DAWN IN THE DELTA

We had a Battalion formation and held a memorial service for those who lost their lives on the last operation. An awards ceremony followed the service. A lot of men received Purple Hearts, others the Bronze or Silver Star. Jennings was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for his alertness up at the mountain. He definitely saved some people from getting hurt. A lot of us were finally given the CIB (Combat Infantry Badge). We're supposed to be awarded it for 30 consecutive days in combat with an armed enemy. We'd been there three months already. Better late than never. I'd heard of WWII and Korean War vets who deserved them but were never awarded until years later because of some mix up.

As the ceremonies broke up, we were given the remainder of the day to get ourselves ready for the next operation.

"Here we go again, back to the boonies," said Johnson. "What happened to the week off we were supposed to get?"

"A week over here is shorter than in the States," said Mantley. "It's only longer over here when you start counting the days you have left."

"How many days do you have left over here Mantley?" asked Johnson.

"Hell Johnson, I've got so many days left I'd like maybe to share some with you."

"I ain't needin' any more days than I got already. I got plenty."

"Hey Sarge, you got any notion as to where we're headed next?" asked Johnson.

"Yea Johnson, looks like we're going south this time. Down to the Mekong Delta."

"How far south?" asked Jennings.

"Around My Tho, probably," I told him.

"Isn't that supposed to be the 9th Infantry Division's area?" asked Sgt. Sawyer.

"Yea, that's why we're going down there. They need our support on an operation they're conducting. Seems like maybe we might be there a couple to three weeks."

"Man, it's wet and muddy shit down there. You'd better take some extra dry socks," said Figaroah.

"I'm going to a company briefing on the operation in a few minutes. I'll catch up to you guys a little later and let you in on what's happening."

"Okay Sarge, see you later," said Sgt. Sawyer.

After I finished the briefing at the mess tent, I was taken aside by the first sergeant. It was then that I received some disturbing news.

"It looks like you're going to lose Lt. Thomas," he said.

"What do you mean? We just got him not too long ago."

"The CO wants him to take the XO position. He needs the lieutenant's help getting things done back here in the rear area. He's the ranking platoon leader and he's got a good head on his shoulders. You'll have to do without a platoon leader again until we get someone in. Don't worry, I know you can handle it."

"Yea, I can handle it okay for now. But I'd like the first one that comes in new."

"Right, you got him. No problem," he said.

"Thanks for letting me know Top."

"See you later Shaf."

"Yea, see you."

I briefed the men in my platoon and explained the new changes occurring.

"Ah well Sarge, what the hell? We don't need no lieutenant anyway," said Collins.

"We got you to take care of us. That's all we need," said Mantley.

"Well thanks for the vote of confidence. We'll get by with no problem," I said. "By the way, we're moving out to the airfield at 0430 hours. I want everyone ready to go 15 minutes before."

"Damn Sarge, that don't give us much time for sleep, waking up that early," Mantley said.

"Not really. You guys hit the sack early tonight and no hangovers in the morning."

"Who? Not us Sarge. We don't drink the night before a mission," said Collins.

"Yea, sure," I said. "Just make sure you guys stay sober and keep your word."

"Right Sarge, no problem," said Mantley.

"See you men in the morning."

This night was a very short one. We were all up at 0330. At 0415 we started checking out our equipment. Arrival at the airfield was on time. The choppers were supposed to pick us up at 0500. They were late. We all laid out on the airfield grass taking a catnap. O-five-thirty came and went - still no choppers.

"You don't suppose they got the wrong day, do you Sarge?" asked Sgt. Sawyer.

"Who the hell knows? Maybe they expect us to walk to My Tho."

"Yea man, we're infantry aren't we? Maybe they want us to hoof it," said Collins.

Finally we heard the choppers coming. They were arriving just as the sun was coming up over the horizon.

"Maybe these guys can't drive in the dark," kidded Figaroah.

"Yea, chopper jockeys can't fly in the dark," said Collins.

"Okay," I said. "Knock it off. They probably just forgot to set their alarm."

We finally lifted off toward My Tho. The flight lasted about 30 minutes. We circled over Cu Chi for about 10 minutes. I guess they wanted to assemble every chopper together before we left.

Our landing was predetermined at a secured LZ just south of My Tho. The 9th Infantry Division was already on the ground operating in this area. So it was pretty much secure.

Our mission was to search and clear a small village located in the middle of some flat broken terrain, comprised mostly of rice paddies and surrounding jungle. The village of Ben Tre was located about 250 meters from our LZ. It was located between two tributaries of the Mekong River. The intelligence we had on the place was that it was friendly. Our job was to go in and clear it and make sure that it was friendly. Once we cleared the village, we were to end up consolidating at a clearing on the other side. As we approached the eastern fringe of the village, some kids came up and tried to sell us cokes. I told my men never to buy anything from them, or to encourage them.

