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Posts:
3
Registered:
6/2/05
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(1 of 3)
Seige and relief of Duc Lap August 1968
Feb 4, 2006 10:31 AM
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It started with a trip out of the hospital and being so thankful that I would have done anything to keep from being laid up in a bed again.
I jumped in the jeep and the driver took me along the two lane dirt road towards the 5th Special Forces Group Compound south of the hospital.
As we entered the compound I saw people running around loading trucks and taking off out the gates we just came through. The driver pulled up in front of the Team house.
Standing out front was 1 Lt Wright my company commander and a major. Lt. Wright told me to stay in the jeep, change into the tiger fatigues and use the equipment he just put in the jeep for this operation. He put a jungle ruck in the back with a BAR belt and handed me a loaded Car-15 rifle. He then instructed me to meet my NCO's when I arrived in Bam Me Thuot and get ready to relieve the A-team at Duc Lap.
The driver turned the jeep around and was darting down the road towards the airfield, which was right next to the hospital I just left. When we arrived, the C-130's had all engines revved up and were ready to taxi down the runway. In fact the lead plane started to do so, as I approached the last C-130 with my gear. I ran up the rear ramp into the plane and the ramp lifted behind me. It was pretty dark inside except for the running lights. We were chock full of bodies and I could not see any of my NCOs from the unit.
Slightly embarrassed, I changed from my green fatigue uniform into my tiger fatigues in the rear of the plane. I adjusted the Bar belt so it was snug around the shoulders and buckled it across my stomach. I adjusted the sling of the Car-15 and hung it over my right shoulder. I then sat on a pallet of ammo and looked around the plane.
We taxied off the runway and were in the air circling to the left, turning a complete 180 degrees and heading south. Soon we were making another compass change and headed to Bam Me Thuot in II Corps.
Within three quarters of an hour we were landing at the airstrip in Bam Me Thout and unloading the troops. I watched as the moved off the airfield and to a section to the west of the airfield. I followed.
Once in the staging area, I again looked for members of the 5th Company. We were part of the B-55, Mobil Strike Force. We were the guys that acted like firefighters and would go in and relieve the A-Camps that were under heavy seige or in threat of being taken by the North Vietnamese Army. After Lang Vie, Westmoreland made the statement that no more A-Camps would be lost that way again. So they established the Mike Forces in each Corps area to help with defending these camps and keeping them operational.
As I was walking through the staging area to the newly established Operational area, I ran into SFC Nunez. he took me to the other NCO's, Estrada, Gonzales, and Maketa. We exchanged some small talk and then they shared the information that they already had about the camp.
It seems that the NVA had gotten close to the camp without being spotted (Nothing New) and then attacked the camp early in the morning, overrunning the Camps' north hill and killing many of the montonyards quartered there. Those that weren't killed made they way back to the south hill where the Americans were held up. The enemy followed and had now surrounded the south hill and were preparing to overrun it too. The camp was in deep trouble and needed relief yesterday!
Unfortunately due to darkness we could not lift off that night in the helicopters and get to a landing zone. We had to wait till the morning. I immediately felt connected to the guys in the camp, they were going to fight thourgh the night in order to survive and without any reinforcements or replaced ammo. I hope they could hold and we could get to them in time.
We were briefed by Colonel Schengel about the camps plight and told to be ready to pick up, and board helicopters the first thing in the morning to go to Duc Lap. We went back to our area and set up a hasty camp, posted security and got ready for the morning. We talked a little about the operation and how we would deploy from the LZ. Within minutes those that could hit the rack (hard Ground) tried to get some sleep.
I was not going to be that fortunate. I made my checks of the perimeter and talked to some of the montonyards. This was the first time that I had a chance to talk to them, because I had just been assigned about three weeks ago and sent to Recondo School for Tactical training. I had been there the entire time and on the next to last day had eaten some bad food and got Food poisoning. Believe me it is not what you want in a hot climate or a cold climate for that matter. I was hospitalized for five days. Today was my release date and now I was here in the field, about to go into combat with troops, that I knew nothing about. I was nervous!
Besides, I was a green, Second Lieutenant, with his first command of a company, because my Commanding Officer had been wounded while trying to take the Grand Summit Mountain outside Nha Trang a week earlier. Yes that was Lt. Wright. He had his thumb shot off.
I attempted to get some sleep, because I wanted to be fresh when we headed towards Duc Lap. But I got little or any sleep that night. The next morning we were up at the crack of dawn, had a canteen cup of coffee and were all packed and ready for the chopper (Helicopters) to take us to Duc Lap.
