by Morris Ray
* * * * * *.
The Wall was written by Delta Recon man D.J. Taylor, after his first—and last—visit to the Vietnam War Memorial. More than 58,000 names are etched on the memorial. Of those, the youngest is fifteen years of age; five are sixteen; at least twelve are seventeen; the oldest, sixty-two. Eleven thousand five hundred KIA were under age twenty; eight were women.47
47 Statistics courtesy of veterans of the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment. http/thewallusa.com/information.index1.htm.
Recon
By James R. Jarrett
Dedicated to my warrior brothers and teammates of Project Delta
With watchful eyes and faces grim,
Weapons black and camoed skin.
Pupils wide the tree line peer,
Heartbeats race, death so near.
Crackling radio and static hiss,
Tracers bright with near miss.
Rockets roar with sound so deep,
The blood of men begins to seep.
Darkened jungle holds the fate,
Comrades trapped beyond the gate.
Aircraft screaming fast and low,
Death pursues the team below.
Courage their shield from loss of hope,
Hope as frail as STABO rope.
Rotors whine, gunners in the door,
Swiftly go these dogs of war.
A creed unknown to most mankind,
Never leave a man behind.
When cowards to sleep have gone,
Men like these shall carry on.
For freedom’s cause in lands far gone,
Remember brave men called recon.
Acknowledgments and Sources
PROJECT DELTA SURVIVORS ARE A FUNDAMENTAL element of the Special Operations Association (SOA) that meets in Las Vegas annually for their reunion. During the 2005 event, I attended and interviewed Delta veterans about their Vietnam experiences. Those interviews, or subsequent telephone conversations, are the basis for this book. The information I’ve portrayed has been documented with permission of participating members.
I wish to extend special thanks to Project Delta members and others who allowed me to tie up their phone for memories and for their notes of past events: Gary Nichols, Ken Edens, Alton “Moose” Monroe, Chester Howard, Jay Graves, Al Greenup, Al Park, Art Garcia, Agustin “Gus” Fabian, Andy Sheppard, Jerry Estenson, John Burdish, Andre “Saint” St. Laurent, Norm Doney, Maurice “Brake” Brakeman, Steve Carpenter, John Flanagan, James Jarrett, Bobby Pruett, William Roderick, James Dallas Chapman, Herb Siugzda, Tom Schultz and Fred Walz. Steve Sherman, as well as Neil Horn, the Project Delta website webmaster, have been extremely helpful and permitted the use of resources and data. All personal photos I’ve obtained through the website archives. If I’ve overlooked anyone, I sincerely apologize.
I choose not to circulate the manuscript to each and every member of Project Delta. On occasion the veterans have contradicted themselves on non-crucial points that didn’t change the gist or accuracy of the story. I fully realize not all might accept each account as entirely accurate. To circulate it broadly would have undoubtedly resulted in bickering about dates, times, etc., or reasons why something might have or not have happened. However, I did circulate chapters to some who’ve participated in its development, and greatly appreciate the suggestions, constructive criticism and corrections I’ve heeded and incorporated. Readers should not presume these accounts are the complete or full history of this fine organization. Given the fading memories of these honorable men and the passing of key Project Delta personnel, killed either during the war or since deceased, it might be best described as a snapshot of history.
Given the resources available, I’ve attempted to check and crosscheck facts via face-to-face interviews, telephone conversations and documentation, and supplemented information by revisiting some of the battle-fields.
It has been an honor to bring the true story of these remarkable men to the public’s attention, and to be able to assist them in passing along their personal legacy to their families.
Other Sources:
Steve Sherman. Project Delta, After Action Reports, Detachment B-52 (1964-1970).
Steve Sherman. History of Project Delta–Part 1, Project Delta After Action Reports, http://project-delta.net/delta_history.htm
List of those KIA, MIA, WIA and their awards, provided by Project Delta documentation: Annex A.
Colonel David Hackworth, USA (Ret). About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior. New York: Touchstone, 1990.
BDM Corporation: A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam, Volume 1, The Enemy (McLean, VA, November 30, 1979), 5-14.
Brigadier General Soutchay Vongsavanh, RLG [Royal Laotian Government]. “Military Operations and Activities in the Laotian
Panhandle,” Indochina Monographs (U.S. Army Center of Military History, Washington, DC, 1981), 4.
U.S. Department of State [DOS], telegram from Sullivan to DOS, 21 June 1965, Foreign Relations of the United States [FRUS], 1964-1968, Volume 27, Laos, accessed at: www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/vol_xxviii.
