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In Hell With Dragons
by Richard Shaffer
CHAPTER TWOGAINING EXPERIENCE
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CHAPTER 2
GAINING EXPERIENCE
16 February 1967
Lt. Sanders had already started the patrol briefing for that night's mission. When I first arrived for the briefing I was a little late.
"Nice to see you could make it Sarge, we were just getting started, have a seat."
"Sorry I'm late sir, I had trouble finding the right tent."
"Since this is your first trip out, I suggest you stick with Sgt. Cryder. He's a veteran here in this platoon and he knows whats going on."
"Fine sir, I'll do that."
Our objective tonight is to secure the oncoming approaches from the southern side of the bridge. This is an area the VC (Viet Cong) have been using lately. The village of Dau Tieng is supposed to be friendly. The enemy has been coming in at night and recruiting younger men and boys for their ranks. They also steal what food and other supplies they can get their hands on. Our job is to try and catch them coming out later this evening. After midnight, anything coming out of the village will be met with force. The curfew will be in effect starting at 2330 hours. Anything after that time is open season."
"What about the possibility that some friendly comes walking out of the village after midnight?" asked Cryder.
"If that happens, then he won't be friendly. Understand that the curfew will be enforced. That includes everyone."
"What about the ARVN (Army of the Republic Vietnam) stationed at the bridge?" asked one soldier.
"The ARVN won't be there tonight. That's part of the plan. We're hoping Charlie will take leave of that thought and try to come into the village. We'll take him on the way out. Any other questions? If not, I'll give you all your set-up assignments after the main briefing."
"Yes sir. What time is sick call around here?" a man asked.
"What seems to be your problem, Foster?"
"I got a bad case of the GI's, sir. I've had them ever since I arrived in this God-forsaken country. Can't seem to get rid of the problem."
"Well I'll tell you what Foster, Doc will fix you right up. In the meantime, you'll have to skip this patrol tonight. I wouldn't want you to have an accident out there and end up giving our position away. Doc, see what you can do for him."
After the briefing was adjourned, I had some discussion with Sgt. Cryder on the equipment needed.
"How's your ammo?" he asked.
"Fine I guess, I've got seven magazines."
"Yea, that's plenty enough."
"How long have you been in Vietnam?" I asked.
"Too damn long to suit me. This is my second tour. I've been back going on two-and-a-half months. Seems like a lifetime has gone by already."
"Yea, I know what you mean. I've got a lifetime to go yet myself. How the hell do you cope with it?"
"Day by day Sarge. That's all you can do. Just count the days."
"Where you from back in the states?" I asked.
"Idaho."
"I never met anyone from Idaho before. I hear it's nice country though. Not too many "grunts" that I've ever met come from that area."
"We have a whole bunch of sheep and a lot more potatoes. Not that many people there though. That's why I like it there. I get along better with sheep than I do people."
"Why you here then? Why not stay in Idaho? You've pulled your time."
"I like the excitement. You've been around sheep as long as I've been, you kind of need this to keep your sanity."
"Boy, that's a new twist. How the hell can you keep your sanity in a hell-hole like this?"
"I don't know. I just dig it is all I know. Where are you from?"
"Indiana," I said.
"Indiana. Where the hell is that at?"
"Well, it's east of where you're from, I know that much. We don't have as many sheep as you have in Idaho, but we make up for it in the number of people we have there. A whole lot of farmland and some damn good basketball teams."
With all the men checked and double-checked, we left base camp at dusk. That's the best time to leave on patrol. You still have a little light to get your bearings with the compass. After that, you have to kind of feel it out. Check your compass on occasion and the rest is a lot of good instinct.
Not every patrol is the same. Sometimes you'll make contact, but a lot more of the time there's none at all. This first patrol was very routine and uneventful to say the least.
We arrived at our objective site in about an hour. By the time we settled it was pitch black. Sgt. cryder and myself were assigned to more or less protect the left side of the patrol's right corner. The area we were in was set up in an "L" type ambush configuration. We had two others on one side of us. One guy had a M-60 machine gun and the other was his ammo bearer and assistant gunner. If the VC were to stray in our fields of fire then we were the last to open fire. The main element of the patrol was controlled by Lt. Sanders and he would give the signal to open up.
