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All,
1500 Local Time
16 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation HastingsThe boys are with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (K/3/4), on their first trip up to the DMZ. Yesterday they were helo’ed into the area, then found themselves in a sharp firefight trying to cross the Ngan River which saw them repulsed with two Marines badly wounded. The Company tried twice more to cross the river, but the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars of the 90th Regiment threw them back both times. Kilo Company then fell back approximately 200 meters to the north and dug in, but the NVA pursued them, harassing with mortars and snipers, and by 1930 Kilo’s commander reported to battalion that the company was entirely surrounded. At approximately 2015 the NVA launched a full-scale assault on Kilo Company’s hilltop, which the Marines threw back owing to some brutal close-in fighting buttressed by supporting fires, with both sides suffering significant casualties.
The Marines of Kilo Company pried themselves out of their holes with the sunrise, and were greeted with an NVA mortar barrage for their efforts. It didn’t last long and there were few casualties, so the rifle company got itself in order and not long after was back on the move, proving south towards the Ngan River. There was good news in that 2/4 had been told to hustle up and move west with all practical speed in order to effect a linkup with 3/4, owing to the tough resistance the Marines were running into, and radio traffic reported that 2/4 arrived at LZ Crowe* at approximately 1400. So there was a strong base behind Kilo Company, to the north, but it kind of left Kilo as the lone, dangling appendage to the south, still under orders to find and force a crossing to the south side of the Ngan River.
Needless to say the Marines were none too happy to be flung out so far to the south, without support, to an area they’d already gotten a good bloodying in, but order are orders, and so we catch up with Sergeant Little and his squad about to make another attempt to cross the Ngan River.
*With three helos already grounded there from damage caused by collisions, then the NVA shot down a Marine CH-46 yesterday evening, the LZ Crowe area was now being referred to as “Helicopter Valley.”
Overview, north is left, for my second big DMZ map. The western area (bottom) is pretty open and flat, a couple spare trees and scrub, the Ngan River is narrow and shallow and flowing in a southwest to easterly direction, but the big deals are the two hills, the massive Hill 212 dominating the north (left to top left) and Hill 104 on the south bank, in the southeast (top right).
Sergeant Rob Little leads his squad towards the Ngan River (right top), looking to get across while avoiding any contact with the NVA, hugging the base of Hill 212 (left), Hill 104 looming ominously across the river (top center right). Sergeant Little (bottom left) called the squad to a halt and had them pull security; behind them (off map to bottom left), the rest of the platoon halted as well. Rob called his fireteams over and explained his plan: “we’re not walking into a mess like we did yesterday, and I know that hill across the river’s gotta be housing some NVA on it, so you guys sit tight, Jackson and I are gonna hustle up front and put some arty on the hill.”
They (bottom left) get in behind some scrub and raise supporting arty on the radio; Jackson spent a couple minutes providing the data to the battery, then called out “spotting round on the way, shot out!”“Splash!” “Splash, out,” replied the battery. “You’re dead on, fire for effect!” (you can see the cotton ‘blast’ atop the hill at top center)
Danny’s 2nd Fireteam nears the river (center, with Cpl Benavides’ 1st Fireteam off camera to left), the freshly cratered Hill 104 still looming ominously across the river…
And the mid-afternoon stillness is shattered by the NVA squad on the south bank of the Ngan River opening fire at point-blank range on Danny and 2nd Fireteam…
Correa is still in shock (center right) as Doc dashes up to him, while Jackson (bottom left) gets on the radio, trying to get that arty support back on the hook!
Worn out Marines catch a quick breather. Sorry, I just like the closeup of the figures, great sculpts from Jimmi at Flashpoint.It’s gonna be another long day for the jarheads. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-brothers-fight-21.htmlOnly three more fights left in the boys’ first tour, next one coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
2015 Local Time
15 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation HastingsThe boys are with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (K/3/4), on their first trip up to the DMZ. They were helo’ed into the area this morning, then found themselves in a sharp firefight trying to cross the Ngan River which saw them repulsed with two Marines badly wounded. The Company tried twice more to cross the river, but the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars of the 90th Regiment threw them back both times. Kilo Company then fell back approximately 200 meters to the north and dug in, but the NVA pursued them, harassing with mortars and snipers, and by 1930 Kilo’s commander reported to battalion that the company was entirely surrounded.
