6thofthe31st.com's Timeline

Inactivation

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 1970 06:00:00 +0000

6/31^st officially inactivated at Ft. Lewis Washington.

John Bullock letter

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Bien Hoa. ..went though the Academy processing here today so I could ship out any time from tomorrow on. I’m to go to the 12 Cav regiment, 2nd battalion, company C … Operating out of a place called Fire Base Sally. …there’s a possibility I could end up a squad leader, but I’m not planning on it. I saw the movie tonight they are showing so I’ve written letters instead. Last night pulled walking guard around the officer’s hooch. Some new guy in country threw a grenade in the movie audience and wounded 14 people. Guess it was good thing I was pulling guard. He thought he would throw it on the roof and scare everyone, but it rolled off and on the ground before it went off. He turned himself in this afternoon. Was a cook. They were trying to blame the in- Country transfers. If an in-country transfer had thrown it, he would have done it in a lifers hooch, not among his fellow GIs. Just a freak think really, but it sure makes you mad. He will be in jail for a long time, but they should hang him. Anyway, my luck seems to be holding up very well and that makes me feel good. Actually, I would have been sitting with my friends from the 9th Div and wouldn’t have been hurt anyway. No one is going to the same place that I am …..have no choice but starting out making new friends. It worries me a little because there is more jungle up here and I’m used to working the flat, open places of the delta. I’ll adjust I guess, anyway I have too.”

John Bullock

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

To Bien Hoa to depart for 1st Air Cav.

John Bullock

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Platoon party for 3rd Platoon.

Robert Stewart

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

In Airport at Bien Hoa on way to 101st. The 6/31^st doesn’t exist anymore as an organization. A young American GI and a girl came up to me and asked me about my New Years resolutions. Said it was for a military magazine that would come out in December. The girl took my picture. Months later back in the world an old buddy who was CO of a hospital company at Benning sent me a copy of the photo from a magazine. It had somebody elses name on it and said to be in the 1st Cav.

John Bullock

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Awards Ceremony and battalion party.

John Bullock letter

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

..made it to Xuan. …got a few pictures when we went through Saigon. People leaving the 10th. I’m suppose to leave the 16th but that could change. Don’t know if I will be happy or not to get to the Cav. At least I’ll have a a little time out of the field. Have to pull guard here once every 3 or 4 nights and probably do some details. I saw Mutt and Jeff as we were leaving and got a picture of them holding dogs. They were going to Tan An. I doubt I ever see them again.

John Bullock

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Xuan Loc. We arrived erly this afternoon at Xuan via a route through Saigon. We got lost for a little while in town but finally made our way out. We are having an awards ceremony tomorrow. I may get an Ar Com then. I’ve already seen the orders for it, but they didn’t have the medals to give out at Chamberlain. [No, I didn't get it until I was stateside in Dec. A few people got medals, but I seem to remember the ceremony was mostly about giving Col Gearin a bunch of medals. I don't know how many, but the men around me started laughing after a while, and we were getting so carried away, I was afraid we were going to get into trouble.] We also get the little Alpha Co pins the C.O. [Capt Olsen] got for us. They look like out Ace of Spades patch.”

Robert Stewart

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Going to “”Dion”", pronnounced “”Z on”" tomorrow for process to 101st.(Actual spelling Di An, pronounced as stated in letter.) “

John Bullock

admin — Sun, 06 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Chamberlain. Raining here this morning, but we go in from our bush before it started. They are talking of sending some platoons out on bushes tonight; the Colonel just don’t know how to quit. Last night there were only 3 platoons on bush in the whole brigade, and all 3 were in the 6/31st, thanks to Colonel Gearin… The ARVN’s are to take this place over, also Ben Luc, so we have to make it look nice for them. If we came back in a month, it would look worse than now. The ARVN’s move their families in, throw litter out the door and all that. It is funny having to clean up a place for them… Everyone here was sent to the 25th, the 101st Div, or the 1st Cav… “

John Bullock letter

admin — Sun, 06 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Got your last letter with the note and gum to Mutt and Jeff. They were tickled to get it ….chewed the gum. I gave them some of the candy Mom sent, too so guess their teeth aren’t that bad. They were going to write you a letter right back but couldn’t think of anything to say. Someone is suppose to take them to Tan An when we leave here. They said they are going back to school….been AWOL from school for awhile. Probably the last I see of them for I don’t think the 1st Cav. will ever be as far South as Lang An province….217 days to go in this country, almost halfway. …six months in by the time I go to the field again. It goes a little faster all the time, but never fast enough. Wrote Algie a letter when I made Sp/4 and he wrote back he made corporal (same thing) so I guess we are keeping up. …when I found out I was going to 1st Cav I wrote him to look for me. Ha! The 1st Cav is pretty big …probably never see each other. “

John Bullock

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Eagle Flight after bunker guard last night.

Robert Stewart

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Alpha at Chamberlain. More Eagle flights. Learn going to the 101st after stand down.

John Bullock

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Eagle Flight.

