122 days, 1 Feb/68
Still here, I guess things weren’t as bad as they seemed, but bad none the
less. From 6:00 last night when they ran us out of the mess hall with a couple
of mortar rounds on the edge of town. To the present time we have had probably
a mortar attack every 4 or 5 hours. The thing that makes it not so bad is that
each attack consisted of only 4 to 15 rounds, and some small sniper fire. We
were up nearly all night last night and have manned the bunkers about 4 times
today.
All we’ve had so for is some very unsettling harassment attacks – no one
hurt, no rounds in our compound. We have about 8 ARVN companies as town
security, including one armored unit, with US-made tracks. So we are not
unprotected after all. We also have chopper and artillery support, which isn’t
too good in the mornings when the fog is like soup.
The roads are still closed. Some idiot said he wanted us to secure a convoy
from Bao Trai to Cu Chi, but somebody higher up and not so stupid, said nix.
Pretty wise decision, considering the fact that there was heavy fighting in
downtown Cu Chi and a company of enemy along the road somewhere between here
and there; not to mention any mines that have grown under the road. So, still
no pay, no mail, and our refrigerator is out of Coke. War is hell!
Things are getting better though. The well is slowly regaining its level,
so now we can flush with the handle instead of a bucket. Our showers are still
with water bags form the small well.
Another good turn of events – there have been over 5000 VC killed in the
past 4 days, in southern South Vietnam.
Keep in mind that the 4-day period was supposed to have been a truce.
Finally and most important to us – some ARVNs (about a company) went our
this evening right after the last 4 or 5-round “attack” and, with the support
of two gunships and friendly mortars from town, killed 9 VC, captured several
light weapons, ammo, 2 RPG rounds, and one lovely mortar tube.
Everyone was pretty sure there was only one tube doing the harassment, and
I guess the ARVNs finally spotted the position from the water tower. The report
– 2 mortar tubes and 60 rounds of ammo captured. Maybe, just maybe, we can
sleep tonight.
121 days, 2 Feb/68, Fri.
No such luck. We were hit at 3:00, 4:30, and 6:00 this morning. The 4:30
attack lasted for nearly an hour and 15 minutes. There was a 15 minute pause
and then 7 more rounds at 6:00. Still none landing in the compound. Still, no
sleep for a second night.
We went out about 500 meters from town and walked around looking for sighs
of VC, etc. Found a few, blew a few bunkers and holes, and then came back in.
we slept till 3:00 this afternoon.
So far, nothing has come n tonight, but it’s early yet. I go on the tower
at 6:00. The past 2 nights the guys have said that rounds were coming pretty
close to the water tower. Hope the stay away tonight.
120 days, 3 Feb/68, Sat.
At about 2:30 last night 3 rounds hit the town’s outer edge, then there was
silence. I had to time to spot any muzzle flashes. So, no artillery. The night
before last, during the first barrage, the tower spotted the flashes and the
artillery did silence the tube temporarily. It was in a different spot the
second time.
Again, at 4:30, after a dense fog had moved in, and we couldn’t even see
the base of the tower, 5 rounds hit the berm on the compound. One MACV guard
had light shrapnel wounds and the rest were just scared.
In the fog there was no way to see where the rounds came from or what was out
in front of the berm. They suspected RPG2s and fired the 106 at positions known
to have been used in the large attack – no more RPGs came in.
I believe the 106 is the loudest weapon the Army has. I thought they hit
the compound with an H-bomb. They had set the sights on the known positions
while it was still light, so they are sure they hit it. They used the bee-hive
round – air burst at any pre-set range, with thousands of tiny darts spraying
out for about 100 meters, to the front and sides.
We came down at 7:00 and learned that the road was open to Cu Chi to any
one with guts enough to try it. You never saw anyone with more guts than an
American GI who is 3 days late in getting paid and getting mail. We went to Cu
Chi with nearly every gun and bullet the platoon had.
We did encounter a roadblock along the way, made of stone and mud, but went
around it with no incident. The ARVNs had it cleared by the time we came along
on the way back.
