7th Armored Squadron 1st Air Cavalry Blackhawks

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARDERS 7TH ARMORED SQUADRON 1ST AIR CAVALRY
APO SAN FRANCISCO 96357
 

AVBN-J

16 NOVEMBER 1968
 

SUBJECT:

Recommendation for award of Presidential Unit Citation
 

THRU:

Commanding officer
164th Aviation Group
Attn: Awards APO 96215
Commanding General
1st Aviation Brigade
Attn: Awards APO 96384
 

TO:

Commanding General
US Army Vietnam
Attn: AVHAG-PD
APO 96375
 

The following unit Is recommended for the presidential Unit Citation: 7th Armored Squadron, 1st Air Cavalry.
 

From 22 March 1968 through 31 May 1968 the 7th Squadron 1st Air Cavalry participated in numerous combat operations conducted in the III Corp Tactical Zone (to Include war Zone D), republic of Vietnam. The Squadron was exceptionally effective during the Second Tet offensive in May 1968.

 
Summary of Recommendation
Narrative description
Maps
Summary of strengths and casualties
List of units
Proposed Citation
Awards and decorations
 

George R. Crook

ltc, armor
Commanding
 

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD OF PRESIDENTAIL CITATION
7 th armored squadron, 1 st Air Cavalry
MISSION:
To Search out, and subsequently destroy enemy strongholds, supply lines. In and around the Saigon area, continue security of the 1st Division base camp, Di An, Republic of Vietnam.

CONCEPT OF OPERATION:
Air Cavalry combat operations by the 7th Squadron 1st Air Cavalry with subsequent search and destroy operations by elements of the 7th Squadron, acting independently against North Vietnamese and Viet Gong Armed Forces within the 3rd Corps Tactical zone in support of the 1st Infantry Division. Tactical Air support available on call.
EXECUTION:
On 22 March 1968 the 7th Armored Squadron, 1st Air Cavalry became operational and began combat operations Against the insurgent movement within War Zone “D”, The terrain highly favored the enemy, being of thick Jungle canopy and dense jungle forest. The combat action was light and sporadic the first few weeks, The Squadron was orienting itself to the type warfare expected to be encountered.
21 April 1968 D Troop,7th Armored Squadron 1 st Air Cavalry participated in a successful night ambush which resulted In 20 enemy killed. The ambush was initiated near Phuoc Vinh, Republic of Vietnam, D Troop (the squadron's armored cavalry troop) was supported by the lift sections of Air Cavalry A and B Troops.
On 24 April 1968 D Troop again could be seen conducting a night ambush at approximant coordinates XT 937300. Again D Troop was supported by A and B Troop lift sections. A simulated insertion was made prior to actually inserting D Troop to their ambush site. The method of insertion proved to be quite successful in confusing the enemy. Immediately after the ambush a sweep was conducted resulting in six Viet Cong killed, additionally several weapons were captured.
D Troop (Powder Valley) was given a search and clear mission on 28 April 1968. The D Troop element was again air lifted by troop carrier Helicopters from C Troop 7th Armored Squadron 1st Air Cavalry. A heavy volume of enemy fire was directed toward the infantry as they initiated their sweep. Several acts of Valor were demonstrated by members of D Troop which resulted in four enemy killed and four weapons captured to include one M-79 Grenada Launcher.
On 3 May 1968 C Troop, 7th Armored Squadron, 1st Air Cavalry, operated out of Chi Lang, RVN, in support of the 44th Special zone. At 1240 hours C Troop made contact with enemy force of unknown size. The Cobra Gunships immediately began rocket passes on the area. This action was immediately fallowed by the insertion of 60 Civilian regulars who made immediate contact upon reaching the landing zone. C Troop weapons provided excellent aerial support for the ground unit in the form of rocket and machine gun fire. This action resulted in 39 Viet Cong Dead. 7 AK-50 rifles captured, 1 M-1 Grenada Launcher, 3 SKS rifles, 45 Caliber machine Gun, plus several more weapons.

The 4th of May 1968 began the battle of the Second Tet offensive. At approximately 1300 hour, elements of the squadron were diverted, from their assigned mission to the small village of Tan Kiep, Republic of Vietnam northeast of Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. The squadron commander briefed the members of A Troop upon arrival at the hostile location. A confirmed battalion of NVA was concealed by the canopy of jungle which covered the numerous canals about the area. The village was being used as a command post by the Insurgent force. As the aero scout team of A Troop began a search and destroy mission they were immediately engaged by countless numbers of automatic weapons to include 50 caliber anti-aircraft machine guns. Two platoons of D Troop, the infantry platoon of A Troop and elements of the 1st Armored Squadron, 4th Cavalry was inserted as blocking force to eliminate the possibility of escape by the enemy force. The battle raged for eight hours. The numerically superior enemy continued to fight well into the hours of darkness. A sweep was conducted to determine the enemy losses. The final total was 160 confirmed. enemy dead, nineteen AK47's, four AK50's, tons or ammunition, several RPG rounds, and numerous documents were captured. The friendly losses were two killed, and three wounded.
A Troop returned to the battlefield on 5 May 1968 for a clean up operation. Aero scout weapons teams were able to flush out and eliminate another 40 enemy soldiers. At 1300 hours A Troop received a request for support from the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry who were under heavy attack for an unknown size enemy force Just south of Phu Loi, Republic of Vietnam. Upon arrival at the hostile location A Troop was met by an extremely heavy barrage of enemy automatic weapons fire and RPG rounds. Utilizing rockets and miniguns the aero weapons team successfully silenced the hostile emplacement, thus allowing the armored cavalry to advance. Again at 1430 hours the scout team came under heavy fire while screening the flank of the friendly unit. Two anti-aircraft 50 caliber communist machine were being directed toward the A Troop aircraft. At the completion of the mission, A troop counted for 78 enemy dead, while suffering no causalities.
On 6 May1968 all three Air Cavalry Troops were involved in separate operations. A Troop was working south of Phu Loi in support of the 2nd Brigade,1st Infantry Division. Again 50 caliber fire was received from the enemy emplacements. At one point two 50 caliber machine guns opened up on the advancing armored personnel carriers. A Troop successfully alleviated the threat of large enemy anti-aircraft guns. At the close of the day the operation netted a body count of 58 Viet Cong with no American casualties.
B Troop on the 6th of May 1968 under the operational control of the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, Their mission was to conduct a search and destroy mission near a small out post , (located at coordinance XS855755) which had been receiving sporadic small arms fire. As the aero scout team entered the area, several male personnel ran into a fortified bunker. The gun team made a rocket pass on the bunker. One Viet Cong was killed, several more passes were made directly into enemy automatic weapons fire. At the conclusion of the operation 27 Viet Cong were killed, and 10 weapons captured. B Troop encountered two personnel wounded.

