RonaldEssler

Ronald served as a - Sp4 - Grade E4 - Army - Drafted Selective Service.

He was 22 years old at the time of his death.

Ronald was born on January 26, 1945.

He was from Brooten, Minnesota

His tour of duty began in Vietnam on July 21, 1967.

Ronald served with the 175th Combat Engineer Company, 196th Infantry Brigade and

D company, 4/31st. Infantry of the 196th Brigade. Ron was transferred to the 4/31st. Details are described below concerning the chain of events from his transfer to his death.

Ronald died on November 23, 1967 in the Province of Quang Tin,

Republic of South Vietnam.

Ronald's death was a result of hostile enemy small arms fire on his position.

Ronald's religion was Roman Catholic. He was not married.

Ronald's name is listed on Panel 30E --- Line 69

of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

"Rest In Peace Ronald You Are Missed By All Who Knew You"

As Remembered by Ron Payne

I arrived at the 175th Engineers at the end of July 67. I came in with a bunch of replacements. There must have been 20 of us. They put us in the company dayroom until they could find a bunk for us. I ended up in headquarters platoon since I was a bulldozer operator. At the end of Oct.67 at morning formation they called out about 25 names. After formation the Captain told us that we would be going to the Infantry units of the 196th as replacements because a number of Infantrymen were DEROS’ing, date to go home, at the same time. At that time he said, "After the units get up to par we would be allowed to come back to the engineers." I don't know of anyone that made it back. They sent us back through the "Charger Academy" then to our units. Some of our guys went out the first day and two were killed the first night. I believe two guys went to D-2-1 with me but we ended up in different platoons. They changed our MOS's, job titles, to infantry real quick to make it legal. The second week out I got my CIB, combat infantryman’s badge. We had a running battle to a chopper to be airlifted to a new AO. No one was hurt but it was a close call or it seemed like it to me. After about. a month I made Spec. 4 and became a pointman. In Jan. 68 my squad leader was WIA. He told me to take care of his men. I was made squad leader and made acting E-5. A month or two later I made Sgt. E-5 hardstripe. When I went back to the rear to go on R&R, I heard some talk about some of the engineers had written their Congressmen and told them what happened, but I never followed up on it. I was now an infantry squad leader who had been in combat, like my hero, Sgt. Saunders of the series, Combat, on TV, it was to late for me to go back, I had to take care of my men. I wish I could find some more engineer survivors.

As Remembered by Ron Morenz

I met Ron on our fire support base prior to being choppered out to our unit, 196th D 4/31 LIB, on Nov 20th, 1967. We spent 2 days together under our lean-to ponchos because of bad weather. The choppers could not get us out because of low clouds. I was a new recruit and in talking to Ron he said he was in Nam for about 6 months. We were choppered out late afternoon on the 22nd of Nov. 1967 and set up that night with our company. That's the last time I saw Ron, I was in a different squad. The next day is when the company was involved in a 10 hour fire fight in which Ron was mortally wounded. I'll always remember him as a brave soldier even though I new him for only 3 days. There were 7 brave soldiers that lost their lives that day in battle; one from F Troop 17th Cav. - John Cloud, two from 196th 3/21- Calvin Strang & Ron Loatman, four from Co. D 4/31 - Ron Essler, Bob Waddell, Phil Adams, & Ken Adams. I paid my respect and honored them by saluting them at the Viet Nam Memorial this past Veterans Day 2004.

As Remembered by Doug Lehmann, Commanding Officer 175th late 67 and early 68. The 175th Engineer Company became A company of the 26th Engineer Battalion on Jan.1 1968.

When Doug was contacted in 2005 for information as to why these transfer’s were made, he responded as follows;

I cannot give you any specific information, only general. When we went from the 175th (separate) Engineer Company to A Company, 26th Engineer Battalion, our TOE, (Tactical Operating Equipment,) changed. The 175th had been a company to support a brigade by itself. The A company was to be smaller, having additional support coming from the bridge company and headquarter company. The personnel people at either the brigade or division level made the cuts (we had no input). They brought us down to our new and lower level. They cut mostly the positions completely lost by the new organization.

On visiting projects at fire bases, several former soldiers would talk to me that were assigned to the Infantry battalions. Most of the Infantry battalions kept the men at the HHC for extra help on Fire Bases. However, I'm sure some made it to the fighting squads.

The Following and photos were sent to me for Ronald’s Memorial Page. I post both as history of a Hero

I am responding to your message from a few weeks ago, about the tribute to Ronald Essler (KIA, Vietnam 1968). Enclosed are two pictures that I took of Ronny sometime late in 1967

The first time I met Ron was at Ft. Leonard Wood during our AIT in December of 1966. After that we were both assigned to HQ.Co. 5th Engineers as permanent party. Several months later our orders came down for VN. Although assigned to different commands, we both wound up being reassigned to the 175th Engineers at Chu Lai in July of 1967. We were there as replacements for the original contingent who shipped over in 1966 as part of the 196th LIB. They had just moved up from Tay Ninh and were all short and getting ready for their DEROS. I recall that we had very little, if any, interaction with them as they spent their time at the beach or processing out. That was unfortunate for us newbies because we never got to benefit from their experience.

At any rate, we became Task Force Oregon, which was the precursor of the Americal Division. At that point, the 175th Engineer Co. became A Company, 26th Engineers.

Ron, I know you had been in that first group who made the boat trip. When you guys moved to I Corps, the 196th took over from the Marines and set up base camp at Hill 35. Those facilities were in pretty poor condition which was typical because the Jarheads were not noted for their house keeping skills.

The first picture of Ronny is in front of our hootch after extensive renovations. I even added a front porch, which none of the other Squads had.

Second picture is of Ronny as we were preparing for a mission. In the background is the searchlight tower that we had recently built. Captain Lehman made note of this tower in an article in the Military Times.

Both pictures show Ronny as I will always remember him; with that big smile of his. When I became a squad leader, he was my assistant. His good-natured personality and wittiness always made our tasks a bit easier.

For me, Ronald Essler was one of the nicest guys I ever knew and consider it an honor to have been his friend. It was one of the darkest days in my life when we lost him.

If possible, could you please insert these pictures of Ronny in his memorial tribute. They show the man as he should always be remembered.

Thank You and the Best of Regards,

Richard Federowicz ,175th Engineers, A Co. 26th Engineers (1967-1968)