OP Birmingham: AAR Parts 1 & 2

[hellmutt]

OP Birmingham: The Beginning



They always talked about the heat. No one told me it would rain so much. We'd arrived at the FOB (Forward Operating Base) ahead of the rest of the platoon. We were supposed to get things "set up", our unit was going to be the main effort of the operation and we needed to get our ducks in a row. We setup some mines on our exposed side and got radio communication setup with higher. By the time our platoon got there - we had everything setup. Light rain came on and off from 0800 until 1100 when the platoon started to arrive.

We did some IA (immediate action) drills and went over our basic movement formations once we had everyone at the FOB. Then the XO called in Lt. Selig (the platoon leader), Sgt. Scott (the platoon sgt) and the squad leaders. Lt. Selig was a young guy and likable although you didn't want to screw up when he was around. He expected everyone to give 110 percent because he gave 120. Sgt. Scott was a new guy, been in country less then a week. Most of the guys didn't much care for the FNGs, even if they were Sergeants. The previous Platoon Sgt. Johnston had been killed in a ambush about 20 clicks out of Da Nang - the platoon had taken it hard.

Lt. Warren pitched the opord with the help of a terrain model that Spc Olson had created. Olson was 2nd squad leader. he had faked paperwork to get him in basic when he was just 16 and shipped out on his 17th birthday after excelling at Basic and AIT. He'd been here longer then just about anyone and it showed.

The operation was fairly simple; our platoon was the main effort on a Sweep and Clear mission. We had 2nd and 3rd platoons on our left and right flanks. Apparently the area had a high amount of VC activity and a LRRP team had been tracking a large NVA unit into the zone. Our mission was simply to find any enemy activity, recover any supplies or weapons caches and bring the items back to the FOB. Lt. Selig got 30 minutes of planning time at 1203, mission would begin at 1233.

1st squad was put in charge of securing the North road leading in and out of the FOB. Spc. Butler tasked his squad to cover the road and the adjacent areas while Spc. Olson secured the eastern road. The sky was cloudy and threatened more rain (it had drizzled on us earlier during our IA drills). Each squad watched their sectors carefully but it was 1st squad that saw the VC first.

“CONTACT!!! Nine o’clock!! 2-3 VC!”, screamed the team leader. Several of his team had already been hit and were down. “Return fire! Return fire!” barked Lt. Selig. Most of the guys were pretty green and this was their first real fire fight. Within seconds they were back in the groove but there was something disconcerting about being shot at by the VC the first time that made a lot of guys “freeze up”.

Bugles blared as NVA units charged into battle against us. Seeing them attacking with their AK47s and pith helmets carefully camouflaged without regard was to say the least, frightening. We just kept mowing them down as the waves came at us. Lt. Warren grabbed a few men and charged through the trench line straight at the enemy! Their flanking movement was fast enough to catch the NVA off guard and finally the attack stopped. Those we had not killed disappeared back into the thickness of the jungle, carrying their wounded with them. We found 5 KIA and searched their bodies and cleared their weapons before we went back to planning.

It was decided that 3rd squad would remain at the FOB and 1st and 2nd squads would move up the main road toward a suspected cache area. Earlier LRRP teams had reported they had seen several NVA regulars bringing in crates to the spot. Sgt. Scott called for the platoon to fall in and we marched out in a platoon column with squads in wedges.

The area had been defoliated with Agent Orange roughly a month or so before and so there was a very large area of dead fall with the jungle peaking back through. Movement was difficult at best and it was decided to use the road to speed the movement to the objective. This of course was a mistake.

The road curved westward and we could see the edge of the jungle just a few hundred meters to our north. As the platoon moved down the road we heard the mortars fire from the tree line.

“INCOMING!” Everyone got prone and waited for the impact. BOOM! The first round hit 1st squad right in the center. A huge smoke cloud went up and then more: Boom! Boom! Boom! Rounds landed and smoke and debris flew everywhere as 1st and 2nd Squads got up and ran 100 meters east and west, respectively. 1st squad got around a corner on the bend of the road and immediately began pushing toward the tree line where we could see NVA regulars with a mortar position. 2nd squad got up and online and began pushing into the deadfall toward the mortar position.

1st squad lost several of their men and set up an HLZ to get them medivac’d out of the fight and to get reinforcements from 3rd squad sent up to the line. The rest of 1st squad moved aggressively forward while 2nd squad ran into several NVA units while pushing through the dead fall. 2nd squad took several causalities as they pushed forward. Quickly realizing this was a baited ambush and there were no more mortar rounds firing on us, the PL called everyone back to secure the HLZ while we waited for reinforcements. The enemy units disappeared back into the jungle, yet again.

That’s when the rain really started coming down. It wasn’t the sideways rain, just a straight down pour. Those who had brought their ponchos got them on as we moved out toward the suspected cache site. Those who didn’t; they got wet, real wet, the kind of wet that soaks your bones . It wasn’t too bad as long as you kept moving but we had to pull a perimeter while Spc. Olson went out with a couple of guys and located the cache area. It was right where the LRRPs had said and was full of weapons which we destroyed in place, after calling it up to higher.

That’s when the LRRP team started screaming on the radio.

