Vietnam War Timeline

425
14 February 1969
2/B/ 1/35th
Submitted by: Dave Fogg

The following is from the journal Ralph Leebert kept during his tour. Ralph was the squad sergeant for 3rd squad, 2nd platoon, B Co., 1st Bn., 35th Inf., 4th Inf. Div. 1968-69.

Friday, February 14, 1969:

The beginning of the day we were on stand-by to the 7/17 Air Cavalry (Company minus). The third platoon was stand-by for any unit in the brigade. Somewhere around 11:15 a.m., we were given notice as a company to pack up heavy to be CA'd about 4 and one half clicks southwest where a bird, higher was riding in, received rounds.

Twenty minutes later we were going and landing in a field used by Montagnards. The area was prepped with a different type support other than Napalm, yet everything was burning. The first platoon and third platoon were sent out on a platoon size sweep, while two zero (my platoon) secured the landing zone. Approximately thirty minutes after the platoon had left; we received eight mortar rounds to our southwest. Strange as it was to have the dinks try and hit us with mortar rounds, yet, lucky for us that the rounds hit about a hundred meters too far.

Upon this initial contact, Lieutenant Jackson had Redleg fire come in for support. Naturally among all the confusion everybody was digging them a hole. Some used D-handle shovels, others entrenching tools (W.W.II type shovels), and still others used their steel pot. Because I was situated away from the easier implements, I was one of the less fortunate that had to use my steel pot (my battle helmet). I never dreamed this would happen but today was living proof! That is when placed in certain situations, a person will use whatever is available at the time to dig with.

When the artillery support came in, we were pretty well fixed for protection. Afterwards, we saddled up and headed towards a village one and one half clicks southwest. We traveled about three hundred meters and we were in a large wooded area when Lieutenant Mariella told me to take my squad, three men again plus myself (four men were on a SRRP). I explained to the Lieutenant that I was short on men, so Sergeant Redmond gave me his RTO, and three men to go with us. Our mission was to check the area hit with artillery, and we were to estimate the damage, if any. Meanwhile the other two platoons were moving to join us at a rendezvous point already designated.

Because the assignment was given to my squad, I had Lee Ayers walk point, Sam Sica second and then myself. From there I had Redmond's squad follow. I told Lee to follow as close to the field we had crossed but use the trees for cover until we reached our location. After moving approximately 75 meters, we came to the edge of the tree line where the large field had a small arm branch off in front of us. It wasn't very wide, maybe 15 to 20 meters, but we had to cross it to continue our mission. I sent Lee and Sam across first, then Clark (RTO) and I followed. The others followed in succession.

While I was crossing something told me to look to my right front. When I did, I noticed a small hole at the edge of the tree line. Upon reaching the other side I proceeded to the hole. I call Clark over and asked for his opinion. Right away he said it couldn't be an artillery round because the brush around had not been burnt from the impact. I decided then that it had to be a mortar pit that the dinks used against us. I told Clark to call 7-2 and inform him of this. No sooner have we done that than the dinks opened up on us.

Lee and Sam were the furthest up the bank and in the trees already, while the others had started towards my position. First instinct was to hit the ground. Sam rolled down the incline to where we were at the edge of the trees, but Lee was still up on top. I returned fire and someone, I believe Harold Hodge, told me that Lanny Spanninger was still up there. We took a quick head count and discovered Lanny was with us. I held my fire until then, then I told the men to let the dinks know we were here and going to give them some of there own medicine. Then we all returned fire and let them know who was in control Sam informed me of Lee. I figured he had been hit but we did not know how badly. I yelled up to him and he answered. We kept returning fire as the dinks figured they had us. With everything happening so fast, I told Clark to get on the horn and inform 7-2 what had happened. I told him also to get a medical evacuation helicopter. The platoon, when the shooting first started headed for our location. Then the dinks tried to flank us on the left. I had Clark tell the Lieutenant and so the platoon maneuvered in that direction. Still more was to happen. The platoon ran into some dinks. They had (the platoon) M-60 machine gun fire back, which was a wonderful sound to hear. However, we were pinned down and needed help, yet, we maintained our cool and gave a good account of ourselves.

Lee was still up on the hill and wanted us to get him back with us. Probably the thing that I will always remember about today was Lee's voice asking for me to, "go and get him." I told him to be calm and we would be up very soon and bring him back. When the platoon was in a little skirmish, I figured that a golden opportunity and capitalized on the diversion action. So Harold Hodge, Lanny Spanninger and I went up. We would crawl a few feet and fire to our right and left, Lee being to our direct front.

I reached Lee and although he had been hit a couple of times, he was in excellent shape. Of course, I was unable to tell where he was hit and he wasn't able to give me accurate places either. I asked him if he had time to get a few rounds off and he said, "yes." I figured he was fine until the dinks threw a grenade that put some shrapnel wounds into him. He could have received a minor concussion (my own assumption).

The first part was done. We had reached him. I asked him how he wanted us to pull him. He said by his legs, naturally! I tried and it was impossible to move him at first. Hodge the cut his pistol belt and protective mask off. I took off the small branches that had fallen on him, then Hodge and I pulled him about ten feet. During this time, Spanninger was firing our weapons for protective fire. The terrain made moving Lee very difficult. Hodge and I turned Lee over on his back, then picked him up and ran like crazy to reach the bank we were fighting from.

We all felt a lot better once Lee was down from the small incline. Immediately we wanted the medic and a medivac ship. Lee was hit in both legs from AK-47 rounds (Russian made rifle) and shrapnel he took one round in the upper portion of this left arm. He had a cut on top of his head from the shrapnel, plus a cut on the back of his neck. We all knew he was lucky for many reasons. The first was that as close as the dinks were, he did not receive any rounds in the chest or stomach. Second, no major veins or arteries were punctured. Third, even though he had been hit in numerous places, he did not lose much blood.

From all the days fighting the worst part was the medivac ship. It took close to three hours and still we were unable to have Lee extracted. This was done about six in the evening, while the fighting was still going on, by a resupply bird. We made a stretcher with a poncho and two long poles. Then four men (Sergeant Berrong, SP4 Duke, the medic and PFC Hawkins) carried him back across the small field and to the waiting chopper. Back, however, where we were still pinned down, we finially had four men and a machine gun come join us for support. This was done after the platoon finished fighting the dinks to our left. It couldn't have come at a better time and was quite encouraging. Especially since we had little ammo left.

The first platoon was trying to maneuver on the dinks to the right but they kept hitting resistance. They were unable to make much headway for the first half-hour or so. Also along with this, the men with me were told not to fire anymore. The first platoon was possibly in our line of fire. I don't know how that was possible because they would have to be directly in front of us where the dinks are. But still the dinks were no more than 15 to 30 meters from us at the most. And if anything keeping our heads down, whether it was NVA of GI bullets, we complied with the order.

Later the third platoon came upon the scene. They crossed where we were and moved between the first and us to hit the enemy. At last we were told to pull back to the other side and join with the rest of our platoon. We did gladly! In total the entire afternoon was taken by our fighting. And this was supposed to be... Valentines Day? There was no love shown on either side if you ask me.

At night we set up about 75-100 meters from where the fighting took place. We had to dig in, in the dark, but we did not mind. We were still unaware of the number of NVA nor if any were still around. And the thought that stayed with us...they still had the mortar tube.

I was debriefed by the old man and he said we apparently hit a reinforced platoon or a company minus. I am sure thankful that something had me look to my right crossing the open area, if that was the case of the size of the unit we ran into, or more than just Lee would have been hurt or even killed. Once again it is nice to see the day come to a close, and hopefully see the dawning of another morning.