D TROOP (AIR), 3RD SQUADRON, 4TH UNITED STATES CAVALRY

D Troop was as an integral (TOE) part of the 3rd Squadron, 4th United States Cavalry, the 25th Infantry Division Armored Reconnaissance Squadron. D Troop was based at Cu Chi, the Division and Squadron HQ base. Most of the D Troop's operations were independent of the Squadron but the Troop would at times  participate in Squadron operations within the Division Area of Operations in III Corps, west and northwest of Saigon.

A good example of the effectiveness of the Air Cavalry Troop operating as part of an Armored Cavalry Squadron was the Squadron operation at Ton Son Nhut Airport during Tet '68.

F TROOP (AIR), 4TH UNITED STATES CAVALRY

When the  Armored Cavalry Squadron returned to Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division, the Air Cavalry Troop remained in-country. D Troop was re-designated F Troop (Air), 4th Cavalry Regiment on 10 February 1971 as a separate Air Cavalry Troop, retaining the CENTAURS unit call sign and logo.

F Troop CENTAURS initially flew in Support of the Second Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, that had also remained in Vietnam when the Division returned to Hawaii. F Troop was later assigned at various times to the 11th Aviation Group and the 12th Aviation Group, flying in support of South Vietnamese military units. The Troop operated in multiple locations in South Vietnam including places that some of us Cu Chi based D Troop veterans would have absolutely no interest going without the rest of the Squadron. I can tell you from personal experience that 'If you just absolutely, positively,  gotta' get shot down' there is nothing wrong doing it while supporting one of the Armored Cavalry Troops in your own Squadron.

F Troop continued to accumulate individual and unit honors while operating as an independent Air Cavalry Troop and was one of the last U.S. Army units to depart Vietnam - standing down on 26 February 1973.

Welcome back, welcome aboard, F Troop CENTAURS. 

See the  F Troop 1971 - 1972 YEARBOOK.

CONTACT

(The good kind, not the "&*^%$#*TAKING FIRE!!!*&%#@* kind)

Reunite with as many D/F Troop CENTAURS veterans as possible. View the Guestbook to see if one of the guys are trying to find has checked. Use an email to Tom Fleming, Dale Dow, or me to send a message to other CENTAURS, veterans and interested web site visitors. Send your contact Email to Charlie Johnson ('HOGS' - '67-'68), Dale Dow  (Infantry Platoon Leader  "Penguin" 1968), or Tom Fleming D Troop Commander 1968) and we will post your contact message in the Guestbook.

Unless you advise to the contrary we will post your Email, mail address, telephone numbers, etc. just as you send it since it is presumed we are all providing this information because we want to contact, and be contacted by, former Troopers from D Troop & F Troop, the Cavalry Squadron, or from other units. 

Have you maintained contact with D Troop/F Troop friends over the years? Direct them to this site.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER NEAT STUFF

3/4 Cav Lexington 2000 reunion pictures: 3/4 Cav website.  D Troop photos at the 3/4 Cav Reunion 2000 in Lexington, KY D Troop 3/4 Cav Pictures.  D/F Troop photos at the 3/4 Cav Reunion 2002, Chattanooga, TN. 

D Troop 3/4 Cav and F Troop 4th Cav current and historical photos, stories, etc.

Current photos and images - separate page for each person providing the photographs/images.

Historical photos and images - separate page for each person providing the photographs/images.

Current and Historical Photos. 

F Troop 1971 - 1972 YEARBOOK, presented courtesy of Bill Carpenter, a friend of an F Troop veteran. This is a scanned reproduction so the quality of the photographs may be deteriorated a little bit.  Complete yearbook    Yearbook sections

Essays, Stories

D Troop Personal Information   F Troop Personal Information

D/F Troop Veterans in Contact Roster    D/F Troop KIA-MIA Roster

3rd SQUADRON, 4th CAVALRY ASSOCIATION

If you have not already joined the Squadron Association we encourage you to do so. The membership dues pay the cost of publishing and mailing the Association Newsletter. A lot of Air Cav Troopers, both D Troop & F Troop, have contacted the Squadron Association but not all who made contact have joined. Most of the contacts by Air Cav Troopers have been by the Vietnam era vets. We aren't getting any younger and it is our turn to support the Squadron, and be part of the Squadron Association much as we did during combat. As a young Armor officer Aviator I always felt more comfortable with all that mobile steel nearby, whether in combat or back at base camp. I now am just as pleased, and comfortable, to be a part of the Cavalry Squadron Association.

The annual fee to join the Squadron Association is beer money. Paying the one time, lifetime, membership fee to join would be an act of confidence in your personal longevity. Do it now. You will be glad you did. The rest of the guys in the Squadron Association will appreciate your support. Go to the 3/4 Cav Association website for more info, or contact Dale Dow.

3/4 CAV ASSOCIATION REUNIONS

NEXT REUNION:

MOST RECENT REUNION: April 29 - May 2, 2010 in Tucson, AZ at the Hotel Arizona was another great get-together for Squadron Veterans including D/F Troop Centaurs. This was our first reunion in the high desert country and everyone enjoyed the Arizona scenery.  See the 2010 Reunion Page for more information. 

PREVIOUS SQUADRON ASSOCIATION REUNIONS

2008: The Squadron reunion in the Cincinnati, Ohio area in June, 2008 was a great success for the Cav Squadron including D/F Troop Centaurs. See the 2008 Reunion Page for more information.

2006: The Squadron reunion in the Kansas City, Missouri area July 26-30, 2006 was another huge success. This was the first Squadron Association reunion held west of the Mississippi River. We saw more Air Cavalry Troopers at this reunion than ever and, for the first time, there were more D/F Troopers at the reunion than from any other Troop. See the 2006 Reunion Page for more information.

2004: The Squadron reunion held in the Louisville, Kentucky area, June 24-27, 2004 was another success but your webmaster missed this one. See the 2004 Reunion Page for more information.

2002: The Squadron reunion held in the  Chattanooga, Tennessee area, September 5-7, 2002 was a lot of fun for Centaurs veterans especially since we had a lot of first time D Troop and F Troop attendees at this reunion including famous local Chattanooga personality Smokey (He got shot down again?!!!) Burgess and his lovely bride. Great Smokey Mountain scenery too. See the 2002 Reunion Page for more information.

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D/F TROOP CENTAURS REUNIONS

NEXT CENTAURS REUNION:  The 2010 D/F Troop Centaurs Reunion will be November 9-11, 2010 in Springfield, Illinois. The reunion will be held at the ROUTE 66 HOTEL in downtown Springfield. Discounted rooms have been reserved under the group name VIETNAM VETS 3RD SQDN, 4TH U.S. CAVALRY. Reference that group name when calling for reservations. The discounted room rate for the reunion is $59.00 per night plus tax.  For additional information and answers to your questions concerning the reunion contact Fred Reese via email at FReese@netins.net and see the 2010 Centaurs Reunion page for more information.

PREVIOUS CENTAURS REUNIONS:

See the 2007 Centaurs Reunion page for information on the reunion that was held in Hannibal, Missouri. Direct your inquiries regarding the 2007 reunion to Fred Reese at FReese@netins.net.