The Battle of Barbara
Captain Doan Van Tinh
We had just passed Base Nancy on our way to Fire Base Babara. This base was located in the Truong Son mountain range, which ran in a North to South direction. Through the seemingly imprenetrable mix of mountains and forests about 8 km to the west, we could see a large mountain emerging. Its top had been cleared of vegetation, revealing red volcanic soil, which had been flattened by bulldozer to establish Fire Base Barbara. It was the centre of fire supports for all operations being performed west of My Chanh. By April of 1972, most of artillery units would have left this base. A small contingent stayed back, while the more important contingents moved to the plains to form another Fire Base, next to Base Nancy where Marine Brigade 369 headquarters had been.
The important strategic road from Nancy to Barbara was protected by the 2nd and 9th Marine Battalions. High points on both sides of the road were occupied by either squads or Platoons or Companies. Platoons and Companies frequently organised "Search" operations along this 10 km which was also controlled by security teams belonging to Battalions headquarters. The limit of areas of responsibility between 2 Battalions was Hill 108. 9th Battalion was in charge of areas from Nancy to Hill 108, and 2nd Battalion from Hill 108 to Barbara.
* On 26-4-1972
We were summoned to a briefing at 9th Battalion headquarters, on a hill 1 km south of Fire Base Babara. Major Nguyen Kim De, the commander of the 9th Battalion briefed about the situation in Fire Bases A1, A2, C1, C2 Fuller, Carol, Sartre, Ba Ho bases. As we found out, under the strong pressure of NVA, the 3rd Infantry Division was forced to slowly withdraw to the South. Marine Brigade 147 positioned at Mai Loc, had also been under heavy pressure and had been shelled day and night. The situation was tenuous. The Marine Division then decided to establish a defensive line on the southern bank of the My Chanh river. Hence Battalion 2 left Barbara to overlook the new defensive line. With the repositioning of 2nd Battalion, the enemy pressure in the West became heavier on Battalion 9. The latter rearranged its deployment as follows:
- The Battalion headquarters moved to a high mountain behind with Company 1
- The other 3 Companies moved to new positions.
Only Company 3 stayed in place to combat and block the enemy.
Company 2 moved 500 m east of Company 3.
Company 4 moved to the left side of the road, near the Battalion headquarters.
In summary, all 3 Companies moved back. Company 3 redeployed on hill tops where the Battalion headquarters and companies 3 and 4 had been previously. Company 3, had the mission to block NVA infiltration and their activities in My Chanh and National route 1.
The battalion commander called me: "Tan An! (my radio code name). Send the under officer on duty here to receive more grenades, Claymore mines, M72 and others. You should set as many grenades and Claymore as possible around your positions. You have a difficult position. I will let other companies be positioned nearby to support you - don't worry."
We said goodbye to the Battalion Commander, the Executive Officer and shook hands with each other. Then I returned to my position to summon the executive officer of Company and platoon leaders for a briefing.
My company defensive line was composed of all the surrounding hillocks, hills and mountains in the area. Platoon 1 was led by 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Van Sang. He was from Hue city, jovial and sang very well. The two of us used to entertain the unit whenever we returned to our rear base.
He was the only Marine of the 4 platoon leaders who still remained in the Company since the day the Battalion had been formed. All the soldiers in his platoon were confident of their leader. His platoon was excellent in all fighting, even in raids, or movements. It used to receive the hardest missions given by the Company. This time, Platoon 1 was positioned on a hill, west of the Company headquarters and was separated from it by a saddle area about 100 m. That hill was the highest of all other hills in the Company area of responsibility. From there one could see Base Barbara and Hill 108. 1st Lieutenant Do Duc Hoa, the Executive Officer, stayed with this Platoon. It was a solid outpost, used to observe, fight and defend for the Company. This Platoon 1 was reinforced by a heavy weapon squad of Platoon 4. The Company headquarters was in the east, 100 m from platoon 1, with platoon 3 of 2nd Lieutenant Ho Viet Lam. Lam was from Tuy Hoa, nice, reserved but always smiling. He performed all duties carefully. He was laborious and trustworthy. Lam's platoon defended the north slope, as the north and the west were the main routes of NVA advances. The heaviest responsibility was on platoon 2 of 2nd Lieutenant Bach Van Sang. He was in Long An. He had been in the Company since 1971. He was agile, keen to learn from others, close to subordinates and sympathetic. Half of his Platoon joined platoon 3, on a summit line in Direction north and north east. There was a squad of his platoon on this north and north-east area. It was a very important outpost, because if it would be lost, the north and north-east flanks would be in under heavy pressure.
