2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division

YEAR IN REVIEW

With the draw down of U.S. Army troops in Vietnam,
the battalion continued to battle the Communists in the
Xuan Loc AO right up until the 2/12th’s Stand Down.

 

JANUARY 1971

____________
3 JAN 71
“B/2-12 Inf located six bunkers and a sapper training
area 14 kms southwest of Xuan Loc (YS564994) at
1110 hours… They destroyed the bunkers and evacuated one typewriter, one sewing machine, some pill bottles, several notebooks and diaries, five .50 caliber ammo cans of documents, medical supplies, one map and one M1 Carbine. The documents identified elements of the Xuan Loc District Headquarters and subordinate units.”
[SOURCE: 2nd Brigade (PROV)(SEP),25th DIV ORLL AD0517824 16 MAR 71 40 pages]

____________
5 JAN 71
Co. A KIA’s:
Pfc. Eugene McKay III (20) of Orlando, FL and
Pfc. Rodney Morgan (20) of Simon, WV
perished in Long Khanh Province,

Co. D KIA:
Pfc. Rodney E. Morgan (20) of Simon, WV perished
in Long Khanh Province.

“A/2-12 Inf received small arms and automatic weapons fire from an unknown number of enemy 13 kms southeast of Xuan Loc (YT565012) at 1315 hours… resulting in two US soldiers killed and three wounded. Fire was returned with organic weapons resulting in one enemy killed. They evacuated tree RPG rounds, three RPG boosters, one RPG launcher, 25 pounds of rice, one hammer and a small amount of documents and clothing from the contact site.”
[SOURCE: 2 Bde.25th DIV ORLL AD0517824 16MAR71]

_____________
6 JAN 71
“A/2-12 Inf received small arms and automatic weapons and RPG fire from an estimated 10 enemy 13 kms southeast of Xuan Loc (YT567011) at 1450 hours… Fire was returned with organic weapons and artillery resulting in one enemy killed and one AK-47 rifle with two full magazines evacuated. There were no US casualties.”
[SOURCE: 2 Bde, 25TH DIV ORLL AD0517824 16MAR71]

___________
9 JAN 71
“D/2-12 Inf engaged an unknown number of enemy with organic weapons at 1325 hours… 12.5 kms southeast of Xuan Loc (YT564023) resulting in one prisoner-of-war captured and one M1 carbine, three rucksacks, and 30 M1 rounds evacuated. One enemy body from this contact was located in a grave 700 meters southeast of the contact at 1130 hours on 13 January by D/2-12 Inf.
Latter, at 1630 hours on 9 January, D/2-12 Inf engaged five enemy with organic weapons 1 km northwest of the 1325 hours contact (YT558031) resulting in one enemy soldier killed and 40 pounds of rice and two M79 grenade launchers evacuated.”
SOURCE: 2nd Bde,[25th DIV OR-LL AD0517824 16MAR71]
____________
10 JAN 71
Co. B 2/12th discovered a cache 14.5 klicks southeast of Xuan Loc at YS576997. They evacuated 40 pounds of rice, three US claymores, one NVA wallet, one NVA flag, 25 AK-47 rounds, two .50 caliber cans with documents and medical supplies, one SKS rifle, two M1 carbines and four M1 rifles.

_____________
17 JAN 71
Co. C KIA:
Pfc. Joseph S. Tidwell (22) of Newcastle, Del. perished in Long Khanh Province.

______________
20 JAN 71
Co. B KIA:
1Lt. Arthur S. Nabben (23) of Minneapolis, MN perished in Phuoc Toy Province.

“B/2-12 Inf located a southwest trail with indications of recent activity 14 kms southeast of Black Horse (YS567922) at 1350 hours…. At 1600 hours, they engaged six to eight enemy soldiers with organic weapons with unknown results. The enemy returned fire with small arms, RPG rounds and hand grenades resulting in one US soldier killed and six wounded.” [SOURCE: 2nd Bde, 25th Div OR-LL AD0517824 16MAR71 ]

_____________
21 JAN 71
Co. D KIA:
Pfc. Louis W. Travers (21) of Jacksonville, FL perished in Long Khanh Province.

____________
22 JAN 71
“B/2-12 Inf engaged two enemy soldiers that were trailing them 12 kms east of Black Horse (YS559939) with organic weapons resulting in one enemy killed and the evacuation of one AK-47 rifle with two full magazines.”
[SOURCE: 2nd Bde , 25th Div AD0517824 16MAR71 ORLL]

____________
27 JAN 71
Co. B KIA:
Pfc. James E. Weathersby (21) of MS, of wounds (DOW) received in Phuc Tuy Province.

____________
31 JAN 71
The antiwar Winter Soldiers investigation was held in Detroit, MI on January 31, February 1st and 2nd. The event was sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War(VVAW). A former member of the 2nd 12th testified.
*******
[Safe at home in Ann Arbor, I listened to portions of the testimony – broadcasted live on a Detroit radio station. I was disturbed, and soon stopped listening. I just wanted to put the war behind me…. but I never could. – Sarge]
********

 

FEBRUARY 1971

X

 

MARCH 1971

2 Mar 71
Co. C KIA:
Pfc. Paul Leslie Bradshaw (19) perished is Long Khanh Province at the age of 19.

Co. A 1/5th (Mech) KIA:
Byron A. Bangert (21).

A description of the LAST COMBAT ACTON OF THE 2/12th IN VIETNAM may be found at
http://212veterans.org/Frame.htm
click on In Our Own Words
then AMBUSH by Vaughn Banting (Co. C, 3rd platoon).

 

APRIL 1971

17 APR 71
2d Battalion (12th Infantry Regiment) inactivated at Fort Lewis, Washington.
[SOURCE: U.S. Army Linage Series, Center of Military History(CMH).

 

All photographs are the property of their owners and may not be duplicated in any form without prior permission.