By Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Col. Matthew Cody, center, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Anton J. Hillig, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hug veterans who fought in the Vietnam battle of Suoi Tre March 21 following a ceremony at Fort Carsonhonoring the 50th anniversary of the battle. Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, coordinated tours of the post and activities to allow interaction with Soldiers in a show of respect to the Vietnam veterans during a heritage week celebration. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
A mere 350 Soldiers and Airmen endured an onslaught from 2,600 enemy soldiers March 21, 1967, in Vietnam. A four-hour battle raged on until reinforcement troops helped push back the enemy. The battle of Suoi Tre resulted in the death of nearly 650 enemy soldiers representing the largest one-day loss of the Vietnam War for the North Vietnamese.
The 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, was one of the primary units in the center of the battle and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, was one of the main reinforcement units.
Today’s Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 77th FA Reg., and 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg., both part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hosted a heritage week for the veterans March 20-23, 2017. The official and final ceremony 50 years later honored the Soldiers who fought in the battle.
“It’s been tremendous, the reception we had here and (this being) the last time was unbelievable. I see the morale is very high, and I really appreciate that; it’s good to be here,” said former Sgt. Carl Besson, Vietnam veteran who fought in the battle of Suoi Tre.
Brig. Gen. Kenneth L. Kamper, deputy commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, speaks to Vietnam veterans who fought in the battle of Suoi Tre during a 50th anniversary banquet March 21, 2017, in Colorado Springs. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
Throughout the week the veterans toured the post and interacted with the troops and shared their stories.
“This is something that stays with you for the rest of your life, but it’s always great to see my comrades,” said Besson, who served with 2nd Bn., 77th FA Reg., from 1965-68.
Brig. Gen. Kenneth L. Kamper, deputy commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, quoted several former generals and the late president Ronald Reagan, who spoke at the unveiling of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in 1984, during his heartfelt and somber speech at the banquet honoring the Suoi Tre survivors.
“It’s pretty powerful when one generation passes on values to the next generation,” Kamper said. “Some of you all, after 50 years, might come to a reunion and connect with buddies, but the Army’s about people; sometimes all we’ve got is each other, so I’m glad you’re here. I’m proud of what you did, and I hope in some way the bonds of combat are even stronger now than they were a long time ago.
Lt. Col. Beau Dennis, commander, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, speaks to Vietnam veterans who fought in the battle of Suoi Tre during a 50th anniversary banquet March 21, 2017, in Colorado Springs. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
“I think the bond between our younger Soldiers and the veterans of other wars is so important. It’s simply incredible that you all have had a chance to mingle with the 2-77th and 2-12th (Soldiers) this week,” he added.
Lt. Col. Beau Dennis, commander, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg., reflected on the importance of hosting the veterans and sharing their upcoming deployment train-up during his speech.
“I can speak for 2-12, having these veterans here on their 50th anniversary as we get ready to go into one of the hardest training schedules that I’ve ever seen in the Army is important to us,” Dennis said. “To have this as the backdrop, so to speak, to have veterans who have seen some of the toughest fighting in
the history of the Army, I think that’ll be a source of motivation for us going forward; as we go into rigorous training and we’re out there in the field, day after day and night after night.”
Dennis said this anniversary week does more than just commemorate what happened all those years ago.
“We can reflect back on this day, on what these veterans went through. I think it will give us strength, not only in the upcoming months as we train, but also when we head out on our next combat deployment,” Dennis said.
Leadership and Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, both from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, join Vietnam veterans in honoring their fallen brothers during a 50th anniversary of the battle of Suoi Tre, Vietnam ceremony at Fort Carson March 21, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
Vietnam veterans and leadership and Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, salute the American flag during the battle of Suoi Tre 50th anniversary ceremony at Fort Carson March 21, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
Retired Master Sgt. Ron Conrad rings the ceremonial bell as names of fallen 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Soldiers from the battle of Suoi Tre, Vietnam, are called out during a March 21, 2017, ceremony at Fort Carson held in honor of the 50th anniversary of the battle. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
Lt. Col. Donald Cherry Jr., left, commander, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and Lt. Col. Beau Dennis, commander, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, both with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, place a ceremonial wreath in honor of those who died during the battle of Suoi Tre, Vietnam, during a 50th anniversary ceremony at Fort Carson March 21, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, both part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, show Vietnam veterans and their Families the Virtual Battle Simulator convoy trainer March 21, 2017, during the battle of Suoi Tre 50th anniversary heritage week at Fort Carson. (Photo by 1st Lt. Max Smith)
Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, show modern day howitzers to Vietnam veterans March 21, 2017. The battle of Suoi Tre veterans were at Fort Carson for a 50th anniversary heritage week. (Photo by 1st Lt. Max Smith)