Platoon 4 was led by 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Van Sang and defended the eastern flank, about 500m away. He had been in the company for about half of a year. He had light skin and was handsome.
The north-east side was protected by company 2 of Captain Le Thang, on tops of mountains in a South-North direction.
Company 4 of Captain Nguyen Minh Tri, defended the road, about 1 km in the back.
Company 1 protected the Battalion Headquarters.
At this moment, we understood with certainty that this was a life and death defense in an unretreatable fight, even if we were to withstand NVA heavy artillery shelling or to face human waves of NVA Regiment 9 and 24. This was the defensive line aimed at supporting other Marine units to have enough time to establish a crucial defensive line at My Chanh river. All officers and under-officers were instructed in great detail. Platoons set up mines and grenades thickly in many places, 150m from the defensive line. The Company Headquarters rebuilt bunkers, trenches, foxholes and re-enforced them. In my whole life as a soldier, I thought this was the 1st time we had ever organised such a tight defensive line. Mines and grenades were everywhere. Bunkers, foxholes at defensive line were all setup with switch buttons of Claymore mines, M72 LAW rockets and many other heavy weapons.
Shortly after the re-enforcement, Battalion headquarters supplied everything available. The rest would depend on our fighting morale: A resolution to fight and a readiness to die, for everybody at all levels, for squad and for the whole battalion. The organisation of the defensive line accomplished in the afternoon 26-4-1972.
From the hill top of Platoon 1, looking south, on the other side of the road leading to Barbara, about 500 m away, I also saw a big, high hill where an unit of Battalion 2 positioned. This was probably the closest friendly unit.
Before the evening of 26/4, Captain Pham Cang, the executive officer of the Battalion, radioed us. I reported to him the condition of the defensive line, the need of some extra equipment and the movements of NVA. Looking down a low area in the North, about 1 km away from us, throngs of NVA Division 304 were moving from the west to the east, in large numbers.
The news was immediately reported to the Battalion headquarters. Airstrikes from A37, F105, Naval artillery and Marine artillery started attacking NVA. A night passed, although not totally quiet, there were no great worries. Sentries were changed every hour. It was not a calm situation, so we had changed the schedule of sentry by shortening the time so that sentinels would always be alert, and so that the enemy could not analyse the habits of sentinels.
* 4:00am 27-4-1972
Platoons reported to the Company headquarters that the night was "still". 1st Corporal Huong was going to radio the Battalion Headquarters to report when some flashes appeared in the north west direction. Then windtearing sounds of big Artillery rounds followed. When those rounds landed, NVA shouts of "charge" reverberated the whole area and destroyed the calm of the mountains and jungles. NVA attacked Platoon 1 of the Company. This was the vital defense spot of the unit. NVA thought with their one overwhelming numeric strength, they would easily swallow us. Hence they did not use their traditional tactic of "Shelling first, charges to follow". Instead they just deployed in rows and simultaneously charged at the defensive line of platoon 1, upwards the slope.
- Duc Hoa, 1, 2, 3, 4 ! This is Tam Duong, listen to me
- Hear you.hear you.hear you. Duc Hoa hear you, Authority.
Their answers were short but very confident. I felt reassured and smiled
- Duc Hoa! How do you find it?
- Be reassured, even if a whole NVA battalion attack, it's nothing.
- Watch closely! Try to avoid losses, because we need to defend and fight for several days.
- Hear you clear, Authority.
On the east side of platoons 2 and 3, it was still quiet, although artillery rounds and small arms fire had fallen in great numbers on defensive line. There were no losses yet.
- Sa Giang! This is Tam Duong
- Hear you, Authority. A RTO answered.
- Is Sa Giang there?
- He is fighting at the defensive line.
- Be careful!
- Yes Sir!
- Tam Duong! This is Sa Giang
- Hear you
- Authority! NVA just bring their bodies here to be killed. Binh was wounded.
A bullet pierced a forearm.
- Is medevac necessary?
- Not yet, he is still fighting.
