The Last Trooper to see the Troop "Cup"
Posted September 15, 2017
By Wes Bartley

Hi guys,
I just wanted to add some info to the skull story since I was the last unit member to see it.

I was Larry Nobles roommate and successor as Longknife 21 and skull custodian when he left country in late 1971. 
I became the senior slick lead and, after attending the IP course in Vung Tau in January 1972, the unit UH-1 IP. 
When the unit was closed down in late March 1972, all the troops that had at least six months in country left with the unit, and all the equipment, for Hawaii to be re-designated as D Troop, 3/4 Cav,
and those with less than 6 months were reassigned to units in-country, mostly to Can Tho, if I remember correctly. 
Kevin Kelly (Crusader 34) and I were left behind because we already had orders for our next assignment, but they were not published yet. 
Kevin moved into my hooch, and we spent the next week trying to get out of country. 
It was a scary time because we had no support at all other than the 7th/1st personnel, and they had no Autovon capability, nor interest in our plight. 
Every day we would leave the hooch and try to get ourselves and our stuff shipped out, but without orders, we had no chance. 
The skull was hung from the rafters, right above the door, so it was the first thing you saw when you came in,
and probably ended up being a successful deterrent for the mass of Vietnamese civilian workers waiting outside all day
 to collect any left-over belongings and furnishings, since neither one of us lost anything from the room. 
Eventually, we caught the mail bird to stay with friends at Can Tho for a night and used the Autovon there to call the warrant officer branch at DA. 
They dictated our orders to us, and we had them printed out at the local personnel office after hitching a ride back to Vinh Long. 
We wasted no time in getting our equipment packed and sent, and after grabbing our duffel bags we sat on the runway waiting for the next aircraft headed to Long Binh. 
Needless to say, we both made it home OK eventually, but it wasn't the normal exit from RVN!!   

The last I remember, the skull was still in my hooch in April 1972, and there weren't any more of the troop members there. 
Hopefully, some of his countrymen did the right thing for his remains.

I thank you, Mike, for your letters, and understand and respect the sentiments expressed in them, especially since I have friends whose remains have never been recovered, and also have progeny on active duty today, who are regularly deployed to places where they are in harm's way.
 I wish more people in this world had the respect and consideration you do. 
Congratulations on making a stand and, "Welcome Home!"

Thank you, Don, for your explanation and for all you do in keeping the memories of our comrades alive for the rest of us. 
There are reasons for traditions, and keeping them helps us remember the friends we've lost. 
I'm proud of the way you've managed it all these years.  Keep up the good work!!

Regards,
Wes Bartley
Longknife 21 
Jul 1971 - Apr 1972

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