Final Mission of SP4 Robert B. Curran

[DCP]

Final Mission of SP4 Robert B. Curran

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/11549/ROBERT-B-CURRAN

Final Mission of SP4 Robert B. Curran
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.

LOYALTY ABOVE ALL ELSE, EXCEPT HONOR

[Pressman]

The most dangerous MOS to have in RVN was not 11B (infantry) as some would think. It was 11E (armor crewman). 27% of the men with 11E MOS were kia.

Proud RVN tanker,
Ken

[CastingFool]

When going through AIT at Ft Eustis, wewere told the average life expectancy of a helicopter crewchief or door gunner in Nam, was only 30 minutes.

[Brasso]

We always considered APC and tanks RPG magnets. As an 11B we hated working with armor outfits.

[lightman]

My Dad was a radio operator in Korea. He was offered a position with a tank crew and turned it down. He said he would rather walk and carry the radio than ride in a rolling death trap.

[lightman]

Final Mission of SP4 Robert B. Curran

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/11549/ROBERT-B-CURRAN

Final Mission of SP4 Robert B. Curran
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.

LOYALTY ABOVE ALL ELSE, EXCEPT HONOR

RIP Sir!

[DCP]

For you Bob

[Lloyd Smale]

I salute them! They died for ME!