Southern Cross information
for 196 BDE 23 INF
3/21 INF 23 INF

For date 700619


196 BDE 23 INF was a US Army unit
3/21 INF 23 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Tin Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Nui Lac Son
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "UNBEATABLE COMBINATION IN NUI LAC SON"by SGT Dave McKeon 196th INF BDE IO. LZ HAWK HILL - Pacification is not a meaningless cliche to the village of Nui Lac Son. At that remote hamlet 16 miles northwest of Tam Ky, pacification is an active program insuring safety and progress for its 8,000 people. The village is situated just to the northwest of the 196th Infantry Brigade's 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry home fire base, LZ Center. Vietnamese civilians, Popular Force units and U.S. military personnel work together to keep the fertile fields and plains surrounding Nui Lac Son Free of infiltration. "The major thrust of our work in pacifying the area has been to earn the trust and respect of the Vietnamese civilians, and to establish a working relationship with them in protecting themselves and their homes," said 1LT Douglas Lyddon, Downers Grove,Ill. As Civil Affairs Officer for the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, LT Lyddon heads a six man liaison team responsible for establishing and maintaining good relations with the indigenous population. "Our liaison team lives in the village and coordinates American educational and medical aid to the civilian population," said SSG Wayron Young, Buffalo. "Many individual U.S. soldiers contribute the necessary funds to send a Vietnamese child to school," Sergeant Young said. The liaison team coordinates medical attention for the villagers with the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry. Three times each week a medical team visits Nui Lac Son to treat any ailments free of cost. Medical evacuation by helicopter is also arranged for the more serious cases. The American liaison team and the Vietnamese military personnel also work together in keeping the area secured. U.S. personnel accompany Vietnamese patrols as advisors and provide the necessary link to coordinate American artillery and indirect fire support should it be necessary. The efforts of Americans and Vietnamese working together has paid off. The controlled fire zone has recently expanded to include another village. And the surrounding area, once heavily booby trapped and often harassed by VC is now clear and being cultivated. The cooperation, trust, and mutual friendship between Vietnamese and Americans in Nui Lac Son CFZ is an unbeatable combination in thwarting VC harassment and terrorism.

The source for this information was 7006_322_scr supplied by Les Hines 12/17/2000


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Last updated 12/24/2000

Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023