We were under the impression that the Americal had a fire base over run. Supposidly the only ones that got out were the ones who jumped on the last medivac. My impression was that the Battalion was sweeping to recapture this shithole.
Pape had been pushing us merciously to get there first. Battalion orders to stand down between 10 AM and 2PM (the hotest period of the day and I mean Deathly HOT. were ignored by Capt Pape. We pushed on causing several heat causualties. We finnally arrived on this hill with a perimeter of predug holes I thought this was the fire base that had been over run. There were no bodies or signs of a fight but we were exhausted and Pape decided to stay.
For some reason we had the mortar platoon with us. Now these guys had no humping experience. Especially under these hellacoius conditions. They were stopped at the bottom of the hill unable to hump their heavy shit up. I and several others were voluntiered to hump the tubes and gear for these poor (up until now) REMFs.
I made three trips down and up.At one point (I guess I was the last one up) I found myself alone and passedout on the trail. Not a good feeling. Anyway I made it up to my position sat exhausted on the edge of my hole two guys on either side. Randy Wright was one and maybe Easily I can't recall.
We heard the tubes (Like popin your thumb out of a wet beer bottle.) Two rounds landed directly in front of our position (maybe 5 ft) Wounding all four of the guys on my position. They were screaming "MEDIC" One came I don't recall his name but he was dead later on. Pape is on the horn calling for air support.
Jets scream down that valley obliterating everything in sight. We hear the tubes again Bloop Bloop This time we see the rounds go up and arch gently over. Then we lose sight of them . Boom Boom the next hole down takes a direct hit. MEDIC
Ours is still there workin on my boys. He jumps up, and runs to the next hole.
Papes back on the horn the jets scream down the valley below. Wiping out every living creature. Then we hear it again Bloop Bloop we see the rounds go up arch over gently (for lack of a better word) Now we all know somebodies gonna get it. Boom Boom MEDIC Now I'm just a stupid grunt but I'm startin to think maybe we oughtta be gettin the hell out of Dodge. Papes back on the horn. Medivac comes in we load it full of casualties.
Now heres where Papes Last Stand comes from if not for the choppers we would have been wiped out. As it is they just send out new meat for the grinder. I get a couple of cherrys on my position. as does the others I assume I"m not lookin out of my hole any more than necessary. Just watchin forward expecting a rush of gooks any minute. Now I'm not sure how long this goes on we all know time warps in combat. I think they walked mortars all the way around the perimeter.
You see the thing is in a fire fight if you don't get killed in the first furious minutes you can take cover from direct fire. From indirect fire you are fairly safe in a hole. But not Directed Indirect fire. I believe thats why Hayes and Michealson escaped that day. They were out of their holes helping medivac people. Thats why Pape didn't buy the farm until later when he jumped into his hole.
This shit went on long enough to where leadership was breakin down officers and NCO so terrorified they could not function.
We could hear the tubes see the rounds go up and we KNEW somebodie was gonna die they were that good they did not miss. Unless you been there you can't believe the feeling of helplessness there you are with your ass hanging out. No place to hide.
I'm wanting to go out and get these little bastards it is obvious airstrikes ain't cuttin it.
About this time they get around to my hole again..........
Wayne Hastings
B/1/501
1969