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Summary June 1970
After sharp combat in Cambodia in which two troopers lost their lives, Comanche returned to the Quan Loi base camp, changed commanders, and went on a well-deserved stand down in Bien Hoa. The 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry is awarded the Valorous Unit Award, with the streamer embroidered FISH HOOK actions during the period 1 May to 29 June 1970. (Source: Wm. Harry Boudreau, and Department of the Army General Order 43, 1972)
June - Exact Date Unknown
C 2/5 found large caches of weapons and ammunition in Cambodia. Top picture is of Richard "Larry" Bowman (killed in action on June 19) and LT Richard Ferguson at a cache site somewhere in Cambodia. CPT Joseph Anderson Jr. and PFC Tim Dube also look around the cache. CPT Anderson became the Commanding Officer of the company immediately after leaving Cambodia. The third picture shows Richard "Larry" Bowman and SGT David Dunn, along with a Vietnamese Kit Carson Scout examining items at the site. (Source: Tim Dube)
Click on Photos to See Larger Versions
All Courtesy of Tim Dube
Comanche is involved in some heavy contact in Cambodia. From an email sent by Nick Gallo:
Larry Bowman was lost on the 1st day of a 3 day contact. We were inserted into the field in the rain at last light. We set up without sending out clearing patrols. I don't even think we put out trips. At first light either 2-6 or 3-6 was sent out. We had setup right next to a bunker complex, they opened up. For the next 2 days we fought to a stand still. On the 3rd day 1-6 had the point. As we moved further and further into the complex we realized they had left. It was that day we recovered Bowman's' body.
From another email from Mike Schexnider:
A couple of things I remember pretty well. Both troopers that died during the firefight of June 19-21 died on the same day. 2nd platoon 'volunteered' to go and help extract the squad that was pinned down. We could only bring back one KIA. The next two days were spent to retrieve the second KIA. I never knew their names.
From an email from Gary D. "Goldie" Howell of 2nd Platoon:
Michael Schexnider I remember to be correct about Larry Bowman's and Robert Steele's death, I was the lead point man of the 2nd platoon that volunteered to get those troops that were pinned down and to bring them a medic, as our medic stepped just past me taking his hands off my shoulder he too was hit by AK 47 rounds. The fire fight was so intense that we could not get the second KIA, I could see that he was dead. The next day I was the lead point man in because we knew the way, I could almost touch the body but the enemy opened up on us again with AK between the to trees and direct sniper fire, I think "Shep" got the sniper with several volleys of grenades, still we could not reach the body. On the third day I lead point in again this time we really knew the lay of land and saw the enemy first and I shot one running bare foot down, through the under brush, but the enemy fire was still to great to get the body. We moved back further that night to bring artillery in closer, the guys may remember that we heard a tank that night and not ours. The Forth day another platoon volunteered too go in first, the enemy was gone, tank tracks were on the ground, and the body of our comrade was almost on top of the bunker. We found a large enemy supply of food and ammo, spent a few days air lifting the 7.62x39mm out and blowing the rest, and was that one big explosion. We then moved a few kilometers to link up with another company who had also found a very large enemy supply dump, stayed the night, the next day Hueys lifted all those men one or two helicopters at a time. I'm 53 now but I still remember the Australian band at "stand down", and getting one of the finest officers in the army, CPT. Joseph Anderson, but was concerned loosing LT. Brace who let me slide when I deserved punishment after almost blowing my friend Duffey away linking two belts of .50 cal. rounds of tracers back to back together.
From an email from James "Doc" Thom, who was the chief medic with the company:
I believe that Bowman and Steele died around the 9th & 10th. Steele died in my arms. Bowman was hit in the first burst and went down. The medic from second platoon was hit that day. I was 6 Band aid at the time but the 2nd was my platoon. I attempted to get to Bowman but was pinned down for several hours almost close enough to reach out and touch his boot but I could get no further. The battle on June 19-21 was because we would not back off and leave Larry's body. I myself had to be rescued from that spot. A guy named (I think) Montoya crawled out with an M-60 and saved me. Steele was hit by a sniper. He took one round in his forehead just below the rim of the helmet.
It took almost 40 years for me to find those two guys names. I learned it at the reunion in Memphis. DOC THOM C 2/5 1970The following members of Company C were awarded the Silver Star for actions on June 20: (Source: Unit History Calendar Year 1970 2-5 Cav)
- SSG John Taylor
- SP4 David Resendee
- SP4 Larry Speight
(Webmaster note: At present, there is considerable conflict as to the dates of this and other actions in June. The date of Larry Bowman's and Robert Steele's death are listed as June 9 and 10, yet Nick Gallo remembers their death's occurring during the same time period for which he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism. Bob Brace says he remembers his relinquishing command of the company during the first week of June, immediately after returning to Quan Loi.
