God bless you Frank, and welcome home. I was wounded on December 14, 1969 when LZ Jerri came under attack by mortar fire, so I wasn't in Vietnam at the time of the Battle of Ripcord. Not long after I got to 'Nam, I was sent to one of the FSB's at the end of 'Thunder Road', in the summer of '69. The VC tried to overrun us and all hell broke loose. All the Fourth of July fireworks I've seen in my life were nothing compared to what I saw and heard that night. All of our 155 howitzer barrels were set parallel to the ground as a last resort in case they started to break though. Our M-16s, flame throwers, Quad-50 machine guns, flares, and everything we had was blasted in the jungle darkness. You could hear trees creaking and falling down from the weaponry. Luckily, we got them before they got us.
I was in the area when Ripcord went down. I had friends on the base. Why do people lie about this stuff? They took heavy casulties but most survived. The NVA wanted us off Ripcord because they could see into the Ashau and target their convoys. It was part of their push in the spring of 1970. They attacked Granite, Reup Hill, Henderson. I was on Henderson when it was overrun and humped in AO Pear near Ripcord. I was in A/2/501 at the time.
I served on FSB Blaze. Bastogne..Barbara..Gia Le..Sally..Indian raids of Slim Chance..Hardcore..Veghel was my last FSB which I left for the States on June 18, 1970..I respect all of guys who went through that battle especially the guys who didn't. Hard to believe it was almost 50 years ago. I served on 175's and 8"
When I was stateside during early 1969, I trained on nothing but self-propelled howitzers. The 155 and 8-inch at Fort Irwin, California, and Fort Lewis, Washington. I left for 'Nam in July of '69, right after the Moon Landing, and started out in 105 towed unit for a couple weeks, but rest of my time was spent with 155 towed units. I don't believe I saw a self-propelled howitzer while serving in Vietnam. All always wondered why they kept moving us around Vietnam so often, and found out when VC tried to overrun us once, and hit us directly with mortars another time. We were always sitting ducks out there in the middle of the jungle with no way in or out, except by helicopter...or on foot.
There were many fire bases over run in that war. Who said America never lost a battle in Vietnam was full of it. The whole firebase concept was a loser from the beginning. They were small, isolated, vulnerable and needed constant supply, a real drain on manpower and equipment. Westmoreland was incompetent and so was Abrams. These brave men were not well served.
I was there in 1970, I think I must have been at Phu Bai. I was a newspaper reporter at the time, and the information officer invited me to catch a helicopter up to see a fire support base being established. It was called Ripcord. He directed me to an incoming helicopter and told me to hop on it as it was coming from Ripcord and then would return. I went out to do just that, but wounded soldiers started coming off or being carried off. Once clear, I went to the helicopter to get on. I stopped because there was blood all over the place, ceiling, floor, you name it. Blood everywhere. To this day I've never seen anything like the blood covering the interior of that helicopter. It did not seem like a good idea to catch a ride with them back to Ripcord. So, I did not do it. I heard at the time some of the soldiers who''d been taken up there dropped their packs, and then a machine gun on a higher hill nearby started shooting. A lot of men were shot running back for their packs, or so I was told.
My dad was in the 101st and fought in this battle. He’s picture on the back cover of the book “ripcord”. He’s still my hero. I “fought “ in Iraq. My fighting wasn’t like his. Not even close. He was I believe 502nd. I remember the stories of the ammo dump. Or, as we now call it the AHA. Sure miss that guy. These guys were true bad asses.
I was there and frank is right! This battle was kept from media as to not alarm the public. Still have the dreams and think of those men I knew and still know. Delta 2/506 !!!!
My friend , also my neighbor 2 houses down from mine , brother was with the U.S. 9th I.D. down in the Mekong near Can Tho , I think. Anyway, his brother volunteered in the Army in late 1967 , and was in country by early Spring 68 ; got wounded almost a year after being in country , and was discharged by mid- Summer 1969 ( honorably). Suffered severe PSTD , and got some professional therapudic guidance courtesy the V.A..
@@jtclaf I live in Philly , and , there was an Italian section in the Hunting Park section , which 5th an Pike are, or somewhat a part of Hunting Park section . 5th Street crosses that area , and leads into the Logan / Olney area , and further into the West Oaklane area , I'm pretty sure, but do correct me if I'm some what not accurate .
