May's
Helping Hands
May 1969
Bob Magruder
Company B, 2/12th Cavalry
On May 6, 1969 we received the news that our stay on Grant was going to be cut short. Our company will be on loan to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Calvary located at Landing Zone Carolyn, north of Tay Ninh near the Cambodian border. The LZ was built on an old Green Beret base camp at Prek Klock and had been over run many times. The X-Cache Trail, a major NVA infiltration route ran through it toward Saigon. Shortly after midnight, B-40 and 107mm rockets slammed into their perimeter. A large size enemy force began a ground attack of heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire. The massive force of NVA regulars smashed their way inside the perimeter and occupied six bunkers. Along with a fierce counter attack of grunts of Company C and direct fire of a battery of 155mm howitzers of the 30th artillery, the enemy was forced back. The LZ was back under control of the Americans. Cobra helicopters sprayed rockets and minigun fire as the enemy retreated. Our company will make a combat assault to LZ Carolyn to give the 8th Cavalry support and help secure the AO. The assault will begin as soon as we are fully supplied and combat ready.
As our Huey's approached LZ Carolyn, all we could see were fallen NVA bodies spread around the perimeter. The choppers had a hard time landing because of the mass of human devastation. We jumped out and began our movement toward the inner perimeter of the base. Everywhere we stepped, we had to avoid bullet filled bodies or bodies torn apart from direct hits of artillery rounds Body parts were also hanging in the concertina wire. As we walked inside the base, it was continuation of the horror scene outside the perimeter. There were piles of NVA bodies stacked up in many areas. Unfortunately, American KIA's lay in several piles also. The reality of war was shown on all of the faces of the soldiers on LZ Carolyn that were giving a helping hand to clean up this massive destruction of human carnage.
We were given orders soon to regroup at the main gate and prepare to move out. Cleanup and rebuilding the LZ was not our mission. A search and clear mission in the AO surrounding Carolyn was on our agenda. We were to seek out the enemy and set up ambushes to help keep the base safe from attack, while Carolyn is rebuilt.
Our company soon moved into the wood line to check out the immediate area around the base. It wasn't long before we were finding sapped enemy bodies. There were many bodies and blood trails in the close vicinity of the base. When a dead gook was found, a First Calvary patch was left with the body to let the NVA know that we were responsible. One of my squad members ripped off my patch and jammed it into a body of one of the gooks. This didn't set well with me, although I didn't give him an argument, but I think he could see disapproval in my eyes. We moved on with extreme caution clearing the AO. We knew with all the fresh trails and the massive overnight attack on Carolyn, the enemy had to be close. As we approached an open field of high elephant grass, we spotted some movement, but it was too late, the NVA opened up with small arms fire. We returned fire and called in an artillery mission. After the field was pounded, we began moving through the grass in single file with a little distance between each grunt. The high and sparse elephant grass gave the enemy an easy hiding place and gave us great difficulty in seeking him out.
The fear and suspense with each movement as we advanced through the field was very stressful. All of us expected an ambush at anytime. As each grunt completed his journey crossing the field, relief was heartfelt. A perimeter was set up immediately with patrols and observation posts sent out. The remainder of the company was digging in for the night. I dropped my mortar rounds and helped dig a mortar pit. The gun crew assembled the 81mm mortar and readied it for operation.
My self and two grunts were assigned to guard the trail we had humped in on. As the sun was setting, we observed the artillery fire mission pounding the field again. One of the grunts on guard with me seemed to be really frightened. He had just been assigned to our company and had been in-country a short time. This was his first contact with the enemy. He began telling us about how much he wanted to get out of the bush and the Army. He confessed that he was only 14 years old when he joined the Army and 15 now. His father signed his enlisted papers indicating he was 17 years of age. He was about six feet one inches tall and I could understand how he passed for seventeen. My advice to him was to inform his platoon leader and he would get the truth of his age to higher command and he would probably be on his way home. If he was injured in anyway, it would be an embarrassment to the Army.
