Vietnam Combat Veteran 176th Ahc W 14th T-Shirts

The 174th Aviation Company was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia on 1 October 1965. On 15 March 1966 the 174th Aviation Company departed Fort Benning, Georgia for Oakland, California, arriving in Qui Nhon, South Vietnam on 6 April 1966. On 7 April 1966 the unit established a base camp at Phu Tai Valley west of Qui Nhon and became the 174th Assault Helicopter Company and part of Task Force Oregon and later part of Airmobile Light. The 174th AHC was initially assigned to the 52nd Aviation Battalion. On 24 May 1966 the 174th AHC was placed under the operational control 14th Combat Aviation Battalion

174th Assault Helicopter Company - Assigned to 14th Aviation Battalion - August 1968 to October 1971 under 23rd Infantry (Americal) division

The 14th Field Artillery Regiment is a parent field artillery regiment of the United States Army, currently represented in the Regular Army by its 1st Battalion, a HIMARS unit with the 75th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The regiment was first organized on 1 June 1917 in the Regular Army at Fort Sill, having been constituted almost a year earlier. Vietnam: Defense; Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I

On 7 October 1965, the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, Airmobile Light was activated at Fort Benning. By 9 June the following year, the newly formed company set up its headquarters inside the 5th SFG compound at Nha Trang Bay, Republic of Vietnam. The unit's mission was to provide air movement of troops, supplies and equipment under the direct supervision of the commanding officer, 5th SFG. The 281st became the first organized special operations helicopter unit in the U.S. Army. Army historians consider the 281st to be the legacy unit for today's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), abbreviated as 160th SOAR(A).

176th assault helicopter company Vietnam War

On 7 October 1965, the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, Airmobile Light was activated at Fort Benning. By 9 June the following year, the newly formed company set up its headquarters inside the 5th SFG compound at Nha Trang Bay, Republic of Vietnam. The unit's mission was to provide air movement of troops, supplies and equipment under the direct supervision of the commanding officer, 5th SFG. The 281st became the first organized special operations helicopter unit in the U.S. Army. Army historians consider the 281st to be the legacy unit for today's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), abbreviated as 160th SOAR(A).

On 8 March 1967, Minuteman aircraft participated in their first combat assault along with the 174th Assault Helicopter Company. On 25 March 1967, the company was officially declared Operationally Ready after having flown some 2200 sorties in 615 hours while participating in five combat assaults. On the same day the unit deployed its aviation elements to Ninh Hoa to assume the support mission for the 9th Infantry Division of the Republic of Korea. Last official flight of the 176th was a night flare mission of the perimeter.

October 1971 brings to a close a proud and gallant record of combat service in Vietnam for the 14th Combat Aviation Battalion. Members of the Battalion have engaged the Enemy from Nha Trang to the Khe Sanh and into the Kingdom of Loas over the past seven years. These engagements have taken their toll. One hundred and fifty four men have died gallantly for the cause of freedom and countless more were wounded. Joseph F Rutkowski LTC, IN

14th Aviation Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), National Defense Service Ribbon, Vietnam War Service and Vietnam Campaign Ribbons

1st Battalion, 14th Infantry: In the fall of 1965 the 25th Division was ordered to Vietnam. The initial brigade to go was the 3rd Brigade composed of the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 9th Artillery. The urgency of getting the 3rd Brigade to the Central Highlands of Vietnam led to the Army and Air Force undertaking Operation Blue Light, a massive airlift of the entire 3rd Brigade from Hawaii to Pleiku. The airlift began on 28 December 1965 and was successfully concluded on 17 January 1966.

The 240th were located at Bearcat, Binh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Bearcat was located near Saigon on Highway One. Known as the “Greyhounds, Mad Dogs, and Kennel Keepers,” the 240th operated UH1C gunships, armed with mini-guns and rockets in the gun platoon, call sign “Mad Dog” and a transport or slick platoon flying UH1H slicks, call sign “Greyhound.” The maintenance platoon was known as the “Kennel Keepers.”

Vietnam Combat Veteran - 176th AHC w 14th Avn Bn

October 1971 brings to a close a proud and gallant record of combat service in Vietnam for the 14th Combat Aviation Battalion. Members of the Battalion have engaged the Enemy from Nha Trang to the Khe Sanh and into the Kingdom of Loas over the past seven years. These engagements have taken their toll. One hundred and fifty four men have died gallantly for the cause of freedom and countless more were wounded. Joseph F Rutkowski LTC, IN