APC's lined up at the back perimeter. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

160322-A-EL056-001 MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawai'i (March 22, 2016) - A rope is dropped from a UH-1Y "Venom" helicopter assigned to the "Scarface" Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 to kickoff the fast rope insertion extraction system (FRIES) training at Marine Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, on March 22, 2016. Soldiers assigned to Comanche Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and Airmen with the 25th Air Support Squadron conducted the training together. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Armando R. Limon/Released)

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Andy Short, a native of Odessa, Texas, and squad leader assigned to 3rd Platoon, Apache Company leaps over an irrigation canal near the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Epperson

Date Taken:03.30.2012

Location:KHOWST PROVINCE, AF

Read more: www.dvidshub.net/image/552457/blue-geronimo-operation-nar...

Tracks moving out for another day of fun and adventure. Always felt like we were being watched. Probably because we were. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

Picture taken Christmas day, 1967. Sam, later in 1st squad, and two others were killed when a box of grenades exploded near them. We were guarding the perimeter at Tan Son Nhut air base near Saigon at the time. Sam was a real warrior.

The other two Bobcats killed were Claude D. Protz and James V. Antolini. Claude had only been in Vietnam three weeks when KIA. Picture taken Christmas day '67 at Katum base camp. For more information about Sam, click the following link: www.bobcat.ws/samuel-swann-linville-tribute.html for Claude: www.bobcat.ws/claude-douglas-protz-tribute.html and James: www.bobcat.ws/james-vincent-antolini-tribute.html and www.bobcat.ws/history1968.htm#greene and www.virtualwall.org/dl/LinvilleSS01a.htm Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

New Zealand Defence Force soldiers, 1st New Zealand Brigade, take a knee and communicate with ground forces via radio during Exercise Kiwi Koru Nov. 14, 2014, outside of Whangamomona, New Zealand. Exercise Kiwi Koru training elements included combat lifesaver training, Law of Armed Conflict scenarios, counter improvised explosive device training and a force-on-force tactical exercise. Approximately 60 Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks and 40 Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force trained alongside approximately 600 New Zealand Defence Force soldiers from the 1st New Zealand Brigade. Exercise Kiwi Koru demonstrates the commitment of both the United States and New Zealand to regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

Track 33 at dawn. Getting ready to move out. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

Walking out the road to "Ann-Margret Pass" to pull perimeter guard. Bunkers in the distance. This was "no man's land". Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

Track 31 and an M48 tank (3/4 Cav ?) setting up at the perimeter for the night. Base camp at Katum. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

Katum Base Camp, Jan. 1968. They were in 2nd platoon, 2nd squad, A. Co. 1/5. Ken was killed when he stepped on an Anti Tank mine. Six other Bobcats were WIA and dusted off. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom). www.bobcat.ws/kenneth-dean-rynning-tribute.html

Stand down at Cu Chi. Bobcats of the 25th Inf Div's 1st Bn (Mech), 5th Inf, recently put new tigers in their tanks with a conversion gasoline to diesel-powered armored personnel carriers. Photo by Frank Davis.

Frank and I traveled back to Cu Chi to check out the old 25th Infantry Division base camp, now a Vietnamese army post. Hard to believe it's been 45 years since we were here. We were never there much anyway, always out in the "field". The sign above the gate translated is "People's Army Viet Nam". The small letters at the very top of the sign translated is "Barracks". More pictures of this trip: www.flickr.com/photos/92695374@N02/

1967/02, Cu Chi village — We were held up in the village of Cu Chi for some reason.

1967/01, location: Pineapple Plantations—Air assault and sweep of a B52 strike zone. Sgt. Rogers (my squad leader at the time) is eating a pineapple at the edge of a bomb crater during a break. Sgt. Rogers was a great squad leader and he helped me get acclimated when I first joined the Manchus.

Malaysian Army Cpl. Azlan Rosli, center, assigned to the 2nd Squadron Royal Engineer Regiment, and U.S. Army Spc. Chris Dobbins, right, a plumber with the 1020th Engineer Company, Louisiana National Guard work together to inlay piping into the brick wall during a school building project in support of Operation Keris Strike 2015 in Tai Ping, Malaysia, Sept. 9, 2015. Keris Strike is a U.S. Army Pacific-sponsored theater security cooperation program exercise conducted annually with the Malaysian Armed Forces. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Sharp/Released)

Letter from home, in the shade of APC, Track 31. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

This is now a Vietnamese Army base. Notice the AK47. Unrecognizable after 40 plus years. To the left, behind the soldier, is where the Wolfhound compound was.