At sunrise the campsite was busy with everyone preparing to move out. We ate some C-rations and with caution moved along the trail to an AO to set an ambush. We knew Charlie lie waiting and we wanted to ambush him before we were ambushed. After humping a few klicks, we came to an area in which we thought would be a good ambush site. The site had good cover and open fields to spot Charlie on the move. A perimeter was set up and the men dug in and prepared for a counter attack in case of a failed ambush. The mortar platoon also dug a pit and was operational. My squad set up behind a fallen tree facing an open field.
Most of day we tried to relax and hoped the enemy wouldn't enter into our ambush. I reread some letters from my wife, ate some C-rations and tried to prepare my self mentally for contact as we waited. It finally happened! One of our squad members spotted a patrol of gooks moving in the field in front of our position. The elephant grass was short and we could see the little devils real well. As we waited for the right time to set our trap, the CO came to our position. He was new in country and hadn’t been in a fire fight before. He got all excited and wanted know why we were waiting to make contact. Before we could explain, he started firing. The ambush was ruined and very few of the enemy was killed and fortunately, none of us were wounded. This CO had a lot to learn about combat in the bush. A fire mission was called in to insure that the NVA didn't make a counter assault as we prepared to move out and locate a night defensive position.
We continued to hump each day, dig in and set up ambushes for about three or four more days. We took some sporadic small arms fire periodically, but no full assault. After our mission around LZ Carolyn, our company was transferred back to our unit, the 2nd Bn., 12th Cavalry for reassignment. We were sent to LZ White about nine miles from Grant. The base had been abandoned after it was over run in March by the NVA. We were to rebuild it and than turn it over to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).
We choppered into LZ White in the early afternoon. The base was covered with dust and totally destroyed. All of the bunkers along the perimeter had to be rebuilt as well as the inner bunkers and command post. Each squad was assigned a bunker to rebuild. We had to practically tear each bunker apart before we could rebuild it. The mortar platoon set up operations in what remained of the mortar pit and began its' reconstruction. We worked most of the day filling sand bags to help fortify the bunkers. Before night fall, we created a smaller perimeter that would help to improve defending the camp at night. Trip flares and claymores were spread around the perimeter.
It was around midnight that we could see the sky over Grant illuminated. We could hear the sounds of a battle raging in the distance. Fire Base Grant was under attack as well as other bases in the area. We were ordered on red alert. We made an extra effort to stay real quiet, hoping the NVA wasn't aware that we occupied White.
Within a few hours, we began taking incoming rockets and mortar rounds. The mortar platoon returned fire, but only in irregular intervals to save ammo. The commander at Grant had informed us earlier that not to expect much support while they were in contact. The NVA continued with incoming rounds sporadically to about four in the morning. A ground attack never developed because we think White wasn't scheduled to be attacked this night and the enemy didn't have enough man power for an assault.
Morning soon came and it wasn't long that we were busy in the rebuilding process. Helicopters began arriving with supplies and equipment needed to operate the base. A unit of engineers was sent in to help repair the strands of concertina wire and refortify the berms around the perimeter. With this completed, we positioned trip flares and claymores throughout the concertina wire. An artillery battery and support units will be arriving in a few days. White will be an active fire support base within a week.
We continued to rebuild White during our perimeter guard. We filled boo coo sand bags and served on many details. The good news about our stay was no humping, hot meals, mail call, and no lifer's around to harass anyone and we received no mortar attacks from the enemy. My wife sent home made candy and my mother-in-law oat meal cookies in which my squad members helped me to devour. I had time to finish reading the book, "The Child Buyer". I was also had the opportunity to listen to the radio broadcast of the NBA championship game between the Boston Celtics and the L.A. Lakers. Boston won 106 to 104!
I also receive a letter from my friend Chuck Hespell from AIT. He had to drop out of NCO school because he injured his knee. The Army wanted to recycle him, but he decided to go on and serve his time in the Nam. He has orders to Vietnam and will be leaving on June 12th.
The ARVN battalion arrived today to take over the base. They assembled at the main gate in one large group in which made them an easy target. They were assigned to bunkers around the perimeter. As we were preparing to leave, a squad of ARVN's began to settle in and take over our bunker. They were very friendly and could speak some broken English. Unfortunately a little too friendly and began to grab everything they could get their hands on. We gave them some C-rations we were discarding and quickly gathered our rucksacks and web gear. I had my picture taken with one of them and than saddled up and joined my squad.
