History: 1968-69
Consecutive History and Stories
Part 2:
There being a seeming lack of contact or use of Forum by personnel assigned and attached 1968 -1969 (excepting submission of photos for the time period) and previous research and writing by SP4 Vince Webb of POL Platoon to try and help out, the following is further research and data related to the 228th and its superior command structure(s) covering the time period. The material sources are gleaned from various Internet searches and declassified materials of 29th General Support Group dated 31, October 1968.
Note:
The use of 228th Forum is “free”, and fully protected by the user on both ends. Administration has taken extraordinary steps to prevent noxious, unwanted, frivolous postings to occur. All one needs to do is set up an account (no charge) and post a message which will be reviewed as legitimate (or not) before posting occurs. Responses are also protected, as all communication is performed via the Website, and no one has access to any one persons direct e-mail address, excepting Administration. Unwanted material or requests are denied access and “blocked” from posting.
The “Contact Us” section operates a little differently. In this section a person would be making direct contact with the listed persons and the e-mail address of sender is clearly shown and known by recipient. However, any noxious and unwarranted messages will be ignored and deleted without response by the receiver. Legitimate messages will be responded to and the person will be granted access to post. The first sign time abuse or other unwanted material somehow manages to be posted, it is guaranteed, that such material will be removed and the original granted access will forever-more be denied further access…
Overall, it is suggested that the “Forum” be used. In particular if one is looking for others who served within the same section or Platoon of a given time period. The Forum is not restricted to 228th S&S CO (DS) personnel only. Other associated unit personnel are invited to use the 228th Website to post messages, questions and/or other. This invitation applies to Superior Command structures and/or other sister units or associated units who served in conjunction with the 228th Supply and Service Company (DS)…..in particular, those personnel who have no Website and/or location of their own to go to.
Abuse of any type will not be tolerated…………………..Administration
Part 3:
To add to data supplied by SP4 Vince Webb in Part I the following applies via data collected and declassified from 29th General Support Group as of 31, October 1968.
Organizational Structure:
The 29th General Support Group had arrived in 1966 from Fort Lee Virginia and was known as “29th Quartermaster Group”. On 20 July 1966 per COSTAR Directive it was reconstituted as “29th General Support Group” located and stationed in Long Binh, RVN. As of 31 October 1968 the Group had (6) six Battalions and (2) two LSA {Logistics Supply Area) Provisional units under their command. Specifically and in addition to Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 29th, the following were subordinate units:
3rd Ordnance Battalion (Ammo) with (7) seven subordinate units
79th Maintenance Battalion (Direct Support) with (9) nine subordinate units
185th Maintenance Battalion (Direct Support) with (9) nine subordinate units
266th Supply and Service Battalion (Direct Support) with (6) six subordinate units
610th Maintenance Battalion (Direct Support) with (5) five subordinate units
277th Supply and Service Battalion (Direct Support) with (8) eight subordinate units
Saigon LSA (PROV) with (4) four subordinate units
Bearcat LSA (PROV) with (3) subordinate units
Note: Subordinate units are known but not listed in the interest of brevity. If enough interest generated via Contact or Forum, then consideration will be given to listing all such units, and/or a response will be provided directly to query regarding same.
At the time period alluded to {31 October 1968} the 228th Supply and Service Company (DS) was now a subordinate of the 277th S&S BN (DS) located in Long Binh….the TNLSA (PROV) {formerly 567th S&S BN (DS)} having been deactivated as of 30 August 1968 by orders generated by 506th Field Depot in conjunction with USASUPCOM, Saigon. As such, personnel assigned to TNLSA (PROV) were re-assigned and absorbed into other units throughout 29th General Support Command organizational structure, and existed no longer. The 228th Supply and Service Company remained stationed and assigned in Tay Ninh to continue operating its various supply points for continued direct support of the Base Camp and Field operations. Its new superior command; {277th Supply and Service Battalion (DS)} did not make the physical move to Tay Ninh until early January 1969.
Thus, the 228th S&S Co (DS), War Zone C, Tay Ninh Province of III Corps initial superior command had been the 266th S&S BN (DS) 20 July 1966 – 31 May 1967, followed by the 567th S&S BN (DS) 1 June 1967 – 30 October 1967 (approximate) which was re-designated TNLSA (PROV) until 30 August 1968. As noted, the 277th S&S BN (DS) stationed in Long Binh became the superior command 30 August 1968, physically arrived in Tay Ninh by early January 1969 and remained in Tay Ninh until mid July 1970 {approximate} when it was re-assigned to Di An {near Saigon} – (see 1970 History, where the 228th was for all intent and purposes reduced to a “shell” Company with the unit re-assigned and like a Phoenix arose and re-materialized in Can Tho of the Delta area, some 90 miles southeast of Saigon, under the command of the 91st Combined Service Battalion {formed in Vietnam 1969 – located in IV Corps}, another subordinate of the 29th General Support Group….see 1970-1971 History.
