LONEEAGLE
07-17-03, 11:14 AM
:mad: I was E co 3rd Recon, Quang-tri. I remember the Rock Pile. We flew out with another team we got inserted above the Pile. They were about 4clicks from us the other team. We knew the NVA/VC had been in the area, as we went thru Mountain yard Village sites, and seen fires smoldering. We couldn't find anyone. It was so hot, and we had a scout dog with us. We found this most serene waterfall. We took turns cooling off in the crystal clear water. And drinking it. Of course having a6 man team was not the norm with me as a team ldr. It usually was four. But along with Doc, and the scout dog/handler we had six. My radio man, Joe Rufra said, "hey c'mere!!" I heard the screams of men recon Marines getting their A****killed one by one. I called in to go. I know after searching my soul for yrs, that I couldn't have gotten to them in time. All but one return. Then we encountered NVA, and got extracted. The story was, they walked into a Bn size unit of NVA and got hit hard with mortar's, machine gun fire. One Marine, don't remember their names (this is what really still haunts me) I trained with them in the World. This one, got a direct hit by a mortar, the team ldr killed, everyone scrambling to the dead radio operator's radio still working, and screaming for help, then silence. I talked to the L/Cpl who was shot up but a Sparrowhawk unit came in and got them. The pilot was shot, co-pilot, but made it to the ground. Chpr still going, this LCpl asked the crew chief to help him get the bodies. He was a coward. The Lcpl, from Montanna, still firing, getting shot at, hit four times, but nerver sent home, even with three hearts, carried each one that was dead to the chopper. One man hit direct by mortar, never found. He stayed out of combat for the remaining tour. Now if this had been an NCO/SNCO/Officer, and especially army, (nothing against Army or any in Nam, just the way it was) would've received a Medal of Honor. This kid got a Bronze star, no promotion. To this day he lives in Montanna, hasn't/won't see any other single person unless totally necesscary, and I know I have to find their names, because I can't let it go until I can say good-bye to them. I remember how we were laughin' jokin' around in flight. I can see their faces but can't put names to them. I want peace. Until I can say goodbye, this will always haunt me. I have been to the moving wall. I search and search my company roster which I got from Hdqr Marine Corps, Qunatico, and I can't find or recognize their names. I've contacted this young man in Montanna. He would not send me anything. I understand. The Rock Pile and Cam-lo were two of the worst places I was in, besides Kai Sahn, Ashau Valley, and a sweep in the Kaison valley with the 4th Marines. If anyone remember's back this far, it was sometime in 1968, where on the front page of the Stars and Stripes which I have a copy my ass't team ldr., Don, aka, spook, headlines, with a cig hangin' out of his mouth, "searching for the enemy" was on it. Peace my brother's whom I don't remember, and from where you are send me your peace. Semper-Fi