Our company humped out of White in 122 degrees heat. We were on a mission to check out a B-52 bomb strike in the surrounding AO of LZ White. Kit Carson scouts were attached to our company. They were former Viet Cong who act as guides and interpreters for U.S. military units. They were very helpful because they knew the enemy's tricks and habits. We traveled about two klicks and set up our defensive position for the night. This night as we dug in and set up camp, we made poncho tents to prepare for shelter from the rain. The monsoons rains had begun and it rained about 6:00 p.m. every day. If your clothing was wet when you went to bed, you would be very cold and get little sleep. Wrapping yourself in your poncho liner helped your clothing to dry out. Although the inevitable night watch interrupted this drying process. Getting enough sleep during the monsoons was a real problem. The good side of the monsoons was an opportunity to take a shower and clean the stench off of your body.
As we moved through the bush the next few days, we took more breaks because of the heat. Doc was reminding everyone to take their heat tabs. During one break I sighted some unusual insects. A perfectly formed green leaf about a quarter of an inch in length slowly crawled away. A miniature white daisy with perfect formed pedals crawled on my hand. I also was able to take a picture a beautiful Monarch butterfly that landed on my canteen. Although the jungle has its' hazards, it does have its wonders. Unfortunately, in the areas where the herbicide Agent Orange was sprayed, the presence of birds; animals; insects and other life was non existent.
On another break, a snake slithered past my leg as I was resting on the trail. As I passed the word down to warn my squad members, our new captain heard me. He yelled back and wanted me to help him catch it. I emphatically said no because I didn't want any part of a snake. He than jumped up on a rock and began demonstrating how he hunted snakes in Mississippi. Everyone couldn't believe his foolish antics. He was a former minister who believed in the cause of the Vietnam War and he joined the Army to show his support. He also began asking me questions about the mortar platoon. He asked me how the weight of carrying three mortar rounds affected my movement in the bush. I explained that it was tough at first and your body adjusts to the weight, but it always will ware you out. He decided to carry one mortar round to see how the extra weight affected his humping for the day.
Today, we cleared an area for the log bird to land. We were receiving a hot meal along with supplies. The brigade commander forced our unit commander to begin hot meals in the bush at least once a week again. The bad news was that the log bird wasn't coming as often and we were going be heavy with carrying about 4 boxes of C-rations and 9 quarts of water. Some soldiers chose not to carry as much water and hoped to fill their canteens from some streams along the way. They would take their chances on dropping an Iodine tablet in the water hoping this will be enough to purify it. I received a letter from my wife and all she talked about was our R&R to Hawaii and how her Hula Fun was growing. After logging, we humped a few more klicks before setting up a camp site. The heat was still unbearable, but we knew we would get cooled down some when the rains came for the day. It wasn't long after our night defensive position was secured and everyone was prepared for the night that the CO passed down a new directive. No one in the mortar platoon will have to carry more than two mortar rounds. It seems the mortar round he carried today busted his ass.
Movement through the bush was slow and wet the next day. We ran into a B-52 bomb that the NVA hung from a tree as booby trap on the trail. We quickly altered our course and carefully moved around the bomb. Everyone was a little tense, but no one really felt we were in harms way. We also found a spider hole not far from this location. We dropped a few frags into it and moved on.
As we moved down the trail, the pop, pop, pop of AK-47 gun fire loomed ahead. Our point platoon hit contact. The machine gun crew moved up and opened fire. The remaining platoon members set their M-16's on rock-n-roll. A grenadier launched some M-79 rounds into the area. A fire mission from White was called in for support. The remaining men along the trail got themselves in defensive positions. We didn't want to be ambushed from any other direction. As ARTY continued to pound the area, we pulled back to take care of the wounded. Perry, one of my good friends was hit, as well as DeBolt his assistant gunner. Doc quickly came to their aid and dressed their wounds. Their wounds that were inflicted didn't seem to be serious, but you never take any chances. We continued to pull back, firing sporadically into the wood line. We quickly cleared and secured a PZ for a medevac to land. I watched with anxiety as Perry and Debolt were choppered to safety. We saddled up and moved out once again as it began raining. We humped another one or two klicks and set up our night defensive position.
