07-16-65   178th Assault Support Helicopter Company is constituted in the Regular Army as the 178th Aviation Company.

09-01-65   The 178th Avn Co, (Med Hel) is activated at Fort Benning, Georgia per the Third United States Army General Order number 271. The 400th Transportation Detachment is reactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia. The 400th was originally activated on 12-15-44 in New Guinea as the 3400th Quartermaster Service Detachment. On 04-01-45 it was reorganized and redesignated as the 3400th Quartermaster Driver Detachment. The 3400th was inactivated in New Guinea on 10-10-45. The 400th Trans Det (Med Hel Fld Maint) was given its current designation in July 1965.

09-65   Major Roger J. Shields, 079473, Artillery, assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

11-18-65   Men start arriving at Ft. Benning, Georgia to make the new Chinook unit operational. (See attached story by Steve Niedbala)

01-20-66 The unit's aircraft fly from Ft. Benning, Georgia to Stockton, California. Periodic maintenance and modifications are performed. The aircraft were then flown to Alameda Naval Air Station for preservation and loading on MSTS Breton.

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02-18-66 The main body of officers and men depart San Francisco, CA aboard the troop ship USNS General Nelson M. Walker.

02-26-66 The 178th Avn Co Chinook aircraft leave California for Vietnam by U.S. Navy ship.

03-06-66 The official date of arrival of the 178th Avn Co and the 400th Trans Det Boxcars colors. The Boxcar aircraft, aboard the carrier USNS Breton, cross the international dateline at latitude 36 _ 50 ' north and longitude 180 _ 00 '. Only 35 members of the unit were on this ship.

03-10-66 The main body of the 178th Avn Co and the 400th Trans Det Boxcars arrive in Vietnam at Vung Tau, RVN. They are assigned to the 11th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade (Provisional), and are stationed at Phu Loi, RVN. They will support virtually all units in the III Corps area. The tail of the Chinooks are painted with three vertical stripes. One blue stripe with white on both sides. This stood for the 11th of the 1st.

05-23-66 Operation Lam Son, which was initiated 23 May, was continued throughout the reporting period as Lam Son II. The operation, taking its name from a small village near Phu Loi, is the birthplace of Le Loi a 15th century Vietnamese hero who led a 10 year fight to expel the Chinese from Vietnam. Lam Son II was a code name prefix for a joint US and ARVN effort in the rural development and pacification program.

05-25-66 The 1st Aviation Brigade is activated at Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon. The Brigade's motto is "Nguy Heim" translated "Danger". The headquarters were moved to Long Binh from 12-67 until 12-72 when it was moved back to Tan Son Nhut. The 1st Avn. Bdg. departed Vietnam 03-28-73. At the height of its involvement (May 1969) it possessed 311 CH-47 cargo helicopters.

05-30-66 A/C 64-13156 is lost to an accident and caught fire as it tumbled down Nui Ba Den Mountain killing the flight engineer SP/5 Ross Brown.

06-15-66 The 178th Aviation Company is redesignated the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company.

06-27-66 A/C 64-13162 lost to accident. It crashed on take-off from a confined PZ (Pickup Zone) after losing power . The pilot, Capt. John Seeley, was killed in the accident.

09-66 Major Lewis J. McConnell, 084499, assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

11-66 In November the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company volunteered to sponsor the Vinh Lon Refugee Camp located at Phu Loi. One of the most noteworthy accomplishments was the digging of a well.

11-20-66 A Valorous Unit Award is awarded to the 178th ASHC and the 400th Trans Det. The award covers the period of 11-04-66 to 11-20-66, in connection with their actions at Dau Tieng and Suoi Da.

12-24-66 Major Clyde F. Klick, assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

1967 The 178th ASHC is awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. Normally flying in support of the 1st Infantry Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Boxcars recovered 236 downed aircraft during their first ten months in Vietnam.

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01-67 The 178th ASHC and the 400th Trans Det are awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period 04-66 to 01-67.

01-08-67 The Boxcars from the 178th Aslt. Spt. Hel. Co. established an all time record for their unit, and possible for all CH-47 units in the Army, when they transported 377.5 tons of cargo and 781 personnel in one day.

