By: John Cuddy
1-26
Newburyport’s Jacob Joseph and his brother John Spencer Joseph, both served in Vietnam with the US Army, John as a draftee, serving in country as a military dog handler, Jacob who enlisted, served with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (“Blackhorse”), whose unit motto is “Allons” (Let’s Go).
The Valley Patriot caught up with Jacob before Christmas via phone and talked with this Vietnam Veteran about his military service. Raised in Acampo, California, after he graduated from Galt High School, in Galt, California, with his brother already drafted and serving, he decided to enlist in the US Army.
After basic training and advanced stateside training, Jacob was assigned to the US Army’s 11th Armored.
The 11th Armored is a storied US Army unit, originally fighting on horseback, and later in tanks and armored vehicles. The unit’s soldiers serving our Nation during the Philippine–American War, the Pancho Villa Mexican Border Expedition, World War II, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.
The 11th was deployed to Vietnam from 1966 to 1972, pioneering armored reconnaissance and counterinsurgency in difficult terrain with modified tanks (M48-Sheridan) and armored vehicles (AAV), providing crucial firepower and mobility, protecting supply lines, and engaging in major operations like Operation Cedar Falls and the Tet Offensive. The troops becoming legendary for adapting heavy armor to jungle warfare and establishing a strong reputation for valor.
The Blackhorse Regiment overcame the jungle and difficult terrain, proving that heavy armor could operate effectively off-road, a new concept for the time. Their tanks, armored personnel carriers (APCs), and self-propelled artillery provided vital support to infantry, clearing paths and disrupting enemy forces.
Assigned to the vital Third Corps area, they supported operations around Saigon, the “Rice Bowl” provinces, and the Cambodian border. Innovators in “Counterinsurgency,” the soldiers adapted their equipment and tactics for combat, in a war zone without clear front lines, including adding armor and machine guns to vehicles for crew protection. Joseph recalls that in Vietnam, there was no “front.”
The war was fought by ill-regular Viet Cong troops, with support from the North Vietnamese Army, using advisors from the Soviet Union and China. The 11th participated in several major campaigns during the Vietnam War, including Operation Cedar Falls, Operation Junction City, and defending cities during the Tet Offensive.
Known as the “Blackhorse Regiment,” the unit developed legendary status for its bravery and adaptability. The 11th became the only free-wheeling, fully mobile armored unit in combat in Vietnam, setting a standard for armor during the conflict.
Their “Thunderhorse” troop provided air support using helicopters. The unit’s Vietnam War equipment included, M-48 Tanks, Modified M-113 Armored Personal Carriers (APC) and Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles (AAV), artillery support was provided by self-propelled 105mm and later 155mm howitzers. The 11th ACR’s Vietnam service established them as a highly respected, adaptable, and lethal armored force, leaving a lasting mark on U.S. Army doctrine.
During the unit’s service in Vietnam, the 11th earned the US Army’s Valorous Unit Award, the U.S. Army’s second-highest unit decoration. This award recognizes units for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy. The 11th, while in Vietnam, had 635 soldiers killed in action, although, some sources list a higher number of 730 total casualties, killed or missing in action.
Over 5,521, Blackhorse Regiment soldiers received the Purple Heart for combat wounds. Three Blackhorse soldiers are Medal of Honor Recipients. The regiment was heavily engaged in operations in the eleven provinces around Saigon, acting as a mobile, armored shield. They participated in major operations, including the 1970 Cambodian incursion, facing heavy enemy fire.
After serving in the US Army, Jacob worked in the heating and air conditioning industry in Birmingham, Alabama. He is now widowed, living in Newburyport, Massachusetts with his daughter. He has four children and seven grandchildren.
He told the Valley Patriot about driving up to Haverhill, Massachusetts, from Fort Dix, New Jersey, while still in the Army, and reminisced about his 1964 Chevy Impala that was stolen at a Beach Boys concert while visiting New England! Jacob served our Nation as a radio operator in Vietnam, with the 11th Armored, from September 7, 1966, to March 8,1967, then quietly returned home, like many of his fellow Vietnam Veterans, found a job, raised his family. He met his wife at a Cub Scout Recruitment night, in Alabama, where he lived for twenty-five years, moving to Haverhill in 1992 and then to Newburyport in 2002. Newburyport’s, Jacob James and his brother, John James, served our Nation with honor, and are truly “Heroes in our Midst”!
Reminder, the U.S. National Park Service is inviting all Veterans to stop by any U.S. National Park with their Military ID or DD 214 and apply for a free lifetime U.S. National Park Pass. The nearest U.S. National Park for Merrimack Valley for residents, located in Lowell, Massachusetts, is at our Lowell National Historical Park, on 246 Market Street. Once obtained, the U.S. National Park pass is good at all our Nation’s National Parks.
The Catholic War Veterans of America asks all Catholic Veterans, all eras, all branches, all ranks, to visit their website and join an organization that supports our Nation’s Veterans, join the Catholic Veterans at www.thecwv.org.
The Merrimack Valley’s American Legion Posts ask all World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans to call (603) 518-5368 and sign up for an Honor Flight to the National Memorials in Washington DC!
The Valley Patriot staff asks Veterans of all eras, to go to the American Legion’s web site www.legion.org, and join the American Legion. The American Legion’s mission is working with our elected officials, our Nation’s Veterans, and our communities, preserving our Veteran’s Benefits for future generations and serving all Veterans and their families.
John Cuddy served in the US Navy’s Construction Battalions (also known as the Seabees) after retiring from the US Navy; he earned a bachelor’s in history/political science and a master’s in economics from the University of Massachusetts on the Lowell Campus.
He has been employed in Logistics at FedEx for the last 29 years. If you know a Merrimack Valley Veteran, of any rank, serving during any era, with any branch of service, who would like their story told, preserved for future generations, please email him the Veteran’s phone number, send to John.Cuddy@Yahoo.com ◊