Soldiers continue on historic lineage of Strike Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, UNITED STATES

10.30.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. James Hunter 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Today's Soldiers are very familiar and knowledgeable with current history and combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, for many have set foot upon these very lands engaged in a very decisive battle to defeat opposing forces and restore security and stability throughout.

Daily, they continue to create a history young Soldiers many years from now will reflect upon and think, "Those were courageous Soldiers who defied all odds and defeated an enemy in a very tough terrain."

Today's Soldiers have added to very a rich, historic lineage, however, it's those who came before them that laid the foundation for what all see today, and set the stepping stones for which these men continue to walk upon.

Three Soldiers in particular — Lt. Col. Frank L. Dietrich, Sgt. Kenneth E. Murphy, and Sgt. William R. Hofstrom — defied all odds and displayed great acts of heroism while conducting combat operations in Vietnam earning them the Distinguished Service Cross.

"When I think off the Second Brigade, I think of the great Soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the greater good while engaged in combat operations," said Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Porter, civil affairs noncommissioned officer-in-charge, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "Many men of this very historic unit have shown great heroism in defense of this nation."

On Nov. 6, 1966, Murphy — who was a squad leader with Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment — led his squad on a search and destroy mission near Tuy Hoa.

After covering several thousand meters of terrain without any positive results, they came upon a North Vietnamese soldier, according to his award citation dated March 27, 1967. They immediately engaged and killed the enemy combatant. They then began receiving sporadic enemy fire from their left flank, and Murphy immediately led his squad on an assault to destroy the enemy positions. However, the entire hillside suddenly was raked by a devastating barrage of enemy fire.

Murphy watched as several of his men fell wounded. He fearlessly ran through the gunfire to come to their aid, however, was unable to reach his Soldiers on his first two attempts. On his third attempt he was wounded in the head, but this did not faze Murphy as he was able to get one Soldier back to safety.

Again, he saw another one of his men go down, and while disregarding his own safety, he again raced across the bullet-laden area to return this man to safety as well. While doing so, he again was wounded by enemy fire.

Though in severe pain, Murphy organized his men and led them on an assault against the entrenched enemy. At this point, Murphy was dizzy from the loss of blood and had only use of one of his arms, but that did not stop him as he pushed forward through dense foliage and personally killed three hostile soldiers with his rifle. This enabled his men to overwhelm the insurgent forces.

For his actions that day, Murphy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Men such as Murphy are the reason why this nation is the great nation it is today. His acts of gallantry on that day in November is a true testament to the courage and bravery that men of this historic regiment have shown through an assortment of combat operations both past and present.

While serving as the commander of the 2nd Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt., Dietrich would also earn the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions Nov. 9-11, 1966.

On the morning of Nov. 9, Dietrich was informed that contact had been made with an entrenched North Vietnamese army battalion while his men were on a search and destroy mission in Tuy Hoa. Quickly he was able to assess the situation from a command and control helicopter. From their he brilliantly maneuvered his troops, and by nightfall the hostile forces were surrounded.

The next morning, while his men were engaged in battle, he joined them on the ground where he moved throughout the battlefield to assist his subordinate commanders and comfort those wounded.

On Nov. 11, Dietrich climbed to the top of a tree with a radio to direct the continuing conflict on the ground where he remained exposed for two hours to deploy the ground elements and supervised the broadcast of surrender appeals.

As the battle progressed, Dietrich ran across 100 meters of bullet-swept terrain to lead a successful attack on an enemy position. He then moved through 800 meters of dense jungle, with only his radio operator by his side, to another engaged platoon. There he moved to the front and encouraged his men forward in the fight against the enemy.

Dietrich braved all odds and was awarded the nation's second-highest medal for valor.

While serving with Co. C, 2nd Bn., 501st Inf. Regt., Hofstrom as well received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions, Nov. 29, 1968.

While on a search and clear operation south of Hue, his element came under heavy enemy automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. When the point man and the platoon leader were wounded in the initial volley, Hofstrom courageously attempted to pulled them to safety. However, when he reached the platoon leader he noticed he was unconscious and seemed to be gagging on his tongue. Hofstrom immediately rendered first aid and carried him to safety. He then ran back through the fusillade to retrieve the point man.

When both men were safe and out of harm's way, he organized the remaining men to remove any additional casualties while he simultaneously manned an M-60 machine gun to cover their movements.

This regiment will never forget the sacrifice these men made on those very days while they fought a very tough and daunting war in Vietnam.

Dietrich, Murphy and Hofstrom disregarded their own safety to save the lives of their fellow men while facing a very tough and fierce enemy in Vietnam. Each of these men are a part of a history that will forever be embedded into the minds of the Soldiers who have courageously served in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).