{"id":473,"date":"2019-06-20T22:22:28","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T22:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/?p=473"},"modified":"2019-06-20T22:22:28","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T22:22:28","slug":"the-bonds-forged-by-war-last-a-lifetime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/2019\/06\/20\/the-bonds-forged-by-war-last-a-lifetime\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BONDS FORGED BY WAR LAST A LIFETIME"},"content":{"rendered":"

By LTC Rick Stetson (Ret), 9th Infantry Division, Long Range Patrol<\/strong><\/p>\n

As told by Prescott \u201cSmitty\u201d Smith and Duane \u201cPoncho\u201d Alire.<\/p>\n

DEDICATION<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This narrative is dedicated to the E50 LRRPs\/E75 Rangers who were killed in action in Vietnam between 1967 and 1971 and speaks to the \u201cbonding of warriors\u201d that today unites the men on the 50th anniversary of their military service.<\/p>\n

Duty Calls<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In 1968, during the Vietnam War, Prescott \u201cSmitty\u201d Smith and Duane \u201cPoncho\u201d Alire served in the same U. S. Army unit, \u201cE\u201d Company, 50th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP).<\/p>\n

Smith and Alire had very different birth places, family backgrounds and personalities, but in the real life or death setting of war \u2013 the two men bonded and were blessed with leadership qualities, skills and responsibilities that ultimately led to their becoming life-long friends.<\/p>\n

Alire, from Monte Vista, Colorado, was drafted and promptly inducted into the Army in Denver, Colorado in July 1967. He was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for basic training. Shortly after his arrival at Fort Campbell, while undergoing initial processing from civilian to military life, Alire made, what he thought at the time, a simple helpful suggestion. While moving folded bunk beds into an empty barracks, Alire noticed two trainee soldiers struggling to fit a bunk bed through an open doorway. Seeing their dilemma, he suggested that if they turned the folded bed 90 degrees it would fit easily.<\/p>\n

As he walked away from the barracks, a drill sergeant (DI) stopped him and asked, \u201cWhat is your name?\u201d Alire, still not dressed in a U. S. Army uniform, knew instinctively after several days of being hollered at and ordered around like an undisciplined child by men dressed as this DI was dressed, the man was not to be trifled with. He quickly responded, \u201cMy name is Alire\u201d, and slowly spelled out his Hispanic last name – one letter at a time. He was summarily dismissed.<\/p>\n

The next morning at 05:30, the man with the distinctive flat brimmed campaign hat now stood on the steps in front of the newly outfitted barracks with a clip board in hand. He began explaining the way things were going to be for the next several months. After a few minutes, he asked everyone to take a step back and then announced, \u201cThese are my trainee squad leaders. You will follow their orders because they are essentially my orders.\u201d He then turned to a subordinate DI and asked, \u201cWhere\u2019s the short Mexican?\u201d<\/p>\n

Alire, who had earlier sequestered himself in back of the 40 or so trainees, scrunched down, hoping not to be noticed.<\/p>\n

The young DI walked around looking up and down the rows of young men and then announced, \u201cHere he is\u201d and placed his hand on Alire\u2019s shoulder. The senior DI asked him to bring Alire forward before saying, \u201cYou are my first squad leader. You are responsible for the 10 men in your squad. They screw up, it\u2019s your fault\u201d. Thereafter he selected an additional 3 trainee squad leaders and a single trainee platoon leader. Alire served as the trainee first squad leader for the entire training cycle. Unbeknownst to Alire at the time, his suggestion to his fellow trainees cast a die that would lead him to the LRRPs.<\/p>\n

In September 1967, Alire completed the Army\u2019s Basic Combat Training at Fort Campbell and was assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana for Advanced Individual Training (RVN oriented). By December he was home on leave with orders to report to a transit station in Oakland, California on January 3, 1968 for deployment to Vietnam.<\/p>\n

Smith, from Sacramento, California, was a college graduate and after being drafted in mid-March 1966, was ordered to Fort Ord, California. At Fort Ord he volunteered for Officer Candidate School (OCS), selected infantry for his OCS specialty, and was ordered to Fort Dix, New Jersey for the Army\u2019s Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training.<\/p>\n

Smith recalls his decision to volunteer for OCS in his book titled, Last Light With The Boys, when one of the other potential OCS candidates said to him,<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what are you going to do, buddy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith responded, \u201cI think I\u2019m going to take that test and see if I can go to OCS.\u201d The other man froze for a split second as the room became quiet.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re making a big mistake, I hope you know that.\u201d the man replied \u201cYou\u2019ll be in Vietnam in less than two years and get your ass shot off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith replied, \u201cI don\u2019t need you worrying about my ass. I don\u2019t know you, I don\u2019t like you, and in two more days I probably will never see you again.\u201d The man, according to Smith, seemed shocked at his response.<\/p>\n

