Uncle's military history Piecing Together

captain

captain

Dis in my way!
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Hey folks,
I've been digging deep into my uncle's military service and have been uncovering a lot of great information because of this new invention called the Internet and something called "The Google".

My uncle was killed in Vietnam in March of 1966 and I have always wanted to get the back story with accurate information and it looks like I'm finally really really close. Over the years the family has tried to put pieces together but we have hit constraints of one type or another. The military records fire in 1973 didn't help us at all and the fact my grandmother didn't want to even talk about his death or provide any of the paperwork she had was a challenge.

When my grandmother passed away we got more information and we were able to get some information from the military but recently my mother gave me a whole chest full of papers that she had been collecting and I started researching them all putting pieces together and what a story it's starting to tell.

I am the namesake of my uncle Jerry Donald "Red" Lewis and I have always been proud of who he was and what he did for our country I am in awe of what I have found out only now in my 50's. I've been passing this information to my mother and she is beside herself with pride but can't believe that her brother is turning out to be such an incredible soldier.

I would love to know if there is anyone on this forum that was a LRRP in the Army or that served in the 173rd Airborne and was a "Sky Soldier"....

THE WALL OF FACES - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

www.vvmf.org www.vvmf.org

Doug
 
Someone commented that was there with him on that fateful day, hopefully u are able to reach him.

Glad you’re proud, glad you’re getting answers, world needs more ppl like you.
 
For your uncle to be a radio operator conducting LRRPs with an airborne unit is a real statement in itself....those old type 84 man packs weighed a ton and were always in constant need of heavy batteries.....they sucked to carry.......

He must have been a real ass-kicker......that memory wall is a priceless source of information and just like @dryce said, I'd be reaching out to a few of them who posted on there as they would be invaluable.

....that's just awesome.....
 
Bumblebee said:
For your uncle to be a radio operator conducting LRRPs with an airborne unit is a real statement in itself....those old type 84 man packs weighed a ton and were always in constant need of heavy batteries.....they sucked to carry.......

He must have been a real ass-kicker......that memory wall is a priceless source of information and just like @dryce said, I'd be reaching out to a few of them who posted on there as they would be invaluable.

....that's just awesome.....
Click to expand...
I meant to type @Dnyce normally all one has to do is type in the first couple letters and it auto-fills.....
 
While I knew that my uncle was a LRRP and had done some pretty incredible things his military journey is what I was really wanting to know. I have been able to track down his history in the service and it's overwhelming thus far.

Here is the history of what his first detachment was....


1733854099681.png


Vietnam Units - 75th Ranger Regiment Association

75thrra.org 75thrra.org

Now listen, I'm not a military expert I never served but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.... but from what I see the V & VII corps were the first two groups to really spin up the LRRP units and from what I can read they literally wrote the manuals. If this is true and I and I can get some validation on what I am finding what an accomplishment, to have been part of one of the first groups of LRRPS but then to be transferred to the 173rd in Vietnam which is when they kicked off their LRRP teams... pretty amazing if my timing so far is correct.

I know for a fact he was a Jayhawk... So

USAREUR Units & Kasernes, 1945 - 1989

www.usarmygermany.com www.usarmygermany.com
 
There is a lot of information in those links but what stands out to me anytime I see posts like this is the person’s age. 24 is just so young. Your uncle still had a baby face. I also can never avoid thinking about the pain and suffering these families go through ever single day their loved one is away from home and then having to hear that they are not coming back. For those like @Bumblebee and many others on the forum that served while married with kids, it seems like a miracle to me that a relationship can survive through all that and that soldiers can come home after seeing so many horrors, and manage to be present physically and mentally to enjoy quality time with their loved ones.
 
mabupa said:
There is a lot of information in those links but what stands out to me anytime I see posts like this is the person’s age. 24 is just so young. Your uncle still had a baby face. I also can never avoid thinking about the pain and suffering these families go through ever single day their loved one is away from home and then having to hear that they are not coming back. For those like @Bumblebee and many others on the forum that served while married with kids, it seems like a miracle to me that a relationship can survive through all that and that soldiers can come home after seeing so many horrors, and manage to be present physically and mentally to enjoy quality time with their loved ones.
Click to expand...
I joined when I was 17.....It wasn't easy, almost everyone in my unit were divorced.....we were deployed often and quickly sometimes with very little notice and could be gone for a day or a month with zero contact....I've missed more than a few Christmases, birthdays and anniversaries over the years.

When our kids were small, my wife was known to go out and shovel snow with a baby monitor....there was very little home support in those days.

She's a tough one that wife of mine....we've survived 33 yrs together....I was in a few years before we met. She was in the military when we met so was very aware of what it was all about.......thankfully.....
 
captain said:
Hey folks,
I've been digging deep into my uncle's military service and have been uncovering a lot of great information because of this new invention called the Internet and something called "The Google".