John Bullock letter

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“…got in a little bit ago from bush. Plan to make the last tape from here providing we don’t airmobile today. The 6th is our last day of operations so we could AP that night, but whatever. There will be no operations the 7th. … probably be pulling bunker guard. …the 8th we leave for Xuan Loc and stay there until our shipping date. …start shipping the 10th, but I won’t go until the 16th. …been assigned to the 1st Air Cav or 1st Cav. The patch has a horse and a diagonal bar on it and has to be the largest patch of any unit I know. I’ll have to take the 9th Div. patch off my left shoulder and put it on the right and put the 1st Cav patch on the left. ..don’t know what Bn co. I’ll go to. Probably won’t until I get there. Elwin Algie is in the 11th Pathfinders, 11th Avn Pp. Chances are slim I’ll get anywhere near him or see him very often … I’ll go to a line company more than likely. P.S. They announced on the news here yesterday that the 9th Div. was officially pulling out. About 2 or 3 from Alpha Co. go home with the colors and everyone else goes to Xuan Loc for reassignments. “

John Bullock

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Chamberlain. Operations are suppose to end the 6th of Sept, then we go to Xuan Loc on the 8th of Sept at 8:00 AM. According to the orders I’ve seen I’ll go to the 1st Cav about the 16th of Sept… Alpha Company is suppose to have a farewell party at Xuan the 8th when we get there, and people are to begin transferring the 10th. So, I’ll be wearing a patch with a horse on it… we go on bush tonight”

Robert Stewart

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Learn from D battery commander that I’m going to the 101st and possible leave for battery Sept 5 and expected to be at 101st Sept. 15

John Bullock

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

A.P. with A.R.V.N.’s. Contact.

John Bullock letter

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Chamberlain. Still here and still operating. …suppose to go to Heiz Hoa again tonight and stay there tomorrow. ..been working that area a lot lately. Every time we leave I think we will never see it again then back we go again. Chances are if I get in the 25th Div. I could see it again. …probably be sent to the 25th or the 1st Air Cav. They are the two closest units. They’ll be the two southern most American units in Vietnam…could be airmobiling down in this area if the ARVN’s can’t keep up. The 25th is rumored to be pulling out in Nov. or Dec. So if I go there I may be moving again. I have no doubt that I’ll spend a full year over here. Yesterday marked the end of my 5th month, seven to go. I’ve already got my duffle bag packed. I’m ready to move in a moment. We got paid today ….haven’t gotten my Spec/4 pay raise on there. …have to go to finance when I get to Xuan Loc ….$64 a month more. “

John Bullock

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Platoon on Eagle Flight. John on profile and later bunker guard.

John Bullock

admin — Sat, 29 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Bunker Guard

John Bullock

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Chamberlain. Bunker Guard.

John Bullock

admin — Thu, 27 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Sweep to a.p.

John Bullock

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

“Chamberlain. …we are getting a few hours off today. We bushed the last two nights with ARVN’s at Sugar Mill and then came back in here this morning. Now I guess we have to go on a sweep this afternoon and bush again tonight, then airmobile tomorrow. .. We went down to the market while we were there and set at the tables drinking beer and eating [Some kind of hoagie with sprouts, pig fat, and a salty sauce, nuoc mam, made from fish heads, I believe.] It was off limits, but no one stopped us. Everything at the market has two prices, one for Vietnamese and one for GI’s. Tui wangled with the shop keepers and got me Vietnamese prices. [Tui was a 10 year old buddy I had made in April, who decided to adopt me. I was invited this day to his house to meet his Mother and his two sisters. His Father was an ARVN officer, who I never met. I had given him some money in April, figuring he would blow it like most kids. He had taken the money [just a few dollars] and paid for tuition and books to go to school. His Mother and sisters laughed hysterically, when I tried to read out loud in Vietnamese from one of his school books.] “

Robert Stewart

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

A.P. with A.R.V.N.’s.

John Bullock

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

To Hiep Hoa to a.p. with A.R.V.N.’s.

Robert Stewart

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Battalion HQ moved to Chamberlain. 13 Aps out the night before monitored at battalion CP. Alpha radio CP helping monitor radios.

John Bullock letter

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

…leaving this morning for Sugar Mill (Heip Hou) for 3 days. We bush tonight there and the next 2 nights go on a recon in Force (RIF) the last day and come back here that night. The 3rd platoon will be the only ones there…may get to spend the days at Sugar Mill and only in the field at night. The Colonel’s been riding everyone into the ground. We don’t have time to breathe. Guess he wants to get his last kicks in before leaving here. I understand he has been passed over twice for promotion …if he gets passed over again he is retired. Should be making $60 more a month as Spec/4 without having to do anything more. I’m going to keep the first and buy a few things at Zion….month almost over and I still got a little more than $60 left….I may buy a watch and a few other things. I wanted to get a $150 camera but probably never will. I didn’t order the suits or painting from Ben Luc. Wasn’t enough time by the time I saved the money. …may get them when I get to Zion or my next unit.

John Bullock

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

A.P.

John Bullock

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 1970 06:00:00 +0000

Bunker guard.