2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry

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Sp/4 Peter R. Clausen
Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
2nd Bn, 8th Inf
4th Infantry Division, RVN

1966-1967

My father is the late Peter R. Clausen, who served in Vietnam (1966-1967). My father never discussed Vietnam, but from my late Aunt’s recollection, during a mortar attack my father was knocked unconscious and covered by debris. It was either his Platoon SGT, or Lt, who held off the enemy advance until all of his soldiers were recovered. If this is remotely accurate, I’d love to thank that man, or his next of kin -I literally exist because of him. I just came across some photos. I’m not sure where my dad or these soldiers fit in, but if anyone knows any of these men, or their loved ones, I’d love to share copies with them. Again, it would be amazing to possibly connect with anyone from my dad’s unit. Sir, thank you again.

Posted 05 MAY 2023

If you knew SP/4 Clausen or recognize anyone in these photos, email swamp_fox at the address on the bottom of this webpage and I will forward it to his daughter.


Sp/4 Peter R. Hansen
Company C, 2nd Bn, 8th Inf
4th Infantry Division, RVN

1 JAN 1968 - 6 FEB 1968

I am looking for anyone who served with my brother, Peter R. Hansen. Pete was a Specialist Four in C Co, 2nd BN, 8th Infantry, 4th INF DIV, USARV. He started his tour on 1/1/68 and was KIA on 2/6/68, so he was only there a month and was stationed in Pleiku Province. He was MIA initially, but his body was recovered a week or so later and then declared KIA at that time. He was a quiet small town boy, standing 6’-6”. As he was 12 years older than me, I don’t remember much about him, but hope to learn more about his time in the service. I would love to have a phone call with anyone that remembers Pete, or buy him a cup of coffee.

Thanks.

Posted 16 JUN 2021

If you wish to make contact with Kurt, email swamp_fox at the address on the bottom of this webpage and I will forward it to him.


PFC Earl Thomas Classen
MOS: 63C20, General Vehicle Repairman
B Company and HHC, 2nd Bn, 8th Inf,
4th Inf Division, USARV

Hello I’m not sure if I’m writing to the right person but I’ve been trying to find someone, who served with my uncle, PFC Earl Thomas Classen. He died of multiple fragmentation wounds during a hostile ground action on February 4th 1968 in Pleiku, Vietnam. He served in Company B and HHC Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Inf, 4th Infantry Division from January 5, 1968 until his passing on February 4, 1968. I’ve been looking for 20 years and just hoping I can find a lead.

Posted 5 APR 2020

You can make contact via email to the Swamp_fox address at the bottom of this page.


MIKE MCELROY
2/8th Infantry

4th Infantry Division

Sir, I am contacting you to see if anyone may remember my dad, MIKE MCELROY, who served in Vietnam from 1967-68 with the 4th Div, 2nd of the 8th Infantry, stationed in Pleiku. Thanks in advance. Regards, Mike McElroy

If you knew Mike, email swamp_fox at the address at the bottom of this page.


Major Jimmie Casias
2nd of the 8th Infantry
4th Infantry Division
U.S. Army (R)

I was in 2nd Platoon of A Company, 2nd Bn 8th Inf, the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 4th Inf Div, 1967 thru 1968.
Lt Roger Casalengo had 1st Platoon, I had the 2nd Platoon and Richard Strimmel had the 3rd Platoon.

I was in the BIG contact that over ran a dug in Battalion Command Post, 29 April to 4 May 1968.

I would like to make contact with any one who served under CPT William Harvey and CPT Eric Ferdandez.

After I left A Company I took Command of HeadQuarters Company from CPT Fernandez.

Posted 11 July 2018

If you need to contact Jimmie, email me at Swamp_Fox address below and I will forward it to him.


SGT John Braden
B Co., 2nd Bn, 8th Inf, 4th Inf Div
Vietnam MAR 69 - MAY 70

My father was John Steven "("Steve") Braden. He was drafted in October 1968 and served in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, 11B40. I have only known this information for about three weeks now. Dad passed August 20, 2013 of Esophageal cancer and other health complications. He ran into some hard times in his last years and rarely talked about the war. It was a long process to obtain a copy of his service records when he passed, but persistence and patience finally paid off about three weeks ago.

I am attaching some photos that my mother was able to finally retrieve in the last week or so. Most of these I had never seen before.

I saw your fantastic website and am hopeful that you might like to post some or all of these photos there. Unfortunately, I have no idea about the ID of his fellow soldiers pictured in the group shot (Dad is at left without a shirt), but perhaps if you can post them others will know.. ?

