Jungle Warriors, Crime Fighters

Author

Chapter 1

KC Huntington was close to completing his tour in Vietnam, eagerly looking forward to going home. During the earlier stages of his deployment, KC had experienced a few close calls while serving as a platoon leader and when conducting reconnaissance patrols, but since he’d received the assignment to be Assistant Operations Officer of the 3rd Marine Regiment, things had remained relatively secure.

During the six-month period immediately prior to KC’s arrival in that position at Camp Carrol, the North Vietnamese Army had frequently launched Russian-made BM21 122mm rockets onto the Artillery Plateau, where the 3rd Marines were headquartered. When KC was informed of this, he researched the rocket’s capabilities, studied the terrain north of the fire base and figured out where the NVA launch site must be. A recon patrol was sent to the area and sure enough, they spotted it right away. The patrol called an artillery mission on the launch site and from that time on, Camp Carrol received almost no incoming rocket fire.

With two weeks to go until his orders home were due to arrive, KC was counting down the final days. Then orders came for 3rd Marine headquarters to change places with the 4th Marines stationed in Quang Tri City, about fifteen miles southwest of Camp Carroll. There were no associated troop relocations in the order, only the command elements were moving. The commanding officer, Colonel Moretti, plus the section commanders and staff of the personnel, intelligence, operations, transportation and logistics, communications, the regimental surgeon and their staffs would proceed to Quang Tri. Staying behind to brief the 4th Marine’s Commanders on current operations in the area would be none other than the Assistant Operations Officer, KC. Along with KC staying back were three radio operators, a clerk, and the regimental executive officer. It was anticipated that after a brief orientation for the new team arriving, these remaining six would depart on the last chopper.

Early on the day of the exchange, the forward elements of 3rd Marines left for Quang Tri. Two hours later, the forward elements of the 4th Marines arrived at Camp Carroll and KC began briefing their Operations Officer on the current situation. Four hours later, KC had completed the briefing and told the Air Liaison team to order a chopper to take the last six from 3rd Marines to Quang Tri.

The chopper’s on its way, the radio operator told KC. Have your men ready to go. Fog is coming in from the coast and there’s no time to spare.

Before KC even could nod or acknowledge, deafening noise rattled the bunker. Incoming rocket and artillery fire descended on Camp Carroll. It was intermittent at first and KC figured they were being hit with spotting rounds. Unfortunately, he was right. Soon a steady barrage began.

Just as the incoming became more intense, a member of the Air Liaison team came from the lower section of the COC/Combat Operations Center to inform KC that the helicopter was not going to land.

Let me talk to them, KC said.

A clerk handed KC a radio handset and KC introduced himself to the helicopter pilot.

The chopper pilot asked, Sir, are you taking incoming?

It’s just started, KC replied.

The pilot told him, Sir, our standing orders are to not land at a fire base that’s taking incoming.

KC assumed that the incoming was only going to get worse and that the best option for the remaining six to get out was to proceed, by whatever means necessary, with their planned move. KC’s voice was firm and calm as he responded to the chopper pilot. Here’s what you do. Fly in low from the valley to our South, get close to the plateau and sneak up the side of the hill to the Landing Zone. When you’re a minute out, let me know and we’ll be on the LZ by the time you land. You’ll be on the ground less than thirty seconds.

How many of you are there? the pilot asked.

Me and five more.

The pilot paused then replied, Ok, get your guys ready and we’ll call you when we’re a minute out.

KC went back upstairs and told everyone what they needed to do. He emphasized to his men that no matter what, once they started for the LZ, they were to run full speed and to stop for nothing. The clerk’s voice yelled from below, The chopper’s a minute out!

Go! KC shouted.

KC followed the five out of the COC and all sprinted toward the LZ. Artillery and rocket rounds were exploding everywhere around them. A hundred yards out, KC saw one of his radio operators dive down to the ground and lie flat in a slight depression in the earth with his hands over his head. KC raced over to him and bellowed, Get your ass up! Get going now or stay here in this shit all night!

That’s all it took to motivate the radioman to run like hell to the LZ. Just as they got to the LZ, the chopper climbed up out of the valley and set down. The six clambered aboard and the chopper shook for a few seconds, then began its liftoff. KC looked out the side door where he sat and saw a round explode right underneath the helicopter. His first thought was to wonder how the round got through the rotors without hitting one of them. Then he realized that if the NVA had fired that round five seconds earlier, it would have hit the chopper dead center.

The remainder of the flight to Quang Tri was thankfully uneventful. The six rejoined the others at their new headquarters and it seemed to KC that he was the only one who understood how important it had been to leave Camp Carroll and how close they’d come to not making it.

