CAC Oscar History

Oscar Co. Commanding Officers and Staff NCOs

Originally, the company was established and commanded by SGT Roy Williams. SGT Williams established the initial Oscar units in their respective areas, and began fortifying them and conducting local operations while awaiting an officer and SNCO to be assigned. He was later replaced by 1st LT (later CPT) William T. Sermeus (see In Memoriam), who arrived sometime during the latter part of February 1967, and SSGT Gene Scroggy (no photo available) acting as company GYSGT.

1st LT Sermeus was in turn replaced by 1st LT (later CPT) Peter D. Haines with SSGT Robert L. O'Dell as his company GYSGT. CPT Haines wrote that he had been a 1st Lieutenant when he came, then made Captain, and was a CAC commander from May 1967 - May 1968, first at Phu Bai (one or two months), then Oscar (until November) then Papa. CPT Haines later left the Marines, and became a sculptor.

CPT Haines' replacement was 1st LT Ernest Elmore (no photo available). His Co. GYSGT was SSGT Gene Scroggey (no photo available)..

According to Ray Stubbe (in his superlative book with historian John Prados, "Valley of Decision"), 1st LT Elmore had been sent to Khe Sanh as a sort of R&R as he had been wounded twice already. Unfortunately, he was wounded again while at Oscar Co. PFC Charles Stanker related his wounding in a document attached to an E-mail dated 24 Aug. 2013.

"One night we took some incoming rounds, and I was with Mr. Elmore as he was checking on everyone, when a round hit close by. When I got my senses back, Mr. Elmore had taken some fragments in the face and couldn’t see, he had me guide him around the compound so he could check on everyone and only after he was sure everyone was okay did he have me guide him to the command bunker for medical assistance. The next morning he was taken out and replaced by LT. Stamper. I never knew if Mr. Elmore had lost his sight or how bad he was injured."

(I was in touch with LT Elmore briefly by phone some years ago, but he fell out of touch and I could not re-locate him afterwards. I am unsure if he had ever regained his vision, as I had not then known of his injury and thus did not ask him, nor did he volunteer any information about it.)

LT Elmore was replaced (on Dec. 27th 1967) by 1st LT Thomas B. Stamper, a "mustanger" (a Marine term for an officer who rose from the enlisted ranks), with SSGT Robert J. Boyda as his company GYSGT. 1st LT Stamper had also been in some heavy combat earlier in the year when he was with 3/3 at Alpha-3. Though relatively quiet when he arrived, CPT Stamper would shortly find himself back in the line of fire. (See below.)

LT Stamper's company gunny, SSGT Boyda, had been in the Hotel CAP system prior to joining Oscar. He put in H-6, and Double-CAP H-7 & H-8. He arrived at Oscar in December 1967 before the assault, and was at the Oscar HQ when the Tet assaults began in January 1968. (See below for details.) He remained with Oscar after Tet & the Siege, in April 1968 , when he and the few remaining men in Oscar Co. were sent to Phu Bai, where they then operated from the Phu Vang District HQ. SSGT Boyda was accidentally burned in August 1968, shortly after a gun-fight at Phu Vang. He remained in the Corps, serving in a number of of units, including Reconnaissance, and retiring as a SGTMAJ.

As you can see by the relatively brief tenures of the COs (and to a lesser extent, of the SNCOs acting as Co. Gunnery Sergeant, the program (or at least Oscar Co.) was merely a short stop-over for most of them. I am not sure whether this was a factor of the pervasive lack of support of or interest in the program by some conventional warfare advocates, or another factor.

However, each of them contributed in their own way to improving the fortifications at the Oscar Co. platoon sites. Charles Stanker (a radio operator for O-1) has stated that in his opinion, the work of Captain Stamper and Gunny Boyda and their predecessors in constructing and reinforcing the trench and bunker systems (along with the air and artillery support) was largely responsible for the defenders to be able to hold out and repel the enemy.

SGT Roy Williams' Recollection of the Establishment of Oscar Co.

I was in Vietnam on my 2nd tour as a SGT assigned to 1/26. I was with them for about three months when I was med-evaced for immersion foot.

While in the rear, a bulletin was sent to units asking for volunteers for combined action units. I heard that it was a very dangerous mission and I didn’t know where I would be stationed. I didn't know how dangerous or what it was about until I started asking around.

