Vietnam 1st Battalion
Robert P. Hutchinson
A Company 1967 – 1968
I served 3 tours in Nam beginning January 1966 and ending May 1068. I deployed with the 604th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support) out of Fort Campbell, KY in Jan ’67. Stationed at Camp Hollaway in Pleiku with some service at Nha Trang.
I was an in-country replacement because of my airborne status and reassigned to the 101st in May ’67. After my 2nd tour was complete I signed for another tour with 17th Combat Aviation Group headquartered out of Nha Trang where I did my part in the Tet offensive.
I am jump qualified, my training was at Fort Benning, GA. in November and December 1964. In fact it was so windy in those months we never did jump from the 250 ft. tower. We went straight from the 34 footer to our 5 qualifiers. My first airborne assignment was with C Company 3rd Battalion 187th Infantry Rakkasans until Jan. ’66.
After all these years the pride of serving with the ABU’s has never diminished.
