196th LIB

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196th LIB

WE RE-ENACT THE 196TH LIB FOR TACTICALS

196th LIB, SSI

A BRIEF HISTORY

196th LIGHT INFANTRY BRIGADE VIETNAM 1966 – 1972

A BRIEF HISTORY

The 196th Infantry Brigade was first organized 24 June 1921 as an element of the Organized Army Reserves as Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 196th Infantry Brigade as an element of the Army Reserves 98th division. The unit was organized in Buffalo, New York. Redesignated January 1942 as the 3rd Platoon, 98th Reconnaissance Troop, 98th Division. The unit was Federalized on 9 June 1942 and reorganized 15 September 1942 at Camp Breckenridge, KY as a Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop. Reorganized and redesignated in 1943 as the 98th Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized. The 98th Division arrived in Hawaii in April 1944 and was given the mission of defending Kauai and Maui Islands initially later it was made responsible for the defense of Oaha.

Returning to reserve status in 1947, the unit was redesignated 26 February 1947 as the 98th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop and assigned to the 98th Infantry Division, LJSAR, New York State. On 21 February 1949 the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 98th Reconnaissance Company. On 1 May 1959 the unit was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 196th Infantry Brigade and allotted to the Regular Army. On 10 September 1965, at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, the 196th was redesigned the 196th Light Infantry Brigade.

Originally scheduled to be sent to the Dominican Republic in mid 1966, the 196th boarded Military sea transport in Boston on 15 July 1966 and sallied for Vietnam. The Brigade landed 14 August 1966 in Tay Ninh City and began combat operations in the III Corps Tactical Zone. The 196th conducted operations Cedar Falls, Dadsen, Lancaster, Attleboro (war zone C of Tay Ninh Province, which developed into a major action after a large enemy base camp was uncovered, 19 October 1966), Junction City, and Benton as a Separate Brigade.

In April 1967 the 196th was selected, along with the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division, to form a Provisional Division – sized unit called Task Force Oregon and moved to the I Corps Tactical Zone. The Brigade stayed with this command, which was converted into the 23rd Infantry Division, (Americal) 25 September 1967. The 196th Light Infantry Brigade officially joined this Division 15 February 1969. As a part of the Americal Division the 196th operated throught northern Vietnam participating in operation Whealer/Wallowa, Golden Fleece, Foxette Canyon, Frederick Hill, Lamar Plain, Elk Canyon I and Elk Canyon II. On 29 November 1971, the 196th Light Infantry Brigade was reconstituted as a separate (provisional) Brigade – sized element to safeguard the same area of operations.

In 1971 the Brigade was relocated to Da Nang for major port security duties. In June 1972 the 196th finally departed Vietnam as the last U.s. Army Combat Brigade to leave in increment XII of the U.S. Army withdrawal. The Brigade suffered 1,004 K.I.A.’s and 5,591 W.I.A.’s while fighting in Vietnam. The 196th was inactivated on 30 June 1972 in Oakland California. The 196th was reactivated 26 May 1998 during a ceremony at Ft. Shaffer, Hawaii. The new 196th works with reserve component units in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa and Japan, to assist these units in staying trained and ready at all times.

Arrived Vietnam: 14 August 1966

Departed Vietnam: 29 June 1972

Locations:

Tay Ninh Aug. 66 – May 67

Chu Lai June 67 – Oct. 67

Tam KY Nov. 67 – March 68

Phong Dien April 68 – May 68

Hoi An June 68 – June 68

Chu Lai July 68 – March 71

Da Nang April 71 – June 72

Authorized Strength 1966 1968 1971

HHC 285 188 128

Commanders:

Colonel Francis Conaty Aug 66

Brigadier General Edward H.

deSaussure, Jr. Aug 66

Colonel Francis Conaty September 66

Brigadier General Frank H. Linnell May 67

Colonel Louis Gelling Nov 67

Colonel Frederick J. Kroesen Jr. June 68

Colonel Thomas H. Tackaberry May 69

Colonel James M. Lee Nov. 69

Colonel Edwin L. Kennedy May 70

Colonel William S. Hathaway Nov. 70

Colonel Ruthland D. Beard, Jr. June 71

Brigadier General Joseph P.

