WANTED

This page is provided to assist Association members and friends of the First Team in locating people or making contact with others that they served with or knew. 

If you have any information concerning the following Troopers or units and can assist, please contact the person that the message is from.  To have a message posted on this page contact the 1st Cavalry Division Association at firstcav@1cda.org.  We reserve the right to refuse any posts and may remove the items without notice at any time.

Posted 9 April 2012

From John Katsigianis jkatsigianis@retrieve.com

I am trying to find information regarding the circumstances of the death of my father-in-law's  brother.  PFC Edward C. Koenke, Jr. was assigned to the 5th Cavalry Regiment  and was Killed in Action on September 28, 1950 in South Korea.

Posted 4 April 2012

From John McGuire mcguijo@gmail.com

I'm working to create an oral history surrounding an action that occurred on LZ Peanuts on May 4/5, 1968.  LZ Peanuts was in I Corps near the DMZ and a few kilometers south and west of Khe Sanh.  In this action, a company sized group of NVA overran and nearly overtook LZ Peanuts.  I want to talk to anyone with knowledge of this location or action.  I have no affiliation with LZ Peanuts other than having spent the last several months interviewing survivors of the battle there.  I had a close friend who was there and that peaked my interest.  I'm lacking the "grunt's" perspective of this battle. 

Photos at the following Google+ site: LZ Peanuts

 20 March 2012

From Jim Wolfe jwolfe0601@centurytel.net

I am looking for CPT Donald R. Sims who commanded C Company, 1-5th Cavalry in 1966.  I was one of his platoon leaders.

Posted 19 March 2012

From Leo Miller millerle@wideopenwest.com

I am seeking Ron Powell and John Moeller.  Ron was assigned to HHC, 8th Engineers, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1969 and he was the BC's jeep driver at Phouc Vinh in early 1969.  Ron was last known in Dearborn, Michigan in the early 1970's.  John Moeller was in the S-3 Survey section with me from February to December 1968 at Camp Evans and later in the S-2 Section in Phouc Vinh.

Posted 12 December  2011

From Gary Oliver goliver12thcav@yahoo.com

I am looking for a William (Bill) Porter.  I think he was in the 7th Cavalry but I'm not sure if it was the 1st or 2nd Battalion and his rank was PFC or SP-4.  He was in Vietnam in 1965-66 and was from Santa Ana, California.

Posted 8 December  2011

From Laura Warner Laura.Warner@fhmmc.org

I am looking for anyone who may have served with or knew my uncle, SGT Richard D. Thompson, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Japan or the Korean War.  Prior to the war he was stationed in Japan and was wounded on 14 September 1950 and returned to duty on 17 September.  He was killed in action on 24 September 1950 near Taegu, Korea.

Posted 28 November  2011

From Kim Vogelsang Gilligan kvgilligan@optonline.net

I am looking for anyone who served with my father, PFC John Kim Vogelsang in Vietnam.  My father was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry and was killed in action on 6 June 1969.  I would love to speak to anyone that knew my father in training or in Vietnam.

Posted 20 October  2011

From Emily Mcfatridge emma_2271@yahoo.com

I would like to find out more about my uncle, SP-5 Arthur Leon Lauderdale, who was assigned to HHC, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and was killed in Vietnam on 7 January 1968.  It has been reported that he died while missing in action and I would like to know what happened.  He was a crewman on a Command and Control helicopter that was supporting a fight that the 2-12th Cavalry was involved in and the battalion commander, LTC Bob L. Gregory, was killed in the same incident with Arthur.  Other members of his crew that were killed were: WO1 Robert Francis Bahl, Jr., WO1 Marshall H. Ford, SSG Louis Hillyer and PFC Lloyd E. Knake.  

Posted 20 October  2011

From John Giampia jgiampia@tampabay.rr.com 

I am a unit director the the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association (VDHA).  We serve all dog handlers for all branches in all wars.  I served with the 37th Scout Dog Platoon in Vietnam 1968-70 and would like to have contact with any and all other dog handlers that served with the 1st Cavalry Division.

