Gordon T Kimbrell, Jr

The database page for Gordon T Kimbrell, Jr

"Ridge Runner 6" was the call sign for B 2/5, 1st Air Cavalry Division (AM) in Vietnam - the Black Knights. Capt Kimbrell was a savvy, lead-by-example type of man. We liked and respected his leadership, but the time that we met up with a battalion of NVA was a time when only his true greatness truely shined. He turned it into a run and gun fight, which was the only real out we had at that time. First platoon drug our dead and carried the wounded, while the rest of the company was putting up a parlay with lethal gunfire, we had a kick out of ammo and water, bandages, etc. Capt. Kimbrell called for Puff* and Blue Max* to come to our relief. When our support had arrived the NVA decided that they had had enough. That was in Cambodia. At Landing Zone Ready, our first night in Cambodia, we had human wave assaults at dawn. Our line held on that fateful 11 Jun '70 morning. A B-40 rocket started the fight, our Tactical Operations Center was hit, Captain Kimbrell was hit. Our XO, 1st Lt Ross, unloaded an M-16 magazine, and then he too expired; our acting First Sergeant was also wounded, and our TOC was decimated. A company size element had us fully in its sights. We withstood the onset of withering fire and as we turned the tide we had heavy hearts. Bravo had gone into Cambodia with 116 men, on 1 May '70 we left with 28, and on 30 June '70, 3rd platoon had 3 survivors. I was proud to have served with Captain Kimbrell, I'd go to war any time anywhere with ya Sir!!! May God Bless his Family, Friends, and also the survivors of Bravo Company rest in Peace. Black Knights. Battlin Bastards, Scunion to the Onion!!!

The point-of-contact for this memorial is one of his troops, Alfred M. Cummings (AKA Eskimo) Houston, Alaska scunion@mtaonline.net  9 Sep 2002

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 09/09/2002