August 6, 2001 - Newsletter

A History of the 7/8th in Viet Nam

The 7th Battalion, 8th Artillery was formed at Fort Sill Oklahoma in
the spring of 1967. It was fitted with 8 inch M110 self-propelled howitzers, and M107 175 mm self-propelled howitzers. On June 9th 1967 the unit departed from Oakland California abroad the USNS Nelson Walker for deployment to Viet Nam. It arrived at Vung Tau June 29, 1967.

It was sent to Bear Cat with the 54th Artillery Group. On October 14, 1967, it was transferred to the 23ed Artillery Group Second Field Forces Viet Nam and Headquartered in Bien Hoa. The unit was redeployed to US Army Viet Nam in May of 1971. The unit was deactivated July 27, 1971 B Battery was the first 8 inch 175 unit to be airlifted in the history of the U.S. Army The nickname "Automatic Eighth" comes from the Korean War when prisoners asked to see the new Automatic Artillery guns. There were none the unit was just that good so the name stuck. Do you have more historical facts about the unit. Please let me know.

COMBAT ARTILLERY MEDAL
NOTICE TO ALL REDLEGS:

On 7 October 1999, Representative Mark Green (R-Wisconsin) introduced a bill (H.R.3043) that would direct the Secretary of the Army to establish a Combat Artillery Medal. We need the help of all past and present Artillerymen. This bill will only pass if you support it. So please

Write your Congressman and Senator in your state and tell them you want H.R.3043 passed.
Ask your friends and family to write the same type of letters to their Congressman and Senators.
Make copies and post this message in every VFW, DAV, American Legion AMVETS, or VVA association post, club and bar.
Put this request in every newsletter for every military association you possibly can and talk about it at all of your meetings and functions.

Remember in Viet Nam we were the front-line. For more information on Firebases and LZ's go to http://www.landscaper.net/firebase.htm. For more news go to http://www.landscaper.net/announce.htm.
15th Field Artillery Association Reunion, Fort Sill Oklahoma. I served with the 7/15th Artillery in 1969 we were assigned to the First Field Forces Viet Nam. The 7/15th was a sister unit of the 7/8th made up of 8 inch howitzers and 175 guns but was in the Central Highlands. This will be my third reunion with this unit and they keep getting better. I would like to see the 7/8th have a reunion too, there is much to be said about the reunion process. While in Fort Sill is there anything you would like me to get, Like unit crests, IIFFVN patches or anything else relating to the Artillery please let me know.
For more information on this reunion write LVCANTU@aol.com

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