189TH ASAULT HELICOPTER
COMPANY
HISTORY
PREFACE
The history of the 189th Assault Helicopter Company for the years
1966 Through 1971 has been written
so that the officers and enlisted men of the 189th can be recognized
for their outstanding work, esprit de corps, and dedication to their country
during their tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this history is to outline the events that occurred in the 189th
Assault Helicopter Company during the calendar years 1966 through 1971.
It is intended to give as accurate and factual account as possible of the
fine officers and enlisted men, its equipment, as well as a concise picture of
the combat operations in-which the unit participated.
Many accounts were researched through the National Archives, Texas State
University, the VHPA, and information collected from members of the unit. This
history in not complete, it is a work in progress, but it as accurate as can be
from the information gathered. The
more feedback we get the more accurate the history.
This history is a collection of actions that took place in the 189th
Assault Helicopter Company both on and off the battlefield.
COMMAND AND CONTROL
The unit history would be incomplete if the officers and men of the 189th
Assault Helicopter Company failed to pay tribute to their commanders who played
the major role in developing and maintaining the unit's high standard of
professionalism, esprit de corps and noted combat effectiveness.
through their professional competence, thorough knowledge, exceptional
leadership and loyalty to their men, they succeeded in building a foundation
that formed one of the finest fighting units in the Republic of Vietnam and in
the United States Army.
Even today the men of the 189th Assault Helicopter Company would like
to express their appreciation for their outstanding leadership, personal concern
and invaluable guidance they provided while serving as Company Commanders.
The following were Company Commanders of the GHOSTRIDERS and AVENGERS
Captain Victor Hamilton
1 Nov 66 - 1 Dec 66
Major Robert T Bagley
1 Dec 66 - 21 Dec 66
Major John J Webster
21 Dec 66 - 1 Jul 67
Major Bobby L Sanders
1 Jul 67 - 2 Jan 68
Major Neil I Leva
2 Jan 68 - 15 Apr 68
Major William W Fraker
15 Apr 68 - 3 Oct 68
Major Robert N Morrison
3 Oct 68 - 22 Apr 69
Major Richard L Lincoln
22 Apr 69 - 28 Sep 69
Major John P Ratliff
28 Sep 69 - 6 Mar 70
Major George A Morgan
6 Mar 70 - 11 Nov 70
Respectfully
Brothers Forever
The GHOSTRIDERS and AVENGERS
Organization of the 189th AHC
Constituted 23 September 1942 in the Army of the United States as
the 2027th Quartermaster Truck Company, Aviation.
Activated 5 October 1942 at Lockbourne Army Air Base, Ohio.
Inactivated 20 February 1946 in the Philippine Islands.
Converted and re-designated 1 August 1946 as the 2027th
Transportation Company (Aviation).
Re-designated 1 November 1966 as the 189th Aviation
Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and activated at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Entered the Vietnam Conflict May 1967 and assigned to the 52d
Combat Aviation Battalion at Camp Holloway, Pleiku, Vietnam.
The 189th was just one (1) unit of the largest Aviation
Battalions ever formed; the 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion (CAB)
The Flying Dragons was subordinate to the
17th Combat Aviation Group (CAG). The 17th CAG was
subordinate to the 1st Aviation Brigade, the largest Army Aviation
organization formed since World War II. The 1st Aviation Brigade was
comprised of several Groups, each having several Battalions.
Inactivated 15 March 1971 in Vietnam.
Assigned 19 February 1986 to the 3d Armored Division and activated
in Germany.
Inactivated 16 July 1987 in Germany.
189th
Campaign Participation Credit
World War AP
New Guinea
Leyte
Vietnam
Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17
October 1944 to 4 July 1945.
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer
embroidered Vietnam 1967-1968.
Presidential Unit Citation, October 29, 1967 to 30 November 1967.
DA GO 38 Dated 20 July 1971
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer
embroidered Vietnam 1970
The 189th
Aviation Company History
1966 - 1967
1966
The 189th Aviation Company (AML) was activated by
Department of the Army with Fifth Army General Order 236, dated 19 September
1966, to take effect on 1 November 1966 at Fort Carson, Colorado. Shortly before
Thanksgiving, the U.S. Army began assembling a group of aviators at Ft. Carson,
Colorado. The mountainous area around Ft. Carson, it was hoped, would give the
aviators a certain degree of training in mountain flying before being deployed
to its ultimate destination, the Central Highlands, Republic of Vietnam.