The squad is tasked with holding a section of the company’s perimeter on the northeast side of the hill, and it’s gonna be a long night…
Overview, north is up. The squad’s section of the hill is at bottom left, with its highest point in that corner and fingers jutting out to the north (far left) and east (bottom), a steep draw pushing into their center (the cluster of trees at center marks the point where the draw comes together and the hill begins rising to the southwest (bottom left). There’s nothing but trees, grass, and some scattered brush out here.The Marines are set up thusly: Sergeant Little and his Command Element are in the center bunker, looking down into the draw (left bottom); Danny and the 2nd Fireteam are in reserve, not dug-in, just chilling behind a hedge further up the hill (bottom left), while Nik’s 3rd Fireteam is holding down the northern finger (far left) and Cpl Benavides’ 1st Fireteam is holding down the southern finger (bottom center). I didn’t put out Claymore or wire because 1) I’m stupid and 2) I wasn’t sure how to handle Claymores, afraid of making them too powerful.
The Marines are currently at 50% (half are sleeping, half are on watch), and they will have off-table arty support, subject to availability rolls.
The NVA are spread across the table from the northwest (top left) to southeast (bottom right), with rifle squads in their assault positions at top left, top center left, center, right bottom, and bottom right, while their mortar and MG teams are positioned atop the knoll at top right.
Another look a the Marine positions, giving you a better idea of the topography (the finger running to the north at far left, the steep draw at top center/right).
Another look to the north, from behind 2nd Fireteam’s reserve position. Nice and lumpy, starting to look like some real terrain 😉 Notice the fall off on the back side of the northern finger, far left.
The NVA cut loose with a B-40 rocket…
And the rocket slams into a bunker, pinning the Marines inside!
The NVA move up the slope of the north finger (left bottom), silencing the Marine machine gun and overunning Nik’s bunker! With the gun out of action the NVA immediately exploit the situation by rushing to the bunker and opening fire on Sergeant Little’s command bunker (top right, with 1st Fireteam’s bunker visible at top center).To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-brothers-fight-20.htmlMore coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
1230 Local Time
15 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation HastingsThis morning Marine A-4 Skyhawks and F-4 Phantoms pounded LZ Crowe, followed by an artillery barrage, before the CH-46s carrying 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (3/4) descended into the valley and began disgorging their heavily-laden Marines. The LZ was too small and quickly three Marine helos were down, badly damaged; two collided, and the third hit a tree while trying to avoid the other two. Even worse, the incidents left two Marines dead and seven more injured, all before the enemy had even fired a shot.
Nevertheless, 3/4 formed up and began setting about its tasks: India Company was charged with holding the LZ’s perimeter, while Lima Company marched off to occupy a nearby hill, Hill 200, which it took after some light skirmishing. Meanwhile, the boys set off with Kilo Company, which was charged with moving south to cross the Ngan River and establish blocking positions for 2/4, which was being lifted into LZ Dove a few klicks to the east and was scheduled to sweep west, into K/3/4 and Hill 200. As Kilo Company moved south there was a brief firefight as they encountered some lightly-armed North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars performing a rearguard action; when the dust cleared the Marines were hardly prepared for what they found: a building containing a 200-bed hospital, and an ammunition dump containing 1200 rounds of small arms ammunition. “Hold up,” Nik begged. “How the hell did they get all this stuff down from North Vietnam, and how’s it just sitting here, unmolested, like they’re not in somebody else’s country? And how many of them must be out there right now if they’re comfortable enough to build permanent-ass buildings up here?”
The Marines destroyed all they found and then continued their trek south towards the river. Kilo Company halted and sent out scouts locate a river crossing, and that’s where the squad ran into trouble.
Overview, north is to bottom left. This is my first attempted rendition of the geography up near the DMZ; lots of hills, cuts, saddles, ravines, heavy forest in the draws, small, shallow rivers, with clumps of bush clinging to the hillsides/hilltops. It’s hard to see here, but there are significant elevations in all four corners of the table, with forested draws at left, top center, right, and bottom center.The hills are: Hill 110 at top left, Hill 155 at top right, Hill 142 at bottom right, and Hill 160 at bottom left. The Marines are clustered on the hill in the north (Hill 160, bottom left), while the NVA are clustered on the hill to the south (Hill 155, top right), across the river, though they have pushed a squad north across the river (in the trees at far right bottom, near Hill 142).