We all sat there and waited. Waited some more. Nothing happening here. Maybe they knew something was up? They probably followed us here and are waiting for us to leave in the morning? All kind of notions were running through my head.
The night passed into a haze and it was time to pack up and clear the ambush site.
At first I had a feeling that I might have over done the equipment thing. Feeling weighed down and already tired before we got to our objective, putting it back on to leave was a chore. I did learn one important lesson this first time out. Water in your canteen is not to be wasted. It should be conserved and used wisely so it lasts the entire mission. I was really thirsty when I came back in from the patrol.
My fears were unfounded, we made it back without any trouble.
M60/7.62mm Machine Gun
The first sergeant was waiting for me to come back in. He was standing near the mess tent when he motioned for me to join him.
He introduced me to my new platoon leader who just arrived a couple of days ago. His name was Lt. Thomas and I found out that he was an Officer Candidate School graduate.
"Good morning, sir. I'm glad to meet you," I said. I welcomed him to the platoon and explained that the men could use the leadership of an officer. I was glad that we finally had what we needed most.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" I asked.
"No, I haven't."
"Would you like to join me, sir? I'm starved."
"Yea, sure. Top, would you like to join us?"
"No, you two go ahead. I've got the morning report to do yet."
"Okay, Top," I said. "We'll see you later at the morning briefing."
"How are things going with the platoon?" the lieutenant asked.
"Fine sir, but we sure could use some more men. We're about seven men short overall."
"From what I heard, we should be getting some more replacements in shortly," he said.
"That's good to hear. We also need a medic assigned to us, but Battalion keeps putting us off."
"I'll have a talk with the CO and see if he can do something."
"Thanks sir, I'd appreciate it."
We finished breakfast and I went straight to my bunk
to get a few hour's sleep. A few hours is all I ended up with. They woke me to go over to the morning briefing.
During the morning briefing, the CO had some bad news to report. It seems that Charlie had been sniping at our men down at the rock quarry. They were trying to disrupt the clearing the engineers had been doing. Two of our men had been shot there this morning. The CO raised concern that security was lax in that sector and help was needed. He wanted the weapons platoon to help furnish security at the quarry. He suggested that we should take the 106 section off the bridge detail and transfer them to the quarry. The ARVN would have to take on securing the bridge themselves. There is not much choice in the matter. The engineers had to be protected while they are out there. As soon as the briefing was over, I made my way over to the platoon's tent. I ran into Sp4 Talley at the 106 section entrance.
Caterpillar D7E Tractor (Dozer)
"Where's Sgt. Cline?" I asked him.
"I think he's taking a whore's bath Sarge, the last I seen him."
"Well when he gets through cleaning up, give him the message to report to my tent, will you?"
"Sure thing Sarge. What's up? We going back out?"
"Yea, something like that. Just tell him I need to see him. You'll get the rest of it later," I told him.
"Okay Sarge, I'll let him know."
A few minutes later Sgt. Cline came into my tent.
"What's up?" he asked. "I heard you wanted to see me."
"Yea, I've got a new assignment for your section."
"What's wrong with the one we've got now?"
"Nothing wrong with it. But the company has some new security problems and they feel that your section should help out."
"Help out where?"
"There's been some sniping down at the quarry. Charlie has been working freelance down there. CO wants those engineer guys protected and he suggested that your men could do the job."
"Bull shit! You mean we're the more expendable, don't you?"
"No, I don't mean that at all. I guess he figures that the ARVN can handle the bridge security by themselves. Besides, your men have had it easier than most. It's about time you all started pulling your weight. You don't hear the other platoons complaining about all the night patrols they've been assigned to lately."
"Yea, we hear it from them too. It just hasn't been loud enough for everyone to hear it."
"Well not everything you're assigned to over here was supposed to have the word "NICE" attached to it. So get your men saddled up and ready to move out in about an hour. After that, you'll need to get an operations briefing from Tactical Operations Center before moving into that area."
"What about the 106's? You want us to leave them here?"
"Yea, do that. Mount the 50 calibers on the jeeps and secure the 106's at the CP."
"What about the M-60's?"
"Take a couple with you for backup, and make sure you take plenty of ammunition with you. You'll never know when you might need it."
"Since when did we become a recon outfit?" he asked.
"Well, I guess you should be used to it by now. There isn't too much for your 106's to be used for lately."
