PART THREE
WE SPENT A FEW HOURS IN THE NCO CLUB TELLING WAR STORIES (LIES) AND THEN WENT UP TO WHERE D BATTERY HAD THEIR EMPLACEMENTS. WAS NICE TO SEE MY OLD SECTION CHIEF (SSG DARRELL.) WE HELPED THEM FIRE A FEW H&I MISSIONS, HARASSED THEM ABOUT THEIR LITTLE POPGUNS AND HOW LIGHT THEIR AMMO WAS. WE DO KNOW THEY PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE DEFENSE OF THE PLEIKU AREA BUT COULDN'T RESIST THE HARASSMENT.
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING WE HAD A GOOD BREAKFAST, MARCH ORDERED, SAID GOOD-BYE TO OUR BUDDIES AND PULLED OUT THE GATE HEADING NORTH. THIS TRIP WAS FAIRLY UNEVENTFUL, EXCEPT FOR A FEW STOPS FOR ROAD CLEARING BY THE ENGINEERS AND ONE SNIPER ATTACK. THE SPOT OF THE SNIPER ATTACK WAS RIGHT NEXT TO A VIETNAMESE TIN VILLAGE. WHAT I MEAN BY TIN VILLAGE IS; EVERY FAMILY HAD A BRAND NEW SHINNY HUT (LEAN TO) MADE OUT OF TIN. THE GOVERNMENT MUST HAVE RELOCATED THEM THERE FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE. THE SNIPER THAT HAD SENT A FEW ROUNDS MUST NOT HAVE HAD ANY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW BULLETS HOLES IN OUR TRUCKS (ONE HIT ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM ME) NO ONE WAS WOUNDED. THE CONVOY WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME AND THE ATTACK HAPPENED JUST AS WE WERE CLIMBING OFF THE REAR OF THE TRUCKS TO FORM OUR PERIMETER AROUND OUR VEHICLES. I THOUGHT I SAW WHERE THE SNIPER WAS, RAN FORWARD A LITTLE (DID A LITTLE JOHN WAYNEING ) FLOPPED DOWN ON THE GROUND AIMED MY RIFLE IN THE DIRECTION I THOUGHT HE FIRED FROM AND WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO SHOOT AT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES NO MORE SHOTS FROM THE SNIPER AND THE CONVOY WAS STARTING TO PULL OUT. WHEN I CLIMBED BACK ON THE TRUCK, I WAS TALKING TRASH, ABOUT HOW I WAS GOING TO DO A NUMBER ON THIS GUY (SNIPER), IF I COULD SPOT HIM. ONE OF MY SECTION MEMBERS ASKED JOKINGLY "WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO? BEAT HIM TO DEATH WITH MY RIFLE?" IN THE EXCITEMENT OF SCRAMBLING OFF OUR TRUCKS, MY PISTOL BELT FELL OFF AND THE MAGAZINE FELL OUT OF MY RIFLE. I GUESS I COULD HAVE TAKEN AIM AND HOLLERED "BANG, BANG, YOU'RE DEAD." THE CONVOY STARTED MOVING OUT AGAIN AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT A MINE. THIS TIME IT WAS A FUEL TRUCK BELONGING TO THE 4th DIVISION. ALL THEY DID WAS PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN OUR LAST VEHICLE PASSED, THE ENGINEERS OPENED UP THE DRAINS, MOVED BACK AND SHOT A TRACER ROUND IN THE MOGAS. I THINK IT WAS A 500-GALLON TANKER. TO BAD, IT WAS A WASTE, WE COULD HAVE BURNT ALOT OF SHIT WITH THAT 500 GALLONS.
 IT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK US FOREVER TO GET TO DAK TO, BUT WE PULLED INTO OUR POSITION LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, LAID AND STARTED BUILDING OUR EMPLACEMENTS. THIS POSITION WAS ON A HILL AT THE EDGE OF AN ARVN VILLAGE, OVERLOOKING THE AIRSTRIP. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE A SHORT STAY. THE VILLAGE CHIEF CAME TO US AND TOLD US HE WANTED NO DIGGING. WE FELT RIGHT AWAY HE WAS ANTI-AMERICAN. WE DUG IN ANYWAY, AFTER TWO OR THREE DAYS THERE WE WERE ORDERED TO FILL ALL THE HOLES AND WERE MOVED TO THE EDGE OF THE AIRSTRIP. WE FELT BETTER DOWN THERE WITH OUR FELLOW AMERICANS ANYWAY. WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE AIRSTRIP WAS THE DUST. IT WAS LIKE BABY POWDER, AND ABOUT FOUR INCHES THICK. WHEN YOU WALKED, LITTLE DUST CLOUDS WOULD FORM AT YOUR FEET.
THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS POSITION WAS THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED. THE ONLY SANDBAGS WE HAD TO FILL WAS FOR OUR AMMO BUNKERS, THE ENGINEERS BULLDOZED OUR GUN EMPLACEMENTS AND PILED-UP SOFT DIRT TO BE USED FOR SAND BAGGING. IT WAS A SNAP. I THINK THE FIRST NIGHT EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETELY BUILT. THE NEXT SEVEN TO EIGHT DAYS WERE SPENT FIRING A FEW CONTACT MISSIONS AND H&Is.
DURING THAT TIME PERIOD I THINK THE DAK TO AIRSTRIP BECAME THE WORLDS MOST BUSTLING. EVERY FEW MINUTES C-130s WOULD LAND AND OFF LOAD TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT, AMMO CONVOYS WOULD PULL IN AT THE RATE OF TWO OR THREE A DAY. THE NEXT MORNING WE HAD A MOVEMENT ORDER AND THE CH-54s SKYCRANES APPEARED. WE KNEW THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOME PIGS (HOWITZERS) TO HAUL OUT TO SOME LZ. AND OURS JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE PIGS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. OUR ADVANCE PARTY WHICH CONSISTED OF ABOUT TEN BATTERY MEMBERS AND ONE PLATOON OF INFANTRY FROM THE 4th DIVISION LOADED ONTO UH-1 HUEYS, CH-47 CHINOOKS AND OFF THEY WENT. WE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE MORNING UNLOADING OUR TRUCKS AND PACKING EVERYTHING IN CARGO NETS FOR LIFTS OUT TO THE LZ.
MY BUDDY (LEROY EAST) AND ME WERE THE TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGGING EVERYTHING FOR AIRLIFTS. EACH TYPE OF AIRCRAFT HAD A NAME; UH-1 HUEY WAS A SLICK, CH-47 CHINOOK WAS A HOOK AND THE CH-54 SKYCRANE, WELL WE WAS JUST CALLED IT A CRANE. ONCE WE KNEW HOW MANY SORTIES WE HAD, WE ORGANIZED EACH LOAD. FIRST THE GUN CREWS (ONE HOOK), NEXT THE AMMO AND EQUIPMENT (EIGHT HOOKS) AND FINALLY THE GUNS (SIX CRANE SORTIES). ONE COMPLETE SECTION (AMMO/EQUIPMENT) AT A TIME MOVED. WE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO SLING ONLY ONE LOAD PER SORTIE, UNLESS WE WERE TOLD TO DOUBLE-UP. WE DIDN'T LIKE SLINGING PIGGYBACKS, BECAUSE IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT AT THE OTHER END. IF WE SENT ONE SORTIE WITH ONE SLING LOAD THE SECTIONS ON THE LZ COULD DIRECT THE PILOT TO DROP IT EXACTLY WHERE THEY WANTED IT PLACED. IF WE PIGGYBACKED LOADS, THEY HAD TO MOVE ONE LOAD BY HAND TO THE CORRECT LOCATION ON THE LZ.
THE MAIN THING I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THIS JOB WAS THE BLOWING SAND AND DUST WHEN THE HOOK CAME IN. AND ON TOP OFF THAT THE STATIC ELECTRICITY THEY PRODUCED, (ESPECIALLY IN DAMP WEATHER) IT WOULD SOMETIMES KNOCK YOU ON YOUR BUTT. FOR THE SAND AND DUST WE HAD GOGGLES OR WOULD WEAR OUR PROTECTIVE MASK, AND FOR THE ELECTRICITY WE SOMETIMES HAD GROUNDING RODS, YOU WOULD STICK ONE END INTO THE GROUND AND HOLD ON TO IT AND WITH THE OTHER HAND PLACE THE DOUGHNUT ON THE HOOK. SOMETIMES YOU COULD AVOID ALL BODY CONTACT WITH THE HOOK AND JUST SLAP THE DOUGHNUT ON AND GET OUT OF ITS WAY. A LOT OF THAT DEPENDED ON THE TYPE OF LOAD IT WAS AND HOW GOOD THE PILOT WAS. A GOOD PILOT WOULD HOVER OVER YOU LEVEL. THIS MADE YOUR JOB EASIER. BUT SOME PILOTS WOULD COME IN AT AN ANGLE, WITH THE REAR WHEELS JUST OFF THE GROUND AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT UP. THIS TOOK AWAY FROM SOME OF THE SPACE YOU HAD UNDER IT, AND MADE YOU PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT THE PILOT WAS GOING TO DO, RATHER THAN WHAT YOU WERE DOING. SLINGING WATER TRAILERS WITH A HOOK AT AN ANGLE WAS MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU HAD TO STAND ON TOP OF THE TRAILER AND HIT THE HOOK WITH THE DOUGHNUT. WATER TRAILER WITH A LEVEL HOVERING HOOK POSED NO PROBLEM.