A look south from the Marine Command Element’s position on Hill 160. You can see the MG Team at far let, the fireteams in column moving down the hill and up to the river at right, and even some NVA on the far hill, Hill 155.
As the sound of small arms fire reverberates throughout the valley! The NVA squad near the river crossing (bottom right) opens fire at point-blank range on Nik’s 3rd Fireteam (top left)!
And then a rocket comes screaming in from the west!
Sergeant Little (bottom left) tries to assert control: he gets Jackson on the radio to call for support and directs Doc Eakle to move downhill to help 3rd Fireteam’s casualties as he fires on Hill 155 with his M-14 and McCaffrey fires his M-79…
The NVA at the base of Hill 155 (left) rally as their MG Team (bottom left) continues dueling with the US MG Team (top right)…
A fierce fight breaks out at point-blank range ont he Marine right, atop Hill 142, trying to drive back the encroaching NVA squad in order to keep 3rd Fireteam (at the river, just off camera to top center) from being overrun.To see how the fight turns out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-brothers-fight-19.htmlMore to come.
V/R,
JackAll,
1045 Local Time
19 June 1966
5 Miles North of Phu Bai Combat Base, Thua Thien Province, RVN
Operation DodgeNikki and Danny were having a rough time, their first time back out in the field after being hit during Operation Utah, their bodies weak after their extended recuperation period. But here they were again, humping the bush for the past two days after having trucked up north of Phu Bai from Da Nang. Attached to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (2/4), the whole battalion had been scouring the area of operations without even a hint of the enemy, but that was all about to change. 2/4 was approaching a cluster of hamlets along the coast (dammit, I was supposed to use my beach mat, with dunes, but I was in a hurry and forgot!) and began fanning out to try and get in as quickly as possible, hoping to catch the Viet Cong before they’d made their escape. But the VC were crafty, had long played this game along the “Street Without Joy,” and were already evacuating, leaving behind only a handful of fighters to harass the advancing Marines. And, or course, the squad was about to run into one such group of stay behinds.
Sergeant Little called a halt and motioned for his fireteam leaders to join him, briefing them on the situation. “So the El-tee wants us to split off to the northeast, so we are on the far left, there are no friendlies to our left. As usual, battalion wants us to rush in to catch Charlie before he dee-dees* outta the area, but we all know how that goes, so let’s stay frosty and take our time on this.” “Roger,” replied Corporal Nelson. Sgt Little gave Cpl Nelson a furtive glance and murmured “I’m sorry brother, if there was anything I could do, I would…” “I know, Rob, and it’s okay. Don’t you jokers sweat me, I’m two days and a wake-up, I’ll be back in the World in no time,” replied Cpl Nelson. “No, it ain’t alright,” Nik erupted, “I can’t believe battalion’s got Rock out here humpin’ with only days left in country! This is bull@#$%!!!” “Alright, alright, calm down, and get your @#$% together, we got a job to do, now move out!”
*”Dee-dees” is a bastardization of “di-di mau,” which is Vietnamese for ‘leave,’ or something to that effect.
Overview, north is up. The area is nice and flat, the river running from northwest (top left) to southeast (bottom right), with small villages dotting the area (top left, bottom left, top right, and far right), a hardball road running north-south west of the river (left), rice paddies dominating the north and northeast, and heavy foliage scattered throughout.
The initial set up: Sgt Little and Nik’s 3rd Fireteam search a ville (bottom center) as Cpl Nelson’s 1st Fireteam (bottom right) and Danny’s 2nd Fireteam (left center) pull security.
The Marines warily cross the river.
Where they set about searching the next hamlet.
Nik (far right) takes a puff on his cigarette and tosses another stone at Danny (left) as 1st Fireteam completes its search an steps off (top left) for the next village.
But the enemy is out there and about to act…
And the VC (bottom center right) trigger the ambush, cutting loose with a long burst from the RPD at Cpl Nelson’s 1st Fireteam (top left, with Danny’s 2nd Fireteam at top right)!
Once again things get bleak for the beleaguered Marines.To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-18.htmlNext fight coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
1600 Local Time
5 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation UtahThe boys had accompanied Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (L/3/1) in the final assault to secure Hill 50, and now they were attached to Mike Company, which was attacking the fortified village of Chau Nhai (3), which lies just east of Hill 50, from west to east, while India Company had swung around to the north and were attacking from east to west.