My uncle was killed in Vietnam in March of 1966 and I have always wanted to get the back story with accurate information and it looks like I'm finally really really close. Over the years the family has tried to put pieces together but we have hit constraints of one type or another. The military records fire in 1973 didn't help us at all and the fact my grandmother didn't want to even talk about his death or provide any of the paperwork she had was a challenge.

When my grandmother passed away we got more information and we were able to get some information from the military but recently my mother gave me a whole chest full of papers that she had been collecting and I started researching them all putting pieces together and what a story it's starting to tell.

I am the namesake of my uncle Jerry Donald "Red" Lewis and I have always been proud of who he was and what he did for our country I am in awe of what I have found out only now in my 50's. I've been passing this information to my mother and she is beside herself with pride but can't believe that her brother is turning out to be such an incredible soldier.

I would love to know if there is anyone on this forum that was a LRRP in the Army or that served in the 173rd Airborne and was a "Sky Soldier"....

THE WALL OF FACES - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

www.vvmf.org www.vvmf.org

Doug
Click to expand...
Hi. I was 1ST Cav Air Mobel 1966 to 1969. This is why I want my race numbers to 6669. We worked with the 173rd what years was he there?
 
Okay I can confirm this now...

So uncle Jerry volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1964 from his current duty station in Germany where he had been in the VII Corps Airborne LLRP for about 4 years. He was transferred and to the 1st Battalion 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade US Airborne 503 HC Company.

I have always wanted to know more about my uncle but my grandparents wouldn't speak of it.. I knew that he was in Vietnam, I knew he was there in the early days etc etc. I've heard some bits and pieces from my mother but to be honest she didn't know much either. I started down this journey several months ago to find out the truth. To not let my uncle's history and memory be forgotten, my father knew him and he died a few months ago, mom is 80 now and those guys that served with him are in their 70's and 80's too. I needed to get this sorted out.

I've had 3 goals

1. Answer the questions my mom has had for over 50 years
2. Find as much information as I could about my uncle's military career and his involvement and journey through the Army.
3. Make sure that I documented everything I found and became his living advocate always passing on his legacy.

Over the past 3 months I have spent a ridiculous amount of time researching , cross referencing and digging. Reading, reading and did I mention reading. Yesterday I got more than I bargained for....

Fellas let me introduce you to Alfred Rascon a CMH recipient who was standing in front of my uncle when he was killed. If you get a few minutes watch the video of his story, the LRRP team he speaks about was my uncle's 6 man team. In the video at the 35 min mark you will hear him speak of my uncle..

How could I ask for anymore detail about the situation my uncle was in, to know is so important.... I have just about all the answers and now I just need to document the heck out of this....

Incredible story for that LRRP team, Alfred Rascon is a true hero.

www.loc.gov

Alfred V. Rascon Collection

Army, Iraq War, 2003-2011 - Iraq. Captain, Army, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Long Khanh Province, Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel, Army, Afghan War, 2001- - Afghanistan.
www.loc.gov

Cap
 
captain said:
Okay I can confirm this now...

So uncle Jerry volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1964 from his current duty station in Germany where he had been in the VII Corps Airborne LLRP for about 4 years. He was transferred and to the 1st Battalion 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade US Airborne 503 HC Company.

I have always wanted to know more about my uncle but my grandparents wouldn't speak of it.. I knew that he was in Vietnam, I knew he was there in the early days etc etc. I've heard some bits and pieces from my mother but to be honest she didn't know much either. I started down this journey several months ago to find out the truth. To not let my uncle's history and memory be forgotten, my father knew him and he died a few months ago, mom is 80 now and those guys that served with him are in their 70's and 80's too. I needed to get this sorted out.

I've had 3 goals

1. Answer the questions my mom has had for over 50 years
2. Find as much information as I could about my uncle's military career and his involvement and journey through the Army.
3. Make sure that I documented everything I found and became his living advocate always passing on his legacy.

Over the past 3 months I have spent a ridiculous amount of time researching , cross referencing and digging. Reading, reading and did I mention reading. Yesterday I got more than I bargained for....

Fellas let me introduce you to Alfred Rascon a CMH recipient who was standing in front of my uncle when he was killed. If you get a few minutes watch the video of his story, the LRRP team he speaks about was my uncle's 6 man team. In the video at the 35 min mark you will hear him speak of my uncle..

How could I ask for anymore detail about the situation my uncle was in, to know is so important.... I have just about all the answers and now I just need to document the heck out of this....

Incredible story for that LRRP team, Alfred Rascon is a true hero.

www.loc.gov

Alfred V. Rascon Collection

Army, Iraq War, 2003-2011 - Iraq. Captain, Army, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Long Khanh Province, Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel, Army, Afghan War, 2001- - Afghanistan.
www.loc.gov

Cap
Click to expand...
Pretty frickin' awesome.......