 NOW THE CRANES WERE A DIFFERENT STORY. I ALWAYS SAT ON TOP OF THE GUN AND LEROY WOULD SLAP THE HOOK WITH HIS HAND AND IMMEDIATELY GRAB IT. IF HE WAITED TO LONG BETWEEN THE SLAPPING AND THE GRABBING THE ELECTRICITY WOULD BUILD BACK UP. ONCE HE HAD A HOLD OF THE HOOK I WOULD SLAP THE DOUGHNUT ON. ON THESE SORTIES A GOOD PILOT WOULD HOVER LEVEL DIRECTLY ABOVE YOU AND LET THE HOOK OPERATOR LOWER THE HOOK DOWN TO YOU. WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE TO SEE WAS THE CRANE FLYING IN TO LIFT YOUR LOAD AND THE HOOK WOULD BE ALREADY PARTIALLY LOWERED AND SWINGING BELOW THE AIRCRAFT. THIS SEEMED TO ADD TO THE VOLTAGE OF THE STATIC ELECTRICITY.
EARLY THAT AFTERNOON WE HAD EVERYTHING SLUNG OUT TO THE LZ. UNTIL LAST MONTH I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS CALLED LZ DOGBONE. BUT AFTER FINDING THIS FINE WEB SITE AND READING THE STORY BY SFC BRANCH (MY OLD ROOMIE) I NOW KNOW THE CORRECT NAME, "HAMBONE". LZ HAMBONE WAS TWO LITTLE HILLS WITH A SADDLE BETWEEN, LOCATED IN A VALLEY SURROUNDED BY HIGHER HILLS. ALL THE VEGETATION WAS BOMBED OR SHELLED OFF, JUST PLAIN SANDY DIRT. WE WERE ON ONE HILLTOP, A MORTAR PLATOON (81s & 4.2) WAS POSITIONED ON THE SADDLE AND A 105 (M-101) UNIT WAS ON THE OTHER (SLIGHTLY LOWER) HILLTOP. STRAIGHT LINE DISTANCE FROM OUR BATTERY CENTER TO THE 105's WAS NO MORE THAN 100 METERS.
THE SIZE OF HAMBONE SEEMED SMALL, EVERYTHING WAS TIGHT FOR THE BATTERY, WHICH CONSISTED OF SIX GUNS WITH AN AVERAGE OF FIVE CREW MEMBERS EACH, FDC (FOUR MEMBERS INCLUDING THE XO), AND TWO COOKS. MAYBE 50 BATTERY MEMBERS TOTAL. HQ PLATOON (1SG, COMMO, SUPPLY, MAINTENANCE, AMMO, AND THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF OUR MESS SECTION) MAINTAINED A RESUPPLY POINT AT THE DAK TO AIRSTRIP. THE COOKS WITH US ON HAMBONE PROVIDED US WITH A HOT BREAKFAST COOKED FRESH EACH MORNING IN THEIR BUNKER. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD COOKS ON AN LZ AND THEY DIDN'T COME OUT (FROM THEIR BUNKER) VERY OFTEN. LUNCH WAS C-RATIONS AND THE EVENING MEAL WAS COOKED AND FLOWN OUT TO US IN MERMITE CANS FROM THE REAR AREA.
THE ENGINEERS (BLESS THEIR HEARTS) FLEW OUT A BULLDOZER. I REMEMBER THIS THING COMING OUT IN TWO SORTIES. FIRST THE BLADE WITH THE TRACKS ATTACHED AND THEN THE MAIN BODY. A TEAM PUT THIS THING TOGETHER IN JUST A FEW HOURS. THEY PLOWED US HOLES FOR BUNKERS AND THE DIRT REMOVED WAS BAGGED TO BUILD OUR AMMO BUNKERS AND GUN PITS. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE WE WERE COMPLETELY BUNKERED.
EACH DAY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON IF THE SUN WAS JUST RIGHT YOU COULD LOOK UP AND SEE B-52 SORTIES (3 BOMBERS PER SORTIE) FLY OVER. MANY TIMES THEY DROPPED THEIR LOADS WITHIN A MILE OFF US. THE WHOLE GROUND SHOOK AND RUMBLED AS THE BOMBS HIT. I DON'T SEE HOW ANYTHING COULD HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT. BUT THE NEXT DAY THEY WOULD BE BACK AND DROP ANOTHER LOAD, MANY TIMES IN THE SAME EXACT AREA.
