In The Spotlight

Colonel Kasik was our C.O. from about late August, 1967 until about Tet or a little after, 1968. Our casualty (KIA and WIA) rate was extremely low during that time frame, even though we had been in a lot of action. I asked Colonel Kasik about that, and to give us an update on what he did after he left Vietnam. Here is his reply, in his own words:

Bravo Company probably saw as much or more action as other companies but the low casualty rate I'd have to attribute to the men of the company who always moved quietly, smartly, and carefully when we were on patrol or going into action. My recollection is that we had 1 KIA and 11 WIA while I was with B Company. The KIA took place several days before the battle on 17 October. We had been sent back in to recon a VC position after Delta Company had taken numerous casualties and was ordered back to the NDP. He was the point man, part of 2d Platoon, and was shot through the chest at point blank range by a VC machine gunner in a bunker. Lt. Fortenberry and Sgt. Koch crawled forward to get him out of there but he died before the dust-off arrived.

I stayed in the Army for almost 25 years. I never returned to Viet Nam but had several tours in Korea and at Fort Bragg with Special Forces. I retired in the Washington D.C. area after serving on the Army Staff and the JCS Staff. I work for a Consulting and Information Technology firm and am the Director of Operations for one of the business units.

If you would like to contact Jim Kasik, his email address is: Jim_Kasik@sra.com.

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