INJURIES AND DEATHS During the first half of 1969, there was an increase in casualties as a result of hostile action.

The following is a list of deaths and injuries sustained by EOD personnel from 1 Jan 69 thru 30 Jun 69: 1. The first day of the new year started badly when CPT Briggs K. Sicilia, 170th Ord Det, was killed by an accidental gunshot wound, while responding to an incident in Saigon. 2. SP4 Donald G. Robbins, 44th Ord Det, was injured on 8 Mar 69, when a BLU 42/B Bomblet detonated approximately ten feet behind him. SP. Robbins was treated and placed on light duty for three weeks. 3. On 14 Mar 69, SSG David Keller and SP5 Raymond Zipprich, 44th Ord Det, were injured while evacuating personnel from a burning ASP. SSG Keller was treated and returned to duty, while Zipprich was placed on light duty for two weeks. 4. SP4 John Caffy, EOD Section, 3d Ord Bn, received lacerations while recovering a damaged 2.75" rocket on 28 Apr 69. EM was returned to duty after treatment. 5. SP4 James Randolph, 133d Ord Det, was wounded by fragments from incoming mortars during EOD clean-up of an ammo bunker on 12 May 69. He spent five days in the hospital and was returned to duty. 6. On 28 May 69, SP5 David Caufield, 287th Ord Det, was injured when a mine functioned during breeching operations. SP5 Caufields left foot had to be amputated, and he was evacuated to CONUS. 7. SFC Dale Smith, 170th Ord Det, was injured on 5 Jun 69 by an antidisturbance firing device. SFC Smith received numerous fragmentation wounds to his hands when a blasting cap functioned. SFC Smith has been evacuated to CONUS, where full recovery is expected. 8. On 20 Jun 69, MSG Franklin Forester and SFC Boyd Kidd, 25th Ord Det, received fragmentation wounds when a dud 40mm grenade functioned during disposal operation. MSG Forester was treated for minor fragmentation wounds and returned to duty. SFC Kidd was hospitalized, but returned to light duty the following day. 9. SSG Leo Conahan and SP4 William Richards, 269th Ord Det, were wounded on 29 Jun 69, when a booby trap functioned. SSG Conahan was treated and released the next day, however SP4 Richards was evacuated to 3d Field Hospital and then to Japan. He should recover completely in a few weeks. Inclosure 5

10. The following injuries occurred during EOD clean-up of Qui Nhon Ammunition Base Depot: a. SP4 John Claffy, EOD Section, 3d Ord Bn, received lacerations when an XM716 PD fuze functioned. EM was treated by medics and returned to duty. b. SP5 Timothy Roumph, 59th Ord Det, received WP burns on his legs from a leaking 60mm WP mortar. He was treated by medics and returned to duty. c. SP5 Philip Kirwan, 25th Ord Det, received burns and bruises to his right side and arm, when he was hit by a base plate when a l05mm Illumination round functioned. He was treated and returned to duty. d. SP5 Stuart Steinberg, EOD Section, 184th Ord Bn, received lacerations and burns of neck and ears, and punctured eardrums when an 81mm HE mortar (with a M524 fuze) detonated in the rear of the truck he was driving. After treatment by dispensary personnel, he was returned to duty. Note from Stu: I was wounded May 10 in the Qui Nhon Ammo Dump and was awarded a Purple Heart. It's in the 1969 report under the Qui Nhon Ammo Dump section. The award certificate says May 13, but my medical records show treatment on May 10-12. I was wounded a second time during an incoming attack on May 19. I was treated at a 51st Med. Battalion aid station and nothing ever got into my records. Page 2 of Inclosure 5

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS During the first half of 1969, EOD Personnel have continued to receive many awards and decorations. Tabulated below, by award and grade are those received by EOD personnel for the period 1 Jan 69 30 Jun 69: SILVER STAR SP5 Arthur Canizales LEGION OF MERIT CPT Briggs Sicilia (Posthumous) SOLDIERS MEDAL SFC Charles L.D. Ball SSG Patrick Campbell SSG James D. Phipps SFC Edward F. Hochecker SSG Leroy D. Jackson BRONZE STAR W/ V CPT Ronald R. Casper CPT Dennis J. Lorance CPT Michael J. Tavnao MSG Norman H. Lier Jr. SFC Donald W. Douglas (2) SFC Leslie Champ SSG Edward Jones SSG David A. Keller SSG Patrick Campbell SSG Willard A. Small SP5 Thomas Brown SP5 Leslie L. McKimson SP5 Raymond A. Zipprich SP4 Donald G. Robbins SP4 James S. Randolph Inclosure 6 CPT Russel Hunt CPT Allen K. Rosson