WE HAD OUR FIRST TASTE OF AGENT ORANGE WHILE ON HAMBONE. THREE C-130s FLEW OVER A FEW TIMES AND SPRAYED. THEY FLEW LOW TO THE GROUND SIDE BY SIDE AND SPRAYED THE VALLEY IN FRONT OF US, STARTING AT ABOUT 100 METERS FROM HAMBONE, WORKING THEIR WAY OUTWARD. NO, WE DID'NT GET ANY OVER SPRAY ON US. THE WIND WAS JUST RIGHT TO BLOW IT AWAY FROM US.
AFTER ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS, EVERYTHING TURNED BROWN. WE FIRED LOW ANGLE ILLUM, AND WP ROUNDS TO SET IT ON FIRE. HELL, AS THICK AS THE JUNGLE WAS, IT SHOULD STILL BE BURNING.
THE BATTLE OF DAK TO HAD OFFICIALLY BEGUN. HERE WE WEREN'T DEALING WITH THE VC. THESE WERE HARD CORPS, WELL TRAINED, FULLY EQUIPPED NVA REGULARS. NUMBERING IN THE THOUSANDS.
 OUR MISSIONS USUALLY LOW ANGLE, LOW CHARGE GREEN BAG, LASTED OVER TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, SOME EVEN LONGER. WE TRIED TO ALTERNATE THE CREW MEMBERS ON THE GUNS SO EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO GET A FEW WINKS. BUT USUALLY, THE GUN BLAST PREVENTED THAT. MOST OF US WOULD USUALLY STAY ON THE GUN, AND HELP EACH OTHER RESUPPLY AMMO. WE APPRECIATED THE SHORT BREAK (ABOUT 30 MINUTES LONG) WHEN WE WOULD GET "CHECK FIRE" SO THE AIR FORCE COULD MAKE THEIR STRAFING AND BOMBING RUNS. AT FIRST WE WERE AMAZED TO WATCH THEM. BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS WE WOULD JUST FLOP DOWN IN THE GUN PIT AND CLOSE OUR EYES. THOSE THIRTY MINUTES BREAKS PASSED EVER SO QUICKLY.
DURING THESE MISSIONS WE HAD TO DRAIN HYDRAULIC OIL, FROM THE RECOIL SYSTEM, THE OIL WOULD GET SO HOT THE INDEX (REPLENISHER INDEX) WOULD ALMOST STICK OUT PAST THE END. I THINK WHEN YOU CHECKED THE MEASUREMENT; IT SHOULD HAVE MEASURED BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE INCHES (NOT SURE) INSIDE THE REPLENISHER. SOME TIMES THE INDEX WOULD POP OFF THE END CAP. YOU HAD TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO IT, IF THE TUBE STARTED TO SLAM BACK INTO BATTERY, YOU WOULD ADD OIL, WHEN IT RETURNED TO BATTERY SLOWLY WE DRAINED OIL. IT GOT TO THE POINT DURING THESE MISSIONS, THAT WE DIDN'T CHECK THE INDEX, MADE ALL OUR ADJUSTMENTS WATCHING THE TUBE RETURN TO BATTERY.
DURING THE HEAVY DAYS OF THE BATTLE, RESUPPLY PRIORITY WENT FIRST TO AMMO, WHEN WATER RAN LOW, NO ONE WAS ALLOWED TO WASH UP, PRIORITY FOR THE WATER WAS ONE CANTEEN PER DAY AND THE REST WAS USED FOR SWABBING THE GUN TUBES. ONCE WE RAN LOW ON C-RATIONS, A SLICK FLEW IN AND A DOOR GUNNER KICKED OUT A PALLET THAT WAS "SUPPOSED" TO BE C-RATIONS. WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE PERSON IS THAT LOADED IT BUT THEY DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY LOADED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PALLET OF CORNED BEEF HASH. FIVE POUND CANS; EACH CAN OD IN COLOR, AND A TOTAL OF ABOUT 250 CANS IN THE PALLET. DO THE MATH, ITS 1250 POUNDS OF THAT CRAP. WE ATE CORNED BEEF HASH FOR SEVEN DAYS. ATE IT COLD, ATE IT HOT, ATE IT ON CRACKERS, ATE IT ON BREAD SOMETIMES ATE IT RIGHT OUT OF THE CAN. TO CHANGE THE TASTE WE MIXED IT WITH KETCHUP. THAT WAS IT, THREE TIMES A DAY FOR SEVEN DAYS. SINCE THEN AND TO THIS DAY I HAVE NOT EATEN ONE BITE OF IT. I CAN'T EVEN STAND THE LOOKS OF IT.