Rich on his way home with a Chicom 9mm pistol he "acquired" from a NVA officer who made the mistake of standing up in front of Rich. Photo courtesy of good buddy Rich Purkis.

Photo by Frank Davis.

U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks with U.S. Army Gen. Vincent K. Brooks Commanding General U.S. Army, Pacific, during a U.S. Pacific Command roundtable discussion at PACOM Headquarters Feb. 9th, 2016. (DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro)

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii (Oct. 20, 2022) - Soldiers from the Indonesian Army and the Philippine Army participate in the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Training Center (JPMRC) rotation 23-01 opening ceremony on Area X-Ray at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Oct. 20, 2022. Bilateral and multilateral exercises strengthen relationships and enhance interoperability with allies and partners through shared experiences and tough, realistic training. We routinely invite and encourage allies and partners to participate in JPMRC rotations. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Mariah Aguilar) 221020-A-LR057-1143

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"Ann-Margret Pass" Perimeter guard. Waiting for the sun to go down and the fun to begin. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

HH-60M Black Hawk flight crews, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii, provide local area orientation to identify the most damaged areas of concern, and rescue hoist training as part of Joint Task Force 5-0. The task force was established to respond to the effects of Hurricane Lane on the State of Hawaii. .

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Local authorities and the State of Hawaii, through JTF 5-0, requested HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters with hoist capability to assist local authorities with recovery operations on the Isle of Hawaii..

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JTF 5-0 is a joint task force led by a dual status commander that is established to respond to the effects of Hurricane Lane on the State of Hawaii. The Hawaii National Guard and Active Duty Soldiers of the task force remain committed to monitoring effects and incidents across the State of Hawaii to respond to any requests made by local and state authorities through FEMA. www.dividshub.net

1967/01/07, Ft. Dix NJ. Ed Episcopo preparing to leave for Vietnam after 4 months of training and a months leave.

Frank with M48 tank, 3/4 Cav or 2/34 Armor? Photo by Frank Davis

1967 Dec. Air assaults and bush masters — A banana grove at the base of the small hump of Nui Ba Den Mt. There was some sniper fire in front of us, so we were held up for a while. I believe we were on our way to Katum at the time. It was a bad spot with lots of cover on both sides.

1967/07, Camp Caroline near Trang Bang — Check point on the road in front of Caroline. We checked all traffic for weapons or anything else useful to the VC. You never knew what you would find while searching. We once found two dead dogs. I pointed to them and the owner of the cart said, ‘Number one chop chop.’

WIA, Dec. '67. Brothers then and brothers now.

1967 Dec. Bush masters — Daylight. We are coming off an ambush patrol. We set up the ambush in a ditch along this road. Heavy rain filled the ditch to our waist during the night. It was another long, cold, wet night with no results.

On the road from Dau Tieng to Tay Ninh. Nui Ba Den, the Black Virgin Mountain in the distance. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

The South in The South (Vietnam that is). Confederate flag in the elephant grass. Not an uncommon sight. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

1967/01, 90th Replacement Center. Our first real taste of Vietnam. We mostly pulled KP and guard duty, until we were assigned to a unit. Fortunately, I ended up on bunker guard. The dry season was in full swing in January.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (April 25, 2017) - Soldiers assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division "Arctic Wolves," unload M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles from a railhead on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Arctic Wolves came to JBER from Fort Wainwright to participate in a training exercise displaying the 1-25 SBCTs deployment capabilities. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Westin Warburton)

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Running the gauntlet. We rode the tracks to get from one place to another. After that it was on foot, and at a safe distance from the APC's. They were moving RPG targets. Only the driver and 50 cal. gunner were on the APC's most of the time. Most of us took turns driving and manning the 50 cal. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

A U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal unit from 25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team renders safe an improvised explosive device in Khowst, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric James Estrada)

Photo courtesy of good buddy Frank Davis.

1967/01, Near Cu Chi—C company is sweeping with a mech unit. Weapons platoon was carrying the 60 mm mortars. Brownlee in foreground, Prince Jones standing at the edge of the ditch. Rice paddies were bone dry in this area in Jan.

