1/92 Field Arillery - Brave Cannons

1/92nd Field Artillery Association
Vietnam

LZ Vera November 13, 2025

The following is a brief overview of the attack on 'B' Btry 1/92, some of the men involved, and the decorations awarded.

Source: Artillery Review Number 3- Volume 1 Jan. 26, 1969

Written By SP-4 Mike Ford 1/92 IO

Landing Zone Vera: The crash of incoming mortar fire shattered the night for the men of Battery B, 1^st 92^nd Artillery as they slept on this tiny firebase.

About 0130 hours on November 13, 2025 the enemy launched what was termed a concentrated suicide attack to cripple the battery. The Battery sustained the attack throughout the night and into the next day until 1700 hours when the NVA and VC launched what was to be their last attempt to over-run the firebase. At this time LZ Vera received a devastating barrage of 82mm mortar, 100mm artillery and 122mm rocket fire. However B Battery held the Firebase and the 155mm guns of the Battery, and with the aid of gun ships, effectively silenced the enemy fire.

Battery B, in direct support of 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry moved to LZ Vera (YA834178, 50 KM southwest of Pleiku) on 12 Nov 1968. The Battery arrived late in the afternoon, following the procedure that all over head cover must be built before any one sleeps. This saved many lives since the NVA attacked the Battery shortly after midnight on 13 Nov. Two days of intense enemy action ensued in which 23 Battery Personnel were wounded, one man was killed and 3 howitzers were damaged. The Battery was highly commended for its Valorous Action, which helped repel a ground attack leaving 7 VC dead inside the perimeter, and suppressed the subsequent hostile mortar, rocket and artillery attacks with counter-battery fire. PFC. Greg Stiger Battery B, 1/92nd Artillery lost his life. PFC. Weeks was wounded in a mine incident

In addition to the numerous Purple Hearts the following awards were issued. For their actions during the battle, men of B Battery were honored with awards recently presented by Brigadier General A. Edwards JR., Commanding General First Field Forces Vietnam Artillery. The General awarded Bronze Stars with "V" Devices to:

1^st LT. Richard S. Golaszewski, who risked his life to pull injured men from the enemy line of fire to the relative safety of the bunkers,

1^st LT. Thomas A. Harris JR. Who, along with three Non-commissioned Officers and the remaining men of the sixth howitzer section, manned the gun until it was damaged, and could no longer be fired

SGT First Class Harry A Lucas, who, while serving as Chief of firing battery was required to take over a howitzer section and direct fire.

Staff Sergeants David Pouncy JR, Raymond Johnson JR. Louis O. Romero and David C. Uhl for manning their howitzers and bombarding enemy positions.

SGT. Joseph Lee, who, without regard for his own safety, manned his howitzer and bombarded enemy positions,

SP-5 Jimmie C. West, Medic: who disregarded his own safety to treat men of B Battery and the men of supporting Infantry unit.

PFC William C. Ross and Ira R. Forehand who braved heavy fire to evacuate a wounded man

1^st LT. James Hughes II and SGT. Michael P. Mosher also received Bronze Stars with "V" Devices

General Edwards presented the Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device to the following men:

CPL. Charles L. Baklew, undaunted by incoming rounds, defended his positions SP-4 Perry D. Jennings, who evacuated a wounded man under fire.

PFC’s Walter Brown, JR, Melvin C. Pick, Daniel Swarts and Peter S. Melnick, who endangered their lives to evacuate wounded men.

Sp-4 Ralph A. Calhoun also received the award.

(Article edited by Fred Stella)

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