14th Campaign
Revision Date: 03/29/02
During this time period the
2/94th took part in Cease Fire
(03-30-72 to 01-28-73)
Description of Cease Fire
On 30 March 1972, the North Vietnamese Army launched its greatest offensive of the entire war. The enemy deployed the greatest array of troops and modern weapons to date in a major effort to end the war with conventional forces and seized considerable territory in an effort to exercise control of key provinces throughout Vietnam.
During this critical period, the Vietnamization program continued in the face of the North Vietnamese invasion and the successful counterattack by the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam. Army aviation units played an impressive role throughout the period, flying reconnaissance, close support missions and transporting troops. As U.S. combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam the role of helicopter units increased in importance and they responded to the challenge of continuing to support while preparing the RVNAF to assume their function. Similarly, advisors of all services contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the enemy invasion and the continued Vietnamization process. Army and Marine advisors fought side-by-side with their RVNAF counterparts to stop and defeat the enemy invasion.
As the Vietnamese counteroffensive gained momentum and the reduction of field advisers continued. The advisory effort shifted to emphasize training and to assure that the VNAF attained self-sufficiency prior to the complete withdrawal of the U.S. forces.
The recapture of Quang Tri City on 16 September 1972 marked the complete failure of the enemy to hold any of the targeted provincial capitols. Massive aid replaced materiel lost during the spring counteroffensive. Retraining and reconstruction of selected RVNAF units increased their capabilities. The completion of the massive logistical buildup of RVNAF was accomplished, which enabled the RVNAF to become more self-sufficient as direct U.S. participation diminished. The U.S. ground role in Vietnam was totally replaced by the RVNAF. During December 1972 and January 1973, the RVIVAF flew more than 45% of air sorties within Vietnam. In November 1972, the RVNAF began a C-130 training program, and by January 1973 realized a significant increase in their capability. RVNAF forward air controllers began directing USAF and RVNAF strike aircraft in January 1973. The U.S. policy of Vietnamization continued.
U.S. combat and combat support operations were conducted in support of RVNAF ground operations during the North Vietnamese invasion and the counteroffensive including intensive interdiction of enemy supply routes into Vietnam. Since U.S. ground forces had been reduced to seven battalions, the U.S. ground combat role was limited to defense of key installations. Further reduction in troop ceilings led to the redeployment of all U.S. ground combat battalions, leaving an Army contingent of combat support and service support units. (End of description)
In April of 1972, the last heavy rounds were fired by C Battery of the
2/94th with the Commanding General of the 196th Light Infantry
Brigade was on hand to observe.
On 9 April 1972 at 1400 hours, C Battery third gun section, of the 2nd
Battalion 94th Artillery fired the last American Heavy Artillery
round in Vietnam from Hill 34 in the Republic of South Vietnam. The last firing
unit with a tactical mission was released from it.
Brigadier General
McDonough (the Commanding Officer of the 196th Brigade),
Lieutenant Colonel Kirk, Captain
Scott, and Sergeant Puckett pulled the lanyard for the last round.
Note by chronicler: However, there does seem to be some controversy in this as the S3 log has Specialist Layton pulling the lanyard. This is handwritten in over the scratched out names of those listed above. (See account below)
Account
from Specialist Ed
Moore of Headquarters Battery:
There was a big
ceremony for the firing of the last heavy round. The general from the 196th was
there, as was Lieutenant Colonel Kirk. There was a photo taken of a group after the firing.
I remember it was
the only time I saw a gun fired by lanyard ... they loaded, attached the
lanyard, everyone took their positions, the command to Fire was given, the
lanyard was pulled and the gun went "click" ... they re-cocked the
action, commanded Fire again and again "click" ... they changed the
primer, tried a third time, and fired the round.
I do not think it
was an NCO or an officer that fired it.
It was a cannoneer.
Observation of
chronicler: It is assumed that Specialist Layton pulled the lanyard for
the last shot in Vietnam, three times!
Observation of
chronicler: In writing to the 101st
historian, as well as the 196th Brigade historian, to find out any
information regarding the 2/94th Battalion. They had no clue as even what the
2/94th was. Apparently,
the 2/94th support did not make it into their history.
On 10 April 1972, at 2400 hours
Battery B of the 2nd
Battalion 94th Artillery
CEASED TO FIRE
‘JOB WELL DONE’ TO ALL
MEMBERS OF B BATTERY
On 10 April 1972 at 2400 hours, C Battery began stand-down.
On 11 April 1972 at 0001 hours, the 2nd Battalion 94th Artillery Battalion continued toward stand down.
