thedrifter
12-19-04, 07:26 AM
Leatherneck: Vietnam 1967 -- "All Is Calm, All Is Bright" For the Last Time at Khe Sanh
http://images.military.com/pics/Leatherneck_Vietnam_121304.gif
LCDR John McElroy, 3/26 chaplain, celebrated Mass atop one of the outposted hills surrounding Khe Sanh. (Photo courtesy of the Chaplain Ray W. Stubbe collection)
In the spring of 1965, units of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade arrived in South Vietnam. As they stormed ashore, ready for battle, lovely young ladies welcomed them with floral bouquets. The Marines were given the mission of protecting the airfield at Da Nang and were soon patrolling the surrounding villages and paddies. Their enemy, clad primarily in black pajama-like garments, supported the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and were called Viet Cong. Armed with single-shot rifles, punji stakes and other rudimentary weapons, they were a formidable foe, blending in with farmers and villagers when not setting up ambushes or planning other actions against the Marines.
Identifying Viet Cong was a major challenge. It was reminiscent of a vintage Western with John Wayne as the grizzled, old Indian fighter. When a cavalry officer reports, "We just saw a patrol of Apaches!" Wayne replies, "Sir, if you saw them, they weren't Apache."
By 1967 American forces in South Vietnam numbered approximately 500,000 troops. Marines included the First and Third Marine divisions plus supporting forces, including a variety of Marine aviation units. The Marines were assigned to I Corps, in the northern portion of South Vietnam. The enemy also had grown from a poorly equipped but effective group of Viet Cong into a far more capable force. Large numbers of well-trained and -equipped units of the North Vietnamese Army had moved into South Vietnam. Their arsenal included the old reliable AK47 rifle, rocket-propelled grenades, rockets, field artillery and an up-to-date communications and command structure.
Like the Viet Cong, the North Vietnamese units proved hard to locate. But in the spring of 1967, friendly patrols detected enemy forces in the extreme northwestern corner of I Corps. The enemy was present in well-placed fighting positions and bunkers in the vicinity of Hills 881 South, 881 North and 861. Several Marine infantry battalions were tasked with destroying the enemy units. The ensuing conflicts became known as "hill battles" with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
When the fighting ended, the Marines occupied Hills 881 South, 861, 950 and Khe Sanh Combat Base. Hill 881 North was not occupied. The enemy withdrew, probably across the border into Laos where they could regroup and take on replacements that moved south along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
American leaders at very high levels decided to maintain a force at Khe Sanh Combat Base. Their strategy was to lure the North Vietnamese into a set-piece battle, where air and artillery coupled with the courage of the individual American fighting man would prevail.
The enemy viewed a future battle for Khe Sanh as another Dien Bien Phu—the French outpost the North Vietnamese had battered day and night with artillery and ground attacks. The French surrendered Dien Bien Phu in 1954 after suffering extremely heavy casualties. This decisive battle led to the defeat of French forces in Vietnam. Like Khe Sanh, Dien Bien Phu was located close to Laos.
In August 1967, Colonel David E. Lownds assumed command of the 26th Marine Regiment. During most of 1967 he had only one battalion under his command. The 26th Marines were part of the 5thMarDiv. However, when additional forces were needed in Vietnam, the regiment was moved from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and became part of the 3dMarDiv.
For the last half of 1967, up until Christmas, life at Khe Sanh Combat Base was uneventful. The defense of the base, Hills 861, 881 South and 950 remained with 1st Bn, 26th Marines. That battalion also was responsible for security of the bridge over the Rao Quan River. A rifle company was given the mission. Every six or seven weeks, companies would be reshuffled to and from the hills, to the base or to the bridge.
Life on the hills was far more Spartan than life at the base, with C-rations delivered by two ancient UH-34 Seahorse helicopters. The helicopters were so old their Marine passengers joked that the old "birds" suffered from mental fatigue.
When the squad-size patrols left the hills, the triple-canopied jungle, which began a few hundred yards from each hill position, enveloped them. Patrols oftentimes stayed out for several days, even during heavy monsoons or "cratchins." (The French used le crachin to describe light rain, coupled with fog.)
By comparison, life at the base in the days leading up to Christmas was a picnic. Even a few jury-rigged showers were available. When operational, a laundry unit would attempt to scrub out the red hue from each article of clothing it received. M16 rounds, occasionally left in pockets of utility clothing, sometimes exploded, creating more than a little stress in the laundry unit. A cold beer would be available every now and then to troops at the base. A bunker-type structure, probably dating back to when the French occupied the base, served as a "club" for officers and staff noncommissioned officers. Mess halls included one operated for regimental headquarters personnel and another operated by 1st Bn.
