crescendo.html

 

 

 

CO.B, 1ST BN, 6TH INFANTRY

 

198TH LIGHT INFANTRY BRIGADE

 

VIETNAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

This website is dedicated to all members of the units listed above, but primarily to the men of 2ND platoon of Co. B, 1/6TH Infantry

 

 

The 198TH Light Infantry Brigade was formed at Fort Hood Texas, and went by troop ships to Vietnam

  You will not find photo's of actual combat because to be quite frank at those times we were rather busy doing other things, (like shooting back)! maps of our area of operations can be found and are the courtesy of Jim Hinthorn, who's web page can be found in the links section.accounts come from the years 1968 and 1969. The music, "HERE COMES THE SUN" were chosen because it depicts the life we lived, out in the open, no base camp to go to except every three months for a three day stand down. Although we had our casualties, and bad days we did have some days when you just had to lighten up!

 

 

 

AREA OF OPERATIONS

 

The area of operations for the 198TH light Infantry Brigade was from Tam ky on the coast to the Cambodia and Vietnamese border down to the City of Quang Nai to the south of Chu lai, And covered areas known as LZ's Stenson, Young, East Center, North, Mary Ann, Fat City, Bayonet, Gator. Hills 76, 707,747 and 1362 of Rocket Ridge. The Valley between Rocket Ridge and the Cambodia Border Known by several Names. Queson Valley, Dragon Valley and Death Valley.

 

 

 

The UH-1D was our main means of transportation from one area of operation to another and was used for resupply, troops and MEDIVAC.

 

When we were in triple canopy trees we would pop smoke and the crew would kick out our food and water. You had to watch carefully or it would come down on your head.especially the water that was in rubber bags one inside the other, and had a tendency to bounce from one tree to another and you had no idea where it would land.

 

OUR ENEMY

 

Most of the enemy found from the Rocket ridge to the Cambodia border was hard core NVA form North Vietnam, The ones found in the Rocket Pocket to the coast was usually hit and run Viet Cong that made the place a living hell by the use of snipers, mines and booby traps.

Co. B's Area of operations was around LZ's Fat City, Hill 76, Hill 22, (Known by 2nd platoon as Hospital Hill) the Rocket Pocket, Rocket Ridge, LZ Gator and Anton Bridge with an occasional excursion into Dragon Valley. What it amounted to was a 12 month camp out exposed to all weather! Heat , cold and rain.

 

TET 1969

 

2ND Platoon, was pulled from the Rocket Pocket to go on a company size Recon in force into Dragon Valley (Death Valley).The LZ was expected to be hot.(incoming fire upon landing) We were reinforced with a platoon of ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) To our surprise and happiness, it wasn't hot, and the ARVN's was pulled out to celebrate TET in the rear. 1/2 hour after they left we took our first casualty, the point man from 3RD platoon was killed while leading point for the company. Things started to go down hill from that point. the company was in file when snipers started firing on the company, 2nd platoon was caught between the jungle edge and rice paddy, and an embankment on our right, automatic weapons fire was hitting all around the men, I remember thinking as I watched bullets hitting around the man in front of me "Man I'm glade I'm not him" When contact was broken off, the guy behind me said" man bullets was hitting all around you". Automatic Small arms fire continued as we progressed deeper into the valley and then mortar fire started. The Company Commander called for an air strike, a FAC (Forward Air Controller Aircraft) came in, did a barrel roll and fired of his marking rocket, RIGHT INTO 3RD PLATOON. The Company finally came upon an area with a small hill in the center, all of the trees had been blown down and an old trench work was there, the company took this position to use as our defensive position. 2nd platoon was trying to make a small recon to our front and got pinned down on a small trail on the side of the hill, Fire was coming in heavy at this time and the Co. called for Artillery support, with a danger close. None of the firebases could reach us , but the battle ship New Jersey could , and fired their 18 inch guns for us, those 2000 lb shells sounded like a freight train coming in, The company commander also called for an air strike. The jets finally arrived and came in so low that you could see the pilot and see the ejected shell casings from his cannons, they dropped 500 lb bombs and napalm so close to us that you could hear the shrapnel fly by you, the napalm was dropped so close that you could feel the heat and blast go by and suck back in. the enemy was still firing on us throughout the bombings. Cobra gun ships came in and started giving fire support with their 40MM grenade launchers, rockets and mini guns. The next day we were able to break contact and make our way to a pickup zone. We found out later that we had run into one of our old foes, the 22nd NVA Regiment.

 

STAND DOWNS

 

Approximately every three months our company would be pulled to the Americal division rear for a three day stand down, The first day we would be picked up by UH-1D's about 12:00 noon, flown to the rear, debriefed and turn in all ammunition and explosives. Take a shower, eat and sleep or get drunk or watch old movies. The second day we could go to the px, if they would let you in.( the policy was you had to be in a complete uniform) most of ours was what we call "sterile" no unit patches, names or insignia of rank and scuffed up brown boots that once was black when new. or just lay around and rest. The second day was usually the one that we had memorial services for our fallen members.

 

The third day we were briefed on our new missions, issued ammo, grenades, claymores mines and other necessary equipment. and by noon we were back on our way to the bush.

 

After Vietnam

Upon leaving Vietnam in 1972, I was assigned to Company A, 75TH Rangers at Fort Hood Texas. One of the two Ranger Companies still on active duty. In 1974 The two companies were broken up to form the two new Ranger Battalions.

 

If you are interested in becoming an Airborne Ranger or just curious about what we do and did for a living go to the airborne Ranger link below, or E-mail me.

 

Thank you for visiting!

 

Tom Brizendine

 

EMAIL ME AT :

 

mailto:tdbriz@gulftel.com

 

Visit my personal family home page at

 

http://www.gulftel.com/~tdbriz

 

Combined Us Army Ranger Associations

 

http://www.ranger.org/usara/usara.htm

 

http://www.airborne-ranger.com

 

The Brotherhood of Rangers

http://www2.gdi.net/~gengreb

 

 Americal Division Home Page

 http://www.Americal.org/assoc.htm

 

Jim Hinthorn's Home Page

 

Bone's Page

http:www.airborne-ranger.com/~egelston/index.html