Bu Gia Map
Late in April 1970
I had been out with Echo Recon for hardly more a month at most, but was now used to the routine.
The routine patrol…the “poppy”; out & back, hopefully without any trouble. Point man, in this case, the Stallion. R. Springer followed by Cossey as back up, then a rifleman, Hammonds with the M-60. Delmer with the M-79, an RTO & several riflemen walking drag; watching to see if anyone was following. In the other squad it would have been Dob on point, followed by Cossell & Suzie. Martin on the M-60. I believe Rock was RTO. Douma & Turkey were riflemen. When the whole platoon was in file, moving to a new objective, one squad would take the point followed by the Hqs. Squad with the Lt., in this case, Jenkins. Also a medic (Chico or Doc Schramm), Mother as battalion RTO, an FO (Hutch or Wayne Roe). Platoon Sgt was Fred Corn, but a new E6, Leigh Livermore had joined Recon also. Roxy, Twardowski & I were riflemen in Cossey’s squad, but Ski and I carried the radio at times. The first time I met Coz he handed me the radio & said, “Carry this.” Just another 25 lbs. I believe it was about this time that Bob Hayden had returned from Sniper school.
We were also accompanied by three Kit Carson Scouts. All Cambodes; Chau Saon, Chau Slne, and Duong Sol. They were all related. Chau Saon & Chau Slne being uncles to Sol.
Unexpectedly one day, we were instructed to get to a suitable LZ on the double. We were being “extracted” by helicopter to assemble with the rest of the battalion. The old hands were excited & convinced that the battalion was headed for “stand down”. A chance to clean up, relax & take a well earned breather & of course, drink beer. They said the only time the battalion had assembled in the past was for stand down.
Well, we were flown to an old French grass/dirt airstrip at a town called Bu Gia Map. What a name! (Boo Gee Ma) We weren’t going on stand down at all. We were to assault the border sanctuaries in Cambodia along with our whole Brigade, the 25th Inf. & the 11th Armored Cav.
Bu Gia Map is in Viet Nam’s former Binh Long province near the border with Cambodia in an area known as the Fishhook. The Cambodian border juts into VN there like a sharp point. And as the crow flies, the point is not more than 80 miles from Saigon. American intel indicated the southern communist Hqs. was in this area. That would be COSVN-Central Office for South Vietnam. The command & control for all of the communist forces in south Viet Nam.
As dusk fell, everyone found a place to sleep scattered around the airstrip. The weather was good & we could rest on our gear without having to rig shelters. Everyone talked quietly about the prospects for tomorrow. I have to admit I had no more profound thoughts, than, “Damn! We’re in for it now!” And forget the hot showers & beer. I was excited to be taking part in a major operation & the prospect of taking on the NVA in battle. I had enough experience to feel comfortable in my role as infantryman, but without any illusions…I just wanted to survive.
Just at dark there was a single rifle shot! Everyone who wasn’t already down, immediately dropped. What’s going on? As it turned out one Skytrooper was not going with us. Word spread through the resting soldiers; someone shot himself in the foot!
Well the outlook did look dicey & l’m sure the short timers were apprehensive. Looking back at that moment now & trying to remember who was there…I wondered how many had been wounded in the following two months? Please add to the list/comment if I am leaving anyone one out.
WIA
Francis Szczebak
Robert Cossey ( X 2 )
David Martin
Terry Fauquher ( X 3 counting previous wounds in VN )
Wayne Roe
Leon Anderson (Friendly Fire)
David Browning (Friendly Fire)
“Ski” Twardowski (X 2)
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Of those who joined Recon later.
KIA
Tim Brown
WIA
Matthew McGough (Lt.)
Gerald Trumm
Ronald Toombs
“Kansas” Howard McMicheal
“Red” Daniel Gadwa
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Even though Tim “Salty” Brown was not in Recon that day, l’m certain he would have been at Bu Gia Map with Bravo Co.
Bird-out
I was a squad leader with co C 1/8, we c a’ d into By Gia Map sometime before Cambodia, it wad the worst A O I worked in. Very aggressive NVA, now its a wildlife conservation area, go figure.
Welcome home all. JR
Thanks Jim and Welcome Home! I heard other reports of terrible times at Bu Gia Map. From a trooper of the 1/12 and also read of the the re-education “camp” that was there after the war. Most of the GVN soldiers and officials that were sent there never made it out alive.
And now it’s a wildlife refuge. You can’t make this stuff up!
SKI 2 TIMES HIT 1 FRAG 1 B40 ROCKET IN MY BED
I will update my post.
My Company A 1/12th Cav walked into Bu Gia Map on March 27, 1970 and walked out on March 29, 1970. We lost 10 troupers in two days, and God knows how many were wounded. I felt blessed to have escaped walking.
Good to hear from you Danny. Glad you made it home!
Would you send me a off-line e-mail address for personal correspondence relating to Bu Gia Map?
tmfauquher@aol.com
5/11/2018
I was with D 1/12. On 7/16/1970, we CA’d into Bu Gia Map, cold LZ. On 7/17/1970, while patrolling in company size, my platoon got ambushed. We sustained 4 KIA and 4 WIA. I remember a guy named Mother, and wondering whether it is the same guy about whom David Adams wrote.
Good to hear from you Frank. The “Mother” from Echo Recon was wounded in June 1970, medevaced and never returned to the field.
Hospitalized in Japan and Fort Gordon before finishing his time on active duty.
Roger.
I remember that the airstrip was suppossed to be left over from the Japanese during WWII. At one end of the runway was some old heavy equiptment left behind in the brush including a bull dozer. When we were ready to go in, the RTO’s & LT’s were handed maps ripped out of old National Geographics to use in identifying the topagraphy. I remember a lot of talk about how “illegal” it was going into another country not at war. Several Skytroopers swore they would not get on those choppers when they left. In the end everyone did!.
mother its me sgt. ski the guy who had carried the m-79 .you miss part where the cols. son reached into his pack sack and blew his hand up ,from alfa alfa blasting cap with battery left on. new guy he did not go in Cambodia with us. Also sgt. Delmer was a rifle man.
email crossbow2111@gmail.com
Ski! You ol’ rascal, it sure is good to hear from you. Bird
I liked this photo for the cast of characters. It was like, “Mom, look! l joined a gang of cut throats!” Since then realized it has elements of classical art. I’m not kidding…so way to go, Livermore. It had your tag on it. From #55 on the site. Bird