We can all be proud of the job the current squadron's soldiers are doing for our nation.
Thanks,
John,
Monday, July 13, 2009
1st Plt A Troop 3/4 Cav Current Tour in Iraq
The unit I served with in Vietnam is currently deployed to Iraq They will complete its current deployment to Iraq in October. The squadron is operating in the Balad area. They recently transfered Forward Operating Base Paliwoda to Iraq control. See the news release at this link.
This video is from the 1st platoon A Troop and was made at the start of their current tour. Shows some of the terrain and conditions that they conduct operations under. Enjoy!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
School Supplies for Iraqi Kids
Update: We raised $345.00 for school supply purchase.Thank you to all who contributed to this worthy project. We raised $345.00 including a $50.00 donation from the Yorktown, VA Walmart. We purchased 2 shopping carts of school supplies and mailed them to the squadron on Mar 3rd.
Linda Moss, a retired teacher and wife of former Trp Cdr Mel Moss, graciously volunteered to purchase and ship the supplies to CSM Stout.
The December newsletter contained an article from CSM Stout requesting school supplies be sent to the squadron in Iraq to support their efforts to equip local Iraqi elementary school children with much needed school supplies. School is back in session and they need pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens, erasers, glue, and paints.
A former trooper has suggested that we collect funds, purchase, and ship school supplies to CSM Stout to support the squadron's effort. As a start he has donated $100 towards the purchase of school supplies. Our goal is to buy school supplies and pay for shipping them to Iraq.
If you desire to, you can send supplies yourself to CSM Stout at this address:
Michael Stout
FOB Paliwoda
3-4 CAV,
APO AE 09391.
Thanks,
John & Mel
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Attractions to Visit During the Tucson Reunion
All of us are looking forward to the Tucson Reunion in April 2010. Here are some of the local Tucson attractions you may want to visit.
Places to visit while in Tucson: List of previous attractions of the week.
Pima Air & Space Museum - Largest privately funded air museum in the world.
Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum - Renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden.
Old Tucson Studios: Learn how Western films are made at this mock Western town and subsequently used to film over 70 movies.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun: Gallery displaying the work of Ted De Grazia, a famed American impressionist artist.
Tombstone & Boot Hill - Tombstone, Arizona is a historic Wild West town dubbed the "town too tough to die."
Sabino Canyon - This beautiful canyon offers outdoor recreation including hiking, swimming, biking and picnicking.
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park - Remnants of portions of the original foundation, walls, and plaza floor of the Presidio (fort) de San Ignacio de Tubac. Afterward, visit nearby Tubac Village-renowned for charming cafes, shops, and galleries.
Kitt Peak National Observatory - The observatory is a working research station situated high above on Kitt Peak. It supports the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories on Earth for nighttime optical and infrared astronomy and daytime study of the Sun.
Mission San Xavier del Bac - Built in the 1700s, this white adobe church, representing a wonderful example of Spanish colonial architecture, is beautiful inside and out, with colorful frescoes, sculptures and carvings.
Arizona Historical Society - The museum's collections reflect southern Arizona’s Spanish colonial, Mexican, and territorial periods. Collection strengths include U.S. military uniforms and gear, women's clothing and accessories from 1875-1925.
Old Bisbee, Arizona - Enter Bisbee and you'll be transported back to the days of rowdy miners, and Victorian styles. At the turn of the 20th century, Bisbee, Arizona was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco and a bustling regional cultural center. Today Bisbee is known for charming cafes, craft shops, and galleries.
Kartchner Caverns State Park - One hour from Tucson experience a stunning limestone cave. This “live” cave is host to a wide variety of unique minerals and formations. The Visitor Center features museums exhibits, a large gift shop, displays, theater, and educational information about the caverns and the surrounding landscape.
Thanks,
John
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A Troop has lost a friend - Craig Peterson
Fellow Troopers,
For all ¾ CAV members who are not yet aware, we’ve all recently lost a good friend. Craig Peterson from Delta Troop passed away recently due to complications after having knee replacement surgery at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Craig served two tours as a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam and was single-handedly responsible for evacuating the many killed and all of the known wounded personnel at FSB Schofield on the night of August 24, 1968.
In addition to the A-Troop personnel who were evacuated, Craig evacuated all of the wounded members from the 3 Wolfhounds companies as well as the two artillery batteries lagered with the Troop at the fire support base. (The battle was so intense and the availability of dust-offs so limited, that several dead Wolfhounds and artillery personnel were not flown out of the battlefield until the morning light when the battle broke off and additional air support finally arrived.)
