Squadron History, January 1970

2nd Squadron, 17 Cavalry (Airmobile), Unit History for 1970.

January 1970 found the 2/17th Cavalry Squadron staging out of Camp Eagle, Republic of Vietnam, under the command and direction of LTC Bindup, Headquarters, and all Troops and the Ranger Company were located at Camp Eagle, except for C Troop which staged from Phu Bai Army Airfield, directly across highway QL1 from Camp Eagle. New Year's Day started for A Troop on te DMZ in support of ranger team Shelby in contact. An OH-6A received AK-47 ground fire from an estimated platoon size element across the Laotian border. The aircraft received one hit in the tail rotor and was flown back to Camp Eagle with negative casualties to the crew. B Troop continued visual reconnaissance in the 1st Brigade AO and supported the rangers with overflights and LZ selection. The Troop also conducted sniffer missions throughout the Division Area of Operation. C Troop OH-6A received enemy ground file from eight to ten enemy personnel resulting in two sustained aircraft hits and one US WIA. The WIA was flown to 85th Evacuation Hospital. Delta Troop was inserted to support ranger team Shelby who had made contact with an estimated squad of NVA. The team was monitoring a trail and observed eight NVA and engaged with claymore mines, fragmentation grenades, and small arms fire. The contact resulted in two NVA KIA and one US WIA.

The primary areas of operations for Company L, (Ranger), 75th Infantry, during January 1970 were the Da Krong Valley and the Khe Sahn Plains in Northern I Corps. There was considerable increase in the number of enemy sightings and contacts during the month, indication areas of heavy enemy activity. Thirty-Three teams were deployed in January, observing the enemy seventeen different occasions and determining the location of several large enemy forces in the area of operations. There were 15 enemy KIA's credited to Company L during January. Several teams made contact with the enemy shortly after insertion, presenting the possibility that the NVA were utilizing LZ watchers and were observing the insertion of the teams. Numerous teams deployed in the Da Krong Valley heard enemy signal shots at various times during their operation. Often these shots were along the Da Krong River, indication troop movement along its bank. The enemy encountered by the teams was well equipped, usually wearing green fatigues, load bearing equipment and AK-47 rifles.

The stage was set for another year as the "Eyes, Ears, and Teeth" of the Division continued to seek out, hamper, harass, and destroy the enemy. A Troop continued to work the northern region of the Division AO and support the 3rd Brigade, B Troop sliced the middle recon zones and C Troop commanded the southern AO. All troops went direct support of the 3rd, 1st, and 2nd Brigades respectively, and at the end of the month, the 2/17th Cavalry had killed more than 90 of the enemy; destroyed over 28 bunkers and 43 hubs; one bulldozer and one 1 1/4 ton trailer, and sliced a number of 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns.