Rich Killblane states that an average of 80 sorties a day ran from Vandergrift to Khe Sanh and reached as high as 265, and after Proud American was destroyed the gun box was again put on another truck and renamed the Ace of Spades, it had returned to the 523rd.
Lam Son ended April 4th 1971, Capt. Lavin in his APC and the 515th were the last to leave Khe Sanh, but the dust, dirt, and convoys to those fire bases was far from over, about the only thing that is to change is the ARVINS will not continue to die by the thousands, the 515th and 523rd went back to Phu Bai and had a regular compound and even toilets that flushed, the troops finally got a rest, King Kong was retired after returning from being loaned out to the 173rd, Truckers from all these many different units had dealt with some of the worst times military transportation has ever experienced, these drivers and gun truckers were involved in 23 ambushes with 40 vehicles being lost or damaged---12 of our brothers were killed in action and 35 wounded, these guys earned 4 Silver Stars, 20 Bronze Stars with the "V" for Valor, 37 Bronze Stars, 10 ARCOMS with the "V", 108 ARCOMS, and 36 Purple Hearts, 7 of the gun trucks were damaged or destroyed, all in a little less then three months---Now I also must add here that I have been told that many "other awards" were given out but even after being pinned on those brave men they were never formally awarded the awards on their paperwork (DD 214) therefore they are not counted in the figures above, there are even photos of Gen. Sweeny pining these awards on soldiers that never reached those DD 214s.
Please remember that I probably did not mention all the units involved let alone write about all the heroic actions these units and soldiers were involved in, what you have read here is just the tip of what went on, and after Lam Son, even with these great truckers in better living conditions--even with slightly fewer ambushes they continued to face those roads, that dirt, and the enemy every day and still--those tons and miles, and please try and remember when you drive your Steel Soldiers down our roads the pilots of those steel soldiers of Lam Son 719--Operation Dewey Canyon II---I'll continue to post stories as I get them and the photos, I'd also like to invite those that took part in this operation to tell the members here what they experienced, what they felt as they traveled those roads day and night, I cannot,-----I have only tried to pass along what I have read, learned, and have had the honor of being told to me by my Brothers that lived it----God Bless All These Brave Men----------------------------I hope you all have enjoyed this thread----------U'r Driver