Monsoon rains turned the Rao Quan River into a dangerous torrent, dictating the removal of the bridge by Marine engineers. After the bridge was removed from Route 9, food was in short supply at Khe Sanh, as Route 9 had been the sole overland supply route from Da Nang across the northern part of South Vietnam. From then on, everything arrived by air.
Thanksgiving provided a rare treat at the base: turkey with some but not all of the trimmings. Shortly after Thanksgiving, a food shortage meant that only two meals were served daily. Breakfast almost always included blueberry hotcakes. The second meal was a thin soup and a sandwich, usually bologna. Anyone desiring more substance could always find a can of ham and limas or other choice morsels from a box of C-rations.
In other parts of Vietnam, occasional USO shows would provide entertainment and a break from the monotony of day-to-day life. Unfortunately, these entertainment units could not visit Khe Sanh. Individual celebrities would sometimes fly in, spend an hour or so and then head out to other such outposts. These were dubbed "handshake" visits.
One such celebrity who appeared just before Christmas was Robert Stack, the star of "The Untouchables." He posed for photographs with the troops. The last entertainment before Christmas was provided by a small detachment from the 3dMarDiv Band. They sloshed through the mud, playing a mixture of martial music and Christmas tunes as they visited troops manning the trench lines and bunkers protecting Khe Sanh.
As Christmas approached, the cratchins continued to overwhelm the area. When the sun broke through, the two UH-34 helicopters usually stationed at Khe Sanh proceeded with the daily logistical flights from the combat base to Hills 861 and 881 South.
Getting onto the outpost on Hill 950 was especially challenging. While Hills 881 South and 861 could be visible from the airstrip at Khe Sanh, fog frequently surrounded Hill 950. Reaching 950 on foot was a difficult, if not impossible, task as the approaches to the hill were extremely steep. Crossing the flooded Rao Quan, which ran between Khe Sanh Combat Base and Hill 950, was dangerous for Marine infantrymen. Earlier in the year, prior to the monsoon rains, the NVA had attacked Hill 950 and came close to overrunning the outpost. Defending Marines called in artillery on their own small position and avoided defeat.
Improving positions was a never-completed task at Khe Sanh. Units from a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (Seabee) were assigned to Khe Sanh to improve the airstrip, a monumental task during the monsoon just before Christmas.
Begging, bribing or even using the chain of command resulted in a remarkable event involving the Seabees. A few of the Seabees briefly left their round-the-clock mission of upgrading the airstrip. Using a backhoe and other implements, an additional trench line was dug outside a portion of the regular trench line. With the battalion stretched thin, 1st Bn lacked the resources to man the new trench line. They did, however, put in a formidable addition to the defenses by installing double apron and concertina barbed wire outside the new trench line. These efforts paid big dividends later when an Army of the Republic of South Vietnam Ranger battalion reported to Khe Sanh. They were moved into the new trenches that had been installed along a major avenue of approach leading toward the base.
Obtaining wood to help improve and provide support for sandbags as overhead protection proved difficult. Most sturdy trees were well away from Khe Sanh and were so filled with shrapnel from the previous hill battles that saws and axes were useless in felling them. Trenches were continually damaged by the heavy monsoon rains.
As Christmas neared, intelligence sources revealed that North Vietnamese forces were beginning to amass around Khe Sanh. "Many hoof prints coming in, no hoof prints going out." "Bravo" Co from the division reconnaissance battalion was based at Khe Sanh and reported increased signs of the enemy. Khe Sanh was also home for a U.S. Army Special Forces forward operations base, FOB-3, which housed a Special Observations Group (SOG). Dozens of black Huey helicopters appeared periodically at FOB-3, loaded troops, then headed westward. One of their missions was to obtain information along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. They also made frequent attempts to interdict the trail and capture prisoners. Scuttlebutt had it that SOG received orders directly from Saigon.