The boys’ platoon was attacking on the far left flank of Lima Company, with the boy’s squad on the far left flank of their platoon, on the left end of a line running north-south. “Our job is to break into the northwest end of the village, securing a foothold, as the rest of the platoon swings in from the front. We’ll be tying down their left flank, making sure the NVA can’t filter in behind them as they push east to clear the rest of the village,” Corporal Little briefed the squad. “So, what, Corporal, the seven of us are gonna assault the village, all by ourselves?” Jackson asked. “No Jackson, we’re gonna have all of Lima Company out there with us assaulting the village. They just won’t be anywhere you can see them. But trust me, they’re there,” Corporal Little replied, as the squad busted into nervous laughter. “Let’s go, Marines.”
Overview, north is up. You can see the far eastern end of Hill 50 at bottom left, and the northwestern end of the fortified village of Chau Nhai (3) at bottom/far right. Air and arty has worked the area over, leaving a significant number of craters dotting the landscape, which is otherwise covered with hedges and rice paddies. The squad is approaching from the northwest (top left), seeking to get as close to the village as possible before the shooting starts.The Marines have entered the area at top left, while the NVA occupy the village, from bottom center to far right. The most important aspect to this is that the enemy has a bunker on each flank (right bottom center and far right top. Each bunker has a rifleman posted outside it for flank protection, while the NVA leader and last rifleman occupy the trenchline connecting the two bunkers.
The squad is beat to hell, down to seven combat effectives, including the Doc! Corporal Little is very concerned with this mission, knowing it’s going to take everything the squad’s got if the enemy puts up even light resistance in this area of the village.
Right on time, the Marine 81mm mortars came in on Chau Nhai (3), hitting the center and east end of the NVA defensive line.
Jackson, Nik, McCaffrey, and Doc Johnson (top left) look on as Danny, Rivera, and Corporal Little begin traipsing across the rice paddies…
The NVA have sucked the Marines in, allowing the assault element to advance out into the open rice paddies, devoid of cover, when the two NVA riflemen in the West Bunker (bottom right) finally breaks the tension: 7.62mm rounds snap and zip past the exposed Marines, plowing into the paddies, kicking up geysers of dirty water. Luckily for the Marines, non one is hit, but Danny (right) and Rivera (center) are suppressed, as Cpl Little (left) is pinned!
And the East Bunker (bottom right) immediately joins in, spraying with their AK-47s on full auto at the advancing Marines (top left to top center).
Corporal Little (bottom right) and Doc Johnson (bottom center right) are both suppressed by the fire from the East Bunker (top right); “@#$%!!!” screams Nik (bottom left), “return fire, return fire! I don’t have a shot at that bunker on the right (the West Bunker, just off camera to far right), hit it with the thumper!” Nik ordered McCaffrey, as he poured tracers from his M-60 into the East Bunker. “Roger that!” replied McCaffrey, as he fired a 40mm HE round.“Jackson, get on the horn and let’em know we need help, they’re pinned down and dead meat out there in those rice paddies,” Nik continued. “Already on it, boss!” Jackson replied.
Back in the rice paddies, Cpl Little (bottom left), Rivera (left), and Danny (top center) are in Death Ground, with no way out but to fight, so all three open fire on the West Bunker (top right) with their M-14s on full auto…
Danny crawls up the firing port of the NVA’s West Bunker. He rolls onto his side, fishing a frag out of his pocket, then sweeps the safety clip off, pulls the pin, lets the spoon fly, and begins cooking off the grenade…
But the NVA rifleman in the trench (top right) spots him and fires, hitting Danny (casualty figure at far left) in the back, though he still manages to roll the frag into the West Bunker, then flops backwards, away from the firing port, as the grenade goes off, killing the NVA inside!To see the thrilling finish of Operation Utah, which would see a Medal of Honor awarded, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-17.htmlNext fight coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
1330 Local Time
5 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation UtahEarlier this morning 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines pulled back and the boys humped over to join 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, which was now charged with securing Hill 50. The squad linked up with 3/1 and was briefed on the plan to assault Hill 50 from the northeast, with ARVN units attacking further west; as a matter of fact, the ARVN were claiming they had already secured Hill 50. However, preliminary recon by 3/1 proved that was not the case. So the battalion marched south, to its jump-off positions, where the Marines flopped down in the grass to enjoy a nice C-ration lunch and enjoy the show put on by the 105mm howitzers of 12th Marines and assorted airstrikes by Marine A-4 Skyhawks and F-4 Phantoms. The Marines even joined in with the occasional ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs,’ as napalm sent flame and roiling black clouds into the sky, as Willie Pete burst on the slopes, sending its white tendrils in every direction, or a string of 500-pound bombs went off, sending shockwaves across the valley. All a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend one’s lunch hour.