1 November 1966: Captain Victor Hamilton, Infantry, commanded and
organized the unit under TO&E 1-77E (Modified). Under his command, the unit was
open for the receipt of incoming personnel and equipment.
1 December 1966: Major Robert Bagley assumed command. Under his
guidance, request for additional equipment was submitted. A training program was
established, the airfield operations elements were established, and unit
training began.
9 December 1966: The 189th was reorganized under TO&E
1-77G (Modified) as directed by General Order 427, Fifth Infantry Division and
Fort Carson, Colorado. Under the new TO&E, the 189th was authorized a
Company Headquarters, two (2) Airlift Platoons, a Gun Platoon and a Service
Platoon. The 604th Maintenance Detachment, the 519th
Medical Detachment and the 6th Signal Detachment provided the unit
additional support. Under TO&E 1-77G, the 189th was to prepare for
deployment on a date yet undisclosed. Being one of the first Army units to
receive the new UH-IH Huey, the area was also ideal for testing the new H Model
at mountainous elevations. Sister companies, the 187th & 188th
were also forming and receiving H models at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky during the
same time period. All new aircraft were picked up from the factory in Ft. Worth,
Texas and ferried to Fort Carson, CO.
12 December 1966: The 189th began its formal training.
The first week dealt primarily with basic required subjects such as Code of
Conduct, Geneva Convention, etc. The next few months or so were spent doing
supply actions since the unit was to deploy with full organic equipment. Each
day began with physical training capped with an increasingly longer run around
post. When the morning Colorado temperature dropped below 28 degrees Fahrenheit,
physical training was suspended.
17 December 1966: The Christmas Holidays began, and all formal
training ceased for two weeks.
The initial pilots of the 189th were an odd lot with
seven fixed- & rotary- wing rated Majors assigned to the unit. Many of the
Majors in the unit were primarily old fixed-wing drivers and were not
particularly overjoyed with the idea of going to Vietnam with a helicopter
outfit. The remaining aviators, both lieutenants and warrant officers, were
fresh out of flight school. While lacking maturity and flight experience, they
were an enthusiastic and gung-ho group. Only three personnel, two (2) Warrant
Officers and a crew chief had seen prior service in Vietnam.
21 December 1966: Major John J. Webster, TC assumed command of the
Company. During the remainder of 1966, the unit was primarily involved with
aircraft checkouts required for aviators in the UH-IC and UH-IH
After the Christmas holidays, training became serious under ATP
1-77G and continued until April 1967.
1967
1 January 1967: The following personnel filled the key positions
within the Company:
Commanding Officer:
Major John Webster
Executive Officer:
Major Robert T. Bagley
First Sergeant:
1SGT Kelly Alfred
Operations Officer:
Major Richard V. Coulter
Intelligence Officer:
Major Jesse E. Stewart
First Airlift Platoon Leader:
Captain Jack W. Blien
Second Airlift Platoon Leader: Major
Albert H. Kraph
Gun Platoon Leader:
Captain Pinckney C. Cochran
Service Platoon Leader:
Captain Wilbur R. Mixer
The associated detachments and their initial commanders were:
604th Maintenance Detachment: Major Richard
D. Caldwell
519th Medical Detachment:
WOI Daniel J. Bainey
6th Signal Detachment:
2d Lt. James R. Conley
3 January 1967: Scheduled training resumed and, in preparation for
deployment, the unit began a series of field exercises the first week of 1967.
Although the snow and ice posed many problems, the improved engines in the UH-IH
performed magnificently. As part of the exercise, the gun platoon was conducting
its weapons training and learning about the ways of war and survival. The first
week of the New Year was devoted to basic required subjects.
11 January 1967: Formal flight training began at section and
platoon levels encompassing such subjects as Navigation, Instrument Proficiency,
Night and Formation Flying, Flying with Loads, Gunship Tactics and Air mobile
Operations.
20 January 1967: The first company-sized Air Mobile Operation was
conducted and three (3) more followed prior to the Field Training Exercise (FTX)
portion of unit training.
31 January 1967 - 6 February 1967: During this time, the gun
platoon conducted its weapons training, gunnery trained in 7.62 systems and all
gunnery personnel were qualified in the XM-21 and XM-23 systems.
7-9 February 1967: The unit was in the field for the first time
where emphasis on operation of a tactical landing area, security of the area,
operational reaction time, resupply, medical evacuation, and section and
platoon-sized Air Mobile Operations with armed escort took place.
14-16 February 1967: During these field operations, further
emphasis was placed on last week's operation; however, reducing mission reaction
time was stressed.
