updated:11/25/97 15:01
374TH RR/ASA Co Lineage and Honors
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Effective 21 November 1963, Company C (Division Support) (Infantry), 303rd Army Security Agency Battalion (Corps) was constituted and alloted to the Regular Army. A month later, on 20 December, the Company was activated at Fort Lewis, Washington, and assigned to the 303rd ASA Battalion. The Company had an authorized strength of 168 personnel (nine officers, one warrant officer, 158 enlisted men).

The Company, in support of the 4th Infantry Division, advised on ASA matters and frequently participated in various maneuvers and exercises, most often in direct support of the 4th Infantry Division. The following were among the more important exercises:

Exercise Inclusive Dates
DESERT STRIKE 17-30 May 64
POLAR SIEGE 30 Jan-10Feb 64
FTX SEA BAR 4-10 Sep 64
JTX GOLDFIRE I 15 Oct-13 Nov 64
CPX FIREBALL I 26-29 Jan 65
JTX POLAR STRIKE 3-17 Feb 65
FTX MARCH HARE II 3-9 Apr 65
JTX SILVERHAND 29 Apr-13 May 65
FTX FRONTIER POST I 11-14 May 65


When the 303rd ASA Battalion (Corps) deployed to Vietnam in the spring of 1966, it was replaced by the 311th ASA Battalion (Corps). Company C, 303rd ASA Battalion remained in CONUS and was reassigned to the 311th on 15 March 1966.

In July 1966, Company C began its deployment to Vietnam. The advance party, composed of two officers and 38 enlisted men, departed Tacoma, Washington, with the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division on 21 July on the USS Nelson W. Walker, and debarked at Qui Nhon on 7 August. These men were equipped to be self-sustaining in support of the 2nd Brigade until the arrival of the remainder of the Company.
On 7 September, the Company, minus the advance party and 1st Support Platoon, sailed from Tacoma aboard the USS Pope, arriving at Qui Nhon on 30 September. From there it was airlifted to the newly-established base camp near Pleiku.
The final contingent of the Company (1st Support Platoon, composed of one officer and 17 enlisted men) departed CONUS on 15 September aboard the USS Walker with the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Upon arriving at Tuy Hoa on 7 October, the Platoon was prepared to operate independently in support of the 1st Brigade within the area.

Upon arrival in-country, Company C was assigned the cover designation of 374th Radio Research Company, but it was not until 15 October that the Company was officially redesignated as the 374th ASA Company and retained the cover designation. Also upon arrival, the Company was reassigned from the 311th ASA Battalion to the 509th USASA Group (509th RR Gp). This assignment to the 509th Group which was the major ASA command in Vietnam was only temporary, and on 9 december, the Company was reassigned to the 313th ASA Battalion (313th RR Bn).

Throughout its existence in Vietnam, the 374th was under the operational control of the 4th Infantry Division.. Organizationally, the Company consisted of :
Headquarters and Service Platoon,
Communications Platoon,
Operations Center,
COMSEC Platoon,
and three Support Platoons (Detachments) which furnished COMINT support to each of the brigades. In FY 1970,
During the general consolidation of COMSEC responsibility into one ASA unit, the Company's COMSEC function was transferred to the 101st Radio Research company.

The 374th Company was able to provide ARDFsupport through its two LEFT BANK platforms. LEFT BANK was a heliborne ARDF system consisting of equipment and intercept personnel furnished by the 374th; the aircraft and flight crew furnished by the 4th Infantry Division. The 4th Division exercised direct control of the LEFT BANK platforms.

The 374th Company's base camp was located within Camp Enari, the base camp of the 4th Infantry Division, at Dragon Mountain south of Pleiku (AR 799 345). The cantonment area of the Company consisted of 20 x 80 foot semi-permanent buildings with concrete floors and a double quonset for an operations building.

The forward support detachments were housed in General Purpose Medium/Small tents to enable constant mobility. Detachment 1 was physically located with the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Tactical operations Center, 1km southeast of Dak To (ZB 010 213); Detachment 2 was with the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Oasis Base Camp, approximately 28 km southwest of Pleiku City (ZA 113 276); and Detachment 3 was with the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, 5 km south-southwest of Kontum City (ZA 227 832).