To further complicate matters, the National Archives informs me that neither the S3 Journals from 2/5 Cav nor from the 3rd Brigade are available for any period of the Cambodian incursion. Lack of these reports results in the confusion of the CA into LZ X-Ray in May 1970. I have copies of the Morning Reports for the month of June on order from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Any further information would be appreciated by sending an email to webmaster@tallcomanche.org.)
June 29
Charlie Company met up with Alpha Company for extraction from Cambodia. The LZ was so small only one bird at a time could set down. This picture was taken from the door of a slick as it was lifting off. (Source: Email from Tim Dube)
Click on Photo to See Larger VersionCourtesy Tim Dube
June - Exact Date Unknown
In a change of command ceremony at Quan Loi, CPT Joseph Anderson took command from 1LT Robert Brace. (Source: Bob Brace)
In a recent email from James “Doc” Thom, who was a medic with Charlie Company during the Cambodian incursion, Doc shared this recollection of meeting CPT Joe Anderson, the incoming company commander, for the first time.
When we came out of Cambodia, we were pretty wasted. They gave us a part of the green line at Quan Loi. It was kind of funny because nobody was breakin balls. They left us to ourselves.
Steve Wright and I took a walk to a PX someplace and bought a bottle of Bacardi. (It was the only stuff they had!) We spent the day building a cooler out of ammo crates and insulating it with the Styrofoam used to pack mortar shells.
We got pretty wasted. I went back to the main CP at dark. It was quiet. Quan Loi was a huge base without many problems at night. I was on the radio about midnight when I heard noise outside. I didn’t think much was wrong but I pulled the .45 out and cocked it on my lap. I had just taken a swig of Pabst when some black guy came down the stairs an into the bunker. I looked at him and nodded. Guy didn’t look very happy. He had 2 MPs with him. He asked me who I was. I wasn’t thinking too clear by then and I just looked at him. He asked again and I told him "I'm Doc.”
Then he went into some song and dance about me not challenging him as he entered. By then I had figgured out that he wasn’t there looking for a cold beer! He kept it up.
I'll be honest. I was not ready to listen to that crap then. So I stood up then and the pistol was right there. I think the 2 MPs dropped a few loads in their pants. Then Bob Brace came in. He took one look and had a big smile on his face as he looked at me. He then introduced me to my new CO. Man what a way to start a relationship!
It was a rocky road between Joe and me. We argued a lot and bumped heads often. Somehow I don’t think he liked me. But he took to kidding. He used to dry scrape his beard. (That took a tough man!) He would ask “Why don’t you shave today, Doc?” I'd say “Yeah - when pigs flew in to visit!)
I developed a deep and profound respect for him though and I believe he respected me as well. (Maybe he pitied me?)
He said to me the day Bowman was hit "Doc, this company isn’t giving an inch until I get the kid back” I nodded. I figured I could get out there get the kid and drag him back easy enough. Then he gave me a direct order! "Don’t you dare try to reach that kid until I can extend the arc out further."
I should have listened but I can be thick at times and tried anyway. Then he had to send a guy out to get me. I was out there for a long time. (I tried to cut of the buttons of my shirt to get a little lower but that didn’t work.) I didn’t ever hear anything from him about it though. It took 2 more days to get Larry’s body, but Joe was true to his word. We never gave an inch!
That was my last battle. Several days later he blew out a small clearing to get a chopper in to take me out when my Old man had the heart attack that finally killed him! As the bird was rising, Joe came to attention and snapped off a salute to me! I couldn’t stand up because I was sitting in the doorway, but for probably the only time in my Army career I saluted an officer back and really meant it!
Joe Anderson was a class act all the way!
June - Exact Dates Unknown
After the change of command, Charlie Company joined the rest of the battalion in a stand-down at Bien Hoa. Howard "Doc" Hager, Tim Dube, and Ralph Duffy enjoyed themselves. Notice the 5th Cavalry crests on their shirts.
Click on Photo to See Larger VersionCourtesy Tim Dube
June - Exact Date Unknown
The purpose of the Cambodian incursion was to disrupt the enemy's extensive supply bases in heretofore safe Cambodia. Certainly 1st Platoon did their part, showing off some of the captured equipment and weapons.
Clockwise from upper left, an unknown trooper arranges what appears to be sealed containers. Without knowing for sure, the smaller packages on the left may be stripper clips of 7.62 AK ammunition, while the larger packages on the right may be .51 caliber ammo. (If you have any idea what these packages might be, please inform the webmaster.) Jeff Hanthorn shows off a US .50 caliber machinegun that was obtained through a swap with some Green Berets for some captured rifles. Eric Whorley shows off an elaborate bunker entrance, while another trooper looks at the stash of SKS rifles. (Source: Jim Holcombe)
Anyone knowing the name of the trooper with the SKS rifles, please inform the webmaster.
Click on these photos to see larger version.
All courtesy Jim Holcombe
June - Exact Date Unknown
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Updated April 03, 2011
