Arrival on July 3,
1966 & Assumption of Command in November
by Roy Benson
After graduation from the one-year Infantry Officer Career Advanced Course at Fort Benning, GA, in May of 1966, a huge group of the graduates were assigned to Vietnam. I was fortunate to be assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry (Airborne), one of three airborne infantry battalions belonging to the 1st Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Upon arrival in Pleiku, I was immediately taken by chopper to where the battalion was physically deployed in a “log bird” close to the Cambodian border. I was struck upon arrival in the field by the transition that was taking place in that the original deployment team was ending their one year tour and “us” new guys were in the process of arriving. Being a hard charging infantry officer, I was hopeful to either take command of an infantry company or be assigned to the S3 section as the assistant S3 or the S3 Air Officer. Neither occurred and I was told by the outgoing Battalion CO that I was scheduled to be the S2, Intelligence Officer. I held this position for the next 4+ months or so and soon recognized that this gave me some time to appreciate the nature of the war along with the personnel involved.
Shortly after arrival, the remainder of the “2nd team” began to arrive. This included Leon Bieri as the Battalion S3, a Major that had trained at Fort Benning with the forerunner of the 1st Cav Airmobile, the 11th Air Assault Division. He was a super individual and we became “hootch” mates for the entire time that I was on the Battalion Staff. He was a very positive and competent individual who knew inside and out the capabilities and limitations of an airmobile battalion. Shortly thereafter, the rest of what would be the second crew of battalion officers began to arrive. Capt. Frey Mayer, took over B Company; Capt. Tom Fields assumed command of A Company; Capt. Darrel Houston became the Commanding Officer of C Company; and Capt. Jim Barnett became the commanding officer of D Company. In between all of these great and very capable Captains, we were joined by LTC James Root, who we all became grateful for the fact that he was to be our Battalion Commander until November. Also joining the Battalion staff was Capt. Ron Parr (CO of Headquarters and Headquarters Company), who later assumed command of C Company; Capt. Phil Blake the S1 Personnel Officer (he later assumed command of A Company), Capt. Paul Boardingham, the S4 Logistical Officer (who retained that position his entire tour of duty), and finally, Capt. (Doctor) Edward Wagner, the Battalion Surgeon.
I might point out that of this group of Captains comprising Company Commanders, 4 of us had been students together the preceding year at Fort Benning, Georgia as members of the Infantry Officer Career Advanced Course. That, at least for me, made it easier to adjust to a new unit, especially during the time of war. I should also point out that of this original bunch of commanders, all of them would be transferred out to other units or become wounded by December of 1966. Capt. Fred Mayer left B Company and if I recall correctly was reassigned to the Division staff somewhere; Capt. Tom Fields of A Company soon became the 1st Brigade S3 Air Officer in late December or early January of 1967; Capt. Darrel Houston of C Company was wounded and medical evacuated out of country: Major Leon Bieri also became wounded seriously during the Battle of the 506 Valley on Dec 17 and was medically evacuated out of the country; and finally, our first battalion commander, LTC James Root, became the new Division G3 Operations Officer sometime in November. A real loss of good leadership and experience.
That set up the “next group” of Commanders to take over beginning in November. I assumed command of B Company, Capt. Phil Blake became the new CO of A Company, and after the beating that C Company took in December (both the 506 Valley and LZ Bird) Capt. Ron Parr became the new CO of C Company. Early in 67 the CO of D Company, Capt. Jim Barnett was replaced by Capt. Bill Scott. And of course LTC Root was replaced as the Battalion CO by LTC George Eggers. To round out this team, Major Leon Bieri was replaced (for a short period of time, Capt. Tom Fields was the acting Battalion S3) by Major John Luke followed by the replacement of Major Robert Thomas, the Battalion XO, with then Major Andy Chambers who was previously assigned as the Brigade S2.
What has happened since the 1966-67 time period to all of these individuals? I’ll try to summarize what is know to me and if anyone has more accurate information, feel free to let me (homeat4331-giantbird6@yahoo.com) or the webmaster (webmaster@12thcav.us) know and changes will be make.
LTC James Root: Retired as a Colonel and is now deceased. Best field commander I ever served under, bar none.
Major Leon Bieri: Awarded the DSC for his actions in the 506 Valley on Dec 17, 1966; returned to Vietnam as a Battalion Commander in 1971 and has since died.
Major Robert Thomas (initial Battalion XO); returned to Vietnam for a second tour as a LTC with the Americal Division and was killed in a helicopter crash on March 17, 1970.
Major Andy Chambers: Retired much later as a Lieutenant General. Location or status unknown
LTC George Eggers (2nd Battalion Commander): Retired as a Brigadier General and lives in NJ
Captain Roy Benson: Retired as a LTC and lives in NC
Captain Phil Blake: Retired as a Colonel and lives in TN.
Captain Fred Mayer: Retired as a LTC and lives in TX
Captain Tom Fields: Retired as a Lieutenant General and lives in AL
Captain Bill Scott: Retired as a Colonel. Location and status unknown.
Captain Ron Parr: Retired as a LTC and lives in FL
Captain Jim Barnett: Location and status unknown
Captain Darrell Houston: Returned for a second tour with the 173 Airborne Brigade, wounded a second time, retired as a Colonel, and now lives in NY
Captain Paul Bordingham: Location and status unknown.
Captain (Doctor) Ed Wagner: Location and status unknown.
Captain Joseph Tomko: Assumed command of B Company after Roy Benson in April of 67 and was wounded April 9th on the An Khe Green Line at LZ Charles. He died of his wounds on June 1, 1967.
I have not intentionally left out other officers that were with the Battalion upon my departure. For example, after LTC George Eggers left, LTC Rhiddlehoover assumed command and is now retired as a Brigadier General. I would have added all the outstanding lieutenants and others, but I simply cannot remember all of their names. Sorry about that.