10 December CPT Jimmie H. Rich assumed command of Bravo Company from the executive officer and interim company commander, 1LT Edward R. Mendez.

Wanted: Photographs of the change of command ceremony. Use the Email link at the top of this page.

17 December, Cu Chi-Tay Ninh Convoy  A serial of trucks and the two MP gun jeeps from Charlie Company, part of the Cu Chi-Tay Ninh Convoy, left the Cu Chi Base Camp on Highway QL-1 at Trang Bang and proceeded northeast from Highway-1 onto Highway LTL-19 towards the Dau Tieng Base Camp (Tay Ninh Provence).

    The road to Dau Tieng was very narrow, poorly maintained and in parts the jungle encroached on it making it an ideal location to ambush the small resupply convoys. The area came under the operational control of the 25th Infantry Division based at Tay Ninh and Cu Chi.

     The Charlie Company escorts participating in the convoy this day were, SP/4's Jack Parsons, Arthur T. Sheedy, Alan Zampieri, Roy G. Hayner, and (others yet identified).

     The truckers from the transportation units were members of the, 379th Transportation Company, 7th Transportation Battalion (Truck), 48th Transportation Group, and B Company, 25th Supply Transportation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division.

     In the vicinity of the Ben Cui (Michelin) Rubber Plantation, Grid Coordinates XT4345, the convoy was ambushed by Viet Cong Main Force elements estimated to be battalion sized.

     During the ensuing fire fight several truckers were seriously wounded, the convoy commander 1LT James R. Hammersla and four others were killed in action.

     U.S. helicopter gunship's from the 25th Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division Artillery and Infantry responded breaking the back of the enemy ambush.

     Approximately 2,285 rounds of artillery fire was used against the enemy positions during the battle. Fifty-two enemy bodies were left on the field when the fire fight finally ended hours later.

     Due to the quick thinking and actions of 1LT Hammersla, who disregarded his wounds and constantly exposed himself to enemy fire wile directing his troops and radioing in the enemy positions from his disabled jeep, the bulk of the convoy was able to avoid the kill-zone. 1LT Hammersla was later posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism.

18 December The following personnel were assigned to C Company as PVT’s (E2): Szadocsik, John F.; Sheedy, Arthur T. (2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon); Reynolds, Mark L.; Scalla, Theodore (3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon); Ricker, Joseph; Spencer, Michael M. (3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon).

     212th MP Company  1330 Hours, Members of the 212th MP Company (Sentry Dog) hosted a Christmas Party for the 800 children of the Thu Duc National Orphanage. Approximate 30 MPs from the company arrived with ice cream and goodies for the children, and enjoyed a joint entertainment program.

     The sleigh was an olive drab deuce-and-a-half and there were no reindeer, but it added up to Christmas just the same for the 800 children of the Thu Duc National Orphanage.

     The deuce-and-a-half filled with ice cream and “goodies” for the children rolled through the gate at 1:30PM beginning the party. Accompanying the truck were several other vehicles bringing thirty or more MP’s from the company to join in. The company, which recently adopted the orphanage, raised some $150.00 to fete the children. One hundred dollars was raised by contributions from the MPs and $50.00 was sent by LTC (Retired) H. M. Witbeck of Rancho Cordova, California who contributes annually to the orphanage.

     Before the MP’s arrived the sisters and teachers of the Catholic-run orphanage assembled the children into the large auditorium where they sat and waited for the GI’s. The soldiers arrived shortly afterwards and passed out ice cream to the excited children. They joined the orphans in watching the orphanage band perform several popular American songs. Later, ten girls from the orphanage dressed in colorful costumes, and performed traditional Vietnamese dances. The MPs not to be left out, mounted the stage en masse and assembled into a choir formation. The men swung into an off-key rendition of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Then with a boy from the orphanage sitting in on drums, they sang a lusty and still out of tune “Jingle Bells.” Following the songs, the men distributed more candy and treats to the children.

Operation HOLLY (Bob Hope USO Show)

22 December The Battalion Reaction Force of one officer, fifty enlisted men, five gun jeeps and four Armored Personnel Carriers were placed on a five minute standby response time at the operation site. They were supported by a platoon from F Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment who were placed under Battalion operational control, and were positioned outside the Long Binh Post perimeter as security for the show.

24 December, TAOR  Bravo Company provided three to four squads as security in the Village of Long Binh Tan for a Christmas Party being given for the children at the Catholic orphanage. The Battalion Commander LTC Baxter M. Bullock and staff members arrived with a security escort of four MP gun jeeps. They were present for thirty minutes while gifts were given to the children and photographs were taken of the event.

Wanted: Photographs and personal stories of the duty. Use the Email link at the top of this page.

     A reaction force of one officer, fifty enlisted men, five gun jeeps, and four Armored Personnel Carriers (APC’s) were placed on a five minute standby response time at the site of Operation RELIGIOUS SERVICES. They were supported by a platoon from F Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse) who were placed under Battalion operational control, and were positioned outside the post perimeter.

Wanted: Photographs and personal stories of the duty. Use the Email link at the top of this page.

25 December Reflections of the Battalion troops on how and where they spent their Christmas Eve and Day in 1968.

All Battalion veterans from 1968 are invited to submit their stories or reflections. Use the Email link at the top of this page.

     For dinner at the Battalion Mess on Christmas Day the mess staff gave their all to provide a great meal for those that were lucky enough to be available on post to take advantage of it. Each soldier also received a dinner menu with the Chaplains prayer for the day.

     For those in the field, it was your choice of C-Rats.

31 December Reflections of the Battalion troops on how and where they spent their New Years Eve and Day in 1968.

All Battalion veterans from 1968 are invited to submit their stories or reflections. Use the Email link at the top of this page.

     "I remember spending New Years Eve on an island in the Song Dong Nai River, and at midnight we set off our flares and could see flares being set off from our outpost's and across the river by the Big Red 1 !"   SP/4 William L. "Moe" Mohollen, Bravo Company, 1968-1969.