[hellmutt]

OP: Birmingham: The LRRPS

“I say again, we are under fire and require IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE!! We have a least a platoon sized element of NVA moving on our position. 4 of the team are dead and I have one severely wounded with me,” the LRRP screamed into the radio. Rain drenched us as we listened to the cracks of weapon fire and the screams of the wounded LRRP over the radio between his words.

“I am popping smoke now!” The words hung heavy as they came over the radio.

“Okay everyone,” Lt. Selig said firmly but with an immediateness that bordered on panic, “We need to get that team out of there. This is an immediate FRAGO. First Squad, you keep an eye on our east flank and Second squad pushes hard and fast up the road.”

We looked at each other nervously, we couldn’t see the smoke yet but we could hear the bugles blaring as the NVA attacked our endangered LRRP survivors. The rain was as heavy as it was going to get, the soft thud against our Mitchell covered helmets was barely noticeable but we were beyond soaked and water logged. Better to go into the cover of the canopy anyhow, we locked and loaded and began to run.

Finally we saw the smoke and focused on it. Inside the wood line there was another cleared area and we could see and hear the Viet Cong and the NVA along the new wood line. The LRRPS had setup a hasty defense position in the middle of the clearing in some thick trunks that had a slight elevation. The ground was hard to move through and they had been fighting off the platoon with relative success – if you consider 4 KIA and 1 wounded a success. At least there were soldiers to recover and by god, we were going to do it.

We had to beat back the enemy before we could get back our guys. We sent First squad in on the left flank while 2nd squad tried flanking around using the road to cut into the NVA bunkered into the tree line. Movement was hard and slow and bullets bought inches. A massive amount of ammo was expended and the machine gunner actually damaged his weapon during the melee but not before pouring on enough lead to push the NVA back into the depth of the jungle. Smoke covered the field and the combat was intense like hammering nails through a brick. Every foot was a mile, every inch we gained was bought with blood.

Sgt Eke set up an HLZ with Sgt Scott to make sure we had med evac ready for the LRRP and the wounded men coming off the line. They called into to higher for extract and popped a signal smoke. Once the smoke was clear, the HLZ was open. Men came back with leg and arm wounds to the HLZ, helping each other get back out of the fight. Some had to be carried back with gut wounds and another one stumbled up clutching his neck. After the fresh reinforcements jumped off the chopper, the wounded men were rushed in and flow back.

Those of us, who were still alive, pushed through. The wounded LRRP screamed in pain as his buddy tried in vain to help him. We got about 50 meters into the jungle before we gave up the pursuit. The Vietnamese were a smart bunch. They used series of underground tunnels to “disappear” after hitting us. The liked to let us pass over them and then come up and ambush us from behind. We didn’t have time to go after Charlie in the bush. This was his home, this was his land that he was fighting for – we just had our orders. And orders were to secure the LRRP team and get them back to the FOB for debriefing.

Even with all of our wounded, we’d hit Charlie hard. He had a bloody nose this time for sure. It’d be a while before he was back – he needed to regroup and resupply. The average Vietnamese foot solider only had 90 rounds of ammo and relied on being able to get quickly to an ammo or weapons cache where he could resupply. We’d been able to neutralize at least 10-15 of them judging by the drag trails and the bodies we found in the clearing. We took this time to regroup and send runners back to the FOB for resupply.

Tired and out of breathe, the platoon was relieved when the PL set out security and told the rest of us to drink up. “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em! Way to go on that push gentlemen! That’s how we show Charlie who’s in charge.”

The unwounded LRRP Sgt. Hanson, had asked to stay on with us before being sent back to S2 for debriefing. They had taken out over half his team. He felt obligated. He knew the approximate location of the main NVA cache area. His team had setup a RON (Remain Over Night) position about half a click away and spotted a steady stream of NVA regulars and VC coming and going along the north running trail. The Company CO agreed and Sgt. Hanson worked with the PL and XO to create a FRAGO for the Platoon. The mission was simple. Raid the base and recover everything back to the FOB.

Suddenly the northern most security team caught movement in the jungle ahead. They opened fire! Crack, crack! “Charlie in the open! Moving left to right 20 meters!” The rest of second squad pushed up and online and began pursuing the enemy into the dense forest before the squad leader called them back. It was likely Charlie was just trying to bait us into a trap. By cutting us up into smaller chunks, they could use ambushing and traps to wear down our units. As long as we remained consolidated we had enough force to push back all but the most violent of attacks. We had to push through to the objective we didn’t have time to follow Charlie into the bush.

2nd squad pulled back and supported 1st squad who was cutting through some extremely thick and dense jungle toward the suspected NVA stronghold. As soon as you entered the bush, you might as well have been swimming. Your clothes, your gear all saturated instantly. The muck underfoot clung to your boots as you slogged through it holding you back like quicksand made out of chocolate pudding. Visibility was about 3 feet at best. You just pushed forward and hoped for the best, expecting the worst.

2nd squad moved up the trail fast and hard and was hit heavy by a roving VC team. The VC were immediately cut down but 2nd squad had been decimated. A new HLZ was opened and wounded were taken out, and fresh faces were brought in.

A lull happened again as Charlie disappeared back into the jungle and hopefully for a while but Charles has a way of screwing up your day.