20 February 1967: The 189th was in the field for a
five-(5) day exercise and provided aviation support to the 2/llth Infantry in
its Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) cycle with emphasis on platoon and
company-sized operations, resupply, medical evacuation and a night move all in
preparation for the forthcoming Army Training Test (ATT) cycle. The unit was
observed throughout the operation by ranking personnel who seemed pleased with
the unit's progress, and, even though the unit was testing the new aircraft
during Colorado's winter, they felt sure that the added power of the H model
would perform just as effectively in the real test which lay ahead in the hot
jungle of Vietnam.
During the same period, the Gun Platoon participated in the firing
of the 2.75 Rocket Systems and the M-5 (40mm) Grenade Launcher. With the
completion of this training, the company looked forward to the ATT.
1-3 March 1967: The ATT was conducted under conditions simulating
combat. During the three-day period, the unit and supporting detachments were
judged combat ready in all phases of the testing.
After completion of the ATT, the 189th Aviation Company
(AML) began preparations for its overseas assignment. The unit was notified of
over-seas redeployment by the Fifth Infantry Division and Fort Carson Movement
Order #5. With the issuance of movement Order #5, the unit began processing all
equipment for repair and final inspection.
The arduous task of loading several hundred CONEX containers was
assigned to the troops with Major Albert Kraph and 1LT Stephen Schmidt
supervising as Movements Officers. Every CONEX had to have specific markings and
a manifest detailing its contents. This was complicated somewhat by the unit,s
determination to circumvent regular supply channels and commandeer as much
station property from Ft. Carson as possible. Who was to know what lie ahead?
Vehicles were prepared and loaded aboard trains for shipment to the point of
debarkation.
16 March 1967: The Gun Platoon departed Fort Carson with eight (8)
UH-IC's and headed for Sharp Army Depot in Stockton CA. The aircraft were to be
processed for overseas shipment not later than 21 March 1967. On 17 March, the
Gun Platoon reported departing El Paso International, ETA Yuma, Arizona. On the
morning of the 18th, they were flying low level skimming above the
desert at about 50 feet when one of the AVENGERS looked up and saw a small
camper trailer parked in the middle of nowhere. It was determined that they all
would fly by to check it out. As the flight approached the trailer, a person
could be seen sleeping on the roof in a lounge chair. Suddenly, eight (8)
helicopters flew over him at about 50 feet with the last copter reporting him on
the ground heading toward a huge cactus with brown spots in his shorts. Many fun
things took place on the trip, but this was the highlight. The transfer of the C
Models was completed upon arrival, 18 March 1967 at Sharp Army Depot, Stockton,
California.
28 March 1967: Additional movement instructions were received, and
all vehicles and CONEXED equipment were port called for NLT 12 April. To meet
the 12 April port call, rail cars were loaded 6 April for movement on 7 April.
29 March 1967: Requirements for the advance party were partially
finalized, and the number in the party was limited to five Officers and
included:
Major Richard V. Coulter, Operations and
OIC
Major Jesse E. Stewart,
Training and Intelligence
Captain Ernest R. Bowling, Communications
Captain Phillip Ashley,
Maintenance
Captain Darrell Waite,
Supply
21 April 1967: The advance party was alerted and departed Fort
Carson at 0620 hours on 23 April. The party arrived and departed from Travis Air
Force Base that same day for Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Arrival time at Cam Ranh Bay
was 0500 hours, 25 April. From there, the advance part was processed through the
17th Aviation Group and finally arrived at its new station, Pleiku,
Vietnam on 27 April. The unit was assigned to the 52nd Combat
Aviation Battalion and was redesignated as the 189th Assault
Helicopter Company, APO San Francisco 96318.
As the end of April approached and with the final shipment of the
units equipment, the men were given their last leave and told to report back by
1 May for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam.
3 May 1967: The unit was broken into contingents and began
departing via U.S. Air Force C-141 Starlifters. while enroute to Pleiku AFB,
Vietnam. Intermediate stops were made at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and Yokoda, Japan
were made. The sweltering heat of Pleiku was indeed a change from the cold
mountain air and recent snow of Colorado..
With May being late in the dry season, the unit had a few days to
move into Camp Holloway to set up tents before the monsoon season. Having
evolved into the 189th Assault Helicopter Company upon arrival in
Vietnam, the unit was assigned to the 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion.
