Hello  Everyone,                                                                                                                                    24FEB12

David  & Kathy  Marino  have asked  if  I  would  take  over  the  Webmaster  duties  for  this  site.  I  am  greatly  honored,  and  humbled,  by  this  offer  and  I  have  accepted. This website  has  a  great  legacy  that  I  will  strive  to  maintain.    I propose  no  changes  to  the  site,  just additional  info  and  updates  and,  of  course,  no  politics.  Jim  Teller,  Don  Smith, Peter  Dempsey,  and  others, have  been  great  contributors  in  the  past and I  will  be  requesting  their  assistance  in  the  next   few   weeks. Feel   free  to  contact  me  or  the  Marino's  with any questions  or  concerns  regarding  this change.

Bill  Connolly    WIA  24NOV70                      wmcpe1@sprynet.com

   The purpose and function of this website is to provide information and networking to all brothers that served. A place that is free of politics and one without an agenda. This is a feel good site that makes you feel good about yourself and the Band Of Brothers you had the privilege to serve with. These were some of the best and some of the worst times of my life. I have not shared many of my thoughts with any one in over 40 years. We all came back home from Nam and put all the horrors in the back of our minds. Now is the time to vent them with brothers who care.

      I was once a soldier and was young and drafted to fight in a war far away in a place called Vietnam. I did not want to be there.......My  Country and Family and respect for myself guided me to make the right decision.

      Americal  Division & 11th LIB were not perfect and many mistakes were made ,but I am proud to be a American, proud to have served in the Army and proud to wear these patches. This site will honor all our fallen brothers and I will not degrade our colors. At this stage of the game we need to concentrate on all the good things. So brothers ..get a cup of coffee and enjoy this site...it’s yours and will be here always.  When we came home there was .nothing..so I will say again to you ..Welcome Home Brothers........... and be part of This Band Of Brothers who once were young and honorable soldiers.
Alpha Company 4/3  11^th Light Infantry Brigade
  David W. Marino   68/69

# Push on Image to enter Map Room

  

New 1/50 Colored  Americal Vietnam War Maps

    

SGT Snuffy (Don Smith) Mapmaster of this site now has his maps up and running. Don has spent countless hours and many years on this map project. We appreciate the use of these maps on our website.                  
                                    Thank You Brother

            


               OUR VIETNAM EXPERIENCE

 

The 11th Infantry Brigade was reconstituted on April 15, 1966 as a Regular Army unit, and was reactivated on July 1, 1966 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Beginning in early 1967, the brigade trained extensively in jungle operations in preparation for commitment to Vietnam. To stress realism in the Vietnam-oriented tactical training, the brigade conducted "live-fire' operations in the rugged, thickly-vegetated terrain of the Koolau Mountains on the island of Oahu. The Brigade departed Hawaii November 28, 1967, for Duc Pho, Quang Ngai Province, I Corps Tactical Zone, Republic of Vietnam. The 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, joined the "Jungle Warriors" in April 1968. Successful operations during this time included Operation Norfolk Victory, Champagne Grove, Barker, Russell Beach and Vernon Lake II. During these operations, the brigade succeeded in destroying the enemy's major bases of operation, weapons and munition caches, rice and salt caches, and interdicting his major infiltration and logistical routes. The 11th Infantry Brigade operated from five forward fire support bases, each strategically located to hinder the enemy's movement and interdict his traditional lines of infiltration.

The 199 Light Infantry Brigade

The 199 Light infantry brigade

Made up of the 5/12, our sister old guard battalion the 2/3.

The Redcatchers and the 173d saw more combat than almost any other unit in vietnam.

These were Westmorelands FIRE brigades. He threw them into every major battle that needed help.

Siagon durning TET, Dak to and on and on. Our 2nd battalion of the 3rd inf. 2/3 has a company with the 2nd ID Mec. in Iraq today.