Re: Upseting encounter today


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Posted by Russ Roth [24.21.77.67] on Friday, August 19, 2011 at 02:31:10 :

In Reply to: Re: Upseting encounter today posted by Tim Holloway [69.54.28.229] on Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 06:56:46 :

Tim,

I never shared much of those stories with anyone other than family until we started the reunions. It just was never a big issue with me. Many others survived worse situations than most of us did although we did have our moments and lost our share. And did more than our share of damage to our enemy. Our APC's EACH had a 50 caliber machine gun and 2 30 caliber ones,all firing at a furious rate when needed. You can't believe the noise.

The May 8 battle Charlie company, led by Capt Jay Copley, along with elements of the 1/69th Armor tankers were the first to arrive as help for our few surviving 1/50th members. His heroic leading of the units no doubt resulted in the saving of lives for which he received a silver star with V device. He was also severely wounded but refused Medevac until the pinned down men were safe. No one thought he survived.

Someone found out he not only survived but lived in Columbus, GA near Ft Benning where our Battalion is now and where we have been holding reunions. He came 2 years ago and was also at this last one the end of April. One of his platoon Leaders, Harry Wilson felt his actions May 8, 1968 was worth much more than a Silver star.

Harry spent since the last reunion working to upgrade his Silver star and at this last reunion a GA congressman presented him with a Distinguished Service Cross. I believe he more than deserved it. Guys were telling us he spent the whole time directing actions standing on top of his command track in the open with one company only reinforced by a platoon of tanks (very helpful) against an entrenched and very well prepared Regiment of NVA. Those are NOT gambling numbers for sure but in the end although we lost more men than any other battle 1/50th was involved in there we eventually prevailed.

Jay received his rank as a result of a Battlefield commission with another unit. There were only about a half dozen during VN, one being Jay and another was 1/50th's own Norm Poage.



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