Nguyen Xuan Phuc “Robert the Fire”
and The Crazy Buffaloes
Lt Colonel Nguyen Van Phan
Nguyen Xuan Phuc was a graduate of Class 16 Dalat Military Academy. After the graduation he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Battalion. He reported himself to the 3rd Company of 1st Lieutenant Nguyen Nang Bao and was appointed as the executive officer of it. Thanks to his quick integration, his intelligence, his capacity to formulate innovate plans and his genius talent, Phuc harvested sympathy and respects from friends and superiors alike.
The 2nd Marine Battalion was coming to the rescue of Dam Doi district which had been lost the previous night. All companies, after having jumped out of helicopters, were contained. The enemy's firepower was immensely strong. Their two battalions U minh and Cuu Long organized ambushes and blocked routes by which reinforcements could arrive.
At Ca Mau airfield, Phuc and I were ordered to gather all our boys to be helilifted as the last company. Before arriving to the target, I saw a B57 aircraft from our helicopter, which had been shot down previously and was lying on the ground. Smoke covered the whole Dam Doi district. Phuc and I jumped out of the helicopter at 4:00 pm. It was bare terrain; there was no place to hide. The water in the rice fields was at knee level. Rice field borders were not elevated enough to shield us from bullets. The enemy was spraying rounds at our platoons.
We ordered our platoons to deploy in a transversal row across a rice field full of water. Phuc crawled to me and said, “Until now, not a single unit could reach the village border. Everybody is lying where he has been. Staying here in this place means waiting for death. At night, VC would push and we would be vanished.”
“How do you think? We would charge forward now, no matter what the result would be, to find a way of surviving in a death road,” I replied. Phuc was very calm and said, I will gather my soldiers to occupy the area with coconut trees on the right side, then I will support you with gunfire so that you can occupy the village border”. After that I change the firing direction; only in that way could we save our units”. If we hadn't, everyone would have died right there and then. I found that his judgement was very accurate. We agreed on his plan. Looking at his way of manoeuvre, I felt pity for that 2nd Lieutenant, executive officer of a Company, who would change the balance of this battle. A great number of his platoon fell, but he was still leading the forward charge and finally did occupy the coconut trees area and opened fire to form a barrage for me. Not needing to talk to me via radio, he immediately gave a sign so I could enter quickly. His image was marvellous.
My platoon ran forward in the water, continuously firing and shouting “charge, charge…” We didn't have time to care for anybody who died during the charge. Warrant officer Ho shouted, wriggling in sharp pains. Still, we had no time for him! Anger swirled in my head. Outrageous hatred plagued my mind. I grabbed a BAR machine gun (a middle sized machine gun) from a nearby soldier, accelerated forward, shouting and firing relentlessly, magazine after magazine without aiming precisely. I merely wanted explosions that would intimidate the enemy and lower their morale. The first seven of us reached the village border. After that, I watched as all the others charged forward like a raging storm.
VC never expected our unit to be so quick or to attack so thunderously. They didn't have time to retreat since Dam Doi river hindered their movement altogether. However, facing death, they still tried to cross it. Some attempted to swim while others rowed sampans or boats as quickly as possible. VC became fleshy targets which fell with plops in river water. The 2nd Marine Battalion killed two infamous VC battalions in MR IV (Military Region 4). Phuc and I gathered our troops and returned to the company to receive order for night defence.
Among the captured weapons were two 75mm recoilless rifles, which were the biggest guns in the VC arsenal and had used for the first time in South Vietnam. This was the most successful battle for the ARVN until the end of 1963. The whole nation listened intently to the news when they broadcast information about the victory. MR IV and Saigon trembled with excitement.
The following day, the 2nd Marine Battalion re-established the district. Dam Doi market was destroyed during the combat. Civilians, with haggard eyes, returned looking with broken-hearts at the place that had brought them up, which now needed to be rebuilt from scratch. Four days later, swollen and decomposed VC cadavers emerged and floated, covering nearly the entire surface of that segment of the river. Fetid odour lingered in the air and forced us to move to another place and camp there instead. In the days that followed, aircraft dropped daily newspapers that reported the battle for the whole Battalion to read.
Civilians and soldiers of Ca Mau province cheerfully greeted the 2nd Marine Battalion in the town stadium. Phuc and I were present there. That night we drank heavily at Lo Nhang. A tumultuous welcome awaited the 2nd Marine Battalion from Ca Mau to Saigon. In Can Tho, citizens crowded both sides of the streets to meet and greet us.
