14th Combat Aviation Battalion – “Fighting 14^th” - I & II Corps - Nha Trang, Chu Lai – See

Operation Benton Canyon article

Valorous Unit Award—13–19 Aug 67

Most of the units in this battalion were in Vietnam prior to the formation of the 1st Aviation Brigade as part of the 14th Battalion; which arrived in Nha Trang Vietnam in 1964. The battalion moved to Chu Lai in April 1967. The companies were with our brigade from early 1966 until the beginning of 1968, when they became part of the 23^rd (Americal) Division.  They remained in Vietnam until 1971 and supported the 1971 Vietnamese incursion into Laos (Lam Son 719) in support of the 101^st Airborne.

71st AHC – Rattlers in the Delta – Jim Scott, 1967

Headquarters & Headquarters Co. Chu Lai

14^th Security Platoon Presidential Unit Citation—13–19 Aug 67

534^th Med Detachment Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jul 68–31 Mar 69

71st Assault Helicopter Company - Rattlers and Firebirds - Chu Lai

Valorous Unit Awards—13-19 Aug 67, 12 May 68,and 11-31 Aug 69

http://www.rattler-firebird.org/

The Rattlers arrived in Bien Hoa (near Saigon) Vietnam in Sep 1964, and were assigned to the 145th Battalion of the 1st Aviation Brigade.  In April 1967, the company moved from Bien Hoa to Chu Lai in I Corps to participate in Task Force Oregon in support of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and then remained there until 1971. The 71st continued to provide support for the 196th Light Infantry Brigade with its primary mission being to provide aviation support in the form of airlift of personnel, counter insurgency operations in the Republic of Vietnam in general support to the Americal Division.  In Mar 1971 the unit moved temporarily to Quang Tri.  At their initial briefing the 71st, with several other companies from their battalion and the 101st Airborne Division we were told they were going to support the largest operation in the history of the war, Operation Dewey Canyon II and Lam Son 719.  The unit stood down in Sep 1971. There is a book about the 71st by Chuck Carlock - "Firebirds".

132^nd Assault Support Helicopter Company – Hercules - Chu Lai – See article

• 16^th Transportation Detachment

The 132^nd flew the CH47 Chinook helicopters in a multitude of missions supporting U.S. and free world allies. They were called on to move troops, artillery, heavy equipment and on occasion bring back downed huey’s and small planes.

161st Assault Helicopter Company - Pelicans, Scorpions - Quin Nhon, then Chu Lai

Valorous Unit Awards 28–30 May 66 and 13–19 Aug 67 http://www.161ahc.org/

The 161st arrived in Vietnam in December 1965 and set up base camp at Phu Tai, near Quin Nhon in II Corps as part of our 52nd Battalion supporting the Koreans and ARVN troops in the area.  June 1966 they became part of the 14^th Bn. Later they transferred to Chu Lai in I Corps where they primarily supported the Americal Division.  In January 1968, the unit was transferred to Americal Division and formed the basis of Companies A and B, 123rd Bn.

174th Assault Helicopter Company - Dolphins, Sharks - Quin Nhon, Duc Pho, Chu Lai

Valorous Unit Awards 22 Apr–20 Aug 67 and12 May 68

• 756^th Med Detachment – Duc Pho Valorous Unit Award—13–19 Aug 67

http://www.174ahc.org/

In April 1966 the 174th began its tour in II Corps at Qui Nhon as part of the 1st Aviation Brigade.  It then moved to Duc Pho in I Corps in 1967, becoming part of the Americal Division; then in 1970, moved to Chu Lai, base-camp for the Americal Division. The 174th flew various models of the UH-1 Huey helicopter. The unit saw much combat action in the rice paddies and mountains in the northern half of South Vietnam from 1966 until 1971, and in Laos during Operation Lam Son 719 in 1971.

176th Assault Helicopter Company – Muskets, Minutemen – Tuy Hoa, Phu Hiep, Chu Lai

www.americal.org

Valorous Unit Awards 13–19 Aug 67 and 12 May 68

The 176^th deployed from Fort Benning in February 1967 as a unit and arrived in Tuy Hoa their first home base. A platoon leader then was Captain Darrell Adams who in 1969 was awarded the Medal of Honor. They were part of Task Force Oregon and supported the 101^st Airborne and Americal Divisions in the Tam Ky Doc Phu Area. In September 1967, the 176th moved their base camp to Chu Lai and served there until 1971. The company operated out of Quang Tri Province during Lam Son 719 supporting the ARVN incursion into Laos in 1971. The 176th Assault Helicopter Company's missions with the 198th Light Infantry Brigade were airmobile operations. 

178th Assault Support Helicopter Company - Boxcars - Phu Loi, Chu Lai

Valorous Unit Awards 4–20 Nov 66, 13– 19 Aug 67 and 12 May 68

• 400^th Transportation Detachment – Chu Lai

Valorous Unit Award—20 Nov 66, 13– 19 Aug 67, 12 May 68

Meritorious Unit Commendation—Apr 66–Jan 67

http://www.theboxcar.org/index.html

The 178th ASHC flew the CH-47 Chinook medium lift helicopters in Vietnam from 1966 until 1972.  The 178th was stationed at Phu Loi, from January 1966 to April 1967 as part of the 11^th Bn. In April 1967, the 178th was placed in direct support of Task Force Oregon, located at Chu Lai, where it remained.  It became part of the 16th Group and the Americal Division in January 1968.  The Boxcars provided support for other U.S. units including the 1st Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and 101st Airborne Division.

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