The Magnificent Bastards (33 page)

Capt. Robert E. Corrigan, CO of B/3-21 (at far left), after receiving the Silver Star.
Courtesy W. P. Snyder
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2d Lt. Terry D. Smith, a platoon leader in A/3-21, was shot and also hit by mortar fragments during an ambush near Nhi Ha on 6 May 1968.
Courtesy T. D. Smith
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Sgt. Larry Haddock, A/3-21.
Courtesy N. E. Hannan
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Sp4 Neil E. Hannan, A/3-21.
Courtesy N. E. Hannan
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Sp4 Thomas E. Hemphill, a grenadier in A/3-21, in front of his position on the Nhi Ha perimeter.
Courtesy T. E. Hemphill
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Sp4 William W. Karp (center), senior medic in A/3-21.
Courtesy W. W. Karp
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Sp4 Bill A. Baird (center), A/3-21, was wounded and captured on 6 May 1968. He remained a prisoner in North Vietnam until 1973.
Courtesy N. E. Hannan
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Another patrol saddles up in Nhi Ha.
Courtesy J. L. Stone
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Lt. Col. William P. Snyder (right) receives a commemorative plaque before leaving U.S. Army Vietnam headquarters to assume command of the 3-21st Infantry.
Courtesy W. R Snyder
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Lieutenant Skrzysowski and his RTO were alongside a burial mound when they were joined by a Marine with a major’s leaf on his helmet, a cane in one hand, and one foot in a cast. “Who’s in charge of this route-step outfit?” the major snapped.

Lieutenant Skrzysowski, who wore no rank insignia, identified himself, then asked, “Where are we? I’m looking for the rest of my people.”

The major explained that “all your companies are getting briefed. We got a lot of activity just north of here and it’s going to be your job to help us clean it out.” The major explained that they were in the middle of an expanding campaign that involved several NVA regiments coming down from the DMZ in an effort to cross the Cua Viet River. He said that the NVA knew the terrain, and added that “most of them are in reinforced bunkers. You’re not going to really see these guys until you’re right on top of ’Em. The bunkers are located within hedgerows, and what ya gotta do is get those M60 machine guns right down low to the ground and start firing into those hedgerows to cover your assault.”

“What?
No artillery, no air?” Skrzysowski said incredulously.

The major explained that there were often simultaneous contacts at several locations—and not always enough supporting arms to go around. Skrzysowski finally asked the major what had happened to his leg. The major joked that he’d had “a meeting engagement with an RPG.”

Upon receipt of the redeployment order, Lieutenant Colonel Snyder had Capt. John M. Householder, the 3-21st’s S2, helicopter up to Camp Kistler at the mouth of the Cua Viet to establish liaison with the 3d Marines. Snyder flew up to join him shortly. In Snyder’s absence, Maj. Paul N. Yurchak, the S3, organized the truck convoy that would soon head north with supplies, while the company commanders conducted impromptu airlifts from their positions in and around FSB Belcher.
The Marines provided most of the helicopters; the fifty-kilometer flight to the BLT 2/4 AO placed the Gimlets closer to the DMZ than any other U.S. Army battalion in Vietnam.

The airlift began at 1613. The first battalion element to move north was Captain Humphries’s D/3-21 (call sign Black Death), which landed in Mai Xa Chanh East.

Captain Robert E, Corrigan’s B/3-21 (Barracuda) was inserted next, landing above Mai Xa Chanh West in accordance with the battalion’s mission to secure both sides of Jones Creek.

Because its captain was temporarily absent, 1st Lt. Gerald R. Kohl, the company exec, took C/3-21 (Charlie Tiger) into Mai Xa Chanh East. Next came Capt. Stephen F. Russell’s HHC/3-21 and 1st Lt. Jerry D. Perkins’s E/3-21 (Eliminator), which were, respectively, the battalion’s headquarters and combat support companies. Eliminator controlled two reconnaissance platoons (Assassin and Spectre) and a mortar platoon (Fastballs). The battalion headquarters began establishing hasty positions behind the two grunt companies in Mai Xa Chanh East.

The last line company, Capt. Cecil H. Osborn’s
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A/3-21 (Alpha Annihilator), landed in Mai Xa Chanh East between 1740 and 1900, at which point operational control of the Gimlets passed to the 3d Marine Regiment.

Wait a minute, back up a minute, thought 2d Lt. John R. Jaquez, the Charlie Tiger FO. This is sounding more like World War II, instead of chasing VC through the jungle and worrying about booby traps! A Marine officer had his map spread out on the dirt for the Army officers huddled around him, and Jaquez listened incredulously as the Marine casually ran through the suspected locations of the NVA companies, battalions, and regiments in the area. The Marine emphasized that these were NVA regulars, well equipped with AK-47s, RPGs, 12.7mm heavy machine guns, and 60mm and 82mm
mortars. Jaquez, already well aware of their proximity to the pinkline—the DMZ—listened carefully as the Marine made it abundantly clear that the enemy had artillery positions that were in range and protected against air strikes by antiaircraft batteries. There’s a whole different animal here, thought Jaquez. These aren’t dinks. These are real soldiers. It’s like real war now.

The Gimlets’ supporting artillery, D/3-82 FA, had not caught up with them yet, so 2d Lt. William A. Stull, the Alpha Company FO, had a face-to-face conference with a Marine officer about fire support for that night. Marine artillery was heavily engaged against targets in the Dai Do complex, and the Marine fire support coordinator said, “Okay, now you’ve got eighty rounds tonight—”

“What the hell do you mean ‘eighty rounds’?” asked Stull.

“We’ve allocated eighty rounds for your company, but don’t use ’Em unless you need ’Em.”

“Shit, I shoot more than eighty rounds just getting our targets set up for the night,” answered Stull.

The Marine was adamant. “No, those eighty rounds are for if you get into a big battle.”

Lieutenant Stull shook his head. We’re jumping through hoops, trying to find out who’s going to be our support and what the frequencies are, he thought—and then they come up with this eighty rounds crap! He complained to Capt. Charles W. Hitzemann, the artillery liaison officer with the 3-21st Infantry. Hitzemann laughed. He said he would work the problem through channels. The answer came back that the 3-82d Field Artillery would slingload ammunition up to the Marines to replace round for round whatever they had to fire for the Army.