U.S. Army soldiers, 25th Infantry Division, and New Zealand Defence Force soldiers, 1st New Zealand Brigade, prepare to move while taking cover behind a light armored vehicle during Exercise Kiwi Koru Nov. 14, 2014, outside of Whangamomona, New Zealand. Exercise Kiwi Koru training elements included combat lifesaver training, Law of Armed Conflict scenarios, counter improvised explosive device training and a force-on-force tactical exercise. Approximately 60 Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks and 40 Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force trained alongside approximately 600 New Zealand Defence Force soldiers from the 1st New Zealand Brigade. This year marks the 72nd anniversary of the arrival of U.S. forces to assist with the defense of New Zealand during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

Pfc. Andrew Sanchez, a medic assigned to C Company, 407th Brigade Support Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, waits for an electrocardiogram reading at the Level 2 Aid Station at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, Sept. 6. Medical professionals at the aid station are working to keep their skills sharp to ensure soldiers remain healthy and combat ready. Sanchez is originally from Fort Worth, Texas.

U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Charles A. Flynn, Commander, 25th Infantry Division, aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk Feb. 9th, 2016. (DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro)

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines (March 14, 2022) - Philippine Army Pfc. Alexander Saura and Pfc. Fernando Batnag, infantrymen assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, prepare a one rope bridge during the Jungle Operations Training Course (JOTC) during Salaknib 2022 at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, March 14, 2022. The Jungle Operations Training Course was held to prepare both U.S. Soldiers and Philippine Army Soldiers for challenges they may face in the Indo-Pacific, increasing combined readiness and interoperability between the two nations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Darbi Colson/ 28th Public Affairs Detachment.) 220314-A-IV381-1125

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A Royal New Zealand Air Force UH1H Huey prepares to land after New Zealand Defence Force soldiers cleared it of potential hazards as part of Exercise Kiwi Koru Nov. 14, 2014, outside Whangamomona, New Zealand. Exercise Kiwi Koru is designed to enhance defense relations between the United States and New Zealand, advance interoperability between U.S. and New Zealand forces and increase the readiness of both militaries to respond to regional crises. Approximately 60 Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks and 40 Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force trained alongside approximately 600 New Zealand Defence Force soldiers from the 1st New Zealand Brigade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment "Gimlets", 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, prepare to clear a building during a combined arms live-fire exercise at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, August 9, 2018. The exercise is part of an overall training progression in order to maintain combat readiness in preparation for a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation later this year. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Ryan DeBooy)

U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks with an instructor at the 25th Infantry Division's Tropic Lightning Academy and Jungle Operations Training Center Feb. 9th, 2016. The JOTC trains soldiers on survival, communication, navigation, waterborne operations, traversing, knots, evasion, marksmanship and patrol base operations in a jungle environment. (DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro))

This is the dot on the map with the word Katum next to it. A mile and a half from the Cambodian border. No village, town or people (except NVA). Just a bridge over the Prek Klok river, in the middle of miles of triple canopy jungle, bamboo and teak forests. Katum base camp was up the road at the Cambodian border. The NVA blew up this bridge and one before it. The engineers had to bring in a portable AVLB bridge every day and take it away in the evening. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

1967/01/11, We are on our way to Vietnam. John Erdman was a friend from Ft. Jackson, SC, where we took our infantry AIT training.

On our way to the Trang Bang/Angel's Wing area to secure Rome Plow operations. Oct. 31, '67, a 3rd platoon track was hit by a command detonated road mine and five Bobcats were KIA. Ralph J. DiPace, John C. Steer, Gregory G. Hubbard, Robert W. Larison and a tank crewman. www.bobcat.ws/ralph-joseph-dipace-tribute.html and www.bobcat.ws/john-clifton-steer-tribute.html and www.bobcat.ws/robert-wilbur-larison-tribute.html and www.virtualwall.org/dh/HubbardGG01a.htm More info at www.bobcat.ws/history1967.htm#steer Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).

1967/02, Operation Gadsen— All of the Manchus were involved in this operation. We were waiting for the air lift to the border.

Getting ready to in for a search and destroy mission. Much of this area had been defoliated. Agent Orange? I wonder how much of that dust we ate! Unknown to us at this time, the NVA were coming through this area from the Ho Chi Minh Trails in Cambodia a few miles away, on their way to Saigon for the Tet offensive. Photo by Frank Thomas Goins (Tom).