Summary – Battalion Stand-Down
Date is the date that the 2nd Battalion 94th Artillery
Colors will be taken to Fort Lewis, Washington for re-deployment.
Sometime in April 1972 (date/time
unknown at this time)
Battery C of the 2nd Battalion 94th
Artillery
CEASED TO FIRE
‘JOB WELL DONE’ TO ALL
MEMBERS OF C BATTERY during its six year history.
On 11 April 1972, at 2400
hours
The 2nd Battalion
94th Artillery JOURNAL in South Vietnam is CLOSED.
Signed by Major Deral S. Willis, S3
'Congratulations to the entire
battalion on a job well done under most difficult circumstances'.
The
official date for the 2nd Battalion 94th Artillery
departure from Vietnam is 21 April 1972.
Observation of chronicler: It is thought from the accounts below that Sergeant Roosevelt Walker escorted the Battalion Colors back to the United States.
Account from Specialist John Purdy, a C Battery FDC member: I was in the FDC section of HQ Battery of 2/94 from 10/71 and went out of the gate on Hill 34 exactly as the last round was fired in 4/72.
During that time
when the last round was fired, I remember that the Firing officer was Captain Mike
Hagen; night shift was Captain Alan Walters.
NCO IC was a Sergeant Williams up through 12/71 or so; who was replaced by
Sergeant
Roosevelt Walker (who I heard escorted the 2/94th colors back to the
world). The FDC section at the end
included myself, Juan Cantu, Dan Thomas, Carl Long, Don Patterson, Ernie
Revallie, Craig ? and Paul
Diehl.
Comments by
chronicler: When the NVA came down in spring of 1972 and overran the South Vietnamese
Army; some of the old 2/94th guns, handed over to the 102nd ARVN Heavy
Artillery, were captured by the enemy.
It is thought that one or two of the 2/94th 175’s
may have found their way to Hanoi as War Trophies for the NVA.
It is known that a 175mm SP was taken back to Hanoi for display. This act by itself shows the respect and
fear that the enemy had of the most powerful artillery piece in the theater of
war during the Vietnam Campaigns.
Joseph Stalin made the following statement during WW2, after he witnessed what artillery could accomplish:
(Fire day or night, fire in bad weather, fire at a minutes notice)
“Artillery is surely the God of War!”
The
175’s of the 2nd Battalion 94th Artillery
And her companion Battalion
The
8th Battalion 4th Artillery were surely
"The Long Arm of that God in I Corps"
Republic
of South Vietnam
18
October 1966
To
21 April 1972
Previous Campaign was 13th Campaign, Consolidation, II (12-01-71 to 03-29-71)
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My personal thanks and appreciation go to the following Army and Marine personnel:
Army:
Ed Moore, Bob Mahmood, Mike Stoffers, Gary Rafferty, Bob Donnan, Will Meyers, Daniel Gillotti, Tommy Dorris, John Kelly, Fred James, Charles Adams, Bernie Joyce, Bob Matlock, Peter Marchand, James Elliott, James O’hara, Chris Cunningham, Robert Talley, Charles Stephenson, John Purdy, Dean Shanklin, Doug Meredith, Mark Swearengen, Dave Rahbain, Patrick Lacher, Larry Stromberg, (List is being updated).Marine: Dennis Mannion, Larry Mccartney, Earl Clark, Earle Breeding, Dave Byran, Tom Walker, Dennis Thun, Ron Durham, Charles Barnes, Al Moring, William Ryan, Jim Gutierrez, Charles Frugoni, Marion Sturkey (List is being updated).
Note: Since the 2/94th Vietnam history does not seem to be documented anywhere, a few of us have tried to put together some history based on personal accounts, articles, and any other sources we could bring in to play. Any additions, deletions, or corrections by all are greatly appreciated.
We have only waited 36 years to document this unit and once in a while we are all struck by an attack of memory. So every one please participate.
2/94th PAST HISTORY
The 2/94th has an honorable past as being part of the 4th Armored Division during WW2 as the 94th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. The 94th was part of General Patton’s 3rd Army and was mostly in the lead elements of the 4th Armored Division. The 94th was part of the lead elements that broke the siege of Bastogne and relieved the valiant 101st Airborne soldiers that held the town.
Breakthrough Division
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War II
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
DECORATIONS
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ARDENNES
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered NORMANDY
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered MOSELLE RIVER
French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere
You can check out the 94th past military service at:
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/5233/4adunit.html
Diary of a GI, 94th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 4th Armored Division
http://www.geocities.com/afa94th/
History of the 94th Armored Field Artillery by Sean Rafferty.
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