McDonough Nov. 71

196th Infantry Brigade (Light) Order of Battle: Assigned and Attached Units.

Brigade Infantry:

2d Battalion, 1st Infantry

1st Battalion, 6th Infantry*

3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry

4th Battalion, 31st Infantry

1st Battalion, 46th Infantry+

Brigade Reconnaissance:

Troop F, 8th Cavalry (air)+

Troop F, 17th Cavalry (armored)

1st Battalion, 1st Cavalry (Armored)

196th LRRP (E/51LRP)

64th Inf. Plt. Combat Trackers

48th Scout Dog Platoon

Brigade Artillery:

3d Battalion, 82nd Artillery (105mm)

Brigade Support:

8th Support Battalion

175th Engineer Company

687th Signal Company+

27th Chemical Detachment

10th Public Information Detachment

23rd MP Company

408th Radio Research Det. (ASA)

635th MID ream 2

544th MP Plt.

196th Signal Co. (Prov.)

HHD &* Band, 196th Support Bn (Prov)

569th MI Det.

· During November 1971 only.

+ Only during the Brigade service August 1971 – June 1972, after the 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL) had departed. F/6 cavalry joined the brigade in November 1971.

AMERICAL DIVISION LINEAGE

Constituted 24 May 1942 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters, Americal Division. Activated 27 May 1942 in New Caledonia, inactivated 12 December 1945 at Fort Lawton, Washington. Redesignated 1 December 1954 as Headquarters, 23rd Infantry Division, and allocated to the Regular Army. Activated 2 December 1954 at Fort Amador, Canal Zone. Redesignated September 1967 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry Division, and activated in Vietnam. Inactivated 29 November 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington.

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION, VIETNAM

Counteroffensive, Phase II
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Consolidation

AMERICAL DIVISION: TASK FORCE OREGON

In February of 1967, General William c. Westmoreland, Commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam formed a planning group to organize an Army Task Force to send to the I Corps Area.

This planning group, commanded by Major General William B. Rossoni organized a multi-brigade sized force composed of the 196 Light Infantry Brigade: The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division: and the 3rd Brigade, 25 Infantry Division (later re-designated the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division).

Task Force Oregon became operational on April 20, 1967, when troops from the 196th Brigade landed at the Chu Lai Airstrip and immediately began search and destroy operations around the base damp, soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 4th Division started conducting search and destroy operations in southern Quang Ngai Province, and in May, the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne paratroopers arrived at Duc Pho and commenced operations in the jungles west of there.

Early operations conducted by Task force Oregon included Malheur I and Malheur II, Hood River, Benton and cook. On 11 September, 1967, Operation Wheeler was launched against elements of the 2nd North Vietnamese Division working in the area northwest of Chu Lai.

On 22 September 1967, Brigadier General Samuel W. Koster assumed command of the task force, replacing Major General Richard T. Knowles, and three days later Task Force Oregon become the Americal Division, composed of the 196th, 198th and the 11th Light Infantry Brigades, even though the latter two organizations were still training in the United States.

Operation Wheele4r continued and on 4 October 1967, the 3rd Brigade 1st Air Cavalry Division joined the Americal and immediately launched Operation Wallowa in the northern sector of the Divisions area of operation. Operations Wheeler and Wallowa were combined on 11 November and Operation Wheeler/Wallowa was conducted by the 196th Brigade (which replaced the 101 Airborne 1st Brigade in the Operation Wheeler after that organization departed for the II Corp’s Tactical zone) and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry.

An official change of colors ceremony was held 26 October as the Americal Division became the Seventh Army Division fighting in Vietnam. General Koster received his second star during the same ceremony.

