Gunther

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

@Gunther Yeah that is what i was planning on using. I am just not familiar with any of it, even when it comes to stores and what not. So if I say anything odd pull me up, same goes for US military stuff. I did some joint stuff with them but never really bothered to learn a lot about their command structure etc

@seriousarmour

Victor likes Johnny Boy and Lynette. Was Johnny Boy in A Troop, 1-8 CAV at Firebase Cochise in Western Quang Tri Province with Rusty and Vic?

If you have any questions about the US Army, please ask. I spent 21 years in uniform. A point about the medals though. The Army Commendation Medal is the second highest peacetime medal awarded to soldiers. In fact, I have three of them. They are awarded for Combat actions as well, but most chains of command lean toward the Bronze Star (BS) for minor heroism rather than the ARCOM. If someone does something really special, they may be put in for the Silver Star (SS). Above Silver Star is the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) which is for really heroic stuff. Of course, the highest award is the Medal of Honor (MOH). Based on what you described about Johnny Boy, I would upgrade your awards to one Silver Star with V and three Bronze Stars, one with a V.

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

Before all this gets going just know i will have to go on what you say and online maps for geography and the like. I am Australian and don't know a whole lot about it.

@seriousarmour

Can you use Google Maps? I live in Eastern US and have never been to the areas of California we will talk about. That is what I am going to use for navigation.

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

When I chose San Bernardino, CA as Vic's hometown, I wanted it to be somewhere along Route 66. Although Route 66 is no more today, it was still active in 1969; maybe heading into its death throws. I almost went with Barstow, CA or Kingman, AZ.

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

I rewrote the history to state Rusty bit Vic to become a werewolf in order to survive the siege of Firebase Cochise.

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

yea, it makes more sense for your character to be the Alpha. You are the one driving the train. I will rewrite my character's history a bit so that he doesn't become infected with the werewolf bug until February 1968 rather than November 1965.

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

Good deal. I think I'm going to handle the alpha role, mostly because I have a strong sense of where to take that and also how to balance out the relationship of werewolves to other factions.

@HeySeuss

No problem. You know, I don't care if I am the alpha. I can write it either way. Would you like me to change Victor's history? Or maybe your character could have been at Ia Drag with Vic in 1965?

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

@HeySeuss
Victor Dunlap Submitted for your Review.
I went into a little more detail regarding actions on Firebase Cochise. I went into a lot of detail on what motivates Vic Dunlap and how he got to where he is now.

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

Victor Dunlap

Name: Victor Lee Dunlap
Age: 23 (Born: April 1, 1946)
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Nationality: American (Caucasian)
Physical Description:

Victor Dunlap, also known as Vic stands 6' tall and weighs 190 Lbs. He has sandy blonde hair that has grown past his shoulders since leaving the Army over a year ago. His blonde beard is scraggly in nature and not quite full. He occasionally contemplates shaving it off. They say, not all scars are visible, but surprisingly, Victor has no scars from his two tours in Vietnam. He does have a three inch scar on his left shoulder blade where he was cut by another teen when he was of High School age.

Skillset:

* Riding Motorcycles
* Shooting
* Fighting
* Drinking
* Mechanic; auto and motorcycle maintenance
* Has some knowledge of German & Vietnamese languages

History:

Victor Lee Dunlap was born to Richard and Shirley Dunlap of San Bernardino, CA on April 3, 1946. Richard Dunlap served in the US Army during WWII. He was an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division jumping with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Normandy and Holland during Operation Market-Garden. The father was injured so badly at Veghel, Holland that he was medically evacuated out of France and was home in California by Christmas 1944. By the Springtime of 1945, he was back on his feet and resumed a relationship with his High School sweetheart Shirley Withers. They got married that summer and their first child Victor was born the following Spring.

Richard Dunlap was tormented by his experiences in Normandy and Holland in 1944, drinking heavily to deal with the nightmares haunting him. He felt guilty that he survived while many of his friends died. He felt guilty that he got to go home while his comrades continued to fight at Bastogne, Germany and Austria. He read about the accomplishments of the 506th and the 101st with great zeal. Although he remained silent for the rest of his life about what he did and saw during the war, he often told stories about experiences at Camp Toccoa, Georgia and at Aldbourne, England.

On September 24th, 1956, twelve years after he was injured in Holland, Richard Dunlap committed suicide. His 10-year old son, Victor found his father in the basement. A dark red splatter mark measuring over four feet in diameter covered a wall of the basement foundation. The back of his father's skull was missing; a large hole or divot remained in its stead. the boy's father was finally at peace. The son's nightmare was just beginning.

Victor Dunlap wept bitterly over his father's death even though "Dick" Dunlap could best be described as an abusive parent. Victor received many whippings as a boy for seemingly harmless injustices perpetrated on his behalf. Regardless of this treatment received by his father, Victor still loved his father and emulated the life he had prior to his death.

Shirley Dunlap went to work every day in order to provide a home for herself and her only child, Victor. Meanwhile, Victor went to school every day and hung out with friends after school every day. He was home by 6PM most nights to greet his mother and have dinner with her. He went to bed every night sometimes late and got up the next morning to attend classes.