@@jtclaf You either went to Cardinal Dougherty ( spelling maybe off) , or Edison High School on , or around , 8TH and Lehigh. Father Judge , Cardinal Dougherty , and Edison High Schools suffered the most casualties in ratio to populations of other high schools in the nation ! I saw a documentary on WHYY , Wilmington DE. , about how thesr particular highschools suffered tremendously , about their students kia 's in SouthVietnam ! I myself knew friends from neighborhood , church I attended , neighbors sons , and daughters , abd friends bros. who went to South Vietnam. Most came back , some didn't including my uncle in mid-3/1968 tail end of TET , near Pleiku , Central Highlands ; ten days before my 11th bday.
I know someone that was there. He was a Ranger from Lobelville, Tennessee. He explained to me about the Huey's that were involved. He was calling in coordination for 105 fire support. He, to this day, is an Incredible Man.
My uncle was kia in mid-3/1968, tail of TET, in SouthVietnams , Central Highlands, near Pleiku, 10 days before my 11th bday. Not to mention friends and neighbors sons and brothers coming hm. and still there , last one coming hm. 10/1971!
Remember scant information about the firebase Ripcord battle in mid to late 7/1970. But , the war in SouthVietnam was as fierce as ever in 1970. 1970 was another radical year; the Kent State incident where Ohio National Guardsmen shot , and killed 3 or 4 students protesting Nixons order to cross into Cambodia , and to seek an destroy NVA , and Vietcong sanctuaries .
My heart felt thanks, respect, consideration and support goes out to these men. I enlisted in 1977 in the U.S. Army Infantry at 17 because I felt compelled to do my part. Walked a million miles in your boots, but I'll never be able to fill your shoes. You were my drill instructors at Dix and Benning. My section Sergeants in the 8th Division, and an inspiration to me that made me the good great-grandfather I am today. Thank you for all your guidance, advice, leadership, and prime example to being an responsible and successful old man in this life. Much love. Miss my youth. Because of you guys..it was not wasted on the young. God Bless and God Speed. "Follow me, I am the Infantry".
Jay was a team member of 2/501 Recon on Henderson. George Banda was also a medic with Recon and survived the the firefight on Henderson. George lives in Wisconsin (My War by Doc Banda)
A few survived? I'm sure hundreds survived! I'd be more concerned about the NVA because they say over 10,000-15,000 NVA were killed in that area before those battles were finished. In the first week of the 1968 Communist TET offensive, they say over 40,000 VC/NVA troops were killed !! One week !!! The US Marines had 1,000 KIA's in the Que Son valley from June-September of 1967. 80 marines were killed in a NVA ambush there in less that 15 minutes! You're talking about an area that was about 10 miles X 10 miles square !! And most people have never heard about those terrible battles 25 miles SW of Danang during that hot summer !! And on July, 2nd of 1967 during the Marine Operation Buffalo, Bravo Co. of the 1st Bn. 9th Marine Regiment (the Walking Dead) was "wasted" during a NVA ambush just outside of Con Thein on the DMZ. Over 100 KIA's in less than 2 hours!! 23 survivors (4 not wounded) from an Entire Company!! And 3rd Bn. 1st Marine Regiment around June of 1968 should have had a total strength of over 800 Marines and they had LESS than 200 Marines left because of heavy combat losses !! Marine companies in the field on the DMZ during early 1968 should have had over 160 combat Marines and some had less than 50!! Ripcord wasn't shit!! LOL.
I was a new replacement in Como with 2/11tth and was delivering SOI's and after leaving FSB Katharyn when the crew chief asked if all my classified material had been delivered because we were headed for Ripcord to extract a wounded soldier. Hit with small arms fire going in & out. Welcome to Vietnam.
God bless you Frank, and welcome home. I was wounded on December 14, 1969 when LZ Jerri came under attack by mortar fire, so I wasn't in Vietnam at the time of the Battle of Ripcord. Not long after I got to 'Nam, I was sent to one of the FSB's at the end of 'Thunder Road', in the summer of '69. The VC tried to overrun us and all hell broke loose. All the Fourth of July fireworks I've seen in my life were nothing compared to what I saw and heard that night. All of our 155 howitzer barrels were set parallel to the ground as a last resort in case they started to break though. Our M-16s, flame throwers, Quad-50 machine guns, flares, and everything we had was blasted in the jungle darkness. You could hear trees creaking and falling down from the weaponry. Luckily, we got them before they got us.
