IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO POST OR RESPOND TO A POST, PLEASE CONTACT JERRY BERRY AT jerryberry@currahee.org

PSG Earl Irelan, CSF
IP: 107.191.169.164
Posted on January 13, 2017 at 04:04:14 PM by Jerry B

Currahees,

As some of you are aware, I have offered to write a member's Vietnam Combat Journal; and have written a number already. It has been quite the challenge for me to get some members pre-Vietnam information, due to their memory loss. For me, however, that just make me more determined to do it. There's not much out there that I cannot find on someone's military service. A prime example is the VCJ for our PSG Earl Irelan, who served as one of the first platoon sergeant for our Currahee Shock Force (May 1967 to early 1968), and a "boat trooper". PSG Irelan's wife Becky, whom many of you know, ask me to write his VCJ. PSG Irelan has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and cannot recall much of his proud and outstanding 20-years military service. During his active military service from 1953 to 1973, he served with the 11th Airborne Division--187th Abn. Regimental Combat Team, during the Korean War, then at Beppu, Japan, at Ft. Bragg, NC, then to 1/502nd Abn. at Fort Campbell, Ky until the activation of the 3-506th.

As I researched the bits and pieces of what he could now remember, I discovered an amazing Department of Defense, Department of the Army (video) of not only the ship he and his 187th Airborne Regt. Combat Team were transported on (USNS Gen. John Pope), but actual footage of him arrived at Moji Port, disembarking his ship, the Gen. John Pope, boarding thier train to city of Beppu; and activities at Beppu with young general William Westmoreland, his 187th commander.

<A HREF=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzG_89aprHM>187th RCT Airborne Battalion, Kokura, (Beppu), Japan (Oct. 4-6, 1953)</A>

I photographed PSG Irelan being greeted 14-years later by General Westmoreland at our base camp at Phan Range, when Gen. Westmoreland welcomed us to Vietnam and promosed us the combat jump.

<img src=http://www.currahee.org/Westmoreland.jpg>

<img src=http://www.currahee.org/Westmoreland.NCOs2.jpg>
Yours truly taking photos of Gen. Westmoreland and our LTC Geraci visiting with our senior NCOs, including PSG Earl Irelan. Many of these NCOs had served under Gen. Westmoreland in Korea, Japan and later in the US. It was fun watching and listening to Gen. Westmoreland and LTC Geraci kidding around with the senior NCOs.

In the Dept. of the Army footage, you will see PSG Irelan's transport ship the USNS Gen. John Pope arriving in the harbor at Moji Port, him and fellow soldiers crowding the deck, some waving, members carrying their barracks bags and other gear come down the gangway. The footage showing coming down the stairs from the ship; the men on the hull as they debark; them boarding a train at the dock siding which will take them to Camp Chicamauga; and young Gen Westmoreland watches as his troops board the train.

There are scenes taken from a train heading for Beppu. Open fields, houses, etc. Scenes of young Earl Ireland and fellow members of his 187th leaving train, Japanese formally welcoming the troops who having arrived from Korea, troops marching from train as townspeople cheer and wave US and Japanese flags; 187th parades through city's streets; Brig Gen W C Westmoreland holding a bouquet while he watches the troops march past; a sign stretched across the street: "Welcome Home 187th RCT." The troops marching through the gate of Camp Chicamauga. In the city square, etc. I have a few photographs of us arriving at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam in Oct. 1967, but nothing to compare to PSG Irelan's arrival in Japan in Oct. 1953. We had outstanding leadership (NCOs and Officers) in the 3-506th.

Do take a few minutes to view this video:

<A HREF=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzG_89aprHM>187th RCT Airborne Battalion, Kokura, (Beppu), Japan (Oct. 4-6, 1953)</A>


Jerry in Montana



Replies:

You must register before you can post on this board. You can register here.

Post a reply:
Username:
Password:
Email:
Subject:
Message:




Create Your Own Free Message Board or Free Forum!
Hosted By Boards2Go Copyright © 2020


<-- -->