Letter from a Platoon Leader

By Talmadge Cain

When I took over Scouts from Jim Edge, he took over S5. Scouts was also called Recon and we were stationed at LZ Action, west of An Khe. We were set up to have 56 personnel, 13 tracks, and patrolled from Mang Yang Pass East to LZ Schueller. We were big enough that we manned 2-3 strong points, and had two groups patrolling (Search and Destroy) going every day. We also responded quickly to any contact within 25 Klicks. At night we reinforced 4-5 bridges, provided security to LZ Action, and sent out at least one ambush patrol. We did not have much contact with SRAP-they worked out of An Khe and sent ambushes out at night. Once we moved back to LZ Uplift, we did a lot of CA's and day and night patrols.

The Brigade and Batallion tended to send us malcontents and troublemakers but they were great soldiers for me. We rode fast and hard and had a lot of contact. My guys thought that we were invincible so they designed the Scouts standard that we all flew from our tracks (I'll send some pics). After we started flying the standard, most everybody called us Scouts instead of Recon.. The rest of the batallion rarely saw us unless we rode up when they were ambushed or had contact, then they were glad to see us.

We had contact every Sunday, every holiday, and days with a 3 in it. LZ Action had the best mess hall around and Hanoi Hanna once said on the radio that she intended eating Christmas Dinner at LZ Action (she never made it, though).

We were part of HHC when I was there. The Scout commander was never a new lieutenant but transferred from a line platoon. Most officers in the battalion stayed 6 months in the field then in the rear 6 months. By the time I had 8 months in, my replacement took over but was wounded trying to disarm a booby trap. Good old LTC Woodall sent me back to the Scouts where I stayed until DEROS. I had a great bunch of guys.

Talmadge Cain

Webmaster's Note: Talmadge Cain's letter is a great tribute to our Scout Platoon. I was a Scout P.L. in Germany before coming to Nam myself, and I know that the powers-that-be often sent people they considered "trouble-makers" to Scout Platoons - but I also know that they often make the best soldiers if allowed to get on with their job!

Formation of the 1/50(M) Scout/Recon Platoon

By Rigo Ordaz

The 1/50 (M) Infantry Scout/Recon Platoon was activated in the latter part of May 1968. It participated in the Battle of Trinh Van, May 25-26 but was still operating as Delta Co. on May 5, 1968. The Scout/Recon Platoon was constituted from personnel and assets from Delta Co. (Provisional) when it no longer was a line company. The Scout/Recon Platoon had 56 personnel and 13 Armored Personnel Carriers and was part of HHC Company. The Recon Platoon kept the same numbers on the APCs as those of Delta Company for a while but eventually they were painted over.

On June 1, 1968 1LT Daniel F. White, from Delta 4th Platoon, was assigned as Scout Platoon Leader. At that time the Scout/ Recon Platoon operated out of LZ Uplift. The 1/50 (M) Infantry had been attached since April 5,1968 to the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate), after being earlier attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, and one month to the 4th Infantry Division.

The new platoon was comprised of two groups and a Recon team about 12 troopers strong, which was started with Sgt. Benjamin Shaw of Delaware in charge. The Scout Platoon and the Recon team would carry out Reconnaissance in Force, Search and Clear, Cordon & Search, day and night ambushes, road and base security in the area from Phu My to Bong Son. The Battalion History from July 1 to Aug 1968 carries several mentions of the Scout Platoon in Operation Cochise in the Soui Ca Valley. On 21 July, 1968 at BR020797 the Scout Platoon captures 1 VC enemy. On 31 July 1968, Scout Platoon killed one NVA with webbed gear at 311125 VIC of BR782608. Another enemy dead with B40 rocket launcher and 5 rockets. The Scouts continued operating in the LZ Uplift and Bong Son area On Aug.3,1968, Scout Platoon hit a booby trap hand grenade VIC BR799588. Four personnel and the platoon leader were wounded. The 1/50 (M) Infantry finished joint operations in the AO Cochise Green in the Soui Ca Valley and prepared to move to AO Walker around An Khe, LZ Schueller, LZ Action and QL19, where the mission changed to mostly road and bridge security. The 1/50 and Scouts manned Strong Points and Bridges and conducted patrols and ambushes in the area.

The original Scout Platoon Recon team, Summer 1968. Sgt. Benjamin Shaw (far left standing) was in charge of the group. Next to Shaw is Carver, 5th man from the left (Standing) is SP4 Jim Sackett, far right standing with M16 rifle is Roy Valadez. Kneeling center is Ignacio Evangelista and next to him to the right is John Hunt, who became a squad leader later on. The Recon team would carry out day and night ambushes and reconaissance missions. (Help is needed in identifying the rest of the group)