Description:

VIETNAM WAR OFFICER ARCHIVE
Superb military content archive of letters, color slides, and military decorations belonging to LT William C. Hurlbut. Hurlbut, an ROTC graduate from Stetson University, was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry and served in the Lai Khe area from 1969-70, conducting recon and ambush (search and destroy) missions. The "Blue Spaders" were attached to the famous 1st Division during their rotation in Vietnam and won eleven battle streamers, a Valorous Unit Award and two foreign awards. Archive contains over 40 war-date letters of superb content written from Hurlbut to his mother, in part: (Feb. 27, 1969) "...They decided it was time to give me a gun...now you sleep, shower, shave, etc with an M-16 rifle...The 1st Div is known as the BIG RED ONE...After going to DANGER UNIVERSITY for a week I will go to Lai Khe..." (Mar. 16, 1969) "...We were in the process of setting up an ambush when the gooks walked right down the road...the next morning they hit us with RPG's (grenades) and AK's (rifles)...There is nothing pretty or romantic about war. I'll just be glad to get out of here..." (Mar. 21, 1969) "...Everywhere we go we set the countryside on fire. We try to burn down all the concealment the gooks have..." (Apr. 28, 1969) "...We made an air assault at 2200hrs to surround a village. I was surprised the operation went so well at night..." (May 28, 1969) "...We killed nine of the enemy last night. Have them end this war and get us out of here..." (July 23, 1969) "...We have been involved in a new program. We have started patrolling three villages trying to win friends and influence people...The VC come into the villages to rest, collect taxes, buy food, and torture and terrorize..." (Oct. 21, 1969) "...I do wish Nixon would go ahead and pull all US troops out of VN. This whole country is going to go Communist when we leave anyway. We are wasting time, money, and lives over here..." (Dec. 31, 1969) "...I'm sure you have read about My Lai and LT Calley. This is a savage and cruel war. You are fighting a population and not an army..." This lot also contains a large collection of color slides: 300 of the 1,820 were taken in the jungles of Vietnam, including images of dead Viet Cong, VC tunnel systems and bunkers, Americans on patrol, weapons such as flamethrowers, automatic rifles, and RPG's, Saigon City, Col. George S. Patton in action, and even the Bob Hope USO tour. Also included are a series of Hurlbut's decorations, including a Purple Heart.

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May 14, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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