Brigade Security Platoon was commanded by HQ 3rd Brigade it was about 30-40 men (standard platoon in size) - and assigned as needed - I was assigned as the medic to the platoon in mid-January 1972 - Brigade Security Platoon (commanded by LT. Cotney) was at Fire base Ennis/Aimee, the base was under construction and we helped to build it, did base defense and also wood-line patrols, the only records I have ever seen of Brigade Security Platoon were on your web site - in the daily staff journals - which was a nice surprise! we did operations with the 2/8th in Jan, Feb, Mar, April, May -1972 by the 26th of January (according to the officers Daily Staff Journals on your web site) we were at Fire base Melanie preforming base defense with A Co. and the Recon Platoon on the 27th Jan we did a short patrol at Melanie and continued base defense with Co. A and the recon platoon, the 28th Jan.base defense at Melanie with A co. and recon platoon, the 29th - 30th base defense with D Co. and recon platoon - the 31st of Jan 1972 we conducted a combat assault with the recon platoon from FSB Melanie to YT 238056 for ground recon and ambush ops. this lasted around 10-12 days and we were back at FSB Melanie pulling base defense with A Co. and recon Platoon Feb 13th 1972 we conducted a combat assault with A Co. to YT 190053 for ground recon and ambush ops. we moved up to YT 267145 around 1545 hrs Brigade Security Platoon arrived at YT 270143 discovered a bunker complex and came under intense AK-47 and B/40 rocket fire - we destroyed the bunker complex the next morning and stayed with A co. until the 18th of Feb. Brigade Security Platoon continued Combat Assaults with the 2/8th, I think with A Co. and/or others through Feb, Mar, April, but we seem to have dissapeared from the records! (which often happened in Vietnam) and operations -odd jobs- for 3rd Brigade until May 10th 1972. on May 10th 1972 we were at Long Tangh North waiting an air hop to Vung Tao for R&R as the platoons of D Co. just back from task force salvo at Komtum/Pleiku were lined up with Brigade Security Platoon to catch the chopper - I cut in front of a platoon from D Co. and started up the ramp to catch first lift on the Chinook - my platoon sort of shuffled on to it behind me - there was a quick discussion to the Capt. about who was first lift - but since we were already half up the ramp (because I initated the move) he said go ahead and load your men LT Cotney - so we got the first lift to Vung Tao - on the 2nd lift a platoon from D Co.crashed killing 34 men, my platoon survived Vietnam because I cut in front and they probably never realized it - the names I remember from my platoon are - LT Cotney, Doc (me) RTO (thats all I knew him by) , SGT Barret, SGT White (black guy) SGT White (white guy) big AL (60-gunner ) Jake Mc... (buck SGT) ,SGT Swartz, Shorty, Throrney, Marshell,Curtis Holland, Chandler, and also Rouse,Tom Rice (new replacments) - if I can think of any others I'll let you know it was so long ago -

Keefauver

Keefauver & Huey Cobra

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