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Jumping Mustangs - Honor and Courage
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 Graphic provided courtesy of Keith ( Hacksaw
) Bodine, 229th. AHB, 1966
Click on picture to go to Keith's website.
KENNETH D. MERTEL
COLONEL U.S.A. (RET) 1924-2006 This site is dedicated to the honor and memory of Col. Kenneth D. Mertel, who was the Battalion Commander of the Jumping Mustangs as they went into battle in RVN, and who unselfishly created and organized the Jumping Mustang Association because of the respect and love he had for the soldiers who served in this great battalion. He also is responsible for the development of this web site which is carried on in his honor. A tribute to his service has also been posted on the All The Way Brigade web site. Click this link to go there: |
Site Dedication by Kenneth D Mertel, U.S.A. Col (Ret), Battalion Commander
1965 - 1966
This "Jumping Mustang" Web Site is dedicated to all of the "Warriors" who served in Vietnam with our great
Battalion from 1965 to 1971, all "shifts" of our great 1st Air Cav Division and their wonderful spouses, children,
and families and those "Warriors" who paid the "Supreme Sacrifice", and their families.
We
can never forget our activation as 1st Bn, 8th Cav, Airborne, Airmobile, Air Assault on 1 Jul 1965. Our hard, realistic
training, day and night. Lost Platoon Leaders and their Platoons in the Georgia swamps, learning to navigate in the jungle
and swamps of Fort Benning Georgia. The battalion goes "Airborne" as all "Legs" go to Jump School, the
influx of Airborne Plat Sgts, 1st Sgts and CSM from the 82nd and 101st Abn Divisions. Our first "jumps".
REMEMBER The "Great Five Mile Run" (could we do it??==we did); the green dye as our underwear changed colors.
We sailed from Savannah, Georgia on 20 Aug 1965, aboard the USNS Geiger, 31 days, "double" timed all the
way, through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific Ocean to Qui Nhon (Quy Nhon), landing on 20 Sep.
Remember our
liberty for a few hours on Guam, also our invasion of Honolulu enroute?
Ready for an amphibious assault landing
at Qui Nhon, we were disappointed (and relieved) when we were taken by helicopter to An Khe, the 1st Air Cav home base, known
as the "golf course".
Do not forget our many battles and many combat actions as our "Warriors"
came of age and were "blooded".
What a splendid record this "first shift" made, traditions
and high standards set to be carried on by all future "shifts" of "Jumping Mustang Warriors".
What a great group of officers, NCOs and men, "Warriors" all, "Sky Troopers" all.
It was my
honor and privilege to be your first commander.
My personal thanks to Jerry Conners (Recon LRRP Team 1965-66)
for starting this "Jumping Mustang Home Web Page". You have done a great job Jerry.
With all of our
Jumping Mustangs continuing input, help and support, our "Home Page" shall continue to improve.
HONOR
AND COURAGE, DRIVE ON ALL THE WAY,
MUSTANG 6
Ken Mertel
"Jumping Mustangs"
1st Bn 8th Cav
1st Air Cavalry Division
Airborne - Air Assault - Airmobile
JUMPANG MUSTANG AIRBORNE WING BACKGROUND ON LEFT.
(The airborne flash for the Jumping Mustangs was approved by the Institute Of Heraldry. The blue
background represents the Infantry, and the yellow border with a black stripe represents the cavalry.)
1ST AIRBORNE BRIGADE WING BACKGROUND ON RIGHT.
Our Actions Lead to the Development of the Current Air Assault Badge and We Performed the First Two Night Combat Air Assaults in History and were Awarded the Air Assault Badge Depicted on the Left.
Under Enemy Fire,
We replaced our Expert Infantry Badge (left) with Combat Infantry Badges (Right).
The Combat Medical Badge (right) was awarded to those men who desperately fought to save the lives of our wounded comrades, which replaced their Expert Medical Badge (left).
and Gallantry during Combat in the Republic of Vietnam:
Valorous Unit Award for Combat Actions during Fish Hook. The Valorous Unit Award
is to be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy
of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force for actions occurring
on or after 3 August 1963. The Valorous Unit Award requires a lesser degree of gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps
than that required for the Presidential Unit Citation. Nevertheless, the unit must have performed with marked distinction
under difficult and hazardous conditions in accomplishing its mission so as to set it apart from the other units participating
in the same conflict. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star to an
individual.
Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Awarded to the unit for combat actions in the Republic
of Vietnam.Individual Awards and Decorations may be found on the Company Web Pages.
We fought to free the oppressed, and answered President John F. Kennedy's call "Ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your
Country!"
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
GOD BLESS OUR WARRIORS IN HARMS WAY!
JOIN THE 1st CAV DIV ASSOCIATION
LINKS TO COMPANY HOME PAGES IN RED
"A" Co...1965-66
by Walt Gamache
"A" Co...1967
by William Hawkinberry
B
Co...1965-71
"B" Co...1968
by Mike Price
"B" Co...68-69
by Paul Grandy
"B" Co...69-71
by Bill Hunt
C Co...1965-71
"C" Co...1968
by
Kevan Mynderup
by Gordon Swenson
E Co...1968-71 The
following links will open in a new window. Close it to return
here.
1st Cav Medic
by John D. Dennision
(Filder's
Green 5-24-07)
Now maintained by Carol Dennison
Dukes' Broken Dreams
SKYDOC’S “C” 1/8th Cav
“DOC” Dan R. GREENBERG 1965
Operation Henry Clay Airborne
Jumping
Mustang Historian is Tom Brett
tombrettphoto@cox.net
by John D. Dennision
(Filder's Green 5-24-07)
Now maintained by Carol Dennison
Dukes' Broken Dreams
Jumping Mustang Historian is Tom Brett
tombrettphoto@cox.net
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