Saber Article Index
jul-aug
Mike Bodnar
307B N Main Copperas Cove, TX 76522
254-542-1961
E-mail:
mbodnar27@gmail.com
I received an email from Jim West after my last column
about the defense of LZ Grant in March1969, and MEDEVAC going into pick up
wounded.
He wrote: “My name is Joseph D. ‘Jim’ West.’ In 1969,
after having served six months as an infantryman with Co A, 1/8th Cav, 1st
Air Cav in Vietnam, I volunteered for, and was accepted for, assignment with
the 11th Pathfinders. I was immediately assigned to LZ Grant as an OJT
Pathfinder with CPL Dan Gustafson as my trainer. He immediately went about
teaching me the basics of firebase air traffic control techniques as we
settled into the regimen of preparing me for my new job. Well, I was not
there very long, (a week or so as far as I remember) when everything
changed.
“Just after midnight on the morning of 8 Mar 69, all
hell broke loose. Initially, several large 120mm rockets hit the TOC and
killed several of the battalion staff including LTC Gorvad, the battalion
commander. Mortar rounds continued to rain down all around us, and small
arms fire exploded everywhere.
“Dan and I grabbed our radios and made our way toward
the TOC area to see how we could be of best use to battalion command. As Dan
coordinated with someone (I believe it could have been the Bn XO or Opns), I
remember looking around to see where we could set up a pad to evacuate the
wounded. I also pulled down the remains of a 292 antenna that would have
been in the way of any choppers.
“I put some marker lights out to set up a pad near the
TOC. Dan set up the higher-level command commo for our incoming air support.
Since we were in the TOC, we were continuing to receive heavy automatic
weapons fire. I used lights to guide the birds in, and that really drew the
fire. They were peppering me and especially the choppers both coming in and
going out. I cannot believe the bravery of those air crews! We got the
wounded loaded ASAP, and they got out of there. They made 4-5 sorties with
between 20-30 WIA’s taken out.
“The small arms fire at that time was very intense. Dan
was busy on the radios and, at one point he yelled for me to get down
because napalm was coming in. The jets were so low and close they even hit
one of our perimeter bunkers with the napalm. There was such a concern of
the NVA breaching the perimeter that the arty guys were using beehive
rounds. The noise was overwhelming due to the constant artillery fire,
incoming mortars, and continuous small-arms fire. I remember being
especially fearful when the flares went out because I was certain the
perimeter had been breached, and the NVA would be in our area as well as
after the artillery pieces.
“Dan had a lot of air support on his radios and the
arty guys appeared to have support from another firebase, and after a few
hours things quieted down. When the sun came up, we were finally able to see
the results of what had occurred during the night. It was a horrible sight!
There seemed to be hundreds of dead NVA in the wire and around the bunkers,
but we had lost our battalion commander, and several good Americans like us
who had been alive 24-hours before.
“They hit us again three days later but not as hard
this time. The Medevac situation was the same as on the 8th with a lot of
enemy fire, four sorties, and 20 or so wounded, I believe.
“Dan and I were then sent to the rear to receive
‘impact awards.’ Due to a disagreement over the headgear for the awards
ceremony, I was relieved of duty as a pathfinder and sent back to a line
unit. I asked to return to Co A, 1/8th Cav, but was told by a senior NCO
that I was going to 2/7th Cav where I ‘would have a better chance to die.’
“I served my last five months proudly with Co B, 2/7th
Cav, on and all-around LZ Jamie. I found out years later while checking my
records for a DA promotion board that I had received an award.
“I had previously contacted you Mike, concerning
assistance in finding records to support a Purple Heart claim for myself.
While in Co B, 2/7th, on 30 Apr 69, my LT and I were rescuing one of our men
who had been hit. During that incident I received a few minor wounds and was
medevaced with the more severely wounded man. I do not know if we went to
Jamie, Tay Ninh, or Quan Loi, but I have been unable to find any records
anywhere except for an 11th ACR account of four WIA’s picked up at the date
and time it occurred.
“I am going to keep looking
anyway. In any event, I hope the above info is of assistance to you. Dan
Gustafson was on LZ Grant long before and after me (he did not get relieved)
so he could tell you more about the LZ, if you need it. Let me know, and I
can see about giving you his number. Take care. -Joseph D. “Jim” West
717-507-1518.”