The town of Cu Chi is a
mess; nearly leveled. For a whole it was held by the VC, but was retaken
yesterday. Cu Chi base camp isn’t as bad as I expected. The 2/27 area had about
4 hits, one of which killed an American, after he had been wakened and had said
“So what? No rounds will hit here”, then gone back to sleep.
You can tell everyone is pretty well disturbed after six nights straight of
hard VC shelling. There are “5 minute” bunkers that have been built overnight,
mushrooming everywhere. The people wear steel helmets and flight jackets just
to go to the PX. Several even carry their weapons, but it’s an article 15 to
have a magazine in your weapon, so even though they carry them, they’re
unloaded. Makes about as much sense as carrying a security blanket.
The mail call was disappointed as was pay call. I didn’t get paid for E-4;
get it next month; and the whole platoon only got about 10 letters. I didn’t
get any. After 4 days of no mail run, I was shocked.
It must be because of all the flights in and out of Tan Son Nhut airbase (Saigon) being cancelled that no mail is getting
through (and come to think of it, no mail must be leaving for the states
either). All flights are back to normal as of today, so things should pick up
soon.
I was afraid I’d miss my R&R because of the cancelled flights, but they
assured me today that by the 18th all will be on normal schedule
(hope the mail gets straight so my $400 gets here on time).
I also heard today that my 1049 was disapproved, so it looks like I’ll be
fighting up to June instead of drawing pictures. I think I’ll cry.
Little bit of war news: the VC body count is now up to 12,000 killed since
Han. 29th, plus about 3,000 captured, and some 2,000 or more weapons
taken. I haven’t heard any up-to-date friendly casualty report. Last I heard
was late night with about 700 killed, including, I thing, about 300 U.S. Charlie’s losing badly in his biggest
offensive ever.
Today after futile ground efforts to retake two towns, the two towns were
literally leveled by artillery, air strikes, and gunships the towns were filled
with VC – even had VC flags on all the flagpoles so . . .
Houses, stores, VC and civilians – if any loyal ones were left – were
wiped from the map with permission from the SVN government.
Tonight has been peaceful so far. I have no guard tonight, so I hope I can
get a long-awaited rest, although I rather doubt it. Besieged in Bao Trai, Bob
119 days, 4 Feb/68, Sun.
What a surprise – a good night’s sleep. The tower guards said every town in
sight was hit, but they left Bao Trai alone tonight. Cu Chi was mortared three
different times last night, for about the 8th night in a row. It’s
amazing how such an important base can be hit so much. They must kill several
VC each night, but enough get away to hide and then come back the next night.
Still no mail runs; I guess the roads are still unsafe, although they think
the VC are beginning to thin out – I hope so. All day today the guys on the
berm watched some people through the binoculars building a haystack about 500
meters out. Now, this evening, they are worried because suddenly there seems to
be a hole in the side of it, with a long cylindrical object projecting out of
it. They’re firing mortars at it right now – so far, it hasn’t fired back. I
hope it doesn’t and maybe we’ll get another night of rest.
118 days, 5 Feb/68, Mon.
Charlie woke us up this morning for breakfast with about ½ hours of steady
mortars, starting at 6:30. Two of the rounds hit in the yard by the club
entrance. Another was probably headed for the guard tower on the front wall,
but hit the power line about it, and burst in the air, saving the guard in the
tower. He said the round must have had his name on it, but it was spelled
wrong, so it only came close.
Our mail finally got out to us by shopper today, including my $400 R&R
money. The four letters from my parents that I received today contained two
shocks: one bad and one good – almost. First, I was shocked to hear about Paul
and Linda I don’t know what the chances are, but I hope they get back together.
Second, I was shocked to hear about Jere being sent back. I’m so glad he
didn’t have to go, but at the same time, I’m concerned about his hearing. How
come everybody is so lucky to get out of the Army? I wish I weren’t so damn
healthy!
I hope you all can find my tape – I’d love to hear it.
Let’s hope we have no mortars tonight – even for breakfast. The country is
slowly getting back to normal, although here are new roadblocks on the roads
and there are still VC in the towns (500 still in Saigon).
There are not known VC in Bao Trai, but the town is off limits to us and
deserted by the people.
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