My heart suddenly felt warm, when I thought of the brave soldiers. Their fighting for the freedom of their nation was marvellous, full of confidence. On the battlefield, there was no anxious thinking about life and death. This combat by itself had a noble cause: to fight to protect the nation, and not accept communism. I also knew that with this way of attacking, NVA just transformed themselves into sitting ducks.
By 6:0am, guns fire had ceased completely. The enemy attacks simultaneously stopped when the sun rised.
- Tam Duong! This is Duc Hoa
- Hear you, Duc Hoa.
- I am organising support for searching
- Be careful of our grenades and mines, and of NVA survivors hiding somewhere
- OK! No worries!
The attitude of Duc Hoa during the fighting, was like the ease at which he would down a beer. Always jovial, brave and decisive. He was of class 25 Thu Duc military school, in 4/1970. He had transferred from the 1st Marine battalion to this Battalion 9 at the same time with me. He was talented, experienced in battle and always had firm decisions. He started serving in the 9th Battalion when fighting boiled up and became violent in South Vietnam. He helped the 9th Battalion to gain many victories such as in Tonle Bassac river in Kampuchea; Dong Cu Mong, south west Hue; Balong river, or in Gio Linh near DMZ.
- Da Lat! This is Tan An
- Dalat is hearing you.
- Great eagle! We seized 30 weapons of all kinds, and we counted 40 NVA bodies, the closest were 30 m from our defensive line. Other positions are safe.
- Congratulations. I will supply some more of what you need. And a bottle of wine for yourself.
- Thank You, Da Lat!
Another day passed. It was the end of Spring and the start of Summer, the weather was nice. On positions we still kept close watch, rotated rests, restored bunkers, trenches and foxholes.
* On 28-4-1972
The battalion headquarters let know that the situation was becoming more urgent and boiling. NVA attacks with overwhelming manpower and weapons increased quickly. The 3rd Infantry Division and Marine Brigade 147 retreated southward.
5:00am 28.4, NVA attacked platoon 1 more intensely, with all kinds of weapons (AK, B 40, B41, mortars, recoilles rifles...) pouring bullets and rounds on it. But this outpost still defiantly repelled NVA back. The latter retreated leaving many wounded behind. We could not do anything else to rescue the moaning, wounded N.V.A on the battlefield.
Another day passed. We looked at the low area in the north. NVA were still moving from West to East, and from North to South. It was clear that NVA were trying to bring more infantrymen and weapons to occupy Quang Trò
All day long A37, F4 alternately bombed that low area. Then 105mm, 155mm, 175mm artillery pounded it. And B52 carpet bombed on mountains and forests west of the segment of the national route 1 from Quang Tri to My Chanh.
The 2nd Battalion had been violently, assaulted by NVA. Regiment 24 of NVA Division 304 tried to annihilate the 2nd Battalion. NVA Regiment 9 pushed on the 9th Marine Battalion. The enemy aimed at pushing these two Battalions toward National Route 1 and to occupy high points on Truong Son range to have easy observation and support.
The Marine Brigade 369 Headquarters was still at Nancy, 1 km from My Chanh river, and on the left side of National Route 1 (from South to North). The Battalion 9 headquarters would supply us the next day. Now the segment of the road, between us and the Battalion headquarters, was no longer safe. From the sky above Barbara, bombs, rockets, artillery rounds, bullets of both sides fell down on mountains and forests day and night. C130, A37, C47, F5 aircrafts gave airstrikes. B52 bombed. Specter gunship sprayed 105mm rounds on suspected enemy positions. NVA artillery and 122 mm rockets, in lesser quantity, pounded on our positions.
* 4:30am 29.4.1972
NVA pushed on all positions of the company with more infantry men. They used megaphone and called us:
"Company 3 of the 9rd Marine Battalion! You would better surrender. Go to North Vietnam, you would be showered with privileges".
- 1, 2, 3, 4. Duc Hoa! This is Tam Duong.
- Hear you! All of them respectively answered me
- Be calm on defensive line. Try to mute those NVA and their mad shoutings.
That raid did not last long. After about 1 hour, the quietness of mountains and forests had returned. Trees were smouldering, and the air was thick with the smell of gun powder. There were scattered trees burning over the slope.
At noon, 2nd lieutenant Bach van Sang called.
- Tam Duong! This is Sam Giang
- Hear you.
