WE REMEMBER OUR 15 RW BROTHERS KILLED DURING AUGUST 1966-70
Gary Barbee 8/2/69, Bravo Co. Emory Illinois,8/26/67, Bravo Co. Joseph Hashin Jr. 8/6/69, Echo Co. Paul Nelson 8/6/69, Echo Co. Duane Scowden 8/8/69, Bravo Co.
Gerald Mentzer 8/13/66, Bravo Co. Kenneth Goodness 8/14/69, C Co. John Hall 8/14/69, Charlie Co. Rickey Swaney 8/14/69, Charlie Co. Angelo Giacobbe 8/19/68, Alpha Co.
David Botts 8/20/68, Bravo Co. Louis Gau 8/20/68, Bravo Co. Michael Goins 8/20/68, Bravo Co. Albert Smith 8/20/68, Bravo Co. Bruce Dolbow 8/25/68, Alpha Co.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY ATTENDED BY WITT AND NORTHROP
Fellow Red Warriors - Dennis Witt and I recently participated in the CofC for the Bn CO of 1/12IN in Alpine,TX. 24 July. Please see attached picture and Tomahawk. The 1/12 is on border patrol. covering over 600 miles in coordination with the Border Patrol Agents.
We were proud and honored to attend this change. My son Todd came as did Dennis's wife, Kathy. Dennis and I are trying to maintain a relationship between the Vietnam era soldiers and todays 12th Regt. This is our attempt at doing so. I can assure you that every BN CO and CSM is aware of the presentation of the Tomahawk. It is deeply appreciated.
We met the Brigade CO COL Hugh Jones. I had met him before at the 2/12IN change back in April in Tucson, AZ. He went out of his way to make sure all went well for our little group. Every one of the new and old BN COs are just fine, good looking and sharp individuals. I met the Bde CSM Cobb and the Bn CSM of 1/12, CSM Odom. Hard for me to truly relate my appreciation, respect and admiration for every one of these men. I was also told multiple times how deeply grateful all the men, especially the leadership, feel about our attending and presenting the Tomahawk. FYI- The BN COs change command every 24 months, the CSMs change every 30 months.
I understand even better now, exactly how proud we all should be of Todays Army. I met several family members, wives, children, parents who attended this event. I will assure you it was a huge effort to get too Alpine ! But I wanted to present my 16th Tomahawk to this outgoing Bn CO. (9 BN COs and 7 CSMs).
The ceremony was outstanding. Very professional, sharp marching, colors, speeches, short and to the point.
I have more - so after the Change we decided to visit the Big Bend National Park. Well, on the way to the Park we stopped to get fuel and get snacks. While waiting, 2 vans pull up and about 12 young men get out and refuel, but also go inside to get what I call, junk food. As they are leaving one young man looks at my shirt which has 1/12IN Red Warriors on it, and says "No Way Sir, are you really a Red Warrior?" So, we told him our reason for being there and our service in Vietnam ...and by now all the others had gathered around. Dennis and I shook hands with many of these young, good-looking soldiers. They were on their day off from Border patrol. I render a full complimentary report to the new BN CO Harrison and CSM Odom.
The Army of Today is and remains in good hands. The traditions of the Red Warriors remain in good hands.
ED Northrop, LTC Brandon Wohlschlegel (outgoing 1/12 Bn CO, DennisWitt
The Tomahawk- 19" long and adorned with a prayer feather and a Dream Catcher. Engraved with name and dates of service and our 1/12 Bn Motto.
JERRY RAYALA - C COMPANY 69/70 - AUTHORS NEW LIFE STORY BOOK
Red Warrior Jerry Rayala, C Company, 1st Platoon 1969/70, has just authored his first book, a complete story of his life and how his Vietnam experience influenced and affected him to this very day.
Rayala, a Shake and Bake Sgt. served as 1st Platoon squad leader during his entire tour. Initiated into combat on June 5, just days after his arrival, set the tone of his tour. His book details his Central Highlands experience, including a day that awarded himthe Purple Heart. But unlike other memoirs, continues on to now, his his 80th decade. Through it all he uniquely ties his life together in "I Once Was A Soldier." A fantastic read for all who served.
OR, to receive an autographed copy, CLICK HERE to contact Jerry directly
DENNIS McCORMAK PASSES. MEMBER OF A COMPANY; 1969/70
We sadly learned of the passing Dennis (Denny) McCormack of Wisconsin. He died this past March 12.
Dennis served in A Company during the 1969/70 period and , became a Sgt. He was Awarded the Purple Heart for action May of 1970 and was a Bonze Star recipient
After serving Dennis became involved in the Insurance Industry in Post Falls, Idaho and Mesa, Arizona. He retired and moved to his original Home in DePere, Wisconsin..
HAT PRICE INCREASE COMING - ORDER NOW AT LOWER PRICE
There are only seven caps left for sale at the older 2023 prices of $23 including shipping. Once gone, a new batch of Red Warrior cap, which just has been delivered, and price will increase to around $26.
