I was with HHB 6/56th from 4 July 67 until around March 68 when I went down to D BTRY 6/56th ARTY until I went home. I'm proud of my service and know of at least four times I could have been killed or wounded. Maybe we weren't Infantry 11B but we held our ground when it counted.
HHB 5/69th ADA HAWKs were awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation for valorous combat achievement, which is as close as we could get to being recognized for serving in combat like the Infantrymen's Combat Infantry badge CIB. They said then it was as good as a Combat Action Ribbon but it is unfortunate that artillerymen, especially air defense artillerymen were never give credit for the close ground support role we played in Vietnam.
The RVN Gallantry Cross was established by the Vietnam Government by Decree No. 74-b/Qt, dated 15 August 1950 and Decree No. 96/DQT/HC, dated 2 May 1952. It was awarded by the RVN to units for valorous combat achievements during the Vietnam conflict (01 March 1961 through 28 March 1974). The ribbon is red with a wide yellow center stripe. The yellow stripe has 8 very thin double red strips. The ribbon is enclosed in a rectangular one-sixteenth inch gold frame with laurel leaves.
I am still in the National Guard and I won't be retired until 15 Dec 2007. I work full time for The Army Guard here in Phoenix, Arizona. I served with 855 MP; 153rd FA Bn and the 258th Combat Engineer over the past 30 years. I now work for the State Area Command (STARC).
MSG LARRY F. O'NEILL
USPFO SS&T
SUBSISTENCE & AMMO
MANAGER AZARNG
- MSG Larry F. O'Neill
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