After being briefed by the operations officer, his boss, Major Colombo, KC went to review the perimeter defensive positions and determine how effective their fields of fire were, with particular emphasis on machine gun placement. KC found what he thought could be the best approach for an NVA assault and he repositioned two additional machine guns to cover that section. He also arranged for a listening post to be stationed outside the perimeter in that same area. When he arrived back at the COC, everyone was standing in a huddle, all seemingly talking at once. KC joined the group and quickly learned that Major Colombo had been reassigned to the 26th Marines in Khe Sanh and would be picked up for transport within the hour. KC had enjoyed working for him and wasn’t pleased about his departure. KC also wondered who Major Colombo’s replacement would be and he asked Colonel Moretti about it. The colonel replied, As of now, I’ve heard nothing. So, for the time being, it’s you.

This shake-up had the potential to be a big setback for KC’s plans to go home on schedule. They would never let him leave until a replacement for the major had been assigned. And worse, would they let him go home before a replacement for his own position had been assigned and brought up to speed? Plus, what could they possibly be thinking to allow a mere 1st Lieutenant to be the regimental operations S-3 officer?

What had been, only a couple of days previously, a relatively predictable and safe ending to his tour had now become a real mess. With less than two weeks to go, KC’s situation had devolved into a quagmire of uncertainty. And it didn’t help that the NVA were stepping up their bombardment of Khe Sanh, moving more forces across the DMZ and frequently firing mortars and rockets into the compound in Quang Tri.

Two days later, just over a week before KC was scheduled to receive orders home, the 3rd Marine headquarters, along with the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Marines (now attached to the 3rd Marines), were ordered to set up a new fire base just west of Highway 1, a few miles north of their Quang Tri City location. As soon as the new encampment and perimeter had been established, two things happened, both positive in KC’s mind. The first, a new operations officer, Major Forrest, arrived. KC was glad to have a new boss, especially because he was no longer in charge of operations and would seemingly be free to go home when his orders arrived. The second was the arrival of the army’s Hundred and First Airborne Division, who set up their base of operations about three quarters of a mile south of the 3rd Marines. This seemed like a great event. The 101st would be able to actively patrol the area to the west and by doing so, detect any major NVA buildup.

KC was concerned that enemy forces could infiltrate the staging areas westerly of their current base and do so undetected, thus enabling a ground attack from relatively close in. He was pleased to see the Army unit’s arrival, but soon learned there was a problem. The troops of the 101st had been dropped off somewhere in the Cua Vet Valley, too far away to provide support for the Army and Marine bases. It was only their helicopters that had arrived in Quang Tri.

KC looked beyond the firebase perimeter and then went back to the COC and studied the topographical maps of the terrain to the west. He became more convinced that they needed to patrol that area. He approached Major Forrest and explained his views on the vulnerability of their position.

The major asked, So, you want to send patrols out there?

KC replied, Yes, Sir, I do, but not on foot. It’s too far to do that safely. I think that we should approach the Army and ask to use their choppers to take our men out there.

They’ll never go for that. Marines on army choppers? It’s never been done and I doubt that this army unit would want to be the first to try it.

But Sir, their choppers are as vulnerable to a ground attack as our troops are. We both would be well served by having patrols out there.

Well, I’m sure as hell not going to ask them.

Sir, would you mind if I approached the colonel about this? KC asked.

Go ahead, but he’ll tell you the same thing that I just did.

Not to be dissuaded from pursuing something that he felt was of paramount importance, KC approached Colonel Moretti. After he had explained the situation and carefully laid out his reasons for asking the army for chopper transportation, the colonel replied, Son, there’s no way in hell that an army general is going to take Marines into a potential combat situation on his choppers.

Well, Sir, that’s exactly what Major Forrest said, but I think that it’s important enough that we should ask anyway.

Lieutenant, that’s just not something that is done. I can’t go to an army general and suggest to him that I have a better use for his choppers than he does. It’s totally against protocol.

I understand your point, Sir, but would it be all right with you if I try to speak with the general?

Are you kidding me? He wouldn’t take you seriously. Forget it.

Sir, it wouldn’t bother me at all if he thinks I’m crazy or simply dismisses me because of my rank. What can it hurt for me to try?

When you put it that way, I guess it wouldn’t hurt anything but your ego when he throws you out, so go ahead, if you really want to do it, the colonel said.

"Yes, Sir. Do I have your permission to commit our troops if he agrees?’

How many troops are we talking about?

Sir, if we run three squad-size patrols each day, I think we can cover the critical areas.

Ok, I’ll let you commit one platoon’s worth of Marines to this.

Thank you, Sir. KC said. Sir, we’d also need to have a standby force ready to go in case one of the patrols gets into trouble.

I understand. But you’re thinking way ahead of yourself. This will never fly, pun intended.

Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.

How do you intend to approach the general?

Sir, he’s less than a mile away. I’ll walk over there.