On 22 October the 198th Light Infantry brigade arrived in Vietnam from Fort Hood, Texas and deployed to Duc Pho where it received combat training from the battle hardened soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 4th infantry. The 198th was in charge of the defense of the Chu Lai Airstrip, Operation Wheeler/Wallowa became the responsibility of the 196th Infantry Brigade and the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry. The 1/1 had been operating in the general area since September, 1967 and officially became part of the Americal division on 10 January 1968. The 198th Infantry Brigade remained responsible for securing the immediate area around Chu Lai.

The 11th infantry Brigade joined the Americal on 20 December 1967 and moved to Duc Pho for training. The “Jungle Warriors” later conducted combat operations in the Duc Pho area.

WAS THE 196TH LIGHT INFANTRY BRIGADE REALLY THE MUTINOUS OUTFIT IT HAS BEEN PROTRAYED TO BE?

A NEWS ARTICLE IN THE New York Times of 26 August 1969 began with this chilling quotation from Army lieutenant, Eugene Shurtz: “I am sorry, sir, but my men refused to go – we cannot move out.”

Shurtz was commander of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, a subordinate unit of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (196th LIB) which itself was a part of the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division. On 25 August, the 196th had been given the mission of clearing North Vietnamese fighters from a series of bunkers and trenches in the Song Chang Valley near Chu Lai, 30 miles south of Da Nang. Shurtz was on the radio with Lt. Col. Bobby Bacon, his new Battalion Commander, who had just ordered him to lead his company into the heavily defended valley to retrieve eight bodies from a helicopter crash.

But after five days of fighting that had seen half the company’s 120 men killed or wounded, Shurtz – according to the article by Horst Faas and Peter Arnett – was reluctant to relay the order and even refused to take a head count on unwilling troopers. “they won’t go, Colonel, “ Shurtz said, “and I did not ask for a head count because I am afraid that they all stick together, even though some might prefer to go.”

Back at the Battalion Command post, Lt. Col. Bacon allegedly went pale, was this Mutiny?

The 196th LIB was originally formed in 1921 as the 196th Infantry Brigade, part of the Army Reserves, 98th Division. The 98th was a training unit until World War II, when the Division’s mission was to defend the Hawaiian Islands against invasion. The 196th Infantry Brigade never saw combat during World War II. Raised again in 1965 at Fort Devens, Mass., the second incarnation of the 196th is primarily known today as the Brigade that mutinied in Vietnam – twice in only three years.

The august 1969 incident is legendary thanks to Faas and Arnett’s article, for which the authors were awarded a Pulitzer Prize. In 1972 members of the renamed 196th Infantry Brigade (separate), then based in Da Nang, apparently refused an order to assist South Vietnamese troops fighting a desperate last-ditch defense against invading NVA regulars.

It would seem logical, then, that the Army chose to deactivate the 196th LIB in an early round of post-Vietnam War drawdowns. Even if the reports of mutiny were untrue, the Brigade has a bad reputation. Not that its problems were unique: reluctant troops were an Army – wide issue from 1968 through the end of the war.

“Press attention focused on the potential for disruption from within the Army. Actions have taken the form of refusal to obey orders,” says the army’s official history from 1969.

Popular Vietnam War writer keith Nolan, in his 1987 book Death Valley, describes what he calls the “refusal” at Song Chang. “In telling it straight, I had to acknowledge some depressing realities,” Nolan wrote later. “There were many good soldiers in the 7th Marines and the 196th Infantry Brigade of the Americal Division …. During the 1969 Summer Offensive … they fought the good fight against the tough, aggressive regulars of the North Vietnamese Army. However, individual heroism was not enough. Moral as a whole was poor.”

