I raise my glass to the brave lads of the mortar platoon! And make that a double if you were there the night of June 14th, 1970 when Fire Support Base David was attacked.
Here are the mortar men that were there as best I can make out:
Billy Allen, Michael Baker, Phillip Bowsher, Robert Buynak, Phillip Crumley (Sgt E7), Harold Davis, Roland Eastman, Gil Figuerca, John Bates, Guy Gorden, Stan Morgan, James Musick, Nick Mychajluk, Doyle Orr, John Pearson, Greg Romero, Roosevelt Ruggs, Kenneth Schmidt, Joseph Strauss, & Charles Wallace.
I will work to update this if I learn anything more. I’m using a roster from the 31st of May. There are other names that ring a bell like Michael Beldy. Mother sez he was the company clerk. Well, he was an 11-Bravo that night I imagine.
Searching further, there is a James Alexander (11F) whose duty MOS is 11C or mortars. John Gates & Ben Gonzales are also listed as 11-Charlies. John Rohan (E5) is 11F with 11C “duty MOS”.
Bird-out
Echo Mortars were the best !
I could walk them to within a few yards of our position – NEVER doubted their accuracy !
Thanks for your comment!
Very much welcome !
I was Echo Recon Plt Sgt Oct ’70 to March ’71.
We really depended on the mortars for support, especially when we went from a platoon size element to 5-man teams…