Early in June, 1970, there were small probing attacks on the firebase of the 1st Bn/5th Cavalry. By Saturday, June 13th, there was a reinforced company of North Vietnamese “sappers” gathering in the wooded ravines around the base. The sapper units were the elite of the NVA, and received camouflage uniforms, chinese rifles with folding stocks & other specialized gear for they were expected to assault the heavily fortified firebases & airbases of the American forces. This was the monsoon season in Cambodia. Mists & fog were shrouding the ravines where the sappers were concealing themselves. That night, many of the enemy stripped down to their black shorts for it was difficult, if not impossible to make their way through the concertina wire & trip flares wearing clothing & boots. Some retained their their uniform shirts & wove grass into the backs so they could remain hidden even on the grassy hillside. In addition to rifles, they carried grenades, satchel charges, RPG’s, knives & pistols. In the early morning hours of Sunday the 14th they would attack the firebase to inflict losses on the American forces and, if possible; overrun the base & destroy the artillery.
Fire Support Base David was situated on a beautiful hill in Eastern Cambodia. The hills there are rolling & grass covered with deep ravines. From a security standpoint, an outstanding location for a base…clear views & fields of fire. David was well defended with artillery; a battery of 105mm howitzers provided the “fire support”. Echo company’s mortar platoon was there to provide their close in fire support, as well as, fire illumination rounds. Echo also had a heavy weapons squad that manned & maintained the Browning .50 machine guns that were placed in the bunkers around the perimeter. Their CO was Cpt. Micheal Crutcher. Delta Co. was there as well, they were pulling guard duty for the base. They did this in rotation with the other line companies (CO-Cpt. Bill Vowell). There was a medical unit there, of course. Cooks, clerks, radio operators & all the personnel to man a battalion, including the T.O.C., the tactical operations center (Battalion CO-Col. James Anderson). This night was one they will never forget.
hey David,
I somehow messed up my last message. Sergeant Farrow told Commander Crutcher “if you are going to spend the night on this base you had better sleep light”.
I had a chance to speak by phone with Commander Crutcher in November 2019.
I am writing a book about my time as a ranger and a ranger team leader. The most stressful thing in my life was being team leader of Slashing Talon five two where every decision had to be the right one. Deverton Cochrane was killed on June 17,1970 about five miles northeast of lZ David and I was asked to take over his reconstructed team about a month later.
I am writing to ask permission to use comments made by Dr Walker and Joel Chase in the book that is currently a work in progress. I like all your comments.
is the book done yet where do you get it what’s the name of the book
I was the gunner and shift leader (section chief) on one of the guns (I think 2 or 5) in C Battery 2nd/19th Arty during that wonderful night. I had just returned from R&R in Australia about 6 days before and Top took me aside and told me he wanted me to take charge of the section. There were 2 men that outranked me at the time (an E-5 and E-6) and I was a SP4. He said that he trusted me to take the section over. i asked him how exactly I was supposed to do that in that situation and he said “very carefully”! Well anyway, there were only 3 or 4 of us on the gun, but we were shooting almost continuously, we almost emptied out our ammo bunkers! We were to busy to get scared! But, when it was all over it was a big relief. I remember that after the dust (mud) had settled there was still a gook out beyond the berm that was still alive. He was hiding behind one of the 55 gal drums about 15 meters out. We were throwing everything we had at him M-16’s, grenades, etc and he lasted an amazingly long time! It’s amazing that it took so long to get him after we had just taken care of an entire Company or more! But, then seeing all the bodies lying around afterward being carried off by mules, it really hit hard what we had just been through!
Larry, I can’t believe it, I always wondered what happened to you, my e mail is goprd@aol.com. I ended up that night running the number one gun. direct fire and ended up with a bronze star with a V. I ended up doing the radio thing LOL. 5 months of delta tangos and cobra gun ships. I think it was our doc Henderson who took you to the medics.