MSG Lee. A. McClain SFC Franklin G. Lewis SFC Dale N. Smith SSG Harold D. Lewis SSG Leo E. Conahan SSG Frank Hornbaker SSG Donald A. Ankerman SP5 Allan S. Cummins SP5 James L. Scott SP5 Howard Smith SP4 Kraig D. Dern

BRONZE STAR MAJ Patrick DesChamps CPT Russell Hunt CPT Thomas L. Stark CPT Ross Gralia MSG Jack G. Sumrall MSG Frank I. Mowery MSG Horace M. Ayres MSG Willaim A. Campbell MSG Lee A. McClain SFC Kenneth S. Deptol SFC Charles L.D. Ball SFC Leslie H. Champ SFC Hugh L. Lauthner SSG Alexander Kaczmarek SSG Patrick L. Campbell SSG Elvin E. Kotouc SSG Clifford Robinson SSG Robert M. Turner SSG Thomas Griffith SSG George N. Moore SP5 Arthur Canizales SP5 Keithley A. Stevens SP5 David A. Gans SP5 Richard V. Earl SP5 Roger L. Floyd SP5 Dale E. Wilber (2) SP5 Michael L. Kern SP5 Philip C. Kirwan SP4 Stephen P. King SP4 Kent S. Voge CPT James R. Davis (2) CPT Michael Griffard

MSG George W. Watson MSG John T. Branch MSG Edward A. Greer MSG Daniel N. Weaver

SFC Eugene Cope (2) SFC Ernest V. Briley (2) SFC Dewey L. Burchfield (2)

SSG Ross Terrien SSG Harry R. Hull Jr. SSG Charles A. Scott SSG James G. Hunt SSG Lawrence L. Crawford (2) SSG Charles R. Irland SSG James D. Phipps SP5 Roger Jones SP5 Harry E. Beemer SP5 Dwaine M. Wallace SP5 James E. Young SP5 George G. Perry SP5 Thomas M. Kemp SP5 Steven R. Rawlings

SP4 Wilton Holt Jr. (2) SP4 Michael Kern ARCOM W/V

MSG Lee R. Miller (2) SFC Jenterious Anderson Page 2 of Inclosure 6 SFC Ernest Briley

ARCOM W/V (Cont) SSG Paterick L. Campbell SSG Michael D. Lizak SP5 Harry E. Beemer SP5 David T. Johnson SP5 Dale E. Wilber PFC Robert W. Derry ARCOM MAJ Patrick L. DesChamps MSG Lee A. McClain MSG Franklin T. Forester SSG Charles D. Crawford SSG Haskill C. Edwards SSG Ross Terrien SSG Roland Peterson SSG George F. Chapman (2) SP5 Robert W. Jenkins SP5 Hugh A. Nolan SP5 Roger Jones SP5 Kenneth E. Johnson SP5 Charles R. Irland SP5 Stuart A. Steinberg SP4 Frank C. Rhody SP4 George Twyman SP4 Richard L. Flanders SP4 Albert W. Hays (2) SP4 Michael J. Isham MSG Lee R. Miller SSG Robert M. Wagner SSG Lee R. Ness SP5 Howard F. Smith SP5 Paul F. Owens SP5 Douglas F. Rhodes

SSG Leo E. Conahan SSG Richard H. Upham SSG Arthur M. Brodeth SSG Lawrence L. Crawford (2)

SP5 Timothy J. Roumph SP5 Daniel Louwerts (3) SP5 Jon R. Havert SP5 Thomas M. Kemph SP5 Philip C. Kirwan

SP4 Miquel M. Casas SP4 Thomas Boyd (2) SP4 Richard J. Flynn SP4 Roger McCormack (2) SP4 Gerald R. Culp PURPLE HEART

MSG Franklin Forester SFC Eugene Cope SFC Dale Smith SFC Boyd F. Kidd

Page 3 of Inclosure 6

PURPLE HEART (Cont) SSG David A. Keller SP5 Raymond A. Zipprich SP4 Donald G. Robbins SP4 William E. Richards SSG Ross M. Terrien SP5 Stuart A. Steinberg SP4 Albert Hays SP4 James S. Randolph Not Previously Reported MSG Gordon J. Smith SFC Eugene Cope SSG Ross Terrien SP5 Thomas Kemph Legion of Merit Purple Heart Purple Heart