I was in the area when Ripcord went down. I had friends on the base. Why do people lie about this stuff? They took heavy casulties but most survived. The NVA wanted us off Ripcord because they could see into the Ashau and target their convoys. It was part of their push in the spring of 1970. They attacked Granite, Reup Hill, Henderson. I was on Henderson when it was overrun and humped in AO Pear near Ripcord. I was in A/2/501 at the time.
I served on FSB Blaze. Bastogne..Barbara..Gia Le..Sally..Indian raids of Slim Chance..Hardcore..Veghel was my last FSB which I left for the States on June 18, 1970..I respect all of guys who went through that battle especially the guys who didn't. Hard to believe it was almost 50 years ago. I served on 175's and 8"
When I was stateside during early 1969, I trained on nothing but self-propelled howitzers. The 155 and 8-inch at Fort Irwin, California, and Fort Lewis, Washington. I left for 'Nam in July of '69, right after the Moon Landing, and started out in 105 towed unit for a couple weeks, but rest of my time was spent with 155 towed units. I don't believe I saw a self-propelled howitzer while serving in Vietnam. All always wondered why they kept moving us around Vietnam so often, and found out when VC tried to overrun us once, and hit us directly with mortars another time. We were always sitting ducks out there in the middle of the jungle with no way in or out, except by helicopter...or on foot.
There were many fire bases over run in that war. Who said America never lost a battle in Vietnam was full of it. The whole firebase concept was a loser from the beginning. They were small, isolated, vulnerable and needed constant supply, a real drain on manpower and equipment. Westmoreland was incompetent and so was Abrams. These brave men were not well served.
thanks for your service, you and all the man on that hill have my full respect
I was there in 1970, I think I must have been at Phu Bai. I was a newspaper reporter at the time, and the information officer invited me to catch a helicopter up to see a fire support base being established. It was called Ripcord. He directed me to an incoming helicopter and told me to hop on it as it was coming from Ripcord and then would return. I went out to do just that, but wounded soldiers started coming off or being carried off. Once clear, I went to the helicopter to get on. I stopped because there was blood all over the place, ceiling, floor, you name it. Blood everywhere. To this day I've never seen anything like the blood covering the interior of that helicopter. It did not seem like a good idea to catch a ride with them back to Ripcord. So, I did not do it. I heard at the time some of the soldiers who''d been taken up there dropped their packs, and then a machine gun on a higher hill nearby started shooting. A lot of men were shot running back for their packs, or so I was told.
Who were you working for?
I was around Xuan Loc in 1970
My dad was in the 101st and fought in this battle. He’s picture on the back cover of the book “ripcord”. He’s still my hero. I “fought “ in Iraq. My fighting wasn’t like his. Not even close. He was I believe 502nd. I remember the stories of the ammo dump. Or, as we now call it the AHA. Sure miss that guy. These guys were true bad asses.
I was there and frank is right! This battle was kept from media as to not alarm the public. Still have the dreams and think of those men I knew and still know. Delta 2/506 !!!!
My dad (andrew hooten) was there as well. Welcome home
At the time there was a big time news blackout on this one. After Hamburger Hill the Army didn't want the public to know about it.
God bless them
god bless all nam vets!
My friend , also my neighbor 2 houses down from mine , brother was with the U.S. 9th I.D. down in the Mekong near Can Tho , I think. Anyway, his brother volunteered in the Army in late 1967 , and was in country by early Spring 68 ; got wounded almost a year after being in country , and was discharged by mid- Summer 1969 ( honorably).
Suffered severe PSTD , and got some professional therapudic guidance courtesy the V.A..
Amen
There's no Italian section in North Philadelphia now....
There might not even be an Italian section in South Philly now.....
@@jtclaf I live in Philly , and , there was an Italian section in the Hunting Park section , which 5th an Pike are, or somewhat a part of Hunting Park section . 5th Street crosses that area , and leads into the Logan / Olney area , and further into the West Oaklane area , I'm pretty sure, but do correct me if I'm some what not accurate .
@@jtclaf You either went to Cardinal Dougherty ( spelling maybe off) , or Edison High School on , or around , 8TH and Lehigh.
Father Judge , Cardinal Dougherty , and Edison High Schools suffered the most casualties in ratio to populations of other high schools in the nation ! I saw a documentary on WHYY , Wilmington DE. , about how thesr particular highschools suffered
tremendously , about their students kia 's in SouthVietnam !