Due to the ferocity of the battle, dust-off support from the 25th Aviation Battalion, which had in the past routinely provided medical evacuations to the ¾ CAV as well as other field combat units, was denied to the besieged combatants at FSB Schofield. Having been assaulted by heavy weapons fire and human wave attacks, the 25th Aviation command would not allow their ships or crews to enter the hostile combat zone. There were many killed during the firefight and many of the wounded needed immediate medical attention due to the severity of their wounds or they would have perished.
However, our Delta Troop pilots were not under the command of the 25th Aviation Battalion. They were a part of the ¾ CAV and they always came when they were called, even when others would not. There was only one Delta Troop helicopter pilot assigned to the air that August night and it was our own Craig Peterson. Craig not only made the initial retrieval of dead and wounded at the fire support base, but even after experiencing first hand, the intensity of the battle and upon realizing that any subsequent attempts to land within the fire support base would pose a serious risk to his life as well as that of his crew, his bravery and selfless dedication to his fellow troopers showed through when he choose to repeatedly fly into the heat of battle to retrieve all of the dead and wounded who were brought to his chopper for evacuation.
The first casualties of the battle were medivaced to the Dau Tieng base camp hospital until Dau Tieng reached full capacity. Craig next evacuated wounded to the hospital at Tay Ninh base camp. When the Tay Ninh facility could no longer accept casualties, Craig evacuated the remaining wounded to the 12th Evac Hospital at Cu Chi, which is where I ended up.
If you were involved in that battle, then Craig either medivaced you or one of your buddies and possibly saved their life. It’s estimated that Craig evacuated between 60 and 80 personnel from FSB Schofield, the actual number remains uncertain. However, he was there for us when no one else would come and he was there when we needed him most.
Craig was an unassuming individual and always felt that he ‘was just doing his job’, but for many of us, him doing his job is the reason we’re still alive today. He was a hero among heroes. He was the living embodiment of our unit logo, “Paratus et Fidelis”-- Prepared and Loyal!
So today, I’m asking all of you for your help in honoring this great American hero. Before Craig passed away an organized effort was underway to attempt to obtain for Craig this nation’s highest award, The Congressional Medal of Honor. During the war in Viet Nam, another dust-off pilot, Major Patrick Henry Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor for evacuating 51 killed and wounded friendly personnel out of harms way. During the Battle of Tay Ninh, on the night of August 24th, 1968, Craig was responsible for evacuating even more personnel than Major Brady evacuated, but since 40 years have passed since the battle took place, its been very difficult to obtain statements in support of his claim from personnel who were actually at the battle and who are aware of the bravery of this man who risked his life to save ours.
If you were present during the battle that took place at Fire Support Base Schofield on the night of August 24th, 1968, or if you know of someone who was, you now have a chance to step forward and honor a true American hero. Statements supporting Craig’s heroic actions are needed from those who were present in order to move forward with obtaining his award. If you have something to contribute, however small you feel it may be, please forward your information to this web site using the following email address ATrp3-4Cav@comcast.net and indicate how you may be contacted if follow-up questions need to be asked and also for verification purposes.
If you would prefer to have someone contact you so that you can provide your information personally, once again, please write to the above email address and provide your contact information, indicating in your message that you would like to help Craig receive the recognition he deserves, along with how and when you can best be contacted and someone will be in touch with you.
You have one last chance to show your gratitude for the sacrifices this great soldier made for those of us who fought our battles on the ground. It’s time to pay your dues. Please step forward along with those who already have and speak up if you can. Craig’s family and your fellow troopers thank you.
Gene Yonke
Saber Alpha 65 - 1968
If you have a story about Craig, want to post a remembrance, or make a comment just select the comment link below. Also you can sign the memorial guestbook for Craig.
Thanks!
For all ¾ CAV members who are not yet aware, we’ve all recently lost a good friend. Craig Peterson from Delta Troop passed away recently due to complications after having knee replacement surgery at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Craig served two tours as a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam and was single-handedly responsible for evacuating the many killed and all of the known wounded personnel at FSB Schofield on the night of August 24, 1968.
In addition to the A-Troop personnel who were evacuated, Craig evacuated all of the wounded members from the 3 Wolfhounds companies as well as the two artillery batteries lagered with the Troop at the fire support base. (The battle was so intense and the availability of dust-offs so limited, that several dead Wolfhounds and artillery personnel were not flown out of the battlefield until the morning light when the battle broke off and additional air support finally arrived.)
