1968 - 1970 Vietnam Newspaper Archive: The Old Reliable 9th Infantry Division
By: 9th Infantry Newspaper Staff
Date: 1968 - 1970 (dated) Republic of Vietnam
Dimensions: 15 x 11.5 inches - 8 pages
This is an extensive archive of the Ninth Infantry Division "The Old Reliable," newspaper issued predominantly between the summer of 1968 and fall of 1970.
This collection of newspapers offers a wealth of primary source information detailing the triumphs and tribulations experienced by the soldiers of the Ninth Infantry an the people of Vietnam. Since these papers were published in Vietnam for the use of active duty soldiers, relatively few copies survived or have come onto the market in recent years.
Each newspaper is eight pages in length and filled with news pertaining to recent events in combat, military successes and failures, editorials by staff writes, pictures and maps detailing the war efforts throughout the region, recognition of awards and decorations, and the occasional comic strip titled "The Adventures of Super Private."
The Ninth Infantry Division, The Old Reliables
The Ninth Infantry Division earned its nickname as the Old Reliable through a glorious history during WWII with campaigns in North Africa, France, and Germany. They were regarded as an unbeatable force of war-hardened soldiers that would more often than not, find a way to overcome the toughest tests of war.
The 9th Division was reactivated for service in the Vietnam War on 1 February 1966. The first battalion arrived in South Vietnam on 16 December 1966 from Fort Riley, Kansas. The Old Reliables of Vietnam primarily operated deep within the Viet Cong-controlled Delta to the south of Saigon, present-day Ho Chi Minh City. Their most noteworthy achievements include numerous victories over Main Force Viet Cong and North Vietnamese units from the Demilitarized Zone to the Mekong Delta, formation of a Mobile Riverine Force, and the suppression of the Viet Cong terror campaign during Tet, 1968.
Many people were introduced to the 9th infantry through the 1994 film Forrest Gump, where the main character (Tom Hanks) was a member in Vietnam of 4th Platoon, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry of the 9th Infantry Division.
Complete List of Old Reliable Issues
Provenance
The collection was part of a larger estate of the late Major General Ira Hunt, who served as Chief of Staff of the 9th Infantry Division under Major General Julian Ewell and was later promoted to commander of the 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. In the years after his return from Vietnam, Major General Hunt would serve as lead investigator in the U.S. vs. Henderson court-martial case concerning the Mylai cover-up.
Condition: Newspapers vary in condition from fair to very fine with some having a few minor tears. All are complete and folded horizontally.
Inventory #12651
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622