The following describes events I experienced with
2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion 501st
Infantry, 101st Airborne Division from
approximately 1700 hours 19 May to 0800 hours 20
May 1969. The action took place west of the city
of Tam Ky, Quang Tin Province, South Viet Nam.

Background. 2nd Platoon has just returned from an
all day patrol of the area at the base of the hill
taken by 1st and 3rd Platoons a day earlier. We
drew this assignment as we were the security
element on the 18th and did not participate in the
assault. But we did stop an attack on the CP at
the base of the hill that afternoon and killed
five NVA. 1st and 3rd Platoons remained on the
hill, filled-in our section of the perimeter and
were supposed to bury the dead NVA there and
elsewhere on the hill.

Dusk. CPT Gibson (“6”)
wants to debrief me on the patrol so I go to the
CP. He also tells me to have my men start
digging-in as he’s decided we’ll spend one more