On 10 February 1967, the 57th AHC was
reorganized from an Airmobile Fixed Wing Company to an Assault Helicopter
Company. October 1967 saw the 57th deployed to Vietnam and by the end
of December it was operating from its new home at Kontum in Northwest
II Corps. The 57th's primary mission was to provide tactical air mobility
of combat troops, supplies, equipment, and aerial fire support within
the II Corps area. Various units who received support from the 57th include
the 5th Special Forces Group, (ABN), 4th Infantry Division, 1st Field
Forces, and MACV and ARVN units.
Upon arriving at Kontum, the 57th set up camp at the airfield
formerly used by the 1st Cav. The construction of permanent structures
was foremost in everyones's mind and the nickname of "Rocket City" given
to Kontum gave everybody incentive to build bunkers and a strong defensive
perimeter. During the seige of Dak To, in November 1967, the 57th proved
itself to be combat ready and capable of handling any mission assigned
to it. 1968 saw the Tet offensive hit Kontum. Other than suffering an
initial sapper attack on 10 January the 57th AHC kept the compound secured
from all ground attacks. Kontum City itself was overrun and at the end
of a six day battle a body count revealed 785 NVA troops dead. During
the remainder of the year normal missions were carried out in such a manner
which gave recognition to the 57th as a highly professional unit ready
to take any task. The units motto of "Try Us" came into being with everybody
giving their utmost for any unit supported by the 57th. 1969 saw the 57th
flying FOB II in support of the 5th Special Forces Group (ABN), out of
Kontum. This is a highly classified mission with a normal rotation of
four months for each unit assigned to it, but the 57th AHC did such an
outstanding job with a minimal loss of personnel and equipment that it
was put on an indefinite status. The seige of Ben Het began in June with
the 57th playing a significant role in supplying the battered camp and
bravely making dustoffs under intensive ground and motar fire. 14 March
1970 saw the 57th pack it's bags and move to An Khe with it's new primary
mission to support the 4th Infantry Division. In April the 57th was once
again flying up near the tri-border area as the Special Forces camp of
Dak Seang was under seige. After a month of fierce fighting the NVA retreated
back into Laos, but thanks to emergency resupply by the 57th AHC and other
aviation units in the 52nd Battalion the camp repelled all the ground
attacks made by the NVA. May was the month when the 57th helped take the
war to the NVA and VC as the Cambodian border was crossed. Although there
wasn't much enemy contact after the initial insertion, the move was a
success in that a great quantity of equipment was discovered and brought
back into Vietnam. By the end of June the 57th AHC had helped bring back
the 4th Division to An Khe. From June 70 through January 71 the 57th AHC
was tasked with the primary mission of supporting and supplementing the
4th Division aviation assets.
With the vast reduction in troop level in Vietnam, the 57th
was soon returned to Pleiku where they could best support the various
advisory groups in Pleiku and Kontum provinces. With the move to Camp
Holloway the 57th assumed a daily committment of 12 UH1H and UHIC gunships.
Six of the slicks were placed in direct support of Task Force II (FOB)
and the remaining six supported Ranger Comnand, Pleiku Province, Kontum
Province, 2nd Ranger Group, II Corp General Staff and Office of Highland
Affairs. In May the 57th received their first AH1G gunships and became
the second unit stationed at Camp Holloway with the highly manueverable
aircraft. From the summer of 71 until March of 72 the 57th continued their
rigorous mission supporting the II Corp Highlands. It was during this
period of time the Cougar gunships and Cougar Nighthawk aircraft made
their mark as a fighting force to be reckoned with. The FOB mission was
very costly for the Gladiators in 1971. 3 men were killed in action and
11 were wounded. The experience gained from this mission was soon to be
put to the test in the spring of 1972. On 27 March 1972 a single UH1H
was shot down and destroyed west of Kontum City. The aircraft commander
and gunner lost their lives in what turned out to be the beginning of
a fierce enemy offensive. The three months that followed were by far the
most trying months for the 57th as the battle for Tan Cann, Kontum and
the outlying fire bases raged at a murderous pace. The 57th played a most
important part in the survival of the ground elements. During the next
90 days, 5 aircrafts were destroyed and 41 were damaged by hostile fire.
Seven lives were lost and 17 men received injury due to enemy fire. Enemy
losses are estimated at 500 KBA by the Cougar gunships. As the battle
for Kontum City subsided in July the 57th was called to provide cover
for and extract several hundred refugees from local base camps. Again
braving hostile fire the Gladiators displayed their professionalism in
the accomplishment of the mission.
As September 1972 arrived the Gladiators continued to support
all allied units in II Corp, South Vietnam. Should troubled time again
arrive in the Highlands, the Gladiators will be called upon to provide
aviation support. The 57th AHC has now been tried and have earned the
motto "Proven".
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