The unit's location was a bare piece of ground alongside the runway
as a permanent bivouac area. Because the assigned area lay outside of the
Battalion's perimeter, the first order of business was to extend barbed wire to
encompass the unit's new home. Tents were erected and sandbagged by officers and
enlisted personnel who shared equally in the backbreaking task of filling sand
bags with the red clay of Pleiku. Revetments for the slicks were built of
perforated steel planking (PSP), soil and sandbags. The aviators alternated days
working on construction and days flying as copilots with sister companies in
order to learn the area around Pleiku and to gain some experience flying in a
combat environment.
The remainder of the body arrived at the new location on the 6th
and 7th . Shortly thereafter, the TO&E equipment, less aircraft,
arrived. Finally, the 189th neared an operational readiness goal.
22 May 1967: The unit's helicopters arrived at the Port of Vung
Tau, a coastal city in II Corps and was also an in country R&R site. Much
excitement accompanied the crews fortunate enough to RON at the old French
hotel, sample the local Bier 33 and consort for the first time with the local
Vietnamese bar girls. It was a welcome respite from the heat and red dust of
Pleiku. Vung Tau was relatively peaceful at the time and the rule was that no
side arms be openly displayed while out on the town. Being new in the country,
most of the 189th troops elected to go out armed, but concealed,
rather than surrender their newly issued Smith & Wesson revolvers. Wanting to
depart Vung Tau with the proper amount of flourish, the unit's first real
in-country flight was in full company formation flight from Vung Tau up the
coast to Cam Ranh Bay, Qui Nhon and thence inland over Route 19 through the An
Khe and Ming Yang passes to Pleiku. A full-scale flyby at Camp Holloway was made
to announce the presence of a brash new kid on the block to both local VC and
sister companies.
Today, the first ten (10) aircraft arrived followed by eleven (11)
more H models and six (6) UH-IC's the next day. Two (2) more H models arrived on
the 24th. The remaining two (2) UH-IC's were scheduled to arrive 25
May 1967.
With the arrival of equipment and personnel, the company was given
an operational readiness date of 15 June 1967. Operational requirements demanded
that the transition be made as quickly as possible into a full-scale combat
flying unit. It is significant to note that both the aircraft commanders and
pilots of most crews had very little, if any, combat experience, yet they went
directly into flying operational missions.
27 May 1967: UH-IH, 66-1065 (need
photo) crashed in the ocean and aircraft caught fire
while on a courier and resupply mission.
WO Herbert A. Ripka, was the unit's first in-country fatality. Although he was
initially reported missing in the over water accident, three (3) days later his
body washed ashore, and he was pronounced dead from drowning.
1 June 1967: The first DEROS took place in the 189th
and, as a result, new personnel assumed key positions as follows:
Intelligence
Officer:
Captain Michael Howe
1st
Airlift Platoon Commander:
Captain Eugene Malcoff
2nd
Airlift Platoon Commander:
Captain Darrell Waite
Gun Platoon
Commander:
Captain Rupert Bowling
During the first part of June, the 189th Assault
Helicopter Company was assigned radio call signs. The gun ship pilots with their
usual hefty amount of bravado decided to seek their combat fortunes using the
call sign AVENGERS Their platoon patch would feature the grim reaper holding a
scythe on top of a coffin. The slick pilots followed the theme by selecting
GHOST RIDER as their call sign which was characterized by a patch featuring a
ghost armed with a .30 caliber machine gun alongside a slick. It then followed
logically, to name the revetment area, where the slicks parked their aircraft,
the GRAVEYARD. The gun platoons C (Charlie) model gun ships were unable to park
there. When fully loaded with ammunition, the Charlie models were not able to
hover high enough to clear the barbed wire apron that surrounded the GRAVEYARD.
Instead the Charlie models were kept in an area easily accessible to the runway
and this area became known as the ARSENAL.
The First and Second Airlift Platoons had their own distinctive
patches. The First Airlift was known as Silver Flight and their patch was a blue
lightning bolt with silver lettering SILVER FLIGHT 1st A/L. The
Second Airlift was known as Scarlet Flight with the same lightning bolt shape
but red in color with white lettering SCARLET FLIGHT 2nd AL. Their
patches represented the swift and sudden striking force of lightning which aptly
defined the job of the lift platoons to get in and out quickly.
The Maintenance Platoon also adopted their unique patch and call
sign of CARETAKER. Its patch depicted the powerful Condor on top of a mountain
keeping vigil over its young one which, in this case, was a UH-1H helicopter.
The patch implies the care of the Condor even though it can be one of the
fiercest fighters in the sky.
