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In Hell With Dragons
by Richard Shaffer
CHAPTER TENNAVY COMES TO THE 25TH DIVISION
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CHAPTER 10
NAVY COMES TO
THE 25TH DIVISION
2 August 1967
Word was coming down the "rumor channel" that a big operation was in the works. Rumors got started around here all the time. But I believed this one had some validity to it. We'd been here a month with very little activity. More replacements had been arriving steadily over the past few weeks. And to top it off, the 25th Division was a fighting division, not a rear-echelon support unit. Time was on our side that something big was coming our way.
We received a new E-7 sergeant named McDonald. He wanted to take charge of the platoon on his arrival from in-country orientation. He was a heck of a nice guy and fit into our platoon just fine. Since I'd been in Vietnam, I'd been the platoon's leader. I was sort of relieved that some new blood could take over and learn what it's like over here. I'd help him the best I could to make the right decisions. But I didn't want to get in his way either. We lucked out and got ourselves a new lieutenant too. His name was Harris. He was ROTC and a real winner. We were all taking bets on how long he'd last.
"I'm not gettin' in on this bet," I told them. "These ROTC guys will last forever when you least expect it. I ain't bettin' on this guy, he might surprise you."
Sgt. McDonald and Lt. Harris took the platoon out for some "Search and Search" tactics today. I stayed behind to help out at Battalion. Sgt. Sawyer and Simmons were out there with them so they wouldn't get lost. Sgt. Simmons still had a little limp but otherwise he was okay. Cline and his men were still running security. At night they put their guns out over at the perimeter for support. The next couple of days we ran day and night patrols outside our area. McDonald and Harris were getting the hang of things. They were fitting right in so far.
Word was out. The "big" operation was true after all. It was going to start on August 8th. The objective was to put three Battalions into the area of operations. One Battalion was to be used in reserve. One company, namely ours, was to board rag boats and float down the Saigon River to a designated spot. Two other companies were to travel by trucks as far as they could. They were then to sweep over land toward the river where they'd link up with our company. I didn't like the idea of using the boats. It had never been attempted before. If something went wrong, our unit would be sitting ducks in that river. Harris and McDonald would take two mortar squads with them up the river. I would keep one squad with me here in the rubber trees for internal security. In the meantime, we would help organize the resupply operations and monitor the company radio. I also didn't like the idea of not going with the rest of the platoon on the river, but I had to stay with the orders that were given to us. Sometimes you don't always like the orders you get. But you have to go with the cards you're dealt. Sgt. Sawyer was with me to help out. So at least I could count on him in case something happened.
Everything started out fine. The company moved out on schedule so we were able to board the boats on time. Everything seemed to work too well. I was still worried that something might happen today. I never had a feeling like this before. I just chalked it up to mean that since I wasn't going with the rest of the platoon, I was acting like a nervous mother hen.
Sgt. Sawyer came over to the CP tent. I was there monitoring the company's field transmissions. The two maneuvering companies were delayed getting to their assigned objectives. Company C, our company, was now also going to reach their objective late. Everything just might come to a head if things didn't tighten up.
"Seems like everything is late when it comes to operations like this," said Sawyer.
"Have you ever known this Battalion to coordinate anything on time?"
The Battalion commander was up in his helicopter trying to get things organized. Finally A and B Companies were dropped off and they began their sweeps out toward the river. Only D Company was left behind to bring up the rear, in case they were needed. C Company was still floating down the river.
UH-1B Utility Helicopter
"I'm going over to Battalion supply for a few minutes. You can monitor the radio until I get back, okay?"
"Right Shaf. I'll take care of it until you get back."
It was 1500 hours and at least another two hours before evening chow. So I went over to the mess hall to grab a cup of coffee. I was walking toward supply when Sgt. Sawyer came running over to me.
"The company is getting hit!" he yelled. "They're being ambushed on the river!"
I dropped the coffee in my hand and ran over to the radio tent. The radio transmissions were frantic calls for help. Seems as though the VC was waiting for them. I kept monitoring the traffic to get a better idea of what was happening.
"What did you hear before, while I was out?"
