The Famous, Fighting
This is my collection of 4th Inf. Div. Insignia. The badges date
from World War I through Vietnam.
At center left are some examples of the Vietnam era (so called)
"beer can" badges, which were made from sheet metal by local
Vietnamese companies.
Some of the older insignia is made from cast bronze and copper,
as well as the traditional brass.
The colors vary from Army Green (AG), to olive drab (OD), to olive
green (OG), to khaki, and black.
from World War I through Vietnam.
At center left are some examples of the Vietnam era (so called)
"beer can" badges, which were made from sheet metal by local
Vietnamese companies.
Some of the older insignia is made from cast bronze and copper,
as well as the traditional brass.
The colors vary from Army Green (AG), to olive drab (OD), to olive
green (OG), to khaki, and black.
Fourth Infantry Division
God bless our troops.
| "Steadfast and Loyal" |
About me:
"Steadfast and Loyal"
The motto of the Fighting Fourth.
I was originally assigned to the Fourth Infantry Division G1 (Plans) at Camp Enari in Pleiku, South
Vietnam, in the summer of 1967. My first assignment was to gather personnel intel for the G1's daily
General briefing.
During the buildup of the Tet Offensive, in the last days of January 1968,and throughout that
campaign, I was reassigned to Hq. & Hq. Co., 4th Reaction Force. This was a temporary, ad hoc unit that
reported to the HHC Commander. About a week later I was assigned as a team leader to that unit, then
later in February as a (TDY) member of the 4th Recon Team.
In the Reaction Force, our special orders were to protect the base camp Division Headquarters which
consisted of G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, the Commandant's and General Officers' quarters, the Division War
Room and Division Tactical Operations Center (DTOC) between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
We also made "recon visits" to area villages during the day ... sometimes at night. We usually traveled
in four-man teams, consisting of a team leader, two riflemen, and an interpreter. Our assignment was
usually to inspect and search for evidence of possible enemy activity, food and arms caches, and to
interview the villagers to gather area intelligence for headquarters.
Those two jobs involved swing shifts, either day or night ... often both. During the Tet Offensive, it
wasn't uncommon to work 36 or 48 hours without sleep. By contrast, base camp guard duty was a
relief with the usual hours of "one on and two off" or "two on and four off."
I served under Major General, William R. Peers (July-67 to Jan-68) and Major General, Charles P.
Stone (Jan-68 to July-68.
The 4th Reaction Force and 4th Recon Team was assigned by the Headquarters Company Commanding
Officer to G1 (Plans), and worked with G2 (Intelligence), G5 (Civil Affairs), and on a few occasions,
agents of the CIA ("spooks" are curious fellows).
Interestingly, we also had to escort and provide protection for various visiting Pentagon-types on fact-
finding tours, and some (unknown to me) senators and congressmen. Some of our most memorable
assignments were to perform as bodyguards for visiting entertainers. One very memorable one was
to provide night time security for Martha Rae and her troupe of dancing girls. Martha, and the ladies,
were very lovely, friendly, charming people - that's a night I will never forget.
========================================================================================
But before that ...
"Vigilant and Invincible"
That was our motto in the US Army Coastal Air Defense Command, in those days under NORAD and
CONAD (North American Air Defense and Continental Air Defense).
In 1965, I originally I joined the US Army to train as a Communications Specialist. I spent 2 years at an
Army Air Defense Command site (ARADCOM) in Highlands, New Jersey, the 19th Artillery Group HAADS,
(Highlands Army Air Defense Site -NIKE), under the 52nd Artillery Brigade at Fort Hancock, Sandy
Hook, New Jersey. Much of our activities were attached as temporary duty (TDY) to the US Army's
Communications Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. This was really great duty, especially if you
are a Ham Radio Operator and interested in electronics - Uncle Sam sure has some great (and
expensive) toys, not to mention the "007" aspect of it since all this required Security Clearances
(good old James Bond was the pop hero of the time). Once my 2-year assignment ran out in July of
1967, it was off to Vietnam ... but you already read about that.
"Steadfast and Loyal"
The motto of the Fighting Fourth.