“Look at all that,” Rivera exclaimed. “This’ll be a walkover, nobody could survive all that pounding.” “Don’t kid yourself, Rivera,” Cpl Little replied. “Don’t any of you kid yourself, there’ll be plenty of dinks up there waiting for us, and they’ll be plenty pissed of, just like yesterday. So you keep your @#$% wired tight, we’re gonna be in for another helluva fight, and we’re gonna need everyone pulling his weight,” said Cpl Little, shooting a glance at Contreras. “And I do mean everyone.”
Overview, north is up. The northeast corner of Hill 50 is visible from far left to bottom center, with two NVA bunkers present, linked by communications trenches and otherwise dotted by patches of jungle and craters from the Marine artillery and airstrikes. Too the southeast is the western end of the village of Chau Nhai (3), which is known to be fortified and occupied by the NVA as well. The squad will be entering from the northeast (top right), looking to make use of the few hedges and thickets of jungle offering cover amongst the slew of rice paddies.The NVA have both bunkers occupied with troops, men in the trenchlines in the west, and several men manning the trenchline in the ville (bottom right), while the Marine squad is in its jump-off position (top right), ready to launch their assault.
Nik hammers away with his M-60 (bottom right) at the bunkers atop Hill 50 (top center left) as Cpl Little leads the assault element forward (center, from right), looking to get into that stand of trees below the hill (far left).
The assault element reaches the copse of trees (far right), then begins pushing into the ville (far left).
But they’ve gotten away from the base of Hill 50 (center left top), far enough that the NVA in the East Bunker (bottom right) can spot them and open fire…
A Marine is hit (casualty figure in the grass at right, between the craters and the urns) and Doc fearlessly dashes forward to treat him, ignoring the torrent of NVA fire coming his way.
Two Marines (left and center) are able to work their way out of the village (far right) and clamber up the slope of Hill 50, towards the East Bunker (just visible at far left).
The NVA in the East Bunker saw movement go off to their right and realized they are being outflanked, so they fall back out of the bunker and come left to meet the threat…To see how the fight turns out, please visit the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-16.htmlNext fight (the last of Operation Utah) coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
2300 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah2nd Battalion, 7th Marines had been in contact all day, for the first time in a stand-up, knockdown drag-out fight with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in and around Hill 50. The Marines had been in heavy combat, and while they’d certainly put a hurtin’ on the NVA, they’d taken a pretty good beating themselves. They’d managed to break contact, fall back to the south, and establish a night defensive position, where they could treat and evacuate their wounded, replenish their ammo, and grab a bit of grub and rest. But while things were relatively quiet on the ground, Marine Air was having a helluva time, drawing heavy fire every time they came near Hill 50. Three helos and an F-4 Phantom had already been shot down, and approximately thirty more choppers shot up by NVA antiaircraft weapons, mostly Dshk 12.7mm heavy machine guns, which the Marines often referred to as “.51-cals”.
But the Marines cut a lucky break; firing to the southwest drew the attention of one of the battalion officers, who grabbed a few Marines and headed over to check it out. “I’ll be damned,” he thought, somehow the NVA gotten a .51-cal HMG in behind them, dug into a trench and expertly camouflaged. The officer headed back into the Marine perimeter to inform the Colonel what they’d found. The decision was made to launch a raiding party to destroy the NVA anti-aircraft emplacement. Not long after, Corporal Little was informed he’d be leading the raiding party.
Overview, north is up. 2/7’s night defensive position in Chau Nhai (4) is off camera to top right. At top right is a small knoll that Corporal Little used to screen the squad’s approach on the enemy AA Position, which is located to the south (bottom center/left). There is a thick patch of jungle in the southeast (bottom right), while the rest of the table is covered with scattered rice paddies, one of which has a stand of trees located nearby (center top).Overview, this time with troops. The NVA are manning their AA emplacement, with everyone in the trench except a single sentry out on foot, to the south (in the trees at bottom left center), while Cpl Little has placed his base of fire element in the copse of trees in the center, and led the assault element up to the dense stand of trees to the east (center right).