Unbeknownst to Smith at the time, his response to the man and his decision to go to OCS cast a die that would lead him to the LRRPs.<\/p>\n

Smith completed the Army\u2019s Basic Combat Training and Advance Individual Training (RVN oriented). He graduated from OCS, earned his airborne \u201cjump wings\u201d and completed the Army\u2019s Pathfinder School. He was prepared to insert into a combat operational area by parachuting from an aircraft or by repelling from a helicopter. He was also trained to plan and execute pathfinder missions and to escape and evade, if necessary.<\/p>\n

In January 1968, the young men were in Vietnam. They were fully trained, confident and highly motivated, and they were both assigned to the 90th Replacement Battalion at Long Binh. One was an officer – the other a private first class. It was here their paths diverged – officers went one way and enlisted men another \u2013 only to re-converge later.<\/p>\n

Following an orientation to Vietnam both men were assigned to the 9th Infantry Division\u2019s (“Old Reliables”) Reception Center at Bear Cat, the division\u2019s basecamp until it was later moved to Dong Tam near My Tho.<\/p>\n

At Bear Cat, Smith was assigned to the 9th Pathfinder Detachment of the 9th Aviation Battalion. During this assignment, Smith trained soldiers of the Royal Thai Regiment (The Queen\u2019s Cobra) in airmobile operations. He was awarded Thai Jump Wings when he made a friendship jump with the Thai soldiers.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Alire, right, and teammate Ray Gallardo, before a mission northeast of Bear Cat.<\/p><\/div>\n

Alire volunteered for duty with \u201cE\u201d Company, 50th Infantry (LRRP). He began his formal orientation and training to become a member of a 5-man long range reconnaissance patrol team. After successfully completing the training program, he would serve as a LRRP patrol member, point man and team leader.<\/p>\n

On January 30, 1968, the armed forces of the Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese People\u2019s Army of Vietnam (NVA) launched the Tet Offensive. It was one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. The offensive was a series of surprise and sustained attacks by the NVA and VC against U. S. and allied military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. January 31, 1968 was the single most lethal day of the war for American troops when 246 personnel were killed or mortally wounded.<\/p>\n

Alire recalls, \u201cTet exploded around me as beautifully as any 4th of July fireworks display back home\u201d, adding later, \u201cNow this was a real shooting war\u201d.<\/p>\n

By the first of February, both men found their respective units fully engaged in the Tet Offensive.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Certificate from MACV RECONDO SCHOOL<\/p><\/div>\n

In mid-February Smith departed Bear Cat by helicopter for Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base near Saigon. From there he travelled to the MACV 5th Special Forces Group\u2019s Recondo School at Nha Trang and completed the rigorous Recondo School in March. Soon thereafter, Smith volunteered for duty with \u201cE\u201d Company, 50th Infantry (LRRP).<\/p>\n

In March Alire, shortly before he was to report to the MACV 5th Special Forces Group\u2019s Recondo School, was promoted to a LRRP team leader position \u2013 more responsibility – same pay.<\/p>\n

Both soldiers would command LRRP teams. Sometimes the teams consisted of 5 soldiers; other times, as with Hunter-Killer missions, the teams expanded to 10 or more soldiers.<\/p>\n

The LRRPs\u2019 principal mission was to locate NVA and VC units and their infrastructure, i.e., base camps, staging areas, trails and supply routes and then to report their locations to the 9th Division\u2019s G2 and G3. They were essentially the 9th Division\u2019s eyes and ears in the field with \u201cboots on the ground\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Duane “Poncho” Alire on Patrol.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

NOT the Saturday Night Bath. If you weren’t wet, you weren’t on Patrol.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"\"\"They patrolled in Vietnam\u2019s dense triple canopy jungle in III Corps and in the Mekong Delta\u2019s swampy mud flats, rivers and canals in IV Corps.<\/p>\n

Teams were inserted into their prioritized areas of operation (AO) by helicopter, ASBPs, PBRs, APCs, \u201cstay behinds\u201d from infantry units and occasionally, they walked out of a base camp through its defensive perimeter.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Inserting by PBR was nerve wracking. We were sitting ducks. But those Navy guys were not shy with those twin and quad 50’s when the need arose, which it did with alarming regularity.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

