Book Description

US Army Paratroopers from the elite 173rd Airborne Brigade (SEPERATE) were the first US Army Combat Soldiers to enter South Vietnam in May 1965. Surviving in the jungles of The Central Highlands of II Corps not only involved enemy contact with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers. Learning survival skills in the jungle environment was taxing both physically, and mentally, for one of the US Army's most highly decorated units, with more Medal of Honor recipients than any combat unit of similar size during The Vietnam War. "Contact Charlie" Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's 1st Battalion 503rd Airborne Infantry lived in the jungles of The Central Highlands for extended periods of time, surviving off Long Range Recon Patrol (LRRP) dehydrated meals, and C-rations. They depended on the Central Highlands triple canopy jungle streams for their water supply. The paratrooper's home was a foxhole and his supplies were carried on his back in a "rucksack". The paratroopers would stay in the Central Highlands mountainous jungles for several weeks before returning to the rear base camps for stand down and re-supplying for the next mission. The only way out of the jungle, and the paratrooper's assigned one-year tour of duty, were to be either killed-in-action, wounded-in-action, or to endure the mission as designated by the US Army Chain Of Command.Operations by paratroopers of "The Herd" are contained within this book and YouTube video links to Combat Operations in South Vietnam by The "Sky Soldiers" of The 173rd Airborne Brigade (SEPARATE), a stand alone and independent brigade of US Army paratroopers.The "Herd" paratrooper's were continuously "saddling-up" and were enemy team and "hawk" hunters on Search and Destroy missions in the largest two provinces, Kontum and Binh Dinh, of South Vietnam during 1965 to 1971.The paratroopers of The 173rd Airborne Brigade were considered to be US Army Commanding General William C. Westmoreland's "fire brigade". The "Sky Soldiers" were a quick reactionary force and operated on Search and Destroy missions in War Zone D, Dak To, and The Central Highlands, a strategic high ground that had to be held by American forces during The Vietnam War to prevent the domino effect and fall of South Vietnam to communist North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh.The "Sky Soldier's" brotherhood and "esprit decor" continues today through various 173rd Airborne Brigade Associational chapters in the United States, Australia, and Italy. The younger "Sky Soldiers" of today have continued to prove themselves in recent combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The common spirit existing in the members of "The Herd" prevails through inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the airborne groups and this reflects greatly on missions of freedom for their fellow Sky Soldiers, patriotism, and The United States of America and for all freedom loving Americans, and their allies."Airborne, All The Way".