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3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry

Guest Book Archives

Email me at the address shown below.  If you want your communication posted to the public guest book, please use a subject line in your email like this:   Subject: (Guest Book yes) (Email no)   The parenthesis and key words Guest Book and Email trigger my programs and make it easier for me to post your entry. The Yes or No let me know whether to post your message to my guest book and whether to post your email address along with the guest book entry.  If you do not wish to post your email address, you could simply ask them to contact you through my email address.  I will forward the emails to you and let you decide whether to make direct contact.

When in doubt, I will assume that your email is a private communication and will not post it. I tried automatic guest book forms, but was not satisfied with the reliability across browsers and operating systems.  Simple email appears much more reliable.  I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Thanks....Homer

PS:  Please indicate whether to post your message and email address to the guest book.

All Email addresses are only pictures to discourage robots harvesting websites for junk mail lists. You will have to write them down and type them into your mail program manually. If you want to contact someone who did not choose to post their email address, email me and I will forward your message to that person.

SGT John Mahnke
4th Battalion, 9th Infantry

I'm John Mahnke Sgt, Ret US Army.  I was with 4/9th Infantry (Manchu's) 25th Div in 1970. Hoping you could help me? I've been trying to get in touch with some one who served with this soldier who gave his all.

SP/4 DIETER ERIC WILLERT
C Company, 3rd Bn, 12th INF, 4th INF DIV
01/03/69 TO 06/18/69

I would appreciate any help you could give me.  THANK-YOU... from a MANCHU...KEEP UP THE FIRE.

If you can help John with information about SP/4 Dieter...email me at the Swamp_Fox address below and I will forward it to him.

Posted 28 APR 2012

Jon Aldridge
6th Bn, 29th Arty

My dates were Aug 69-70. As a base camp warrior (REMF to the guys in the field) I had little exposure to combat operations. My most hazardous duty was riding shotgun on convoys.
---------------------------------

The following is an account of extraordinary valor, one that involves Alpha Company, 3rd Bn, 12th Inf on 14 Aug 68. Many of the men of Alpha Company who survived that day may not have known the details behind this incredible set of events, nor the individual who probably saved their lives.

On 14 Aug 68 Bravo Battery of the 6th Bn, 29th Arty was the 105mm artillery support unit for Alpha Company 3rd Bn 12th Inf. Bravo Battery provided Alpha Company with the Forward Observer (FO) team consisting of one Arty officer and 2 enlisted men.

On 14 Aug an Arty PFC, who had been drafted into military service, volunteered to be the RTO on the FO team that accompanied Alpha Company’s recon mission who relieved another recon unit, which had been in direct contact with an NVA Artillery Battalion. The Arty PFC volunteered for the mission because he “was tired of humping ammo” at the fire support base.

Within an hour of relieving the other recon unit, Alpha Company recon platoon came under heavy enemy artillery fire. The infantry officer and the Arty FO officer (1Lt. Daniel Neuburger) were killed in the initial attack. No other officers were in the recon unit.

Taking the initiative, the Arty PFC who had been trained as a “cannon cocker” secured an undamaged radio and began calling in defensive artillery fire. Throughout a long night the Arty PFC rallied the surviving members of the infantry platoon and kept the NVA at bay with artillery barrages. The next day the Arty PFC was able to lead the surviving soldiers to safety, and even though suffering from a head wound himself, refused evacuation until all of the other wounded were safely evacuated. Fifteen members of the recon mission were killed during this battle. Most if not all of the survivors reportedly suffer from PTSD.

For his extraordinary heroism under enemy fire, the Arty PFC was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, 2nd only to the Medal of Honor. He is the highest decorated member of the approximately 2,500 men who served in the 6th Bn, 29th Arty in the 4 years it was in Vietnam.