The plan is for the base of fire element to get into place while Cpl Little and the assault element cover from the knoll. Once Jackson signals Cpl Little the base of fire element is in place, Cpl Little will begin moving the assault element into their jump-off positions at the corner of the western point of the patch of jungle in the southeast under the cover of a pre-arranged fire mission by the battalion’s 81mm mortars. Once the mortars lift the base of fire element will engage the AA position while Cpl Little leads the assault element into the east end of the enemy trench, clearing west to destroy the NVA’s HMG.
A look at the NVA position: two riflemen in the west (bottom left), the HMG in its emplacement (center left), two riflemen in the east (far right), a picket to the south (in the trees at center right), and the NCO, LMG, and a rifleman in the center (center top).
The base of fire element gets into the copse of trees in the center (right), signals Cpl Little, and he begins moving the assault element up (bottom left).
The battalion mortars begin pounding the NVA trenchline…
Covering the approach of Cpl Little and the assault element (bottom left, with the base of fire element off camera to far right and the NVA position at left/top). Cpl Little peers out around the copse of trees. “Well, I guess we’re ready,” he murmurs as he signals Jackson with a red penlight, letting the base of fire element know the assault element is ready to jump off.
The mortars lift and the base of fire element (bottom right, with the assault element at bottom left) cuts loose, Rivera on the M-60 and McCaffrey pumping 40mm HE rounds and flares out of his M-79…
Corporal Little leads the assault element forward (right, from far right), at the NVA trenchline.
But NVA fire catches them in the open, hitting White and Floyd while pinning Nik and suppressing Cpl Little!
Only one Marine would make it into the NVA trench, for which he would be awarded the Silver Star.Please check the blog for the whole story:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-15.htmlMore to follow.
V/R,
JackAll,
1800 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah2nd Battalion, 7th Marines had been in contact all day; even before they were landed via helos they were taking fire on the way in, heavy enough that two Marine choppers and an F-4 Phantom had been shot down, and more than 20 helicopters had been damaged badly enough they’d had to head back for repairs, necessitating another helicopter squadron be committed to the fight. Once on the ground, the Marines joined an ARVN battalion that landed before them, and it was being mauled by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) defenses on and around Hill 50. 2/7 sprung into action, basically coming online and pushing east, with Fox Company to the left (north), tying in with the ARVN, Golf Company in the center, and Hotel Company on the right (south). The ARVN were hard pressed and weren’t keeping up with the Marines, so Fox Company was pulled farther and farther north as Golf and Hotel struck the NVA defenses on Hill 50. Now it was the Marines turn to be mauled; the enemy were numerous, well-armed, and dug in, letting the Marines get close enough so that it was very difficult to leverage supporting air and artillery (“hugging the belt”). The Marines, Golf Company in particular, were able to breach the enemy defenses on Hill 50 in several places, but they were spread too thin and didn’t have any reserves to exploit the success. And then battalion realized another problem brewing; while Golf and Hotel were essentially ‘stuck in’ and not going anywhere on Hill 50, a gap had opened between Golf Company and Fox Company, with NVA pouring into the gap, near the village of Khanh My.
The boys had accompanied Golf Company on its assault of Hill 50, reaching the enemy trenches but not able to push past, while suffering heavy casualties. They settled into a bit of a stalemate (like the rest of Golf and Hotel), but were then pulled back and sent north to reestablish contact with Fox Company, where they had a short, sharp firefight with a squad of NVA, sent them packing, and linked up with Fox. But now Hotel Company was being counterattacked by NVA on the southern side of Hill 50 and was in danger of being overrun, so the boys were sent south to help them out.
Overview, north is up. Enemy entrenchments atop the southern tip of Hill 50 are visible at far/top right, while the northern tip of the village of Chau Nhai (5) (not to be confused with Chau Nhai (3), which we’ll see tomorrow), and the rest is scattered jungle. The beleaguered Marines of Hotel Company have withdrawn into a relatively small defensive perimeter to fight off the marauding NVA, the northern tip of which is visible at bottom left, while the squad will be entering from the northwest (top left), seeing to relieve pressure on Hotel Company.You can see several Marines from Hotel Company in the jungle to the southwest (bottom left); the rest of their perimeter stretches off camera to the south, where they are already heavily engaged by attacking NVA infantry. The squad is entering in the northwest (top left), as the NVA Platoon, split in half, is entering through the village (bottom center) and streaming down Hill 50 (center right).
