History: 1969-70

Introduction

“During 1969, the 228th continued its mission of providing Supply and Service to military units in the Tay Ninh area and entire Tay Ninh Base Camp (which) continued to receive harassing mortar and rocket attacks from the enemy. It was during one of these attacks that several 228th members were wounded and received Purple Hearts. 228th members manning a bunker line also were responsible for killing a Viet Cong sapper who tried to infiltrate their area and subsequently received medals for their action.

Company Commanders were: Captain Richard Carl for the first six months of 1969 followed by Captain David Pilcher. Captain Richard Imhoff then assumed command in January 1970.

First Sergeants were SFC Harry B. Card and James Compton.

Company Clerks were Tom Rogers in early 1969. Albert Di lorio mid 1969 to 24 March 1970, followed by Darrell Martin.”

Submitted By:

SP5 Albert Di lorio – Company Clerk Mid 1969 to March 1970 ….. 19 February 2010

 

NoteThere being a dearth of contact, writings, submissions, excepting several personnel (as credited in History and Photo Gallery) of the 228th S&S Co (DS) its associated units and/or superior command for time period of 1969 – 1970, the following is offered in lieu of such contact, and pending possible contact, writing, submissions and other in the near or distant future.

Consecutive History and Stories

Part 1:

In early 1969, as near as can be determined, the Superior Command of the 228th Supply and Service Company (DS) changed from the 567th Supply and Service Battalion (DS), later the TN LSA (Tay Ninh Logistics Supply Activity) to the 277th Supply and Service Battalion (DS), which had been stationed in Saigon, followed by Long Binh from 1966 – 1969. In early 1969, the 277th was re-assigned from Long Binh to Tay Ninh West Base Camp, where it became the superior command of the 228th. The 228th per DA consolidated orders of 1970 was “confirmed” as being awarded an MUC for time period 15 February 1969 – 15 August 1969, as was the 277th and other units/sections under its command { HHC 277th, the 94th Light Maintenance Company (DS), the 548th Light Maintenance Company (DS), the 205th Ordnance Platoon, the 219th Military Police Platoon, and the 505th Supply Detachment}. The 277th remained in Tay Ninh until on or about July to mid August 1970, when it was re-assigned to Di An {about 10 miles south of Saigon}. At the same moment in time, the 228th Supply and Service Company (DS) was re-assigned to the Delta area of Can Tho and Binh Thuy, some 100 miles south – southeastward of Long Binh and Ben Hoa area.

Please note, that the 277th Supply and Service Battalion (DS) by this point in time (!969-1970) had an Ordnance Platoon, two Maintenance Companies, a Supply Detachment, the 228th S&S Co (DS) and a Military Police Company assigned. This means the TO&E of a Supply and Service Battalion (Direct Support) had radically changed from that of 1966-1967 and 1967 -1969. As near as can be determined, the 277th also had a Bakery Section which was operating TDY with the 25th ID in Cu Chi, possibly Long Binh ……A.B. Neighbor – 19 February 2010

Part 2:

Further research has indicated, that as of the 1st Quarter ending 30 April 1969, the Organizational Structure of the 277th Supply and Service Battalion (DS) had the following units assigned:

HQ Company 277th S&S BN (DS) — 94th Light Maintenance Company (DS) — 228th Supply and Service Company (DS) — 548th Light Maintenance Company (DS) — 44th Ordnance E.O.D. — 505th (CS) Platoon and 41st A. P. U. all stationed in Tay Ninh excepting portions of POL Platoon of 548th S&S Co (DS) TDY in Dau Tieng with portions of 94th Light Maintenance Company (DS) TDY in Cu Chi.

In addition and as a point of interest the TNLSA Provisional no longer existed in the Organizational Chart of the 29th General Support Group. However, the 266th Supply and Service Battalion (DS) the original superior command of the 228th had remained assigned in Long Binh with the following units as its subordinates:

HQ Company 266th S&S BN (DS) — 483rd Field Service Company (DS) — 624th Supply and Service Company (GS)* — 61st HEM Company (GS) — 548th Light Maintenance Company (DS) — 5th LEM Company (GS) — 506th Supply and Service Company (DS) and 383rd Quartermaster Detachment (AER SUP), all in Long Binh excepting 506th S&S Co(DS) still assigned and operating in Long Giau {Blackhorse}.

 

*Apparently by 30 April 1969 the 624th S&S Co (DS) had been re-designated as a (GS)…General Support Company as opposed to a Direct Support Company. Also, both Tay Ninh Base Camp and Long Giau {Blackhorse} Supply Operations were considered as “Level II” the same as 1966, 1967, 1968.

Of additional interest is the following with regard to Class III (POL) Storage Capacities throughout III Corps as handled by subordinate units of the 29th General Support Group. 