We were scheduled to follow on the second lift into the area and to get behind another company in column. A column was like in a long single file and helped you make it through the jungle a whole lot quicker; and you could get on line for full combat in a second or two.
The first lift lifted off and it took about thirty minutes for them to return to pick up the second lift. The first lift did not have a hot Landing zone at the time. This was good, because it meant no one was firing at them and they didn't sustain casualties.
WE loaded up and were off into the air, heading west towards Duc Lap. Duc Lap was sitting on the intersection of two heavily travelled trails in from Cambodia. It interdicted or stopped the NVA and VC from having free movement into South Vietnam. They were attempting to throw the allies out of Duc Lap so they could have easy use of the trail. The allies were a mix of South Vietnames Special Forces, Montonyard hill people primarily Rhade and Jarai tribes, with some other tribes mixed in, Nuns and Chams, plus US. Army Special Forces.
We were technically advisors to the Vietnamese, but in reality we were the acting Commanders and leaders of the montonyards, who would rather be killing the south vietnamese too. No joke folks!
Our choppers were flying at about five thousand feet, the air was cold and it blew back into the open areas of the ship. We began to descend and we could see jets making runs across an area to our direct front. Black plumes of smoke lifted up into the air, followed by the loud explosions of the bombs they were dropping. Someone was getting a pounding on that part of the ground. Glad it wasn't me.
Our ships glided in and we were about two to three feet off the ground when we unassed the chopper and headed away from it. It was a big target and filled with gas. We didn't want to be near it if it got hit. Within seconds the choppers lifted off and we formed up into a column and began our move towards Duc Lap. WE were coming in from the South west and we let them know it. We didn't want any of their mortar or artillery fire landing on us.
We had travelled about one kilometer and the point made contact with the NVA. A brief rumble of gun fire broke the quiet of the day and then it died out altogether. we proceeded on our march toward the camp and reconned by fire in a wooded area (firing our weapons), where the NVA had been just minutes earlier. We also had to be cautious about small mines or toe poppers as we called them, plus trip wires. So it slowed us down.
The radio crackled and the Command helicopter overhead told us to pick up the pace, that the NVA were making an attempt to take the last bunkers on the south hill. Shortly afterwards we saw some old WWII aircraft to our front dropping bombs and strafing an area about fifteen hundred meters to our front.
Within fifteen minutes the point radioed back that they were about to enter the southwest portion of the camps barbed wire defenses. Duc lap had acknowledged their presence and was glad to hear they were so close. Within minutes we were walking up the slope of the hill towards the bunkers. I could see bodies and portions of bodies laying about the hillside. Some were bloated from being in the sun. They were ripe and the stench was over powering. I was kind of glad that all I had to drink was coffee, because it safed me from emptying my stomach.
Once inside the camp, we gathered at the bunker near the top of the hill. We were debriefed about where the enemy was and how he was on the run back to the north hill. That he probably still held the trenches and bunkers to the east and west of the south hill and we needed to root him out. Then we needed to take the north hill back before dark. A tall task, but it had to be done in order to secure the camp.
I designated one platoon to go west and clear trenches and bunkers with SFC Nunez, another one to set up a base of fire from the south hill to cover them and yet another to make its way around the east side of the south hill. The two platoons manuevering were to meet up at twelve oclock and prepare to assault the north hill and take it back. It sounded good and I was praying that it would work. We quickly set out to make our move.
But before I got twenty feet from the bunker, a Captain introduced himself as Captain Joseph Trimble and said he was the new CO. He instructed me to take the platoon on the west side of the hill and to clear out the trenches and bunkers. I said, "Yes sir" and was on my way to join SFC Nunez. Unfortunately he was slightly to my left front and I did not get up with him.
As we entered the trenches we started receiving fire from the trenches and from a few bunkers on the right side of the south hill. I gathered a few montonyards and made my way forward hugging the south hill for protection from the small arms fire. We cleared the trenches to our direct front and the first bunker came into view. Dirt and rocks jumped up all around us and we knew we had to take the bunker out. I instucted the montonyards to provide cover fire and I would approach the bunker from the right. I was going to toss in a hand grenade, after it exploded, I would enter the bunker and kill anyone left alive.
The first bunker went like clock work and I was starting to feel a little more confident in my ability to lead and do the job. We approached a second bunker and it was much the same, they raked us with small arms fire, we ducked, then we tried to establish fire superiority to pin them down so we could approach the bunker and take it out. This one wasn't cooperating like the first one did and we also had the problem of receiving fire from the north hill. This was a two way threat and slowed our approach on the bunker.
