C 2/5 Cav - September 1965

Summary September 1965

To be written

September 14

Company C, 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Cavalry began its tour in Vietnam. The company debarked the USNS Buckner in Qhi Nhon harbor and boarded LSTs (landing ships) which carried the troopers to shore. The company then moved by truck to a nearby small LZ, then by Chinook forty miles inland to the new division base camp at An Khe. (Sources: 1st Air Cavalry Division Memoirs of the First Team Vietnam August 1965-December 1969, and Ed Boyt)

September - Remainder of the Month

Deadly Lizard (the company's call sign at the time) begins to set up camp. In this picture taken from the December 10, 1965, issue of Life Magazine, CPT Boyt can be seen standing to the right CPT Stu Keller (the battalion S4, and leader of the advance party) as he briefs the company about setting up their first camp. The 2/5 Cav was attached to the 1^st Brigade of the 101^st Airborne Division with the mission of securing An Khe. Patrolling Route 19 from Qui Nhon to An Khe, securing bridges, and setting up camp were the orders of the day for the remainder of the month. (Sources: 1st Air Cavalry Division Memoirs of the First Team Vietnam August 1965-December 1969, and Ed Boyt)

Identified by number on the picture: (Source: Dennis Kelly. Ed Boyt, Edgar Irizarry, Don O'Keefe, Jim Mullen, Frank Lunati, and Ray Spencer)
1. SP4 Gary Lynn
2. SSG Juan Cruz
3. PFC Dave Buchanan (?)
4. SSG Freddie Mina
5. SFC Antonio Torres-Perez, 2^nd Platoon
6. SSG Edgar R. Irizarry
7. 2LT Donald O'Keefe
8. SP4 William Willis
9. PFC Wilbert Harris
10. 1LT Al Conetta
11. 1LT St. John
12. SP4 Chester Sey

13. 2LT James Mullen (?)
14. CPT Stu Keller (battalion S4)
15. CPT Ed Boyt
16. CPT Tom Carney (CO of D 2/5 Cav, KIA in Bong Son in February, 1966)
17. LT Wallace, Forward Observer from 1/77^th Artillery
18. SGT Ivey, Survey Sergeant from 1/77^th Artillery
19. 2LT Marvin Sprouse
20. CPT Frank Lunati, MD (Battalion Surgeon)
21. 2LT Chuck Holloway (Battalion Medical Services Officer)
22. PFC James Thornton
23. PFC Raymond Spencer
24. SP4 Ralph West
25. SP4 Dale Shows

Click on photo to see larger version. Caution: This is a huge file.

Life Magazine courtesy Ed Boyt
This photo has been numbered to identify the various people. Anyone with corrections or additions, please notify the webmaster.

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September - Exact Date Unknown

CPT Ed Boyt checked out some locals suspected of being Viet Cong. According to Dennis Kelly, one member of the group was later identified as a cell leader. The name of the other trooper is unknown.

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Courtesy Dennis Kelly

Looking over the Son Con River Valley towards Qui Nhon above Highway 19, the main resupply route from the coast to An Khe. C 2/5 Cav was part of the force that secured the road while the division built Camp Radcliff at An Khe. This little "poncho palace" was probably used for communications - an antenna can be seen poking out through the top.

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Courtesy Dennis Kelly

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September - Exact Date Unknown

2LT Jim Mullen recalls his platoon's squad leaders were SSG Harold George, SSG Wyman Daniel, SSG Thomas Bougknight, and SSG Edgar Irizarry. The platoon RTO was Sammy Allan, and the M60 machine gunners were SP4 Donald Fischer and SP4 Robert Elllis. (Source: Jim Mullen)

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September - Exact Date Unknown

Combat-ready photographer! 2LT Donald O'Keefe, one of C 2/5's platoon leaders. Don was later transferred to another company in 2/5 Cav and was seriously wounded in February 1966.

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Courtesy Dennis Kelly

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Updated March 17, 2010