Vietnam War Timeline

183
7 September 1968
Bravo 2/35th
Submitted by: Gary W. Lee

On September 7, 1968 Co. B 2/35th was in Bam Me Thout. Early that morning we were ordered to saddle up and move out to the LZ. We had no idea where we were going. After about twenty minutes on the choppers we landed at a firebase in Quang Duc Province near Duc Lap. It was occupied by the 173rd Airborne, which had been attacked hours earlier. We were the first company to arrive there from the 2/35th Infantry. The artillery communications conex was still smoldering. Sappers had penetrated the perimeter and one got into the conex and blew it up killing the artillery CO. The 105's fired beehive rounds during the attack. Dead sappers were lying on the ground in their underwear. The attack caused considerable damage to the base and they needed our support in reinforcing their defensive positions.

The next day while our platoon was out on patrol, we discovered some enemy bunkers. Since the 173rd firebase was visible from that location, we assumed it was used as a staging area for the assault against them. We were unaware at the time that the NVA was mounting an offensive to cut Vietnam in half at the Quang Duc Province where the US II and III Corps areas joined and their forces were concentrated in Duc Lap near the Cambodian border. We were unwittingly about to be thrown in the middle of this turmoil to prevent them from accomplishing their mission.

All friendly forces in Duc Lap were being attacked around the same time. The ARVN forces there were either neutralized or ejected from the area. Some RF/PF remained. A SF camp located near an airstrip was hit hard and they struggled to maintain their own defenses. The rest of the battalion had moved into Duc Lap and we were now operating at full strength. Our mission was to take control of the Quang Duc Province. Now it was up to us along with all friendly forces in the area to drive the NVA out and once again restore stability there.

On September 10, 1968 Bravo Company left the firebase. While we were out humping the boonies searching for the NVA, we came upon the remains of a village, which had been overrun. It had been burnt to the ground with nothing left standing. There were no signs of life whatsoever and I recall the eerie feeling that came over me while walking through it.

The next day we found some enemy bunkers and the skeletal remains of a NVA soldier inside a poncho, near where we set up our nightlogger. The following morning we moved out further into the boonies and after humping all day approached a bombed out area, which turned rough terrain into what seemed to be an obstacle course. Many trees had been blown out of the ground from a previous airstrike and I had a gut feeling that any time now something was about to go down.

On Friday, September 13, 1968 Bravo Company moved out around 7:15 a.m. and shortly afterwards as we approached hill 691, I heard shots coming from the point area. I'm not sure whether it was the first or second platoon on point but they were located on the southwest side of the hill. We were up against a company of NVA and they were dug in deep.

My squad was near the 3rd platoon CP. A large tree lying on the ground provided good cover for us. The point element was so close to the NVA that we were prevented from using artillery and air strikes. It turned into one big shoot-out. Enemy fire was extremely heavy and included semi-automatic weapons, machine guns, hand grenades and mortars.

As we advanced up the hill we encountered heavy resistance from the NVA. Some of us from the 3rd platoon attempted to crawl up the hill on the enemy's right flank. We were spotted and came under heavy small arms fire, which caused us to pull back behind the fallen tree. The NVA fired mortars down the hill towards our position and the last round they fired landed in front of that tree. The tree turned out to be a blessing in disguise since we had no other cover, without it that would have been it for us.

Friendly mortars and artillery blocking fires were placed to the north of hill 691. The platoon positioned behind the point element was maneuvered to the east to relieve the pressure from the platoon that was in heavy contact on the southwest side of the hill. This tactic proved to be successful as they reached the top of the hill and engaged the enemy's left flank. The NVA realized the size of the platoon and attacked them. The attack was repulsed and the platoon was withdrawn. Around 2:30 p.m. the entire company withdrew to the southwest and formed a perimeter, so that air support and artillery could be utilized.

None of our guys let up on the NVA. The battle was very intense from the moment the first shot was fired. I'll never forget seeing the wounded crawl down the hill while under heavy fire, and our medics and others helping those that couldn't. When all was said and done we had 3 KIA and 24 WIA. Now years later I was told by one of the wounded that some of the casualties were caused by our own helicopter gunships.

In the middle of the night the NVA slipped away. Our LP's detected red flashlights going down the trails. That day will remain with me forever. Reality had now set in and we knew we would have to meet the challenges that lay ahead of us. After all, this was only the beginning of what Duc Lap was all about. Unfortunately, this wouldn't be the last time something like this would happen, but that's another story in itself.

In memory of Sgt. Larry Gambotto, SP/4 Manuel Ortiz and Pfc. Everett Planck who gave their all that day and to our 24 wounded brothers of Co. B 2/35th we salute you.

Gary W. Lee
Co. B 2/35th 68-69