- Reporting to Authority, NVA started pushing toward Sergeant Con's outpost. And before me, twigs and leaves are moving.
- Hear you clear. Be ready
Then I radioed Platoons 1, 3, 4.
- 1, 3, 4, ready your boys.
The intensity of fightings increased. We still tried to set up Claymore mines, and grenades in a thick network in front of our defensive line. But it was difficult to set them further in the front because NVA always applied "hugging tactic" and so limited my Company activities.
Not waiting for them to start, Platoon 1 on advantageous high point, fired Machine guns, M16, M79 from right to left. Platoons 2 and 3 were still waiting NVA to appear. Five minutes after Platoon 1 had started firing, the NVA could not approach. They used megaphones, and shouts of charge reverberated in mountains.
It was unbelievable that VC dared to attack a Marine unit in the day time. But it did happen. And that was the beginning of he human wave attacks.
I was leaning my XM16 on a tree trunk to have a rest, when a foremost group of NVA stood up and darted toward us. I roared:
- Fire, everybody fires! Claymore mines, grenades, M79, Machine guns, M72, M16. simultaneously covered the battlefield. NVA fell down. Then silence. Exactly 3 minutes later "shouts of charge" through megaphones sounded again. Fleshy targets moved towards us. After many waves, the shouts of charge had no more strength. NVA rhythm of raids continued until 1:30pm when quietness was returned backed to mountains.
The battle lasted 3 continuous days with great NVA casualties. My Company had 30 wounded, but luckily none killed in action. Our position was unmatched in safety even in this ferocious battlefield. It was due to the fact that our positions had been on higher ground and due to our tight mutual supports.
At 5:30pm, Duc Hoa and I went to Platoon 1 positions to make an observation. In the north there was still sign of NVA movements. Looking at Company 2 positions, there was no signs of fighting. The 2nd Battalion was still on the South hill, near the road leading to Barbara. But Hill 108 in the west, was clearly already occupied by NVA, about 500 m in front of Platoon 1. So the fighting would become fiercer, and more dangerous.
I controlled Platoon 1 positions, their bunkers, trenches and foxholes. I conversed with Sang, Hoa and Sergeant Bay. The Latter was tough, and brave in fighting. He had a majestic beard on his handsome face.
- Hi, Bay! I called him.
Bay smiled. He was a so jovial, and a very helpful of assistant of 2nd Lieutenant Nguyen Van Sang.
- Waiting for their arrival, and we’re ready to chop them down, isn't it, Captain? He answered
- Exactly so. All of you be careful, and healthy!
I returned to the Company headquarters defensive line when a NVA B40 rocket fell exploded there. VC started another push. This time all sides were assaulted, except Platoon 4 facing the road. Company 2 was separated from this platoon by only one gorge. The Platoons combated more ferociously cutting down their hopeless assaults. In the darkness of the night, I clearly heard NVA shouts. There were orders of retreat, with a humorous mix of frustrated and crude insults.
- Hung! Tell all platoons to fire continuously and tell platoon 4 to the rear that "they could crawl in" - I ordered a RTO.
- Dalat! This Tam Duong.
- Hear you!
- NVA have been pushed back. But in the darkness. We could not control.
- Hear you clear. Good.
The voice of the Battalion commander seemed more optimistic.
- Tam Duong! Try to endure another two more days. I will order another company to arrive to replace you.
- Yes sir. Great Eagle! Let me talk to Coto.
- This is Coto listening to you, Tam Duong.
- Coto! Prepare to give us more ammunition, especially grenades, and M79, 202 and claymore mines.
- Hear you clear. Anything else Tam Duong?
Coto was the radio code name of Captain Kieu Cong Cu, chief of S3 of the 9th Battalion. He was in the same class with me. He was transferred to the 9th Battalion after having been treated for wounds. He had been in the 2nd Battalion previously. He joined the 9th Battalion when we were operating in Mai Loc, Dong Haï
- Coto! It seems that the 2nd battalion on our right side, is no longer there. Is that the case?
- Tan An, this is Dalat. It's probably so!
- Great eagle! Hear you clear.
From this minute, the side facing the road was left open. If the enemy quickly exploited this situation, we would be in a very dangerous situation.
