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.
PFC Jack C/1/501: Vietnam 1968-'69
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