A small U.S. Air Force Tiger Hound unit operating from Khe Sanh provided additional intelligence. Pilots and aerial observers, flying Piper Cub-size aircraft dubbed O-1 Bird Dogs, confirmed heavy enemy movement toward Khe Sanh. This galvanized everyone at Khe Sanh. The North Vietnamese Army was up to something, and it would happen soon.
continued.......
http://images.military.com/pics/Leatherneck_Vietnam_121304.gif
LCDR John McElroy, 3/26 chaplain, celebrated Mass atop one of the outposted hills surrounding Khe Sanh. (Photo courtesy of the Chaplain Ray W. Stubbe collection)
In the spring of 1965, units of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade arrived in South Vietnam. As they stormed ashore, ready for battle, lovely young ladies welcomed them with floral bouquets. The Marines were given the mission of protecting the airfield at Da Nang and were soon patrolling the surrounding villages and paddies. Their enemy, clad primarily in black pajama-like garments, supported the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and were called Viet Cong. Armed with single-shot rifles, punji stakes and other rudimentary weapons, they were a formidable foe, blending in with farmers and villagers when not setting up ambushes or planning other actions against the Marines.
Identifying Viet Cong was a major challenge. It was reminiscent of a vintage Western with John Wayne as the grizzled, old Indian fighter. When a cavalry officer reports, "We just saw a patrol of Apaches!" Wayne replies, "Sir, if you saw them, they weren't Apache."
By 1967 American forces in South Vietnam numbered approximately 500,000 troops. Marines included the First and Third Marine divisions plus supporting forces, including a variety of Marine aviation units. The Marines were assigned to I Corps, in the northern portion of South Vietnam. The enemy also had grown from a poorly equipped but effective group of Viet Cong into a far more capable force. Large numbers of well-trained and -equipped units of the North Vietnamese Army had moved into South Vietnam. Their arsenal included the old reliable AK47 rifle, rocket-propelled grenades, rockets, field artillery and an up-to-date communications and command structure.
Like the Viet Cong, the North Vietnamese units proved hard to locate. But in the spring of 1967, friendly patrols detected enemy forces in the extreme northwestern corner of I Corps. The enemy was present in well-placed fighting positions and bunkers in the vicinity of Hills 881 South, 881 North and 861. Several Marine infantry battalions were tasked with destroying the enemy units. The ensuing conflicts became known as "hill battles" with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
When the fighting ended, the Marines occupied Hills 881 South, 861, 950 and Khe Sanh Combat Base. Hill 881 North was not occupied. The enemy withdrew, probably across the border into Laos where they could regroup and take on replacements that moved south along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
American leaders at very high levels decided to maintain a force at Khe Sanh Combat Base. Their strategy was to lure the North Vietnamese into a set-piece battle, where air and artillery coupled with the courage of the individual American fighting man would prevail.
The enemy viewed a future battle for Khe Sanh as another Dien Bien Phu—the French outpost the North Vietnamese had battered day and night with artillery and ground attacks. The French surrendered Dien Bien Phu in 1954 after suffering extremely heavy casualties. This decisive battle led to the defeat of French forces in Vietnam. Like Khe Sanh, Dien Bien Phu was located close to Laos.
In August 1967, Colonel David E. Lownds assumed command of the 26th Marine Regiment. During most of 1967 he had only one battalion under his command. The 26th Marines were part of the 5thMarDiv. However, when additional forces were needed in Vietnam, the regiment was moved from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and became part of the 3dMarDiv.
For the last half of 1967, up until Christmas, life at Khe Sanh Combat Base was uneventful. The defense of the base, Hills 861, 881 South and 950 remained with 1st Bn, 26th Marines. That battalion also was responsible for security of the bridge over the Rao Quan River. A rifle company was given the mission. Every six or seven weeks, companies would be reshuffled to and from the hills, to the base or to the bridge.
Life on the hills was far more Spartan than life at the base, with C-rations delivered by two ancient UH-34 Seahorse helicopters. The helicopters were so old their Marine passengers joked that the old "birds" suffered from mental fatigue.
When the squad-size patrols left the hills, the triple-canopied jungle, which began a few hundred yards from each hill position, enveloped them. Patrols oftentimes stayed out for several days, even during heavy monsoons or "cratchins." (The French used le crachin to describe light rain, coupled with fog.)
By comparison, life at the base in the days leading up to Christmas was a picnic. Even a few jury-rigged showers were available. When operational, a laundry unit would attempt to scrub out the red hue from each article of clothing it received. M16 rounds, occasionally left in pockets of utility clothing, sometimes exploded, creating more than a little stress in the laundry unit. A cold beer would be available every now and then to troops at the base. A bunker-type structure, probably dating back to when the French occupied the base, served as a "club" for officers and staff noncommissioned officers. Mess halls included one operated for regimental headquarters personnel and another operated by 1st Bn.