INJURIES AND DEATHS During the second half of 1969 EOD personnel sustained some unfortunate injuries while performing their duties. Some were minor in nature while others were more serious. EOD personnel continue to be faced with the explosive hazards or the EOD mission as well as the additional hazardous nature of operations in RVN. Personnel are often exposed to enemy ambushes, rocket and mortar attacks and land mines. The following is a list of injuries sustained during the second half of 1969 and a brief narrative describing them. a. SFC Boyd F. Kidd, SSG Willard A. Small, and SP4 Joseph E. Tremain of the 25th Ord Det (EOD) Received first and second degree burns while clearing satchel charges from the POL tank farm at An Khe on 1 Nov 69. The three were treated and retuned to duty. b. On 5 Aug 69, MSG Ronald A. Cole, SSG Robert C. Nye, and SP5 Arthur G. Dedmon of the 42nd Ord Det (EOD) were injured while attempting to remove a mine at Long Hai for the 5th Special Forces Group. An M14 mine was accidentally detonated, injuring MSG Cole. During an attempt to evacuate MSG Cole from the minefield, another M14 mine was accidental1y detonated, injuring SSG Nye and SPS Dedmon. MSG Cole lost his left leg and received multiple frag wounds. SSG Nye received a serious eye wound. SP5 Dedmon received a serious foot wound, resulting in the loss of two toes. All three were med-evaced to Japan, and then to CONUS. c. On 23 October 1969, SSG Jerry Kekel of the 42nd Ord Det (EOD), while attempting to remove an implanted M16 mine, was injured very seriously when an unknown device underneath mine detonated. He was evacuated to Japan, where he later died from pneumonia on 29 November 1969. d. SSG Merle L. Merrick and SP5 David T. Johnson of the 44th Ord Det (EOD) were injured, on 25 Nov 69, when they and their infantry security element were ambushed. An NVA force of undetermined size attacked, using mortar and small arms fire. SSG Merrick was wounded in the leg by mortar fragments and SP5 Johnson received slight frag wounds about the face. SSG Merrick was evacuated by dust off and spent three days in the Dau Tieng hospital. SP5 Johnson treated his own wounds. Both men have returned to duty. e. On 2 July 1969, SP5 Timothy J. Roumph of the 59th Ord Det (EOD) was traveling with a convoy when the vehicle he was riding on hit a mine, resulting in a frag wound to his right leg. He was treated and returned to duty. f. SP5 Stephen D. Bailey of the 99th Ord Det (EOD) received frag wounds to his back and shoulder from enemy artillery while engaged in a clean-up operation at Bu Dap CIDG Camp. He was evacuated to Japan. Inclosure 5

g. On 12 Ju1y 1969, SP4 Kraig D. Drern of the 133rd Ord Det (EOD) was wounded in the back when the helicopter in which he was riding received small arms fire from the ground. SP4 Dern was evacuated to Japan and later to CONUS. h. SFC Floyd A. Ames and SP4 David J. Freymond of the 287th Ord Det (EOD) were injured on 1 Sep 69, when a PG2 fuze detonated in the rear the vehicle in which they were riding. SFC Ames received damage to his right eardrum and frag wounds on the back of his head. He was evacuated to the 85th Evac Hospital and later to Japan. SP4 Freymond received frag wounds in his right arm. He was treated at the 85th Evac Hospital and retuned to duty the next day. i. While responding to an incident, Cpt Ralph J. Schuchman and SFC Robert A. Kelley of the 3rd Ord Bn (EOD Section) were injured in a helicopter crash. The helicopter in which they were riding experienced mechanical failure and crashed into a water filled bomb crater. Cpt Schuchman received a fracture of the left ankle and right wrist. He was evacuated to Japan and later to CONUS. SFC Kelley received minor lacerations and bruises. After being treated at the hospital he was returned to duty. j. SSG Michael D. Lizak and SP5 Brian J. Berst of the 184th Ord Bn (EOD Section) were injured by a detonation on 11 Sep 69, while checking a pipeline for booby traps. SSG Lizak lost his leg below the knee and was evacuated to Walter Reed General Hospital. SP5 Berst received frag wounds of the face. He was treated at the 67th Evac Hospital and later returned to duty. Page 2 of Inclosure 5

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS During the second half of 1969, EOD personnel continued to receive many awards and decorations. Below is a list of the awards and the personnel receiving the: Legion of Merit MAJ Gerald W. Pack Soldiers Medal SP5 Arthur G. Dedmon