* 10:00am 30-4-1972
Company 4 sent 2 Platoons to open the road leading to the mountain where my Company had been, to bring ammunitions to resupply us. Sergeant Nguyen Van Con led a group down the hill to receive ammunitions and to accompany other platoons fetch water from a stream for daily use. In this resupply session, the Battalion Commander sent me a bottle of alcohol and some packets of "Craven A" cigarettes.
I summoned Platoons leaders and directed them to reorganise defensive lines. I distributed ammunitions and shared the bottle of alcohol and those cigarettes with them. That was a little bit of happiness from the gift of a Commander who had always cared for us since the day the Battalion had been established.
- Now, Sang Nguyen, Lam, Sang Bach, Sang Van Nguyen; and Luyen, all of you return now and let your boys take turns sleeping to recover their strength for the coming days. (Luyen was of class 25 Dalat military Academy, and was "on-job training" OJT with 2nd lieutenant Lam).
"You should remember, that at all costs, we would stand fast. We can't leave here. Hoa! You should keep in mind that 2nd Battalion is no longer on the other side of the road. So be careful! I will send the special forces group to the foot of the Platoon 1 position. Sergeant Loc will command this group. Report all events immediately!"
Everyone said goodbye and went. Huong and Hoang, my two RTO hung hammocks in the bunker and prepared to change batteries for radioes. Private 1st class Lan, my orderly arranged some small things lying on the poncho spreading on the ground. He was my close orderly, when he finished training in Marine training centre, he was transferred to my Company. Seeing that he was strong and healthy, and of good character, I allowed him be my orderly to prepare meals for me.
In the Company headquarters, he was very reticent, occasionally smiling, always shy, but kind and honest. He was from Cu Chi. No one knew he had once been a tough VC guerrilla for nearly 2 years.
Whenever the Battalion had a rest in Rear base, he was allowed like all other people to return to visit family for 1 week. But he came back to the unit after 2 days. Surprised, I asked
- Why?
- When I speak out, Captain, please don't reprimand me.
- Yes
- I only had my mother, but she was killed by VC last year. I had been the VC leader of a guerrilla squad previously. I had found that the VC were too cruel. That's why I fled and enlisted as a volunteer in the Marine Corps
- Oh! You had been a guerrilla for how long?
- Sir, nearly 2 years. Now I can not return to Cu Chi, and I come back here. Captain, please let me stay in our Rear base, and I would stroll in Thu Duc district.
I looked at him. Truly, I did not need to sound him out. I thought he had told me the truth. And that afternoon I brought him to my mother's house at Trung Chanh and Quang Trung T-junction so as he could have some joyful days of rest in a familiar atmosphere.
* 10 to 3:00pm on 30-4-1972
After some nights without sleep, I leaned against a tree trunk and dozed off. I dreamt that there was a small plant with a tiny, pristine, white flower growing beside me. I was bending down to smell it when a deafening explosion on top of a tall tree dissipated my dream. I opened my eyes, and saw leaves and twigs falling down, with dusts and smokes everywhere.
- What was it?
- Captain. NVA are shelling _ 2, 3 first rounds fell afar. Only this round fell on our heads.
- So, they are adjusting their artillery. Call every platoon and tell them be careful.
Today, they were using artillery after the fall of Fire Base Barbara and hill 108 in front of us, to their hands. It was perfect for NVA to use artillery and mortars to support their attacks. I looked at my watch. It was 10 to 3.00pm.
- Coto! This is Tam Duong
- Hear you
- Coto, reporting to the Battalion commander, that NVA have been adjusting artillery and just now one round just fell right on my position.
- Cam Ranh, Tan An! This Dalat
- Hear you
- Be prepared. NVA Artillery 3rd round just fell right on Tan An position. They will do "first shelling, charges followed" in a very short period of time. Cam ranh, keep an eye on Tan An and use Artillery to pound Hill 108.
- Yes sir. Then the Battalion commander called other companies commanders:
- Trung Duong, Thang Long, Giao Duc! This is Dalat
- Hear you, Great Eagle!
- Let your boys prepare. Giao Duc, come to see me. Thang Long! Watch around carefully! Trung Duong, be ready to reinforce when I will tell you.
To attack a marine position, even if the enemy wanted to apply "shelling first, changes followed", they would need to be 10 times more numerous than us, to have a possible chance to win. Right now we were very confident, although in the last 4 days, they had sent 2 to 3 attacks per day.
