74th Infantry Detachment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, An Khe 1968
The 74th Infantry Detachment (Airborne, Long Rang Patrol) was the reconnaissance element of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam for 14 months. It replaced the 173rd Airborne Brigade LRRP Detachment (Provisional) on 20 December 1967, and was replaced by Company N, 75th Rangers on 1 February 1969.
It conducted reconnaissance missions with small-size teams throughout the II Corps area of South Vietnam. The intelligence gathered by the teams was used by the 173rd commander to plan operations. SSgt Laszlo Rabel, one of the 74th Inf Det members, was awarded a Medal of Honor for a mission conducted on 12 November 1968.
This photo series depicts a team member being awarded a plaque at the end of his tour, while others, wearing Tiger Stripe camouflage uniforms, are preparing for a recon mission. The personnel not scheduled for a mission wear a mixture of OD jungle jackets and ERDL caomouflage uniforms. Note the 74th Infantry Detachment scroll worn on the shoulder of one ERDL uniform.
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