Troopers
I need some help in determining whether I was on the Huey or Hook out of David. If anyone knows for sure which bird I was loaded onto please contact me at 708-995-7790 or joelchase07@comcast.net. I know the pilot of the Huey was Hank Tuell and the medic was Dan Brady but their memories of missions is a blur. If anyone can help I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Keep smiling and welcome home. 2-6
I was on fire base David that night. 1/5 Cav HHC a lot of your comments bring back things I didn’t remember. I keep recalling one particular thing during that attack. Some guy riding around on a mule resupplying everyone with ammo. He was yelling something funny as he went around the perimeter. I the he was African American. Can’t recall his name or company he was with. Anyone else remember this or am I mistaken?
Hey Don, I was a medic with HHC 1/5 on FSB David. Left 3 days before the attack. Your name is familiar but can’t picture you. My name is Art Doc Christenson Amberbock01@gmail.com.Shoot me an email if you want.
Good to hear from you Art and Welcome Home! Hopefully Don will see your comment.
Hey Art thanks for responding. I was a radio operator with HHC 1/5. There is so much I can’t remember about that night and my tour in Nam. Wish I could put a face with your name. I’m sure I seen you at some time or other. I visited the medics a few times. My email is snakecharmer579@yahoo.com
I do remember the moment the attack started. I remember the first rounds being fired then that eerie sound of the siren going off. Can’t remember if it had a hand crank or if it was electric. Shortly after the attack started I remember one of the guys running up to me asking where the medics were located he’d been hit in the neck and needed help. I helped him to the medics. Don’t think we exchanged names so don’t know who he was or what the outcome of his wound was. I recall lots of mortar rounds and what had to the 50 cal firing. Used to have a lot of photos of the aftermath but unfortunately I burned them all after returning home. Guess It never really dawned on me until I read some of the post on this sight how close we came to being overrun that night. Everyone did a hell of a job defending the base and I’m proud to have served with all of you.
glad to hear your ok chase, I had fired a few magizines from my m 16 and threw a few grenades when I hear chase yell blow the clay mores his bunker was a couple of bunkers from mine I thought he was yelling at me so I went in the bunker and I was going to look but then thought I’ll just start blowing them I started blowing them and all kinds of bullets hitting the sand bags behind me and then the 5 th or 6th claymore I blew cam back at me I just heard a big thod in the sandbags behind me I keep blowing them andthen 2 b 40 rockets went off in the rpg screen and i heard the same shod in the sand bags behind me I went out and hid in the shadows and strated firing my m16 I got hit from a frag and then later a shashal charge I saw chase at a med station and and again in siagon
Hello. I just finished reading all of the comments on FSB David. Have been in intermittent conversations with Joel Chase. I was SSG for 2nd Platoon D/1/5 on June 14th. I had already pulled my bunker guard duty and was back in my hootch when the firing began on the opposite side of the base. If there was anything that I learned at NCO school, it was that the NVA always attacked opposite sides of a firebase at the same time. So I ran to a bunker and fired a flare up over the wire. There they were, perhaps a dozen NVA just behind the wire. My M60 gunner, Leland Bryant opened up on them from the bunker to my left while I fired my M 16. Another of my men went into the bunker to fire off the claymores just as a B40 blew in the front of the bunker and cut the wires. I was knocked over briefly while the guy in the bunker emerged with multiple facial and chest wounds (he is mentioned in MCrutcher’s surgeon commentary). We were able to stop the attack on our side because we caught them in the wire. As the firing ended, I took a radio man with me and began to circle the base, reporting back to HQ the status of each bunker, manned and secure or blown up and unsecured until I had covered the whole base. A very close call overall.
Later, that morning, General Shoemaker flew in and a number of us were lined up for field medals. Bryant and I and a few others were awarded the Silver Star. Many others received Bronze Stars. If you would like to discuss further details, let me know. D 1/5 will be having our 2020 reunion in Williamsburg, VA if you are interested in attending. feth4all@gmail.com
Mel,
Thanks for taking the time to comment and keep the conversation going on this important event/attack. I’m still amazed that everyone survived! Everyone was doing their job…grunts, mortars, artillery, medics, etc. and kicked some NVA ass!
Welcome Home!