Thi Nghe district residents competitively rushed to the streets to wlcome the Battalion. Their shouts of joy reverberated throughout the whole area. They called marines by name, surely recognising their relatives or husbands or sons returning in the victory march. Thi Nghe was the place where the marine barracks had been positioned. That's why the welcoming was more emotional and vivacious. The presentation ceremony of the battalion with the President and the government was organised in Bach Dang quay. Praises to the unit and medals to individuals were successively delivered by higher authorities.
The talented Battalion Commander, the courageous and experienced Company Commanders and all participating soldiers with their Marine Corps' customary bravado had shaped this victory to which would not be forgotten. Phuc's contribution was certainly not small.
In the second offensive of Mau Than 1968, VC controlled nearly the entire Gia Dinh area, especially the Binh Loi bridge. Phuc was the executive officer of the 6th Marine Battalion at that time. Wit his intelligence and tactical skills, his units recovered Binh Loi bridge, and managed to block all VC retreating routes. Due to the quick action, the 1st Marine Battalion was able to clear all VC units at Cay Thi T-junction and Binh Hoa crossroad rapidly. Driven into a corner, one hundred VC surrendered to the 1st Marine Battalion. Although it was a tremendous success, Phuc received two bullets - one pierced through his chest and the other hit his neck - and shrapnel tore his face. Consequently, “Robert the Fire” had to leave the battlefields for six months.
Upon his release from Hospital, he was appointed as Commander of the Support, Amphibious Battalion. That position did not suit him but he still fulfilled his duties excellently. On more than one occasion, he confided in me at Ngoc Thuy swimming pool in Thu Duc:
“To deserve being a graduate of Class 16 of Dalat Military Academy, I cannot stay here any longer. I will request to be transferred to a fighting unit.”
His wish was granted. He became 2nd Marine Battalion Commander. This Battalion had a nick name, the Crazy Buffalo Battalion. VC suffered from great fear whenever they confronted it on battlefields. They always used to ask prisoners, if they had any, “Are you from Crazy Buffalos?”
In 1971, fighting in South Laos was erupting on a large scale. Marine Brigade 147 entered Laos, composing of:
- The 2nd Battalion of Phuc.
- The 7th Battalion of Major Nha.
- The 4th Battalion of Major Vo Kinh.
- The 2nd Marine Artillery Battalion of Major Dat.
Lieutenant Colonel Thang was the Brigade 147 Chief of Staff. Brigade 147 established a fire base south of National Route 9 and Tchepone. The 2nd Marine Battalion was responsible for the protection of the Brigade Headquarters and the Artillery Battalion. The 7th and the 4th Battalion deployed in preparation for Tchepone Target.
Enemy pressures intensified as time went on. Soon the infantry and armour units were disbanded. The 3rd Airborne Brigade of Colonel Tho, north of National Route 9, fought courageously and clung to their position. In that situation, Marine Brigade 147 was encircled from four directions, without logistics supplies or reinforcements. It had to care entirely for itself.
NVA attacked in wave after wave, day and night with all kinds of weapons. Their sappers were used effectively in order to raid the Brigade Headquarters. Brigade 147, under Phuc's protection, repelled many forays and killed and captured a great number of them inside the Brigade Headquarters' fence.
The 7th and 4th Battalion had no less encounters, fighting without rest. The enemy's tactics were, “artillery first, human waves followed”. Situations were approaching boiling point. The Brigade Headquarters attempted to gather units closer, but NVA always impeded it. My battalion, the 8th, positioned itself in Co Roc. The 3rd Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Bao was situated between my unit and the Brigade Headquarters. All units were dangerously encircled.
NVA pounded our positions with artillery rounds around the clock, trying to restrain our units from moving. They clung to our positions in “hugging tactics”, waiting in proximity of our water points. At night, flares illuminated the sky above that area. US aircraft supported to their maximum potential. Phuc still valorously defended his unit.
In the South Laos operation, there were no American advisers accompanying ARVN units. All air strikes were directed by a fire direction centre in Khe Sanh Base. B12 bombarded in carpets. Phuc protected the Brigade Headquarters solidly. Casualties of all units increased as time went on. This was the utmost concern of all commanders present in that operation. They tried their utmost best to evacuate all wounded in action, to prevent further deaths. Artillery sling nets were used but were still insufficient to bring back all wounded and all cadavers. After the 3rd Airborne Brigade of Colonel Tho had shot the last bullet available, NVA and their tanks overran his fire base.
To NVA, Marine Brigade 147 was the last thorn to be broken. They shelled intensely, creating a hell on earth for the brigade. On this side, the voice of Phuc giving orders was still loud, calm, slow and clear. He ordered his troops to fill all pierced places on the defensive line. Phuc articulately ordered Marine Artillery to lower gun barrels and shoot directly against NVA human assaults.
