Help be a part of Alpha 2/5 history in Vietnam. If you were assigned to Lean Apache, send us your stories, pictures, your date in country and your DEROS, names of friends – any information of interest. Send any information to alonzo@leanapache.org. If you have pictures, send those too. If you have pictures (or slides) but no scanner, you can mail them to the Webmaster. Or if you can point to news articles about the unit that are available online or if we can scan them in and upload them to the site, please let us know.
Call Signs
According to tallcomanche.org, their research has concluded that Company A, 2/5, was called “Lean Apache” because the company commander at the time (1967) was CPT Clay Pratt, and LTC Joseph Love (commanding the 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry) thought Pratt was “lean.” The unit was dubbed “Lean Apache” in October 1967, as all companies in 2/5 were renamed by Love. (Source: http://www.tallcomanche.org/history.htm and The History of The Second Battalion Fifth Cavalry, Calendar Year 1967, written by SGT Ronald L. Punch, Unit Historian, and approved by LTC Raymond Maladowitz.)
Roster
Alonzo Jones has compiled a roster of Alpha 2/5 members from Vietnam. To download it, click here. (MS Word, 81kb). Alonzo also has a contact list for those individuals, please contact Alonzo directly for that information.
In Memory…
Alonzo Jones has compiled a list of those killed in action (KIA) for Alpha 2/5. To view our heroes, click here.
After Action Reviews
Mark Cisek has done some research at the National Archives. Below are links to the five page AAR for “Charlie Alpha” that Co.A, 2/5 made on March 29th,1969. It was into an area that would later become LZ JESS, it was “Heavy Contact.”
We sometimes switched up call signs to keep Charlie on his toes trying to indentify who we were. Sometimes we were called ‘skinny indian’ in lieu of Lean Apache. For a brief time I was the platoon log man when supplies came out to the field. I remember my call sign then was Lean Apache three-six Mike India. I don’t however, remember what all that meant.
And, March 29th lives on all too frequently in my dreams. Sometimes it’s just like being there all over again. That was a very bad day.
We were point squad C2/5 and we first to contact your company on the 29th. Would like to add story if anybody there.
I was in ist platoon company a 2/5 on march 29, 1969. iwas one of the wounded that was evacuated to safety by c 2/5. did luke morgan serve with you? He was one of the guys who helpped me to safety.
I was in the battle for LZ jess and served in A 2/5. I was wounded that day and would like to review the after action reviews. also, i have information of others who were wounded with me who may not know what happened to them on that day.
My dad served with this unit for a very short time in June 1969. He was killed on June 6th, 1969. I would love to get in touch with anyone who served with him.