because he had such a fondness for the locals and was having such a major impact on the local area. He was one of the finest men I served with. He respected the Vietnamese and served them and us with distinction. He was the one person I felt whose death could not be rationalized. He was one of the most dedicated, honest, moral, and humane men I ever had the pleasure to serve with.

Today we pause to remember SOG warriors SGT Frank A. Celano, SSG Kenneth Lovelace, and SGT Hugh D. Opperman and WO1 William Herman Seaborn, Jr. (240TH AHC), helicopter pilot, lost on January 22, 1971, when their helicopter was shot down while on a rescue mission.

Today we pause to remember SOG warriors SGT Frank A. Celano, SSG Kenneth Lovelace, and SGT Hugh D. Opperman and WO1 William Herman Seaborn, Jr. (240TH AHC), helicopter pilot, lost on January 22, 1971, when their helicopter was shot down while on a rescue mission.
The three SOG men were at the SOG training camp at Long Thanh in Bien Hoa province. SFC Celano and SGT Opperman were attending the 1-0 school and SSG Lovelace was an instructor at the school. They were all in the mess hall having lunch when the camp Sergeant Major entered and grabbed the eight men he found there. He said, "Get your shit. We're going in on a downed chopper. The bird is in-bound.

The downed helicopter was an observation chopper, a two-man Loach that had crashed and burned in dense growth thirty clicks from Long Thanh. Efforts were immediately instituted to rescue the crew: CW2 Rog Johnson, pilot; SGT Michael Harris Petty, observer; and SP4 Frederick Anthony Vigil, crew chief.
WO1 Seaborn was in the area flying on a training mission when the orders to help with the rescue effort were issued. He landed at Long Thanh and picked up the eight Special Forces men. They flew to the location of the wrecked Loach craft and lowered rolled aluminum ladders down both sides. The team was climbing down the ladders when a B-40 rocket hit the front of the chopper, taking out the pilot and flight controls. The chopper lifted rapidly, and then rolled to its side, flinging off the men who were clinging to the ladders. All died from the fall. Several who were in the chopper survived. The three crew from the crashed Loach did not survive, and all bodies were recovered along with a NVA body, along with his B-40 launcher and backpack.
SSG Kenneth Lovelace was an instructor at the Recon Team Leaders School, B-53, Long Than, Ops 38. SSG Lovelace was from Bellefontaine, Ohio and married. He was buried Highland Memorial Cemetery, West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio,
SGT Frank Anthony Celano, trainee at Recon Team Leaders School, was 21 years old and from Los Banos, California. He had a fiancée waiting for him back in San Diego. Frank was buried in Los Banos Cemetery, Los Banos, California.
SGT Hugh Daniel Opperman, trainee at Recon Team Leaders School was killed the day after his 21st birthday. Danny was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.

1LT Joseph Slifka, who died January 21st, 1972 while a member of TF1AE. - Đoàn 1 Sở Liên Lạc