After finding out that I would be working within a village consisting of just a squad of Marines, I thought to myself about how it might be and where I would be going. I knew it would be very dangerous especially with just a squad of Marines and supported by Popular Forces (PFs) or Regional Forces (RFs). Also It would be in a village away from a base or bigger unit.

However, I really thought working with the Vietnamese or Montagnards would be something I would like to do, so I put in my request for transfer and got accepted, and was sent to a two week school teaching us what our duties would be.

When we graduated, I was assigned to the town of Khe Sanh and since there were originally no officers or SNCOs, and I was the senior NCO, I was put in charge of CAC Oscar. Most of the Marines were from infantry units, so we all knew what to expect when we got there.

I was assigned to the 1st squad, which was in the Hướng Hóa District Sub-Sector HQ with a detachment of US Army advisers and a medic. The camp commander was an officer from the Vietnamese overseeing the detachment of Regional Forces in the compound and United States forces’ Montagnards, etc., called LT Nhi.

I positioned 2nd squad at the north-west end of town about a half mile away. The third squad I put by the base camp of the Khe Sanh airbase about quarter of a mile away.

Immediately, we started improving our positions, coordinating with the base camp Khe Sanh. I had to find out where our sectors of patrolling would cover, along with the villages we were to hold Med Caps in, and try to get information of North Vietnamese soldiers in the area.

All three squads had to patrol out 1500 to 2000 meters to see if there were any sign of troop movement in the area, with 360 degrees of patrolling. These patrols were done by each squad with usually six Marines and 7 PFs, while the rest of the squad were in the rear holding down the security and building our defensive positions.

I would take patrols out myself, and tried to go on most. Sometimes CPL Hegmann would take a patrol out. We patrolled about every other day. You’re talking about patrolling, getting enough sleep, standing guard at night and building defensive positions in the day-time, and security with 12 Marines and PFs, not much time for anything else. We were lucky because we never made any kind of contact, probably because the North Vietnamese were getting ready for the Siege of the Khe Sahn air strip.

We saw signs of when they were there, trails and booby traps, but not much else until the squad near the base camp ran into a ambush. That kind of kicked off everything. We knew they were close to the base camp. That first contact came after we were there for about 6 months.

All of our patrols handed in overlays of the areas we were patrolling each day along with check points, but I don't think we would have survived in that environment even with artillery and air support available it was a really vegetated area, with elephant grass 11 feet high and no place for evacuation. We did hold “county fairs” on the villages to catch North Vietnamese coming and going.

After I was there for about 5 months, LT Sermeus was assigned as the OIC of CAC Oscar, with SSGT Scoggey as Co. Gunnery Sergeant.

LT Sermeus wanted us to do close order drill in the compound, but I told him we didn't have enough people to stand watch, rest, clean weapons, work on positions and patrol and still do drill. He was unhappy with my response, and sent for a relief, but he didn't tell me until he arrived. (Sgt. Gray I believe.) I was transferred to the HQ section at the airfield.

LT Sermeus, I take it, was a fine infantry officer but we just couldn't do our job in a CAC unit as we were sent to do to the best of our ability. I think the LT found out afterwards. There were some very bad mistakes that cost some Marines there lives. The month I was with LT Sermeus he didn't go on any patrols with us while I was there, but SSGT Scroggey did. He couldn't believe what a large area we patrolled without anyone getting hurt. We were lucky the siege didn't start until later, though some contact was made later and we did lose some of our Marines.

That’s about all I can remember. The Marines that I worked with were all “Semper Fi.” It’s been awhile and I hope I got things right. I don't know what happened to SSGT Scroggey. I heard he was killed after being transferred. I know that the squad near the air base lost some people taking up mines, also I know that squad had reversed their grid coordinates by mistake and their village was hit. While I was there Lang Vei was hit by the enemy, burning their village.

Oscar was a great platoon of Marines and Corpsmen and I feel compassion for those who lost loved ones. In my eyes, they are all heroes.

