We had split the
platoon with Hoppy (Sgt Claude Hoppe) taking the
other 1/2 and the Skipper (Lt Dave Paterson) with
us.
We
heard what we thought were woodchoppers and
knowing it was a No Go Zone we figured they were
VC.
The
skipper formed us up with the gun on the high
side, him in the middle and me to the right of
him slightly forward (as I was the forward
scout) trying to make out what was ahead.
We
fired a couple of M 79 rounds and moved forward
and then all shit broke loose. I got hit by a RPG
(Rocket Propelled Grenade) and went down in a
screaming heap and everyone hit the deck.
The
Skipper rolled over to me and told me I was OK
and when I saw him next he was dead.
The
enemy we later found out was a reinforced
NVA company with a heavy weapon section including
a 12.7 mm MG (Machine Gun) dug in, in a reversed
U so I was in the middle of the killing ground
with the section gun firing over me for
protection as the NVA were attempting to get to
me (I heard this from Gus Munzer 'cause I was so
out of it I did not see them).
All
I remember after seeing the explosion and the
Skipper dead after he tried to reassure me was
rolling on to my left side (I was hit in the lung
and it was sucking ).
They
told me later we were out there for 6 hours
before the cav came in and picked me up to
lift me to the LZ (Landing Zone).
For
that whole time the guys covered me and the
Skipper with the gun and their own weapons and I
was also told our section commander tried to pull
me back but was taking fire from the 12.7 and
could not do it (brave lad) and that's about all
I remember apart from feeling really cold on the
chopper and waking up next to a NVA in the next
bed( but thats another story ).
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