"When I first heard it, I thought it was our men that got hit first. I think they said it was a rocket that hit them. I didn't hear anything after that, except the cries for help."
"Damn it! I knew something like this would happen. I felt it."
LCM Landing Craft (Rag Boat Similarity)
Our platoon's boat received a direct hit from an enemy RPG-2 rocket. They were trying to dock the boat at the river's edge to let the men off. The ARVN were piloting the riverboats. When they tried to reverse the engines to square the boat for docking, Charlie sent in a rocket - right through the roof.
The latest report that was coming in had the dust-offs on their way to pick up the wounded. The remainder of the company assisted the wounded, getting them on the choppers. That's when all hell broke loose. Charlie waited for the choppers to come in. Then they opened up on them all at once. One helicopter was shot out of the sky and plunged into the river. Another one came in under fire and got some of the wounded out, nearly getting shot down too in the process. The latest reports coming in said that the weapons platoon had finally been dusted off. All of them appeared to be just wounded. It took awhile but they got everyone loaded onto two other choppers.
"Sitting ducks! I ain't never heard of a more stupid operation than this! It's just plain stupid to put men out in a situation like that to begin with," I yelled. "Stupid friggen Battalion commander just had to go Navy!"
"Calm down Shaf. You'll blow a blood vessel."
"Calm down shit! I'm upset. How am I supposed to be calm?"
"Your yelling and behaving like that isn't going to help any."
"I've got to get out there. See if I can help."
UH-1D Huey Tactical Transport Helicopter
"What do you mean go out there? You can't help them now. Just stay put. They've all been dusted off. You heard the radio."
"Yea, I guess you're right. I can't help them any now."
We monitored the radio the next two hours to get a fix on just what was happening. The company was experiencing casualties left and right. Every time they tried to move the VC would open up on them. A and B Companies were given orders to assist C Company as soon as they could get there. Reports of more needed dust-offs filled the airways. A Company finally arrived to help relieve the pressure on our company. Helicopter gunships were called in to help neutralize the positions that the enemy was using. They were well inside the woods, off the banks of the river. Along the river's edge, on the other side, the enemy was located inside underground tunnels. It was from here that Charlie caught us in a cross-fire.
Finally, the situation deteriorated to the point that the Battalion commander called in air strikes. He wanted them to drop high explosives and napalm on the enemy entrenched in the woods. B Company was called in to help with the problem on the opposite side of the river. They were to help in keeping their firing diminished to a point where the gunships could come in and destroy their positions. Another helicopter was shot down and crashed into the jungle. Charlie was paying a terrible price also. He started out attacking in battalion strength. As far as we could tell from the final reports, he was reduced to nearly zero when it was all over.
I got my gear together and went over to Battalion resupply. When the helicopter finished loading supplies, I jumped on. I had to go out and see for myself what was happening out there. I needed to know if I could help in any way. The ride out was, to say the least, nerve-wracking. I didn't know what I was going to run into once they dropped me off. We circled to land and then decided to give it a shot. When we came in toward the LZ, we received fire from our right front. The chopper whirled around and turned 180 degrees. It was then that I decided to jump. The skids of the chopper were still four to five feet off the ground. The gunner on the door started firing. When I heard his gun chatter, I jumped off the skid and landed with a roll. I wasn't waiting any longer to get shot down. I got up and started running toward the men I saw in front of me. The chopper couldn't land, so it took off after seeing that I had jumped. The supplies would have to wait a little longer. When I hit the ground, I heard this F-4 Phantom jet coming in for a strafing run. It scared the hell out of me and as a first reaction, I just ducked my head. Small arms and rocket fire were coming in toward the area. The CO was busy giving orders on the radio. He was talking to the aircraft commander who was directing the air strikes. The CO wanted more napalm dropped on the target and he was telling them where to put it. He stopped talking on the radio long enough to notice that I was the crazy SOB who just jumped off the helicopter.
Helicopter Landing Zone
"What in the hell are you doing here, Shaffer?"
"Just wanted to see for myself just how fucked up things really were out here."
"Well now you know, so you can get your ass out of here any time."