Posted 11 October  2011

From Larry "Doc" Allin lallin@juno.com

I would like to talk to reconnect with anyone that I served with from April 1968 to April 1969.  I served with E Company, 1-5th Cavalry most of my tour and briefly with Headquarters Company Aid Station.

Larry "Doc" Allin 1968

Posted 2 September  2011

From Pat Peterson, Jr. petey73@hotmail.com

I would like to talk to anyone that served with or knew my father while in the Army.  His name is SP-4 Pat Peterson and he served in D Company, 1-5 Cavalry from February '66 to September '66.  He was wounded and was medically evacuated out of country.  He is currently in the hospital with little or no hope of recovery. 

Note: SP-4 Pat Peterson died on 3 September.

Posted 18 August 2011

From Michael Hoffman mwhoff@frontier.com

I am looking for information on the location of three guys that served with me at Camp Howze, Korea in HQ & HQ, 13th Signal Battalion in the Photo Lab from 1964-1965.  They are Steve Chavez, William Hurth and David Overmeyer.

Posted 13 July 2011

From Nancy S. Costa msnanc@optonline.net

I am looking for anyone who served with or knew my uncle, CPL Anthony E. Costa.  He was captured at Unsan and died while a Prisoner of War.  The information that we have lists his unit as Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.  His remains have not been recovered and he has not been returned to us.  The family has provided DNA samples from his siblings to the Defense Prisoner of War Missing Personnel Office.  Any information that you may have on him would be greatly appreciated.

Posted 30 June 2011

From Dan Gillotti firstcav68@roadrunner.com

I am looking for anyone who knew CPT Bill Potts, FDO 1-30th Field Artillery, April - June 1968.  He was possibly transferred to DIVARTY or to a DS Battalion as a Battery Commander.

Posted 23 June 2011

From Mike Pruitt sonofavietnamvet@yahoo.com

I am seeking information and contact with any Troopers that may have served with my father.  My father, SP4 Jimmy Dean Pruitt, served in B Battery, 2-20th Artillery in Vietnam from 18 December 1965 to 12 December 1966.  When he left Vietnam he was sent to Fort Ord and got out of the Army in April 1967.  My father suffered from PTSD and alcoholism and committed suicide on 20 August 1993.  He was a good father, loving and caring but could not handle the the "guilt" any longer.  I miss him and want to talk to those that knew him if possible.  He did basic at Fort Polk, AIT at Fort Lewis (13A10) and then served in Bamberg, Germany before going to Vietnam. My father was raised in Bakersfield, California but moved to Oklahoma prior to joining the Army in 1964.

Jimmy Dean Pruitt - 1969 3 years after Vietnam

Posted 16 June 2011

From Phil Swick pswick4849@att.net

I am looking for information about my cousin's time in Vietnam for his wife.  SGT Richard Bowles served in the 371st RRC with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in 1967-68.  He died on 11 December 2010 and his wife would like to talk with someone that knew him while in Vietnam.  She and her son know very little about his time in Vietnam because he would not talk about it. 

Posted 2 June 2011

From Julian Higgins jhiggins86@yahoo.com

I am the nephew of PFC Edward H. Higgins (Eddie), who served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam.  I would like to talk to members of his unit that knew him to find out what he was like as a man and to find out what happened on the fateful day that we lost him.  He was killed at age 20 on June 6, 1968 due to friendly fire.  Eddie had been in country less than a month.  All of this happened long before I was born.

Posted 17 February 2011

From SP-4 William E. Daly wdaly@chartermi.net

I am looking for PFC Don Cox, who was the medic for the 3rd Platoon of A Company, 1-12th Cavalry in the Spring of 1970 and served with me in Vietnam.  I believe he was from California.