Today we pause to remember 1LT Joseph Slifka, who died January 21st, 1972 while a member of TF1AE. SSG Don F "Sluggo" Murphy tells the story of the loss of 1LT Slifka (originally printed in the November 1994 issue of The Green Beret).
"Those involved from CCN were RT Connecticut lead by Kevin “Snake” Smith, RT Habu the Bright Light Team, led by SGT Lemuel McGlothern, and the air assets from MLT-1 located in Phu Bai, RVN. The actions of both recon teams, the Navy UDT divers, and the combined air assets were instrumental in the success of this mission. I was the airborne controller (Covey Rider) flying out of MTL-1 at Phu Bai, and I worked the mission on both dates. I arrived on station to relieve another Covey, who had just extracted RT Connecticut from a hot LZ. I got a visual on the extraction package of slicks and guns. They were following the blue line east through a remote mountain pass near the Lao border. Knowing they were low on fuel, I instructed slick lead to follow us back to the launch site. After several moments I heard lead say, “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday, I’m going in!” We turned West just in time to see him crash land on a sandbar in the river. Aboard the aircraft was a crew of four, SSG Kevin “Snake” Smith, the One Zero, his One Two, 1Lt Slifka, and four CIDG team members.
Snake radioed that all was okay, the bird was shut down and the guns removed. Swiss seats were tied together, then Snake swam to the North bank and began ferrying the rest across using the chopper as an anchor point. While this was taking place, I had to send the slicks and guns home because they were low on fuel. I ordered up TAC air, a set of Gunfighters (F-4s) that were scrambled from Da Nang with an ETA of ten. Also, two Navy fighters were diverted from the trail with residual 20mm. Our launch sergeant, MSG Chuck Dover, had been monitoring our situation and said help was on the way.
Before the transfer to the North bank could be completed, the team began to take small arms fire from the wood-line and was returning fire. We could see the muzzle flashes so we laid down a mark and ran in the Navy jets expending their ordnance. Our Gunfighters arrived with a TIC lineup on board of napalm, CBU, and frag bomb with fuse extenders. The strike was laid in and suppressed the enemy fire.
Snake called that he had an American missing and when last seen the American was covering the team from the sandbar. He team began ground search of the river bank, and we low-leveled to assist. The river had a sand bottom and was crystal clear. I spotted 1Lt Slifka’s body about two hundred meters downstream, in a deep pool at the edge of a waterfall.
The extraction package arrived and the team was extracted with the aircrew. CPT Walter S. Mullen, our assistant launch officer, hovered above the pool in the chase bird and attempted to recover the body with a grappling hook. He was not successful, as the body was hopelessly snagged in the branches of a submerged tree. Our covering guns reported a village hidden under the jungle canopy, and the Cobras placed fire on it with rockets and 40mm.
I received a call that Snake was inbound with swimming gear and ropes to attempt a recovery. This attempt also failed because the river was too swift; without scuba gear and weight belts it was an impossible task. By this time the crashed Huey had settled onto it’s right side of the sandbar, but was in no danger of being swept into the current. Snake requested and received permission to make a recovery attempt on the following day. Preplanned air was ordered and two Navy UDT divers were sent up from Da Nang. If the recovery went smoothly the RT would do a BDA of the village, which was to be hit with a devastating air strike. Also, the Bright Light team would be used to cover from the South bank. Additional slicks and guns would sit on strip alert with a round-robin turn around for constant air cover from insertion until extraction.
Our intelligence sergeant, SFC Kenny Anderson, provided the intel pictures I had taken of the target. He suspected the hostiles in the target area to be part of one of the NVA Food Production and Transportation Battalions known to work the area. MSG Chuck Dover briefed all concerned on how the operation would work. Timing and start-up time would begin when Covey reported the target clear of ground fog. We launched our 0-2 at about 0900 hours on 21 January and climbed to 12,000 feet. We began our normal sneak and peek through the clouds to observe the target which was socked in. We busied ourselves by checking known or suspected AAA and SAM sites on both sides of the fence; we also noted likely avenues of approach to the target area. By 1000 hours the fog had dissipated, and I reported this to home plate. At that time Chuck gave the order to play ball.
The teams launched and our first set of Gunfighters arrived above us. Our set of Sandys had just left NKP and were climbing to altitude. With all assets on station we went down to lay in the mark on the village. Our fast movers rolled in and each dropped a large WP bomb, creating a roaring inferno. Next they dropped combination of delays and daisy cutters. Our capping A1Es requested to dump that nape to increase playtime, and we had them hit the eastern and western edges of the village. When they returned to cap they reported over four hours playtime left. At eight minutes out we released our second set of Gunfighters to prep both Las with napalm and 500 pound daisy cutters. Both teams hit their LZs at the same time and had them secured in short order. We put both sets of Cobras in a racetrack pattern to prevent any reinforcements from entering the area and to suppress any AA threat. I called ABCCC (Hillsboro) and reported the target box hot. Then Snake reported that he was on the sandbar and he had divers in the water. Using the Huey as an anchor point, they belayed the divers down stream. My greatest worry at that time was that of the belaying team being hit without safety ropes the divers would be lost over the falls and onto the rocks below. After what seemed like forever, the Snake reported that the Lieutenant’s body and the divers were recovered. Both divers were completely exhausted, and we sent in the chasse bird to pick them up.
With the recovery completed, we initiated the BDA when our fresh Cobras came on station. We sent both sets of guns to orbit on the flanks and sent in the Sandys to bomb and strafe the front of the RT. The team could not get into the village due to the fires and secondary explosions. They did get some good intel pictures and examined some fighting positions. In addition to some enemy equipment, they recovered quite a few farming implements. Both RTs were extracted without further incident and the target box was reported cold.
My last act was to order the guns to destroy the drowned Huey, and we watched as some of the wreckage slipped over the falls. The post mortem examination revealed that Joe drowned; we understand his family had a hard time dealing with this because he was an Olympic class swimmer. We will never know exactly how this tragic accident happened, but Kevin and myself have tried to describe the incident as accurately as possible after 22 years."

