Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 41 years ago

Thank you !

Well, I'm gobsmacked. I somehow missed this thread the entire time. I deeply regret that I wasn't on that hunt with you guys, just to toast a little, cry a little, and love a lot.

I came to 'Nam a year after Hill 474, but my first FAC assignment was out of LZ English with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Binh Dinh Province. I had my own duels with the NVA there. And have a story about a Black man on point on a similar ridge that I cannot tell without choking up.

As they used to say at the end of each "Dragnet" show, there are many stories in the big city; this has been one of them.

Thanks Rocky we would have enjoyed your company as well... a sit down with you is still on my bucket list before Mr.G. Reaper comes calling..

Jim's info here.. Bad guys 22nd NVA regiment...Good guys... 101st Airborne Div..,Co B and C..3rd Battalion 503rd Infantry 173 rd Airborne Brigade. We weren't supposed to be there that night but as fate would have it we managed to duke it out for while until bingo ammo and fuel.. We had a full 7.62 load out that night and went through all 30,000 rds which lightened us up considerably on the return trip.

474 with the An Lao valley in the distance you most likely know the area well.

screen shot download

That valley was an NVA stronghold in '71. Or was still one, I should say. At the time, there was a ROK brigade stationed nearby 173rd. The Koreans were known to be the toughest, meanest, cruelest mofos on two legs. Comanches were nuns in comparison. We started the rumor that the ROKs were to be allowed a "Koreans-only, no ROE" search and destroy up the length of that valley. Overnight, the NVA absolutely disappeared. Rumors are sometimes the best weapons.

Yes Sir the ROK troops weren't to be messed with..Phu Cat had a detachment for perimeter defense that always managed to nail most of the 122 rocket crews before they got away.

AT LZ English, the NVA would send a sapper in at night. He'd creep in through the wire until he found a Claymore, which he would turn around and set it up facing our lines. Then he'd creep off a ways and rattle the wires. When our sentries fired the Claymore, they'd get blasted with it. NVA must have thought it was cute. The 173rd asked the ROKs if they could help, thinking that maybe they'd send a guy or two down there to catch the bad guy.

Nope. A ROK lieutenant showed up with a starlight scope. He watched, smiling, as an NVA sapper tediously wormed his way in. Until he reached for the Claymore. At which point, the ROK Lt reached for the clapper, and...

Next morning, they found two hands. Nothing else. The ROK Lt hung those hands on the outermost razor wire, and that kind of intrusion stopped.

Could not have said it better myself!

Two fine and deserving gentlemen, both of whom I've had the pleasure to meet.

Many more toasts to come!


Rocky said it best.." cry a little, love a lot..."

Hold those glasses high and salute these great men

A glass held high (tonight) to both of you................to your health !!

MM

HEAR HEAR!

Catching the bump on this post for the first time.

Thanks for recanting the tale and my deepest gratitude for your service to America.

Cheers and good health, fellas.

Still the single best post ever on the fire....

Thank you and all who served. I appreciate the sacrifice you gave to attempt to keep the lamp of freedom lit.

I sure miss Jim posting here. Hope he's doing well.

As do I, he's had some health issues the last few years but is doing better now...Jim's too onery to let anything bother him much !

Toast !

To survivors and those who were left behind. This is a great story. Heros all.

kwg

Thanks, Godspeed and high toasts!

Much, much thanks to the both of you.

-Ken

This thread has been a major reason for me to wander back on this site.