Perhaps contributing to the poor morale were the conditions in and around Chu Lai and the heavy casualties the unit had sustained. On August 4, 1969, a CH-47 Chinook and an Army observation plane collided, killing six. On August 11,

Americal Division troops hacking through the jungle uncovered a massive enemy camp only recently abandoned. Just 10 days later, a battle two miles from Divisional headquarters resulted in 14 Americans and as many as 250 North Vietnamese dead. Then two UH-1 Huey helicopters were shot down on August 19. Aboard one of the choppers from the 71st Aviation company was Associated Press photographer Oliver Noonan, a friend or reporter Horst Faas.

It was the bodies of Noonan and the others that Alpha Company had been fighting to recover. By August 25, according to Fass and Arnett, they had enough. But Bacon, the Battalion Commander whose orders Alpha Company allegedly refused, later said that the unit’s reluctance in 1969 did not count as mutiny or even as a “refusal”- to use Nolan’s term. “They were never issued a direct order,” Bacon said 35 years later. Now in his early 70’s, Bacon has spent decades fighting what he considers misconceptions about the events of that day.

Technically, then, Lieutenant Shurtz was the only one to refuse an order. And Shurtz, for his part, eventually overcame his reluctance. In a letter to Nolan wrote about the account in Death Valley, Bacon described the problems that dogged his 3rd Battalion, and especially the hard-hit Alpha Company: “We were lucky to marshal one battalion’s worth of artillery to support us. We operated in the Song Chang with no roads – and literally no reserves … given areas to operate in that were two to three times greater than we could possibly clear.”

What’s more, said Bacon, Alpha Company was essentially leaderless on August 25. The previous battalion commander, Lt Col. Eli Howard, had died in the helicopter crash on August 19. Bacon had just taken over, inspiring some resentment from officers he bypassed on the way to command. More over, Shurtz was brand-new to his unit. ‘I am positive that had Shurtz served as platoon leader for three to four months, gotten some exposure, been able to know his men, and not thrown into such a God-awful situation,” wrote Bacon, “he would have gone a long way in the Army.”

But Shurtz never got the chance. According to Faas and Arnett, the soldiers of Alpha Company ignored Shurtz’s order until Officers and Sergeants from Battalion arrived to motivate them. According to Bacon and many men from Alpha Company, they moved out as soon as Shurtz finally gave them the order – which apparently happened shortly after Bacon’s envoys appeared.

“We never at any time said we wouldn’t go down the hill,” Spc.4 Curtis of Alpha Company told the Pittsburgh Press on September 2, 1969, “When lieutenant Shurtz gave us a direct order, we started moving.”

In its issue of September 8, 1969, Time magazine accused Faas and Arnett of shoddy journalism: “Neither Faas nor Arnett saw or spoke to anyone in Alpha first hand … their report was plainly exaggerated.”

If that’s true, it wouldn’t be the last example of questionable journalism from Arnett. In March 2003, Arnett was the last journalist in Baghdad still reporting for an American network. As coalition forces closed in, reports surfaced that they had paused in the face of stiff resistance. Arnett granted an interview to state-controlled Iraqi television in which he claimed, “the first war plan has failed.” Within days, every media outlet employing Arnett – including National Geographic, MSNBC and NBC – had fired him. As former New York Senator Alphonse d’Amato put it, Arnett had given “aid and comfort to the enemy.”

Perhaps the Army agrees with those who defend Alpha Company’s actions in the Song Chang Valley. In 1998 the Army saw fit to reactivate the 196th Brigade at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. A Reserve component training brigade overseeing units in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa and Japan, the 196th has helped Reserve and National Guard units from across the Pacific work up for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, going a long way toward repairing its perhaps unjustly tainted reputation.

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

Corporal Michael J Crescenz

Co. A. 4/31st Inf. 196 LIB

20 November 1969

Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam (posthumous)

Specialist Fourth Class Thomas J. McMahon

Co. A, 2/1st Inf, 196LIB

19 March 1069

Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam (Posthumous)

Staff Sergeant Robert C. Murray

C. B, 4/31st Inf, 196 LIB

7 June 1970