Mel, do you recall how many bunkers the NVA took at the south/southeast end of FSB David? Three or maybe four? The small reaction force took all but one back with small arms fire, but we had to bring up a 90mm RR to deal with the NVA in the last one. FSB David was, I think, a very large FSB, at least for a temporary one, and I think some of the bunkers in that area were manned by Brigade troops.
If there is anyone out there who participated in the reaction force’s effort to “seal the breach,” let me hear from you.
If Dr. Walker (Docca Wokka) reads this I would love to hear from you. I was never aware that you treated me at FSB David, and yes, I was the one with the sucking chest wound.
708-995-7790
Joel
I was browsing the internet today, looking for some information on Echo Co. 1/5 during the period of 1969 and 1970, when I came across this site. It is extremely interesting to read the accounts of the attack on FSB David on 14Jun70. I also was there and was a part of the mortar platoon’s FDC. It was a night I’ve never forgotten. Capt. Crutcher, I remember you well. I recognized the name of Sidney Shelton that you mentioned, Nick. It was a pleasure to visit with you in Brooklyn in 1971 and when you came out to Ohio later that year and again in 1972. David, I remember when you stopped in my hometown and stayed the night at my house while on a trip across the country in the mid-70’s. I hope that life is treating all of you very well.
I’ve never been to a reunion, but would like to do so sometime. Any information you could pass along to me regarding that would be very appreciated. Thanks.
Phil
Bowsher! Hey man, good to hear from you. Yes, I remember stopping in Ohio. I think that must have been the summer of 1975. We’ll definitely make sure you’re in the loop on future reunion plans.
Thanks for your reply, Bird. If you could keep me informed of future reunions, that would be great.
Bowsher, Wayne Roe, mortar section Sgt and part-time FO with Echo Recon. I have an idea of who you are but am not sure. The reunions are great and I must say that most of the credit for that goes to Mother and Toni Fauquher. We would love to have more mortar guys attend but although I contacted some that I located, only about 3 came to the Myrtle Beach Reunion. I hope you are able to make the next one.
Take Care
Hey Wayne! The name Sgt. Roe sounds very familiar. Our paths may have crossed only briefly. My DROS date was Aug. 4. Thanks for your note. Do you have a date yet for the next reunion?
Phil,
I want t put together an article detailing the attack on FSB David. My own view is that, with no artillery support from other fire bases and no air support because of the fog, the mortar crews played an absolutely critical role in the defense of David. If you recall, I took the reaction force to the south end of the perimeter to take several bunkers the NVA had captured. So, I don’t recall much of the mortar action beyond the fact that they played that critical role and that they fired 641 rounds of illum and about 1540 rounds of HE. Nearly all in close proximity to the perimeter.
My question is, can you provide any more details of the mortar action that night? Anything you might add would be helpful.
I hope you are doing well.
Mike
Phil,
I want to put an article together on the attack on FSB David, where we had no air support and no external artillery support, with my thought being that the mortars played a critical role that night in our fighting off the attack. I’ve gotten very little input so far, and I have been dealing with some serious health problems. However, any input you might have from yourrole in the FDC would be a big help. I recall our 1SG reporting to me the mortars had fired 641 rods of illum and about 1540 rounds of HE, “at very close range without one round falling inside the berm.” Also, I am trying to find someone from Echo who was part of the reaction force that took back the bunkers at the SE end of the FSB.
My memory recalls lots of dud CHIcom grenades at David that morning, but maybe it is playing tricks on me after almost a half century.
Any recollections?
Mike
Hi Mike,
David Adams gave me your email address, and I sent a message to you in July (at least I attempted to do so). I didn’t hear back from you, so there is a glitch somewhere. Perhaps I copied it down wrong. Anyway, if you would message me at pbowsher814@hotmail.com, I will reply. I am sorry that you’re having some health problems.
Warmest regards,
Phil
Anyone given any thought to having a FB page “I survived FSB David”. It’s really interesting to hear other troopers stories. ”Hogie, D 1-5 Bunker #7 or 8 or 9 I think.