- Tan An! This is Dalat. Watch carefully and try to stop all their assaults. Thang Long will follow up and give you fire support to the north. Let FO adjust coordinates. Artillery 105 mm, 155mm rounds will fall on the west and north west area. Cam Ranh and Thang Long would direct airstrikes on the north area. At the same time, Trung Duong would support you on the left of the road to Barbara.
- Yes sir!
While waiting for the coming attack, I thought about the tiny pristine white flower. I smiled and thought about a far away town in South Vietnam. I mumbled: "This kind of flower is growing there".
At 3:15pm, NVA first artillery volleys spread uniformly on mountains where we had been. Five minutes later, NVA Artillery pounded massively on our positions for 10 minutes, then stopped. Then NVA infantry units charged on to Platoons 1 and 2 outposts. The defensive line of my company was in a horse shoe shape. Platoons 1 and 2 were at the two pointed ends of that horse shoe. That's why NVA tried to destroy them and break our formation, to easily attack the company headquarters! All positions were assaulted. Marines bravely and calmly combated against NVA "rotating wheel" tactic.
- Tam Duong., this is Duc Hoa.
- Hear you.
- Authority, in the North, and North west, they are stormingly attacking. Their firepower is more powerful. But they can not swallow us!
- Hear you 5 over 5, Duc Hoa! Tell the squad near the road to observe carefully.
I radioed Platoon 2:
- Sam Giang, this is Tam Duong.
- Tam Duong, we are still firm on ground.
Then Platoon 3 called me:
- Tam Duong! This is Lam Giang. NVA are crawling upwards, in great numbers.
- OK. Fire M79 and M72 immediately.
- Yes sir!
M79 and M72 continuously roared. NVA shouts became weaker, scarcer and then quiet.
- Sa Giang, Lam Giang, Sam Giang! This is Tam Duong.
- Hear, hear, hear, platoon leaders replied.
- Tell your boys be careful; continue to keep defensive line. Do not search or rearrange the battlefield now. Wait for their coming pushes.
Suñenly, volleys of mortars from the west and north west direction pounded on our positions, about 100 rounds. It was 5.00pm. Forests were full of guns smokes and gun powders odour. Darkness arrived quickly in forests. NVA pushed hard on Platoon 2 of Sam Giang to cut its fire support for the outpost squad. If the enemy could occupy this outpost, it would be very convenient for them to thrust platoon 2 which had been with the company headquarters. Another prong of NVA assaulted Platoon 1 with wave after wave, under extremely powerful firesupport. For the Company headquarters, they fired B40 B41 rockets, and pounded my position with artillery and mortars rounds.
All NVA fires were pouring on Company 3 of Battalion 9. NVA infantrymen were seen by Reconnaissance aircraft in immense numbers trying to overrun the outpost platoon of Company 2 which had been on the mountain behind us.
VNAF A37 and F105 from US fleet continued to bomb on the valley in the north direction. A strayed bomb hit Company 2 defensive line and caused a number of casualties to this company. The enemy exploited this accident, fought harder and forced Platoon 1 of Company 2 to retreat to the South of Company 2. So Company 2 could not hold the northern ground, and the right flank of Company 3 was left open. NVA enmasse advanced toward the outpost squad. Platoon 2 could not endure human waves. The squad leader was killed, as were other Marines. One or two Marines were captured. That outpost was smashed. From there, the enemy advanced to the North and the East sides of Platoon 2.
- Tam Duong! This is Duc Hoa
- Hear you
- Authority, Sa Giang was killed. NVA were so numerous, but the defensive line has not been broken. Please send reinforcement.
- Yes, be calm, Duc Hoa!
I intended to send the remaining post of Platoon 4 to reinforce platoon 1. But when that half of Platoon 4, led by Sang, moved there, NVA attacked right on this midway spot, to cut the way of reinforcement from Company to Platoon 1. That meant, 3 sides of platoon 1 were blocked. Platoon 4 of Sang confronted NVA right in front of the defensive line of the Company Headquarters. But thanks to our strong firepower at this side, NVA retreated. The defensive line of my Company headquarters was still solid.
- Tam Duong! This is Duc Hoa
- Hear you, Duc Hoa
- Authority, I am wounded. The defensive line was broken at the west and at the north of this platoon. I ask your permission to withdraw toward the Company Headquarters.
