BONG SON- The remote jungled foothills of the Central Highlands north of An Khe were the Brigade's prime area of interest during the first weeks of January as elements of the 2nd and 4th Battalions, 503d Infantry assisted by gunships of Delta Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment conducted Reconnaissance in Force missions throughout the region, seeking out enemy base camps and staging areas.
    Both Infantry Battalions made numerous light contacts during the period and turned up several caches of rice and medical supplies. However, the biggest single contact of the period was made by elements of the 1st Battalion (Mechanized) 50th Infantry when it met a Viet Cong Company along Route 19 and killed nine.
    A single APC from Alpha Company, l/50th accompanied by a Tank from the 1/69th Armor began the contact when they were engaged by enemy mortar and rocket fire. An hour long battle ensued when the remainder of Alpha Company and Helicopter Gunships quickly reinforced. In addition to nine VC killed, the Infantrymen found 7 AK47 rifles, 2 B-40 rocket launchers and an APO machine gun which the routed enemy left in their wake.
    Elsewhere in Operation Walker, 4th Battalion Hawk Ambush teams had considerable success in turning up small encampments including one Battalion-sized VC camp which housed over a ton of rice and three banners with Fidel Castro's picture.
    Two Sky Soldiers from C/4/503d also killed seven VC and captured 7 weapons between them (see stories this page).
    The biggest single discovery, however, was made by A/2/503d which turned up an enemy tunnel hospital complex 40 miles northwest of An Khe. The discovery followed a short firefight with enemy snipers in which the Company killed two. Then, after searching the area, the Paratroopers found three large buildings with beds and a tunnel complex leading away from it. The tunnel complex turned into a hospital which contained three operating tables, a mess hall, sleeping area for 48 and large wheat storage bin.
    The next day, Gunships of Delta Troop 2/1 Cavalry Regiment flying visual Reconnaissance in a nearby area, spotted two groups of VC moving across a valley and killed eight.
    In Operation Cochise/Dan Sinh, the 1/503d made light and scattered contact while operating along the coast north of Qui Nhon, while to the south near Tuy Hoa, D/16th Armor began a large operation with the 47th ARVN Regiment.

    BAO LOC- "It never ceases to amaze me when we find a Viet Cong base camp," said one Paratrooper quietly. "One minute you're thrashing through the jungle and the next, here's this nice clearing and a whole set up, big enough for 200 guys to live."
    The Paratrooper was reflecting on a North Vietnamese base camp his Platoon from Alpha Company, 3d Battalion, 503d Infantry had just discovered near Bao Loc. "The place was really enormous," said Platoon Leader 1Lt Kenneth P. Kuckowicz of Yucca Valley Ca. "It stretched 400 meters long and 200 meters wide, and not a person in sight."
    Within the camp there were 60 huts, 50 defense bunkers, an intricate trench system, a tailor shop, one large and two small classrooms, a small hospital and three mess halls. "It was all just sitting there," continued Kuckowicz, "it could have easily accomodated a Battalion."
    After searching the complex thoroughly, the Sky Soldiers found evidence of recent use by small groups of enemy. They found a pile of North Vietnamese propaganda pamphlets, several boxes of ammunition, medical books, documents and a miniature firing range.
    "I guess it was really lucky there wasn't anybody around," reflected the Platoon Leader. "We were working along as a Platoon and if the place had been occupied, we would have been in world of trouble." Other Infantrymen operating with Task Force South were brought into the area and the base camp was destroyed.

    BONG SON- Paratroopers of the 173d Airborne Brigade were recent uninvited guests at a Viet Cong fish fry which wound up as a hot firefight.
    The Infantrymen from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry, had just passed through a small fishing village along South Vietnam's north central coast when they spotted two Viet Cong standing by a hut wearing camouflaged shirts, red shorts and carrying rifles. Both VC spotted the troopers and yelled, but Pfc Dennis M. Baker of Arlington Washington, quickly fired up one with a burst from his M-16.
    A barrage of fire then erupted from the hut and the firefight began. "They had a B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) at the door providing cover, while the rest retreated into the nearby jungle said Baker.
    When the firing subsided, the Paratroopers entered the hut and found three Viet Cong dead and pot of boiling water with fish and rice stacked alongside.