Posted 19 January 2011

From SP-5 John L Dees jld4937@pinebelt.net 

I am attempting to find documentation about a lightning strike that occurred during Operation AIR ASSAULT II near Ridgeway, South Carolina in 1964.  I was assigned at that time to HHC, 611th Aircraft Maintenance and Supply Battalion, 11th Air Assault Division (Test).  I need this to assist with a claim with the VA.  I continued to serve and served in Vietnam with the 15th TC, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

Posted 28 October 2010

From George Lipps grlip3@comcast.net and the wife of Bob Collette rjcollette@lanset.com

We are attempting to find anyone that served with SFC Robert J. Collette, HQ Battery, 77th Field Artillery in Korea in 1950.  We are looking for documentation or people that will assist us in getting the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) awarded to SFC Bob Collette for actions near Paeckchon, Korea on 13 October 1950.  

He received a Silver Star from MG Charles D. Palmer, the CG of the 1st Cavalry Division.  After the award was made, his Battery Commander indicated that he was going to submit a request to upgrade the award to a DSC.  We either need the paperwork or the name of the Battery Commander to see if we can track him or the paperwork down.  The National Personnel Records Center may not have any paperwork available due to the 1973 fire that destroyed thousands of Veteran's records.

Posted 14 October 2010

From DiemKeiu (Kelly) Watts ddwatts06@gmail.com and Charles D. Carter cdcarter@rochester.rr.com

I am also a Vietnam veteran (first division 1969-1970) who is trying to link up a veteran with his granddaughter. I have included a picture of this veteran in hopes that someone will recognize him. 

We believe his name is Lou Walls and that he served with the 1st Cavalry division in Vietnam around the Song Be area in late 60's, and left Nam in early 1970.  We also believe that he was a senior NCO who married a Vietnamese woman but was called to leave before arrangements could be made to bring his wife home. His granddaughter says that once America left Vietnam, the VC were not kind to those who collaborated with Americans and put most in reunification work camps.  At first, only a token amount of Vietnamese Americans were allowed to leave the country being used as a political pawn but eventually, through negotiations, others were allowed to leave, and it was in this group that his daughter was allowed to come here with his granddaughter.

These two have not seen each other in many years and it is Kelly's hope to meet her grandfather. She wants nothing from him other than to trace her roots. 

If you recognize this gentleman and can help link him up with his granddaughter, please contact  Mrs. DiemKeiu (Kelly) Watts  or myself.  Charles D. Carter

Posted 13 October 2010

From Ronnie A. Gainer ragman2234@gmail.com  

I am SGT Ronnie A. Gainer, D Company, 2-12th Cavalry, and I am trying to locate a fellow Trooper that was wounded on the same day that I was.  His name was Kessler, I don't remember his first name, and am not sure of the spelling of his last name.  We were operating from LZ Grant in the Tay Ninh Province near "the black virgin mountain" between mid-March and May 1969.  Kessler's wounds were worse than mine but we never got any information back on how he did after he was evacuated.  It would take a huge burden off of me to find Kessler.  Kessler is in the background of the photo with Frank Jordan facing the camera.

Posted 7 October 2010

From Tyson Caitano  arte.hawaii@hawaiiantel.net

SSG Tyson Caitano, (Pineapple), D Co., 2-8th Cavalry, February 1969 - September 1970,  is looking for people that served with him and can provide statements of support for a VA claim.  His call sign was "KAT 3".  He does not have e-mail and messages will be provided to him by his friend Arte McCullough whose e-mail address is provided.

Posted 6 August  2010

From Barbara Wright and Joe Dunagan msba.wright@gmail.com

We are looking for members of Alpha Troop, 1-9th Cavalry who were stationed at OP Gishula on 20 November 1962 and members of Charlie Troop that were at OP Susan on 23 November when they were ambushed by the North Koreans.  Another unit was brought in to find the ambushers.  They had on war paint and between those guys and the ROK's that worked with them the ambushers were found and killed.  We would like to find people that remember the guys with the war paint on.  Joe Dunagan who is my husband was a member of that other unit and needs to find proof for his VA claim.

