Pathfinders

Hey Paul,
 
Hope things are going well. I got thinking about the 9th Pathfinder Detachment for several reasons and realized that you still haven't listed us within the 9th Society's unit's. We were attached to HHC 9th Avn Bn. I finally contacted a few other than myself, but it's been through the US Airborne Pathfinder Association. Funny, there aren't many of us.
 
I also found a spot on the Virtual Wall about a LT Harry Alway, KIA 13July67. http://www.virtualwall.org/da/AlwayHL01a.htm 
 
Anyway, I posted most of the info at the 9th Avn  Bn Yahoo group's album section. I'm also sending you a description of our duties that I downloaded from Special Ops.com along with some of the pictures I've found. I've contacted people about downloading them and got no response telling me that I can't. So, here they are.
 
Surprisingly, the Pathfinder Association is looking for the same information. One person is doing it for Pathfinder history, another is for a book about Pathfinder units in Vietnam. My book? Still way out beyond the Milky Way. I'll help others when and how I can, but don't really think I did anything other than my job back then.
 
Well, old friend, I hope this helps. My computer crashed in October and I'm still trying to catch up on things after getting it back online. Maybe by June, it'll happen...or not.
 
Take care,
Billie
 
Well that's it from the land of this wandering Two Spirit. Take care, remember to pray daily for all of our relations, be well, laugh often, love much, and Toksa (safe journeys).  Until next time...HUGS, Billie
 
www.geocities.com/the2nd502/
 
"I'm not the man that they think I am at home." Sir  Elton John in Rocketman

 


 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 


                        U.S. Special Operations Specialties

                        Pathfinder Operations
                        What is the Role of a Pathfinder?
                        Army pathfinders primarily provide navigational
                        assistance and advisory services to military aircraft in
                        areas designated by supported unit commanders. Their
                        secondary missions include providing advice and limited
                        assistance to units planning air assault/airdrop
                        operations.
                        Appropriately equipped and trained pathfinders can
                        fulfill the following responsibilities.
                        (1) Reconnoiter areas selected by supported unit
                        commanders and select LZs and DZs.
                        (2) Infiltrate areas of operation by foot, vehicles, or
                        watercraft, and airland, rappel or parachute from
                        aircraft.
                        (3) Prepare LZs and DZs to include establishing and
                        operating visual and electronic navigational aids and
                        removing minor obstacles.
                        (4) Employ GTA radio communications to provide pilots
                        with guidance and air traffic advisories within an area
                        of operations.
                        (5) Advise pilots concerning friendly mortar and
                        artillery fires through direct coordination with fire
                        support units.
                        (6) Provide technical assistance for the assembly of
                        supplies, equipment, and troops before aircraft loading
                        for deployment to LZs and DZs.
                        (7) Advise and provide limited physical assistance in
                        preparing and positioning supplies, equipment, and
                        troops for air movement.
                        (8) Conduct limited NBC monitoring and surveying of
                        designated areas.
                        (9) Provide limited weather observations, to include
                        wind velocity and direction, cloud cover, visibility,
                        and approximate cloud ceiling.
                        (10) Operate, by agreement with the USAF, DZs and
                        airfields for USAF aircraft in the absence of CCT.
                        (11) Survey DZs for use by USAF and Army aircraft. (In
                        this situation, it maybe necessary to provide
                        pathfinders with radios [UHF or VHF] that are compatible
                        with USAF radio equipment. Aviators and pathfinders must
                        coordinate to ensure they understand ground markings and
                        radio procedures to be used.)
                        



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pathfinder.jpg (137092 bytes)Pathfinder  Looking for a fight! This Pathfinder wears ERDL camouflage jungle fatigues in the green dominate pattern.  He wears a AN/PRC-25 man pack radio for communication with incoming aircraft.  On his head he wears a communication headset with integral boom microphone which had a switch worn on the chest that allowed hands free voice activation. His weapon is the M-16A1 assault rifle.