UH-1D. The ubiquitous Huey. They put us in, sometimes under fire and took us out the same way. I can not say enough about the air crews and pilots. I was gonna name my first three kids “Huey” but my wife-Du-jour nixed that idea…<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"At times the teams deployed off the USS Benewah. The USS Benewah was a self-propelled barracks ship built on an LST class 542 hull. LST class ships were named after counties in the United States. The Benewah\u2019s namesake was Benewah County, Idaho. The ship served as a mobile base camp and changed its position on the Mekong River frequently.<\/p>\n

The teams also conducted recon missions from the 9th Division\u2019s base camp at Dong Tam and the division\u2019s outlier bases at Nha Be, Tan An, Can Tho, Bear Cat and various other Fire Support Bases (FSB).<\/p>\n

\"\"However, by mid-1968 \u201cmission creep\u201d began to erode the LRRPs primary focus from reconnaissance missions toward missions that would result in an increase in enemy \u201cbody counts\u201d. Many of the LRRPs believed the shift in their mission was a misuse of the highly trained and skilled reconnaissance teams.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until mid-June that Smith and Alire actually met each other. Their fateful meeting occurred at Fire Support Base David, a camp approximately 400 meters square with artillery cannons strategically stationed at various locations throughout the camp.<\/p>\n

The misuse of LRRP teams when they were farmed out to units within the 9th Division\u2019s AO had become problematic. One such misuse resulted in a full blown kerfuffle at FSB David when Poncho\u2019s LRRP team was ordered to \u201clistening post\u201d duty. Lt. Smith was dispatched to FSB David to resolve the misunderstanding. Smith writes in his book,<\/p>\n

\u2026 the LRRPs in the tent didn\u2019t seem to know who I was, but quickly the silence was broken as one of the men stepped forward and introduced himself. \u2018Sir, I\u2019m Specialist Bien,\u2019 as he gave me a sharp salute. As I returned his salute, Bien turned and in a strong voice said, \u2018Poncho, there\u2019s a LRRP lieutenant here to see you.\u2019 As I looked on the other side of the tent, I saw a short Hispanic man with a thick mustache moving toward me. As he moved closer to me, he blurted out, \u2018I\u2019m Alire, who the hell are you?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Smith was somewhat shocked by the greeting, he couldn\u2019t help but smile as he instantly knew that this soldier had his shit together.<\/p>\n

\u2018I heard we had a new officer in the unit, you must be him,\u2019 Alire continued.<\/p>\n

By this time, all the members of Alire\u2019s LRRP team were at the tent and as he continued to look at me, Alire began to introduce them to me; not by rank, but by their last names.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s Bien, Smith, Bellwood, Pegram and Monroe and you can just call me Poncho.\u2019<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t realize it at the time, but I had just met Duane Alire from Monte Vista, Colorado, who would end up being one of my closest friends from my time in Vietnam.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m Lt. Smith. I\u2019ve been in the unit a little over a month. I transferred from the 9th Pathfinders.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Hell, we have two Smiths in the unit now,\u2019 Poncho continued, as he pointed toward Specialist Richard Smith, who he had just introduced to me, and then added, \u2018We\u2019ll call you Smitty\u2019.<\/p>\n

As I look back on that introduction, I can remember vividly the uniqueness of that first meeting and the impression it had on me. Poncho was a no-nonsense guy, who called it exactly the way he saw it and his leadership style certainly demonstrated that point. In the six months I served in the LRRPs, Poncho never once called me Sir and it didn\u2019t bother me at all. From the very beginning of our association, Poncho and I developed a relationship based on trust and confidence in one another.<\/p>\n

\"\"

E Company long range patrol members at FSB David. Prescott Smith (far right) and Duane Alire (third from right.<\/p><\/div>\n

After Smith left the LRRP tent area, Alire turned to his team mates and said, \u201cThat\u2019s an officer we can trust. You guys pay attention to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s book also describes examples of how the 9th Division LRRPs operated and their unique support needs. He points out there were some higher-level commanders who did not know how to properly utilize the LRRPs while others understood how LRRPs could provide valuable \u201cboots on the ground\u201d intelligence.<\/p>\n

One such officer who had the backs of the LRRPs was the 1st Brigade commander, Col. John Geraci. Smith described a time when a LRRP team was in contact about 10 clicks northeast of Fire Support Base Moore. The LRRPs managed to break enemy contact around 0200 hours and the team leader called the TOC and requested an immediate extraction. As Smith describes it in his book,<\/p>\n