While I realize it may be a longshot, I'd love to be put in touch with anyone that may have known Dad personally while he served in Vietnam. I understand that you and he were both Fourth Division Infantry serving in and near Pleiku at roughly the same time. I am aware that you probably didn't know one another, and that the 4th Infantry Division contains as many as 15,000 soldiers. Still I have hope that you might, especially through your great website, be in touch with Veterans who may have been in his Battalion and even his Company.

Also on a more personal note I want to say that, as soon as I received Doug's (of the "Pleiku Pals" group) email this past week, I was able to visit your site and was immediately interested in reading "Wandering Souls: Journeys with the Dead and the Living in Viet Nam." I was able to find it at my local library and check it out that same day. So far I have read roughly 30% of it and can't really begin to put into words the appreciation I have for so many aspects of your story and the fact that you and Mr. Karlin were able to document it so well in published form.

Though life is very busy I look forward very much to continuing to read it, as well as continuing to correspond with several Veterans I've met through "Pleiku Pals" http://vietnamvetsandfriends.yuku.com/

Thank you all for your service to our country, and your very kind assistance with my personal quest to better understand my Father's experience serving in Vietnam.

God bless and best wishes.
Sincerely,

Jay

Obituary John Steven Braden

John Steven ("Steve") Braden, 67, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 20, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas.

Steve was born in October, 1945 in Sterling, Kansas to Gene Braden and Eunice McPherson Braden, and was their only child (born following a still-born brother). He attended Sterling College for undergraduate school and Wichita State University where he graduated with an MBA.

During his graduate work at WSU, he was drafted and served from October 1968 to May 1970 in the Army in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division (Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment). He served as a radio operator with the infantry and was stationed primarily in the Central Highlands, including the US Army base at Pleiku. Steve received a number of medals for his service in Vietnam, including the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Following his return to Wichita State and graduation, Steve went to work for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Kansas City, Mo.

Steve had a love of reading, writing, history, music, and his Christian faith.

He is survived by son Jay, and several other family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons, Ks.
Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project can also be made by phone: (855) 448-3997, or mail: PO BOX 758517 Topeka, KS 66675.

Romans 8:28

Posted 15 APR 2014

If you want to contact Jay, email the Swamp_Fox address at bottom of page and I will forward your message to him.


Robert Hyatt Wescott Jr
A Comapny, 2nd Bn, 8th Infantry

My name is Christine Wescott and my father was Robert Hyatt Wescott Jr who served in Vietnam in A Company, 2nd Bat 8th Inf 4th Inf Division based out of Ft Lewis WA. He was sent to Vietnam on his 1st tour July 23 1966 through June 1967. He was killed on his second tour 4/69. I am trying to find anyone who knew him. It seems when I look at his records he is Co A 1st Bn 8th Inf based in Fort Lewis July 1960 as a Plt Sgt until Sept 1963. My father was SFC at the time of his death but was listed as Platoon Sgt in your Company. I was a small child when he died and am on a journey to find out more about him.
Any help would be appreciated. Contact Swamp_For email address and I will forward your message to Christine.

Posted 9 APR 2014


Russel, Donald
Company B, 2/8th Mech


Hello Sir,
I was just doing some looking around for some history concerning Vietnam and my dad's time there and I ran across your site. So, I want to give you some information on him and maybe some other guys might want to come on here as well. I don't know...

My dad was in Pleiku and I think ended up An Khe. Not exactly sure but I know those are cities / areas my dad has mentioned. I know those were headquarters now as per your site. Of course he was in the field / jungle most of the time and he tells me he was even in Cambodia for a period. He received a Purple Heart while over there. He's still alive and retired from Delta Airlines around 10 or so years ago. Anyway, I am not sure if anyone wants to contact him or not. I would guess some of the men he knew and made it home may have passed by now. They could even be like my dad and not even want to remember. It's just been in the past few years that he's even started talking about Vietnam. He was there from 1969 to 1970 and was a sniper. You can feel free to post my e-mail address, just in case there is someone that knows about this site or someone out there that wants to contact him. They can do so through me because my dad doesn't even have an e-mail. He doesn't have many pictures (if at all), but he does have some great hair raising / sad / tragic stories that he has been telling lately. He would love to reconnect with his spotter, Nick.

If you knew Russell and want to make contact, email Swamp_Fox at the address on the bottom of this page and I will forward it to his son Ryan.

Posted 27 AUG 2013


Delbert Cole
A Company, 2/8th Mech


I am looking for anyone who may have served with my father, Delbert Cole, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry from 1967 to 1968. Also looking for anyplace I can find records/histories regarding the Panthers from that time. Thank you.

Jeffery Cole

If you knew Delbert and want to make contact, email Swamp_Fox at the address on the bottom of this page and I will forward it to his son.



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