Goodbye, Lieutenant. Good luck.

As KC walked down Highway 1, he had three thoughts. First, to remind himself to look out for any fresh road repairs that could be mines. Second, to be aware of where snipers could be hiding if they wanted to take a shot at him. And third, to plan how he was going to convince the commanding officer of the 101st Airborne Division to let him use some of his choppers.

KC knew that the major and colonel had refused to approach the general because they didn’t want to suffer the humiliation of being laughed out of his tent. But KC could not care less about that possibility. His goal was to do what he felt necessary to augment the security of the two bases, and to be totally honest, to avoid getting overrun by the NVA while trying to get home.

The walk was so short that KC didn’t have time to fully formulate his approach. When he arrived at the army gate, he introduced himself to the guards and asked to see the general. A brief call was made and KC was directed to one of the tents in the compound. A guard at the tent entrance asked KC who he was, told him to wait and disappeared inside. The guard soon reappeared and told KC to enter.

Sitting at a metal desk near the rear of the tent, alone, was a large rather swarthy-looking man with gold stars on his utility collar. He had a broad smile on his face as KC approached and said in a loud but friendly voice, What can I do for you, Lieutenant?

Sir, I’m very concerned that our two bases are vulnerable to an NVA ground attack because we aren’t able to conduct proper patrolling to the west. I’ve studied the map and determined that there are three good avenues of approach that the NVA could use if they were going to attack us. However, those areas are too far out to send foot patrols to surveil them.

Do you have a solution to that problem?

Sir, we have the troops that could conduct the required patrols and you have the helicopters that could take them there. I’d like for our troops to be dropped in close proximity to those areas by your helicopters.

The general got a big smile on his face and said, Why, I think that’s a great idea!

KC was so surprised by that response that he didn’t know what to say next.

Fortunately, the general saved him when he continued, How would we do this and when?

Sir, how many men are in your helicopter teams? KC asked.

We go five men per.

Yes, Sir, that’s what I thought. Our teams are typically seven or ten men, depending on which choppers are used. We’ll establish five-man chopper teams. Our squads are fourteen men, so we’ll need three choppers per squad, we’ll send three squads, so nine choppers total is all we’ll need. But there’s one other thing. We’ll have a two-platoon standby force ready to go if one of the patrols gets into trouble. So, we’d need another eighteen or twenty choppers ready to transport them if that were to happen.

No problem. I can do that and I’ll do you one better. We’ll be ready to fly your reinforcements out there and if it becomes necessary, I’ll send a whole squadron of choppers out to the Cua Vet Valley, pick up a bunch of my guys and bring them back to help reinforce your guys. So, that’s the answer to one of my questions, now, when will you be ready to go?

Sir, we should do this right away. I can have three squads divided into five-man helicopter teams ready to go by 0700 tomorrow morning.

Fine. Why don’t you bring them here at 0630. We’ll go over our procedures, call signs, proposed LZs and all the other logistics at that time.

Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir. I feel better about our perimeter security already. I’ll be here at 0630, KC said.

Bring them right outside this tent. I’ll see you in the morning. Goodbye, Lieutenant.

Goodbye, Sir.

Chapter 2

Once KC was beyond the guard gate, he took off in a sprint. He didn’t think for even one second about mines or snipers. He was totally consumed with getting the three squads and the standby force ready to go. KC burst into the COC tent in search of Major Forrest. The major was looking at the large situation map and speaking to Colonel Moretti. KC approached them and explained what had happened in his meeting.

Major Forrest said, I had an inkling that maybe a reasonable army general might see our point.

Colonel Moretti followed with, Yeah, not that I expected it to happen so soon, but it seems he’s gotten himself acclimated to the DMZ area already.

I’ll get the Battalion Commander in here and give him his marching orders, Major Forrest said.

Good, tell him to have his three squads here at 0600. You, I and KC will take them over to the army compound and make sure that they are received properly over there.

KC couldn’t help but think that he definitely didn’t need them to go with him in the morning. He also knew that since there was no longer any risk of rejection, these two would want to be seen as the originators of the idea and from this point forward, they would be competing with each other for any credit that might come to the 3rd Marines regarding this operation. He also knew that the Battalion Commander of 3/4 would receive no credit, no matter what his troops accomplished. But none of that mattered to KC. He was going to get what he’d wanted and was no more concerned about receiving credit for what was done than he was about mines and snipers on his run back to base.

At 0600 the next morning, three squads of Marines, forty-two men total, stood outside the 3rd Marine’s COC, ready to go on patrol. Major Forrest stepped forward to address the troops and KC could see their eyes glaze over. He knew that the last thing that these guys needed was a pep talk from the regimental S-3. They stood there and absorbed it and responded with a lackluster Yes, Sir when the major finally ended by asking if they were ready to go. As they got onto the road, the troops automatically formed two columns, one on each edge of the road, each man following five yards behind the man in front of him. The three officers walked between the columns, in the middle of the road. When they arrived at the army gate, they were passed straight through. The men followed KC’s lead toward the general’s tent. He was already outside waiting for them.