As we were jockeying around for positon, two NVA soldiers jumped up in front of us, about thirty feet. They tossed a few grenades and took off running back toward the trench line in front of the north hill. We immediately ducked for cover anticipating the explosion and shrapnel from the grenades. One by one they went off and hot shrapnel burned into my triceps, forearm and my right hand. But thankfully, it was not serious enough to stop us from firing back at the retreating NVA, killing one, while the other one made it safely to the trenches.
Once again we turned our attention to taking out the bunker. The yards provided the cover fire and I provided the body to deliver the grenade inside the bunker. I tossed in the grenade, it exploded and I entered, I immediately fired off about half of my magazine raking the area inside the smoked filled bunker. I stepped back to allow the smoke to clear and make sure that all the NVA were dead.
As the smoke cleared, I found myself staring at an NVA soldier to my left front, who was very much alive and staring directly at me. We both fired simultaneously at each other. He crumpled to the floor and I was still standing. I presumed he had missed me altogether, after all if I was hit I would feel the pain wouldn't I? I exited the bunker and signaled the montonyards to follow me into the large bomb crater to our left front. It would give us some protection against the gun fire from the north hill to our front. I could see our troops to the right of us. Soon we would marry up and assault the north hill.
I jumped into the bomb crater and startd to return fire on the north hill. I found that I could not. My receiver was damaged and my weapon was jammed. One of the montonyards kept pointing at me. I looked down and my shirt around my stomach and right side was literally gone or in shreds. The covers to the magazines were shredded, exposing that the magazines were damaged and looked like they would cook off. I felt the warm, sticky, fluid oozing down my right side. My right side was numb, I was not in pain. But all of a sudden I felt dizzy and the ground started twirling around me. I thought I was going to black out right there.
As I was trying to get some compresses on my wound, SFC Nunez jumped into the crater where we were at. He saw I was hit and told the montonyards to take me back to the aid station. Two got on either side of me and lifted me slightly and they got me back to the aid bunker. I don't remember much about it, because I blacked out from my wounds.
SFC Nunez and the other troops made the assault on the north hill shortly thereafter. I was laying unconscious in the aid bunker.
The next day I awoke with IV's in my arms and my waist bandaged. I was nauseous and not feeling too good. There was lots of movement around the bunker and they were moving people upstairs for evacuation. Upon being taken topside with some help, I noticed the camp was quiet. The north hill seemed to be under our control and helicopters were moving in and out of camp. Troops were walking all about and policing up enemy bodies and weapons. I was told that we had killed more than 900 NVA troops within the last two days. We had saved the camp. It felt good.
I had my first command, had successfully lead my troops in combat and we accomplished our mission. I was still alive and I had more confidence in my ability to lead troops in combat.
That was soon dampened when I learned that one of my NCOs had been killed during the battle. What felt even worse was that I hardly knew him and I was never going to get a chance to know him.
While sitting down next to some sandbags a big Ch-47 rotored into camp and parked in the saddle where we had been fighting just hours before. The rear ramp came down and they began loadin wounded aboard. A soldier came over and with some montonyards helped me aboard the Chinook. Within minutes we were loaded and the chopper lifted off, headed towards a field hospital. Shortly after my departure some dignitaries went to Duc Lap and reviewed what had been done. They were very pleased at the outcome. Mike Force had proven itself once again.
I was thankful that I had lived through this and I was grateful for the men that I had a chance to lead in combat. I was anxious to returning from the hospital and serving side by side with them once again.
John J. Wilson
5th Company, B-55 Mobil Strike Force
Nha Trang, Vietnam
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Posts:
373
Registered:
2/24/05
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(2 of 3)
Re: Seige and relief of Duc Lap August 1968
Feb 8, 2006 7:44 AM
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Excellent story, you have a better memory then I, and because of your attention to detail, I can grasp the situation and understand what I believe you felt. First command in combat is never easy, nor is it easy for those with little rank or command either. "Ours is not to ask why, ours is but to do or die." If I may make a suggestion, why not post this on the Vietnam War forums ? I'm sure it will be greatly appreciated and probably get more feedback and comments. Semper Fi
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Posts:
1
From:
USA
Registered:
10/18/09
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(3 of 3)
Re: Seige and relief of Duc Lap August 1968
Oct 18, 2009 7:17 PM
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I was one of the NCOs that went in with John that day. Never saw him again after we made it into the camp. Heard later that he was wounded and medevaced
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