Vung Tau……………………8,820,000 Gallons………Main Port for offloading and Redistribution to following Supply Points:

Long Giau……………………..150,000 Gallons

Bearcat…………………………165,000 Gallons

Iuan Loc…………………………50,000 Gallons

Long Binh……………………….63,000 Gallons

Di An……………………………145,000 Gallons

Phu Loi…………………………180,000 Gallons

Cu Chi………………………….291,000 Gallons

Lai Kie………………………….170,000 Gallons

Phoc Vinh……………………..180,000 Gallons

Song He…………………………64,000 Gallons

Quan Loi……………………….200,000 Gallons

Dau Tieng……………………..122,000 Gallons

Tay Ninh………………………439,000 Gallons…………comporting with approximate calculated capacity range of 1966-1967

Class III supply points and capacity storage had expanded from six (6) major POL supply points (excluding Port of Vung Tau) to thirteen (13) locations. Thus during the first two months of 1969 (January and February) the six (6) major supply points then in existence (excluding Port of Vung Tau) had an immediate available product of 1,197,000 gallons “on hand” for immediate distribution.

A breakdown of the seven (7) newer locations is not provided, it is assumed that the six areas alluded to in III Corps had to be the older POL Supply Points (Tay Ninh, Long Binh, Cu Chi, Dau Tieng, Long Giau and Quan Loi) such locations being in existence since late 1966 or earlier in 1965 {Long Binh}. Further data indicatess “Most supply points located in the III Corps Tactical Zone were resupplied primarily by the 64th Quartermaster (Petroleum) Battalion {Long Binh}, using line haul procedures {Convoy Runs}. The exceptions; the Bearcat Logistical Support Area and the Class III supply point at Phu Loi (which) are resupplied using organic transportation”. 

During this same reporting time period, the 91st Combined Service Battalion (Direct Support) had recently been formed and was operating and stationed in IV Corps of the Delta area of Can Tho. This is pertinent, as by July to August 1970, the 228th Supply and Service Company (DS) had been re-assigned from Tay Ninh to the Can Tho area of the Delta as a subordinate of the 91st CS Battalion (DS).

The 91st Combined Service Battalion (DS) as of 30 April 1969 and also a subordinate of 29th General Support Group consisted of the following units: 

HHD (Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment), 91st CS Battalion, 51st Lt Maint Co, 120th Transportation Company, 574th Supply and Service Company, 46th A.P.U., 950th A.P.U., 195th QM Detachment, 524th Engineering Detachment, 953rd QM Detachment, and 30th Signal Detachment. The 91st CS BN (DS) serviced the area of Can Tho, Vinh Long, Dong Tam, My Tho, Soc Trang, and Vinh Loi. The 238th Maintenance Company a subordinate of the Saigon LSA (PROV) another subordinate of 29th General Support Group was also stationed TDY in IV Corps in Dong Tam..a little northwest of Can Tho. Oddly the city or town of Bien Thuy is not referenced.

Part 3:

The following is a breakdown of troops supported via Class I (Perishables, Frozen, Non Perishable, C- Rations, etc! Food products) at operational supply points per 29th General Support Group as of 30 April 1969:

Vung Tau Port Facility……………….29,500

Long Giau………………………………..2,500

Bearcat………………………………….16,500

Saigon, TSN, Di An, Cholon………..19,500

Phu Loi……………………………………6,300

Long Binh, Bien Hoa…………………43,700

Phuoc Vinh………………………………6,300

Tay Ninh……………………………….14,200*

*Troops supported in 1966-1967, averaging nearly double, with some isolated cases being nearly triple the cited number of above in Tay Ninh Province (see History Section and Miscellaneous Data 1966-1968).

Extract:

“The 29th General Support Group’s {principle} area of operations is III Corps Tactical Zone. The 277th Supply and Service Battalion (Tay Ninh)* has both supply and service and maintenance units attached and provides across the board Logistical support to the 25th Division TAOI plus one Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The same across-the-board support is provided to the 1st Division TAOI, plus two Brigades of the 1st Cavalry by the 610th Maintenance Battalion. Likewise, the 266th Supply and Service Battalion (DS), the Saigon LSA (Prov)  and the Bearcat LSA (Prov) supervise all Logistical activities in the Long Binh CMAC, and Royal Thailand Army Volunteer Force (Division) respectively. The 185th Maintenance Battalion {Direct Support} performs a similar mission for various non-divisional, tactical units, including the 11th Armored Calvalry Regiment, the 199th Light Infantry Brigade {aka; “Red-Catchers”), and the 54th Artillary Group on a non-geographic basis”.

* 277th S&S BN (DS) superior of 228th S&S Co (DS) physically in Tay Ninh early 1969 – July 1970.