Oscar-1

In addition to SGT Roy Williams, "Plank Crew" and early members included (in rank & alpha order): SGT Robert Funk; CPL Howard Hegmann, LCPLs Fred Harkrider, Charles Aaron Lynch (KIA on Hill 689 - see below and In Memoriam ), Johnny L. Payne, Daniel L. Sanford, Michael L. Sexson, Jim Silver (0331 and radio), and Larry Woolverton (radio operator), PFCs Victor Garfield and Donald Powell.

(Larry Woolverton was perhaps the longest-serving member of Oscar Company, being there from almost the beginning to the Siege. Larry has written a memoir of his service, "Memories of a Khe Sanh Marine: 1965-1970" available from Amazon.)

PFC Carroll E. “Chip” Daly (2531, radio operator) also served in O-1, as well as in O-2 and O-3, making him one of a handful who had service with all three platoons.

1st LT Sermeus was already in command when the late SGT Raymond M. Gray (see In Memoriam) arrived in February 1967. LT Sermeus picked Gray up, along with two men whom Ray described as "CIA" at KSCB. They rode in a "Mighty Mite." (The M422 / A1 - a field utility vehicle somewhat like a jeep), and visited CAP O-3, en route to CAP O-1.

(Ed. Note: Perhaps some of the "plank crew" can help fill in the names, ranks, and MOSs on this list, and ID photos. )

Over the course of the next 15 months or so, they were to be joined or replaced by the following men (in order of rank / alphabetically) : SGT John Balanco (who would receive the Silver Star for his gallantry in action in the defense of O-1); CPLs John F. Groman, Gary Keegan, John ("Lou") Loschelder, Verner Ray Russell (see In Memoriam ), and James Zipler; LCPLs Franklin R. ("Lurch") Batchman (see In Memoriam), William A. Breedlove (see In Memoriam), James Carpenter (see In Memoriam), Richard E. Dahler, Stanley J. Dilley (see In Memoriam), Douglas Eldridge, Billy Dale Livingston (see In Memoriam), Charles Aaron Lynch (see In Memoriam), Howard C. McKinnis, Jose Ramos, Ulysses Reyes, Clarence E. ("Butch") Still, George A. Vachlin (see In Memoriam), Antonio Vera, and Louis C. Whiting; PFCs Donald Powell (Motor T), and Larry Woolverton (2511, radioman); and Charles David Stanker (2531, radioman).

A number of these men would participate in the ferocious fighting that accompanied the 1968 assaults on Khe Sanh village and the ensuing Siege.

Oscar-2

As noted, Oscar 2 (XO 843 380),was on the north side of Hwy. 9 at the west end of the village, about 200 meters west of O-1. Their TAOR included Vil Con (aka Lang Con 1 & 2); and Vil Bu (Lang Bu).

I am not certain of all those who were in the original complement, but early “plank crew” members included: SGT Charles Spell (0331) then NCOIC of O-2, CPL Steve A. Green (see In Memoriam), assigned to SU #5 in February 1967, left in August 1967, and PFC Carroll “Chip” Daly (see above and below), another "plank crew" member, who also served in O-1 and O-3.

Men who were in O-2 before and during my time there (Oct. - Dec. 1967) included: SGT Roy R. Harper; CPLs: Lawrence P. ("Jinx") Harding (who had been sent to B 1/9 as a replacement for those Marines KIA in the ambush of that unit at Con Thien in June 1967), Ronald L. Harper (formerly a combat engineer with 3rd Engineers from Jan.- Jun. 67 ), Frank Iodice (later promoted to SGT and transferred to O-3); Daniel R. Kelley, who had joined the Marines in May 1965, serving 2 years at MCB Camp Lejeune, NC, followed by 6 months at Guantanamo Bay. He then spent 6 mos. in a grunt unit, where he said he had "lost a lot of buddies" and recalls going days w/o supplies, food, water, as well as what he calls the "insane" Rules of Engagement that hampered their fighting. Like the others, he saw a lot of action before volunteering for CAP. Dan also had a gift for languages, and had studied with the Millers and others, learning to speak the Bru language fairly fluently and act as translator. He later transferred to O-3), Daniel E. ("Moose") Mobley, Albert Joseph Potter (an engineer, who, like Kelley, had volunteered for several extensions, thus having several years in Vietnam when I arrived), Al Terry Sullivan, Richard L. Tullis; LCPLs Jerry L. ("Frenchy") French (previously in C 1/26 on Hill 861), Donald ("Gully") Gullickson (0311), Barry G. Hardin (0311, also previously in 2/26), Dana Matonis (originally in Motor Transport, he served as an 0311 with CAP); Jesse J. Ray (1833 - Amtracs), George B. ("Doc") Sargent, Jimmie J. Tyson, Enrique L. ("Rick") Valdes, Joseph Zudor (see In Memoriam), and Larry J. Yates; PFC Steven K. Biddle (0311, see In Memoriam), and F. J. Taylor. HN John R. Roberts was our Hospital Corpsman.