SFC Thomas S. Wheelre SSG Robert C. Nye

Bronze Star w/V CPT Chester H. Heidl CPT Thomas L. Starl SFC Robert Blanchard SFC Raymond Puig SSG Gregoru D. Hentschel SSG Lemuel T. Mabry Bronze Star CPT Marvin C. Altstatt CPT Ross S. Gralia (2nd OLC) CPT Chester H. Heidl (1st OLC) CPT Dennis J. Lorance (1st OLC) SGM Franklin R. Wardwell MSG Russell J. Adams MSG James E. Austin MSG Ronald A. Cole (2nd OLC) MSG Franklin T. Forester MSG Norman H. Liet Jr. (1st OLC) MSG Lee A. McClain (2nd OLC) MSG Lee R. Miller MSG Sammie L. Thomas SFC Donald L. Ankenman (1st OLC) SFC Robert Blanchard (1st OLC) SFC Robert E. Chouinard SFC William J. Shadel SFC Robert E. Smith SSG Ronald D. Carlton SSG George F. Chapman Inclosure 6 SSG Haskill C. Edwards SSG Frank R. Hornbaker (2nd OLC) SSG Edward L. Jones SSG Michael D. Lizak SSG Jerry E. Kekel (Posthumously) SSG Jimmy P. Lynch SSG Lee R. Ness SSG Roland W. Peterson SSG Eugene S. Presnell SSG Willard A. Small (1st OLC) SSG Lewis F. Weinberg SP5 John M. Claffy SP5 Jon R. Havert SP5 Albert W. Hays (1st OLC) SP5 Michael R. Nichols SP5 Douglas F. Rhodes SP5 Albert W. Hays SP5 Robert Keefe SP5 James N. Randolph SP5 Timothy J. Roumph SP5 James L. Williams

Bronze Star (Cont) SSG Charles D. Crawford SP4 Larry W. Brooks SP4 Thomas E. Nutter ARCOM w/V CPT Chester H. Hedl MSG Lee R. Miller (3rd OLC) MSG Donald C. Searles (1st OLC) SFC Robert Blanchard SFC Robert E. Smith SSG George F. Chapman SSG Richard J. Keim Jr. ARCOM CPT Donald L. Brewer (2nd OLC) CPT Michael J. Tavane MSG Donald C. Searles (2nd OLC) SFC Robert E. Chouinard SFC Edward F. Komac SSG James N. Anelle SSG Ronald D. Carlton SSG Jerry E. Kekel (Posthumously) SSG David A. Keller SSG Michael D. Lizak (1st OLC) SSG George A. Masel SSG Raymond C. Merrell SP5 Arthur G. Dedmon SP5 David L. Edson SP5 Walter Gee Jr. SP5 Larry W. Green SP5 Lester P. Haskin SP5 Richard A. Hause SP5 Albert W. Hays (1st OLC) SP5 Robert W. Jenkins (1st OLC) SP5 Joseph S. Jimenez SP5 David K. Kaluhiekalani SP5 Phillip C. Kirwan (1st OLC) SP5 James E. Martin SP5 Kenneth P. McCandless SP5 John W. Merwin SP5 Mahlon L. Miller SP5 Hubert R. Nauman SP5 Michael R. Nickols SP5 Hugh A. Nolan SP5 William S. Peterson SP5 Gary J. Poole SP5 Douglas F. Rhodes SP5 Donald G. Robbins SP5 Timothy J. Roumph SP5 Michael A. Therrien SP5 Bruce R. Thomas SP5 David S. Tipton SP5 Bennie L. Young SP5 Raymond A. Zipprich SP4 Larry W. Brooks SP4 Kraig D. Dern SP4 David J. Freymond SP4 Thomas E. Nutter SP4 Bill C. Poteet SP4 Gary L. Raines SP4 Terry A. Simmons SSG James A. Qualls SSG Paul D. Pattrick SSG Jimmy E. Willis SP5 Richard D. Anderson SP5 Robert W. Jenkins SP5 Robert Keefe SP5 Merrill W. Prange SP5 David S. Tipton SP5 Robert E. Wert

Page 2 of Inclosure 6

PURPLE HEART MSG Franklin T. Forester SFC Floyd A. Ames SFC Boyd F. Kidd (1st OLC) SSG Lee E. Conahan SSG Michael D. Lizak SSG William A. Small SP5 Stephen D. Bailey SP5 Brain J. Berst SP5 John M. Claffy SP5 Timothy J. Roumph SP5 Joseph E. Tremain SP4 Kraig D. Dern SP4 David J. Freymond SP4 Gary L. Raines

NOT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED SFC Dale N. Smith Purple Heart