The general approached KC, smiling and said, Nice to see you again, Lieutenant. The major and the colonel approached but the army general ignored them, saying, Ok, let’s get started. I need the three squad leaders to come forward.

The three Marine Sergeants split from their ranks and joined KC and the army general. He turned to his right and called out, Sergeant Williams, front and center. Gentlemen, Staff Sergeant Williams will brief you on our helicopter procedures, the call signs and frequencies we’ll be using while you’re airborne and on patrol, how we’ll be in contact for picking you up early this evening, prospective LZs for insertion and extraction. Sergeant Williams, see to it.

Yes, Sir.

Lieutenant, come inside. I’d like to speak with you. The general proceeded inside his tent and KC followed as ordered.

Son, I’m pretty sure that I can read between the lines on this. I think that you came up with this idea and your bosses didn’t like it. But when you succeeded in pulling it off, they immediately changed their minds. Is that about right?

Yes, Sir, I think that sums it up.

I’m going to go out there and introduce myself to them. I won’t address what we’ve just chatted about so as to not cause you any trouble. But I wanted you to know that I appreciate the fact that you came to me and that I wish my own operations people had come up with the idea instead of you. It’s now my plan that once my troops are done with their job in the valley that I’ll have them sweep the areas that you’ve identified on their way back. Then I’ll send the choppers to bring them the rest of the way. After that, my troops can assume these distant patrol responsibilities. It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Lieutenant. Good luck.

Thank you, Sir. You know, Sir, it’s just occurred to me that as long as we and you are based here in such close proximity, we should set up some sort of ongoing liaison system.

We should. I’ll address that with your commanding officer. Let’s go.

As soon as the army general exchanged pleasantries with the senior officers of the 3rd Marines and they all agreed to establish a permanent liaison system with each other’s units, the three Marine officers left. By that time, the patrols were airborne. When they reached the road, KC was feeling so good that he couldn’t resist saying, Colonel, Major, watch the road carefully for mines and keep an eye out for snipers. The look on their faces was priceless and it was hard for KC not to crack a smile.

During the following few days, the patrols ran mostly without enemy contact. On one occasion, some NVA movement was spotted in the distance and an artillery fire mission was called in on the area. Other than that, things were fairly quiet but for a random rocket or mortar round being fired into the 101st Airborne’s compound. One of those rounds killed the division executive officer, a man KC had not yet met. On another day, a relatively heavy rocket barrage was launched into the 3rd Marine’s compound but no casualties resulted. During those short few days, Major Forrest, who had just arrived in country, leaned heavily on KC’s experience and knowledge of the NVA. Each night, he kept KC in the COC until long after 2400 hours and then sent someone to wake him shortly after 0500. KC didn’t mind the long hours. He knew it wouldn’t last long, plus, he figured any help he could provide would serve the major well, once KC had gone home.

On the fourth day after the patrols had begun, KC’s orders arrived. Orders home had also arrived for another Marine, First Sergeant Henry Top Jackson. An impromptu party was scheduled for 1800 in the tent that served as the staff and officer’s club. Colonel Moretti said a few kind words about the service of these two Marines, proposed a toast and everyone cheered. About the time that most were on their second drink, the sound of fireworks was heard, coming from the direction of Quang Tri City. Everyone figured that the Tet holiday, the Vietnamese New Year celebration, had officially begun and the accompanying agreed-upon ceasefire would be welcomed.

However, after about fifteen minutes, the explosions intensified, and then Marine machine guns began to fire. Soon after, incoming rockets and mortars landed within the compound. It was confusing because everyone knew that Tet was the biggest holiday in Vietnam and that a ceasefire had been agreed to by North and South to include U.S. bombing in the North and all ground and air action throughout the South.

By 2200, all hostile activity had stopped. Reports came in that Khe Sanh had been hit with a continuous barrage of artillery rounds and that a heavy ground attack was ongoing in Hue. Beyond that, things had returned mostly back to normal as far as KC and Sergeant Jackson knew. They had another drink and agreed to meet at 0700 for a Jeep ride up Highway 1 to Dong Ha and then a C130 flight to Danang where they’d board World Airlines, the civilian-run charter. And then they would fly home.

Chapter 3

In the morning, the sun was bright and all was quiet when the two homebound Marines met at the motor pool. They jumped into the Jeep and their driver immediately headed out for the Dong Ha airstrip that was nothing more than steel matting laid out in a jungle clearing. Their short trip north was uneventful but when they arrived at the airstrip,