The name of the Arty PFC is Jack L. Marinacci. He has a steel plate in his head from the wounds he suffered on 14 Aug 68. The citation for his Distinguished Service Cross follows:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Jack L. Marinacci (US56588320), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery B, 6th Battalion, 29th Artillery, 4th Infantry Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division. Private First Class Marinacci distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 August 1968 while serving with an artillery forward observer team accompanying a two-platoon reconnaissance patrol in the Central Highlands northwest of Dak To. While preparing a night location, the unit came under heavy enemy recoilless rifle, mortar and small arms fire. Realizing that immediate artillery support was required, Private Marinacci ran through the murderous fusillade to the forward observation post to assist in calling in artillery fire. Racing toward the post he was wounded, however he continued to the position where he found the company commander and the forward observer had been killed in action and the radios damaged. Ignoring his wounds, he fearlessly exposed himself to the aggressor's fire until he located a working radio. Private Marinacci then assumed command of the surviving elements and made contact with the battalion commander. After leading his comrades out of the killing zone, he returned to the exposed hill top with a small group to evacuate the wounded. He left the area only after he conducted a complete check to insure that all wounded personnel had been evacuated. Private Marinacci then led the group to another night location where he established a tight defensive perimeter and adjusted artillery fire to provide security during the night. At daybreak he supervised the extraction of the unit by helicopter. Private First Class Marinacci's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam,
General Orders No. 5679
(December 10, 1968)

Thanks to John for reminding me of this heroic action.  I had just gotten into country and actually listened to the radio traffic during the actions cited.  If you want to get in touch with John, just send your email to the swampfox address below and I will forward it.

Posted 6 MAR 2011

SP/4 Lloyd Kuehn
HQ Company, 3/12th Infantry

My brother is SP4 Lloyd Kuehn. He served in Headquarters Company,  3rd Bn,12th Infantry.  He was killed on Hill 86, March 9, 1967.  I know it was almost 45 years ago that my brother was killed and it is hard to recall but I thought maybe someone might remember him. I will be attending the Vietnam Veterans parade in Las Vegas on 11/11/11 and was wondering if anyone from his unit was going to be there.

Lloyd's body was brought home in a coffin sealed with glass and he looked just like normal. At least that helped us to be able to say goodbye. He was only 20 years old and the oldest in the family, and before getting drafted had bought some property to farm. He had so many dreams that were never fulfilled. He was killed three weeks before my wedding.

My parents are deceased now and I lost another brother in a car accident 5 years after Lloyd was killed, but my 3 remaining brothers and one sister will be thankful for this information.

Thanks for serving,
Barb Carroll

Posted 20OCT2011

If you can help Barb contact me at the Swamp_Fox address at the bottom of the page and I will forward it to her.

SFC Jimmy Bell
3rd of the 12th Infantry
4th Infantry Division

Looking for any information about my Dad Jimmy L. Bell who served in the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division during Vietnam from Sept 1966 - Aug 1967. He was Sergeant, 1st class (E7). Attached are some pics of him. He has passed away and I would like to here from anyone who may have known him during his service.

Thanks - Greg Bell

Posted 14 August 2011

If you can help Greg contact me at the Swamp_Fox address at the bottom of the page and I will forward it to him.

Sp/4 Cecil Darrell McCann
B/3/12

Hi Homer,

I received a Dearborn Memorial Scholarship to Henry Ford Community College in 1969 in honor of Cecil Darrell McCann who lost his life in Vietnam in service to our country on 3/7/1967.

I am looking (have been for a while) for any more information about Cecil such as are there any members from his platoon, any relatives and/or where Darrell is buried.

Some information I have is that he was in A Co, 3rd BN, 12 infantry, 4th infantry division.

I would appreciate anyone with information on Cecil to please pass it on to me.

Thank you,
Gerry

Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E4
Rank: Specialist Four
ID No: 55864798
MOS: 11B20: Infantryman
Length Service: 01
Unit: A CO, 3RD BN, 12TH INFANTRY, 4TH INF DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/24/1966
Incident Date: 03/07/1967
Casualty Date: 03/07/1967
Age at Loss: 21
Location: , South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire

If you can help Gerry contact me at the Swamp_Fox address at the bottom of the page and I will forward it to him.

Posted 25 March 2011