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THE PEAK YEAR
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were told to start working on Red Beach north of Da Nang as a logistical base to support the Cavalry in this series of operations. A smaller logistical base was to be set up at Hue-Phu Bai. Events were soon to prove that the logic behind this planning effort by U.S. Army, Vietnam, was indisputably sound.

The year 1967 had proved many important facts of the airmobile concept. Perhaps the most important facet that had been demonstrated without question was the inestimable value of the Air Cavalry squadron. This unit, especially in its operations in the I Corps Tactical Zone, had demonstrated its unique capabilities in uncovering the elusive Viet Cong. Practically every major engagement was started with a contact by the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Troop, and the enemy was very slow in discovering means of coping with this reconnaissance in force.

The Air Cavalry squadron success in the airmobile division convinced higher headquarters that more Air Cavalry squadrons should be assigned to the theater to work with non-airmobile divisions. In my briefings to the many senior officers who visited the Cavalry Division, I never missed an opportunity to state that no matter what kind of a division I might be privileged to command in combat, I would fight tooth and nail for the capability of an Air Cavalry squadron.

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