"Search and Destroy"
Operations in Hoc Mon, 1966
Major Tran Ve
Early in the year of 1966, the 4th Marine Battalion was stationed at the border of the Capital as ready reinforcements.
One day, 2nd Lieutenant Huynh Ngoc Lien, the Commander of Company 3, ordered all platoons to prepare to go. Only half an hour later, we were ready to mount our trucks.
The 2nd Lieutenant Lien who had returned from a briefing with the Battalion Headquarters told us that Battalion 4 had received order to perform a Search and Destroy operation in Hoc Mon, west of Saigon. According to intelligence sources, the enemy had one battalion which had infiltrated into this area, to make propaganda and support the VC guerrillas hiding in civilian houses close to a bank of the Saigon River. The 2nd Lieutenant Ho Quang Lich ordered all platoons to mount the trucks.
At the departure line, 2nd Lieutenant Lien let us know about the order of advance as follows: Company 1 of 1st Lieutenant Vo Kinh, Company 2 on a flank, the Battalion Headquarters, Company 3, and Company 4.
Hoc Mon was a difficult terrain with many canals, thinly populated. Locals grew sugar canes for sugar production. After every some tens of steps we had to jump across a canal with water level about our waist height. We walked in sugar canes fields for about 45 minutes; then we suddenly heard guns sounds from the front. The 1st Lieutenant Lien informed us that Company 1 had encountered the enemy. Platoon 1 of 2nd Lieutenant Duong Van Ngo detected the VC after rows of water coconuts and fired at them.
Ngo was a man of powerful build, originated from class 3 Dong De military school, Nha Trang province.
Hearing Platoon 1 of Ngo had been encountering the enemy, I came close to the Company radio to follow up. After having killed three VC and seized three AK47s, Platoon 1 of Ngo pursued. After fifty metres, the platoon met a thick row of water coconut trees from where the enemy fired back.
From the back, I heard many guns sounds. Company 1 reported to the Battalion Headquarters that although it had used firepower to a maximum, it still could not advance further because the terrain was very difficult. There were numerous deep canals. Marines were fording and at the same time firing. The enemy clung to rows of water coconut trees and fired back very violently. Platoon 2 of 2nd Lieutenant Doan Vinh Son reinforced Platoon 1. However, it also could not move any further.
The Battalion gave fire support with 81mm mortars and ordered Company 1 to charge. Shouts of "charge" mixed with gun sounds could be heard. The 1st Lieutenant Vo Kinh reported. Platoon 1 had advanced 50m more and in some parts, Marines had reached the water coconut trees now. Three Marines were wounded and one was killed. The VC had five killed. Company 4 seized three firearms, including one middle machine gun. However, other VC still held their ground. Company 3 was ordered to advance and overtook the Battalion headquarters to help Company 1. Company 4 replaced Company 3 to protect the rear.
We did not advance on ground but had to ford across canals. The water level was at our chests. Guns sounds of both sides were still clattering at the front.
After an hour, Company 1 charged and forced the VC to retreat to a river bank. Marines killed twelve more VC, seized eight AK47s and a machine gun. Three more Marines were wounded. Our Company 3 arrived at about 100m from Company 1. We medevacuated, collected enemy weapons so that Company 1 could concentrate on attacking. The Battalion Headquarters ordered Company 1 to charge again. This time I heard shouts of "charge" and guns sounds. Company 1 was storming forwards, continuously spraying the enemy with bullets. Company 3 followed and the Battalion headquarters also moved. The voice of 1st Lieutenant Kinh in the radio reported: "We had pushed them to the river. A number of VC fled by sampans, probably their commanders - they left behind twenty-five bodies and numerous weapons." Suddenly, I heard 1st Lieutenant Kinh shouted: Ngo was killed!
I was fording. Hearing that Ngo had been killed, I asked my Company Commander a permission to let my platoon advance forward. Although the distance was only about 150m, we had to cross many canals and reached Company 1 ten minutes later. First Lieutenant Kinh told me that at the final charge, 2nd Lieutenant Ngo and a squad had stormed the last position of the enemy, killed five VC. Another number of VC fled. A bullet pierced through Ngo's chest, and Ngo fell down immediately. I ran toward his body which had been lying in a prone position; his hand still holding his carbine rifle with foldable butt. I bent down and turned his body upward. His eyes were wide-open, staring. That showed that he had used all his strength in the final assault to direct his boys. I put my head on his chest. His blood, still warm, soaked my whole shirt. My tears ran down. I wept for the fallen friend, the friend who had shared with me so many happy and sad souvenirs of the battling days.
When the Battalion returned to Saigon, I came to Miss Mai, Ngo's girlfriend house. I gave her his green beret and his blood-tinged uniform shirt. She received them and burst into tears. Her head dropped on my shoulder. She sobbed in waves but could not utter a single word. I slightly clapped on her shaking shoulders and said:
- Miss Mai, Ngo had sacrificed in glory - he deserved to be a man of the generation!
Miss Mai chokingly wept and informed me that she had been pregnant for 3 months. She had been waiting for his return to tell him this happy news. Unfortunately, he passed away too soon to see the face of his child. Duong Van Ngo was a father who never knew that he had a child!
Major Tran Ve
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