When I was awaked for night watch the rain had begun to fall again. This made sounds on watch a new experience. The pelting, dripping and splashing on the trees and ground made listening for Charlie very difficult. My clothes and boots were soaked. Droplets of water ran off my helmet, down my face and neck. After watch, I crawled into my shelter wet and cold.
The next morning, we disembarked our camp site and continued our mission in this AO. The trail was wet and the footing was sometimes treacherous, but we pushed forward. We were tense, but very alert! We knew Charlie was in the area and we didn't want to walk into another ambush. I spotted another jungle wonder along the trail. A gigantic spider had spun a web between two trees about fifty feet in the air. You could see the remains of some critter caught in the web.
We were on a break just inside the wood line, when we spotted movement across a clearing. Word was passed back to lay chilly. A gook carrying a bicycle tire was strolling down the trail. Our CO decided to have him zapped and brought up a sharpshooter. He took one shot and killed the gook in his tracks. At the time, I didn't understand why we didn't try to take him prisoner, but you never know how many more of his comrades were close by. After checking out his possessions, we found a wallet with pictures of his family and him in an NVA uniform. Evidently, he had been on an R&R or sent to get supplies and was headed back to his unit. It is sad in some ways that his family will never know his fate. War is Hell!
The next day we received orders to be lifted into Firebase Grant. We moved into an open area consisting of low growing elephant grass, bushes and small scattered trees, secured the area for a PZ and prepared for an airlift to Grant. The first two lift offs had been completed and the slicks were returning for the remainder of my company. Smoke was popped and the slicks were guided into position to land. As the last of the slicks landed, it was evident that there were not enough slicks for all of out troops. Two squads from my platoon were to be left behind. Our platoon leader had us to circle into a defensive position and lay chilly until the slicks returned. Being last out during a company airlift was one of most dangerous situations you could be confronted with in the Nam. If Charles was about we would be in deep shit! After what seemed to be a long and intense 20 minutes of waiting, the slicks arrived and we were off without any confrontations.
Our stay at Grant will only be for three days. We are going to be airlifted to LZ White to pull guard again. It seems that the ARVN battalion was going to pull some time in the bush. While at Grant, we were able to bathe at the water point and get some clean fatigues. We received some mail and relaxed for a few days. I also had the opportunity to chopper into Tay Ninh and order a dozen yellow roses for our second wedding anniversary. I also visited finance and added a $40 allotment for my wife's pay and started taking out U.S. savings bonds. While in Tay Ninh the mess tent I received hot meals from was hit by a rocket during the night resulting in one casualty.
When we walked into Firebase White, we couldn't believe the shambles the base was left in by the South Vietnamese soldiers. The bunkers were used as latrines and they had the smell of a sewer. Rats were all over the firebase. The trip flares were not set and the C-4 in the claymores was used for cooking purposes. It looked like that we were there to rebuild White once again.
Although we had to rebuild the base, our stay was a time of relaxation and learning experience for my self. I was taught how to assemble the 81mm mortar, set the sight unit and hit my target right on the nose. We were up three times a night firing a test mission around the base. It was to help us to be prepared for a possible attack. Unfortunately, one morning, we were reprimanded by our platoon leader for improperly setting the distance on the sighting unit. It seems that two mortar rounds hit about twenty feet in front of one of our bunkers. No one was injured and that was a sigh of relief. I really don't think it happened during my watch, because my settings were always checked by a soldier on my watch with me.
I received a letter from my wife informing me she had received the dozen yellow roses I had sent her for our anniversary on the 27th of May. She was surprised and happy upon their delivery. I was put in for Specialist 4. It will take a few months to get the paperwork completed, but the pay is supposed to start immediately. I finished reading the book, "Colour Schemes", a World War II mystery and began reading a paperback of short stories by John Updike. A group of us played cards one night and I won $25 dollars. The other guys weren't too happy when I left to pull guard duty. We have been on White for over a week and our easy life was abruptly ended. We were informed today that we were leaving tomorrow on a four day combined operation with Charlie and Alpha Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry and a tank company from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.