LTC James W. Sawey, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion 6th Infantry
9 Jan 71- Jul 71  Photo provided by Bud Carlson, D/1-6 Inf 70-71

The soldiers of the 1st Bn 6th Inf were fortunate to have had LTC Sawey as their commander.
He spent countless hours in the air and on the ground in planning and supporting their operations.
He never hesitated to use his command and control LOH to medivac wounded soldiers or to
provide an emergency resupply of ammunition.  In 1971 during operation Little Big Horn, while
landing in a LOH at A Co., 1st Bn 6th Inf, he was shot through the flight helmet by a sniper. The
bullet creased his scalp and exited the back of the helmet.  He still has it today.

[The following information is from a brochure used at the change of command ceremony for
LTC Sawey.  For photos of a change of command ceremony and the bullet riddled flight helmet,
click here].

Lieutenant Colonel James W. Sawey, and ROTC Graduate of New Mexico Military Institute, was
commissioned in the Regular Army in 1956.

Lieutenant Colonel Sawey's first three years of service were spent at Fort Ord, California, where
he performed the duties of Platoon Leader in Company H, 11th Infantry.  In 1958, Lieutenant
Colonel Sawey served as Commanding Officer of Company A, 504th Military Police Battalion
in Fort Gordon Georgia.  For the next three years, until 1962, LTC Sawey served in Europe with
the 793rd Military Police Battalion in the capacities of S-3, S-4 and Detachment Commander.

In 1963, LTC Sawey returned to CONUS to command Company C, 1st Airborne Battle Group
of the 501st Infantry in Fort Campbell Kentucky.

The year 1965 brought LTC Sawey to a MACV assignment with the 38th Ranger Battalion, III
Corps Advisor Group.  From Vietnam, he went to Fort Leavenworth Kansas to attend Command
and General Staff School.  Lieutenant Colonel Sawey served as an instructor in combat operations
at the school until May 1970, when he returned for his second tour in Vietnam.

Lieutenant Colonel Sawey, coming to the 1st Battalion, 6th United States Infantry from a MACV
assignment, is married and has two children.  [End of bio sheet]

[The following information is from the same brochure at the end of his tour of duty.]

                                                            Current History

The 1st Battalion, 6th United States Infantry is currently operating in a 360 square mile area to the
west of Chu Lai, RVN.  Terrain varies from the rice paddies and hedgerows of the coastal lowlands
to the double and triple canopied slopes of some of Vietnam;s most rugged terrain.  Consequently,
units have had to be proficient in both the small unit night tactics utilized in the lowlands as well as
the extensive daylight patrolling in the mountainous areas.  Operations have included extensive use
of the airmobile concept for both tactical troop movements as well as rapid reaction to targets of
opportunity.  Close ties have been developed with both Binh Son and Ly Tinh Districts through
numerous combined operations which have resulted in many detainees and forced a portion of the
VC infrastructure to disperse.  Over a hundred enemy have been confirmed killed, while US losses
have been less than a tenth of that figure.  In addition, the VIP program has netted the battalion over
270 potentially booby trapped artillery and mortar rounds as well as 250 more chicom and US
fragmentation grenades.

During LTC Sawey's tenure, the "Regulars" tactical area of interest increased four times to an area
roughly a fourth of the size of Rhode Island.  Included in the expansion of the area of interest were
two complete moves of the Battalion trains as well as the closeout of FSB Dottie.  While the "Regulars"
operated out of FSB Dottie, LTC Sawey directed many improvements to make the training period
at FSB Dottie more enjoyable for the "grunt."  These included a new mess hall, outdoor theater, and
basketball court.  Statistically, the Battalion has led the Division in company utilization, field strengths,
VIP turnin, and reenlistments.  Professionalism exhibited in operations and concern for the welfare
of the men have been blended to make the "Regulars" a truly outstanding battalion.

[end of Current history]

Select additional photos from the index at left, or link to the 1st Bn 6th Inf Home Page