December 31, 1969; Delta Company is still working in the same area where the day before we lost Marlin (KIA) and Young, Howard and Piccirillo (WIA). Ben Chua had always been a strong hold for the NVA/VC and a dangerous area to work. Late in the afternoon we decided on a location for our night ambush position.
It was a trail that showed some recent foot activity (Ho Chi Minh sandal prints). Ho Chi Minh sandals were worn by enemy soldiers. They were made from recycled tires. We waited until the last light to move into the AP (ambush position). We setup our claymores to cover the kill zone and placed mechanical claymores up and down the trail.
We called our position into TOC (tactical operations center) and plotted the location with Artillery (red legs) at Fire Base Kien. We established a watch schedule and remained at 100% until darkness fell. Throughout the night we could see and hear Night Hawks (helicopters fitted with infrared night vision and electric mini guns that fired 4,000 rounds a minute) working in the area.
They were used at night for close in support or when targets of opportunity were located. Suddenly, at approximately 0500 on January 1, 1970, one of the mechanical claymores detonated. We checked out the area but could only find the remains of a rabbit that apparently set off the device.
It wasn’t a good start to the New Year for the rabbit. I still have 217 days left in-country.
December 31, 1969; Delta Company is still working in the same area where the day before we lost Marlin (KIA) and Young, Howard and Piccirillo (WIA). Ben Chua had always been a strong hold for the NVA/VC and a dangerous area to work. Late in the afternoon we decided on a location for our night ambush position.
It was a trail that showed some recent foot activity (Ho Chi Minh sandal prints). Ho Chi Minh sandals were worn by enemy soldiers. They were made from recycled tires. We waited until the last light to move into the AP (ambush position). We setup our claymores to cover the kill zone and placed mechanical claymores up and down the trail.
We called our position into TOC (tactical operations center) and plotted the location with Artillery (red legs) at Fire Base Kien. We established a watch schedule and remained at 100% until darkness fell. Throughout the night we could see and hear Night Hawks (helicopters fitted with infrared night vision and electric mini guns that fired 4,000 rounds a minute) working in the area.
They were used at night for close in support or when targets of opportunity were located. Suddenly, at approximately 0500 on January 1, 1970, one of the mechanical claymores detonated. We checked out the area but could only find the remains of a rabbit that apparently set off the device.
It wasn’t a good start to the New Year for the rabbit. I still have 217 days left in-country.
On April 11, 1993, Easter Sunday at approximately 3:00pm, 450 inmates in Section L (cell blocks 1-8) of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio, rioted. SOCF is a maximum-security prison which also housed Death Row. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team arrived on site at approximately 6:30pm. We spent the next 11 days inside the facility working closely with the Department of Corrections SWAT team.
On the first day rioters killed five inmates and placed their bodies in the exercise yard. Another four were killed over the next few days and placed in the yard. Initially twelve Corrections Officers were taken hostage. Four (C.O.’s) were released hours later due to the injuries they sustained during the initial takeover. Eight others were held hostage by the inmates until the siege ended. On April 14th to prove a point that they should be taken seriously the inmates killed Corrections Officer Robert Vallandingham.
The riot ended on April 21, 1993, it resulted in 9 inmate deaths and the death of a Corrections Officer. Damage to the prison was in excess of $40 million dollars. The Lucasville riot is still the longest prison riot in our country’s history. Thank you to all the officers that responded and stayed the course. A special thanks to members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team that had my back during this difficult event.
There were several villages located in the Black Lions A.O. (area of operations).
They ran from north to south along Route LTL 14. Dau Tieng, Xom Due, Ben Tranh, Co Trach, Ben Chua, and Ben Suc. Our Battalion Intelligence (S-2) considered many of them to be under enemy control, or sympathetic to the NVA/VC.
These villages provided resources such as fighters, food, women/young men (rice bearers) to move supplies to their basecamps. The villagers also provided intelligence of our location and movements (served as trail watchers). In our A.O. Ben Chua was considered the most hardcore village. It seemed liked every time the Black Lions worked the area around Ben Chua there was contact with the enemy.
Beside the concern of the NVA/VC being in the villages as we conducted operations, we had to contend with the village livestock. The water buffalo was used to work the rice paddies and to pull carts. It seemed docile enough around the locals. But my recollection was that whenever American soldiers got anywhere near this large animal, they became extremely aggressive. It must have been our scent that upset them.
So, we decided it was in our best interest to keep our distance. I was told that if an American killed a Water Buffalo our government would pay to replace it. The government would also pay for any rubber trees (owned by Michelin Rubber Company) that were damaged or destroyed during military operations.
The USAID (United States Agency for International Development) processed claims and provided reparations at $500.00 per animal or rubber tree.
On the afternoon of Thursday, January 24, 1980, Trooper Charles Vogel age 25 assigned to the Springfield Patrol Post was killed in the line of duty.
Trooper Vogel was investigating a motor vehicle crash on I-70 at Sr-68 when he was struck and killed by another vehicle. The other vehicle lost control on the icy snow-covered roadway and struck Trooper Vogel who was standing in the median.
Chuck was a member of the 104th Academy class which graduated on January 12, 1979. He was the 28th member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol to have lost their life in the line of duty. RIP Trooper Vogel.
On the afternoon of Thursday, January 24, 1980, Trooper Charles Vogel age 25 assigned to the Springfield Patrol Post was killed in the line of duty.
Trooper Vogel was investigating a motor vehicle crash on I-70 at Sr-68 when he was struck and killed by another vehicle. The other vehicle lost control on the icy snow-covered roadway and struck Trooper Vogel who was standing in the median.
Chuck was a member of the 104th Academy class which graduated on January 12, 1979. He was the 28th member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol to have lost their life in the line of duty. RIP Trooper Vogel.
Joe Lyons •
January 1, 2024
