US Army Birthday

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Happy Birthday
United States Army!!

On June 14, 1775 the Continental Congress officially created the United States Army, which is now one of the best equipped and technologically advanced military bodies in the world. The Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive would like to wish the Army a very happy birthday! Please enjoy some Army items from our collection as we commemorate their 236th birthday.

Oral Histories

OH0184 - Emil Heugatter

(USA) Emil Heugatter served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. He served as a Sniper Instructor with the 9th Infantry Division Sniper School near Dong Tam and then served as the NCOIC of the 25th Infantry Division Sniper School near Cu Chi.

VA058670
UH-1 Helicopter - Air Transportable Platform, weighing 250 pounds, helps load/unload troops and heavy equipment.
(U.S. Army Aviation Museum Volunteer Archivists Collection [VA058670])

OH0163 - Robert Barron

(USA) Robert Barron served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He served with Advisory Team 28 as Senior Advisor in Tuy Hoa District.

OH0822 - Ronald L. Sheffield

(Lt. Col. Ron Sheffield (U.S. Army, retired) discusses his experiences as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Sheffield served three tours of duty in Vietnam assigned to the 120th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion (April 1965-March 1966); with the 334th Aerial Weapons Company (October 1967-April 1968) and with the 68th Assault Helicopter Company (April 1968-October 1968); and as commanding officer of the 334th AWC (October 1971-April 1972) and as secretary of staff with the 1st Aviation Brigade at Long Binh (April-November 1972).

OH0431 - William LeGro

In this interview Col. William E. LeGro describes his military career, which spanned from 1943 until 1977. Entering the military in 1943 as an enlisted soldier, LeGro served in the pacific duringWorld War II and left the military in 1945. In 1949, LeGro returned to the Army as an officer and retired with the rank of Colonel in 1977. During his career in the Army, LeGro served two tours in Vietnam: the first as a G2 with the First Infantry Division from March of 1966 until March of 1967, the second with the Defense Attache Office (DAO) in Saigon, from February of 1973 until the fall of Saigon in April of 1975.

Moving Images

723VI0854 - Army Combat Photographer [Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO)]

Army Combat Photographer (Archive 1" Reel 614, Story #1, 9/14/81, 13:51)

1040VI1524 - Stimbus - Lai Khe, 1st Division [William Foulke Collection (DASPO)]

Combat camera footage: Hueys taking off; digging a bunker; dustoff

Artifacts

2051museum3345
One rare 9" Vietnam action figure of an Army Helicopter Pilot. (Standing platform included)
(174th Assault Helicopter Company Association Collection (174th Assault Helicopter Company Association) [2051museum3345])
1812museum2883.jpg
United States Army Aviation Center School (USA ACS) insignia (patch). The aviation training mission of the school is denoted by the connected wings and flaming torch. The wings symbolize flight, which is taught by the school, and the flaming torch is symbolic of learning. Orange and black are the colors of the Army Aviation School. The school is located at Fort Rucker, Alabama. It was established there in August 1954. The motto of the school is "Above the Best."
(Greg Burch Collection (Air America Association) [1812museum2883.jpg])
1048museum0737
Pocket calendar from U.S. Army Library Service.
(Bryan Grigsby Collection (Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO)) [1048museum0737])
2145museum3381
Pocket Knife, Army Issue
(Mike Sullivan Collection [2145museum3381])

Photographs

va058878
Military personnel from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, plotting a fire mission in Vietnam
(U.S. Army Aviation Museum Volunteer Archivists Collection [va058878])
VA029878
The Operation Thayer II mission was to clear and pacify the Binh Dinh Province. From 6-7 February 1967, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division conducted search and destroy missions in and around the An Loa Valley. The terrain was known for its mountains and caves. During one of their mountain side searches, the unit captured three Viet Cong who were living and hiding inside a cave. Soldiers take a break after climbing down a mountain trail' Photo by Robert C. Lafoon US Army Sp Photo Det, Pacific
(Robert Lafoon Collection (Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO)) [VA029878])
VA002383
Loading Rice: brought from a nearby Communist cache area, this bag of rice is being loaded onto a US Army truck for shipment from Cambodia into South Vietnam
(Douglas Pike Photograph Collection [VA002383])
  • See Previous Exhibits: 2010