"Garry Owen"

[tarbridge]

A group I just received..."If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep."

 

Corporal Robert J Beltran

Birth:13 August 1949

Los Angeles, CA.

 

D Co 5th Battalion 7th Cav 3rd Brigade 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile)

"Garry Owen"

Tour date start:27 May 1970

Killed in Action: 12 October 1970

 

 

A overview from the internet concerning Cpl Beltran's unit during his time in-country...

 

On 01 May 1970, the First Team was "First into Cambodia" hitting what was previously a Communist sanctuary. President Nixon has given the go-ahead for the surprise mission. Pushing into the "Fish Hook" region of the border and occupying the towns of Mimot and Snoul, troopers scattered the enemy forces, depriving them of much needed supplies and ammunition. On 08 May, the troopers of the 2nd Brigade found an enemy munitions base that they dubbed "Rock Island East". Ending on 30 June, the mission to Cambodia far exceeded all expectations and proved to be one of the most successful operations of the First Team. All aspects of ground and air combat had been utilized. The enemy had lost enough men to field three NVA divisions and enough weapons to equip two divisions. A years supply of rice and corn had been seized. The troopers and the ARVN soldiers had found uncommonly large quantities of ammunition, including 1.5 millions rounds for small arms, 200,000 antiaircraft rounds and 143,000 rockets, mortar rounds and recoilless rifle rounds. The sweeps turned up 300 trucks, a Porsche sports car and a plush Mercedes-Benz sedan.

 

The campaign had severe political repercussions in the United States for the Nixon Administration. Pressure was mounting to remove America's fighting men from the Vietnam War. Although there would be further assault operations, the war was beginning to wind down for many troopers.

 

In July 1970, the 1st Cavalry Division continued the task of clearing the remaining NVA combat elements from the area of III Corps north, east and west of Saigon. Much of this action was supported from firebases which were able to provide field combat units a self directed protective coverage of firepower to their identified targets over a wide area of remote operations. In addition, most firebases were located close enough so that they could direct protective fire support on each other's perimeter if necessary. Typical artillery support was performed by the "B" Battery, 1st Battalion, 30th Artillery out of Firebase "Moe", a one battalion sized firebase, located in Song Be Province northwest of Saigon approximately two kilometers from the Cambodian border. In addition to other elements, the firebase was equipped with the medium artillery platoon consisting of three 155 Howitzers and staffed by a platoon leader, an XO, a fire control officer, and 50 troopers. The 155 Howitzer, although not state-of-the-art, was a useful heavy weapon in the Vietnam jungle because it could be easily airlifted by a Chinook helicopter and dropped into a new clearing to easily setup a new firebase.

[scottplen]

Very historic group !

[firefighter]

Amazing grouping. http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/3449/ROBERT-J-BELTRAN

 

R.I.P. Brother

[katieony]

Robert,

Another great group...congrats and thanks for sharing this Soldier's story.

Mike

[GIKyle]

Thank you for sharing, Robert.

 

Kyle

[BigJohn#3RD]

RIP Trooper

[easterneagle87]

Very cool group!

[pelseth]

Just ran across this topic.

 

Really super grouping, impressive and heartbreaking for only 5 months into his tour.

 

Is there a way to find up the citations for the Silver Star and the "V" device?