THE BATTLE OF DAK TO WAS SHORT AND VERY VIOLENT. JUST AS QUICK AS IT STARTED; IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS OVER. I THINK THE HEAVY FIGHTING WENT IN SPURTS. A TWO-DAY MISSION WITH CONTINUOUS FIRING AND MAYBE A BREAK FOR A DAY. AND THEN IT WOULD START UP ALL OVER AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT AZIMUTH. BRAVO BATTERY MEMBERS WERE AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR ACTION IN THE BATTLE OF DAK TO.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW HOW TO RETRIEVE OLD DOCUMENTS, IT'S GENERAL ORDER #38, DATED 20 JULY 1971. AWARDED FOUR YEARS AFTER THE BATTLE. I DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT THE AWARD TILL SOMETIME IN THE EIGHTIES.
AFTER ABOUT FOUR WEEKS, ACTION IN THIS AREA SLOWED DOWN. WE MOVED TO ANOTHER LZ OVER LOOKING THE SPECIAL FORCES CAMP AT BEN HET. TWO WEEKS WERE SPENT THERE WITH THE SAME HEAVY MISSION FIRING AS ON HAMBONE. THIS LZ (DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT) WAS ON A FINGER COMING OUT THE SIDE OF THE HILL. THE ENGINEERS WERE CLEARING A PASSAGE WAY FROM OUR POSITION TO THE TOP OF THE HILL. IN THE PROCESS THEY DISCOVERED AN UNDERGROUND BUNKER COMPLEX. THE AREA UNDER MY GUN PIT WAS AN NVA HOSPITAL. THIS COMPLEX WAS HUGE AND WELL EQUIPPED.
FROM THERE WE MOVED ON TO THE NEXT LZ. AGAIN, I CAN'T REMEMBER ITS NAME. WHAT I DO REMEMBER, IT WAS COLD. VERY, VERY COLD, USUALLY WE WERE FOGGED OR CLOUDED IN EVERY DAY. THE GROUND WAS COVERED WITH TREE STUMPS. DIGGING IN WAS DIFFICULT HERE. ONCE THE BUNKERS WERE BUILT, I HAD THE BRILLIANT IDEA TO INSTALL A FIREPLACE IN MINE. WE DUG A HOLE IN THE WALL, THEN TUNNELED UP TO THE SURFACE, KNOCKED OUT THE BOTTOM OF A POWDER CANISTER AND USED IT AS A CHIMNEY. FOR HEAT WE WOULD PLACE A CIGARETTE IN IT AND THROW IN A HANDFUL OF POWDER. THIS WORKED GREAT. SOMETIMES WE WOULD THROW IN TOO MUCH POWDER AND FLAMES WOULD SHOOT OUT THE TOP OF THE CANISTER.
 ON THIS LZ A LARGE BOMB CRATER WAS USED FOR TRASH AND POWDER BURNING (WHAT WE DIDN'T BURN IN THE FIREPLACE.) ONE DAY WE WERE EXPECTING A HOOK TO BRING OUT A WATER TRAILER AND SOME NEW TROOPS. RIGHT ON SCHEDULE SHE CAME IN, WATER TRAILER SLUNG AND IT HAD A PIGGYBACK. THE PILOT MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT HE HAD A PIGGYBACK. HE CAME IN TOO LOW AND THE PIGGYBACK LOAD CAUGHT ON THE HILLSIDE. IT IN TURN BROUGHT THE WATER TRAILER DOWN AND THEN THE HOOK, RIGHT INTO THE BOMB CRATER. IT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE LANDING GEAR UP THROUGH THE BOTTOM. THE BLADE BLAST SENT SMOLDERING CINDERS IN THE AIR INTO A PILE OF POWDER WAITING TO BE BURNT. EVERYONE THOUGHT THE HOOK WAS ON FIRE AND GETTING READY TO EXPLODE. EVERY ONE INSIDE SCRAMBLED THROUGH ANY OPENING TO GET OUT. NO ONE WAS INJURED, JUST A LITTLE SHOOK-UP.
OUR SUPPLY SERGEANT (SGT AAMOLD) WAS ON BOARD, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD SEEN HIM IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS. HE BROUGHT US OUT FIELD JACKETS AND SWEATERS. HIS NICKNAME WAS MONKEY MAN. WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED IN COUNTRY HE BOUGHT A LITTLE SPIDER MONKEY. HE ALWAYS CARRIED THE MONKEY INSIDE HIS SHIRT. THE MONKEY WOULD JUST STICK HIS HEAD OUT. WHENEVER SOMEONE WOULD POKE IT WITH THEIR FINGER, THE MONKEY WOULD PISS ON AAMOLD. SURE ENOUGH WHEN HE SCRAMBLED OUT OF THAT HOOK, THE MONKEYS HEAD WAS STICKING OUT. NATURALLY, THE FIRST THING WE ALL DID WAS POKE OUR FINGER IN THE MONKEY.