During its first two years in Vietnam, the 374th ASA Company made a significant contribution to the support of the 4th and 25th Infantry Divisions in the following operations:


Operation Dates
ADAMS 22 Oct 66 - 3 Apr 67
PAUL REVERE IV 29 Oct - 27 Dec 66
PERSHING 10 Feb 67 - unk
SAM HOUSTON
WALLAWA
FRANCIS MARION 6 Apr - 11 Oct 67
BAKER 19 Apr 67 - 21 Jan 68
GREELEY 1 Jul-30 Sep 67
MACARTHUR 12 Oct 67 - unk
PATRICK 1-30 Mar 68
Task Force Matthew 27 May- 8 Jun 68


The 374th Company and its detachments underwent several relocations. In early 1970, the base camp at Dragon Mountain moved to Camp Radcliffe, An Khe (BR 460 478). The buildings were mostly semipermanent type structures. A year earlier, Detachment 1 had relocated from Dak To area to Fire support Base Blackhawk (BR 042 539), and in April 1969, had moved again to Camp Radcliffe (BR 499 454) where it absorbed the resources of a detachment from another direct support unit. In July 1968, Detachment 2 had moved with the 2nd Brigade to a new location near Ban Me Thuot (AX 880 015) and then to Landing Zone (LZ) Mary Lou, near Kontum City (AR 770 880) in late 1968. Finally, by the end of FY 1970, Detachment 2 had moved to Camp Radcliffe.

Detachment 3 moved into Detachment 2's old area of operation. In July 1968, Detachment 3 moved from the Kontum City area to LZ Mary Lou and then to the Oasis Base Camp southwest of Pleiku City. In FY 1970, the Detachment was absorbed by the 374th Company upon the redeployment of the 3rd Brigasde, 4th Infantry Division to CONUS.

During its last 18 months in-country, the 374th Company furnished support to the 4th Infantry division in the following operations:
WAYNE JAVELIN,
GAFFEY BLUE,
WAYNE BOULDER,
PUTNAM COUGAR,
PUTNAM WILDCAT,
SPRAGINS WHITE,
WAYNE THRUST,
PUTNAM POWER.

A milestone in the operational support of the 374th Company occured in May 1970. Direct support teams of the Company deployed with the 4th Division during the Cambodian Incursion and furnished valuable information for the successful planning and execution of the offensive.

Due to the redployment of the 4th Infantry Division to CONUS, the 374th began its standdown at Camp Radcliffe on 20 November 1970. The colors were cased for the last time on 15 December and transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado.

On 11 December 1970, the 374th Company took over the resources of the inactivated 352nd ASA Company at Fort Carson. The primary mission of the 374th ASA Company (Mechanized) was to provide direct ASA support to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

Upon its return to CONUS, the 374th Company was reassigned from the 313th ASA Battalion to the 311th ASA Battalion. On 30 June 1971, the Company was again reassigned -- this time to the 303rd ASA Battalion, which had returned from Vietnam. The Company was reorganized at Fort Carson to increase its authorized strength to eight officers, four warrant officers, and 180 enlisted men.

While at Fort Carson, the 374th Company supported the following exercises:

Exercise Inclusive Dates
REDEYE FIRING 13-15 Apr 71
FTX 10-12 May 71
ORTT 22-23 Apr 71
Range Firing 4-6 May 71
FTX 18 May 71
Annual Training 15-19 Jun 71
FTX 19-28 May 71
IRON HORSE 1-71 Jul 71
IRON HORSE 2-72 18-22 Oct 71


On 30 Jun 1972, the 374th ASA Company (Mechanized Division) was inactivated at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The following served as Commanding Officer and First Sergeant of the Company:

Commanding Officer Dates Served
CPT Lawrence P. Schechtel - 14 Dec 66
CPT Dwight T. DeVoss 14 Dec 66 - 27 Jun 67
CPT George E. Hunt 27 Jun 67 - Apr 68
CPT Mark C. Galton Apr 68 - Jun 68
CPT Geoffrey F. Marquis 23 Sep 69 - 3 Apr 70
CPT David H. Rowe 1 Oct 68 - 4 May 69
CPT Perry B. Cowgill 4 May 69 - 22 Sep 69
CPT Geoffrey F. Marquis 23 Sep 69 - 3 Apr 70
CPT Bernard W. Lawless 4 Apr 70 - 24 Jul 70
CPT Frank M. Harris, Jr 25 Jul 70 - 15 Dec 70
CPT John T. LaGrey 15 Dec 70 - 30 Jun 72

