Ted
When we were moving to our area of operation for the 10th it
was a hot clear day and we had the wolf hounds [I believe] with us. The
area we moved into was away from any populated villages but not too far
and I seem to remember a small ARVN compound. The area was like an island
of thick heavy bamboo and wooded area with everything all around it
cleared for 50 yards or more. It makes me think of what was referred to
as the "Hobo Woods".
We had a lot of
ground troops and we were to move in with about six or so APCs and tanks
on a line and another six or so angled in on our left flank to put the
wooded area in a squeeze and force anything out the other side to be hit
by another group. That didn't work at all.
As we moved in
real slow, I thought the grunts were going to sort of lead the way and we
would follow but they just stayed between our APCs and even behind them.
When we nosed into the wooded area they nailed us with everything
imaginable!!!!!!!! and then some. It was amazing.
We pulled back to
a safe distance and called in the bombers to loosen them up. I have some
film of them swooping in two plans one would drop napalm and the other
big bombs [500 lb.??] I don't know. We watched the for about an hour
swinging over our head and working the area to soften it up. It looked
like when one dropped his napalm the flames scorched the bottom of his
plane.
As we moved back
in as we had before I was sure we would be able to clear these bastards
out!!!! as we nosed in they hit us harder than the first time!!!!!!!!! I
guess we just pissed them off.
We pulled back
again and let the planes do their thing again. I believe your APC was two
tracks to my right. I don't remember what other APCs and tracks were
there or in what order.
We went back in a
third time and they nailed us again!!!!!!!!! that's when your APC got hit
and when we pulled back this time Devor and your APC was left at the edge
of the wooded area and we couldn't go back because it was getting dark. I
don't remember if the grunts had any guys hit or not.
The next day we
went back by ourselves without ground troops and the enemy had evaporated
into their tunnel complexes.
It was unbelievable
the bunker fortifications that were in that wooded area. They were built
with thick bamboo and some kind of mud stacked up to about three feet
with weapon windows like you would see in world war 2 films!!!!!!!! The
bombers had left some good holes but nothing to destroy those bunkers
that covered the entire perimeter of the wooded area. I think Bob Wolford
has some photos of the area.
We went through
the area and it was pretty much cleared up. I sat on the ground at one
point and thought " who are these people?? not the under supplied
little gooks that we were after!!!!!!!!!!!!" I sure knew now that
things were not as I thought. we were fighting on their terms.