"Yea, I guess you're right about that. But it doesn't mean that I have to like it."
"Like it or not, it's something that has to be done. Just be careful out there and keep your people alert."
Sgt. Cline finally realized that arguing the point was getting him nowhere. So he stormed out of my tent disgusted with the situation.
M2/50 Caliber Machine Gun Jeep Mounted
M-60 Machine Gun Jeep Mounted
In a few days our whole security mission changed for the better. Word was out that a "search and clear" operation was going to be conducted. We were ordered in to clear the village and the surrounding area. We've been here at Dau Tieng for three weeks and we couldn't understand why we hadn't done it earlier. The answer to that question relied on the availability of a reserve unit to back up the clearing Battalion. The 22nd Infantry Regiment became available for just that purpose. So hence the delay. Our Battalion was to be used as the clearing Battalion, while the 2nd of the 22nd Battalion was put in to support the operation. An ARVN Battalion was also going in to block off any escape the enemy might try. Up until now, we neither had the strength nor the reserves to start an operation.
An operation this large could only succeed if total surprise is accomplished. The success of the mission also hinged on whether we were able to catch the enemy in the encirclement. It was to begin at 0200 hours, when everyone should be asleep. Charlie moves into the village at night, steals what food and supplies they need, and leaves just before daylight. We'd like to be there when it happens.
Our job was tough. We had to go in and clear the village. Anyone trying to resist would be considered an enemy and would be dealt with as such. Our largest fear was not knowing who was who. Also there was a constant threat of "booby-traps" going off when you picked things up to search. Charlie just loved to leave surprises behind when you'd least expect it.
An hour before we were ready to enter the village, we assembled our Battalion about half mile south of the bridge. Our movement order had our Battalion flanking the road on each side, while the supporting vehicles used the main road. About 200 meters short of the bridge we sent out a reconnaissance platoon to secure our frontal approaches. At 0200 hours we started to move in toward the objective. We made too much noise. It turned out that it wasn't much of a surprise after all.
When one of the supporting armored personnel carriers (APC) reached the south side of the bridge, Charlie opened up on it with an RPG 2 rocket. The rocket went through the left front of the APC and killed four men inside. The fire it started lit up the whole area. It was like the sun came up early, it was so bright. Luckily, the lead recon element picked up on the whereabouts of where Charlie let loose with the rocket. They brought up a 90mm recoilless to take out the bunker where Charlie fired from. After firing two rounds at it, they finally knocked it out. The enemy had camouflaged the emplacement so well that the ARVN guarding the bridge every day had never seen it. So much for the surprise. They had to know we were coming. We entered the village and had it cleared in a couple of hours. We really didn't find anything to suspect that the villagers were supporting the VC. We received some sporadic firing early on, but suddenly everything turned quiet.
M113A1 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier)
This one has survived a solid 90 percent hit from a B-40 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), the hole and splatter rings still very visible.
M67 90mm Recoilless Rifle (Shoulder-Fired)
Capt. Phelps, our CO had us move on to the north side of the village to set up a secure perimeter. Lt. Thomas was with us when we cleared the north side.
"Move your men up closer toward the woodline," he said. "I don't like being out in the open like this."
"Right, sir. I'll string them out further down the road."
"No, don't do that. Keep them closer into the woods," he said.
On the north side of the village, lying next to the road, were two dead VC.
"Looks like Charlie ran into some ARVN troops. They didn't get very far," said Mantley.
"Yea, it looks that way," I said.
"Look here! The damn ARVN cut their ears off," said Collins.
"They ain't nothin' but a bunch of butchers," said Mantley.
"Mantley, Collins, just keep it moving. I want the area secure in five minutes."
"Right Sarge. No problem."
Just as we started to fan out toward the woods, Charlie opened up on us with a mortar barrage. The first round landed off to our rear, inside the village. We didn't even hear it coming.
"Mortars! Incoming," I yelled.
I jumped and landed in the rice field just off the side of the road. As more rounds landed, I could feel the ground come up and hit me in the face. He was real close, I thought.
"Stay down. Don't anybody move until this is over." I yelled out as loud as I could, not knowing if everyone could hear me.
"Keep your heads down. Is anybody hurt?" I yelled out.