Part 4:

29th General Support Group activity of subordinate units in Stock Control, Class II and IV  {Engineering Parts, Replacement Parts, Line items, Clothing, etc!)….. Also includes Class VII….The report states “29th Group operates six Class II &VII supply points with 2 Class IV points”.

Extract of Locations, Amount of product lines handled: 

III Corps:

Port of Vung Tau……………………….4,312 lines

Long Giao………………………………..1,301 lines

Bearcat……………………………………1,023 lines

Di An, Saigon, TSN, Cholon………….1,729 lines

Long Binh………………………………..3,362 lines

Tay Ninh………………………………….2,127 lines

 

IV Corps:

Can Tho………………………………….1,100 lines

“During the quarter the 29th Group II, IV and VII supply points received 103,135 requisitions of which 60,550 were for authorized stocking list items (ASL). During the previous quarter {September, October, November, December 1968}, 87,858 requisitions were received of which 48,927 were on the ASL. This represents a demand fulfillment of 55%. Of these, 19,655 were initially filled from stock for a demand satisfaction of 40%. As a follow-up of the previous quarter’s wall to wall inventory, the Group has continued a program of cyclic inventories designed to improve stockage accuracy. The inventories reflected in the six operational sites reflect an overall location accuracy of 98% and an inventory accuracy of 71%. These percentages are expected to continue to improve because of a vigorous training program to improve the caliber of our personnel. The basis of this programs is our internal SOP”s ( Standard Operating Procedures ) that were published by Group and distributed down to the DSU’s (Direct Support Units)”.

Parts 5, 6, and 7:

(5) Graves Registration (Mortuary Affairs Collection Points): ” With the assignment of units operating in IV Corps on 1 April, the number of graves registration collection points increased from six to eight. A total of 878 remains were processed during the quarter {ending 30 April 1969}. Of these 24 remains were processed by collection points located in the IV Corps CTZ. Total remains processed represents an 11% increase over the previous quarter in 1968. This increase was as a direct result of the Group gaining the two additional graves registration collecting points in the IV Corps area (Can Tho) and overall increased troop activity.

(6) Laundry Production: “During the quarter, the Group operational laundry sites were increased from 10 to 12 because of the addition of IV Corps CTZ. A total of 2.890,151 pounds of organizational and individual laundry was processed during the reporting period, of which 182,180 pounds was produced by laundry sites in IV Corps. Total production represents a 33% increase over the previous quarter. The increase is primarily due to addition of IV Corps CTZ and overall increased troop activity”.

(7) Bakery Production: “The Long Binh Bakery produced a total of 1,489,900 pounds of bread during the reporting period (Quarter ending 30 April 1969). This represents a 17% increase in production over the previous quarter. The new west wing of the bakery was opened 13 April. With this addition, the bakery is now producing approximately 32,000 pounds of bread per day and supporting the entire III Corps CTZ, with the exception of the Saigon local area. At present time, the bread for IV CTZ is produced entirely through commercial contract. These commercial contracts provide approximately 5,000 pounds of bread daily at Port of Vung Tau and 7,000 pounds of bread at Can Tho”.

 

Note 8:

Extract:

As of 30 April 1969 the following represents the total number of Officers (Regular Army, ROTC and OCS), Warrant Officers and Enlisted (Drafted and Regular Army) personnel of all Support entities including the 29th GS Group and its subordinate units serving in III Corps and a portion of IV Corps.

Total Officers Authorized:…………………260 – Actual Officers Assigned:…….. 231

Total Warrant Officers Authorized:……..108 – Actual WO’s Assigned:…………..94

Total Enlisted Authorized:………………6,842 – Actual Enlisted Assigned:…. 6,859

Specifically, the 277th Supply and Service Battalion (DS) was Authorized 29 Officers – Assigned 27. Warrant Officers Authorized 9 -Assigned 7. Enlisted Authorized 646 – Assigned 652. Please note that these numbers are all inclusive for the Battalion and all itssubordinate units, of which, the 228th was one such entity. Note: See Miscellaneous Data for further breakdown of Authorized verses Actual re: 228th Supply and Service Company (DS). 

The preceding is interesting with reference to the Table of Organization and Equipment of 228th Supply and Service Company (DS). The Company itself  at a reduced strength factor of 233 officers and enlisted authorized was designed to support 16,000 troops, but at times was supporting an average of 28,000 – 35,000+ troops through four major battlefield operations in 1966-1967. According to all preceding data for the first quarter of 1969, the entire 277th S&S Battalion (DS) and its assigned subordinate units of 679 officers and enlisted in Tay Ninh were supporting 14,200 troops…..an average which might well have changed by years end.

Source Material: Research performed via Internet, Declassified Confidential Operational Materials 29th General Support Group {Long Binh} for Quarter ending 30 April 1969.

Submitted By:

SP4 A.B.Neighbor (Company Clerk, 228th, 1966 -1967) –  10 March 2011 – 13 March 2011