Battle Reports – Thanksgiving 1968

by Pat Dougan This documentary will be available on the evening of Thanksgiving Day. It covers the 4th/9th 25 Infantry Division. Its primary focus was the Nov 27th ambush (the day before Thanksgiving), their worst day in Vietnam for KIA and WIA, and also the worst day for the 187th …

Thi is a revised and updated version of Pat Dougan’s story. Revised on November 6, 2022 …

Contributed by John Broome (RIP 25 September 2011) I know I have written this story before but i tried cleaning it up a little still there is much more to tell and some more of the graphics THANKSGIVING 1968 There is probably anywhere from eighty eight to Five hundred and …

Revised: 11/20/2014
Pulished in “The VHPA AVIATOR,” July/August 2015 Read Pat’s updated revision of this story My Day of Infamy or Why Novembers Suck The following is an extract from a statement that I wrote in 2003 with additional clarifying information from Tom Tesmar, flight lead, and Ron Hopkins, aircraft …

Veterans of the 187th AHC, I was just made aware of your site a few days ago. My father SSG James Tilton was a squad leader for 1st Plt, Co A, 4/9th, Manchus and was in country from Sept. 68 to Sept 69. I have enjoyed looking at your site …

187 AHC was a US Army unit
3 BDE 25 INF was a US Army unit
4/9 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Operation TOAN THANG II
Incident reference: 68112700.TXT
Tay Ninh Province, III Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Cau Khoi Rubber Plantation From the VHPA Website Description: As part of TOAN …

Contributed by Pat Dougan. Pat was flying one of the Rat Pack gun ships and dedicates this page to all that served on November 27, 1968 Original Art Work By Joe Kline
Image copyright Joe Kline
Picture concept by owner Pat Dougan The crew of the burning aircraft are: …

Contributed by Jim Gaffney (Crusader 5 5/68-8/68 & Crusader 6 8/68-2/69) Pat Dougan has been after me for some time to record my recollections of November 27, 1968 from the perspective of the Crusader Command and Control aircraft. Until now I have avoided doing so, most likely resisting revisiting difficult …

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All hell broke loose as the ‘Slicks’ approached the landing zone. But you did not break formation. You sucked it up and flew into the bowels of the Grim Reaper. First Person by Captain Thomas A. Pienta, U.S. Army (ret.) November 27, 1968. It was Thanksgiving Day back home in …