Pfc. Terry J. Reed, 19, was a non combatant reporter on a search-and-clear mission with A Company,2nd PLT, 1st Bn. (Mech.), 5th Inf.,25th Inf Div. on Valentine's Day when he and a freelance civilian photographer,two forward observers,and four Bobcats were killed in action by fragments from a Claymore mine. Reed, the father of one child, had been married slightly over a year when he was sent to Vietnam with the 2nd Bde. In early January. His wife had returned to their home in Iowa from Hawaii shortly after his departure for Vietnam. He had been a writer for the Division Information Office since his arrival in Hawaii last May. Well respected in journalism circles, Reed was a graduate of the Army Information School at Ft. Slocum New York. Terry is missed and loved by all who knew him.
On February 14, 1966 was a busy day for the medics and the Dust-offs. At 0530 hours, Company A prepared to depart the base camp area and to move across the Ben Muong on a dismounted Reconnaissance in Force (RIF) of the area beyond the stream. An element of Company B secured the stream-crossing site to be used on the operation. They were in place at 0530 hours. Company A crossed their line of departure at 0630 hours. A platoon from Company C was positioned beyond the Ben Muong to act as a security force for Company A's route of withdrawal, should it become necessary and also as a left flank security. At 0745 hours, the Company C security platoon received several rounds of small arms fire but sustained no injuries. At 0935 hours, the Company C platoon again received small arms fire. In the exchange four men were wounded. One was hit in the head and another in the hip. By 1019 hours all four had been Dusted-off.
Company A was making slow but steady progress on their sweep, destroying houses and tunnels and finding rice caches. By 1100 hrs they had sustained 10 wounded. Then two Chicom Claymores were command detonated by the Viet Cong, killing 8 and wounding 3 in the vicinity of XT 643176. Four of those killed were from Company A. Two were forward observers from Battery C, 1st Bn 8th Artillery, and two were non-combatant photographers. At 1430 hours, Company A began their return back to the base camp. By 1630 hours the Company C security element had recrossed the stream on the fringe of the base camp perimeter.
Also on February 14th, a platoon from Company C was attached to the 2nd Bn 27th Infantry for a clearing operation. At 0837 hours, a man from Company C was injured when he fell on a punji stake. At 1030 hours, the Company C "angel" track (Medical Armored Personnel Carrier) hit an Anti-Tank (AT) mine at XT 632158. The vehicle was disabled and a number of VC attacked from the south in an attempt to capture the vehicle. They were driven off by the track commander and driver firing the .50 caliber machine gun and an M-79 grenade launcher. Several men were later wounded by sniper fire while extracting the downed vehicle.
There had been some mention concerning what was considered a slow reaction time of the Dust-offs (medical evacuation helicopters) during the day, but in situations like that minutes can appear to be hours. The medics and doctors were not miracle workers. They did the best they could with what they had. In many instances they performed their duties above and beyond the normal requirements of their responsibilities.
Among the Bobcat casualties for the day were 4 killed from Company A and 1 killed from Company C. Wounded were 5 from HQ Company, 15 from Company A, and 3 from Company C. The casualties of members of supporting units were reported and carried on the parent unit rosters.

Also KIA were
CPT William Hoos A Co. 1/5 Mech
SSGT Gene Charles Milligan A Co. 1/5 Mech
SP4 Walter Norris Ammons A Co. 1/5 Mech
PFC Ira Carl Boggs A Co. 1/5 Mech
SGT John William O Groover C BTRY 1st BN 8th Artillery
PFC Bobby Joe Braswell C BTRY 1st BN 8th Artillery
Charles Chellappah UPI Photographer/Reporter

PFC Terry J. Reed, husband of Mrs. Jenine Reed,
Box 3, Arnolds Park, IA