"I think I'll stick around for awhile, if it's okay with you?"
"Fine. Suit yourself."
"I got any platoon left?"
"Yea, I think maybe you've got two or three left around here somewhere."
"Thanks sir. I'll catch you later. Good luck."
Just as I turned to crouch down to move away, Mantley came up and tapped my shoulder.
"What in the hell are you doing here?" he asked.
"I've been asked that one already, try something else. You okay?"
"Yea, I'm scared shitless though. Other than that we're all okay."
"All? What do you mean all? I'd heard the whole platoon got hit."
"They did, except for me and the medic, Chambers. Everyone else has been dusted-off."
"No one was killed though, is that right?"
"Not in our platoon. They all looked pretty bad though when we got them dusted-off. The worst looking was Thompson. Fig's arm took a hunk of shrapnel. The new sergeant, McDonald, took wounds to the head. I just can't remember who else," he sobbed.
"That's all right Mantley. It's okay. Look, just keep your head down and everything will be okay. Your radio working?"
"No, I lost it in the river when I took it off to help with the wounded."
"Yea, okay. Look, you stay with Chambers and I'll try to get you out of here later," I told him. "No sense you being out here alone, with no platoon and no radio."
"Okay Sarge. You know Smitty from 3rd Platoon?"
"Yea, what about him?"
"He took a bullet between the eyes. He's still lying over there underneath that poncho. They haven't been able to get the dead out yet."
"How many?"
"I think six so far."
"How about Cryder?"
"I don't know about him. I never heard his name mentioned. I heard the name Hackett if that means anything."
"Yea. Okay. I'm going to look around for a few minutes. You stay put, okay?"
"Hell, I ain't goin' nowhere, not in this shit."
I crawled out over a mound and started running toward the CO's radio operator.
"Where's 3rd Platoon?" I asked him.
"Hell, how should I know? I don't even know where we are!"
Another F-4 fighter plane came in to drop napalm. It just unleashed pure havoc on Charlie's ass. The roar of the plane's engines as it pulled up from its pass was deafening. They sure can put a hurt on the enemy. I was thinking, how I'd love to be that pilot just about now. I asked the CO the whereabouts of the 3rd Platoon. Although they were still in contact he showed me where they were in the defense perimeter.
"You plan on going over there?" he asked.
"Yes sir, I want to see if they need some help with anything."
"Well be careful on your way over there, there is still sniper fire coming in toward that sector," he cautioned.
I had kept a low profile, and crawled most of the way over to the third platoons area. I asked one of the platoon's machine gunners' where Cryder was holed up.
"He's just up ahead," and he pointed to a crater hole about 50 feet away.
I found Sgt. Cryder crouched down in a crater hole that one of the artillery rounds had made.
"I heard your dumb ass jumped off that last chopper, but I didn't believe it."
"Yea, it's me. Pretty bad, huh?" I jumped into the hole with him.
"Yea, I don't think it can get any worse."
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yea, I'm okay. My platoon's all shot to hell, but other than that, everything's fine."
"How many?"
"Six wounded so far. Six KIA. Smitty's dead. So's Jackson, Hackett was blowed to shit from an RPP."
"Yea, I heard about Smitty. Damn shame. He was a hell of a soldier."
"What the hell you doin' out here anyway? I heard that all your guys were sent back in."
"Well, I had to see for myself what was happening. I still have an RTO with no radio and a medic that's scared of his own shadow. Other than that, I'm over here bugging your ass to see that you weren't in one of those body bags."
"Hell's fire man! I'm too ugly for anybody to shoot anymore."
"Yea, you got that shit right. Charlie would have a hell of a time just keeping aim on that ugly mug."
At first he started to laugh, and the look changed toward puzzlement, and then a blank stare crossed his face.
I know it was hard on Cryder. Losing so many good men like that in one day. I tried to keep him from going insane with rage that was building up inside him. Finally he just broke down and started sobbing. I tried my best to console him, but I just let him be.
Darkness was setting in and the roar of the artillery was deafening.
"Looks like we're going to stay put right here for the night, Cryder said. We're not going any farther than where we're at right now."
