| Graphic provided courtesy of Keith ( Hacksaw ) Bodine, 229th. AHB, 1966 Click on picture to go to Keith's website. |
| This site is dedicated to the honor and memory of Col. Kenneth D. Mertel, who was the Battalion Commander of the Jumping Mustangs as they went into battle in RVN, and who unselfishly created and organized the Jumping Mustang Association because of the respect and love he had for the soldiers who served in this great battalion. He also is responsible for the development of this web site which is carried on in his honor. A tribute to his service has also been posted on the All The Way Brigade web site. Click this link to go there: Crazy Horse Dedication |
This "Jumping Mustang" Web Site is dedicated to all of the "Warriors" who served in Vietnam with our great Battalion
from 1965 to 1971, all "shifts" of our great 1st Air Cav Division and their wonderful spouses, children, and families and
those "Warriors" who paid the "Supreme Sacrifice", and their families. We are all JUMPING MUSTANGS, whether we
jumped with a parachute or simply jumped from a hovering helicopter, sometimes many feet in the air into the jungle,
thus the name of our Home Page Web Site. Individual Company Home Pages are included".
We can never forget our activation as 1st Bn, 8th Cav, Airborne, Airmobile, Air Assault on 1 Jul 1965. Our hard, realistic
training, day and night. Lost Platoon Leaders and their Platoons in the Georgia swamps, learning to navigate in the
jungle and swamps of Fort Benning Georgia. The battalion goes "Airborne" as all "Legs" go to Jump School, the influx
of Airborne Plat Sgts, 1st Sgts and CSM from the 82nd and 101st Abn Divisions. Our first "jumps".
REMEMBER The "Great Five Mile Run" (could we do it??==we did); the green dye as our underwear changed colors.
We sailed from Savannah, Georgia on 20 Aug 1965, aboard the USNS Geiger, 31 days, "double" timed all the way,
through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific Ocean to Qui Nhon (Quy Nhon), landing on 20 Sept.
Remember our liberty for a few hours on Guam, also our invasion of Honolulu in route?
Ready for an amphibious assault landing at Qui Nhon, we were disappointed (and relieved) when we were taken by
helicopter to An Khe, the 1st Air Cav home base, known as the "golf course".
Do not forget our many battles and many combat actions as our "Warriors" came of age and were "blooded". What a
splendid record this "first shift" made, traditions and high standards set to be carried on by all future "shifts" of
"Jumping Mustang Warriors".
What a great group of officers, NCOs and men, "Warriors" all, "Sky Troopers" all. It was my honor and privilege to be
your first commander.
My personal thanks to Jerry Conners (Recon LRRP Team 1965-66) for starting this "Jumping Mustang Home Web
Page". You have done a great job Jerry.
With all of our Jumping Mustangs continuing input, help and support, our "Home Page" shall continue to improve.
HONOR AND COURAGE, DRIVE ON ALL THE WAY,
MUSTANG 6
Ken Mertel
from 1965 to 1971, all "shifts" of our great 1st Air Cav Division and their wonderful spouses, children, and families and
those "Warriors" who paid the "Supreme Sacrifice", and their families. We are all JUMPING MUSTANGS, whether we
jumped with a parachute or simply jumped from a hovering helicopter, sometimes many feet in the air into the jungle,
thus the name of our Home Page Web Site. Individual Company Home Pages are included".
We can never forget our activation as 1st Bn, 8th Cav, Airborne, Airmobile, Air Assault on 1 Jul 1965. Our hard, realistic
training, day and night. Lost Platoon Leaders and their Platoons in the Georgia swamps, learning to navigate in the
jungle and swamps of Fort Benning Georgia. The battalion goes "Airborne" as all "Legs" go to Jump School, the influx
of Airborne Plat Sgts, 1st Sgts and CSM from the 82nd and 101st Abn Divisions. Our first "jumps".
REMEMBER The "Great Five Mile Run" (could we do it??==we did); the green dye as our underwear changed colors.
We sailed from Savannah, Georgia on 20 Aug 1965, aboard the USNS Geiger, 31 days, "double" timed all the way,
through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific Ocean to Qui Nhon (Quy Nhon), landing on 20 Sept.
Remember our liberty for a few hours on Guam, also our invasion of Honolulu in route?
Ready for an amphibious assault landing at Qui Nhon, we were disappointed (and relieved) when we were taken by
helicopter to An Khe, the 1st Air Cav home base, known as the "golf course".
Do not forget our many battles and many combat actions as our "Warriors" came of age and were "blooded". What a
splendid record this "first shift" made, traditions and high standards set to be carried on by all future "shifts" of
"Jumping Mustang Warriors".
What a great group of officers, NCOs and men, "Warriors" all, "Sky Troopers" all. It was my honor and privilege to be
your first commander.