THE HOOK LAID ON OUR LZ OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING TWO SP5s CAME OUT AND INSPECTED IT. EVERYTHING MUST OF CHECKED OUT BECAUSE LATER THAT DAY THEY FIRED IT UP (THE TWO SP5s) AND WITH TWO GUN SHIPS FOR SECURITY THEY FLEW BACK TO DAK TO.
OUR NEXT LZ (AGAIN, CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME) WAS ON A RIDGE, IT WAS AN OLD POSITION THE FRENCH HAD BUILT AND WERE OVER RUN, DURING THE FIFTIES. THICK CONCRETE BUNKERS WERE THERE, AND ON A ROAD, WHICH RAN DOWN THE SIDE, YOU COULD SEE 10-15 SHOT UP AND BURNED OUT FRENCH TRUCKS, STILL IN CONVOY FORMATION. MY BUDDY WALKED DOWN AND GOT HIM A SOUVENIR (AND OLD FRENCH HELMET.) AFTER A WEEK OR SO HERE, IT WAS TIME TO MOVE AGAIN. FROM THERE WE WENT BACK TO LZ HAMBONE. YEP, IT BECAME OUR HOME ONCE AGAIN.
EAST AND I HOOKED THE BATTERY OUT OF THIS LZ AND SENT IT ON ITS WAY BACK TO HAMBONE. EAST AND ONE OTHER BATTERY MEMBER WAS TO CATCH THE LAST SORTIE OUT. IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING AND THE LZ WAS CLOUDED IN. THE SLICK CRASHED COMING INTO PICK THEM UP. THEY SPENT THE NIGHT IN ONE OF THE OLD FRENCH BUNKERS. HE TOLD ME THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SCARIEST TIMES IN HIS LIFE. IF CLOSE BY, THE NVA WOULD ALWAYS SEND SOMEONE ON TO THE LZ AFTER WE LEFT, AND PICK UP ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD USE. WHEN WE LEFT AN LZ WHAT WE COULDN'T BRING WITH US WAS SET ON FIRE. WE EVEN DUMPED SANDBAGS AND BURNT THEM. MANY TIMES AS SOON AS YOU WERE LAID AND READY TO FIRE, THE FIRST MISSION FROM YOUR NEW LZ WOULD BE FIRED UPON THE LZ YOU JUST DEPARTED.
THIS VISIT TO HAMBONE WASN'T AS BAD AS THE LAST. THE GROUND WAS STILL SOFT FROM OUR LAST VISIT. THIS MADE EVERYTHING MUCH EASIER TO BUILD. I THINK IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS WE HAD ALL THE BUNKERS AND GUN PITS BUILT. FOR A FEW DAYS VERY LITTLE ACTION TOOK PLACE. WE GOT RESTED, THE RED CROSS GIRLS FLEW OUT, BROUGHT US THE MAIL, AND JUST CHATTED. THEIR SPONSOR WAS A CHAPLIN. HE CAME DOWN TO MY BUNKER TO TALK WITH A FEW OF US.
THIS CHAPLIN WAS A TRIP, ALONG WITH HIS BIBLE; HE CARRIED AN M-16, A 45 CAL AND TWO GRENADES. THIS TIME ON HAMBONE, I BUILT MY BUNKER ON THE EDGE OF THE HILL. I HAD A SMALL AREA ON THE SIDE, WHICH WE CALLED THE PATIO. I FORMED FILLED SANDBAGS INTO A LOUNGE CHAIR. IT WAS NICE YOU COULD SIT THEIR AND LOOK OUT OVER THE VALLEY. AS WE SAT THERE DRINKING A WARM BLACK LABEL. WE COULD SEE A PUFF OF SMOKE FAR OFF IN THE DISTANCE. AT FIRST WE SAID, "SOMEONE MUST BE FIRING A REGISTRATION MISSION." IT TOOK JUST A SECOND BEFORE WE REALIZED WE WERE THE ONLY ARTILLERY UNIT THERE TO SHOOT A REGISTRATION THAT FAR OUT. WE DOVE INTO THE BUNKER, JUST AS A 122mm FLEW OVERHEAD. IT WASN'T FIVE FEET ABOVE US. IT LANDED HARMLESSLY BACK BEHIND US ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HAMBONE. I REMEMBER THIS CHAPLIN GETTING OFF THE GROUND SAYING "THAT'S ENOUGH OF THIS SHIT" AND IN NO TIME HE WAS ON A SLICK WITH THE RED CROSS GIRLS ON HIS WAY BACK TO DAK TO.
