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A TROOP REFLECTIONS ON THE ACAV
Bob TaylorAfter training as an infantry mortarman at Fort Ord and using APC's as targets, I was shocked to be assigned to the 4/12 Cavalry. I arrived at LZ Nancy on July 4, 1969 and was assigned to track 29 (mortars). The only problem was that it didn't run, so my first assignment on an ACAV was to be a M60 gunner on 23. I spent time on 25 as M79 man, on 24 as the driver. In August I was the left gunner on 25 and we were patrolling the area around Alpha 4. I remember that the small pin holding the trigger assembly to the receiver on my M60 had fallen out rendering the gun useless. We were the 5th vehicle in line heading up a ridge. I looked inside the PC to find the pin but had no luck. I saw that the wire holding the handles on the ammo boxes looked like something that a pin could be made from so I cut a piece and sure enough it worked. I had just begun firing again because we had enemy in the area when we hit a mine on the right side. It was the loudest noise that I ever heard. Luckily none of us were injured. Mike Deierling was the TC but I can't remember the others. We suffered burned mustaches and eyebrows. The track was a combat loss. The one good thing that came out of the mine incident was that I got to ride on an M48 until we got a new APC in. Pretty cool, infantry to APC's to tanks. One reason that the 4/12 Cavalry was an ass kicking unit---diversity. Trooper 29 Delta |
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This site is in no way connected to, or sanctioned by, any official Army or Government entity. This is, and will be a work in progress; we apologize now for any errors and/or mistakes. Information for this site has been and will continue to be gathered from many different sources. It is intended as a place for fellow troopers, family and friends of A Troop 4th Squadron 12th Cavalry (Vietnam Era) to visit, seek contact with, gather information or some insight into the history, language and jargon of the people who were part of A Troop, then and now. A Troop 4/12 Cav (Vietnam Era) invites and encourages trooper's family members to participate in the troop's reunions, memorial services, remembrances of our fellow troopers who have passed on to Fiddler's Green, and to continue the camaraderie of the BROTHERHOOD....Long Live the Cav and its BROTHERHOOD!!