The NVA push through the dense undergrowth (top left to bottom right), closing in on the Marine positions (top right)…
Where they launch an RPG!
Doc is treating the wounded (far left)…
As Nik (bottom left) keeps the M-60 hammering away…
And Danny moves to the flank (bottom right), where he’s able to catch the NVA (top left) with enfilading fire!
But the NVA have already dispatched three men (far right, from bottom left) to flank him (just visible at top right, behind the bamboo)!To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-14.htmlNext fight coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
1700 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation UtahThe squad crept northeast through the rice paddies, hustling from cover to cover as best they could, the sounds of gunfire to their front, right, and rear. It felt very strange hugging the west side of Hill 50, knowing NVA were still up there, somewhere, but they were in a hurry. They had to get up, through the village, and into contact with Fox Company, knowing the NVA had probably infiltrated between them and the Marines on the far left flank. Not to mention, they really didn’t want to get caught out in the rice paddies, all alone, knowing the battalion had precious little troops available to send to bale them out, and pretty much all the air and artillery assets were being used in support of the rest of the battalion, with all three companies in contact. “Let’s go,” Sergeant Garcia hissed, “keep it moving.”
Overview, north is up. The village of Khanh My (1) is at top right, the northwestern tip of Hill 50 runs from right to bottom center right, with enemy trenchlines, which appear to be abandoned, and craters from earlier air and arty strikes visible, along with several patches of dense jungle. In the northeast (top right) is a similar patch of dense jungle, which leads to the isolated Marines of Fox Company, while the left side of the table is nothing but rice paddies dotted with a few hedges. The squad will enter from the southwest (bottom left).You can see the squad moving across the rice paddies in the southwest (bottom left), some Marines from Fox Company in the northeast (top right, in the jungle), in a fight with NVA off camera to top right, while the NVA involved in this fight are coming down off of the north end of Hill 50 and occupying the village of Khanh My (top center).
The Marines push north (you can see the pointman, Rivera, in the narrow paddy at left top, followed by the rest of the squad), nearing the ville (top right). Private White (bottom left) is ‘tail-end Charlie,’ and he’s keeping a nervous eye cast up Hill 50 (far right).
And, after all the nervous, tense waiting, it happens: NVA in the trenchline running through the village open fire on 1st Fireteam (top left)!
Nikki gets into position (bottom right) and gets the M-60 going, sending a steady stream of tracers into the village (top center), which allows 1st Fireteam to pull back into cover behind a paddy dyke (far left).
Nik (center top) continues laying down fire as Danny (bottom left) moves up the slope of Hill 50, looking to flank the NVA positions in the village (off camera to far right).
Nik and Danny take a quick breather next to the body of an enemy soldier.To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-13.htmlNext fight coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
1500 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah“So, you really think we’re gonna get out and tangle with the North Vietnamese?” Nikki asked Danny. “Hell, I dunno man. On the one hand, look around, we got all these boots, loads of new gear, everybody’s fired up like it’s the 4th of July. But hell, dontcha remember, they said the same thing about Operation Double Eagle.”
This time HQ had it right: Operation Utah was the Marine Corps’ first contact with the North Vietnamese Army, and it was a doozy. At 0900 on 4 March 1966, US Marine helicopters lifted an ARVN battalion into an LZ 7 miles northwest of Quang Ngai City; heavy antiaircraft fire was encountered, downing a Marine UH-1 Huey and an F-4 Phantom! The ARVN didn’t encounter much resistance once they were on the ground, and they begin maneuvering towards a cluster of hills, Hill 50, 97, and 85. The helos returned to Chu Lai to pick up the waiting Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7), and began ferrying them back to Quang Ngai, but only one platoon of Kilo Co, 2/7 (K/2/7) was able to be inserted before another hellacious bout of antiaircraft fire cut loose. K/2/7 was isolated for about 15 minutes before the rest of Kilo could be landed, followed by G/2/7 and the battalion’s Command Group, which was complete by 1130 local time. The boys were with H/2/7 as part of the third wave, waiting for the helos to return, and were shocked when their pickup was delayed because so many of the twenty of the helos had been shot full of holes, and two of the UH-34s had been shot down! Another helo squadron was quickly scrambled to support, and by 1300 on 4 March 1966, the boys were on the ground in Quang Ngai Province, north of the cluster of hills.