Monsoon rains turned the Rao Quan River into a dangerous torrent, dictating the removal of the bridge by Marine engineers. After the bridge was removed from Route 9, food was in short supply at Khe Sanh, as Route 9 had been the sole overland supply route from Da Nang across the northern part of South Vietnam. From then on, everything arrived by air.
Thanksgiving provided a rare treat at the base: turkey with some but not all of the trimmings. Shortly after Thanksgiving, a food shortage meant that only two meals were served daily. Breakfast almost always included blueberry hotcakes. The second meal was a thin soup and a sandwich, usually bologna. Anyone desiring more substance could always find a can of ham and limas or other choice morsels from a box of C-rations.
In other parts of Vietnam, occasional USO shows would provide entertainment and a break from the monotony of day-to-day life. Unfortunately, these entertainment units could not visit Khe Sanh. Individual celebrities would sometimes fly in, spend an hour or so and then head out to other such outposts. These were dubbed "handshake" visits.
One such celebrity who appeared just before Christmas was Robert Stack, the star of "The Untouchables." He posed for photographs with the troops. The last entertainment before Christmas was provided by a small detachment from the 3dMarDiv Band. They sloshed through the mud, playing a mixture of martial music and Christmas tunes as they visited troops manning the trench lines and bunkers protecting Khe Sanh.
As Christmas approached, the cratchins continued to overwhelm the area. When the sun broke through, the two UH-34 helicopters usually stationed at Khe Sanh proceeded with the daily logistical flights from the combat base to Hills 861 and 881 South.
Getting onto the outpost on Hill 950 was especially challenging. While Hills 881 South and 861 could be visible from the airstrip at Khe Sanh, fog frequently surrounded Hill 950. Reaching 950 on foot was a difficult, if not impossible, task as the approaches to the hill were extremely steep. Crossing the flooded Rao Quan, which ran between Khe Sanh Combat Base and Hill 950, was dangerous for Marine infantrymen. Earlier in the year, prior to the monsoon rains, the NVA had attacked Hill 950 and came close to overrunning the outpost. Defending Marines called in artillery on their own small position and avoided defeat.
Improving positions was a never-completed task at Khe Sanh. Units from a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (Seabee) were assigned to Khe Sanh to improve the airstrip, a monumental task during the monsoon just before Christmas.
Begging, bribing or even using the chain of command resulted in a remarkable event involving the Seabees. A few of the Seabees briefly left their round-the-clock mission of upgrading the airstrip. Using a backhoe and other implements, an additional trench line was dug outside a portion of the regular trench line. With the battalion stretched thin, 1st Bn lacked the resources to man the new trench line. They did, however, put in a formidable addition to the defenses by installing double apron and concertina barbed wire outside the new trench line. These efforts paid big dividends later when an Army of the Republic of South Vietnam Ranger battalion reported to Khe Sanh. They were moved into the new trenches that had been installed along a major avenue of approach leading toward the base.
Obtaining wood to help improve and provide support for sandbags as overhead protection proved difficult. Most sturdy trees were well away from Khe Sanh and were so filled with shrapnel from the previous hill battles that saws and axes were useless in felling them. Trenches were continually damaged by the heavy monsoon rains.
As Christmas neared, intelligence sources revealed that North Vietnamese forces were beginning to amass around Khe Sanh. "Many hoof prints coming in, no hoof prints going out." "Bravo" Co from the division reconnaissance battalion was based at Khe Sanh and reported increased signs of the enemy. Khe Sanh was also home for a U.S. Army Special Forces forward operations base, FOB-3, which housed a Special Observations Group (SOG). Dozens of black Huey helicopters appeared periodically at FOB-3, loaded troops, then headed westward. One of their missions was to obtain information along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. They also made frequent attempts to interdict the trail and capture prisoners. Scuttlebutt had it that SOG received orders directly from Saigon.
A small U.S. Air Force Tiger Hound unit operating from Khe Sanh provided additional intelligence. Pilots and aerial observers, flying Piper Cub-size aircraft dubbed O-1 Bird Dogs, confirmed heavy enemy movement toward Khe Sanh. This galvanized everyone at Khe Sanh. The North Vietnamese Army was up to something, and it would happen soon.
continued.......