First Sergeant Dates Served
1SG Lyle Boyd - Apr 68
1SG Samuel Jones Apr 68 - 30 Jun 68
1SG Thomas A. Stevens 1 Jul 68 - 26 May 69
1SG Darrel D. Anderson 26 May 69 - 15 Dec 70
1SG James G. Thomas 15 Dec 70 - 1 Nov 71
1SG Haskell Orrick 2 Nov 71 - 8 Feb 72
1SG Robert Sarver 9 Feb 72 - 30 Jun 72
Throughout its existence, the 374th ASA Company was responsible for furnishing timely and accurate information to the 4th Infantry Division. This information was the basis for offensive operations being launched against an elusive enemy as well as furnishing early warning to US Forces.
The following are representative examples of praise received from officers of supported tactical forces concerning the ASA (Radio Research) product:

"Your operations [374th Co], though less publicly praised and noted than those of many other units in the division, are important and essential. Those of us who benefit most by the work you do are in a position to fully appreciate both your job and effectiveness with which you and your subordinates perform it."
--Ltr, MG Charles P. Stone (CG 4th Inf div) to CPT Mark C. Galton (CO 374th ASA C0), 26 Mar 68

"During the period from 15 September 1966, through June 1967, the support rendered by Detachment 1, 374th Radio Research Company, was of utmost significance in planning the tactical operations of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Detachment 1, 374th Radio Research Company, not only provided timely and accurate intelligence, but also essential information which enabled the Brigade to achieve outstanding results during Operations Adams, Sam Houston, and Francis Marion."

"The Radio Research Program in the Republic of Vietnam is essential to the commander and considered to be the most reliable and abundant source of intelligence information available under conditions encountered in Vietnam."

"I express my appreciation and offer high commendation to the officers and men of Detachment 1, 374th Radio research Company, and the entire Radio Research Organization for a job extremely well done."

---Ltr, COL Charles A. Jackson (CO 1st Bde, 4th Inf div) to CO 374th RR Co, subj:
Letter of Commendation, 28 Jun 67.

"During the period October 1966 through June 1967, the support rendered by the 374th Radio Research Company was of utmost significance in planning the tactical operations of the 3rd Brigade Task Force, 25th Infantry Division. Detachment 2, 374th Radio Research Company provided timely, accurate and essential...information which enabled the Brigade to achieve outstanding results during Operations Paul Revere IV, Thayer II, Pershing and Baker."

" The information made available to my staff was often the only source of accurate, reliable targeting data available and consistently resulted in artillery fires, immediate air strikes, visual reconnaissance and infantry deployments which decimated and demoralized the enemy."

"I have found the Radio Research program in the Republic of Vietnam to be essential to the commander and consider it to be the most reliable and abundant source of intelligence under the conditions encountered here."

---Ltr, COL James G. Shanahan (CO 3rd Bde task force, 25th Inf Div) to CO 374th RR Co, subj: Letter of Commendation, 22 Jun 67.
"The 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division has engaged in two major operations since 1 Jun 67.
The first of these Operations Francis Marion was successfully terminated on 12 Oct 67 and resulted in 1st Bde being recommended for award of the Presidential Unit citation
The second Operation MacArthur was initiated on 12 Oct 67 and is still in progress.
In Operation MacArthur the 1st Bde met the forces of the 1st NVA Division in the Battle of Dak To, 3 Nov 67 to 1 Dec 67 and again in the Tet Offensive, 15 Jan 68 to 3 Mar. In both of these battles the 1st NVA Div suffered heavy losses, and withdrew from the battlefield having failed to accomplish its mission. The 1st Bde has again been recommended for award of the Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Dak To."

"The success of the 1st Bde in Operation Francis Marion and in Operation MacArthur has been in large part due to the quality of tactical intelligence available. Detachment 1, 374th Radio Research Company, 313th Radio Research Battalion, was a significant contributer of valid, pertinent intelligence throughout both operations...."

--Ltr, COL Richard H. Johnson (CO 1st Bde, 4th Inf Div) to CO 374th RR Co, subj:
Letter of Apporeciation, 23 Apr 68
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
Vietnam

Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/ Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII

DECORATIONS
Meritorious Unit Commendation,
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968

Meritorious Unit Commendation,
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969

Meritorious Unit Commendation,
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm,
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm,
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm,
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971

Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class,
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967 - 1969

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