02-05-67 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company reported a new unit record for cargo transported on one day. New record 386 tons in one day. Old record 377.5 tons established during Operation Cedar Falls.

02-22-67 The 11th Combat Aviation Battalion conducted the largest airmobile combat assault in the history of modern warfare. 73 UH-1D's and 12 CH-47's escorted by 23 armed UH-1B's and UH-1C's airlifted and resupplied two Brigades (5 Infantry Battalions, and two Batteries of Artillery) over a 77 Km distance in 9 hours and 5 minutes. Operation Junction City I and II 22 February 1967 to 15 April 1967 and Operation Manhattan 23 April 1967 - required sustained extra effort from every member of the 11th Combat Aviation Battalion.

03-22-67 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company established a new Battalion record for cargo transported in one day. New record 507.6 tons, previous record 386 tons.

03-26-67 The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm is awarded to the 1st Aviation Brigade and attached units for the period of 03-01-66 to 03-26-67. This included the 11th Aviation Battalion, the 178th ASHC, and the 400th Trans Det.

04-12-67 Task Force Oregon is activated with General Rasson as its commander. The task force is named after Rosson's home state of Oregon. Because General Westmoreland could not request another division from the United States to replace the 1st Marine Division that moved from Chu Lai to Da Nang, three infantry brigades, and support units, were selected to move north to Chu Lai. The provisional division sized organization was loaned the 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division, and the 196th Infantry Brigade (light).

04-21-67 The Boxcars are redeployed 350 miles north, to Chu Lai, RVN. (BT 547 057) The area of operation would be from Duc Pho to Da Nang and from the South China Sea to the border with Laos. The Boxcars would remain in the southern I Corps area for the rest of their stay in Vietnam. The rugged terrain of the southern I Corps Tactical Zone runs from marshy coastal lowlands, to triple-canopy jungles on steep mountain slopes. (See attached story by Bill Dillonaire)

04-22-67 The 14th Combat Aviation Battalion is also moved to Chu Lai, from the Phu Tai Valley near Qui Nhon. The 14th Avn. Bn. was initially activated on 09-03-64 at Fort Benning, Ga. It was stationed at Nha Trang RVN from 10-64 to 03-66 when it was moved to Qui Nhon. The 14th Bn. left Vietnam in 10-71.

04-26-67 CW2 Walter F. Morris KIA by small arms fire while on final approach to Da Nang. The other pilot, CW2 John Green, was also hit twice but was able to land the Chinook. Mr. Green and the flight engineer, Robert (Duke) Enlow, both received the distinguished flying cross. Enlow lifted Mr. Morris's body off the collective, where he had slumped, and held him up until Mr. Green could get A/C 148 on the ground.

05-11-67 The first major airmobile assault of Task Force Oregon units was completed with 38 UH-1D's, 13 gunships and 9 CH-47's.

05-15-67 The Boxcars extracted 5 downed Hueys on this date.

06-08-67 Major Joseph F. Rutkowski, 096467, Infantry, assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

06-20-67 The permanent attachment of the 71st and 178th Aviation Companies to the 14th CAB per G.O. 15, Headquarters 17 CAG, dated 06-20-67, effective 04-21-67. (The Boxcars assigned aircraft are 16 CH-47A, 1 UH-1C, and 2 OH-23G)

06-25-67 A/C 64-13153 lost to accident. Aft pylon caught on fire in flight. The crew chief bailed out while the aircraft was on final. Aircraft was destroyed by fire.

07-15-67 The attachment of the 14th CAB with assigned units to Task Force Oregon per G.O.'s 3209 dated 06-27-67, and 3568 dated 07-15-67, Headquarters, USARV, effective 07-01-67.

08-13-67 The Battalion committed 52 UH-1D's, 13 UH-1C (gunships), and 10 CH-47's to start Operation Benton.

08-18-67 A/C 64-13158 is lost to an accident. Crew chief Jon Green is burned when the aft cabin caught fire. He was med- evacuated to Japan.

08-19-67 The 178th ASHC and the 400th Trans Det are awarded a Valorous Unit Award for the period of 08-13-67 to 08-19-67, in support of strategic offensive maneuvers west of Chu Lai during Operation Benton.

09-67 The Boxcars and the 14th Avn. Bn., are assigned to the Falcon Aviation Group (Provisional).

