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Last updated on 9/17/22

Site established on 3/22/01



C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment

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C Troop 3/17 - Note misspelling of the word "Horse"

Fernando "Sugg" De Pierris LTC, Ret. Lift and Snakes C 3/17 & B 2/17

C Troop 3/17

"Long Knives" Lift Platoon
Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

"Crusaders" Aeroweapons Platoon.
Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

"War Wagons" Scout Platoon
Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

Lt. Larry G. Brown, on second tour as an Aero Scout pilot. Call sign Charlie Horse 19, circa 1970. This photo originally accompanied an article in the Stars and Stripes. Larry was transferred to E troop, 1/9 Cav shortly after this photo was taken.
Image courtesy of Col. Larry G. Brown Ret.

Badly damaged OH-58
Image courtesy of Jim Newman

Another View of damaged OH-58. Note C 3/17 "Charlie Horse" triangular tactical marking.
Image courtesy of Jim Newman

Detail photo of "Kamikazee" scout platoon patch with call sign added ("19"). This patch can be seen on the right chest pocket.
Image courtesy of Col. Larry G. Brown Ret.

3rd Pattern Jungle fatigue jacket worn by then Captain Larry Brown during his tour with C 3/17. Notice the 1st Cavalry division sleve patches that reflect Larry's prior tour, despite the fact that C 3/17 was attached to the 1st Aviation brigade
Image courtesy of Col. Larry G. Brown Ret.

Detail of C 3/17 "Charlie Horse" troop patch on the left Pocket of Larry Brown's Jungle fatigue shirt with call sign added (" 19") to red bar across center
Image courtesy of Col. Larry G. Brown Ret.

This OH-58 collective stick suffered a small arms hit while in flight over Cambodia in June of 1970. Larry Brown had only been in country about two months with C/3/17 "Charliehorse" when this occurred. His aircraft took enemy fire as he examined a concealed checkpoint along the 22 Mile Highway. After returning to base at Tay Ninh, near Black Virgin Mountain, Larry discovered the aircraft would not throttle down. It was soon discovered that an AK round had impacted the collective at the friction lock just under his arm. The battle damaged stick came home with Larry as a souvenir of one of the many near misses he experienced in his 2 tours (three different Air Cav Troops) of flying Scouts. - Larry Brown
Image courtesy of Larry Brown







Enlisted members of the "Kamikazee" scout platoon - Standing L to R Gainer, Tompkins, Bunney, Hernandez, Jones & Laws. Kneeling L to R Chaco, Thigpen, Bryant, Davis & Forish
Image courtesy of Larry Brown

Ralph Chapman, Crew Chief with C 3/17 - "That's me standing in front of my helicopter . That was the second painted nose cover I had,the first one got caved in by the top of a tree flying to low avoiding ground fire" - Ralph Chapman
Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

Unique nose art on C 3/17 Huey reflecting the feelings of the time-Crew Chief Ralph Chapman.

Another crewchief (Paul Phillippi ) had the original one painted,when he went home I took his ship,( tail # 6915739 ) it was fairly new,low hours. On a mission one day we were flying alone for some reason and not with the rest of cav. pack. Ran into some bad weather and dropped down low level and started taking small arms fire. A round came through the rt. front window and at the same time we hit the top of a tree crushing the nose door. AT the time I thought we had been hit by a B 40 rocket that didn't go off.So the nose door was a small price to pay,seems like the bad guys shot at us forever and the aircraft got hit about 12 times . When we got back home I replaced the windshield and cut out the bullet hole and gave it to the AC which was our company XO Capt. Gale . Got a new nose door and with the old one and new one went down town and paid a Vietnamese a case of beer to paint it. On the original door the words," love it or leave it" were on the same line below the flag. I guess the painter ran out of space or something,because the word "it" is on the second line. Ralph Chapman, Crew Chief, C/3/17 "Long Knives"

Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

Ralph Chapman at the Chief's position of his Huey - Ralph comments-"The tan cav. hats and yellow scarves were all a carry over from the 3/5,you see when the powers to be sent the 3/5 home,only the flag went,all of us just became 3/17 with a stroke of a pen and the daily life in Vinh Long trugged on."
Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

The gunner's seat (right transmission well)
Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

Charlie Horse Gun Platoon patch
Image courtesy of Art Bonevich

'Baggers' Aero Infantry 1969/70
Image courtesy of Art Bonevich

"C troop, "Kamakazi" Scout Platoon End of tour plaque
Image courtesy of Art Bonevich

Air Cav Scout's & Guns wore this patch w/tab
Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp


Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp


Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp

Heading for the AO 1969
Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp


Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp


Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp

I believe this sign was over our Scout & Guns Briefing Hooch, Di An 1969
Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp


Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp

This sign was out side C-Trp Orderly Room, Di An 1969. Yes, that's me.
Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp


Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp

Calling Card
Image courtesy of Blackburn

Ever seen a Black Loach, short of OD paint, Maint mixed it with black paint.
Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp

Di An USO 1969
Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp

HQ Trp sign
Image courtesy of Arthur C. Bonevich C & A Trp


Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman


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