Golf and Kilo had taken Hills 85 and 97 against very light resistance, while the ARVN were working on Hill 50, which was beginning to show sings of being a tough nut to crack, so much so that the ARVN battalion commander was now desperately pleading for 2/7 to support them. As word came in that the ARVN and US Marines were facing the 21st North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Regiment, and that the NVA intended to stand and fight, the Marines’ overall commander, General Platt, immediately called up reinforcements, in the form of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, which would be landed the following day, 5 March 1966.
It took awhile to get into position because the ARVN had been held up and thus weren’t where they were supposed to be, but LtCol Utter (2/7’s commander) got this companies reorganized and moving, now east to west against Hill 50 with Fox Company on the left, Golf in the center, and Hotel on the right, with the ARVN to the battalion’s left. Fox Company’s job was to maintain contact with the ARVN, Hotel’s job was to screen the battalion’s open right (southern) flank, while Golf Company was charged with securing Hill 50.
Naturally, the boys’ platoon was now attached to Golf Company; “Up and at’em, @#$%birds, time to go earn your pay,” Sergeant Garcia said, and they fell in on the far left flank of Golf Company, which was moving east in a company-sized skirmish line, not yet taking fire, though they could hear sounds of battle to their left, where the ARVN were engaged.
Overview, north is up. The center of the west side of Hill 50, showing signs of earlier airstrikes by Marine A-4s and F-4s, runs north to south across the east (right) side of the table, where you can see the hill is honeycombed with NVA defensive positions. There are a few clumps of dense jungle present, but mostly it’s the hill and the open rice paddies to the west, which the Marines will be crossing in skirmish line.The NVA are now occupying their defensive positions: the North Bunker (top center), the South Bunker (bottom right), the AAA Position (top right), and the trenchline running across the hilltop. There is a destroyed bunker at bottom center (taken out by the airstrikes). The Marine mortar team has taken up positions in a hedge in the southwest (bottom left), while the entire squad is fanned out in skirmish line from top left to bottom center left. 1st Fireteam is on the far left, then 2nd Fireteam, the Squad’s command group, and 3rd Fireteam.
A traditional fight: the opposing forces, with the Marines on the left and the NVA on the right. The squad is actually overstrength, with sixteen men, two above their allotted table of organization strength.
And they’ve got a 60mm mortar team attached!
The Marines inch their way forward under heavy fire, taking casualties, in order to close with the NVA bunkers.
Despite a plethora of difficulties, a handful of Marines reach the enemy trenchline on the right flank (left center)!To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-12.htmlNext fight coming soon.
V/R,
JackAll,
1330 Local Time
1 February 1966
Song Ve Valley, RVN
Operation Double EagleDanny was severely unhappy; first Sergeant Garcia had split he and Nik up by putting them in different fireteams, and yesterday Nikki got hit and MEDEVAC’ed to the rear. Despite being in country with the squad for three and a half months now, he felt completely alone without his best friend. After the helos came and resupplied the company, then left carrying their wounded safely away, the company dug in and occupied its night defense positions, posting OP/LPs and going to 50% in the holes. Danny found it impossible to sleep, it was the first time in the field that he and Nik weren’t sharing a hole. The company was up before dawn, and after a quick piss, brushing of the teeth, and some cold C-rats, they stomped in their holes, hoisted their packs, and began sweeping north up the Song Ve Valley.
It was the squad’s turn on point when Sgt Garcia called them to a halt, told them to take a knee while he checked the map and checked in on the radio. They were currently atop a finger of Hill 133, but about to come down into some relatively open terrain, with ridgelines to their left (northwest) and right (southeast), as they pressed ahead to check out a fishing village in the northeast. “Alright, Thomas, you take point, and take it easy, take your time, I got a bad feeling about this one.” “Roger, Sergeant G,” replied Danny.
Overview, north is up. Hill 133 is in the southwest (bottom left), while ridgelines dominate to the northwest (top left) and southeast (bottom right). There’s a hardball road running north-south through the center of the area, with a cluster of rice paddies across the center/left, while thick stands of trees screen the approaches to the village, which sites in the northeast (top right), as well as box in the rice paddies to the west.
The squad is down to seven effectives…
The patrol pushes ahead (center to bottom center to bottom right)…
But then, as they reach the road, a Viet Cong bunker opens fire!To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-11.htmlNext fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