09-01-67 The aircraft revetment program was completed.

09-12-67 The Battalion committed 36 UH-1D's, 6 CH-47's, 10 gunships, 2 wreckers and 1 smoke ship to support the second day of Operation Wheeler.

09-21-67 Along with autumn the heavy monsoon rains came early with torrents of 15 to 20 inches of rain in 24 hour periods.

09-25-67 Task Force Oregon becomes the Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division), the army's only named division on active service, with an authorized strength of three infantry brigades. The vehicle bumper abbreviation is "AMCAL". The Americal was a reactivation of the old Americal Division formed in New Caledonia in the Pacific on May 24, 1942. The name is a abbreviation of "Americans in New Caledonia". The 196th Infantry Brigade (Chargers) is the only brigade already in Vietnam.

10-08-67 A tropical storm passes near the Chu Lai area with heavy rains and high winds. Most of the damage to the 178th ASHC is sustained by the officer's hooch area. The two company areas are combined at the south area. A new orderly room is built with an attached mail room. No more standing in front of the mail conex box, by the old orderly room, waiting for your name to be called. The first two 16-man hoochs are built so the flight platoons can be housed together to make wake up for flights easier. An EM club is built along the road that had connected the two company areas. It had a wooden structure with a metal roof.

10-19-67 Major John M. Kalina, 01 936 675, Infantry, assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

10-28-67 The 198th Infantry Brigade (light) arrive in Vietnam to join the Americal Division. The Brave and Bold (198th) is to relieve the 196th at Chu Lai. The Chargers (196th) are to move northwest of Tam Ky during the period of Nov. 16-19, to replace the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division.

11-16-67 The 3/82 artillery is moved from south of Chu Lai to three 1,500-foot hills on the south side of the Que Son Valley. The three fire support bases are East, Center, and West. Each LZ in the hilltop chain consists of heavily protected bunkers (a sandbag city) and forests of aerial masts. A 105mm howitzer has a seven mile range. Its thirty-three pound shell is often not powerful enough to penetrate thick jungle canopy or destroy bunkers.

12-67 The Company Commander was the target of a fragging. He wanted the mess sergeant to make biscuits and gravy for the troops for breakfast. The mess sergeant hired a couple of marines to throw a CS grenade at the CO's hooch. They missed the CO but according to Bill Dillonaire, who was in the hooch at the time, something hit the roof. At first there was the smell of burning wire followed by the unmistakable CS gas.

12-5-67 11th Infantry Brigade (light) set sail from Hawaii for Vietnam to join the Americal Division. The Jungle Warriors final battalion of 700 men are to arrive in April 1968 to bring the 11th brigade to its authorized strength of almost 4000. The 11th Bde. area of operations is the Duc Pho area, replacing the 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division.

12-19-67 Major Ernest M. Wood Jr., 04 010 688, Artillery, assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

12-20-67 16th Combat Aviation Group is organized and activated out of the Provisional Falcon Aviation Group, which was established on 09-67 at An Son. It became operational on 01-23-68 at the Marine Marble Mountain Air Facility at Da Nang. The 16th Group motto is "Born in Battle".

01-68 The first B Model CH-47 is brought into the company. A/C 67-18450 was signed for at Tan Son Nhut air base near Saigon. (The aircrews flew down on a C-130)

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01-15-68 First flight mission for A/C 67-18450. With in a couple of months the 178th ASHC would have the distinction of being the first fully operational CH-47B "Chinook" helicopter unit in Vietnam.

01-30-68 In the early morning hours, the Tet Offensive starts in Vietnam.

01-31-68 Tet Offensive hits Chu Lai. The air crews went to the 178th ASHC flight line the evening of 01-30-68. About 4 AM on January 31, the second night of Tet Offensive, the enemy hit the ammo dump south of the flight line. It rained gun powder for several minutes. In fact, smoking was suspended in the company area until the gun powder got worked into the sand. A rocket hit the EM club, but didn't explode. The rocket left a 3" hole in the roof and the floor. The air crews would not get back to their beds for several days. The Boxcar aircraft were relocated to Ky Ha, by the Chu Lai hospital, for these days.

