War Air Cavalry Style

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) John B. Stockton and Staff Sergeant (SSG) Bert Chole reported to Fort Benning on two separate missions, unknown to each other, but whose destinies would ultimately lead to the former taking the 1st Squadron 9th Air Cavalry to Vietnam and the later to bring the Squadron back from Vietnam. This is story about the 1st Squadron 9th (Air) Cavalry leading up to its deployment to Vietnam and the five years, nine months and nine days of service in Vietnam.

On 1 July 1965 the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated and was ordered to Vietnam beginning 28 July 1965. In a matter of three and half weeks the newly formed division, with 16,000 men and 434 helicopters--Chinooks (CH-47s), Flying Cranes (CH-54s), Mohawks (OV-1s), UH-1s and OH-13s--was prepared to enter combat. Within 90 days of becoming the Army's first airmobile division, the 'First Team' was in combat as the first fully committed division of the Vietnam War. On 10 October 1965, in Operation 'Shiny Bayonet', the First Team initiated its first brigade-size airmobile action against the enemy. The division would go on to take part in many more air assaults and play a leading role in defence against the Tet offensive, driving out the NVA and Viet Cong invaders from Hue and, in Operation 'Pegasus', relieving the 3,500 U.S. Marines and 2,100 ARVN soldiers besieged by nearly 20,000 enemy at Khe Sanh. On 1 May 1970, the 'First Team' was 'First into Cambodia' hitting what was previously a Communist sanctuary but the campaign had severe political repercussions for the Nixon Administration. Pressure was mounting to withdraw US forces from the war. Although there would be further assault operations, the war was beginning to wind down and 26 March 1971 officially marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the 1st Cavalry Division, although it was only on 5 May 1971 that the colours moved from Vietnam to Fort Hood, Texas.

Air Cav: History of the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam 1965-1969 is the story of the small, close world of fighting men in action, told in their own words and supplemented with vivid photographs of the First Cavalry Division’s experience in the war and a history of the division. This volume can be many things to many people—a book of memories, a souvenir, a pictorial essay on airmobility, or simply a story of gallant men at war. It can be many things, but one thing it is not, nor does it pretend to be—a complete history of the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam. The task and burden of history must lie with the objectivity of future generations, far removed from current pressures and restraints. It is true, of course, that much research for this book has been done from available official records, the ultimate source of written history. But even more has been drawn from the vivid recollections of the Cavalrymen who fought, tasted the brassy bile of fear, shared the fierce exultation of victory, or were drenched in the dark despair of death. This volume contains the memoirs of a fighting team—the FIRST TEAM. It is a memory of combat; no doubt it is imperfect as all memory is, but nonetheless it is real for those who were there, for those who can fill in the inevitable gaps.

Contents included in the history are: The Early Years, World War II (1941-1945), Occupation of Japan (1945-1950), Korean War (1950-1951), Return to Japan (1951-1957), Demilitarized Zone (1957-1965), Fort Benning, Airmobile (1965), Vietnam War (1965-1972), Tri-Cap to Armor (1971-1990), Persian Gulf War (1990-1991), Force Restructuring (1991-1993), Desert Peacekeepers (1992-2000), Bosnia Peacekeepers (1998-1999), Today's Cavalry (1999-2000) and The Next Generation (2000-2020). Appendicies following the history include: Commanding Generals, Medal of Honor Recipients, Lineage, Datelines/Key Events, Decorations, Heraldic Items, Order of Battle, GarryOwen, Fiddler's Green, Museum, Major Weapon Systems, The Association, Bibliography, Contributors and an Index. Anyone who has been attached to the 1st Cavalry Division or is interested in military history should have this publication in their personal library.

Describes the strategy of airmobility as used in Vietnam, recounts the major campaigns involving the 1st Cavalry Division, and lists incidents of heroism

Now in its second edition, this comprehensive study of the Vietnam War sheds more light on the longest and one of the most controversial conflicts in U.S. history. The Vietnam War lasted more than a decade, was the longest war in U.S. history, and cost the lives of nearly 60,000 American soldiers, as well as millions of Vietnamese—many of whom were uninvolved civilians. The lessons learned from this tragic conflict continue to have great relevance in today's world. Now in its second edition, The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History adds an entire additional volume of entries to the already exhaustive first edition, making it the most comprehensive reference available about one of the most controversial events in U.S. history. Written to provide multidimensional perspectives into the conflict, it covers not only the American experience in Vietnam, but also the entire scope of Vietnamese history, including the French experience and the Indochina War, as well as the origins of the conflict, how the United States became involved, and the extensive aftermath of this prolonged war. It also provides the most complete and accurate order of battle ever published, based upon data compiled from Vietnamese sources. This latest release delivers even more of what readers have come to expect from the editorship of Spencer C. Tucker and the military history experts at ABC-CLIO.