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Dave Berry | all galleries >> Galleries >> Vietnam War '67 - '68 > Rome Plow - Operation Paul Bunyan
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Rome Plow - Operation Paul Bunyan

The 27th Land Clearing Team, 168th Engineer Battalion used Rome Plows (armored bulldozers) for jungle-clearing. They were good guys and it was hazardous work, as there was always risk of mines, booby-traps and unexploded US bombs. Not to mention red ants and the occasional un-burst (until they hit it) 55 gallon drum of riot control gas dropped by US aircraft on suspected enemy positions. Infantry provided security while they did their work.


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Guest 28-Nov-2019 01:22
larry massey spech 5 demolition specialist with A company 168th engineering battalion with big red one september 1966 to september 67 my squad cleared the roads from Soui Da passed black virgin mtn up to base camp 1 with 82nd airborn[i think] for 31 days until we were relieved got rid of a lot of russian anti tank mines and personnel mines. good to hear from someone else over there. long lives to you all.
Guest 18-Oct-2018 20:36
F Troop 4th Cav used it as a navigation point when flying out of Lai Khe in 71. Usually it was go north along route 13 until you see the Big Red One and then take a heading of 270 to go past the Michelin Plantation. I had a photo of it but can't find the photo.
Guest 17-Aug-2017 23:13
operation wide swath was clearing a road from Lhe Khe way towards the Black Virgin Mountains I was with both B 2nd 2nd and B 2nd 34th Larry Dahlka (DI)
Guest 15-Feb-2017 04:11
there were two bro patches cut in jungle, one is posted some where on line if you search. the last one was a real good one we cut just before big red left for dian and home. I'm sp5 tom stall I was a plow operator. the patch was located about 13 kilometers north of lia khe on rt 13 and to the left about 2-3 kilometers. they said it would last a 100 years! but you can't see anything on google earth. lt. jerry senn was in charge. after this him me and mike nigh went to 20th eng brig/ 68th lc, went to Cambodia before and
during invasion. on the bro cut when we were done they took us over in a chopper and gave us a 10x12 army photo mine is long lost.
R Danner 12-Feb-2017 16:20
Hello
I an Ronald D Danner son, he has passed. Doing research on his time in country. Thanks
Gary Huffman 27-Jun-2016 13:04
Hi there Graves and Keys. I flew over there with you guys. I shared a dozer with Jenkins. I spent my last 4 months with 557 out of Chu Che. I also remember Korf, Hernandes, and others that I do not remember their names right now.
Steve Staudt 23-May-2016 23:28
Near the Michelen plantation
Guest 19-Sep-2015 01:57
Hi George Keys. Robert Graves here of 27th LCT. I remember that day you were wounded.
BOB STAFFIERI 15-Jan-2015 14:56
I WAS WITH THE 1ST COMBAT ENGINEERS, 1ST DIVISION AND ASSIGNED AS RADIO OPERATOR ON A ROME PLOW CLEARING OPERATIONS. WE SET UP AN NDP EVERY NIGHT AND GOT ROCKETED EVERY NIGHT. ONE NIGHT AN APC GOT HIT WITH AN RPG AND WAS ON FIRE. THE DRIVER GOT IN IT AND DROVE IT OUT OF THE NDP SO IT WOULDN'T EXPLODE ON US. BRAVEST THING I EVER WITNESSED.
Guest 17-Jul-2014 00:13
I'm Frank Meredith ex member to Royal Australian Engineers. In 1969/70 I was part of the Australian Land Clearing team. We used 4 Cat D8 dozers, one fitted with a Rome Plow. 2 of the dozers towed a 300 ft length of heavy shipping chain with the plow following behind to take out any trees the chain couldn't handle. We worked in the Phuoc Tuy province
dave ellis 15-Apr-2014 17:56
was with the 27th lct from 4/68-4/69 spent a lot of time with you assholes, never did get to thank you for covering our asses
Bill Crossley 23-Mar-2014 16:52
I was with the 168th, did some jungle clearing with a standard D7. Later went TDY with the 27th Land Clearing Team (Plow #LC34)@May '67, until I left country Nov. 21, '67. Anybody left out there???
Guest 26-Dec-2013 16:47
I'm paul m jensen spc 4 70th combat eng 62e20 mos nov 67 to dec 68 rome plow optr plieku kontum ban me thout hey any of you maniacs still alive? Call me 206-601 -7762
Treadhead68 31-Aug-2013 01:43
The Iron Triangle! We went there a couple of times to 'clear it' and it got harder each time.
dennis 24-Aug-2013 01:18