By the time he was 15, he was brought home by the San Bernardino Police Department for shoplifting. His mother was very disappointed in Victor but did not know what to do with him. She also had turned to alcohol in order to deal with the death of her husband. She did not have the strength to deal with Dick's death, working in a sweatshop and dealing with a rebellious and delinquent teen. The Police never arrested Victor, but most of the Police in town knew he was.

In 1964, Victor graduated from San Bernardino High School near the bottom of his class. He was never an exceptional student and never showed an interest in sports. After graduation, he sought out a US Army recruiter and signed up. Following in his father's footsteps, he attended Basic Combat Training and Infantry Combat Training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He also attended Airborne Training like his dad and was assigned as a Rifleman in 3rd Squad, 2nd Platoon, B Company, 1st Battalion, 187 Infantry (1-187 IN), 11th Air Assault Division (Test) at Ft. Benning, GA. Victor was actually pretty excited about this new unit and the new concept of flying into combat on a helicopter.

On 29 June 1965, the 11th Air Assault Division was deactivated and re-designated 1st Cavalry Division along with elements of the 2nd Infantry Division. The 2nd Infantry Division reflagged the former 1st Cavalry Division in Korea and took over operations there. Private First Class Dunlap's 1-187 IN was re-designated as 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry and the unit was deployed to An Khe, Vietnam in the Central Highlands shortly after the activation ceremony.

At 1048 hours, 14 November, 1965, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Air Assaulted into what has become known as "LZ X-Ray" in the Ia Drang Valley. On that first day, PFC Dunla's squad captured a North Vietnamese prisoner who admitted there were three battalions numbering over 1600 North Vietnamese Infantry on the Chu Pong Mountain where the fewer than 200 American soldiers just landed.

PFC Dunlap's 2nd Platoon commanded by Lieutenant Henry Herrick was ordered to advance abreast of the 3rd Platoon. The 1st Platoon, leading the advance came under heavy fire that afternoon and was pinned down. Shortly after that, the 2nd platoon came under fire and Lt. Herrick ordered the platoon to pursue their communist attackers. The 2nd platoon followed the North Vietnamese for a few hundred meters until it became overwhelmed and surrounded by a much larger North Vietnamese force. The Platoon was cut off from the rest of the Air Cavalry Squadron until the 18th of November.

When the platoon was relieved, there were only five survivors left including PFC Dunlap. Victor was a changed man. Victor suffered minor cuts from combat at Ia Drang and eventually received the Bronze Star with V device for his actions. He would receive no Purple Heart as his wounds were not life threatening.

By the end of June, 1966, he was promoted to Specialist and left the Republic of Vietnam. He was then assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 509th Infantry (ABN), 1st Brigade (ABN), 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Lee Barracks in Mainz-Gonsenheim, Germany. He remained with the Airborne unit in Germany until July 1967 when he was promoted to Sergeant and then returned for a second tour to Vietnam with A Troop, 1st Squadron, 8th Cavalry in the Quang Tri Province. He was assigned initially as a Fire Team Leader in 3rd squad, 2nd Platoon, but by January was serving as the Squad Leader. Staff Sergeant Phillips, his squad leader was elevated to Platoon Sergeant and the Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant First Class Clayton served as the Platoon Leader after their Lieutenat was killed during Combat Patrol in November 1967. The Platoon would receive a new Lieutenant eventually in early January 1968. However, Sergeant Dunlap remained the 3rd Squad Leader.

All the young American soldiers arriving in Vietnam wore their Division's patch on their left shoulder. Everyone in the 1st Cavalry Division wore the subdued black and olive drab patch of the shield with black slash and black horse's head. Only the experienced NCO's and officers wore a combat patch on the right shoulder. Sergeant Dunlap was one of these experienced NCOs. He also wore the 1st Cavalry Division patch on his right shoulder from time spent with 1-7 Cav in 1965 - 66. He also wore the Combat Infantryman's Bade (CIB) and Jump Wings over his left breast pocket indicating his time in combat in an Infantry MOS (Military Occupation Specialty).

After the first of the year, 1968 A Troop was assigned to Firebase Cochise along a ridgeline near Highway AH16 and the village of Thôn Khe Xêng. The Platoon received its new Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant Derrick Eastwick of White Plains, New York. Lieutenant Eastwick wanted desperately to make a good impression with his platoon setting high standards for the soldiers and NCOs of 2nd Platoon to live up to. The platoon members did as the "Butter Bar" said without grumbling, but often spoke about the Boot Looey behind his back in derogatory ways.

On 31 January, 1968 the Tet Offensive began and the soldiers of Firebase Cochise near Highway AH16 was not spared. A North Vietnamese Infantry Battalion supported by a company of combat engineers assaulted the firebase repeatedly over the next four days. The events at Firebase Cochise became desperate in the early morning hours of 2 February. It reminded him of his time in the Ia Drang Valley over two years earlier. But this time, the unit was entrenched behind barbed wire, concertina wire and mines. But the enemy was still stronger and overran the firebase a number of times over the next few days.