"Yea, your right, it looks that way. Doesn't look like we'll make it very far. You don't mind me keeping you company, do ya?"
"Hell Shaf, I can take your shitty attitude on life anytime. Stay as long as you like. Like I said, I ain't going nowhere."
More artillery pounded the woodline. Any attempt to move at this time would have meant suicide. The bombardment continued well toward midnight. Then all of a sudden it stopped. Helicopter gunships continued searching the enemy's strong points and poured machine-gun fire into the emplacements. Flares highlighted the night sky as the gunships circled for more of the enemy. They seemed like vultures waiting for the prey to die. The enemy's firing finally stopped sometime after 0130 hours. What a relief for all of us. For me this day turned out to be the longest day of my life.
I had both of my men who survived the battle brought over with me at the 3rd platoon's sector. I felt that they needed the secure feeling of being with someone they knew.
When morning came, the sun turned into the clouds and it became dark and damp. The smell of burnt sulphur and gunpowder permeated the morning air. The smell of death also filled our nostrils. Then it started to rain - hard. The CO wanted the dead carried out. He ordered the choppers in to pick them up.
"Now! Not next week. I want them here now. I want these dead men off the field of battle!" he yelled.
Finally, the CO got his wish. The choppers came in and we loaded the bodies - thirteen in all. It wasn't a day I wanted to remember. Of the 122 men and officers of C Company who started this operation, only 75 were fit for duty the second day.
Of course, the enemy paid a higher price for his boldness. We counted over 175 dead and more blood trails leading back into the jungle. All said and done, the big brass thought this was a successful operation. Tell that to the next of kin of the 13 KIA from C Company. I personally would have liked to take their "rag" boats and stick them up high command's ass.
I went back to base camp on the next available chopper. I took Mantley and Chambers back with me. The company formed up with the rest of Battalion and searched the jungle for more of the enemy. The first thing I wanted to know after I returned was how the men in the hospital were doing. I was told that a full report on the wounded would be forthcoming. When I reached my tent, I took one look at the bunk and collapsed on it.
I slept for about three hours before I was awakened by the first sergeant's voice. He was talking to Sgt. Sawyer and Mantley outside my tent. He had just come in from Cu Chi and had the casualty reports with him. I was up putting on my boots when he walked in.
"Hey sergeant, you always sleep this late in the day?" he kidded.
"Yea, right, every damn day. How the hell are you, Top?"
"Fine. I didn't mean to bust up your sleeping."
"Ah, that's okay. I don't get much of it any other time so what's the difference?. What's the casualty report look like?"
"Not too good."
He handed me the sheets of paper he had with him. I looked them over. They had just about every injury they could list. It looked like a smorgasbord of injuries.
"Looks like that new Lt. Harris is pretty bad, Thompson too. They'll end up in Tokyo probably in a day or so. Sure didn't last long, did he?"
I didn't say anything.
"Looks like Sgt. McDonald got hit in the back and neck; he should be okay. They don't know about Figaroah yet. They might have to take his arm. They're trying like hell to save it. Took a large hunk of steel out of his elbow, or what was left of it."
"No doubt that he'll be going home," I said.
"Yea, they'll probably send him straight to Guam and by-pass Tokyo."
"Yea, who knows? I'm sure going to miss that guy."
"Look, I've got to run over to Battalion headquarters for a few minutes. So I'll have to see you later. Anything new develops, I'll call you and let you know."
"Hey Top, wait a second. You mind if I catch a ride back in with you to Cu Chi? I'd like to check in on the men."
"No sense of you trying to see any of them today. Most of them are under sedation and painkillers and probably wouldn't even know you're there. Wait a couple of days and then come in. It would be better if you'd wait."
"Yea, I guess you're right. Best to wait a couple days."
"Mantley told me what you did yesterday."
"Ah, don't pay no attention to him. He's always running his mouth about something."
"Well, hey, you take care and I'll see you in a couple of days, okay?"
"Yea Top. Thanks again. I'll see you a little later."
I just stared into space, thinking about what had happened. It's unbelievable that no one was killed on that boat. Miracles do sometimes happen when you least expect it.
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