Scope and Contents

Approximately half a linear foot of slides, photographs, articles, and patch document Lonnie M. Long's service in Vietnam with the 3rd Radio Research Unit, Aviation Section of the United States Army, 1964-1965.

Biographical / Historical

Lonnie McDaniel Long Jr. was born on April 26, 1943 in High Point, North Carolina. He volunteered for the United States Army on August 30, 1962. Long was assigned to many units and military installations during his military career including Ft. Jackson, SC, August - October 1962, Ft. Devens, Mass, October 1962 - April 1963, Shu Lin Kou Air Station, Republic of China, 76th Special Operations Unit, April 1963 - August 1964, and 3rd Radio Research Unit, Aviation Section, Saigon, Da Nang, Hue/Phu Bai August 1964 - November 1965. He served as a Manual Morse Code Interceptor and in Vietnam help tracked VC and North Vietnam units from U6 Beavers and U8 twin engine Beachcraft airplanes using radio direction finding while flying at low levels. Long took part in the August 1965 mission that tracked the 325th North Vietnam Division to the Vietnam/Cambodia area 270 miles north of Saigon. This was the area in which the Battle of La Drang took place a few months later. During his service, Long received Air Medal five separate times. Long received an Honorable Discharge at the rank of E-5 on November 9, 1965. He is currently an active member of the Southeast Asia Army Security Agency Veterans Association.