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.

litter 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