- Hear you clear, Duc Hoa - Now listen, the way to the Company headquarters, between you and me is already occupied by NVA. The southern side of that hill is high and steep, but safe for Platoon 1 to rush downward. When you reach the asphalted road, withdraw to the Battalion Headquarters!
Clear? Tell your boys so - Run now!
- Hear you clear - Farewell!
Through the radio, I heard Hoa’s sobbing and hiccoughing voice, full of tears. Then loud explosions emitted from my radio handset. It's finished! My Company Headquarters was still firm on the west side, thanks to half of Sang's platoon 4. On the north side, Lam Giang still resisted effectively. The defensive line of Platoon 2 was broken. Numerous NVA darted to the defensive line. There were no more grenades and ammunition. Marines of Platoon 2 fought close combat with their rifles butts. Soldiers of Platoon 3 rushed toward Platoon 2 to continue to combat. My two RTO and I knelt behind a tree trunk which had been reinforced with sand bags, and 3 bodyguards shot each of the NVA crossing the defensive line. The defensive line of Platoon 2 was factually broken; but NVA did not overrun it.
Turning my head toward the FO, I clapped on his helmet. He looked up at me.
Loan, listen - You and 2nd lieutenant Vang Huy Luyen, run downward this mountain. Remember to run straight forward. When you meet the road, run to the Battalion headquarters in the east. Quickly, no time to waste!
Vang Huy Luyen removed his glasses asking:
- And how about you sir?
- My god. Put your glasses on and run immediately. Don't worry about me.
I pushed him strongly toward the running FO.
Lam Giang, holding a M16 ran back from the defensive line and shouted:
- Platoon 3 defensive line was broken - Captain, just run!
- Yes - Lam! Follow this direction to the asphalted road, turn left to the Battalion headquarters - Run!
- Yes sir!
Lam led some subordinates to run downwards
- Tam Duong, Tam Duong! This is Dalat
- Defensive lines all broken - Farewell great eagle!
- No! Try to run to the road. Company 4 will come to the rescue.
I told Huong and Hoang, my RTO to run down the mountain. But these signalmen grabbed my Y-shape suspenders on the back and pulled me toward 3rd Lieutenant Sang who was still fighting. When I crossed the defensive line, I shouted:
- Sang, Sang, let all boys run down the mountain - All defensive lines have been broken - Quickly run!
The enemy were shouting, "Surrender, you live; resist, you die" when in truth they would have killed us nonetheless. The NVA were especially fearful of the Marines, and if they ever captured one, no mercy was shown. The enemy shouts continued to reverberate in the whole mountainous area, as they sprayed bullets toward us. We hid in a thick bush nearby. My RTO put the radio handset in my hand.
- Tam Duong, Tam Duong, this is Dalat.
If you can still hear me, leave the hill top immediately. C130 and Specter gunships are going to air strike the position of Company 3. Do you hear me? Oh!
We heard from all directions NVA noisy shoutings "Surrender, you live; resist, you die" and "Search all bushes thoroughly". On the road underneath, NVA were pursueing Marines who had been running in the direction of the Battalion headquarters. Looking up in the sky, I heard aircrafts motors sounds approaching. Sergeant Loc, Huong, Hoang and myself, the 4 of us lay quietly for a moment. Seeing that they were all around us now, all was quiet. We ran downward quickly. Clips of bullets followed us, but fortunately they did not hit any single person. We crossed the road to the other side, into a forest, and from there went to the east. We passed a small hill top. There were many bright stars in the sky. C47 aircrafts sprayed columns of fire from their 8 barrel machine guns toward the target (the one my company had just abandoned), and artillery also pounded that area. NVA who had not run away were of course killed by those fire dragons. Wounded Marines of Company 3 had not been able medevacuated, and with certainty they were ploughed to pieces by friendly bombs, artillery rounds and enemy bullets, among them 2nd Lieutenant Sang and his subordinates. He will eternally rest on this hill top, near his native province.
Although in the end, the enemy occupied this hill top, but they had paid a high price. Hundreds of NVA bodies were scattering on slopes and targets. Company 3 of the 9th battalion accomplished its mission after having had bravely fought for 5 continuous days, that period of time was enough for Marine Division to form a defensive line at My Chanh river.
Captain Doan Van Tinh
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