15 June 1967: The 189th AHC became operational, combat
training was completed and the company assumed its place as a combat- ready unit
in the 52nd CAB. The 189th AHC was placed in direct
support of the 4th Infantry Division.
Mission assignments consisted of C&C, resupply, and combat assaults.
To prevent a major reorganization of the unit when the original
members returned to the states after their one-year tour ended, pilots with
varying DEROS dates were infused from other units. To make up for these newer
members, some of the original men were transferred out to other units.
Mission: The mission of the 189th AHC was to provide
tactical air movement of combat troops in air mobile operations, tactical air
movement of combat supplies and equipment within the combat zone, combat assault
support to combat troops, medical evacuations, reconnaissance, command and
control, liaison, and logistics and administration missions.
Terrain: The II Corps Tactical Zone, where Pleiku is located and
where 189th AHC rendered the majority of its support, covered an area of 32,725
square miles or 49% of the land area of South Vietnam. Its western border is 342
miles long and in common with Laos and Cambodia. The eastern border is
approximately 400 miles of coastline bordering on the South China Sea. The area
is 40 miles wide in the north and 142 miles wide in the south. The area is
politically divided into the provinces of Kontum, Binh Dinh, Pleiku, Phu Bon,
and Phy Yen in the 22nd ARVN Divisional Tactical Zone, and Darlac, Kanh Hoa,
Quang Duc, Tuyen Duc, Nunh Thuan, Lam Dong, and Binh Thuan in the 23rd ARVN
Divisional Tactical Zone. Geographically, this area may be divided into three
(3) major areas:
Coastal Plain
The coastal plain is the narrow strip of long, flat and often
marshy terrain not more than twenty (20) miles wide from the sea island. This
area is formed by a series of numerous river deltas interrupted by rocky ridge
lines running steeply to the sea. It is almost entirely under cultivation with
four (4) rice crops a year.
Mountain Region
The mountain region extends from north to south almost the entire
length of the II Corps Tactical Zone. Elevations range from 3,000 to 8,000 feet
with the eastern slopes quite steep and the western slopes more gradual. Rain
forests cover three quarters of this area with most of the remainder covered
with open, deciduous growth. Cultivation is limited to small cleared areas on
relatively flat lands. Flying in this area is very hazardous with forced landing
areas practically non-existent, ceilings frequently very low and unpredictable
winds,
Plateau Region
The plateau region is located west of the mountains and is
comprised of the Kontum Plateau in the north and the Darlac Plateau in the
south. This region has altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 feet with gently
rolling hills and much open area. Where the soil is not under cultivation, a
thick growth of eight to ten foot grass covers the ground. Where adequate
drainage is provided, this area will support four vegetable crops yearly.
The principal cities of these regions are Pan Thieu, Pan Rang, Ha
Rang, and Sui Hen are on the coastal plain; Dalt in the mountains, and Ban Me
Thu et, Pleiku and Kontum in the plateaus. The major routes of this area are:
Route #1 Saigon
Dan Nan (coastal route)
Route #11 Dalt
Pan Rang
Route #14 Saigon Ban Me
Thule to Pleiku to Kontum
Route #19 Pleiku
Sui Nhon
Route #20 Saigon Dalt
Route #21
Ban Me Thule to Ha Rang
The Republic's major rail line parallels Route #1 along its entire
length with one spur line from Phan Rang to Dalat. The logistical and
communication complex at Cam Ranh Bay is located between Pan Rang and Ha Rang
Weather: Weather throughout the area can be divided into the summer
monsoons(June through September) and the winter monsoons (November through
April) with the months of May and October as periods of transition. During the
summer monsoons, the wind is southwesterly causing cloud buildups on the western
slopes of the mountains. This results in a rainy season for the plateaus and
mountain regions during the summer months while the coastal provinces have clear
skies and good flying weather. The winter monsoons bring a northeasterly flow
with the conditions reversed. The coastal provinces of Binh Thuan and Nhin Thuan
are not affected by either monsoon seasons and have generally clear weather year
round. Average rainfall in the mountain and plateau region is 92 inches; on the
coastal plain 87 inches. The temperature on the coastal plain ranges from the
mid 70's to the high 80's during the rainy season and low 80's to high 90's
during the dry season. The mountains and plateaus experience temperatures from
the mid 50's to mid 80's during the wet season and low 60's to 90 plus during
the dry season. Winds are normally gusty at 10 to 15 knots with velocity
increasing with altitude. In the Kontum, Pleiku area, surface winds of 25 to 45
knots were common in the fall