    AN KHE- The first rays of the early morning sun began to warm the steel hulk of the APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) as it crept up the hill. Two lone figures walking in front were carefully searching the surrounding terrain.
    Heads suddenly jerked around as a thunderous explosion ripped through the earth sending rocks, dirt and steel fragments spinning into the air. A Lieutenant grabbed his radio and spurted words into the hand set. He smiled, "No sweat, number three just blew a mine." A look of relief was on the faces of the two men as they once again turned and began their search.
     It was a routine day for Alpha Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized) 50th Infantry. Their mission, clear the roads of mines and enemy troops, set up strong points and keep Highway 19 secure for the many convoys that haul tons of needed suppies daily.
   The Lieutenant looked toward his men, "Let's snap it up men. Those convoys will be. ." "Hold it Ed ! Don't Move !" shouted Sp4 Lee Taylor of Bedford Va. The APC jerked to a halt. Pfc Edward Robertson of Reading Pa, had frozen in his tracks, his eyes searching from left to right for the danger. "Just to your right front Ed, over there," Taylor pointed and both men began easing up on the spot.
    The two men were on their hands and knees now inching forward, gently probing with their knives. Robertson's knife stopped as it hit something metallic. Beads of sweat rolled from his brow as the two men very slowly began removing the dirt from the mine. The mine was marked and the two men moved on. A few minutes later they uncovered another mine. "Both were big enough to flip a tank on it's back like it was a tin can," commented Robertson. "Not a bad day though, a few weeks ago we got eight mines in one morning," Taylor remarked.

    BAO LOC- This time there was more than monkeys on Monkey Mountain.
    At least, this is what Paratroopers of the 3rd Battalion, 503d Infantry, discovered as they climbed the heavily jungled hill 80 miles north of Saigon.
    Named for the abundance and variety of monkeys which lived there, 'Monkey Mountain', near Bao Loc, had been combed several times by the Infantrymen of the 3d Battalion. But, they had never found anything of significance.
    This time however, as the Paratroopers of Alpha Company, working as part of Task Force South, began their trek up the hillside, they noticed something different. Platoon Sergeant Carl Miller of Metropilis Ill, and Sergeant Jerome Lyford of Westport Conn, had moved to the head of the column when they spotted two figures retreating from them through the brush. "They were dressed in black pajamas and carrying weapons," said PSG Miller. "They sure weren't monkeys."
    First Lieutenant Stephan J.Tunks of Omaha Neb, quickly began pushing his Platoon up the hill toward the retreating enemy. "It was real thick foliage," said 1Lt Tunks, "and tough to move through. But, we were making pretty good progress until we came under fire." The barrage came from several hidden positions near the hillcrest and included everything from machine gun fire to B-40 rockets.
    Calling in Artillery support, the Paratroopers bombarded the crest for nearly two hours before moving up. At the summit they found a Company Headquarters base camp with 16 large camouflaged huts, a series of well fortified bunkers and a trench system.
    The Viet Cong had left behind a pile of documents, an AK47 rifle and several boxes of ammunition and grenades. "I guess they figured we wouldn't be coming up this way again," said 1Lt Tunks with a smile.

    BONG SON- The old adage that 'Good Guys always wear white hats' doesn't hold up when talking about the 173d Military Police Platoon. The black helmeted MP's primary function is helping, not harrassing the men of the 173d Airborne Brigade.
    Arriving in 1965 with the advance party of the Brigade, the MP Platoon has the distinction of being the first Combat Ready Military Police Platoon in Vietnam.While maintaining their base of operations at Bien Hoa, 35 miles north of Saigon, the MP's performed many duties in addition to directing traffic and awarding DR's.
    They were called upon many times to serve as Infantrymen with the line units and many of them served as Door Gunners which were sorely needed on Helicopter Gunships. Augmenting their Combat duties, the MP's executed their regular jobs, to include patrolling the towns and villages, escorting resupply convoys, establishing traffic control points guarding the gates and maintaining compounds for detainees.
    In 1966, the Brigade became the first unit to move into the muddy MeKong Delta. Adding to their mission, the Military Police provided guards for interrogation teams, controlled refugees, supplied guards for Civil Affairs teams and conducted Reconnaissance of roads and bridges. Numerous enemy were encountered, but the MP's never lost a man.
    The Military Police Platoon actively supported the Brigade in 16 major operations during 1966, carrying them as far north as Da Nang where they assisted the Marines. They added to their duties by performing perimeter security for Fire Support Bases and for Engineers who were busy with construction.
    The next year saw the MP Sky Soldiers participating in the first Combat Parachute Assault in Vietnam, Operation Junction City, thereby distinguishing themselves as the only Military Police in Vietnam to have made a Combat Blast. Once on the ground they established and maintained PW Compounds, secured Engineer work parties and once again served in an Infantry capacity.
    The year 1967 also brought with it the largest single battle of the war, Dak To. During the battle the MP's provided mobile fire power for the urgently needed supply convoys and secured both the roads and the airstrip.
    Presently located in four widely spread areas, Tuy Hoa, Bao Loc, An Khe and Bong Son, the 173d MP Platoon consists of 63 Enlisted men and one Officer. They operate under the control of the Provost Marshall Office located at LZ English.
    Although involved in a variety of missions, particular emphasis is placed on maintaining internal law and order by rigidly enforcing Brigade regulations and policies. Subject to much verbal and sometimes physical abuse, the 173d MP remains a special breed of man, dedicated to his job and to the welfare of the Paratroopers of the 173d Airborne Brigade.