EVERYDAY AROUND 1700 HOURS A SLICK OR A HOOK WOULD FLY OUT TO DROP OFF THE EVENING MEAL, MAIL, OUR DAILY BEER RATION, (TWO CANS PER DAY PER INDIVIDUAL) AND OUR SUNDRY BOX. AND JUST LIKE CLOCKWORK, SOME LONE NVA OUT THERE WOULD FIRE ONE OR TWO B-40s. HE WASN'T AIMING AT US, BUT THE SLICK OR HOOK THAT WOULD COME IN EVERYDAY. HIS GOAL WAS TO HIT THE SLICK OR HOOK AND HAVE IT CRASH ON TOP OF US. FORTUNATELY THIS GUY NEVER DID HIT ONE. WE HAD A NAME FOR HIM "CHOW TIME CHARLIE" EVERYDAY WE'D FIRE COUNTER BATTERY WHERE WE THOUGHT HE WAS, CALLED IN AIR STRIKES AND EVEN SENT AN INFANTRY PLATOON OUT TO FIND HIM. HE NEVER WAS FOUND. BUT THE NEXT DAY, HERE HE'D COME AGAIN WITH HIS TWO ROUNDS. WE WANTED HIM TO COME IN AND HAVE A BEER WITH US. WHEN EVER I WOULD WATCH THE TELEVISION SHOW, MASH, WHERE A KOREAN PILOT WOULD FLY OVER THE HOSPITAL IN A SINGLE ENGINE (ENGINE ALWAYS SPIT AND SPUTTERING) BIPLANE AND DROP A BOMB OUT THE COCKPIT, MADE ME THINK OF CHOW TIME CHARLIE.
ONCE ON HAMBONE I WAS SLING LOADING A LOAD OF CARGO NETS BACK TO DAK TO. AS THE HOOK WAS LIFTING OFF, THE BLADE BLAST BLEW THE LIGHT LOAD BACK AND IT WRAPPED AROUND THE REAR WHEELS. HE LOWERED AND THE CREW CHIEF MOTIONED FOR ME TO REMOVE IT FROM THE WHEEL. I RAN OVER TO FREE IT AND IN THE PROCESS MY WEB GEAR ENTANGLED IN THE WEBBING. THE PILOT STARTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN WITH ME TRAPPED IN THE CARGO NETS AROUND THE REAR WHEEL. IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS FOR THE CREW CHIEF TO TELL HIM I WAS BELOW HOLDING ON FOR MY DEAR LIFE. BY THIS TIME HE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET IN THE AIR AND HEADED IN THE DIRECTION DAK TO. HE CIRCLED HAMBONE WITH ME HANGING BELOW AND EASED BACK DOWN ON OUR LANDING PAD. SOMEONE RAN DOWN AND CUT ME OUT WITH A KNIFE.
ANOTHER TIME AS A PILOT WAS LEAVING HAMBONE HE SPOTTED SOME NVA SETTING UP A MORTAR POSITION JUST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, HE CIRCLED AROUND AND DROPPED A SMOKE GRENADE WHERE HE SAW THEM. WE OPENED FIRE WITH EVERY THING WE HAD INTO AND AROUND THE PUFF OF SMOKE. M-16s, M-60S, M-79s, AND A FEW HE. WE SET OFF FUGAS AND CLAYMORES. MUST HAVE WORKED BECAUSE THAT NIGHT WE RECEIVED NO MORTAR ROUNDS. THE NEXT MORNING AN INFANTRY SQUAD MOVED DOWN TO RECOVER ANYTHING THEY COULD FIND. DON'T KNOW IF THE NVA GOT OUT OF THERE FAST, OR IF WE BLEW AWAY ANY REMAINS, BECAUSE NOT ONE ITEM WAS FOUND, NOT EVEN SMALL BODY PARTS.
 WE HAD SPENT THE LAST 6 MONTHS IN THAT AREA. THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS MEALS WERE SERVED TO US ON THOSE LZs. DURING THOSE TWO DAYS WE DIDN'T HAVE C-RATIONS (OR CORNED BEEF) BUT FULL FLEDGED, BONAFIDE HOLIDAY MEALS. TURKEY AND HAM WITH ALL THE SIDINGS THAT WENT WITH IT. I REMEMBER ICE CREAM (HAD TO DRINK IT, BUT IT WAS ICE CREAM.) WE WERE WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE PAPER PLATES DIDN'T ADD MUCH TO IT BUT WE OVERLOOKED THAT SMALL INFRACTION.
