Headquarters and Headquarters Band

Homemade combat band pin!

The 9th Infantry Division Band landed at the 5th Special Forces Airfield at
  Can Tho sometime during the second quarter of 1969.

Bandmaster, CWO-3 Earl W. Jones, kept the lifer-crap out of the band. We had a job to do and he knew how to make us do it. The band was required to wear starched uniforms on gigs. The Vietnamese laundry on Dong Tam could accommodate our needs, except they used some kind of fish byproduct for starch that left bits of scale and a sheen on uniforms. On July 5, 1968, the 9th Infantry Division became the first US unit to receive the Republic of Vietnam's highest unit valor award, the Cross of Gallantry with Palm, for the second time. Although this would be a short lived distinction, in as much as other US units would soon received their second award, it was a nice parting gesture for the Division. General Cao Van Vien - Chief Joint General Staff - made the presentation accompanied by the Unit Citation Streamer of the Civic Action Medal with Oak Leaf. Major General Harris W. Hollis, division commander, accepted the decoration for the Division.

Photos