5th Special Forces Group Commander’s Debriefing Report on Omega, Sigma and Project Delta, June 1966–June 1967.
Kenneth Conboy. Shadow War, (New York: Paladin Press), 119.
“Lancers,” Volume 11, Issue 2, page 9.
Don Valentine website; http://www.don-valentine.com
Jerry D. Estenson. “Autobiography,” http://www.project-delta.net/bios/estenson.htm.
Project Delta After-Action Reports
U.S. Air Force. “USAF Support of Special Forces in South East Asia,” HQ PACAF, Directorate, Tactical Evaluation, CHECO Division, 10, march 1969, 75.
Jerry D. Estenson, DPA, Professor College of Business Administration, California State University, Sacramento. Leading Professionals in High-Risk Environments: Perceptions of Critical leadership Attributes Provided by Three Generations of Military Special Operations Personnel, 66.
Tom Clancy and John Gresham. Special Forces: A Guided Tour of U.S. Army Special Forces. New York: Berkely Trade, 2001, 61.
Joseph L. Galloway. A Combat Reporter Remembers the Siege at Plei Me, http://www.projectdelta.net/plei_mei.htm [LTG Hal Moore, USA (Ret) and Galloway co-authored We Were Soldiers Once...and Young. This book was the basis for the screenplay and movie of the same name, which starred Mel Gibson.]
Colonel Charlie A. Beckwith, USA (Ret). Delta Force: The Army’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit (New York: Avon, 2000).
Roger L. Albertson. “The Last Survivor: A Memorial Day Tribute,” http://projectdelta.net/gray_story.htm, 2.
Brigadier General John Flanagan, U.S. Air Force Retired. Vietnam Above the Tree Tops: A Forward Air Controller Reports. NYC: Praeger Publishing, 1992.
Gary Nichols. “Personal Reflections,” Detachment B-52 (Project Delta), 1966-1970. http://www.projectdelta.net/nichols_story.htm
D.J. Taylor. “Remembering the 281st AHC,” http://project-delta.net/remembering_the_281st.htm, 1.
Robert Moberg “Shot Down With Robbie, http://project-delta.net/shot_down.htm, 1.
Jim Morris. “Death-Dealing Project Delta; PART 3: Interview with the Big ‘Un,’” http://projectdelta.net/sofmag3_pg1.htm
James Tolbert. “Chuck Allen and Delta,” http://projectdelta.net/allen_story.htm
James Tolbert. “Shane Soldato,” http://projectdelta.net/soldato_story.htm
Gary Nichols. “I Will Always Remember.” (Modified)
“Not everyone who lost his
life in Vietnam died there...
Not everyone who came home
from Vietnam ever left there.”
- Unknown
ANNEX A
USSF Awards and Decorations, by Operation
Early Unnamed Operations (July 1964 – Oct. 1965)
SFC Henry M. Bailey, DSCV; SSG Ronald T. Terry, DSCV and SSFV; SSG James J. Malia, SSFV; SFC Eddie J. Adams, BSFV; SFC Sterling S. Smith, ACMV; SP5 Ronald S. Gaffney*, PHFW
O
peration 15-65 (July – Oct. 1965)
SFC Fred Taylor**, PHFW; SSG Henry J. Gallant**, PHFW
Plei Me (Oct 1965)
MAJ Charles Beckwith, SSFV; SFC Marion C. Hollaway, SSFV; SFC Robert J. Wren, SSFV; MAJ Charles Thompson, SSFV; CPT A.J. Baker, SSFV; SSG Larry R. Dickinson, SSFV; SGT Ronald L. Robertson, SSFV; SGT Terrence L. Morrone, BSFV; CPT Thomas W. Pusser*, PHFW; SSG Jimmie L. McBynum*, PHFW
Operations 1-66 through 13-66 (Jan. – March 1967)
