Well, I know how to sew. Nothing fancy. Basic stitches. I know how to do my own research and how to verify sources. That is really surprising how …

What’s a skill you consider basic, that most people don’t actually know how to do?

I joined the Army 6/19/74, Looking for any women who served with me in Guam April, 1975. I am a female veteran who was stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center (Oahu, Hawaii) and subsequently deployed TDY to Guam for Operation New Life, at the fall of Saigon. During this operation, I was part of the historic contingent of approximately 100 Women’s Army Corps (WAC) personnel attached directly to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

This assignment marked the first deployment of its kind in U.S. Army history. Breaking the Infantry Barrier: Prior to this specific 1975 mission, the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) operated as a entirely separate branch. We were strictly banned from combat arms units—meaning a woman could not legally be assigned or attached to an active Infantry Battalion.The Pioneer 100: When the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (“The Bobcats”) was tasked with executing the massive humanitarian and logistical layout of Operation New Life, the Army shattered this tradition. By attaching a contingent of 100 WAC personnel directly to a frontline infantry battalion, the military ran its very first large-scale operational test of integrated field deployment. Paving the Way for 1978: The incredible success of my group on Guam directly proved that the Army did not need a separate “Women’s Corps.” The performance of the 100 women attached to the 1-5 Infantry became a primary case study that led Congress to permanently disestablish the WAC in 1978 and fully integrate women into regular Army lines. My problem now is that I have terminal small cell lung cancer and cannot find any record of my being in Guam!

We were supposed to receive a Humanitarian Service Medal but I never got one. It would certainly help if I can get it, in order to receive my medical benefits under the PACT ACT, for exposure to Agent Orange. I am currently under a Priority Higher Review and am looking for any proof that I was TDY’d to Guam in 1975, Operation New Life. Thank you.

If anyone reads this … this was shared and posted by the woman above … mustering to help

Good evening, everyone. Thank for allowing me to join. I’m looking for anyone who might have known Burt Chauncy Small, Jr along with some others. So, in total, I’m looking for friends or acquaintances of:

-SPC4 (later SGT) Burt C. Small, Jr.
-SSG Jacob (Jake) G. Roth, Jr.
-SSG Michael F. Stearns
-MSG Thomas J. Sanchez

• anyone at camp A-108 during the years of 66-67

Some details:

Burt graduated Savannah High School class of 1965 then enlisted in Jan 1966 and did basics at Ft Gordon, then Airborne and all at Benning. He was then sent overseas. He arrived as a SP4 but was promoted to SGT (though files online say differently sometimes) and received his beret. On March 6, 1967, he was ambushed while helping to lead a 20-man CIDG patrol with the older SGT and Korean War vet and career soldier, Jacob Roth. After Burt was injured in the leg and fell, the two were separated. Burt was seen by a CIDG soldier during this time who witnessed him being led off as a prisoner by the NVA.

Two American soldiers volunteered to lead a rescue mission from the nearby camp A-108 where they were stationed but they were sadly killed during the firefight. I can tell the details later if you’d like to hear and you’re unaware of their service, but they were heavily outnumbered but each chose to go to the assistance of wounded CIDG brothers anyways during this time despite knowing it would mean the end for them due to the heavy gunfire. They both received posthumous awards with one of them being awarded the Bronze Star. These were special men: Michael Stearns and Thomas Sanchez.

Jacob was rescued by an American helicopter during this time (which has been detailed in a blog by one of the crew if you’re interested) but when a patrol was sent to find Burt, there was no sign of him. He was listed as a POW until the mid 1970s when he was declared presumed dead.

I would really like to hear from ANYONE who knew any of these men: Burt, Jacob (he passed in 2022 and sadly I didn’t find him before then), Michael or Thomas.

One of my best friends and mentors was a friend and brother of Burt. I was also friends with Burt’s father but he passed away years ago and both he and his wife always waited for news until their last days.

I still have many unanswered questions. And I feel like I owe it to Burt and to Burt Sr and to my friend to find these answers. Therefore, I am starting to put up some social media ads and digital advertising boards in Vietnam with rewards for any hints or tips that can lead to the recovery of Burt’s uniform pieces, dog tags, location, or information as to what happened to him after March 6, 1967.

HOWEVER, anyone that knew him and could provide me with more pictures of him, Jacob, details of that day or just what you heard about that day etc would be so helpful. I do not want to contact Burt’s remaining siblings and get their hopes up at this time which is why I thought I’d reach out to the veteran and 5th SF community.

I realize it’s a long shot to find people that knew these men, and an even longer shot to find any info or clues about Burt or this battle, but I just feel like I have to do what I need to do .

Thank you for reading if you got this far.

Here are photos of the guys in question (LtoR, Burt, Jacob, Michael and Thomas: I also used AI— which is obviously not perfect— to try to make modern, HD photos of them in case they would help spark memories for people. Those are in the comments)