I didn't hear any response for a medic, so I figured no injuries had occurred. They were steadily getting closer to our positions. I was worried that we might not get out of this. Finally, after a couple more explosions, the barrage let up. Then all became quiet.
"Stay down. Don't move until I tell you to," I said. I didn't know if this was a lull in the firing or whether it was over with. I didn't want to get everybody up and then get hit again in the open.
"Mantley, get the CO on the radio. I'm going to have a little talk with him."
"Right Sarge."
I checked again to make sure no injuries had occurred. Lt. Thomas was further down the road and I didn't know if everything was okay down there with him. Finally, he yelled back up to me that everyone was okay. I was relieved. I thought for sure Charlie had our ass good. But everything was okay. I wanted to let the CO know our situation. It was a couple minutes before Mantley finally reached him on the radio.
"Charlie six, this is four-5 Alpha, over?"
"This is Charlie six, over."
RPG 2 (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) Rocket Launcher
"Charlie six, we've just gotten hit with some mortar fire at the north end of the village, over."
"Right four-5, are you still in contact at this time, over?"
"Negative, over."
"Ah, four-5 Alpha, put me on with your six, over."
"Roger, six, wait one, over."
"Six, this is four-6, over."
"Ah, four-6, anyone hurt at your location, over?"
"Negative, most of the rounds landed in the woodline. A straw hootch was blown all to hell in the village, over."
"Ah, right, four-6, uh, just maintain security on that north side of the village. We're receiving some incoming sniper fire from the west part of the village, over."
"Yea, ah, roger six, we hear the firing but can't see anything from this area, over."
"Okay, four-6, I'm calling in some helicopter gunships to let them take them out, over."
"Six, this is four-6, roger, understand, this is four-6, out."
As soon as the lieutenant got off the radio, he summoned me to come over to his location.
"Yes sir, what's up?"
"The CO is still getting sniper fire from west of the village. We're supposed to maintain our position until he gets through. Also he's calling in some gunships to take care of those snipers."
"Okay sir, you want us to dig in?"
"No, I don't think we need to do that. I think Charlie has cut out after that mortar barrage. Make sure your men are alert. I don't want anything coming up that road or through that woodline."
"Right sir. I'll take care of it."
I went back to the men and explained the situation to them. Our main concern was to take cover and be prepared for anymore incoming fire. About 10 minutes went by before the gunships were heard from. They came hovering in, spraying fire into the woodline where the sniper fire had come from. We also heard on the radio that a "dustoff" was being called in. We had a couple of men injured from a booby-trap. I heard that the men were from the 3rd platoon. I learned later that one of the wounded was Sgt. Cryder. The wounds he received were not life-threatening, but he'd be in the hospital for quite a while. I learned later also that he had been shot.
Never fails, you get to know somebody and you become friends and the next thing you know, he ends up getting hurt.
The gunships finally took care of the problem with the snipers just outside the village.
"Looks like the 4th of July out there," said Mantley.
"Yea, maybe they got the message this time. At least they stopped the sniper fire."
"Probably just scared the shit out of them and they high-tailed it back to the rice bowl," said Johnson.
"Rice bowls? Man, they travel real light. They dig up what rations we leave behind and all that shit ends up in Chuck's belly."
"Real versatile Chuck is. He's been fighting Chinese, Burmese, Japanese, the French and now the Americans. He's bound and determined, he's relentless, and he's downright nasty if you tend to piss him off," I said.
"But he's got one weakness, he bleeds just like everyone else. And I guess that's why we're here, to kick his ass and make him bleed."
"Yea, I can handle that," said Mantley. "Only thing is you've gotta find the SOB first."
"Yea, before he finds us," Johnson said.
"Okay, let's break it up and get back to your positions. I want total concentration in this section. As soon as our resupply gets in we'll secure with the mortars. Don't be surprised if we end up digging in for the remainder of the day."
The word came down for us just in time to secure our current positions. We dug our foxholes and put up overhead cover in case of a mortar attack. Claymore mines were placed out in the forward position. A patrol was also sent out. We were told that we were going to move out first thing in the morning for a clearing action. All I wanted to do was find the time to clear my head and get some rest. I never got either one.
M18A1 Anti-Personnel Mine (Claymore)
M18A1 anti-personnel (Claymore) mine threw out 700 steel balls ahead of it in an arc of about 60 degrees.
Lethal range was about 50 meters.
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