 1st. Lt Joseph J. Slifka, Jr was from Missoula, Montana, 23 years old and married. He is honored on Panel 2W, Row 99 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

SGT Gordon D. Yntema, with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam,

On this day 51 years ago SGT Gordon D. Yntema, while serving with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while advising civilian irregulars from Camp Cai Cai and repelling a Viet Cong attack during their attempts to overrun his position. SGT Yntema was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1969 for these actions. Visit the following link to read SGT Yntema’s Medal of Honor citation: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3454/yntema-gordon-douglas.php

YNTEMA, GORDON DOUGLAS

Rank: Sergeant

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company D

Division: 5th Special Forces Group

Born: 26 June 1945, Bethesda, Md.

Departed: Yes

Entered Service At: Detroit, Mich.

G.O. Number:

Date of Issue:  

Accredited To:

Place / Date: Near Thong Binh, Republic of Vietnam, 16-18 January 1968

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Yntema, U.S. Army, distinguished himself on 16-18 January 1968, while advising civilian irregulars from Camp Cai Cai. Sergeant Yntema accompanied two platoons to a blocking position east of the Village of Thong Binh. They became heavily engaged in a fire fight with the Viet Cong. Assuming control of the force when the Vietnamese commander was seriously wounded, Sergeant Yntema advanced his troops to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers. After a fierce fire fight, Sergeant Yntema withdrew his men to a trench which offered them protection while still allowing them to perform their blocking mission. Under the cover of machine gun fire, a company of Viet Cong maneuvered into a position effectively surrounding Yntema's platoons on three sides. A dwindling ammunition supply, coupled with a Viet Cong mortar barrage which inflicted heavy losses on the exposed position, prompted many of the South Vietnamese troops to withdraw. Seriously wounded and ordered to withdraw himself, Sergeant Yntema refused to leave his fallen comrades. Under withering small arms and machine gun fire, he carried the wounded Vietnamese commander and a mortally wounded American Special Forces advisor to a small gully 50 meters away to shield them from the enemy fire. Sergeant Yntema continued to repulse the attacking Viet Cong during their attempts to overrun his position until, out of ammunition and surrounded, he was offered the opportunity to surrender. Refusing, Sergeant Yntema stood his ground, using his rifle as a club to fight the approximately fifteen Viet Cong attempting his capture. His resistance was so fierce that the Viet Cong were forced to shoot him in order to overcome him.

Thiếu Tướng E. John Deedrick Jr. Chỉ Huy Trưởng Liên Đoàn 1 LLDB trao quốc kỳ cho gia đình Đại Úy Andrew Ross

Maj. Gen. E. John Deedrick Jr., commanding general of 1st Special Forces Command, presents a U.S. flag to the family of Capt. Andrew Ross in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Jan. 8, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Lane Hiser).

Credit: The 3rd Inf. Reg. The Old Guard.

CAR15

Nhảy Dây Thụy Sĩ

Nhảy Dây Thụy Sĩ LLDB

RECONDO School - Liên Đoàn 5 Lực Lượng Đặt Biệt Nha Trang Việt Nam

Happy Holidays from NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION

As we gather with loved ones to enjoy the holidays and as we begin to prepare for a new year, I wanted to take a moment to share how much you are appreciated and say "thank you" for your friendship and loyal support of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community and its families.
From the first day of training until they transition back to civilian life, and even beyond, our foundation stands with those we support, equipping NSW service members and families with the programs, tools, and assistance they need to thrive in their unique and demanding environment. And, should the worst happen, we are there to comfort and care for those left behind, not for days or weeks, but for as long as it takes to get them back on their feet. This support is made possible by people like you.
By embodying the spirit of giving throughout the year, you let our warriors and families know that you have not forgotten them--that their sacrifices are recognized and appreciated not only by their loved ones but by all of us who can celebrate safely because of them. Thank you.
On behalf of the Navy SEAL Foundation, I sincerely wish you and yours a safe and special holiday.

Robin King
Chief Executive Officer

Happy Holiday !!!

SOAR I ATTENDEE: Robert T "Swede" Ashton SOA #3026-GL

Swede spent a total of 31 months in-country, working as cadre at the MACV-SOG Recondo school for six month in 1969. 

 He then served at CCN from early 1970 until August 1971 as the 1-0 on RT Rattler and as a Covey Rider. Swede’s tour ended when he and Cessna 02 pilot LT Ryan were shot down near Savannakhet, Laos in late 1971. He was medevaced to the states and spent six months in the hospital, then returned to 7th Group (S3) and worked two years for Major Elliott. He was later assigned as the Race Relations NCO for 7th Group, a position he held for about one year, and then moved on to Recruiting duty in Los Angeles, where he was the top recruiter for the west sector two years running. After three years as a recruiter he was assigned to Pirmasens, Germany as the NCOIC for the Director of Industrial Operations for approximately four years. He was then assigned to Warrington, England and worked at the US Embassy as the NCOIC for the Army Attache for the last four years before retiring as a MSG. Swede has been living in England for the last 43 years and takes pride in never having lost a man on his recon team.