"Look at these kids, man, half-starved themselves and they're out here trying to sell cokes," said Johnson.

"Hard to say what might be in them bottles," said Figaroah.

"Yea, look at it. Looks more like piss than coke," said Mantley.

"All right you guys, keep it moving. Just spread out and keep your eyes open. You're going to have to be real careful and alert in there."

The 2nd Platoon had already gone into the village and finished clearing out to the other side. We were to go in and meet them after we cleared our half of the village. The 1st and 3rd Platoons were at our right and left flanks, respectively. The CO was with the 1st Platoon. The 3rd Platoon was being delayed because of the rice paddies.

"Mantley, see if you can reach three-6 on the radio. I need to talk to him."

"Okay Sarge, wait one. Ah, three-6, this is four-5 alpha, over."

"This is three-6, go ahead, over."

"Got him Sarge," said Mantley.

"Thanks. Ah, three-6, this is four-5. I've lost your flank men on our left side, over."

"Four-5, this is three-6. We're getting bogged down here in these rice fields, over."

"Right three-6, I understand; how long before you clear, over?"

"Four-5, this is three-6, give me about 10 minutes more, over."

"Three-6, this is four-5, roger, out."

Just as I handed Mantley the radio handset, automatic weapons fire erupted on our left side. The 3rd Platoon had made contact with Charlie. They returned the fire and all hell broke loose.

"Sounds like the 3rd Platoon has found Charlie," I said.

Just then I heard three-6 on the radio with the CO. He said he had made contact and it was concentrated to the front of his position. He couldn't tell at that time the strength of the resistance. He also said that from the initial contact he had two men on the point wounded. The CO instructed three-6 to try and dislodge the resistance as best he could. He told the CO that he thought he could handle it without any help. He'd let him know if he needed any assistance.

"You wanna buy coke, GI?" asked this Vietnamese kid. "Twenty piasters."

"I don't believe this shit, man," said Cunningham. "Here I am trying to avoid running into shit with Charles and this here kid is trying to sell me something! I don't believe this. Dieti Mau! Dieti Mau! Scram, beat it!"

Everyone was down on their bellies crawling for cover and this kid was trying to sell something.

"Talk about free enterprise. These people really believe it," said Sawyer.

"Yea, they learn young and fast over here," said Johnson.

"Get that damn kid away from us Cunningham."

"I'm trying to Sarge, but he won't listen. What do you want me to do, shoot him?"

"Hell with him, man. If he gets shot, so what?" said Mantley.

"No, that's not okay. Put him over by that hut there."

"Hell, I'm not risking my ass gettin' shot for no kid. Dieti mau, you little shit. Scram boozle."

The kid started running just as Cunningham tried to approach him.

"Good," Cunningham said. "Get the hell away from here. Your lucky I didn't get a hold of you, you little bastard!"

"Fig, you take Johnson and Collins with you and see if you can make contact with 3rd Platoon's flank. If they holler for help, I want to know where they are."

"Right Sarge. Collins, Johnson, follow me. Let's go."

The three men got up and moved out across the village into the jungle. I wanted to get a description of what we were up against in case they needed our assistance. I didn't want to go over there blind. I tried to get in touch with the CO, but there was still a lot of traffic on the radio between him and three-6. I wanted him to know our situation. I didn't like the idea of being here in the heart of the village like this. Possible sitting ducks, in case we were fired on. Finally, I got hold of him and he had me move the men out of the village, up with the 2nd Platoon. The 2nd Platoon was sent in to relieve the pressure on the 3rd Platoon's front - trying to cut Charlie off in case he decided to break contact.

Just as we started to move Fig came back to make his report.

"We couldn't make out anything through that jungle in there Sarge," said Fig. "We went in there about 75 meters and couldn't see or hear anything, so we came back. If you ask me I think they might have moved up."

"Okay Fig, it's just as good anyway. We're moving up toward 2nd Platoon. How about you guys bringing up the rear?"

"Fine Sarge, no problem. We'll bring up the rear."

As we moved closer the firing had become intermittent. It wasn't like before. They finally had helicopter gun-ships come in to dislodge Charlie. They let loose their rockets and machine guns onto the target.

"I hope they do some good. We sure as hell can't see anything," I said.

In a matter of 30 minutes it was all over. The 2nd Platoon picked up four dead VC in the jungle canopy and found eight or 10 blood trails. Some of the wounded were carried off into the jungle. The 3rd Platoon killed two VC in a bunker. Lucking out, we had only two men shot in the initial contact. One was pretty serious. We had both men dusted off after the choppers finished with Charlie. We had to carry them out of the jungle to a clearing outside the village and secure an LZ there.

