Camp Gorvad
The 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated on July 1, 1965. It was made up of resources of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and elements of the 2nd Infantry Division as a part of this reorganization, the 3/17th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated 1/9th.
The Squadron left with the Division for Vietnam in August, 65, wearing the Black Cavalry Stetsons to war for the first time since the Horse Soldier days. On 28 June 71, the 1/9th Cavalry (less B Troop) returned from Vietnam, the most decorated Unit of that war, and assumed the role of the Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron.
It is estimated that the 1/9th was responsible for fifty percent of all enemy soldiers killed by the 1st Cavalry Division during the war. It was for this reason the battalion earned its current nickname “The Headhunters.”
The 1/9th in Vietnam was made up of the following troops:
Headquarters Troop
Alpha Troop
Bravo Troop
Charlie Troop
Delta Troop
Echo Troop
Foxtrot Troop
LRRPs and Rangers
Dog Handlers
The 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry troopers earned three Medals of Honor in Vietnam.
1/9th headquarters, Phuoc Vinh (Camp Gorvad)
Richard Lamb (crew chief) C Troop early August until late October 1968.
Transferred then to HQ Troop as crew chief on the Squadron check-out LOH.
That aircraft was destroyed Christmas Day in a landing mishap and he was
transferred to B Troop Scouts. Shot down Feb 9, 1969 in LOH 16069
Photo courtesy of Richard Lamb
Captured by ‘FIRST TEAM’ in A Shau Valley
Photo courtesy of Jim Delp
Photo courtesy of Jim Delp
Bob Hinote (radio dispatcher) HQ Troop 1/9th, 1969
Photo courtesy of Jim Delp
Presenting Awards
Photo courtesy of Jim Delp
1/9th Commanding Officers, 1970
Major Galen Rosher (Charlie Troop CO) front row far right
1/9th Cavalry Regiment Parade Formation at Phuoc Vinh
Jim Delp (HQ Troop 1/9th, 1969) pointing at fresh shrapnel holes in a sign he had just painted.
Jim Delp (left) must have seen a ghost…
Phuoc Vinh Santa