Due to the ferocity of the battle, dust-off support from the 25th Aviation Battalion, which had in the past routinely provided medical evacuations to the ¾ CAV as well as other field combat units, was denied to the besieged combatants at FSB Schofield. Having been assaulted by heavy weapons fire and human wave attacks, the 25th Aviation command would not allow their ships or crews to enter the hostile combat zone. There were many killed during the firefight and many of the wounded needed immediate medical attention due to the severity of their wounds or they would have perished.
However, our Delta Troop pilots were not under the command of the 25th Aviation Battalion. They were a part of the ¾ CAV and they always came when they were called, even when others would not. There was only one Delta Troop helicopter pilot assigned to the air that August night and it was our own Craig Peterson. Craig not only made the initial retrieval of dead and wounded at the fire support base, but even after experiencing first hand, the intensity of the battle and upon realizing that any subsequent attempts to land within the fire support base would pose a serious risk to his life as well as that of his crew, his bravery and selfless dedication to his fellow troopers showed through when he choose to repeatedly fly into the heat of battle to retrieve all of the dead and wounded who were brought to his chopper for evacuation.
The first casualties of the battle were medivaced to the Dau Tieng base camp hospital until Dau Tieng reached full capacity. Craig next evacuated wounded to the hospital at Tay Ninh base camp. When the Tay Ninh facility could no longer accept casualties, Craig evacuated the remaining wounded to the 12th Evac Hospital at Cu Chi, which is where I ended up.
If you were involved in that battle, then Craig either medivaced you or one of your buddies and possibly saved their life. It’s estimated that Craig evacuated between 60 and 80 personnel from FSB Schofield, the actual number remains uncertain. However, he was there for us when no one else would come and he was there when we needed him most.
Craig was an unassuming individual and always felt that he ‘was just doing his job’, but for many of us, him doing his job is the reason we’re still alive today. He was a hero among heroes. He was the living embodiment of our unit logo, “Paratus et Fidelis”-- Prepared and Loyal!
So today, I’m asking all of you for your help in honoring this great American hero. Before Craig passed away an organized effort was underway to attempt to obtain for Craig this nation’s highest award, The Congressional Medal of Honor. During the war in Viet Nam, another dust-off pilot, Major Patrick Henry Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor for evacuating 51 killed and wounded friendly personnel out of harms way. During the Battle of Tay Ninh, on the night of August 24th, 1968, Craig was responsible for evacuating even more personnel than Major Brady evacuated, but since 40 years have passed since the battle took place, its been very difficult to obtain statements in support of his claim from personnel who were actually at the battle and who are aware of the bravery of this man who risked his life to save ours.
If you were present during the battle that took place at Fire Support Base Schofield on the night of August 24th, 1968, or if you know of someone who was, you now have a chance to step forward and honor a true American hero. Statements supporting Craig’s heroic actions are needed from those who were present in order to move forward with obtaining his award. If you have something to contribute, however small you feel it may be, please forward your information to this web site using the following email address ATrp3-4Cav@comcast.net and indicate how you may be contacted if follow-up questions need to be asked and also for verification purposes.
If you would prefer to have someone contact you so that you can provide your information personally, once again, please write to the above email address and provide your contact information, indicating in your message that you would like to help Craig receive the recognition he deserves, along with how and when you can best be contacted and someone will be in touch with you.
You have one last chance to show your gratitude for the sacrifices this great soldier made for those of us who fought our battles on the ground. It’s time to pay your dues. Please step forward along with those who already have and speak up if you can. Craig’s family and your fellow troopers thank you.
Gene Yonke
Saber Alpha 65 - 1968
If you have a story about Craig, want to post a remembrance, or make a comment just select the comment link below. Also you can sign the memorial guestbook for Craig.
Thanks!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas Veterans and Troops
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays To Our Troops, Veterans, and their Families. During this Christmas season we want to thank our veterans and soldiers for their bravery and selfless acts of courage in defending us and preserving our Nation's freedom. Again this year soldiers will observe the holiday season in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are separated from their families, and many more are preparing for deployments. All of us who remember similar Christmas seasons in our own lives sympathize deeply with them. To the right is the cover from the 1968 Christmas card sent home from Vietnam. Forty years ago we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in platoon blocking positions near Nu Ba Den Mt. It was a lonely time for us then as it is for our soldiers today.As we think of our Christmas so long ago away from home these sacrifices are most obvious to us during this season when so many of us are warm, safe and happy in our homes with friends and relatives. Our thoughts and prayers are for the safe return of our soldiers not only during this holiday season but every day throughout the year. We honor their sacrifices, ask God to watch over them and their families, and pray for their safe return.
John,
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