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Summary - December 1967

During December much of the enemy activity took place about eighteen miles to the north of the 2/5 Cav area of operations - the Second Battle of Tam Quan in the northern part of the Bong Son Plains pitted the Division's 1st Brigade against the 7th and 8th Battalions of the 22nd NVA Regiment for over half the month. Consequently the Crescent to the south and east of Bong Son was relatively quiet. C Company continued working in the mountains and river valleys west of the coastal plains, in particular around the southern end of 506 Valley. There was not much contact during this quiet period.

C Company, accompanied by A Company, returned to The Rockpile about the middle of the month. This small black mountain right at the edge of the sea and just east of the Nui Mieu (mountains) had been the scene of heavy combat during September of 1967, but the area was now quiet. After several days spent searching caves and rock shelters, C Company was pulled out of the field and given the task of guarding the Highway 1 bridge at Bong Son.  With Christmas approaching this was a much-appreciated duty.

On Christmas Day CPT Dean Learish was replaced as Company Commander by CPT James Estep. The next day the company left  the Bong Son Bridge and resumed its search and clear operations in 506 Valley, Vinh Thanh Valley and the Suoi Ca Valley. 1967 came to an end with C Company making contact just hours before the New Year's Truce was to take effect.  (© 2001, Kenneth D. Burington)

December 15

1^st Platoon is on a night patrol in the 506 Valley when the point man, SP4 Rudolfo Treviño tripped a booby trip and was killed.  Wounded in that same action is 2LT William Arnett (frag wounds to the head and neck), SP4 Robert Chimulera (wounds to the extremities), and SP4 Arthur Meyer (frag wounds to the left leg and arm).  All were taken to the 67^th Evacuation Hospital at Qui Nhon. (Source: Tom Rutten and DA Form 1 Morning Report dated December 15, 1967)

Jay Phillips recalls this about Treviño's death:

In my recollection, we were indeed making a night movement in an area of hedgerows and fields (may have been overgrown rice paddies, as the 506 Valley contained many abandoned/inactive farm lands). Trevino, the company point man this night was moving on a trail and, in the dark, hit a trip wire while moving through a gap in a hedgerow.  It was a large explosion (may have been 81mm or 105mm round) and I think he was killed instantly.  I remember we brought in a night Medevac, using a strobe light I think (although I could just be recalling the strobe on the Huey) and basically abandoned whatever night mission we had been moving on.  As the movement was in the dark, I don't see how anyone could have avoided hitting the booby trap. 

According to the Morning Report, Treviño died at 9 PM from wounds to the head and chest. 

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December 25 - Monday

CPT James Estep assumed command of C 2/5 Cav from CPT Dean Learish while the company secured a bridge on Route 1 spanning the An Lao River just south of Bong Son in Binh Dinh Province.  Pictured here is CPT Learish receiving a plaque from the men. (Source: Ken Burington, and from Comanche Six, James Estep)
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Santa making the rounds.  To the extreme left is CPT Learish, third from the left in the background is CPT Estep.	Click on photos to see larger version Courtesy Ken Burington

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December - Exact Date Unknown

This picture of SSG Imre Furedi was taken in the 506 Valley, west of the Bong Son plains in Binh Dinh Province.  The white puffs are white phosphorous mortar rounds set to explode in the air so they can be seen and used as "markers".  Soon after this picture was taken, SSG Furedi went to battalion to organize the "Black Knight Rangers," a recon unit the preceded the formal organization of a battalion reconnaissance platoon in E Company.  (Source: Imre Furedi)

Click on Photo to see Larger Version Courtesy Imre Furedi

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Updated September 10, 2006