REMEMBRANCES
Final Mission of SP4 Robert B. Curran
POSTED ON 2/13/17 - BY WKILLIAN@SMJUHSD.ORG
SP4 Robert B. Curran, SP4 Marshal E. Naffziger, and SSGT James C. Reamer were armor crewmen, and SP4 Robert D. “Sam” Severson and SP4 Rodrick Troup infantrymen, all serving with B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. On August 5, 1971, their unit was on its seventh day of a 30-day armored combat patrol consisting of nine M113 armored personnel carriers (APC’s) and three M551 Sheridan tanks. The lead APC was being operated by SP4 Severson with the other four soldiers traveling on top of the vehicle. While crossing a rice paddy, a command-detonated mine was exploded, flipping Severson’s APC on its top. He and the four men riding above were killed instantly. At that same moment, Viet Cong hidden in the creek bed and tree lines surrounding the paddy opened fire. In the ensuing firefight, another B Trooper from one of the Sheridan crews, SSGT Johnny E. Jones, was fatally injured by small arms fire. Two others were wounded. Fifteen minutes later, the enemy broke contact and disappeared into the jungle. Dismounted patrols searched the area and found no trace of them or any evidence of enemy casualties. A medivac was requested, and the six casualties and two wounded were “dusted off” to the 75th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang. After examining the wrecked APC, it was surmised that the blast was caused by 150 pounds of nitrostarch, undoubtedly constructed from dud Allied rounds. All personal items were removed from the damaged vehicle, and the track was stripped of its weapons and radios. Using cables, two other tracks then righted the APC, and it was lifted from the paddy by a CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter to a waiting M88 Recovery Vehicle which carried it back to base. B Troop then resumed its patrol.
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