Part 4:
The 29th General Support Group and its assigned subordinate units consisted of the following personnel totals as of 31 October 1968:
Officers Authorized………………..287……Assigned……..228……(Regular Army, OCS, ROTC)
Warrant Officers Authorized…….121……Assigned……..103
Enlisted Authorized……………..7,653…..Assigned…..6,032……(Regular Army, Draftees)
Officer Strength 79% of that Authorized – Enlisted Strength 78% of that Authorized, 6% loss as of last reporting period.
Part 5:
During the reporting period the Number of Troops Supported by Class I (Food related items) were as follows:
III Corps:
Saigon, TSN, Cholon…………….23,300
Long Binh………………………….41,495
Di An………………………………….9,500
Phu Loi……………………………….5,181
Cu Chi………………………………14,000
Phuoc Vinh………………………….1,800
Lai Khe……………………………….6,500
Quan Loi……………………………..5,000
Tay Ninh…………………….……..7,710
Summary: 29th Group = 97,026 (72%) + Divisional 37,500 (28%). Total Troops Supported Class I = 134,526 Class I items for Quarter totaled 8.8 million rations an increase of .2 million from previous reporting Quarter.
Part 6:
During the reporting period Class II, IV, and VII were in locations and line items as follows:
Long Giao……………………….3,255 line items
Bearcat………………………….5,534 line items
Saigon, TSN, Cholon……………426 line items
Long Binh………………………4,041 line items
Phouc Vinh……………………….115 line items
Tay Ninh………………………3,150 line items
ASL Summary: Class II, IV & VII = 12,516 Line items.
Repair Parts: 61, 797 located as follows:
Long Giao………………………1,400 Repair Parts
Bearcat………………………….3,674
Long Binh………………………18,367 and 17,086 two locations
Phu Loi…………………………..9,376
Cu Chi……………………………5,049
Tay Ninh……………………….2.860
Part 7:
Extract: POL {PETROLEUM, OIL, LUBRICANTS} OPERATIONS:
“Class III (POL) during the reporting period for the Group operated (6) six Class III supply points with a total bulk capacity of approximately 1,157,000 gallons. Divisional elements operated an additional (7) seven Class III supply points with an approximate capacity of 943,000 gallons. All (13) thirteen Class III supply activities were resupplied primarily by the 64th Quartermaster {Petroleum} Battalion. The Bearcat Logistical Support Activity (LSA) and Phu Loi Supply points were resupplied with organic transportation. Some commercial transportation (under direction of HQ USASUPCOM, Saigon), was also used to resupply locations in the immediate Saigon area.”
“Issue of Class III for Quarter totaled 4.8 million gallons. This represents a .4 million gallon decrease below last quarters issue.”
Storage Capacity and Locations:
Long Giao………………………….190,000 gallons
Bearcat……………………………..113,000 gallons
Xuan Loc………………………………5,000 gallons
Saigon, TSN, Cholon……………..10,000 gallons
Long Binh…………………………..63,000 gallons
Di An……………………………….145,000 gallons
Phu Loi…………………………….220,000 gallons
Phuoc Vinh……………………….180,000 gallons
Quan Loi…………………………..172,000 gallons
Cu Chi………………………………291,000 gallons
Lai Khe……………………………..170,000 gallons
Dau Tieng………………………….122,000 gallons
Tay Ninh………………………….457,000 gallons
“29th Group = 1,225,000 gallons – Divisional = 945,000 gallons – Total = 2.170,000 gallons”
Part 8:
Extract:
Graves Registration {Mortuary Affairs Collection Points} III Corps
” Five (5) of the graves registration collecting points in the III Corps Tactical Zone (CTZ) are operated by the 29th General Support Group. The remaining seven (7) are operated by divisional elements. Remains processed through Group graves registration points during the quarter totaled 516. Of this total 411 were US Military, 45 Free World Military Assistance Forces, 60 Vietnamese Civilian. This total is a 23% increase over the previous quarter and reflects the increased level of enemy contact in the III Corps CTZ.”
Note: The report does not list the particular collection points. Tay Ninh and the 228th had been one of the collection points since October 1966.
More to follow………
Submitted By:
SP4 A.B.Neighbor {Company Clerk 228th, 1966-1967)…………15 March 2011 –