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Summary - October 1971

To be written

October 24

As per 3rd Brigade (Separate) 1st Cavalry Division General Order 198, the following members of Charlie Company were awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge:

SGT Thomas Donahue SGT Roger Peters
SP4 Ralph Brown PFC David Anderhyde
PFC William Brooks PFC Roger Brown
PFC Timothy Chapell PFC Phillip Cremins
PFC Dilworth PFC Joseph Durge
PFC Ronnie Edwards PFC Steven Krause
PFC James Leuwer PFC Paul Reiser

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Early October - Exact Dates Unknown

Commanding Officer Dolf Carlson was informed his sister was involved in a serious automobile wreck in Alabama, and was given emergency leave.  While in Alabama, his sister died, and CPT Carlson remained for the funeral and to comfort his mother.  1LT Tom Thomas assumed command on an interim basis.

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October - Exact Dates Unknown

The 2/5 Cav was operating out of FSB Mace performing tasks ordered by  CPT Nash, the firebase commander.  Not far away was a tall, rugged peak named Nui Chau Chan (nui meaning mountain in Vietnamese.)  Atop the peak was a small landing zone, along with radio relay equipment and sensors.  The area was infested with rats.  The Battalion Surgeon instructed company medic SP4 Donald Hewett to poison the rats with Warfarin.   Days later, as the rats died in large numbers, some of them were flopping around near the sensors, causing the military intelligence personnel to wonder what was going on.  SP4 Hewett, SGT David "Drops" Sprinkle, and another man known as Dee (later identified as SGT Bedford Drinnon, killed in action on January 2, 1972) were sent back up to the top of the mountain - and instructed to police up all the dead rats.  (Source: Kuzriel Mier)

(Webmaster note:  Medics were actually assigned to the Battalion Medical Platoon under the supervision of a medical doctor, then attached to the rifle companies.  Though any grunt will tell you the medics were part of a company, in fact, they were "on loan.")

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October - Exact Dates Unknown

FSB Mace was a large firebase originally built by the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, which departed Vietnam in October, 1970, as part of the outer security for the Bien Hoa/Long Binh/Saigon area.  It was approximately 45 miles northeast of Saigon. 

Upper left clockwise:  The company area, the company headquarters hooch, the storage area for 2/5 Cav (the large metal box were known as a Conex), the Chapel (with radio tower in background),  the Mess Hall - note the large water tower in foreground.  (All photos courtesy Doug Kingery)

Comanche_1971_C_Company_Hootch_Area_FSB_Mace_from_Kingery.jpg (22613 bytes)
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Comanche_1971_Company_HQ_FSB_Mace_from_Kingery.jpg (23745 bytes)
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Comanche_1971_2-5_Conex_at_FSB_Mace_from_Kingery.jpg (24486 bytes)
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Click on Photos to See Larger Versions

Comanche_1971_Chow_Hall_at_FSB_Mace_from_Kingery.jpg (27265 bytes)

Comanche_1971_Chapel_at_FSB_Mace_from_Kingery.jpg (23854 bytes)

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October - Exact Date Unknown

LT Paroline is replaced as 1st Platoon Leader by LT John McCorkle.

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Updated July 23, 2007