48th IPSD “Hell On Paws”
 

The 48th IPSD was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 2 September 1966, with Lt. Ian L. Jones in command.  After training at Fort Benning (1) the unit deployed to Vietnam on 11 January 1967, with a strength of 1 Officer and 14 Enlisted men and 26 dogs.(2)  After arriving in Vietnam on 15 January 1967, the Platoon moved to Tay Ninh on 23 January 1967, to join the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB).


On 12 April 1967, the 48th moved with the 196th LIB to Chu Lai to become part of Task Force Oregon, which later became the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal).  In December of 1967, Lt. Gerald W. Vosbury assumed command.  The unit moved again in February of 1968 to LZ Baldy.  For a four-week long period, during April and May of 1968, the 48th was located at Camp Evans near the A Shau Valley in northern I Corps where elements of the 196th LIB and 101st Airborne Brigade had gathered to support the 1st Cavalry Division - Air Mobile (operation Lam Son 216).


On 22 November 1968, Lt. Robert Matazinski assumed command.  The 48th remained at LZ Baldy until 14 April 1969, when it moved to LZ Hawk Hill.  On 31 December 1969, Lt. Robert E. Allen assumed command.  On 16 December 1970, Lt. James M. Mulford took over as Commanding Officer.


On 1 May 1971, the 48th moved to Da Nang and on 10 October 1972, Lt. Lowell V. Thompson took command.  The 23rd Infantry Division (Americal) was deactivated in November of 1971.  The 196th LIB stayed on at Da Nang as a separate infantry brigade and the 48th IPSD continued to support it.  Lt. Steven A. Mayer succeeded Lt. Thompson as Commanding Officer on 26 December 1971.


The 48th IPSD was deactivated on 30 March 1972.  It had served in the war for 5 years, 2 1/2 months.  Only one other Scout Dog Platoon, the 1st Cavalry Division's 34th IPSD, had a longer tour in Vietnam.  The 48th received the Valorous Unit Award on 3 March, 1971, a Letter of Commendation from the Commanding General of the 196th LIB on 6 December 1971, and several letters of commendation from various U.S. Army Infantry line units that the 48th worked with over the course of its tour in Vietnam.


This history is a compilation of reports written by Cecil O. Pendleton (Unit Clerk, 68-69), Lt.’s Matazinski, Mulford and Mayer, and from records found at the National Archives by Jesse Mendez and Mike Lemish.  Additional information was obtained from original platoon member Michael M. Harrison (66-67), a 48th IPSD Unit Roster dated 31 October 1968, which was procured from the National Personnel Records Center (St. Louis), and data from Shelby L. Stanton's Vietnam Order of Battle.


Time Line:

  1. September 1966: 48th IPSD activated, Fort Benning

  2. January 1967: 48th arrived Tay Ninh, Vietnam (assigned to the 196th LIB)

  3. April 1967: 48th moved to Chu Lai as part of Task Force Oregon (unit located in Tam Ky)

  4. October 1967: 196th became part of the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal)

  5. February 1968: 48th moved to LZ Baldy

  6. April-May 1968: 48th moved to Camp Evans (Operation Lam Son 216)

  7. April 1969: 48th moved to LZ Hawk Hill

  8. May 1971: 48th moved to Da Nang

  9. November 1971: 23rd Infantry Division (Americal) was deactivated

  10. March 1972: 48th IPSD was deactivated


Commanding Officers: 1966 - 1972

  1. September 1966 - December 1967: Lt. Ian L. Jones

  2. December 1967 - November 1968: Lt. Gerald W. Vosbury

  3. November 1968 - December 1969: Lt. Robert Matazinski

  4. December 1969 - December 1970: Lt. Robert E. Allen

  5. December 1970 - October 1971: Lt. James M. Mulford

  6. October 1971 - December 1971: Lt. Lowell V. Thompson

  7. December 1971 - March 1972: Lt. Steven A. Mayer


Veterinarian Technians (Vet Techs):

  1. Frank M. Catania

  2. Terrence “Terry” L. Hopper

  3. David H. Dow

  4. Reginal E. Dowdy

  5. D. Bruce "Kentucky" Thomason


Veterinarians and Veterinarian Technicians of the Americal Division:

  1. Captain Paul Elwell, Veterinarian, 175th Veterinary Detachment

  2. Captain John Prucha, Veterinarian, 175th Veterinary Detachment

  3. Sp/4 Richard Pusateri, Veterinarian Technician, 175th Veterinary Detachment


______________________

(1) Original training unit at Fort Benning, which comprised the 48th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog), consisted of 31 men: Leonard M. Bartone, Jr.,Richard Beeghly, Richard M. Botti, Thomas G. Brady, Karl J. Brandenberg, Frank M. Catania (Vet Tech), Sgt. Henry Crum, James G. Dickenson, Sgt. Neil Grant, Michael M. Harrison, Sgt. Emmett Harriston, PSG Clarence L. Harvis, Sgt. Herman Jackson,  Jr., 2nd Lt. Ian L. Jones, Sgt. Leo Lambert, Joseph V. Morin II, Martin L. Mugavin, John P. Olmstead, Roy G. Quada, Dennis Quinlen, Jr., Sgt. Jesus M. Roig, James Roy, Sgt. Romon Sepulveda, Manuel A. Smith, Ronald Sniffen, James Strickland, Thomas W. Switzer, Richard J. Taylor, Sgt. Alfred L. Turner,  Vernon L. Whybrew, Paul D. Willey


(2) Fifteen men and twenty-six dogs from the original training unit comprised the 48th IPSD when it shipped to Vietnam: Bartone, Brandenberg, Catania, Harrison, Harvis, Jackson Jr., Jones, Mugavin, Olmstead, Quada, Roig, Switzer, Turner, Whybrew, Willey; Dogs: Arko, Astor, Bootsy, Bruno, Bullet 1, Bullet 2, Conrad, Dara, Flash, Fritz 1, Fritz 2, Gero, Hasso, Jerry, Kiaser, King 1, King 2, King 3, King 4, Lady, Royal, Smokey, Sparky, Tina, Tip, York



 

48th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) Graduation Photo - Fort Benning, GA, 1966

photo roster compiled by Michael M. Harrision