Allen_Raiford
New member
While conducting research for my webpage, I received an email from a former member of the 11th Pathfinders (Vietnam era).
His letter descibed the action for which Team 1, 11th Pathfinders was given the Valorous Unit Award.
For you military buffs, I present the email he sent to me.
"The award was given because of the action on LZ Grant, during a ground attack [7-11Mar69]. The Battalion TOC had been destroyed by the NVA/VC sappers and a rocket and mortar attack. The Pathfinders on LZ Grant took control of the ARA and Jet fighters that were there to help fend off this VERY AGGRESSIVE attack. The Pathfinder team was from Team 1. If I remember correctly, the team consisted of Sgt Bob Strosser, and CPL Pete Gufistian. Other team members were lifted into Grant by the 1st Bde Aviation Platoon to assist those there. The TOC was destroyed and the Battalion Commander and his key personnel were either wounded or Killed. The Pathfinders on the Southeast side of the base brought in jet strikes to within 50 meters of their position and directly on the base green line to repel the attackers. If
my memory is correct there were about 30 KIA and 45 WIA, NVA/VC losses were over 175 KIA and numerous wounded.?! { body count}. The Pathfinders controlled the MEDIVACS and Cobra teams as well as the resupply choppers bringing in much needed ammo and
Higher ranking officers to replace the ones killed and/or wounded. This included bringing in choppers while the attack was going full bore.
These two guys that were there were LEGENDS in the Team, I had the honor of being mentored by Sgt Bob Strausser. Being sent to Grant the 17th of March the bomb craters and pot holes were evident all over. The Pathfinder bunker had to be torn down and rebuilt due to the large amount of damage to
it. I guess they were aiming at the tall antenna that we used. We moved the damn thing as far away from the bunker [as possible] when we rebuilt. Let me know if I can be of more help."
His letter descibed the action for which Team 1, 11th Pathfinders was given the Valorous Unit Award.
For you military buffs, I present the email he sent to me.
"The award was given because of the action on LZ Grant, during a ground attack [7-11Mar69]. The Battalion TOC had been destroyed by the NVA/VC sappers and a rocket and mortar attack. The Pathfinders on LZ Grant took control of the ARA and Jet fighters that were there to help fend off this VERY AGGRESSIVE attack. The Pathfinder team was from Team 1. If I remember correctly, the team consisted of Sgt Bob Strosser, and CPL Pete Gufistian. Other team members were lifted into Grant by the 1st Bde Aviation Platoon to assist those there. The TOC was destroyed and the Battalion Commander and his key personnel were either wounded or Killed. The Pathfinders on the Southeast side of the base brought in jet strikes to within 50 meters of their position and directly on the base green line to repel the attackers. If
my memory is correct there were about 30 KIA and 45 WIA, NVA/VC losses were over 175 KIA and numerous wounded.?! { body count}. The Pathfinders controlled the MEDIVACS and Cobra teams as well as the resupply choppers bringing in much needed ammo and
Higher ranking officers to replace the ones killed and/or wounded. This included bringing in choppers while the attack was going full bore.
These two guys that were there were LEGENDS in the Team, I had the honor of being mentored by Sgt Bob Strausser. Being sent to Grant the 17th of March the bomb craters and pot holes were evident all over. The Pathfinder bunker had to be torn down and rebuilt due to the large amount of damage to
it. I guess they were aiming at the tall antenna that we used. We moved the damn thing as far away from the bunker [as possible] when we rebuilt. Let me know if I can be of more help."