Our old supplier went out of business, so we had to switch over, and like everything else, so did the price.
For ordering instructions, visit our PX page.CLICK HERE
TWO BATTLE REPORTS OF RED WARRIORS NOW DOWNLOADABLE
The estate of Roger Hill has given permission to make available Roger Hills two Battle reports that have been unavailable for several years
Our first report: The November 11-13, 1966 Battle of LZ Warrior was the first major fight with the NVA. The battle covered several days of fighting resulting in massive losses to the NVA enemy. Enemy body count exceeded 100.
Our second report: The Battle of July 12, 1967 was the worst battle in Red Warrior Vietnam history. As author Roger Hill stated "The Decimation of Bravo Company" It is in this battle that Red Warrior POW's were taken by the NVA.
Thanks to MaryHill, wife of RogerHill for allowing us to make Rogers work available to us. Special thanks to Red Warrior HarrisonKohler for providing his personal copies for scanning.
WAR DIARY BY ROGER HILL - JULY 1966 - to SEPTEMBER 1967
Before the late Roger Hill began to write his famous battle reports, he began to record a brief summary of the the key events that took place by the battalion during it's first year in Vietnam. This downloadable document is his early attempt to do just that, and he does an excellent job of highlighting the first 12 months of Red Warrior activity..
This 33 page document is one of Rogers ' earliest documents. It's a good read for all Red Warriors. For the original Boat People as a recap, as well as all of those who followed. who wondered what came before our time in the field.
Special Thanks to Rogelio M. Sacdalan - CWQ USAF of Tujunga, California for sending us this summary
The 4th Infantry Division (4ID) was the Utah Beach assault division at H-Hour, D-Day, June 6, 1944; a liberator of the port city of Cherbourg on June 25, 1944; part of the St. Lo breakout on July 25, 1944; and a liberator of Paris on August 25, 1944. On September 11, 1944, 4ID troops were the first to breach the “impenetrable” Siegfried Line. In November 1944, they slugged it out with the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest, their toughest fight of the war. December found them holding the southern shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge. January through early May 1945 saw their second penetration of the Siegfried Line, the battle of Prum, and a constant pursuit of the retreating German army into their homeland.
The 4ID was a key unit in winning the European theater of World War II, as were many other units. Included are their training days, their fighting days, and their return home to become the “Greatest Generation.”
Told from the daily after action reports, excerpts from books written by 4ID Soldiers and historians, personal stories written by 4ID veterans, and other sources make this the all-inclusive history of the 4th Infantry Division in World War II – from June 1940 to March 1946.
DENNIS WITT PUBLISHES HIS FIRST BOOK - STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Red Warrior (C/1/12 & HHC/1/12 – 66-67) Dennis Witt has just published a book about life in the infantry in Vietnam. The book is titled ‘Infantry Life: Vietnam’s Central Highlands 1966 – 1967’.
The book is a collection of short stories and pictures describing experiences he had as an infantryman in Vietnam. Following is a blurb about the book:
Dennis began writing the stories simply as a legacy for his family and friends. After he finished the 70th story, he decided the collection of short stories, taken as a whole, generally described what life was like for him and his Red Warrior brothers over that year they shared together. After much encouragement, he decided to put them into book form.
All the men that served in the Red Warriors and in the 4th Infantry Division have memories of similar events that were part of their daily lives in the jungles of the Central Highlands. Most of the stories in the book describe events that filled 95 percent of the time infantry men in the 4ID spent in Vietnam.
If you are interested, the book is available through Amazon – both hard copy and Kindle (Search ‘Infantry Life + Witt).
NEW RED WARRIOR CAPS HAVE ARRIVED - PRICE INCREASE - SEE PX
What is likely to be the very last shirts made, are now on our Post Reunion Sale. For $20 your get the official Red Warriors Vietnam Association black shirt, and that includes postage. There likely will be no future shirts mad, so if you want one, now is the time.
Current inventory, as of AUG 12, 2024:
Small @ 12
Medium @ (Sold out)
Large @ 3
Extra Large @ 15
Two Extra Large @ 22
Three Extra Large @ 3
Checks only - made payable to Herb Taylor.
Order directly from:
Herb Taylor
12317 West 74th Terrace
Shawnee, KS 66216-365
CHALLENGE COINS ON SALE - ORDER NOW FROM JIM DANIELS
RED WARRIOR CHALLENGE COINS NOW AVAILABLE
Absent for a while, OUR Joe Yazzie designed Red Warrior challenge coins are once again available for purchase.
$15 (including shipping) gets you one of most prized possessions for a Red Warrior.
RED WARRIORS DIARY PAGES LINK TO MAPS WHERE EVENTS OCCURRED
Our Red Warrior 1967-70 Diary Pages (see menu button to the left) now has links to the military maps where events occurred. Check it out. Find the year, date, description. If a coordinated is mentioned there should be a link to the map on our map pages.
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