George Stenehjem

Edina, MN 55439

 

Tom Fleming

Springfield, VA 22151-1503

 

 

Former Members

D Troop (Air), 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division

March 1967 - March 1968

 

Fellow Centaurs,

 

I am sending this to inform you of an ongoing project to assemble a second volume of “Centaurs in Vietnam” covering the second year of service (March 1967 through March 1968) and to solicit your active support in this effort.  Prior to the last 3/4 Cavalry Association meeting held at Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky in June 2008, the troopers who served in D Troop during its first year (1966 – 1967) assembled a volume of stories about the unit and individual experiences under the editorial leadership of Carl Burns.  The book, Centaurs in Vietnam: Untold Stories of the First Year, was published in soft cover and contained photos of many of the activities and personalities from that first year.  It was sold at the reunion and the proceeds went to the 3/4 Cavalry Association Scholarship Fund and other worthwhile charities.  Since its publication it has been offered on www.amazon.com and received excellent reviews.

 

George Stenehjem, D Troop Commander, March 1967 - June 1967, Tom Fleming, D Troop Commander, September 1967 - January 1968, Bill Altenhofen, Aero Rifle Platoon Sergeant 1967-68 and Dale Dow, Unit Historian are collecting stories and photographs to be editorially assembled by Bain Cowell AKA “Short Round,” the Forward Observer who served with the troop from November 1966 through October 1967.  The stories and photographs will be initially assembled in CD/DVD format with consideration for being published as a book at some later date.  We set a goal of having a product to present at the 3/4 Cavalry Association Reunion in Tucson, AZ, 28 April-2 May 2010, and also to make available for those who cannot attend.

 

We are soliciting you to submit short tales from your experience while serving, tales that, like those in the first volume, do not castigate or malign individuals or units.  Your personal perspective on the war and its conduct, your leaders and units such as D Troop, the LRRPs, 3/4 Cav and 25th ID will be welcome.  Here are suggested topics that could be approached from many viewpoints.  They are ideas to get you troopers started; feel free to adapt them or add topics from your own reminiscences:

 

·       Eagle Flights - Follies & Adventures – Many perspectives, pilots and crew members, riflemen and others out for the day;

·       Maintenance on the Pad and in the Corral – Service Platoon and crewmembers (heat, wind, rainstorms, exploding burn barrels);

·        LRRPing – Flight Crews (insertion, extraction, individual missions of note);

·        Actions by individuals  and elements - Aero Scouts, Aero Rifles, Heavy Scouts, Aero Weapons, Service Platoon, Headquarters & Operations and LRRP Teams;

·       Dawn Patrol actions;

·       Last Light Patrol actions;

·       Night Thrust Landings by the Aero Rifles (Crew Members and Aero Rifles);

·       Night Ambush Patrols – Aero Rifles;

·       In Memoriam stories for those who gave the supreme sacrifice;

·       Unit Movement across the Runway - Everyone involved;

·       Digging new well -- Aero Rifles;

·       Actions of valor during Tet-1968;

·       Rocket Attacks and the threat thereof post-Tet ‘68;

·       The unsung Hero – Keeping the unit running - Maintenance, Supply, Motor Pool, Generators, Laundry, Movies, EM Club, Mess Hall, installing water & shower facilities;

·       The daily routine - Alert Sirens, briefings, scrambles, mess call, writing home, mail call, laundry;

·       Fire Support -- Artillery Observers and Forward Air Controllers.

 

And the list could go on and should, but if we can get input in just these areas we will have a unique story to pass to future generations and the remainder of the 3/4 Cav.  We are committed to the project and would gladly assist anyone who would submit a short written account (via e-mail or USPS mail).   Don’t worry about your writing ability, spelling, syntax or style.  That can all be massaged and sent back to you for your approval.  If you can't put it in writing, call Bain (the editor) and tell him the story over the phone; he'll write it up and send you a draft for your approval.  Send any photos with captions identifying who, what, when, where.  Tell the story from your perspective.  Encourage others who served with you and have untold stories to submit them.  Time is short to complete a first rate project.  I propose that when we get it together in Word format that we produce it as a CD or DVD.

 

Here's the information for sending your input to the editor or contacting him:

 

Bain Cowell

Columbus, GA

E-mail:  baincowell@hotmail.com

Tel:  706-565-9878

 

 

"Paratus et Fidelis"

 

 

 

George Stenehjem                                           Tom Fleming                  

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