The following is copied from photostat letter at Archives..


HEADQUARTERS
6TH HOWITZER BATTALION (105) (TOWED), 15TH ARTILLERY
APO US Forces 96345

12 January 1968


SUBJECT:   Letter of Appreciation



THRU:   Commanding Officer
  269th Combat Aviation Battalion
  APO 96353



TO:  Commanding Officer
  21st Reconnaissance Airplane Company
  APO 96216



 1.  During the past six months the 6th Howitzer Battalion, 15th Artillery,
has been
responsible for the offensive and defensive artillery fires in and around
the Quan Loi area.
It was approximately the same period when the 21st Reconnaissance Airplane
Company
(Black Ace) first arrived to support this batalion.

 2.  At that time the situation at Quan Loi was fluid and the Viet Cong were
making
their presence felt in the entire province with nightly probes and attacks.
The forward
support base of Quan Loi was in an exposed and somewhat precarious position.
It was
necessary during the hours of darkness to provide an extra measure ofd
protection in
addition to the ambush patrols and listening posts established by the
infantry -- the men of
the 21st Reconnaissance Airplane company were to provide this overwatch.

 3.  Your company never failed to provide aircraft and pilots as required
nightly.  A
statistical study compiled in the past six months indicates that aircraft
availability
approached 100 percent considering weather, date of the manufacture of the
0-1 aircraft,
and combat conditions -- this availability rate is an enviable record.

 4.  I would like to favorably comment on the following officers of your
command:

 a.  CPT Charles E. Welsh--who as platoon leader provided close liaison with
my
battalion and insured a tight, cohesive operation between air and ground
elements.  He
helped locate enemy rocket positions during an enemy attack against Quan Loi
inNovember 1967.  He flew many combat missions for the 6th Howitzer
Battalion, 15th
Artillery.  CPT Welsh voluntarily spent many long hours training our forward
observers
for duty as air observers.

 b.  These officers performed in an outstanding manner during this period
and are to
be commended.  All are conscientious, hard working, devoted officers and
were involved
in locating enemy mortar and rocket positions during actual attacks.  During
one of the
most important Allied victories of 1967--the Battle of Loc Ninh--these
individuals acted as
pilots and as observers.

  CPT Hugh B. Roberson  O2315868
  CPT Kenneth H. Bardot  OF103947
  1LT John L. MacIsaac  O5023221
  1LT Gerhard Haimberger  O5419950
  1LT Dana W. Devos   O5229045
  1LT William H. Parcells  O5230320
  1LT Leon Henderson   O5229113

 5.  The 21st Reconnaissance Airplane Company has provided this battalion
with
the most reliable aviation support.  It is my desire to have the pleasure of
serving with this
outstanding unit again.



     /s/ Frank E. Serio
      FRANK E. SERIO
      LTC, Artillery
      Commanding