02-07-68 At 0315 hours the Chu Lai airfield was attacked by enemy forces utilizing 120mm rockets. 13 rockets landed in the vicinity of the 71st AHC and the 178th ASHC ramps. The only damage was light skin damage to one CH-47.

02-11-68 Americal Division Combat Center opens to instruct replacements in methods and modes of the war they are soon to experience. The Boxcars completed 20,000 flying hours in the CH-47A.

03-07-68 Several air crews fly from Chu Lai to Vung Tau on A/C 67-18455 to pick up some new B Model Chinooks. Most of the crews stayed in the Grand Hotel which was complete with a hot shower.

03-08-68 A/C 67-18458 and A/C 67-18469, along with a couple of other Chinooks, are signed for by their flight engineers. The air crews fly the Chinooks back to Chu Lai.

03-16-68 First Lieutenant William L Calley, Jr. and the men of Charlie Company, lst Battalion, 20th infantry, llth Brigade enter My Lai(4), RVN. It took more than a year for the world to learn what happened at My Lai on this fateful day.

03-68 The Boxcar dice are put on the tail of the B Model Chinooks. Red with white spots for first flight platoon. White with red spots for the second flight platoon aircraft. In later years all the dice would be red and also put on the front transmission cowling above the center windshield.

04-22-68 Two CH-47s Boxcars are deployed north to camp Evans to help with the resupply at Khe Sanh and the north end of the A Shau Valley.

05-09-68 The 132nd ASHC arrive at Da Nang, RVN by Navy ship. This brings the total to 13 chinook companies in Vietnam. The Hercules motto is "Versatility, Reliability, and Endurance." This Chinook unit is assigned to Chu Lai. This was their second tour in Vietnam, the first being 08-65 thru 04-66. The Hercules would rotate home for the second time on 11-08-71. (132nd Hercules redesignated the 160th Special Operations - Currently active at Hunter AAF, Savannah, Ga.)

05-10-68 Six 105mm howitzers are moved from LZ Boman to the Special Forces/CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) camp at Kham Duc. Kham Duc is a battered black asphalt airstrip, flanked by red dirt, sitting in the middle of vivid green mountains with peaks two to four thousand feet above its 1200-foot elevation. Kham Duc (about 60 miles west of Chu Lai) is more than 40 miles beyond any friendly supporting artillery.

05-12-68 Kham Duc evacuation - A/C 67-18475 is hit by 50 caliber while on final approach to Kham Duc. The crew escaped. A/C 67-18469 is hit by 50 caliber while taking off from Kham Duc. The crew escaped. SP/4 Shoplock was fist gunner, and the last gunner on A/C 469. Kham Duc was overrun by 5000 to 7000 NVA troops from the 2nd NVA Division. The 178th ASHC and the 400th Trans Det are awarded a Valorous Unit Award for their actions at Kham Duc. (See attached stories and after action reports)

05-17-68 The 178th ASHC and the 400th Trans Det are awarded the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry for the period of 03-27-67 to 05-17-68.

05-68 About one third of the 178th ASHC is transfused with about a third of the 132nd ASHC. The authorized strength of the 178th ASHC is 186 men.

05-31-68 The 178th ASHC and 400th Trans Det. are awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award for the period of 06-1-67 to 05-31-68.

06-19-68 A/C 67-18455 is lost to a taxi accident on the 178th ASHC flight line. Flight engineer SP/6 Phillips is killed in this accident.

06-28-68 Major Morris M. Jessup, 073 506, TC, assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

07-01-68 A/C 67-18457 is lost to an accident when a huey pulled pitch and hit the Chinook. The crew of five is killed in the accident. Pilots 1LT. Eoff and CWO Boyter, gunner SP/4 Burnham, crew chief SP/4 Puls, and flight engineer SP/4 Ostrander.

09-15-68 The Boxcars become the first Chinook unit to move a complete 155mm howitzer battery in one lift. A 155mm howitzer has a nine mile range. This is only slightly more than the 105mm, but the 155mm hurls a shell almost three times as powerful.

10-68 A flight platoon sergeant was the target of a fragging. The hand grenade landed between two hoochs and did little damage. No one was hurt in the incident.

10-30-68 A/C 67-18462 hoists the l,000,000th pound of rice in Operation Golden Fleece. This operation began 09-15-68. The harvest would total about 1.5 million pounds of rice in the almost four months of the operation.