I was originally assigned to the Fourth Infantry Division G1 (Plans) at Camp Enari in Pleiku, South
Vietnam, in the summer of 1967. My first assignment was to gather personnel intel for the G1's daily
General briefing.
During the buildup of the Tet Offensive, in the last days of January 1968,and throughout that
campaign, I was reassigned to Hq. & Hq. Co., 4th Reaction Force. This was a temporary, ad hoc unit that
reported to the HHC Commander. About a week later I was assigned as a team leader to that unit, then
later in February as a (TDY) member of the 4th Recon Team.
In the Reaction Force, our special orders were to protect the base camp Division Headquarters which
consisted of G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, the Commandant's and General Officers' quarters, the Division War
Room and Division Tactical Operations Center (DTOC) between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
We also made "recon visits" to area villages during the day ... sometimes at night. We usually traveled
in four-man teams, consisting of a team leader, two riflemen, and an interpreter. Our assignment was
usually to inspect and search for evidence of possible enemy activity, food and arms caches, and to
interview the villagers to gather area intelligence for headquarters.
Those two jobs involved swing shifts, either day or night ... often both. During the Tet Offensive, it
wasn't uncommon to work 36 or 48 hours without sleep. By contrast, base camp guard duty was a
relief with the usual hours of "one on and two off" or "two on and four off."
I served under Major General, William R. Peers (July-67 to Jan-68) and Major General, Charles P.
Stone (Jan-68 to July-68.
The 4th Reaction Force and 4th Recon Team was assigned by the Headquarters Company Commanding
Officer to G1 (Plans), and worked with G2 (Intelligence), G5 (Civil Affairs), and on a few occasions,
agents of the CIA ("spooks" are curious fellows).
Interestingly, we also had to escort and provide protection for various visiting Pentagon-types on fact-
finding tours, and some (unknown to me) senators and congressmen. Some of our most memorable
assignments were to perform as bodyguards for visiting entertainers. One very memorable one was
to provide night time security for Martha Rae and her troupe of dancing girls. Martha, and the ladies,
were very lovely, friendly, charming people - that's a night I will never forget.
========================================================================================
But before that ...
"Vigilant and Invincible"
That was our motto in the US Army Coastal Air Defense Command, in those days under NORAD and
CONAD (North American Air Defense and Continental Air Defense).
In 1965, I originally I joined the US Army to train as a Communications Specialist. I spent 2 years at an
Army Air Defense Command site (ARADCOM) in Highlands, New Jersey, the 19th Artillery Group HAADS,
(Highlands Army Air Defense Site -NIKE), under the 52nd Artillery Brigade at Fort Hancock, Sandy
Hook, New Jersey. Much of our activities were attached as temporary duty (TDY) to the US Army's
Communications Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. This was really great duty, especially if you
are a Ham Radio Operator and interested in electronics - Uncle Sam sure has some great (and
expensive) toys, not to mention the "007" aspect of it since all this required Security Clearances
(good old James Bond was the pop hero of the time). Once my 2-year assignment ran out in July of
1967, it was off to Vietnam ... but you already read about that.
| This site is under construction. As soon as I convert some of my several hundred 35mm slides to .jpg format I'll post some of the more interesting ones here. |
Here is a glass sun-catcher
that my sister, Carol, gave to
me on Christmas 2007.
Carol is a gifted artist and
craftsperson. As can be
seen, this rendition of our
insignia is testimony to her
abilities with glass and lead.
This stained glass ornament
measures about 8-inches
from point-to-point, and
casts a brilliant gold and
green glow into the room,
which really isn't captured
by the photograph.
Having my "badge" hanging
in front of the morning sun
is a constant reminder of my
"steadfast and loyal"
comrades and outfit - a
proud, fitting, and
appreciated tribute.
that my sister, Carol, gave to
me on Christmas 2007.
Carol is a gifted artist and
craftsperson. As can be
seen, this rendition of our
insignia is testimony to her
abilities with glass and lead.
This stained glass ornament
measures about 8-inches
from point-to-point, and
casts a brilliant gold and
green glow into the room,
which really isn't captured
by the photograph.
Having my "badge" hanging
in front of the morning sun
is a constant reminder of my
"steadfast and loyal"
comrades and outfit - a
proud, fitting, and
appreciated tribute.