At some point during the fighting, Victor witnessed PFC McKenzie transform into what could best be described as a dog. He confronted the younger man about it and he confessed that he was a werewolf. Victor laughed at him. "you're shitting me, right?" Rusty was not shitting him and even offered to convert Victor into one as well. It took a few hours of contemplation for him to agree to be bitten. His options were to die at the hand of the enemy or live the life of a werewolf. He eventually consented to PFC McKenzie's idea and allowed the werewolf to bite him. Ever since that day Victor has feared the full moon...or embraced it, if the time is right.

When the Vietnamese resumed their attacks on the morning of the 2 February, they found a tenacious enemy who would not die. Unbeknownst to the attackers, the defenders could not die. They held their position, slaughtering wholesale more than seven hundred North Vietnamese Infantrymen and Engineers. Only twenty one American soldiers were left standing by the morning of 3 February 1968.

Sergeant Dunlap celebrated his twenty second birthday two months later and by the end of June, 1968, returned home to California as a civilian. He was happy to be home and hugged his mother for a very long time. She too was happy to have her son back in her arms. She spoke highly of her son serving their country patriotically overseas.

Victor found employment as a Mechanic at Blake's Automotive. He bought a sky blue 1964 Harley Davidson Panhead motorcycle and eventually fell in with a group of friends who belonged to a Motorcycle Club known as "The Wild Hunt". He still lives at his mother's house in San Bernardino, CA. But the urge to take off and go anywhere is strong in his heart.

Psychological Profile:

Victor Dunlap has become an alcoholic just like his parents. He drinks to deal with his nightmares from time spent in Vietnam and that horrific discovery of his father in 1956. Sometimes, he feels the booze is not enough. He is prone to irrational outbursts and can become quite moody. When he is sober, is a very kind-hearted soul willing to give the shirt off his back for a friend. He keeps many of his experiences bottled up inside and only shares these moments with other Vietnam Veterans. He despises the Peace Activists who protest against the war in Vietnam. They are insignificant pests in his opinion. He was never spit on by them, but hates them nonetheless.

Equipment:

• sky blue 1964 Harley Davidson Panhead named "Dolores"
• 1911A1 .45 ACP semi auto handgun
• Black leather jacket with his MC Colors emblazoned on the back
• Mechanic's tool kit

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

Basically, the Wild Hunt may have existed before, but the alpha took it over and made members into werewolves. Since the veteran community is strongly represented in MC's, it was a home for the werewolves. The connection in might be that one of the other Vietnam vets has an older brother that is a member and helped introduce the pack to the club.

@HeySeuss

Fair enough. I know many of the original MC that existed in America were WWII veterans returning from Europe or the Pacific Theater of Operations.

The Wild Hunt MC [1960's Werewolf Bikers]

Not all the members of the MC are veterans. But there is a pack coming back with the Alpha and they are definitely veterans -- the first werewolves that were 'made' rather than born.

@HeySeuss

Good to know!

With that said, I wrote up a possible History of those who were veterans. This gives a one over the world perspective of the unit these werewolves were part of.

The Defense of Firebase Cochise

In an attempt to get us all on the same sheet of music regarding how the group was formed; regarding that yet to be disclosed military event in 1968, I've written a piece of historical fiction. I started by researching an account of the Battle of Quang Tri fought between People's Army of Vietnam units (PAVN) versus Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) units supported by the US 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and US 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division from 31 Jan 1968 to 6 February 1968.

I focus on the 1st Squadron, 8th US Cavalry (1-8 CAV), 1st BDE, 1st Cavalry Division. This unit was located in the mountains west of Quang Tri City caught in the fog. They did nothing during the battle. The other Cavalry squadrons of 1st Brigade were air assaulted into Landing Zones (LZs) south of Quang Tri and relieved the ARVN units being assaulted in the city.

For our purposes, A Troop, 1-8 Cav was assigned to Firebase COCHISE, overlooking highway AH16 and the village of Thôn Khe Xêng. The firebase name is a reference to the 8th Cavalry's participation in the Indian Wars less than a hundred years earlier. Our characters were all members of A Troop, 1st squadron, 8th Cavalry (Mustangs), 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

On the morning of 31 January 1968, at approximately 0420 hours, a Battalion of PAVN infantry supported by a company of combat engineers assaulted Firebase COCHISE. The infantry engagement raged for four days ending in the afternoon of 3 February with fewer than two dozen American Cavalrymen holding the now corpse strewn ground.

I don't want to get into any more detail than that. This would have been a firebase at the end of a ridgeline, that afforded the unit elevation with which to defend itself and clear fields of fire to fire upon attacking enemy infantry and clear line of sight of the village and highway to the west. We know that a werewolf infected others in the unit in order to help them to survive the ordeal. These Cavalry Troopers from 1st Cav came home and formed "The Wild Hunt". The stories coming out of Firebase Cochise are seemingly unbelieveable. You can write a personal story of your character's account at Firebase Cochise.

Gunther