Thanks to Jim for his firsthand account. Jim sent this
over and said: “As noted, I was a new OJT Pathfinder just out of the field
as a grunt after 6 months with Co A, 1/8th Cav. I was fortunate to have an
experienced trainer in CPL Dan Gustafson. Because of this we were able to
provide the support needed both in terms of Medevac and air support
communications. To this day I am in awe at the courage of the Medevac crews.
For them to come into Grant and land in the middle of the attack under
intense fire, and then take off with a loaded bird under greater fire,
embodies their motto-”SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.” Jim West--GARRY OWEN!!!
It is hard to talk about anything else after that
battle account, but I want to mention that I just finished reading a book by
1970 A Co, 2-12 Cav infantryman, Richard Udden, titled: 21 Months, 24 Days.
To me, it is a strange book because he explains everything in detail before
his Army experience, and during. It is his style. It can be educational if
you have never experienced what he is describing.
Richard was from the Boston area and was a machinist
before he got drafted. He thought he would be put into maintenance, but the
Army made him an 11Bravo, and even more unhappy.
Like most draftees, he could not wait to get out of the
Army. But he had to. It was a long two years. His book is like a continuous
short time calendar, thus the title. He said he had two educated
proofreaders help him, along with feedback from three experienced fellow
Veterans, so his book is five proofreaders perfect.
Richard was chosen to go to NCO School out of AIT. That
was canceled because the Army was canceling the program at that time. I
think for Richard, as he put it, that would be five months later, he would
go to Vietnam.
When he did get to Vietnam, and finally got assigned,
it was to A Co, 2-12 Cavalry, “Ace High.” Reporting to FSB Buttons, in Song
Be, things were initially laid back. He enjoyed time wasting at the VIP
Center, which happened a lot, although not so deserving for him at first.
Richard was then chosen by the 1st Cav to attend their
in-county Combat Leaders Course in Bien Hoa. As welcomed as that was to
spend time out of the field, it made him a fire team leader. His new value
prevented him from becoming a door gunner, which he had applied for the
three hots and a cot.
BIEN HOA
1970 MEDEVAC door gunner Larry Ash was an 11B in Ace
High 2-12 Cav. He joined MEDEVAC later in 1970. I never met him. I left in
early July ‘70. I emailed Larry to find out if he knew Richard, but I got no
reply.
The 2-12 Cavalry got a new battalion commander just
before the Cambodian Incursion, 1 May 70. Both Richard and Incursion author
J.D. Coleman described him as a hard nose.
So, then Richard found himself in Cambodia with his
company. 2-12 Cavalry happened to discover what became known as Rock Island
East. It was about a kilometer by a half kilometer of pallets of weapons,
covered with plastic sheeting; not buried. If you ever walked that distance,
you know it was huge!
ROCK ISLAND
Photo Caption: LTC Frank Ianni (center with map),
commander of 2-12 Cav, whose Delta Co fought its way into a gigantic weapons
cache known as Rock Island East, tells visiting brass now how big the cache
was. At far left is MG George Casey, commander of 1st Air Cav. GEN William
Rosson, the deputy commander of MACV, is to Ianni's immediate right. The
tall colonel to Rosson's left is Carter Clark, 2nd Brigade commander. The
captain to his left is John Hottell, Casey's aide. (U.S. Army photo)
When that attracted the higher ups and news media,
Richard found himself being interviewed by CBS. He kept being amazed by all
his “being chosen” moments.
After that cache was found, it was back to jungle
patrols. The NVA were fighting with their backs against the wall and no
place to run to, so that made the war for Richard and his company much more
serious than before. The NVA left boobie traps as well, and one with an
artillery round was tripped, which wounded Richard and two of his squad
members, one named Steve, the most critical.
MEDEVAC was not
allowed to come in because a command decision did not want to set off
anymore. Bad weather complicated things as well. They made them go back to
their last safe area which was something like a half a klick away. Steve
died, although his medics were doing their best for him.
When I read that, I could only say aloud to myself,
“F!” MEDEVAC could have saved him. That is what we did. If they had gone
back just a hundred meters and had MEDEVAC go to them; and if we could not
land, we could have kicked out a semi-rigid litter, and hoisted him out. It
needed to be stressed that he was an urgent evac. Command decision over
carefully saving his life.
Richard finally survived the Army and someone he
organized a reunion in Oklahoma. I do not think the 1st Cav Association ever
had one in OK, but what Richard said, everyone he served with in A 2-12 was
there. That is well organized.
FIRST TEAM!
Garryowen,
Mike
Bodnar C 2\7 '69
MEDEVAC 1-7\70
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE