145th Combat Aviation Battalion - Old Warriors “First in Vietnam” - Saigon, Bien Hoa - III Corps – See 1968 Article, See 1969 Article

Patch is John Jones from VHPA Museum

The battalion earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its 2700 missions in June 1965 during the battle of Dong Xoia.

It also received the Valorous and Meritorius Unit Citations while engaging in nearly every major infantry campaign conducted in III Corps.

In Sep 1963 the 145th Battalion was formed from the 45th Transportation Battalion, which arrived in Vietnam July 1962, and had a HQ company, HHC and five helicopter companies - the 8th, 33rd, 57th, 81st and 93rd Transportation Companies plus the 18th Aviation fixed wing company. The 145th supported the ARVN 5th, 18th, and 199th Divisions plus American units in III Corps including the 173^rd Airborne. In addition the 145^th provided rotary wing training for pilots of the Vietnamese Air Force.

1966 Lineup:	1968 Lineup:	1970 Lineup:	Joining Later
68^th Air Mobile Light Co.	68^th Assault Helicopter Co.	68^th Assault Helicopter Co.	F Battery, 77^th Aerial Artillery (A/2/20^th)
71^st Air Mobile Light Co.	74^th Recon Airplane Co.
118^th Air Mobile Light Co.	118^th Assault Helicopter Co.	118^th Assault Helicopter Co.
184^th Airplane Co.	190^th Assault Helicopter Co.	190^th Assault Helicopter Co.
334^th Air Mobile Light Co.	334^th Assault Helicopter Co.	334^th Assault Helicopter Co.
	117^th Assault Helicopter Co.

Below is a little about each company with the battalion in 1970 or later. Other companies will be found in the battalion they were a part of in 1970 – see 1^st Brigade Org Charts

334^th by Richard Emerson, 1970

Headquarters & Headquarters Company – Bien Hoa

• 145^th Sec. Platoon – Bien Hoa
• 324^th Aviation Support Det. – Bien Hoa

68th Assault Helicopter Company - Top Tigers, Mustangs - Vung Tau then Bien Hoa  - See article

http://www.68thahc.com/

Valorous Unit Award—19 Mar 67 Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

• 430^th Med Detachment

Valorous Unit Award—19 Mar 67 Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

Arriving in July 1962 as the UTT (Utility Tactical Transportation Company, then from August 1964 to March 1965 this unit was the 68^th Armed Helicopter Company, (the first fully armed helicopter unit in Vietnam). The 68th then became the 197th Armed Helicopter Company and later the 334^th Aerial Weapons Company. It served in Vietnam from 1962 to 1966 in Vung Tau then moved to Bien Hoa, where they served until May 1972. The company supported the 18th and 199th ARVN units as well as US units in III Corps.  Their area of operation ranged from the Mekong Delta to the rugged mountains around Song Be. There is a book about the 68th named "Voltaire Six" by John Cooke.

118th Assault Helicopter Company - Thunderbirds, Bandits – Bien Hoa

Presidential Unit Citation—10–13 Jun 65- Dong Xoai

Valorous Unit Awards—19 Jul 66; 19 Mar 67

Meritorious Unit Commendations—Jun 63–Jun 66; 1 Jan–31 Dec 67

33^rd Patch is property of Chris Miller

http://www.118ahc.org/

The 118^th served in Vietnam beginning in Saigon, Sept 1962 as the 33rd Transportation Co. (light helicopter). It became the 118th Assault Helicopter Company June 1963 and was inactivated Aug 1971. Known as the "First of the Assault Helicopter Companies", the 118th actively participated in every major battle and operation in III Corps, distinguishing itself in the early years in the Battle of Dong Xoai, Operations Attleboro, Cedar Falls, and Junction City.  Among the greatest claims of the Thunderbirds and their reputation as a fighting unit was they were the first to arrive and the last to leave.  Robert Brandt wrote the book "Thunderbird Lounge" about the 33rd Trans Co early days before it became the 118th.

190th Assault Helicopter Company - Spartans, Gladiators - Bien Hoa – See article

http://www.oldwarrior.com//unit-htms/190ahc.htm

• 520^th Med Detachment - Meritorious Unit Commendation—9 Aug 67–27 Jul 68

Arrived in Vietnam August 1967. In Late September 1967 the Spartans were sent to the I Corps tactical zone. While there the company made history, as one of the few Army assault helicopter companies to provide direct support to the Marine Corps. The platoons soon became familiar with such places as Con Thien, Gio Linh, and Khe Sanh. On the first of November the company moved to Duc Pho where they greeted the newly arrived 198th Light Infantry Brigade and trained them in air assault operations. The Spartans returned to Bien Hoa Air Base on 15 November, 1967, and resumed their mission of general support to the III Corps Tactical Zone until departure in December 1970 when their assets were turned over the the Vietnamese National Air Force as part of the Vietnamization effort.

334th Aerial Weapons Company - (197th AHC) Sabers - Bien Hoa – See Jan 1968 Article, See Dec 1968 Article, See 1970 Article, See 1972 article

Valorous Unit Award—19 Mar 67

Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

http://www.vhpamuseum.org/companies/companies.html

The 334th served in Vietnam from July 1962 to May 1972.  Arriving in July 1962 as the UTT (Utility Tactical Transportation Company, then from August 1964 to March 1965 this unit was the 68^th Armed Helicopter Company, (the first fully armed helicopter unit in Vietnam). The 68th then became the 197th Armed Helicopter Company and later the 334^th AWC. They were the first armed helicopter company in Vietnam to employ the AH-1G Cobra. A scramble team was always available for emergency fire support of ground troops in trouble. From 1962 to 1972 they had UH-1A'S, B'S UH-IC'S and finally the AH-1G'S. The Gangbuster platoon was the only platoon with UH-1D'S used for 50 and C&C ships for firefly missions.

patches are from VHPA Museum

F Battery, 77^th Aerial Artillery (A/2/20^th) - Blue Max – Plantation - from April 1971 – see Article (with 1^st Cavalry Division 1965 to 1971, with our brigade 1971-1972)

Earned as A 2/20^th - Presidential Unit Citation—11 Dec 66–4 Apr 67

Valorous Unit Award—6–10 Dec 67

http://www.bluemax-ara-assoc.com/

F Battery came over to the brigade in April of 1971, but had served in Vietnam as A Battery, 2^nd Battalion, 20^th Artillery - part of the 1^st Air Cavalry since September 1965 in Quin Nhon and Tay Ninh. It departed Vietnam in 1972.

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