From John Lenti 8/17/2009
Ernie: Do you have any info on 173rd. "Gun Slingers" helicopter unit that resupplied me on 6 Aug.?
I was the SA to the 8th VN Abn Bn. that was airlifted into Dak Seang SF air strip after landing at Dak To in C-130s from Saigon. We took Chinooks to the SF camp and immediately moved into jungle into contact with NVA vic coord:YB 855408 ( moving west toward Hill 1258).. We had the "Gun Slingers" resupply ammo since we wound up surrounded that night by the better part of the 196th Regiment. Surprised you don’t have it as part of your chronology. The action is in Wiki.
john
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Ernie Camacho:
Sorry, John, I don't have any specific information on the 173rd. I know that they were at Dak To, operating out of the NE corner of the airfield. I worked with the Gun Slingers but didn't get to know any of them.
Ernie
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John Lenti:
Ernie: Thanks for rapid response; I’ve posted the Hill 1258 action on the wiki site for Dak To. Thanks again for response.
One more fact for the record, Bill Carpenter and I are classmates, USMA ’60 and a good fried since we entered WestPoint in July, 1956. Bill was a great soldier and now lives in Montana. Hope to see him at our 50th Reunion at USMA next year. Bill deserved the M of H for his call; received the DSC.
Glad to fill in some of the blanks.
john
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Ernie Camacho:
John,
I found a Wiki article. I assume it's the one you referred to since it contains your recounting of the Hill 1258 engagement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dak_To
I remember telling someone at the time, during the big Hill 875 battle, that it wouldn't be until years later before I'd learn what it was that was happening in the hills around us. I was right. It wasn't until books were written about the battle that I learned what was happening. All I knew was that there was lots of traffic in and out of Dak To, with lots of Dust Off's going to the Med Evac pad.
It is folks like you, who have been writing down what you experienced, that I thank for giving me the details that were missing while I was there.
Thanks,
Ernie Camacho
---------------------------------------------------------
postscript: as of 2021 the Wikipedia article on Dak To no longer has the Hill 1258 story.
Ernie: Do you have any info on 173rd. "Gun Slingers" helicopter unit that resupplied me on 6 Aug.?
I was the SA to the 8th VN Abn Bn. that was airlifted into Dak Seang SF air strip after landing at Dak To in C-130s from Saigon. We took Chinooks to the SF camp and immediately moved into jungle into contact with NVA vic coord:YB 855408 ( moving west toward Hill 1258).. We had the "Gun Slingers" resupply ammo since we wound up surrounded that night by the better part of the 196th Regiment. Surprised you don’t have it as part of your chronology. The action is in Wiki.
john
------------------------------------------------------
Ernie Camacho:
Sorry, John, I don't have any specific information on the 173rd. I know that they were at Dak To, operating out of the NE corner of the airfield. I worked with the Gun Slingers but didn't get to know any of them.
Ernie
----------------------------------------------------------
John Lenti:
Ernie: Thanks for rapid response; I’ve posted the Hill 1258 action on the wiki site for Dak To. Thanks again for response.
One more fact for the record, Bill Carpenter and I are classmates, USMA ’60 and a good fried since we entered WestPoint in July, 1956. Bill was a great soldier and now lives in Montana. Hope to see him at our 50th Reunion at USMA next year. Bill deserved the M of H for his call; received the DSC.
Glad to fill in some of the blanks.
john
---------------------------------------------------------------
Ernie Camacho:
John,
I found a Wiki article. I assume it's the one you referred to since it contains your recounting of the Hill 1258 engagement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dak_To
I remember telling someone at the time, during the big Hill 875 battle, that it wouldn't be until years later before I'd learn what it was that was happening in the hills around us. I was right. It wasn't until books were written about the battle that I learned what was happening. All I knew was that there was lots of traffic in and out of Dak To, with lots of Dust Off's going to the Med Evac pad.
It is folks like you, who have been writing down what you experienced, that I thank for giving me the details that were missing while I was there.
Thanks,
Ernie Camacho
---------------------------------------------------------
postscript: as of 2021 the Wikipedia article on Dak To no longer has the Hill 1258 story.