Wounded of Phu Nhon - 1/92nd FA Vietnam

Unit History

The 1/92nd Field Artillery
Association - Vietnam

The Wounded of Phu Nhon
1 February 1971

Sgt. David A. Powell "Surfer"
Gunner of Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971
WIA 1 Feb71 during mortar attack on FSB Miller. Medevac'd to Pleiku, Qui Nhon, and Japan. I now live in Vacaville, CA. With my wife of 18 years, Lisa. These are the men I lived, ate, and fought beside; and with which I was wounded. Leaving as I did, I never got the chance to tell them what a pleasure it was to serve with them. They were the Best of the Best

PFC. Randolph Pope "Pope"
Driver and Cannoneer on Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971
WIA 1Feb71 during mortar attack on FSB Miller. Medevac'd to Pleiku, then Qui Nhon. Pope was still in ICU when I left for Japan, but I did get to say goodbye to him. He was looking forward to going home himself. Pope was a neat young man and we had a lot of fun together.

PFC. Thomas Craig Miller "Tom or TC"
Cannoneer on Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971
KIA 1Feb71 from wounds received in mortar attack. Medevac'd from Phu Nhon, and died in transit to Qui Nhon. The Firebase at Phu Nhon was named for Tom. Tom came from New Jersey and was a very caring individual. Most of us called Tom "TC" not because of his initials, but the cartoon "Top Cat" was popular during this time and Tom was just that cool.
Webmasters Note: TC, as a new man in the battery, had claimed to be the nephew of an Apollo Astronaut. When we older guys found out that he was just pulling our legs, we figured that he would fit right in with our unit. Yes, he was cool.

Sgt. Reginald Karg 'Reg or Reggie'
Section Chief of Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971
WIA 1Feb71 during mortar attack on FSB Miller. Not Medevac'd. Reg was treated on the FSB and returned to duty. Reg was one hell of a section chief. It had to be hell for him to be cut off from his section during the siege of Phu Nhon... it was my pleasure to work with him. I believe we had the fastest gun in C Btry because of Reg and the other guys you'll meet. I must confess Reg; I took the parachute from the illumination round.

PFC. Michael Jimerson "Mike"
Projo Man on Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971
WIA 1Feb71 during mortar attack on FSB Miller. Medevac'd to Pleiku then Qui Nhon. Like Pope, Mike was still in ICU when I left for Japan. I didn't get the pleasure of saying goodbye to Mike. A lot of things make a gun fast, a projo man that can "seat" a round with his bare hands helps. Mike, a big man with a heart to match.

SP4. James McCurdy "The Hurdy Gurdy Man"
Cannoneer on Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971
WIA 1Feb71 during mortar attack on FSB Miller. Medevac'd to Pleiku, then Cam Ranh Bay. James was on convalescent leave when Reg went to the Cam Rahn to give him his Bronze Star. I don't know what acts of bravery James performed, but he was a "Crack Soldier" and he was always clean, and pressed. I don't remember him ever being "out of uniform" which was common for the rest of us in the section. In case you didn't guess the song by Donnovan is where James got his nickname.

SP4. William Paul Drew "Bill, or Willie P"
Cannoneer on Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971
WIA 1Feb71 during mortar attack on FSB Miller. Not Medevac'd. Bill was treated at the FSB and returned to duty. I got a note from Willie dated 7Mar71 wanting to know how I was feeling. He was leaving the next day for the States. He got a 26-day drop and was going back to Rochester, NY. He didn't know how lucky he was... 8 days later the siege would begin. Like most cannoneers in our section Bill (as most called him) did a little of everything. But he was "Hot" which is why I nicknamed him "Willie P".

SP4. Charles Druin "Chuck"
Assistant Gunner on Gun 4 in C Btry. 1970-1971.WIA 1Feb71 during mortar attack on FSB Miller. Medevac'd to Pleiku then Qui Nhon. This is one position that can make or break a gun section... and Chuck was one of the best AG's in the 1/92nd. He was smart as well as fast. Reg said we were the best team C Btry ever had. Of course Reg was only there 1 year and I'm sure just a little biased. It is very important that your Gunner and AG get along and Chuck and I did. When they opened Pleiku to the troops one time Chuck and I went downtown and spent the day shopping for gold and seeing the sites.

by David Powell 17 August 2000

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