Troop C was Involved In a delta operation on 6 th of May1968, operating out of Clit Lang, Republic of Vietnam, in support of the 44th Special zone, Upon arrival at Clit Lang, C Troop commander was informed that enemy activity persisted in the area and one out post had been attacked by a Viet Cong company the previous night. At 0850 hours the aero scout element located and captured 15 suspected Viet Cong. Shortly thereafter the weapons team located and killed two Viet Cong. The scouts noticed a man crawling through the high grass, at closer observation the man was seem to be an American prisoner of war. It was later learned the soldier was captured by the Viet Cong on 20 March 1968. The infantry element was then inserted into the area known to be occupied by a hostile force. A sweep of the area was made with the following results, thirty-four Viet Cong killed, 39 Viet Cong captured, 8 sampans and 40 structures destroyed. 8 AK47's and 13 bolt-action rifles were captured. There were no friendly wounded attesting to the skill of Troop C.
7 May 1968 saw B Troop flying in support of the 3 rd brigade, 9 th Infantry Division. Shortly after arriving in the operational area the ground commander of company C, 5 th battalion, 60 th Infantry (Mechanized) radioed to B Troop that his unit had made heavy contact and that he was being subjected to intense automatic weapons and 50-caliber machine gun fire. B Troop weapons aircraft immediately began retaliatory rocket passes against numerically superior hostile forces. After several firing passes the 50-caliber position was neutralized and the enemy observed running into a factory complex. C company was joined by A company of the 5 th Battalion, 60th Infantry as they continue their ground attack against the insurgent forces. At one point B Troop was diverted to support a platoon from the 3 rd squadron, 11 th Armored Cavalry Regiment who were pinned down by automatic weapons and RPG fire from three hostile emplacements. At the close of the multifarious operation, B Troop with 58 enemy kills. No friendly personnel were killed during the operation.
B Troop elements were operating in general support of the 3 rd B rigade, 9 th Infantry Division on 9 May 1968, in an area south of Saigon at coordinances XS8588. The mission was to maintain surveillance around the southeast side of Saigon to preclude any enemy personnel from escaping unnoticed. The aero weapons team struck and destroyed 20 structures that were being utilized as firing positions by the Viet Cong force. Later in the afternoon the scout team located and destroyed 20 sampans carrying military equipment. B Troop was credited with an unknown number of enemy dead, while sustaining no wounded or dead.
C Troop was operation out of Moc Hoa, Republic of Vietnam, in support of the 44 th special zone on 10 May 1968.ASSets on hand were four AH-1G, four Oh-6A, UH-1H and one UH1C helicopters. Troop C was to conduct a visual reconnaissance to locate the scattered Viet Cong units. At 1015 hours a Viet Cong carrying an automatic was seen going into a bunker. The scout team received such heavy fire while attempting to screen the bunker complex that the aero weapons team immediately began rocket passes in order to cover the scout team's exit. C Troop commander radioed for his second weapons team. All four-cobra gun ships expended on the enemy fortifications. At days end C Troop accounted for 33 insurgents dead, 11 Viet Cong POW's and additionally numerous weapons were captured. Negative casualties were sustained by C Troop.

The 13 th of May found A Troop scout and weapons elements operating in an area east of Saigon I support of the 2 nd brigade, 1 st Infantry Division, and an ARVN marine unit, which had been pinned down by a large insurgent force. Upon arrival at the hostile location A Troop was confronted with intense automatic weapons fire and 50 caliber anti-aircraft fire from the enemy stronghold. Several passes were made directly into the anti-aircraft position, each time the Viet Cong would replenish the crew. At the conclusion of the battle it was discovered the crews serving the 50-caliber machine had been chained to the weapon. The day's action netted A Troop 30 more enemy dead.
On 18 May 1968 B Troop elements were in support of the 2 nd Brigade, 9 th Infantry Division. The day began by inserting B Troop infantry platoon to conduct a search and clear mission. The Infantry element succeeded in locating and destroying a Viet Cong base camp. At 1630 hours elements of the 2 nd Brigade, 9 th Infantry Division came under hostile small arms and RPG fire. B Troop immediately began retaliatory rocket passes against the emplacement killing 19 Viet Cong. B Troop did not suffer any casualties during this Operation.
Facts contain in this citation and this summary are a matter of record.
GEORGE R. CROOK
LTC, ARMOR
COMMANDING