LT David Allen Lenchner, KIA 50 years ago today.

Today we pause to remember LT David Allen Lenchner, KIA 50 years ago today. This report was written by LT Dan Thompson after speaking with eye witnesses like Ken Bird, Phil Bauso, and "Smitty". LT Thompson’s and his platoon were ordered up the mountain to find Lenchner and find the hole in the top of the mountain and get the men out.
Marble Mountain Shootout—14 December 1968, Quang Nam Providence, Republic of Viet Nam. During preceding week, Major Moore, S-2, CCN, received actionable intelligence from a wounded POW. The same sapper unit that had attacked FOB#4 on 23 August had slipped back into Marble Mountain. Major Jack Deckard, S-3, sent “A” Company Hatchet Force (Nung) and two Reconnaissance Teams, RT “No Name” (PRU), led by Specialist John “Smitty” Smith and another RT (unk), to find, close with, kill, or otherwise drive the enemy from the mountain. Straphangers, LNO Captain Randy Givens (in country three weeks) LNO LT Francis Bret and others, attached.
First platoon, LT Dan Thompson, cordoned the western base of mountain near old French Fort. One SCU was KIA and two WIA from shoebox mine. Second platoon, LT Fredrick Barbour drove deep into a large grotto. Third platoon, LT Phillip Bauso stood in reserve. Upon entry into the dark, craggy confines, 2nd Platoon came under withering crossfire that scattered the Special Commando Unit, SCU. Salvos of grenades and automatic fire wounded several SCU, Barbour and two straphangers. The platoon was pinned behind rocks as dead and wounded lay exposed to enemy fire. Several attempts to reach the injured were driven back by intense automatic fire. The firefight raged throughout the morning. Each time reinforcements attempted to relieve 2nd platoon, concentrated automatic fire drove them back. LT Barbour, straphangers and six, wounded SCU were driven deeper into the cave. Outside, 3rd platoon engaged in a running gun battle with snipers positioned in caves and spider holes along the southeast wall.
A CH-34 hovered in front of a cave midway up the southern slope of the mountain and exchanged automatic fire. The Kingbee, driven off, trailed smoke from its engine. The nine men, two with serious head wounds, were driven deeper into the cave. Short on ammunition and medical supplies, there was no way out except through a hole in the roof. They faced the imminent prospect of being overrun or hypoxia, from blood loss. Outside, Specialist Smith was critically wounded in a firefight and medevaced.
Assessing the critical situation, LT Lenchner, without directive, climbed the mountain with rope and pistol. As 3rd platoon watched from below, weapons trained to provide cover, Lenchner secured rope, Swiss Seat and carabiner, and without fear or hesitation pushed off. The enemy sprung from the cave, fired and retreated. Lenchner fell mortally wounded.
LT COL Jack Warren arrived at the base of the mountain and asked for volunteers to retrieve Lenchner’s body down. SSGT Ken Bird, RTO, observed men firing M-79 rounds into the cave. LT Bauso, friend and roommate, and unknown officer, responded. Using Lenchner’s rope, Bauso rappelled down the mountain as grenades were thrown into the mouth of the cave. Bauso lowered the body down. For his actions, LT Phillip Bauso was awarded ARCOM/V.
Late afternoon, 1st platoon found a hole on top of the mountain. One each UH1-D, without winch, failed to extract the trapped men and was driven off. By EENT 1st platoon had pulled LT Francis out by hand. That night, LT Barbour and straphanger were extracted by CH-53 as enemy machine gun fired from village. Pilot radioed “bingo” (out of fuel) and cut line. The two men crashed to the ground. With keen insight and savvy skills, SSgt Edward Bartberger was credited with saving the lives of the critically wounded. First platoon secured RON site and ushered wounded down the next morning.
For their actions 14 December 1968; Sp. 4 John “Smitty” Smith (medevaced to Japan) awarded Purple Heart (PH); LT Fred Barbour, ARCOM/V, PH; LNO LT Bret Francis ARCOM/V, PH; and LNO Captain Givens given BS/V, PH.
For selfless acts, above and beyond the call of duty, with complete disregard for his own safety as he attempted to route the enemy and provide relief to nine wounded and trapped men, LT David Allen Lenchner was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.

Giáng SInh và Năm Mới trước 1975 - Military Christmas and New Year in the Vietnam war