My bad: I was looking at what is probably the stripes of an E-5 or E-6 because I didn't judge the position on the arms properly. Yes, you can just make out the bottom of the 1st Cav Div patch just above the top tip of the stripes on his left arm. So, yes, Bong Son and 1st Cav in early 1967 it is. :]

Bonus find. Crawling through the film taken during the battle, I think I might have spotted Blaine shown in the days before his death. Not 100 percent sure, but certainly looks like him. Again, nothing but respect for Blaine, the Marine Bowden ID'd (who survived the battle) and all other Hue vets.

Just as important, a second photographer, Don McCullin, also took a number of photos of the Marines who were evacuating Blaine. The B&W pics above are his. Knowing where Don (and Olsen) where in those days was even more proof. Btw, just found a second pic of A-52 (undated) but certainly in Hue.

One of the clues was figuring out what UMSC M48 tanks were in the Citadel during the battle. Only two from the 1st Tank Bn HQ were present- A-52 and A-51. A-52, the tank in Olson's photo, had the dozer. A-51 did not. Identifying where each tank was on a particular day/time helped solved the riddle.

oh so true . . . . (as the SSG's give them all side eyes)