Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959, Major Dale R. Buis and Sergeant Chester M. Ovnand were killed in Vietnam. These men became the first US soldiers in Vietnam to be killed by enemy fire. Thus, they occupy the first two spots on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Buis and Ovnand were part of an eight-man American Military Assistance Advisory Group at a base camp in Bien Hoa, twenty miles northeast of Saigon. On the night of July 8, six of the men were in the mess hall watching a movie when Viet Cong terrorists attacked and opened fire. Major Buis and Sergeant Ovnand were killed along with two Vietnamese guards. These men became the first of thousands to die in the most controversial US conflict.
Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959
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- garyedolan
- Ranger Hall of Fame
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Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959
Gary "28"
Co C (RGR), 75 Inf (ABN) '70-'71
USMA 69; RGR 4-70; RHOF-2011
http://oftheirownaccord.com
"Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be." Douglas MacArthur
Co C (RGR), 75 Inf (ABN) '70-'71
USMA 69; RGR 4-70; RHOF-2011
http://oftheirownaccord.com
"Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be." Douglas MacArthur
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- Ranger
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Re: Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959
58,148... R.I.P.
WE NEED MORE RANGERS!
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Mentor to Pellet2007, ChaoticGood & RFS1307
Ranger School Class 3-69
7th Special Forces Group
K Company (Ranger) 75th Infantry (Airborne)
4th Infantry Division
82d Airborne Division
12th Special Forces Group
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Mentor to Pellet2007, ChaoticGood & RFS1307
Ranger School Class 3-69
7th Special Forces Group
K Company (Ranger) 75th Infantry (Airborne)
4th Infantry Division
82d Airborne Division
12th Special Forces Group
Re: Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959
Time passes. I departed Viet-Nam for the last time on 1 July 1970. That's more than 39 years ago.
Ranger Class 13-71
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
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- Ranger/LRRP/Admin
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Re: Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959
RIP!
I departed 20 Oct 1970.
I departed 20 Oct 1970.
SUA SPONTE - "We few, we happy few, we BAND OF BROTHERS;
for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother!" - Shakespeare
RLTW! - Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave
RS 3-70
SSG VN 69-70
I Co., 75th. Inf.
4/9 Inf., 25th ID
Mentored Ranger kozzman555
http://www.75thrra.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 183
http://www.ranger.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 3537
for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother!" - Shakespeare
RLTW! - Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave
RS 3-70
SSG VN 69-70
I Co., 75th. Inf.
4/9 Inf., 25th ID
Mentored Ranger kozzman555
http://www.75thrra.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 183
http://www.ranger.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 3537
Re: Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959
RIP, soldiers
Departed 3 July 1971
Arrived home 21 Oct. 2005
Departed 3 July 1971
Arrived home 21 Oct. 2005
RLTW
Lefty
SFOC 1969
6th SFG(A) 69-70
Ranger Class 13-70
MACV Tm 21 70-71 (2nd ARVN Ranger Gp 23d
BN)
2/13 Armor 1st Cav 71-72
"Experience teaches a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and some scarce in that"
Lefty
SFOC 1969
6th SFG(A) 69-70
Ranger Class 13-70
MACV Tm 21 70-71 (2nd ARVN Ranger Gp 23d
BN)
2/13 Armor 1st Cav 71-72
"Experience teaches a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and some scarce in that"
Re: Fifty years ago, on July 8, 1959
RIP Warriors
I departed RVN circa 12feb70.
I departed RVN circa 12feb70.
RLTW
Steadfast
4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4
Steadfast
4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4