Unit History
The following is not meant to be an in depth history of the 339th Transportation Company (DS), but rather a brief chronological listing. My information was gathered from a wealth of sources, which included mostly former members of the 339th Transportation Company (DS), from the Internet, and from Ralph B. Young's excellent book Army Aviation in Vietnam 1963-1966. The book is out of print, however, I highly recommend that you read it if you cna find a copy.
The 339th Transportation Company (DS), stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, was alerted for movement to Vietnam on 31 December 1961. The unit deployed arriving in Saigon on 7 February 1962 under the command of Captain (later Major) Robert E. Allwine, Jr. aboard the USS (ACV-13) Core. The unit later made it's way to Nha Trang.
As Robert Meyer, one of the unit members who deployed, conveyed to me, "We left Vietnam about the middle of January 1962, on the aircraft carrier USS Core. She was an old WWII single deck(only kind they made then. small jeep, I think they called them during WWII, carrier. The 18th Aviation was with us at Fort Riley and they went with us on the Core. It was27 days at sea. What a ride! Did not get seasick, but came close at times. Finally got to RVN, almost anyway. We dropped anchor just offshore at the mouth of the Saigon River. Had to wait for a Navy escort to travel up the river into the harbor at Saigon. The escort was two destroyers, one in front and one behind. It was a sight to see the wake from the three ships as it broke on the shore of the river like a tidal wave."
From what I have been able to gather after arriving in country, the 339th Transportation Company (DS) was the first assigned to the 45th Transportation Battalion and then to the 52nd Aviation Battalion (Provisional) in Aril 1964. It was then assigned to the 765th Transportation Battalion (AM&S) before joining the 14th Aviation Battalion in late October 1964. In 1966 the unit was assigned to the 34th General Support Group (AM&S) until it was inactivated on 1 July 1968.
Major Robert S. Lawrence became the second Commander of the 339th until late 1963 when Major Wayne Barker assumed command. Major Murray D. Smith then commanded the Unit from approximately August 1964 until June 1965, passing the command to Major Thomas H. Small, who was the Commander from when I(Mike Edwards) arrived August 1965 until I left September 1966.(Ralph B. Young, in his book Army Aviation in Vietnam 1963-1966 references the Commander after Major Murray D. Smith to be Major AUgustine "Gus" T. Ledwidge, however, I have not been able to confirm this.)
I received information from Felix Montalvo, who was the mail clerk in 1967 until the 339th moved to Tuy Hoa(Phu Hiep). Felix remembers that the Commander was Major Phelps.
This is all the information I have been able to compile at this time. I cannot verify that it is 100% accurate. If anyone has information and can help fill in the blanks, I will be happy to update the unit history as I receive it. You can reach me through my email address moedwards@msn.com or on the button above named Contact