Posted 2 August  2010

From Ken Theilman kthielman@mnmsa.org

During World War II, my uncle, TEC5 Joseph Zakrajshek, was killed in action on 8 March, 1945 while assigned to the 8th Engineer Combat Squadron.  I am trying to get any information that I can regarding his service including, but not limited to, the circumstances of his death.  My thanks in advance to anyone that can shed some light on my uncle's time in the Army.

Posted 5 February 2010

From - Orion Wood orionw@pacbell.net 

I am trying to locate anyone who knew or served with my brother-in-law, SGT Berlin Robert Shumate in April - May, 1968 in Vietnam.  He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry and was killed in action on 7 May, 1968.  I want to learn more about his service, his death, and the award of the Silver Star he received for a personal history for our family members.

Posted 2 October 2009

From - Don Hill tnhills@comcast.net 

Jim Gaines, Medic, Bravo Company, 2-5th Cavalry, 1970.  Awarded the Silver Star in Cambodia.  He was originally from Ohio, last known address in Crossville, Tennessee.  I would love to see him again.

Posted 9 July 2009

From - Charlie Fugate cfugate@bvunet.net 

My father was SP4 Roy S. Fugate and he was in Company B, 8th Cavalry in Korea from 1958 – 1960.  I am looking for First Team members who remember him or possibly served with him.   Please contact me at if you knew my father or served with him.

Posted 9 July 2009

From - Mark Moberg, B 2-19th FA markmoberg1@msn.com 

I am looking for Charlie Waters who served in HHC, 2-7th Cavalry in 1970.  

Posted 9 July 2009

From - Emil Hernandez, C 1-12th CAV olhippygysy@aol.com 

I am trying to locate my old buddy Carlos Cruz.

Posted 3 June 2009

From - Herbert Caro also know as Heriberto Caro Velez hcaro08@sprintpcs.com 

Posted 14 April 2009 

From - Eric C. Burnett BHammered319@aol.com 

Please contact me if you knew my brother-in-law, SGT Jimmy L. Rogers.  Jimmy served in C Company, 2-8th Cavalry from March 1966 to December 1966 in Vietnam.  He was wounded in November.  

Jimmy was killed in a motorcycle accident on 5 March, 2009.  Our family would like to do a tribute to him and I would like to talk to anyone that served with him.  He was like a father to me.  He gave his medals and his Honor and Courage pins to me.

Posted 2 April 2009

From - SP5 Dan Zimmerschied, "Mess Hall", dzimmerschied@cox.net, HHC 229th Aviation Battalion (AH), 1st Cavalry Division (AM) 3rd Brigade Separate, 1971-72

Please contact me if you can assist me in locating any of the following Troopers that I served with in Vietnam in the "Stacked Deck" Battalion:

CPT Bryan T. Tippie                     1SG Carlvie Simon, Jr.
SFC Garyl Gilliam                        SSG B. L. Harris
SSG William Wharley                  SP4 Johnson
SP5 Simpson                                SP5 Drisdom
SP4 Legawiec                              SP4 Kelser
SP4 Cherry                                   SP4 Thomas
SP4 Crowder                                SP4 Fuvk

            
   SSG Harris         SFC Gilliam          SP4 Cherry         SSG Wharley

        
  SP4 Fuvk           SP5 Drisdom       SP4 Thomas         CPT Tippie

        
  1SG Simon       SP4 Johnson      SP5 Simpson     SPC Legawiec

  
SP4 Crowder   SP4 Kelser

Posted 2 April 2009

From - Larry Whelan, whelanl@bellsouth.net, A Company, 2-8th Cavalry

I took the following photograph in mid 1970 in Vietnam.  These were my fellow comrades who served with me in A Co., 2-8th CAV.  I just recently located this photograph and can't remember any of their names.  If anyone can assist in identifying any of these Troopers, please contact me.