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Tribute to a 3/187 Infantry Vietnam Rakkasan, & photos of 187 RCT drinking cup in Vietnam


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RegularsByGod

Timothy T. Sloan enlisted in the Army as a Private in 1967, did a tour in Vietnam as an enlisted MP, completed Officers Candidate School and returned to Vietnam for a second tour as an Infantry officer. Retired from the Army in 1993 as a Lieutenant Colonel. This posting is in tribute to a patriot, a great and loyal friend and one hell of a Soldier.

 

A JD aficionado, Tim's favorite toast when in the presence of other CIB holders was:

 

"Here's to us and those like us......................damn few left."

 

 

First photo below is Timothy T. Sloan on his first tour in Vietnam 1968. In this photo he is a Private First Class Security Guard (SG) at the 506th Field Depot at Long Binh, Vietnam, under control of 1st Logistical Command. Uniform is OG-106. Note SG arm brassard has 1st LOG CMD patch above which are crossed MP pistols insignia. Sloan was assigned to the 720th MP Battalion 18th MP Brigade. Personnel from this unit were detailed to the Field Depot.

 

As always....if this or any other picture is cut off, click on the photo to se the full size version.

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PFC Sloan on left, unknown on right, Vietnam 1968 as Security Guards for the 506th Field Depot. Note 1st Logistical Command insignia on both sides of helmet liners. Also note that Sloan's helmet liner in this photo has a solid red band instead of the red and white band. Significance of this is unknown. Subdued cloth rank insignia for PFC, black on OD twill on Sloan's right sleeve.

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Live fire range at Fort Polk, Louisianan 1970 for Basic Rifle Marksmanship. After graduating from OCS Sloan was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant Training Officer for Company C 3rd Battalion 5th AIT (Advanced Individual Training) Brigade (in this case Infantry AIT) 4th Army. LT Sloan is on the far left in the photo wearing the field cap. Note the full color 18 MP BDE SSI combat patch on the right sleeve of his OG-106 shirt. Although photo is damaged in the area of the trainee, at east two empty cartridge cases can be seen being ejected, indicating the trainee appears to be firing his M16A1 rifle with bipod on full auto.

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Tori at entrance to 3/187 Infantry Battalion area at Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971. This photo and the following photos taken at 3/187 Base Camp were taken at Camp Evans near Hue in Thua Thien Province.

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LT Tim Sloan as Platoon Leader Echo Company 3/187 Infantry RECON Platoon at Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971. Sloan's camouflage uniform and its insignia are covered in a post on this forum at the following link:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums.index.php?/topic/241884-erdl-camo-shirt-3187-inf-rakkasans-recon-platoon-leader-101st-ab-vietnam-1971-plus-vn-photos/

 

 

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Above the door at Company Headquarters for Echo Company 3/187 Inf at Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971.

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Left, LT Timothy T. Sloan - right, LTC James R. Stevenson Battalion Commander 3/187 Infantry at Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971. In front of them are the Regimental Punch Bowl and Regimental Drinking Cup for the 187th Infantry. Behind them are the Battalion Colors for 3/187 Infantry. Note both officers have subdued insignia on their jungle fatigues, except for the 101st AB Division SSI which is full color. LTC Stevenson also has a 187th Infantry DUI on his left chest pocket flap.

 

Note Sloan's name tapes are parallel to shirt bottom while Stevenson's name tapes are parallel to pockets. From January 1971 to December 1971 Tim Sloan's duties with 3/187 Infantry included his assignments as E Company RECON Platoon Leader, E Company Executive Officer, Assistant S-3 Air, and Company Commander A Company. After the field discipline of RECON, Sloan did not appreciate the lax discipline of a line Company and requested (and was granted) a return to his position as RECON Platoon Leader.

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Regimental Drinking Cup for 3/187th Infantry Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971. Note it is marked for the 187th Regimental Combat Team of Korean War fame, complete with 187 RCT insignia. I'm not an expert on 187th Infantry history but I believe that at least during the Vietnam War the Army traced the lineage of 3/187 Infantry back to the RCT of Korea.

 

Also note the combat jump stars on the wings of the Drinking Cup. Canopy top comes off to add contents and to drink from cup. Cup sits in base and comes completely out of base in order to drink from cup.

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Drinking cup and punch bowl framed by 3/187th Infantry Battalion Colors, Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971.

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South Vietnamese Major demonstrating proper method of partaking from 187 RCT Drinking Cup at Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971. Note Cup is totally out of its base.

 

The ARVN Major is wearing a Republic of Vietnam Sector insignia on his left shoulder sleeve for a Sector in Military Region 1, most likely Sector 2 for Thua Thien Province.

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Officers around Punch Bowl and Drinking Cup, Camp Evans, Vietnam 1971.

 

On far right is Battalion Commander LTC Stevenson. Second from right is LT Sloan. Other officers unknown. Battalion Colors behind them.

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LT Tim Sloan's personal cigarette lighter carried by him in Vietnam, 1971. Bought and engraved at Camp Evans.

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Certificate of Service in 3/187th Infantry in Vietnam presented to Sloan upon his departure from Vietnam 1971.

 

Signed by the 3/187 BN Commander LTC James R. Stevenson.

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Plaque presented to Sloan upon his departure from Vietnam for his service in 3/187.

 

Rectangular piece at bottom of plaque reads:

 

1 LT TIMOTHY T. SLOAN 3D BATTALION 187TH INFANTRY "RAKKASANS"

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An incident involving LT Sloan and his RECON team is briefly mentioned in two books. "Into Laos" by Keith William Nolan, the story of Operation Lam Son 719, and "Bait" by Donald Stephen, the personal story of a Platoon Leader in D Company 3/187th Infantry in Vietnam 1971. On this mission Sloan's team lost two KIA's.

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Tim Sloan as a Captain in the Louisiana National Guard. Photo most likely taken 1973-1977 when he was Commander of Company C 1/156th Infantry (Louisiana National Guard.)

 

On his shoulder he is wearing CPT rank and on green Leadership tabs the DUI for the 156th Infantry Regiment. SSI is for the 256th Infantry Brigade.

 

Curiously he appears to be wearing his Infantry Branch crossed rifles for the 3/187th Infantry. When this photo was taken he had not yet received orders for the award of the Silver Star Medal in Vietnam 1971.

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M1 steel helmet worn by major Timothy T. Sloan (post Vietnam.) Last model of the steel helmet before being replaced by the PASGT Kevlar.

 

Cover is in ERDL pattern (not woodland) made of non-ripstop cloth. The cloth cover has Sloan's name tape sewn on the rear and his Major's collar rank sewn on the front.

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