11-25-68 The 400th Trans Det is inactivated at Chu Lai, Vietnam. The men and equipment of the 400th are assigned to the 178th ASHC. This would be the last connection of the 178th ASHC and the 400th Trans Det., even though the 400th was again activated in Vietnam on 09-01-69, and inactivated once more on 08-31-71. The 400th Trans Det. (activated again) arrived at Fort Carson, Co. on 09-16-79.

12-1-68 Originally part of the 1st Avn. Bde.(Long Binh),the 16th Cbt. Avn. Grp. (Da Nang) is attached to the Americal Div. The 16th CAG, known as the "Falcon Group", is relocated to Chu Lai. This unit has the distinction of being the only aviation group in the U.S. Army assigned to an infantry division. The 123rd Combat Aviation Battalion, activated 12-08-67 under the Americal Div., is attached to the 16th Combat Aviation Group.

12-22-68 A three hundred and fifty pound rock becomes the "Paper Stone". At 1800 hours daily, the flight records, turned in by the crew chiefs and flight engineers, are individually screened for neatness and accuracy. If mistakes are discovered, the person(s) in error are invited to participate in the "ceremony". The crew member reports to the Paper Rock, renders a hand salute, and requests permission to turn the rock 45 degrees. A hand salute is again given and the crew member is dismissed.

01-01-69 The 178th & 132nd Assault Support Helicopter Companies are assigned to the 123rd Combat Aviation Battalion.

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01-10-69 The area around Hiep Duc is considered safe enough to return several thousand refugees that had fled the area as early as 1965. This is a high point for the Americal's operation in the Song Thu Bon Valley.

01-19-69 The 178th ASHC has become the second Chinook company in Vietnam to log 30,000 hours in the air. During the first 30,000 air hours the company flew 108,132 sorties, moved 166,256 tons of cargo, and transported 283,424 passengers.

02-23-69 A/C 67-18470 is forced down by enemy fire. The crew escaped. The front half of the Chinook was salvaged giving the Boxcars an inventory of 16-1/2 chinooks.

03-22-69 A/C 67-18461 lost to accident when the aircraft lost power on final approach to the LZ. Flight engineer SP/5 Tedford is killed in this accident. Chu Lai Military Banking Facility (American Express Co., Inc.) becomes operational with small offices at Duc Pho and LZ Baldy.

04-30-69 Americal Chapel dedicated to Americal dead in World War II and Vietnam. U.S. troop strength in Vietnam peak at 543,400.

05-15-69 A/C 67-18458 is lost to small arms fire while at a hover over LZ Professional. The crew escaped.

06-06-69 Hangers for the 178th ASHC and the 132nd ASHC were completed.

9-03-69 Ho Chi Minh "Uncle Ho" dies in Hanoi.

10-01-69 The 178th & 132nd Assault Support Helicopter Companies are attached to the 14th Combat Aviation Battalion by Americal Division G.O. 10083 dated 29 Sep 69.

01-01-70 U.S. troop strength in Vietnam is reduced to 475,200. In January, Henry Kissinger began secret peace talks in Paris. The authorized strength of the 178th is 269 men. (15 officers, 26 warrant officers, and 228 enlisted) The Boxcars became the second Chinook company in the Army to fly 40,000 hours in the CH-47 helicopter.

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02-70 The 178th ASHC is awarded the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry for the period of 09-01-69 to 02-70.

03-04-70 The 178th ASHC transferred its K246 long boom wrecker to the 132nd ASHC.

03-27-70 SP/4 Hartfield is killed on the Boxcar flight line when a rotor blade hit him in the side of the head.

04-10-70 Major Brian G. Foote assumed command of the 178th Aviation Company.

07-12-70 Americal troops return to Kham Duc Camp. Only 13 miles from the Laotian border, it was thought the South Vietnamese might use the camp as a jumping-off spot for forays into Laos.

08-70 LZ Mary Ann is built up. (38 miles west of Chu Lai) A CH-47 helicopter lifts in a small bulldozer and LZ Mary Ann is made a permanent base. Because the road stops five miles east of LZ Mary Ann, at Hau Duc, all resupply has to be done by helicopter. Prefabricated 10 x 10 wooden bunkers were lifted from Chu Lai to Mary Ann and lowered into prepared holes.