i realy enjoy viewing anything that has to do with rome plow s i was there in 68 and now with the internet there is a lot of info anyone interested to attend a reuinion in fort leonardwood missori june of 20014 post it iwill check and respond to e mails i will put this on my favorits
treadhead6829-May-2013 22:01
I was in the 2/34th Armor, 1 st Inf. Div., B Co. I remember running from plow to plow as the gooks started hitting the plows at different places at nearly the same time. What, to me as the driver, was the most dangerous was running against the plows cutting path. A long, thin pice of a stripped, but still rooted, sapling popped up, bounced off the front slope, came back down right above my right eyebrow, cutting a furrow in my forehead and thank God went up into the top of my CVC helmet, pinning my head to the turret. I slammed the brakes on, nearly throwing the Sgt. Out of his hatch. He got pis--d, yelled keep going you idiot! I didn't and he popped out , ran to the drivers hatch about to kick my head in for stopping. When he saw my head pinned to the turret he told me later he thought the sapling had went into my eye and killed me. Then he said I started cussing and normally a soft spoken man, he was never so glad to hear profanity in his life. No Purple Heart, wasn't proven to be a VC sapling.
Leonard Shearer 29-Dec-2012 02:45
WOW..I was one of the operator's on those damn dozer's...1st. Inf. 1st enganeer's...we did a lot of land clearing...and was one of the one's that helped carve out that BIG RED ONE..out of the jungle...saw a pic once when I got back to the states...but sure would like to get a hold of one now, if anybody know's where I might be able to get one...thanks...SP4..A-1-1 Leonard Shearer.
john bailey 16-Jun-2012 18:05
don "doc" reynolds this is john i was there when the roam plows where cutting the big one patch.i was with the 1/4 mech we were guarding 3 plows.i was with 2 113s when we were hit.the in front got a rpg in the left side. i was driving that day,and was able to pick up the 4 on the track in front boy it was burning!!i don't know what it looked like from the air i but remember what it looked like on the ground!!!!!
Robert Tavarozzi 24-Mar-2012 23:31
I enjoyed all these photos ! I was in Lai Khe mar.66/67. 2nd Batt.28th Inf. "Black Lions " I must have 100's of these photos up in my attic.Maps of Lai Khe too. I think I'm ready to dig them out and post them now.
abe smith 18-Mar-2012 23:47
photo brings back memories-Co A 168th cmbat engineers in support of big red 1 and rome plow drivers, mostly filling sand bags to cover trenches that the entrenching machine dug. except for Rodriguez and me guarding a huge yellow generator (who the 'f__k' sent that out) which got parked in the middle of where the plows were clearing. plow got hit in the fuel tank w/rpg, driver hit in butt w/schrapnel,(purple heart well deserved), hella firefight for next hour.
John Venn 27-Feb-2012 00:27
Remeber how the VC got real smart and started moving the booby traps higher off the ground to get the plow drivers. Also, I hated walking through the knocked down jungle because I got terrible hamstring cramps late in the day from continually lifting my legs so high. Brings back memoeies.
bob 15-Jun-2011 07:02
I remember the plows clearing the north side of lai khe next to the air field and started plowing around the base camp.
Russell gallegos 19-Oct-2010 05:37
I was on this operation not sure where it was we choppered in from Lai Khe 1/7 artillery
105 howitzer
Peter 01-Aug-2010 02:23
If I remember right, it was along Hwy 13, Thunder Road close to Thunder 3 base camp.
Peter
1968
george keys 16-Jun-2010 15:35
I was on this operation, with the 27th lct. wounded oct 20 1967,
george keys
Mckenney 19-Feb-2010 17:08
I was on this op. anyone with info on Sgt.Don Laverick call Sgt.Mckenney 912 409 7181
Dave Berry09-Sep-2009 00:52
I couldn't give grid coordinates, but it was in the Iron Triangle, which was a haven for VC units. The purpose of these operations was to deny them sanctuary.
Don "Doc" Reynolds 05-Sep-2009 18:43
Does anyone remember where, in relation to Lai Khe, the Big Red One was carved out of the jungle by Rome Plows?

You could see it from quite a distance away from a helicopter!
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