SFC David W. Disharoon, SSFV; Frank N. Badolati*, SSFV and PHFW; SFC Marlin C. Cook*, SSFV and PHFW; SSG Charles F. Hiner, BSFV and PHFW; SSG Ronald T. Terry**, PHFW; SFC Jesse L. Hancock, PHFW*
Unknown Operations (June – July 1968)
SFC Paul D. Spillane*, PHFW; SGT William E. Erickson, BSMV and ACMV; SFC Frank H. Helms, PHFW; MSG Virgil Murphy, ACMV and ACMV (2nd award); CPT Roy M. Ogasawara, BSMV; SSG David F. Ryder, ACMV; SFC Thomas F. Schultz, BSMV and ACMV; MAJ Terrel K. Naumann, PHFW; SSG Jonathan Reid, PHFW
Alamo (Sept. – Oct. 1968)
SSG John P. Burdish, BSMV and PHFW; SFC Arthur F. Garcia, ACMV; SFC Jerry Nelson, BSMV; SSG Kenneth C. Wagner, BSMV; SFC Darrel G. Elmore, ACMV; SSG Sherman A. Paddock, PHFW; SSG David F. Ryder PHFW; SSG Laurence A. Young, PHFW; SGT Stephen J. Viglietta, PHFW
War Bonnet (Oct. – Nov. 1968)
MSG Minor B. Pylant, BSMV; MSG Richard S. Sorrells, BSMV; SFC Jerry L. Nelson, BSMV (2nd award); SGT Bobby D. Warden, BSMV
Battle of Gia Dinh (Saigon Tet Offensive)
Unknown
Ares (Dec. 1968 – March 1969)
SSG John P. Burdish, PHFW (2nd award); SFC Charles Hiner, ACMV and (2) PHFW; SP4 William R. Pomeroy, PHFW; SSG Sylvester Ray, ACMV; SFC Walter Simpson, ACMV; SSG James R. Legros, ACMV; SFC Jerry Nelson, ACMV; SFC Robert A. Conaway, BSMV; SFC Arthur F. Garcia, BSMV; SGT Charles F. Prevedel, BSMV; SFC Thomas F. Schultz, PHFW; SP4 Robert H. Fegan, BSMV; SGT Joseph M. Hartman, BSMV; SSG Laurence A. Young, BSMV
Cass Park (April 1969)
SSGT John P. Burdish, BSMV (2nd award); SFC Jerry L. Nelson, ACMV; SFC Joseph A. Roy, BSMV; SSG Bobby D. Warden, BSMV; MAJ Terrel K. Naumann, AMFV; SGT Theodore D. Aslund, BSMV; SGT James D. Benoit, BSMV; SGT Michael H. Sillings, BSMV; SSG Laurence A. Young, PHFW; SSG Thomas E. Johnson, ACMV; SGT Dave L. Barta, SSFV; SSG Terry L. Bryan, BSFV and PHFW; SSG James L. Thompson, PHFW; SSG Thomas K. Long**, SSFV and PHFW; SGT Charles F. Prevedel**, PHFW; SSG Douglas E. Dahill**, PHFW; SSG Charles V. Newton*, PHFW; SSG Joseph M. Hartman, ACMV; SGT David L. Lang –ACMV and PHFW; SSG David J. Taylor, BSFV; SFC Walter L. Simpson, PHFW
Cass Park II (May – June 1969)
SSG Arvill M. Hicks, AMFV; SSG Alfred W. Drapeau, PHFW; SSG Frederick L. Foater, PHFW; SSG Theodore L. Perkins, PHFW
Trojan Horse I & II (Aug. – Oct. 1969)
CPT Howard A. Gill, ACMV, BSMV and AMFV; CPT Mayo A. Hadden, AMFV and BSMV; SGM Harry D. Whalen, BSMV; SSG Dennis C. McVey, BSMV; SSG Larry D. Henderson, PHFW; SGT Peter J. Sckipp, PHFW
Yellow Ribbon (Dec. 1969)
SSG Arno J. Voigt - ACMV
Sabre & Spurs (Feb. – March 1970)
SP4 Stephen A. Spiers* SSFV and PHFW; SSG Thomas E. Johnson, SSFV; BSMV and PHFW; SSG Joe C. Alderman, BSFV; SFC Lothar L. Williams, BSFV; SSG Warren K. Bianchi, BSMV (1) and BSMV (2), PHFW; SSG Chester Howard, BSMV; SFC Bobby G. Pruett, BSMV (1) and BSMV (2); SFC Arthur F. Garcia, BSMV (2nd award); SSG John G. Santora, BSMV; SFC Frederick A. Thaler, BSMV; CPT James L. Walden, AMFV; SFC Charles A. Flenniken, AMFV; SFC Edgar E. Foshee, ACMV; SGT Stephen A. Carpenter, ACMV; SP4 Charles E. Dirks, ACMV (1) and ACMV (2); SFC Jackie E. Upton, AMFV; SP5 Milburn R. Harris, ACMV; SFC Andre J. St Laurent, AMFV.