Gullickson, Hardin, and Biddle had all previously been in 2/26. Gullickson recalls being over the DMZ and being cut off from his unit by a deadly ambush, which left him and one other man dodging and hiding from NVA soldiers. Hardin recalls this period as being dangerous and daunting, being "behind the tanks eating exhaust" and "pinned down in paddies." According to Gullickson and Hardin, they had lost most of their original comrades either KIA or WIA in the operations along the DMZ (Macon, Hickory etc.), and that this was the reason they decided to try for Combined Action. Gully recalls the last four of their original group meeting after a particularly deadly fight, and saying, "If we stay here, we're all going to die." Fortunately, they were all accepted to CAP and all ended up in Oscar 2.

Oscar-3

As noted, Oscar 3 (XD 841408) was assigned to Vil Ta Cong and several other villes, originally located on the South side of QL-9 approximately 800 meters south of the west end of the main Khe Sahn Airfield. Among their "Plank Crew" and early members were (in rank & alpha order): SGT Eraldo Iocono; later replaced by SGT Larry Bosworth (see In Memoriam), CPLs Craig William ("Slats") Albers (see In Memoriam), Kenneth L. Burk, David L. Fleming, John F. Groman, Talis Kaminskis, Dennis Alfred O'Connor (see In Memoriam), Carl F. Pepple (see In Memoriam), James Merrill Shepard, Jr. (see In Memoriam), LCPLs Bruce E. Abraham (see In Memoriam), Earl Grissom, G. (?) ("Sloopy") Leasure, Francisco Alberto Mazariegos (see In Memoriam), Richard Moison, William Pennock, John Charles Poole, David E. Roberts; and Raymond E. Strehlow, PFCs Donald Libansky, Brian "Olds" Oldervik (see In Memoriam), Donald Stewart, and a man named Andrews (first name or rank not known). They would later be replaced or joined by SGT Armand Maranda, LCPL Lacey Lahren, and PFC James White, and later, at Phu Vang, by LCPL Don Robbins. HN John Fisher was their first Corpsman, being later replaced by HM3 R. A. Bell, who was replaced in turn by HM3 Dale W. Faidley (see In Memoriam).

The late SGT Bosworth, like most of the CAP Marines at Khe Sanh, had a great liking for our native Bru counterparts and the other local people so a sad memory for him was of "Tim" the unit's houseboy, whom he had hired.

In an E to me dtd. August 1, 2006 thanking me for a book on Khe Sanh ("Valley of Decision" by Ray Stubbe and John Prados - see Bibliography ) Larry wrote;

"It was uncanny that I opened up the book and I was starring at a picture of Tim. I hired Tim for a dollar a day. He did all of our laundry (mine had priority, there is a story here) and washing of pots and pans. We were trying to teach him to cook without a lot of success. We did make him the richest person in the entire district. On pay day, we paid him ($30 based on a 30 day average month) and gave him the day off. He and I because very close and it was hard for me to leave. I wrote my Father for him to explore how I could bring him and his Family to the States but that never worked out. Tim followed the jeep carrying me to Khe Sanh my last day and it was very emotional for Tim. He did not want me leaving. He ran after the jeep yelling"don't go, honcho!". He was crying and the dust was choking him to death and he continued until he just fell in the roadway from sheer exhaustion. That was my last memory of Tim. I often wondered what happened to him and his family and I did not see how they could have survived the siege. I am overwhelmed with emotion and happiness to see he survived. Jim, I cannot thank you enough for this great gift."

Except for the weekly inspection, when we would turn out in field "uniform of the day" CAP units could be pretty casual.