I have a degree in military history and have spent hours pouring over books and war diaries, I find it fascinating.....

I read a lot about the Viet Nam war a long time ago, it was the most recent war at the time.
 
Bumblebee said:
Pretty frickin' awesome.......

I have a degree in military history and have spent hours pouring over books and war diaries, I find it fascinating.....

I read a lot about the Viet Nam war a long time ago, it was the most recent war at the time.
Click to expand...


I will have Jerry's story documented and how it fit's into the Rascon timeline, it will be a great connection. My mom was concerned that Jerry would be forgotten, that he would just be a soldier that died and no one would remember. I read the transcript of that interview to her last night and told her that there was no better person to tell the story of his death or anywhere that it could be better preserved than with a CMH recipient.
 
Nice testimony and that’s not an easy thing to remember and recall to someone. My brother was pretty closed mouth about his tours in Vietnam. His first tour started in 1964 and ended in 1966. His second tour was also 18 months but it was much later in the war. His last outfit was with the 25th infantry. He did some forward work for them carrying a 1911 and a sawed off 12 guage when he went solo. He did mention that drug use was much more prevalent during the late 60s/early 70s. A few of my HS buddies came back hooked on heroin. Marijuana was the easiest to get even in the so called forward areas. Anywhere near Saigon or Vung Tau it was as available as the hookers were. :) I was present upon his return to the States in 66 and 70. In 66 the local news station wanted to interview him and there were no protestors. In 1970 it was completely different. He ended up finishing his career in Germany. He retired there and married a German woman. Stayed away from the US for almost 20 years.
 
busabobh said:
I served in VN Jan69 through Dec69 . Tactical combat radio support in the same area as your Uncle. I would consider him as a lost brother. Good on you for honoring and remembering him.
Click to expand...
First of all let me say this... Thank you for your service when called, I'm not going to say if it was good or bad but you served and the conditions were terrifying. So thank you for your time in country but also Thank You and your family for what you carry with you every day, men don't just come home and leave all that at the airport.

I have been struggling putting his story together to tell his story for him, his training, units he served with etc because his records were burned in the fire so IO have been piecing things together. As I mentioned in the beginning of this thread my mom threw down a picture album a few months ago with a treasure trove of pics that I was able to use of unit emblems etc, but also was some paperwork and I've been leveraging those docs too.

Last week my mom says hey you need to come up and get Jerry's trunks. I said whut? When he died the Army sent all of his stuff back in 2 military trunks, my grandparents shoved them in a closet and that's where they stayed for 40 years. When they died my mom picked them up and she moved them to her house where she shoved them into a closet for another 29 years....... I picked them up last night and man oh man... the first person to open those trunks in right at 60 years...

So I need some help,

Knowing that my uncle was one of the original LRRP's VII Corps in Nellingen Germany that was redesignated as Company C (LRP),58th Infantry (Airborne) on 5 May 1965 a few months before he deployed to Vietnam.

His class A uniforms have this patch on them, depending on the year it could be several things but from your experience what would you expect that to be Expert Parachutist, or 1st Cav or what?

1734106027643.png
 
captain said:
First of all let me say this... Thank you for your service when called, I'm not going to say if it was good or bad but you served and the conditions were terrifying. So thank you for your time in country but also Thank You and your family for what you carry with you every day, men don't just come home and leave all that at the airport.

I have been struggling putting his story together to tell his story for him, his training, units he served with etc because his records were burned in the fire so IO have been piecing things together. As I mentioned in the beginning of this thread my mom threw down a picture album a few months ago with a treasure trove of pics that I was able to use of unit emblems etc, but also was some paperwork and I've been leveraging those docs too.

Last week my mom says hey you need to come up and get Jerry's trunks. I said whut? When he died the Army sent all of his stuff back in 2 military trunks, my grandparents shoved them in a closet and that's where they stayed for 40 years. When they died my mom picked them up and she moved them to her house where she shoved them into a closet for another 29 years....... I picked them up last night and man oh man... the first person to open those trunks in right at 60 years...

So I need some help,

Knowing that my uncle was one of the original LRRP's VII Corps in Nellingen Germany that was redesignated as Company C (LRP),58th Infantry (Airborne) on 5 May 1965 a few months before he deployed to Vietnam.

His class A uniforms have this patch on them, depending on the year it could be several things but from your experience what would you expect that to be Expert Parachutist, or 1st Cav or what?

View attachment 1690303
Click to expand...
This is a great trek you are on......one that is very rewarding. You will learn a lot about your uncle on this journey.

As for the patch, I did a little research and can't find that exact same patch...it does bear the same color and stripe as the Air Cav patch, it might be a qualification patch.....I'll keep looking around....

@busabobh will know as this is from his time period....
 
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