My personal thanks to Jerry Conners (Recon LRRP Team 1965-66) for starting this "Jumping Mustang Home Web
Page". You have done a great job Jerry.
With all of our Jumping Mustangs continuing input, help and support, our "Home Page" shall continue to improve.
HONOR AND COURAGE, DRIVE ON ALL THE WAY,
MUSTANG 6
Ken Mertel
| 1st Cavalry Division Airborne - Airmobile |
| Initial Members were Parachute Qualified... We were all Air Assault and Airmobile |
| The airborne flash for the Jumping Mustangs was approved by the Institute Of Heraldry. The blue background represents the Infantry, and the yellow border with a black stripe represents the cavalry. 1ST AIRBORNE BRIGADE WING BACKGROUND ON RIGHT. |
| Our Actions Lead to the Development of the Current Air Assault Badge and We Performed the First Two Night Combat Air Assaults in History and were Awarded the Air Assault Badge Depicted on the Left. |
| Under Enemy Fire, We replaced our Expert Infantry Badge (left) with Combat Infantry Badges (Right). |
| The Combat Medical Badge (right) was awarded to those men who desperately fought to save the lives of our wounded comrades, which replaced their Expert Medical Badge (left). |
| The full Battalion received the following Unit Awards for Heroism, Valor and Gallantry during Combat in the Republic of Vietnam. |
Presidential Unit Citation for Heroic Actions at Pleiku Province (1965). This citation is
awarded to units of the Armed Forces for extraordinary heroism in action against an
enemy. The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in
accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it
apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism
required is the same as that which warrants the awarding of a Distinguished Service
Cross to an individual.
awarded to units of the Armed Forces for extraordinary heroism in action against an
enemy. The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in
accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it
apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism
required is the same as that which warrants the awarding of a Distinguished Service
Cross to an individual.
Valorous Unit Award for Combat Actions during Fish Hook. The degree of heroism
required is the same as that which warrants the awarding of a Silver Star to an
individual.
required is the same as that which warrants the awarding of a Silver Star to an
individual.
RVN Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Awarded to the unit for combat actions in the
Republic of Vietnam.
Individual Awards and Decorations may be found on the Company Web Pages
Republic of Vietnam.
Individual Awards and Decorations may be found on the Company Web Pages
| We are proud members of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), the highest decorated unit in the Vietnam War. We fought to free the oppressed, and answered President John F. Kennedy's call "Ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your Country!" GOD BLESS AMERICA! GOD BLESS OUR WARRIORS IN HARMS WAY! JOIN THE 1st CAV DIV ASSOCIATION |
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| Site Dedication by Kenneth D Mertel, U.S.A. Col (Ret), Battalion Commander 1965 - 1966 |
| REUNION 25 Washington D.C. Rosslyn CLICK HERE or the REUNION REGISTRATION BUTTON IN THE NAVIGATION BAR AT THE TOP TO SIGN UP |
| View / Sign the Jumping Mustang Guestbook by using the link below |
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HQ...65-71 Alpha Co...65-71 Bravo Co...65-71 Charlie Co...65-71 Delta Co...65-71 Echo Co...68-71
"A" Co..1965-66 "B" Co..1968 "C" Co..1968 "D" Co..1969-70
by Walt Gamache by Mike Price by Kevan Mynderup by Gordon Swenson
"A" Co..1967-68 "D" Co..1965-66
1st platoon by J Conners
by Richard L. Dieterle
| The following links will open in a new window. Close it to return here. 1st Cav Medic by John D. Dennision (Fiddler's Green 5-24-07) Now maintained by Carol Dennison Dukes' Broken Dreams Duke Barrett SKYDOC’S “C” 1/8th Cav “DOC” Dan R. GREENBERG 1965 Operation Henry Clay Airborne |
| 1st Bn 8th Cav Reg, 1st Air Cav Div "Jumping Mustangs" Viet Nam 1965 - 1971 |
7-14-10 updated Alpha Co pages
5-5-10 added photos from Clarence
"Doc Soul" to Charlie Co.
5-5-10 added photos from Clarence
"Doc Soul" to Charlie Co.
| KENNETH D. MERTEL 1924-2006 |
This website is not approved or endorsed by, nor in any way affiliated with, the Department of Defense, the United States Army,
the 1st Cavalry Division or the 1st Cavalry Division Association.
the 1st Cavalry Division or the 1st Cavalry Division Association.
| To View the ARCHIVED Jumping Mustang Guestbook click here. CAN NOT SIGN THIS GUESTBOOK, ONLY LOOK. It will open in a new page, close it to return here. |
Comments, questions or suggestions please send to Kevan Mynderup webmaster. Thank you.