SOME DAYS WE WOULD GET BORED AND TRY AND PLAY SOME KIND OF GAME TO PASS THE TIME. MY GUN SECTION CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING A PHYSICAL CHALLENGE FOR THE NOON MEAL. THE CHALLENGE WAS TO DO AS MANY PUSH-UPS AS YOU COULD. WHICHEVER MEMBER DID THE MOST WOULD GET FIRST CHOICE AT PICKING WHICH C-RATION MEAL HE WANTED, SECOND PLACE GOT SECOND PICK AND SO ON. PFC LEROY KEMP (I MENTIONED HIS READING/WRITING ABILITY EARLIER IN PART TWO) WOULD ALWAYS WIN. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS HE COULDN'T READ THE CONTENTS ON THE BOX. WE USED TO ENJOY WATCHING HIM STARE AT THE BOX WITH A BLANK LOOK ON HIS FACE. HIS FAVORITE MENU WAS THE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP. WE ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT WAS WHAT HE GOT. WE WOULD LAUGH AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. NOT LAUGHING AT HIM, BUT LAUGHING WITH HIM. HE WAS A DAMN GOOD CREW MEMBER.
LEROY EAST AND ME (NOT THE SAME LEROY) KNEW WE WERE GETTING SHORT, JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO GOING HOME. DURING THE FIRST PART OF FEBRUARY WE WERE SITTING OUT EATING LUNCH AND WE HEARD OUR NAMES OVER THE FDC RADIO. A SLICK WAS ON THE WAY OUT TO GET US. WE HAD A PORT CALL SCHEDULED A FEW DAYS LATER, AND WITH IN MINUTES WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME. DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO EVERY ONE. ONE MINUTE WE WERE THERE AND THE NEXT WE WERE LOOKING AT HAMBONE FROM HIGH ABOVE IN A SLICK HEADED FOR PLEIKU. JUST THAT QUICK.
BUT OLD CHARLIE WOULDN'T LET US GO HOME IN PEACE. WE SPENT THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE NIGHTS BUNKERED DOWN ON THE PERIMETER OF ARTILLERY HILL. "TET" STARTED THAT NIGHT AND WE DODGED MORTARS AND ROCKETS FOR THE NEXT THREE NIGHTS. I REMEMBER ME AND LEROY BOTH SAYING AT THE SAME TIME "WISH WE WERE BACK ON HAMBONE" WE FINALLY CAUGHT OUR FREEDOM BIRD HOME.
LEROY AND I STAYED IN TOUCH ON A REGULAR BASIS. MAINLY BECAUSE WE WERE STATIONED CLOSE BY DURING TWO TOURS IN GERMANY. I WENT ON AND SPENT A TOUR ON DRILL SERGEANT DUTY AT FORT SILL, THEN ON TO HAWAII AND FINALLY TO FORT MC COY WI. WHERE LEROY AND I WERE ASSIGNED TO A READINESS GROUP. ME AT FORT MC COY, AND LEROY AT FORT SNELLING. WE BOTH MADE MASTER SERGEANT THERE.
AFTER FINDING AND SPENDING MUCH TIME READING ALL THE STORIES AND LOOKING AT THE DATES THE EVENTS TOOK PLACE. I SEE NOW HOW IT WAS A TAKE AND GIVE BACK WAR. BECAUSE THE SAME BATTLES, THE SAME FIRE SUPPORT BASES AND THE SAME LANDING ZONES WE SPENT OUR TOUR ON, ARE THE SAME ONES YOU SERVED ON. IT WAS A CONSTANT ROUND ROBIN WAR.
I HOPE I DIDN'T BORE YOU MUCH WITH MY MEMORIES OF BRAVO BATTERY.
ON 31 MAY 1983 I RETIRED AFTER 20 YEARS, FIVE MONTHS AND NINETEEN DAYS. SINCE DAY ONE OF MY RETIREMENT I HAVE BEEN A JROTC INSTRUCTOR HERE (IN MY HOMETOWN) ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST. JUST COMPLETED MY NINETEENTH YEAR TEACHING. I HAVE BEEN WEARING THIS UNIFORM FOR A TOTAL OF 38 YEARS.
IF I'M LUCKY, THE ENGLISH TEACHERS WON'T FIND THIS STORY, AND GRADE IT. MY SPELLING, AND GRAMMAR WILL NEVER PASS THE TEST. BUT YOU WERE THERE, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I WROTE ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU LIVED IT ALSO. |
