C Co May 1969 Operation Lamar Plain (part 2)

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by PFC Jack

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M ay 21st was a very long day, really hot, sitting behind that stone wall staring over the top of that wall looking at the enemies position with very little water, listening to the cherries complain on how hot it was, (not being able to eat) as it would only expose you to the enemy.

Each and every man knew the day wasn't going to get any better.

It was kind of like the OK Corral, a fight was going to take place before the day ended. The waiting and the hoping and praying for rear support, (gun ships, artillery, air strikes) was on everyones mind. Knowing it wasn't going to happen, this was going to be a one on one fight with lots of blood being shed and a lot was going to be ours. We couldn't see the gooks but we new they were there just waiting for us. They had lead us into the trap they had been setting for us since the 15th of May and the show down was about to happen. I'm guessing it was around 1500 hrs when the Company called a briefing. Being a squad leader I was called to be there. We were told that B Company was in deep shit and pinned down. We were going to have to go though the gooks and meet up with them. B Company was straight in front of us on the other side of the gooks. At this point the squad leaders were instructed to draw straws to see who would go over the wall first. As luck would have it I picked the short straw. I was briefed on what was expected of me and my squad. I went back to brief my man on what was expect of us and our mission. My instructions were, my squad would go over the wall first while the rest of the company laid down a base of fire. I knew deep down this was a suicide mission that was asked of us, I also knew there was no turning back the decision had been made. One of my first comments to my men was if they believed in God they had better start praying hard.

We dropped our packs, loaded up with ammo, no water, just fighting gear, we said our prays, told each other we would see them on the other side. Just before getting the command to go over the wall I instructed my man once they went over the wall , to not stop just keep running. It was plan to see if you stopped or lay down before getting to the other side of low land you would be cut to ribbons.

The command was given and my squad went over the wall. All hell broke lose. Bullets and explosions were all around us.

I don't know how I heard the command and I believe it was from Capt. Gibson (everyone charge) "...over the wall." I was on a dead run, my only thought was to get to the other side of the low ground. There was one long legged member of my squad that was out running me when all of a sudden he started going to the ground I was coming up fast behind him, I reached out as I was going by an dragged him to the other side of the low land and dropped him behind a stone wall. The fighting was getting intense and gooks were popping up everywhere. It became apparent that we couldn't get t rough to B Company. We had wounded everywhere, guys were running out of ammo. The fighting continued on for a couple hours. We started regrouping. It was getting dark and guys were spread out over a big area, (dead, wounded, etc). The walking were so exhausted they could hardly move. They gave more. We worked to retrieve our wounded and dead, working though the darkening hours. Out of no where it was either D Company or B Company that showed up to help us to gather our wounded and dead and packs that had been a banded earlier in the day. They were a welcome site.

We gathered this night in a small area to lick our wounds and to rehash this day.

We kicked some ass and had our asses kicked.

This story will be told over in over again from different view points and when we all meet at the big reunion in the sky we will still rehash this great battle.

It is an honor to haved served with you in battle. For some the battle goes on, for some the battle is over.