I was in the 7th Inf. Division in korea, the 1st Cav. Div. to the east of us. The 1st CAV patch was a large yellow (color for cavalry) shield, wit the head of a horse and a diagonal stripe in black on the shield.
So, in bars around Seoul, there was the question and answer:
"What does that patch mean?"
"The horse is the horse they never rode. the line is the line they never crossed. And the yellow speaks for itself."
The MPs arrived shortly after that.
Bob Wright
Be careful who you disparage! In 70-72 when I was in the Army, the 1st Cav's (Airmobile) motto was "Death From Above".
In Khe Sanh. the journalists were playing cards when one charged in and said "The Cav's relieving the Marine's"! Most of the players all cheered. One asked "Why". Sean Flynne (Errol Flynn's son) answered: "The Professionals are here! The Cav may die but they don't "f+++ up!" (Related in the book "Pleiku" )
Official report: "Their (NVA) campaign against Khe Sanh was foiled by the unprecedented mobility of the Air Cav."
"In an interview conducted by
John Plaster in 1984 and 1985, Hathcock stated that Apache led a platoon of snipers near
Hill 55, just outside of
Da Nang near the middle of present-day Vietnam, and had tortured Marines.
[6]
In dramatized versions of Hathcock's life story, published by Charles Henderson, Apache is described as torturing captured US soldiers within earshot of their comrades. However, academics studying the Vietnam war consider these accounts to be untrue.
[4][5] Hathcock's narrative suggests he shot Apache from a distance, working with Jim Land as a spotter.
[3]"
In a "war story", she had crucified a Marine about 100 yards from the base, The Marine commander did not want to risk men to rescue him. The relieving Air Cav Commander left the command bunker, twirled a finger at his pilot and they took a "loach" and a gunship out, blew crap out of the hillside, cut him down. Upon return, the Cav Commander told the Marine Commander "There's your man, you chicken s+++, Mother ++++++. The Cav does NOT leave men behind!"
"LZ X-Ray involved the 1st Battalion,
7th Cavalry Regiment and supporting units under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Hal Moore, and took place November 14–16, at LZ X-Ray. Surrounded and under heavy fire from a numerically superior force, the American forces were able to hold back the North Vietnamese forces over three days, largely through the support of air power and heavy artillery bombardment, which the North Vietnamese lacked.
The Americans claimed LZ X-Ray as a tactical victory, citing a 10:1 kill ratio."
"Medal of Honor
- 2nd Lt. Walter Marm, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, received the Medal of Honor on Nov. 15, 1967, for his actions while serving as a platoon leader on 14 November during the 3-day battle at LZ X-Ray. His medal citation recounts exemplary acts of conspicuous gallantry, some of them performed while severely wounded.[71]
- Helicopter pilots during the battle Capt. Ed Freeman and Maj. Bruce Crandall were each awarded the Medal of Honor on July 16, 2001, and Feb. 26, 2007, respectively, for Freeman's 14 and Crandall's 22 volunteer flights in their unarmed Hueys[72] into LZ X-Ray while enemy fire was so heavy that medical evacuation helicopters refused to approach. With each flight, Crandall and Freeman delivered much needed water and ammunition and extracted wounded soldiers, saving countless lives.[73]
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star Medal
- Lt. Col. Harold "Hal" Moore, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at LZ X-Ray. His DSC citation commends his "leadership by example", his skill in battle against overwhelming odds and his unwavering courage.[74]
- Sgt. Ernie Savage's precise placement of artillery throughout the siege of the "Lost Platoon" enabled the platoon to survive the long ordeal. For his "gallantry under relentless enemy fire on an otherwise insignificant knoll in the valley of the Ia Drang", Ernie Savage received the Distinguished Service Cross.[75]
- 2nd Lt. John Geoghegan was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. He was killed during the battle when he rushed to the aid of fellow soldier, Willie Godbolt, who was wounded by incoming hostile fire. Their names are next to each other on the Vietnam Wall.[76]
- Specialist 4 Bill Beck and Specialist 4 Russell E. Adams (Platoon 3, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry) were awarded the Bronze Star with Valor in 1996.
- Journalist Joseph Galloway is the only civilian awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism during the Vietnam War. On Nov. 15, 1965, he disregarded his own safety to help rescue two wounded soldiers while under fire.[77] He was decorated on January 8, 1998.[78]"
No, I did NOT serve with the Cav. In 1971, I received orders to join them but I was put on a medical profile and eventually discharged after a lengthy stay at Ft Ord, CA!
