Base Camp

This site is dedicated to the members of the Recon Platoon 1-16 First Infantry Division who served in Vietnam from 1965-1970

Our goal is to have “All present or accounted for”
Dave Hummel Recon 1-16-1 1966-1967

The 1st Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment (Rangers) arrived in the Republic of Vietnam in October of 1965.

We went farther, faster. We were better armed and took more supplies with us because most of the time we were on our own. We went on more patrols and night ambushes than most line companies, and during the few times we were back at Lai Khe (our base camp), we normally did perimeter guard or night ambush there.

We learned our trade from those who had prior combat experience along with OJT. We were not baby killers, we were soldiers. We fought a tough enemy and most of the time, defeated him. We were not draft card or flag burners. We did not all understand the reasons for this little war, but we did not run away to a foreign country and hide. We believed we were needed by our country and that this was the right thing to do.

After less than auspicious homecomings, and years of contempt, there was a transition to acceptance of the Vietnam veterans. For thirty some years I suppressed the memories and rarely talked to anyone about being a veteran. We have found many from our platoon, but we are still looking.

Our goal is to have “All present or accounted for”.

Turkey's BRO flag flying in Iraq

TIMELINE IN COUNTRY

By Dave Hummel

Edited by Edwin Peck

1st Infantry Division

• 10 October 1965 - 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry arrived in Vietnam. Assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, stationed initially at Ben Cat.
• 14 - 22 November 1965 - Operation Bushmaster
• 28 November 1965 to 9 December 1965 - Operation Bushmaster II
• 8 January 1966 - Operation Crimp
• Spring of 1966 - New Base Camp established at Lai Khe for 3rd Brigade, Including 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry
• April 1966 - Operation Birmingham
• March 30 - April 15, 1966 Operation Abeline
• June 1966 to July 1966 - Operation El Paso II
  

• 23 August 1966 to - Operation Amarillo
• 2 September to Early November 1966 - Operation Attleborough - Phase 1
• 17 October 1966 to 1 November 1966 - Operation Shenandoah
• 6 November - 24 Nov 1966 - Operation Attleborough - Phase 2
• Thanksgiving 1966 at Quan Loy - Bob Hope's USO Show
• 8 January - 26 January 1967 - Operation Cedar Falls

The Battles of Prek Klok

• 22 February - 14 May 1967 - Operation Junction City
  
• 12-26 June 1967 - Operation Billings
• Battle of Xom Bo II; June 17, 1967, 36 American soldiers from 1/16th Inf. and 2/28th Inf. were killed. Many more were wounded.

Recon's KIAs

• • 1^st LT Douglas A. Logan, Crane, MO (Silver Star)
  • SP 4 Sammy L. Holmes, Miami, FL
  • SP 4 Charles W. Hook, Friendsville, MD
  • SP 4 Martin L. Plotkin, Lynbrook, NY
  • PFC William N. Cole, Clairton, PA
  • PFC Gary J. Ernst, Perryville, MO
  • SP 4 Stephen M. Noggle, Minneapolis, MN
  • PFC Wallace G. Nye, Minneapolis, MN
  • PFC Leroy Reed, Lake Charles, LA
  • PFC Douglas D. Wallin, Rochester, MN (DoW 08/26/1967)
• July 1967 - D (Delta) Company, 1/16th formed. Men were taken from Alpha, Bravo & Charlie Companies and mixed with FNG's to form the new Company per Curtis Brooks (Baby-San).
• Oct 1967 - Operation Shenandoah II
• 30 January 1968 - Tet Offensive Began
• October 1968 - 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry reorganized as Mechanized Infantry "Iron Rangers".
• 23 February 1969 - Tet Offensive Began
• 3 March 1970 - 1st Battalion, 16th Mechanized Infantry stood down and ceased combat activities and personnel headed home.
• 15 March 1970 - Lai Khe Base Camp turned over to the ARVN 5th Inf Division.
• April 1970 - 1st Battalion, 16th was reorganized at full strength in Augsburg, Germany as part of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division.