I myself knew friends from neighborhood , church I attended , neighbors sons , and daughters , abd friends bros. who went to South Vietnam. Most came back , some didn't including my uncle in mid-3/1968 tail end of TET , near Pleiku , Central Highlands ; ten days before my 11th bday.
Welcome home sir. Thank you for your service.
I know someone that was there. He was a Ranger from Lobelville, Tennessee. He explained to me about the Huey's that were involved. He was calling in coordination for 105 fire support. He, to this day, is an Incredible Man.
Damn government buried this battle from the American publuc. These brave guys were buried without proper recognition.
The guy being interviewed runs "The Ripcord Association". Pretty sure he has a good handle on what went down on that hill.
George B Toole Jr.
" I've Always Loved you Hayden Panettiere. "
march 12th 1970 i was 6 years old , we share the last name , thank you for your service
40 Huey’s holy shit
All the young guys went up North
HAPPY VIETNAM VET DAY
My uncle was kia in mid-3/1968, tail of TET, in SouthVietnams , Central Highlands, near Pleiku, 10 days before my 11th bday. Not to mention friends and neighbors sons and brothers coming hm. and still there , last one coming hm. 10/1971!
You have my respect
Remember scant information about the firebase Ripcord battle in mid to late 7/1970. But , the war in SouthVietnam was as fierce as ever in 1970.
1970 was another radical year; the Kent State incident where Ohio National Guardsmen shot , and killed 3 or 4 students protesting Nixons order to cross into Cambodia , and to seek an destroy NVA , and Vietcong sanctuaries .
Hero!!! Welcome Home our American Hero !!!
jajaja LOL
Thanks to all of the soldiers who fought with . Thanks for your service. It.
I lost 6 close friends at the Ah Shaw Valley Sorry for the spilling has been 50 plus years now
My heart felt thanks, respect, consideration and support goes out to these men. I enlisted in 1977 in the U.S. Army Infantry at 17 because I felt compelled to do my part.
Walked a million miles in your boots, but I'll never be able to fill your shoes. You were my drill instructors at Dix and Benning. My section Sergeants in the 8th Division, and an inspiration to me that made me the good great-grandfather I am today. Thank you for all your guidance, advice, leadership, and prime example to being an responsible and successful old man in this life. Much love. Miss my youth. Because of you guys..it was not wasted on the young. God Bless and God Speed.
"Follow me, I am the Infantry".
Hero
I'm looking for vids on firebase Henderson.
For info on SGT Medic Jay Thomas Diller
101 Airborne Kia firebase Henderson.
Jay was a team member of 2/501 Recon on Henderson.
George Banda was also a medic with Recon and survived the the firefight on Henderson.
George lives in Wisconsin (My War by Doc Banda)
1970
We stand on the backs of Giants.
Should be an hour long video
comment erased
You are a hero to all. I couldn't imagine what that was like. God bless to all that fought for the cause.
A few survived? I'm sure hundreds survived! I'd be more concerned about the NVA because they say over 10,000-15,000 NVA were killed in that area before those battles were finished. In the first week of the 1968 Communist TET offensive, they say over 40,000 VC/NVA troops were killed !! One week !!! The US Marines had 1,000 KIA's in the Que Son valley from June-September of 1967. 80 marines were killed in a NVA ambush there in less that 15 minutes! You're talking about an area that was about 10 miles X 10 miles square !! And most people have never heard about those terrible battles 25 miles SW of Danang during that hot summer !! And on July, 2nd of 1967 during the Marine Operation Buffalo, Bravo Co. of the 1st Bn. 9th Marine Regiment (the Walking Dead) was "wasted" during a NVA ambush just outside of Con Thein on the DMZ. Over 100 KIA's in less than 2 hours!! 23 survivors (4 not wounded) from an Entire Company!! And 3rd Bn. 1st Marine Regiment around June of 1968 should have had a total strength of over 800 Marines and they had LESS than 200 Marines left because of heavy combat losses !! Marine companies in the field on the DMZ during early 1968 should have had over 160 combat Marines and some had less than 50!! Ripcord wasn't shit!! LOL.
Don't YOU americans ever get SICK of waging these TERRIBLE STINKING WARS?!?
It’s the evil corrupt politicians in Washington and not the peace loving citizens.
I was a new replacement in Como with 2/11tth and was delivering SOI's and after leaving FSB Katharyn when the crew chief asked if all my classified material had been delivered because we were headed for Ripcord to extract a wounded soldier.
Hit with small arms fire going in & out.
Welcome to Vietnam.