Army Reporter information
for 7/17 CAV
For date 680608
7/17 CAV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Operation MACARTHUR
Kontum Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Kontum
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Avn Cavalry Extracted Under Fire" which was the second article on the 7/17th Cav to appear in the 8 June 1968 issue.
Continuing their support of Operation MacArthur, ground troops of the 7/17th Air Cav were recently inserted into the midst of a highly developed NVA basecamp in the Central Highlands near the Cambodian border. But before a complete ground sweep of the camp could be completed, the squadron was informed of a brigade-size enemy unit closing in, making immediate extraction from the area necessary. Previously, helicopter crews had sighted approximately 50 bunkers, 30 foxholes and 24 huts linked by a network of roads and trails crossing 10 bridges. The site appeared to be a staging area for the supply routes from the border four miles to the west. One observation helicopter pilot spotted a deserted truck parked along one of the roads. Following heavy pounding from tactical air strikes and gunships, the ground elements of the squadron were inserted into the area. CPT Anthony X. Hoyer, D Troop commander, led his 57-man platoon directly toward the NVA bunker complex. Before reaching their objective, however, the troops were informed of a brigade-size NVA force which had been spotted nearby. The platoon was ordered to return to the landing zone for extraction. "As the first ship came in, all hell broke loose, and they began lobbing in mortar rounds and automatic weapons fire on our right flank," reported SP5 John T. Stidham. "They were firing on us as we boarded the ships and while we were being lifted out." Heavy concentrations of artillery and air strikes continued to pound the enemy after the troops were extracted from the area. There was no report of enemy casualties. The following photos are credited to SP5 John T. Stidham, 1st Avn Bde IO. Editor's note: Several 17th Cav veterans state Stidham was a member of the Sqdn, at least for awhile. They remember him as a very competent IO man and because of this, may have been 'taken' by a higher command.
Photo Caption - "All hell broke loose as the first ship came in," recalled SP5 John T. Stidham, a combat photographer who accompanied the reconnaissance force when it moved in against the enemy unit.
Photo Caption - Ground elements of the 7/17th Cav set up a perimeter around the LZ while waiting for extraction.
Photo Caption - Shells fly from this soldier's M16 as he covers a slick lifting the cavalry scouts out of the LZ which came under heavy fire by elements of a NVA brigade.
Photo Caption - A member of the perimeter security force dodges enemy bullets as a slick lifts out the first of the cavalrymen.
Comments: CPT Hoyer, Anthony X.; D/7/17 CAV CO; ;
SP5 Stidham, John T.; 1 Avn Bde IO; ;
The source for this information was 6806AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023