After Battalion headquarters was notified as to what had happened, we were told to stand down for the rest of the day. It was early in the afternoon, so we took the time to break for chow.

After chow I told the men to start their foxholes for the night.

"Dig them deep. I want overhead cover too," I told them.

"We get any deeper we'll be knockin' on China's door," said Cunningham.

"Yea, when they answer how about asking them to take back some of their shit," said Johnson.

"What shit?" asked Cunningham.

"Their friggen AK-47's, their grenades, Claymores and just about anything else that Charlie uses," Sawyer said.

"Yea, and don't forget to hand them back their friggen RPG's they've been using lately," added Johnson.

"You mean China's the one responsible for all the dead and wounded?" asked Cunningham.

"In a round-about way," said Sgt. Sawyer. "So are the Russians, the French, the Japs, the Czechs, and even us. We all supply Charlie with the weapons he uses," explained Sawyer.

"Hey Fisher, you wanna trade those ham 'n eggs for my ham 'n limas?" asked Johnson.

"Anytime you say Johnson. I hate this shit."

"Oh, I loves dem ham 'n eggs. Just pour a little tabasco sauce, a little salt and pepper. Man, you can't beat 'em."

"Glad you can eat this stuff. I can't see myself just throwin' them away," said Fisher.

"I don't want you guys throwing anything away. I want you to bury it, and bury it deep. I don't want Charlie finding your garbage."

"Sarge, we got the patrol out tonight?" asked Collins.

"I haven't been notified of that yet. But it's possible."

"I just sent Sgt. Sawyer over to the CP to get the info for tonight's security. I'll let you know when he gets back."

It wasn't long before Sgt. Sawyer came back from his meeting.

"Hey you guys, guess what?"

"What now?" asked Johnson.

"The 1st Platoon found two VC alive and kicking in one of the tunnels," Sawyer said.

"Where'd they find them at?" I asked.

"Over on the northeast side of the village, hidin' underground. Heard they got a G-2 intelligence officer coming in to pick them up," he said. "By the way, we also have the patrol out tonight."

"Yea, I figured we would; it's our turn," I said.

"You want me to take it out tonight, Sarge?"

"No Sgt. Sawyer, I'd better go along. I don't like the situation we're in here. Anything can happen and if it does, I want to be there."

"Well, I was just thinking that since you're our platoon leader I should be taking it out."

"Maybe next time. They found two VC out in some tunnels; they might have more out there waiting for a patrol to ambush. Did you get any information from the CO where they want us out there tonight?"

"They picked out these coordinates on the map. Here, I wrote them down for you."

"Thanks, Sawyer. What's the password for tonight?"

"CASTLE - SWORDFISH. Unique, ain't it?"

"Yea, they're getting better at it. Okay, pick seven men for this gig, no more than that," I told him.

"Right Sarge, will do."

"We'll have our patrol meeting just before evening chow."

"You want me along for the ride?" he asked.

"Sure, if you want to. It's up to you. Simmons can handle things back here, so it's okay with me."

I went over to the CP to pick up some extra flashlights. When I arrived at the supply vehicle, I noticed a large group of men standing around by the truck.

"What's going on?" I asked someone.

"The ARVN adviser is beating the hell out of the VC prisoners."

I looked around behind the supply truck where a circle had formed. Some ARVN sergeant was beating the prisoners with a large rubber hose. He was beating them on the backs of their heads. I intervened.

"What the hell are you trying to do, kill these men?"

"Don't interrupt Sarge," someone said. "They don't like us interfering in their business."

"Screw him!" I yelled. "They're not his prisoners to mistreat, they're our prisoners! The CO know what he's doing out here?"

"I don't know Sarge. I don't think he does," someone said.

"Stop! Don't do this!" I said. "Stop it!"

I moved toward the sergeant to get him to stop beating them. He pushed me aside as I came in between them.

"One of you men go and get the CO out here," I ordered. "I want him to see this."

Just as I caught my balance, I adjusted my weight back toward the ARVN sergeant. Then in one motion I pulled back the operating slide on my rifle and loaded a round in the chamber. I pointed my weapon at the sergeant and ordered him to drop the friggen hose. He looked at me with a blank stare on his face. He must have thought I was some lunatic or something. Anyway, the CO finally appeared.

"Just what in hell is going on here anyway?"

After I explained what was happening he had the prisoners sent off to a secure area. He said that if anyone needed beating, he would take care of it himself, not some ass sergeant. The ARVN protested that I drew my weapon on him, and the CO told him he was lucky he hadn't been shot. He told everyone to break it up and forget it.

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Purple Heart