08-25-70 Kham Duc is abandoned for the second time ending a temporary control of the area.

08-26-70 A/C 67-18445, flying from Kham Duc to LZ Judy (near LZ Mary Ann) is hit by a RPG (rocket propelled grenade) while on final approach. Four crew are killed. Pilot CW2 York, enlisted crew SP/4 Tefft, SP/4 York and PFC McDougal.

02-6-71 A/C 67-18493 is lost to accident. The crew of five is killed in the accident. Pilots Capt. David Alexander and Capt. Michael Kerl and the crew of SP/5 Robert Rogers, SP/5 Ambers Hamilton and SP/4 Curtis Williams.

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02-08-71 ARVN units move into Laos, in Operation Lam Son 719, until 04-09-71. This was a ARVN ground operation with the support of the US Army Aviation. Aircraft from the 14th CAB were under the operational control of the 159th Aviation Battalion, 101st Division at Hue/Phu Bai, RVN. Some of the most intense anti-aircraft fire of the war was experienced during Lam Son 719.

03-71 The 178th ASHC is awarded the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry for the period of 02-71 to 03-71.

03-28-71 LZ Mary Ann is over run by the NVA. LZ Mary Ann and LZ Mildred at Hau Duc are abandoned as part of the vietnamization of the war.

06-71 The 178th ASHC is awarded the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry for the period of 04-71 to 06-71.

07-21-71 A/C 69-17120 lost to accident. The crew escaped, but the flight engineer is hurt bad enough to be medically discharged.

10-05-71 The 11th Infantry Brigade (Jungle Warriors) is the first Americal infantry brigade to leave Vietnam.

10-71 The 178th ASHC moves to the Da Nang Marble Mountain Air Facility and is assigned to the 212th Aviation Battalion, the 11th Aviation Group and the 1st Aviation Brigade.

10-23-71 Typhoon Hester hits the southern I Corps coast. The worst storm in twenty seven years swept in from the South China Sea and flattened half the base at Chu Lai. All but one of the 178th ASHC Chinooks are damaged when they are thrown against the rows of 55 gal. revetments as the typhoon hit the Da Nang airfield.

11-11-71 The 198th Infantry Brigade (Brave and Bold) stands down.

11-12-71 President Nixon announces that American troops will no longer participate in offensive operations.

11-13-71 The 16th Combat Aviation Group departs Vietnam.

11-29-71 The Americal Division (23 Infantry Division) departs Vietnam for Ft. Lewis, Washington. The actual division assets folded down in Vietnam and only the colors went back to the United States.

12-23-71 The 212th Aviation Bn. leaves Vietnam leaving the 178th ASHC Boxcars assigned to the 11th Aviation Group.

01-15-72 The 2nd NVA Division comes out of the mountains to retake Hiep Duc.

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03-72 The Boxcar aircraft were to go to Cam Ranh Bay and then shipped to Korea but were transferred to the 213th Aviation Company and the 62nd Corp Aviation Co. at Phu Bai.

03-05-72 The 178th ASHC departs Da Nang for Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

05-24-72 Two 178th pilots and crew transferred to the 62nd Corp Aviation Co. are killed in the crash of A/C 68-15854. The pilots are WO James Barefield and Capt. Harry Thain. The crew was SP/6 Frank A. Newman, SP/5 Charles W. Gaches, and PFC David L. Brooks.

06-29-72 The 196 Infantry Brigade, the first and last Americal Brigade, departs Vietnam.

01-27-73 Vietnam peace pacts are signed in Paris.

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03-73 North Vietnam releases some 590 U.S. prisoners of war.

03-29-73 The last U.S. troops leave Vietnam.

04-29-75 U.S. civilians are evacuated from Saigon as communist forces complete the takeover of South Vietnam.

08-15-84 The 178th ASHC departs Ft. Sill, Oklahoma for Ft Campbell, Kentucky.

09-30-84 The 178th ASHC is inactivated at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. This brings an official end to the 178th Aviation Co., but to the members that served with the unit, during its nineteen year history, the "Can Do" spirit will live on in their heart and minds forever.