    BAO LOC- He has seen war. Staff Sergeant Vu Diep has served 31 months with the 173d Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. An interpreter, Diep has seen action with all of the Battalions, starting his tour in Bien Hoa.
    The 27 year-old Diep had his roughest test at Dak To one year ago. "For eighteen days and nights we were wet and cold under continuous enemy fire, said the Saigon native. One night at Dak To, Diep nearly cashed in his chips. "I was sitting and talking to an Officer," he said. "The Officer asked me if I would kill my own people in battle. I told him yes, that it was a civil war just as in America one hundred years ago, and there was no alternative but to resist the north." Just as the officer was offering his last cigarette to Diep, three NVA in the brush opened up on them with AK-47's. The NVA were less than 10 meters away through the thick foliage and apparently heard Diep and the Officer talking. "Bullets were bouncing all around me," said Diep with a scowl on his face as he recalled the moment. "Miraculously, however, no one was hurt as the NVA emptied their clips." Diep, the Officer and just about everyone else in the perimeter opened up on the NVA, dropping them dead in their tracks.
    The Officer was later killed "The good ones all went that way," Diep lamented. Diep himself realizes that he has been lucky. After three years in the field, he still has not sustained a wound. "Four interpreters have been killed and five wounded during the time I've been with the Brigade," he said.
    Diep has seen action in Ban Me Thuot, Kontum, An Khe, Bong Son and now with the 3rd Platoon in Bao Loc. He does not go to the field as much as he used to. He spends his time instructing new interpreters and making sure they do their work. "I'm sort of the NCOIC for interpreters," said Diep.
    An Officer nearby observed, "After what he has seen and been through, he deserves a little ghost time. There is no DEROS for him.''

Two can play the game.

    Much to their chagrin, that's what Viet Cong and NVA are now learning in the 173d Airborne Brigade's areas of operation.
    Long a master at small-team ambushes, the VC/NVA have begun to learn exactly what it feels like to be hunted by unseen snipers and ambush squads. Nicknamed 'Hawk' teams, small bands of Paratroopers are now roving into jungled enemy sanctuaries with regularity and blasting away at the unsuspecting enemy soldiers.
    A typical recent foray was staged by Team Bravo of the 74th Infantry Detachment. Alerted to a possible infiltration route in the An Lao Valley, northwest of Bong Son, the team was dropped into the valley and situated itself on the side of a hill overlooking a crossing point through a stream below them.
    "We set up our ambush site about 600 meters away from the stream," said team leader Sergeant Cameron McAllister of Omaha Neb. After a short wait, the troopers spotted a lone figure crossing the stream, but held their fire, assuming he was the point element for a larger group. Correct in their assumption, the Sky Soldiers soon saw nine more enemy approaching the water.
    "We waited until they were in the middle of the stream," said McAllister, "Then I opened up with my M-60 machine gun and the rest of the team with their M-16's. It didn't take long." Five enemy were killed in the action.

    BONG SON- The face of Landing Zone English has changed radically during recent weeks due to an accelerated proram of rebuilding by the 173d Engineer Company.
    Perhaps the most significant of me new projects is a new 18-man Admission and Disposition ward for Company B (Medical) which is currently nearing completion. The massive underground structure being built by the Engineers is 96 feet long and 24 feet wide, with capacity for 18 litter cases and many more mobile personnel. Included in its facilities will be a dental clinic, 16 treatment rooms, hot and cold running water and fluorescent lighting. "The new ward will provide maximum security and safety for the Patients, Doctors and Medics," reported Major William P. Winkler, the Brigade Surgeon. Covered by more than four feet of dirt, the complex is conveniently located to the airfield and helicopter landing zone and will be easily accessible for the Medics to quickly treat their patients.
    Brigade Engineer, Major Karl F. Schmid pointed out that the Engineers moved along quite well with the project despite being considerably hindered by the rains. Other significant projects recently completed have been a new chapel and new BOQ's for Field Grade Officers.
The chapel project, directed by Engineer Platoon Sergeant John C. Miedema, can seat upwards to 150 soldiers and provides LZ English with its first real Church since the LZ was constructed.

    BONG SON- Despite a jammed weapon and a hail of enemy gunfire, a Kit Carson scout recently led a Platoon from the 2nd Battalion in savage assault which resulted in eight enemy dead.
    Le Tai, a former Viet Cong, who came over to the government forces, was working with Company B, 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry when the action occured along South Vietnam's north central coast near Bong Son. "Tai was out near the front of our element," said 1Lt Francis J. Miles of North Vernon In, "when he thought he spotted two VC near a thatched hut." The point element radioed back to check if friendly forces might be in the area, but it proved unnecessary because the VC suddenly opened fire.

Takes Charge

Chieu Hoi