The assistant S-3 on duty in the TOC refused the request for extraction, stating that an extraction at night would be too dangerous and the team would have to wait until daylight for extraction. Poncho, who was the LRRP in the TOC monitoring the team\u2019s radio transmissions, got into a heated argument with the assistant S-3 and threatened to kick his ass if an extraction helicopter was not sent to get the team immediately.<\/p>\n

As the argument continued, Col. Geraci, who had been at Fire Support Base Moore earlier in the day inspecting troops, happened to walk into the TOC. When he asked what was going on, Alire informed Geraci that a LRRP team was in contact and the assistant S-3 would not approve an extraction helicopter.<\/p>\n

Col. Geraci went ballistic and fired the assistant S-3 on the spot. He then got on the radio and using his call sign, \u2018Mal Hombre\u2019, he ordered an immediate extraction.<\/p>\n

This brief exchange resulted in Col. Geraci achieving legendary status with the LRRPs. It also speaks to the personal relationships LRRPs, like the one Smith and Alire nurtured – without regard to rank – had with army commanders who understood and supported LRRP operations.<\/p>\n

After The War<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Both Alire and Smith maintained contact with each other over the years and shared many long distance telephone conversations. In 2009 one of their conversations culminated, as Poncho describes it, \u201ctwo old warriors agreeing to meet in Washington D.C. for a week of sightseeing\u201d. On that visit they agreed to plan a return trip to Vietnam – this time as tourists.<\/p>\n

In April 2010 they travelled to Vietnam. As they departed from the San Francisco International Airport, Smitty reminded Poncho, \u201cNo regrets and no apologies. We were soldiers following orders\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"

L to R: Bao Smitty Nghia Poncho Sa Nhan<\/p><\/div>\n

Landing in Ho Chi Minh City, aka \u201cSai Gon\u201d, they were met by 5 former South Vietnamese Rangers who served with \u201cE\u201d Company, 50th Infantry until the 9th Division rotated back to the United States in 1971. Beginning in early April 2010, and for the next three weeks, the five former South Vietnamese Rangers served again as hosts, translators and guides \u2013 just as they had in 1968.<\/p>\n

Alire characterized their experience in the war saying \u201cWhat we did as LRRPs in Vietnam was very dangerous work. We were very good at it and lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jointly they summarized their war time experience saying, \u201cWe were tested and lived through the worst the war could throw at us and came home.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the war, Smith and Alire successfully pursued meaningful careers – Smitty as a highly regarded, celebrated college basketball coach and Poncho as a national park ranger and park superintendent. The two friends \u201cled the way\u201d both as Rangers during the Vietnam War and in their civilian lives after separating from the military. They nurtured a fledgling friendship formed long ago in a distant land into A Bond Forged By War That Lasted A Life Time.<\/p>\n

Acknowledgments<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This article was a cooperative effort and several individuals deserve thanks for providing information, answering questions and proof reading. I am especially indebted to Prescott Smith and Duane Alire for sharing their written words and their oral memories of their war time experiences, to Poncho for sharing his historic photographs and to Karen J. Purnell for her deft editorial touch and suggestions for clarity, continuity and readability.<\/p>\n

Selected Bibliography<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

9th Infantry Division LRRP Unit History by the men that lived it<\/a><\/p>\n

Hernandez, Bob. Bonding Of Warriors. True Stories Of The 9th Division LRRP\/Rangers as told by the Brave Men That Lived Them: Compiled by Bob Hernandez. Self-published. Lulu.com, 2014.<\/p>\n

Smith, Prescott. Last Light With The Boys: Self-published. Lulu.com, 2008. Revised 2019.<\/p>\n

Stanton, Shelby L. Vietnam Order Of Battle. New York: Galahad Books, 1987.<\/p>\n

About The Author<\/p>\n

Rick Stetson was one of two Airborne\/Ranger qualified 2LTs selected by the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1966 to form a long range patrol platoon. After the platoon began operations in Vietnam in 1967, it expanded in size to become E Company 50th Infantry (LRRP) and in early 1969, E Company 75th Rangers. Stetson served as the unit’s operations officer and got to know Smith and Alire after the war at E Company reunions.<\/p>\n

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By LTC Rick Stetson (Ret), 9th Infantry Division, Long Range Patrol As told by Prescott \u201cSmitty\u201d Smith and Duane \u201cPoncho\u201d Alire. DEDICATION This narrative is dedicated to the E50 LRRPs\/E75 Rangers who were killed in action in Vietnam between 1967 … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9thinfantrydivisionlrrp"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p45si0-7D","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=473"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":485,"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473\/revisions\/485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.9thdivisionlrrp.com\/BulletinBoard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}