News & Research Updates

Theresa
Aug 20
5 min read

Research Trip in August - National Archives & Records Administration

Well, I'll be heading back to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in College Park, Maryland for five days of research starting the week of August 25, 2025.

Back in the summer of 2023, I spent 6 and a half days at NARA scanning as many 3/187th and 3rd Brigade records as I could. I put my new document scanner to work that week! My priorities as that time were to better understand what documents were stored at the College Park NARA location, obtain documents related to each Rakkasan man killed, but also hone in on specific time periods of 3/187th history in Vietnam - Tet 1968, September 1968, May 1969 through summer of 1969; the transition to Pacification/Phong Dien, Lam Son 719. I also scanned as many After Action Reports as I could find. I left the archives with quite a few scanned documents, but left much unscanned. I left with many questions answered, but also many questions unanswered.

So, I am returning - I'm heading back for more scanning, but slightly more focused this time around.

Tet 1968 - The 3/187th was based out of Phuoc Vinh when the Tet 68 offensive hit the Saigon area. One of the questions I have, is where exactly were the 3/187th elements during Tet? I have the 3/187th Daily Staff Journals/Duty Officer's logs for every day in January and most of February of 1968. I have heard many personal stories and recollections. But the 3/187th Daily Staff Journals have gaps. They do not tell the entire story of what was occurring for 3rd Brigade and the region around Saigon. Plus personal recollections do not entirely match available 3/187th records.

During this trip, I'll be focusing on scanning 3rd Brigade records for late January 1968 through February 1968. Elements of 3rd Brigade were pulled into the Saigon area as were elements of the 3/187th (Tan Sun Nhut, Bien Hoa, etc.). But the 3/187th records only offer hints; a clear picture is hard to pinpoint. I am hoping 3rd Brigade records might help shine a light.

Additionally, this was the time period with 1st and 2nd Brigades were moved to the I Corps Tactical Zone. When 2nd and 3rd Brigades initially deployed to the Republic of Vietnam during Operation Eagle Thrust, 2nd Brigade was based out of Cu Chi and 3rd Brigade out of Phuoc Vinh (The Division HQ was initially at Bien Hoa). Due to the siege of Khe Sanh and other factors, 2nd Brigade was moved to the I Corps area in late January of 1968 followed by 1st Brigade. 3rd Brigade remained in the III Corps Tactical Zone and was eventually placed OPCON to II Field Force.

September 1968 - September 1968 was the deadliest month for the 3/187th in Vietnam, starting with the battle and cordon at Ap Trang Dau. This cordon resulted in the Alpha Company position being overrun in the early morning hours of September 6, 1968. The KIA toll increased over the following two days when the Battalion went looking for the VC/NVA and a battle ensued near the village of X Sa Nho. A Task Force to relieve a 25th ID convoy that had been attacked followed resulting in two more KIAs, then onto the battle at FSB Pope as well as additional operations. All told, fifty Rakkasans were killed in action in September 1968. If you then look at early October 1968 - things were just as deadly prior to the move to the I Corps Tactical Zone. I have 3/187th and some 3rd Brigade records for this time period but need to obtain more 3rd Brigade records and begin delving into the 25th Infantry Division's records. As many of you know, in June of 1968, 3rd Brigade (with it's Basecamp at Phuoc Vinh) was placed under the Operational Control of the 25th Infantry Division.

July/August of 1969 - Starting in July of 1969 the 3/187th was involved in security during the reopening and building of HWY 547 into the A Shau Valley (Operation Montgomery Rendezvous). In late August and September, the 3/187th was combat assaulted into the Northern A Shau (Operation Louisiana Lee) to occupy old Marine Firebases - FSB Erskine, FSB Turnage, etc.. By early August, tanks from the 3/5th Cav were on top of Hamburger Hill and clearing of the summit. Although I don't currently know exact dates, sometime in August of 1969, FSB Destiny was built on Dong Ap Bia. The Bravo Company vets (many Hamburger Hill vets) vividly recall being back on Hamburger Hill during this time period. Other soldiers recall operating on the A Shau Valley floor.

I have some of the 3/187th records for this time period, but not all. Bravo Company was OPCON to the 3/5th Cav, so I'll be looking at the 3/5th Cav records. By September 1969, the 3/187th and 3rd Brigade were at several locations along the Valley. But in late September 1969, as the political tide in the US had shifted, the US military tactics also changed to focusing on Pacification and Vietnamization. 3rd Brigade was pulled from the A Shau and sent down to the Coastal Plains; the 3/187th took on the responsibility of security and joint training around Phong Dien District.

1970 - I wasn't able to scan as many 1970's documents as I had hoped to my first time at the NARA. I was able to scan quite a few, but ran out of time. There are still some 1970 KIAs that I haven't obtained documentation to confirm their KIA location and circumstances. Plus, I would like to better document the 3/187th activities during Operation Texas Star. During Operation Texas Star, the 2/506th was heavily involved in FSB Ripcord.

1971 - In 2023, I was able to focus a bit on the 3/187th during Lam Son 719. Yes, the Rakkasans were heavily involved in Lam Son 719 and were at Khe Sanh Combat Base. Initially, they were used for security along HWY 9 as it was being rebuilt and reopened into Khe Sanh. In March of 1971, the Rakkasans were pulling security at the old Marine combat base as well as running operations Northwest of Khe Sanh. This was also the time period where LTC Sutton, the 3/18th Battalion Commander and MAJ Scharnberg were killed when their observation chopper hit the side of a mountain.

I'll keep everyone posted regarding progress. In the meantime, if you have any stories, memories, photos etc. that you would like to share, please contact me. I would love to hear from you.

Thank you for taking the time to read a bit about research efforts!

Theresa Scheets

Founder

The Steel Thread Project

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