Cavalry Glory (March - April 1970)
SP5 Milburn R. Harris, SSFV and PHFW; SP4 Anthony M. Bradley, BSFV; SSG Curtis A. Clemonds, BSFV; SSG Samuel D. Hernandez, BSMV; SSG Thomas L. Rea, BSMV and ACMV; SFC David A. Norville, BSMV; Arthur F. Garcia, BSMV (3rd award) and ACMV (2nd award); SFC Ralph L. Hill, BSMV; SFC Howard L. Wells, BSMV; CPT Hermann Adler, AMFV
Delta Dagger (May – June 1970)
MAJ Shane N. Soldato*, SSFV and PHFW; SSG Arno Voigt*, ACMV (2nd award) and PHFW; SSG Curtis A. Clemonds, BSFV (2nd award) and PHFW; SFC Edgar E. Foshee, AMFV and PHFW; SFC Dickie D. Pirtil, BSFV; SSG Terry Dock, BSFV; CPT Cecil R. Garvin, BSFV; SFC David A. Norville, BSFV; SSG Joe C. Alderman, BSFV and AMFV; SSG William E. Dill, BSFV; SSG Alfred W. Drapeau, PHFW; CPT James L. Walden; AMFV; SSG Ulrich Bayer, ACMV; SFC Alton E. Monroe, AMFV; SSG William R. Pomeroy, BSFV; SFC Wayne E. Fleming, PHFW; SFC Charles A. Flenniken, PHFW; SSG Gary L. Reagan, AMFV; SSG John G. Santora, PHFW; MSG James L. Clow, AMFV; CPT Arthur T. Fields, PHFW; SP4 Charles E. Dirks, ACMV
* Killed in Action
** Missing in Action
ANNEX B
Participants in the An Loa Valley Operation, by Team
TEAM 1
Keating, Henry A. SFC (Team Leader); Whitis, Robert P. SFC; Dupuis, Norman C. SSG (WIA); Chiarello, Agostino SSG; Bell, Brooke A. SSG
TEAM 2
Webber, Frank R., Jr. SFC (Team Leader) (WIA); Cook, Marlin C. SFC (KIA); Dotson, Donald L. SSG (KIA); Hoagland, George A. SSG (KIA); Hancock, Jesse L. SFC (KIA); Hiner, Charles F. SSG (WIA)
TEAM 3
Huston, Marcus L. SFC (Team Leader); McKeith, Billy A. SSG; Gray, Wiley W. MSG; Terry, Ronald T. SSG (MIA); Hodgson, Cecil J. SFC (MIA); Badolati, Frank N. SSG (KIA)
ANNEX C
USSF Personnel BDA Platoon-Nung Company
SSG Burdish, John
19 Feb 68 – 19 Oct 69
SGT Robertson, Ronald L.
01 Oct 65 – 15 June 66
SP5 Wood, James M.
01 June 66 – 01 June 67
SSG Monroe, Alton E.
1968 – 1968
SSG Stanfield, Michael T.
16 Jan 68 – 01 June 68
SFC Nelson, Jerry L.
01 Sept 68 – 25 Nov 69
SFC Garcia, Arthur F.
01 Aug 69 – 15 July 70
SSG Johnson, Thomas E.
17 Sept 69 – 17 April 70
NOTE: Despite efforts to obtain a complete listing, some BDA members may not appear due to incomplete records and/or faulty memories.
ANNEX D
USSF Personnel, Road Runners
SFC Tracy, Paul V.
01 Jan 66 – Unknown
SFC Stanley, Harold B.
25 Jan 67 – 12 Jul 67
SFC Singh, Jose J.
28 May 67 – 27 May 68
SFC Nichols, Gary
28 May 68 – 30 Sept 69
SSG Johnson, Thomas E.
30 May 68 – 06 Jul 69
SFC Upton, Jackie E.
20 Aug 69 – 25 July 70
* Killed in Action
** Missing in Action
NOTE: Despite efforts to obtain a complete listing, some USSF Road Runner personnel may not appear due to incomplete records and/or faulty memories.
ANNEX E
USSF Personnel Roster, Project Delta Recon Teams
Recon Officers:
1LT Holland, Guy H. II
01 Mar 65 – 01 Jun 66
2LT Estenson, Jerry D.
02 Jan 67 – 17 Jul 67
2LT Richardson, Tommy L.
03 Jan 67 – 18 Aug 67
CPT Hadden, Mayo A.
05 Jan 67 – 04 Apr 67
1LT Coulter, Douglas E.
13 Jan 67 – 15 Aug 67
1LT Sullivan, John M.
30 Jan 67 – 19 July 67
CPT Shelton, Henry H.
26 Mar 67 – 12 Jul 67
2LT Carney, Michael K.
05 Apr 67 – 27 Jun 67