The situation was so critically urgent that we could only follow by listening to radio conversations, feeling anxious and staying put in great fear of them. My unit was not in a better conditions than others, except NVA were not sending human waves yet. That night it was totally dark. A sinister and ominous atmosphere governed the battlefield. I could not recall how many nights had passed during this operation in South Laos. Reports came through the radio system chaotically. The 7th and the 4th Marine Battalion lost radio contact altogether. Gun noises from both sides were persistent. Flares illuminated the night sky and explosions of rockets and artillery were unremitting.
The entire area of obscure mountains and jungle shook violently. Flames flashed in the sky. It was impossible to distinguish which noises were from the enemy. On both sides, units fought viciously. Phuc tried to radio the 7th and the 4th Battalion constantly. All of a sudden, Dat radioed hurriedly and reported that NVA tanks had come very close to defensive positions. Maintaining his warm, low and calm voice, Phuc ordered Artillery to lower their gun barrels and fire at point-blank range. These shots stopped each consecutive wave of advancing tanks.
Dat reported, after two waves of tanks, that human waves had recommenced. Suddenly, Phuc shouted in his radio, ordering everybody to try and hold on, not letting them overrun and told Dat, “You don't need to wait for my order. Do it yourself with all available rounds.” But Phuc still tried to call the 7th and the 4th Battalions to come to the rescue, although inside he knew that they had been heavily pushed.
Colonel Thong, the Brigade Commander, and the Lieutenant Colonel Chief of Staff were trying to call US aircrafts, requesting them to drop flares and to support his firebase by blanketing surrounding area with air strikes. They spoke in English very articulately and with extraordinary composure. Phuc also reported the situation succinctly and asked for maximum support available.
This was the historical moment of Phuc's life. Dat reported urgently that tanks and human waves had overrun all artillery companies and all contacts had been lost. Phuc replied, “Use the last gun and fire until every round is empty!” Phuc then lost contact with Dat altogether.
NVA infantrymen overran the Brigade Headquarters position. Nocturnal close combat started. Fortunately Phuc had forecast this situation and had told every marine to ply (roll up) up his right sleeve very high and to have the left sleeve dropped down. He summoned all companies to rush back to the rescue of Brigade 147, the 2nd Battalion and Artillery Battalion Headquarters. I did not witness the close combat myself, but his troops reported over radios regularly.
Flames soared high in the sky, revealing a large area of mountains and jungle. Aircrafts could be heard all around us, flying persistently in the darkness. The battle was so brutal and bloody. NVA infantrymen and tanks were overrunning the Brigade Headquarters. Suddenly I heard his voice over the radio, speaking in English, requesting direct bombing right on top of his position. He repeated this request, two or three more times.
Then, unexpectedly, he shouted into the radio, “I am Crazy Buffalo Battalion Commander!” One or two minutes later, he urgently spoke in both languages, Vietnamese and English, “Fuck. I'm ground Commander. Go ahead. Do it please!” Since then, the 3rd Marine Battalion and I tried to follow up events at the Brigade, but there was only a complete silence over the radio system, a fearful silence. We tried to call Phuc, the 7th and the 4th Battalions, but all radios were silent. The firebase was left open.
Time passed so slow until 4:00 am when my RTO (Radio Telephone Operator) reported that Phuc's voice was heard over the radio system. I quickly grabbed the handset and listened to him. His voice was so weak and slow, probably due to exhaustion. He had been able to make radio contact with the 7th and the 4th Marine Battalions he said. I told him, “I will shoot flares in the sky. Just follow them and then you will meet the 3rd and the 8th Battalions.” Clearly he still had a lucid mind, demonstrating his intelligence in contacting the 3rd Battalion and my unit to shoot flares to give him direction. Flares started illuminating the sky. After a very soft “thank you”, he shut off his radio.
The next morning, Marines at the 1st outpost of the 3rd Battalion reported that Phuc and Colonel Thong, the Brigade Commander, and the Brigade Headquarters had been approaching. A moment later, Dat and the 7th and the 4th Marine Battalions turned up. They tried to continue walking more kilometres towards a landing zone.
The 3rd Battalion protected that helipad. Helicopters landed and picked up those beloved sons of South Vietnam and transferred them to Khe Sanh base for much needed rest and recuperation.
Phuc! You have accomplished all that could be done in such a dangerous and tragic situation. I am thinking about you and about all the marines of your battalion who had been killed, lonely, here and there in old and cold battlefields in South Laos. Being a friend of yours, I respectfully bow to you.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Phan
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