SUBMITTED BY: CPT JOHN D. LAMBERT JR.
Battery H, 29th Field Artillery (SEARCHLIGHT) was activated on 5 October 1966
by the authority of General Order 184, paragraph 1.
Captain Kenneth L. Lowmiller Jr. assumed command of Battery H on 10 October 1966.
An intensified training program was initiated on 23 October 1966 in preparation
for deployment to Vietnam.
At the close of the calendar year, Battery H, 29th Field Artillery (SEARCHLIGHT) was
fully organized, trained, and combat ready. Battery H consisted of 3 searchlight
platoons.
SIGNATURE: CPT JOHN D. LAMBERT JR., COMMANDING
SUBMITTED BY: 2LT JESSE SANDEZ JR.
H Battery, 29th Artillery is one of four new field artillery searchlight batteries
recently formed a Fort Sill. The unit was activated on 5 October 1966 and after an
intense training program was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam on 13 March 1967.
The lights are used through the IV Corps area to furnish direct and indirect
battlefield illumination in support of tactical night operations.
Major commanders and their period of assignments have been Major Kenneth L. Lowmiller,
unit commander from 10 Oct 66 to 28 Feb 68 and Captain Martin L. Price from
28 Feb 68 to the present.
Control is with the headquarters and communications sections at Can Tho. It is under
the operational control of the Senior Advisor IV Corps. The battery commander is
acting as a special staff under the supervision of the IV Corps Artillery advisor.
First platoon headquarters is located at Bac Lieu, it is under the operational control
of the Senior Advisor 21st Division (ARVN). The platoon is composed of five sections
situated throughout the most southern part of the Delta. The various duties of these
sections include Special forces camp security, road security and airfield security.
Second platoon headquarters is located at Dong Tam. The platoon, under operational
control of the 9th U.S. Division Artillery, is composed of six sections situated in the
northern most section of the IV Corps area. The primary duties of these sections consist
of aircraft guidance, road security and various perimeter securities.
Third platoon headquarters is located at Vinh Long, it is the largest of the three platoons.
It is composed of seven sections situated centrally, throughout the IV Corps area. The
platoon is under operational control of the Senior Advisor 7th Division (ARVN). Duties
of these sections range from city patrol to compound security.
As the muddy Mekong River leaves the Cambodian border, it begins to divide and sends
thousand of smaller streams swirling over the land like a giant fan. These tributaries
spread across the flat expanse of South Vietnam, depositing tons of rich soil over the
region.
Very little dry land courses over the Delta. Farmers build their homes on mounds of earth
to escape the rising waters. Free cover for the Viet Cong is limited, consequently they
must travel at night. This is where the use of searchlights are important.
Staging of H Battery 29th Arty by 9th Infantry Division at Bear Cat and they deployed
south into IV Corps. On 13 March, the advance party proceeded to Camp Bear Cat with the
Advance body initiating the staging phase for the arrival of the main body. Other major
operations are classified.
Reflections
Major Awards:
Bronze Star
1LT John M. Keith
SGT Lloyd Click
SGT Jerome H. Brown
Purple Heart:
SFC Louis J. Loscudo
SP4 Bruce E. Decker
SP4 Johnny A. Caskins
SP4 Richard E. Malick
SP4 Douglas F. Mokma
SP4 Leroy R. Meaks
PFC Lake F. Anderson
PFC Erwin J. Harnick
PFC Robert L. Glaze
PFC Dave E. Haught
PFC Ronald D. Horner
PFC Patrick Kinard
PFC Michael O. Martin
PFC Phil Mosley
PFC John Osten
Honor Roll of Members Killed in Action
PFC Raymond L. Jarvi
PFC Joseph G. Vogrinec
PFC Richard L. Pittman
SIGNATURE: CPT MARTIN L. PRICE, COMMANDING
SUBMITTED BY: JOHN D. LAMBERT JR.
On 17 March 1970 H Battery (SLT), 29th Artillery was relieved from attached 164th Gp (Cbt) and further
attached to 307th Avn Bn (Cbt) APO 96215.
On 26 May 1970 H Battery (SLT), 29th Artillery witnessed a change of command. CPT Gene V. Baldwin FA
relinquished the colors to the new commanding officer CPT John D. Lambert Jr. FA.
During the past year H Battery (SLT), 29th Artillery continued to provide searchlight operations
in support of various airfileds, MACV Teams and Special Forces camps in Military Region IV. In the
44th Tactical Zone the third platoon of H Battery was attached to 5th Special Forces. During this time
there were numerous sightings reported and five enemy KIA's. At Vinh Gai searchlight operations with
the Navy produced three enemy KIA's and numerous sightings. If it were not for the instant response of
the searchlight crew the position could have very well been over run. At Tinh Binh the searchlight
crew being employed to work with 164th GP radar turned in an average of two sightings per week and
was credited bt the radar section commander as having been a valuable asset in the success of the
operations of the radar. The second platoon located at Dong Tam was credited with six enemy KIA's
and frequent enemy sightings that were reported to the target control center at Dong Tam which proved
to be very factual information. Additionally at Can Tho Airfield, the searchlights were instrumental
in providing security for the airfield. During this period they allowed no sapper attacks to originate
due to their sightings with infra-red light and immediate response to all attemps to bridge the airfield.
During the year H Bty acquired four new positions: Ha Tien on the Gulf of Thailand, Nui Cam a mountain
southwest of Chi Lang, My Phouc Tay and MACV District Headquarters at Cai Lay.
Honor Role of Unit Members Killed in Action:
SGT Robert D. Farnham
SP4 Joseph Antonelli
Honor Role of Unit Members Receiving Major Awards:
Silver Star:
SP4 Kevin McGrath
Bronze Star with V:
SP4 Guy W. Hackney
Purple Heart:
SP4 Charles A. Vanagus Jr.
SIGNATURE: CPT JOHN D. LAMBERT JR., COMMANDING
NOTE 1: This information was trancsribed from the official historical summaries!
NOTE 2: Also included with this was a black and white drawing of the unit
NOTE 3: Units supported by Battery H, 29th Artillery in Vietnam:
SP4 William R. Lewis
SP4 Larry N. Manning
patch of Battery H, worn on the left breast pocket, centered, for wear only
while in Vietnam. Harry Varney provided us with a large photograph of it.
And, Leon Baldwin, Webmaster for the 9th Infantry Division Web Pages,
created this rendition, which is pretty accurate to that drawing!
2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery
1st Battalion, 11th Artillery
3rd Battalion, 34th Artillery
1st Battalion, 84th Artillery
Battery C, 5th Battalion (AW)(SP), 2nd Artillery