Thanks Hogie, that’s an interesting idea. Our Echo CO is trying to gather more information about that night and the attack. That might be a good way to do that. Bird
Rodney,
I a trying to gather information on the FSB David fight, but have gotten very little so far. Anything you might offer would be most welcome. If I get enough to write something, I will give all credit where credit is due. My email is mcrutcher6797@comcast.net or mcrutcher6797@icloud.com.
Happy New Year,
Mike
glad to see you hereto hogie I got the dvd from you I still have it
Dr. Walker, it would be great if you could make it to the Echo reunion in Myrtle Beach. Joel Chase is going to be there . It is well worth the trip
On June 14, 1970, I, Jon G Walker, was CPT, Medical Corps, US Army and I was the Battalion Surgeon of the 1/5 Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division. At FSB David my Aid Station was located near the woods on the southeast perimeter and consisted of a partially below grade hole dug by backhoes. My medics and I gained enough vertical height to stand by creating pillars of sandbags on the edges of the hole and laying logs across the pillars. We then laid PSP strips on top of the logs, covered them with plastic and more sandbags. The hole was maybe 10’ x 12’. My head medic, an E5 named Rick Fortune, and I had cots in the Aid Station. A couple of other medics had built a “hootch” out of corrugated culvert raised up on sandbags which abutted one corner of the Aid Station.
I had just gotten orders for my R&R and planned to hitch a ride to the rear area on June 13 to call my wife to make reservations for Hawaii. I never got off FSB David, however, because the weather on June 13 was so bad that no one was flying.
For some reason neither Rick nor I were sleeping well that night. Around 2:30 AM we heard an explosion followed by M16 fire coming from what seemed like the northeast perimeter of the base. We were immediately up and it seemed then that all hell broke loose. Some of my medics came down to the Aid Station. I was standing near the opening where the hootch abutted the Aid Station when there was an explosion right outside that knocked me across the Aid Station and onto the floor. We assumed it was a grenade and that another one would soon be lobbed into our hole. That didn’t happen so I eventually stood up and shined my flashlight into the hootch fully expecting to be shot. What I discovered was that an RPG had landed at the other end of the hootch and the hootch directed the concussion into the Aid Station where I was standing. Around that same time we began hearing calls for “Medic!”
I was ready to go out when cool-headed Rick Fortune told me to stay put. I was the only doctor on the base and he and the other medics needed to know where I would be. Shortly thereafter I started receiving the wounded. It was chaos, the ground was muddy and it was still raining. We were next to a mortar pit so as they unwrapped the plastic from their ammo they would throw it over to us for use as covers. I quickly assessed each soldier and tried to determine the extent of the injuries and what could be done. My supplies were meager…Kling wrap, Ace bandages, gauze, vaseline gauze, sterile saline and syrettes of morphine (imagine a small tube of toothpaste with a needle attached. You put the needle in the patient then squeeze the morphine out of the tube). Certain injuries remain in my memory: a Sgt who was shot in the thigh with an AK-47. The entry wound was small but the exit wound in the back of his leg was huge. I packed it with gauze and wrapped it tightly with an ace wrap which seemed to control the bleeding; a soldier with a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and all I had to plug the wounds was vaseline gauze (maybe Lt Chase?); a soldier with multiple shrapnel wounds on his chest and face who was awake and looked at me when I spoke but didn’t respond; a soldier who didn’t look too bad initially but had a massive scalp wound on the back of his head. I cleaned it with saline then replaced the skin flap and wrapped his head with Kling holding the flap in place. There were numerous broken bones and lacerations. We splinted what we could and dressed the wounds but didn’t have the time or the supplies to suture. All told we had 33 wounded soldiers for about three to four hours. We had no air support because of the weather and no way to evacuate anyone. When the weather cleared a little around 6 AM the first chopper in was a Huey Medevac chopper. I tried to evacuate the most serious on it and was able to get nine men (as I recall) out. Shortly thereafter I got word that a Chinook had just delivered artillery ammo to the other side of the base and was coming over to evacuate the wounded. They settled down just outside the perimeter and I was able to get everyone else on board. So within five minutes we went from 33 wounded to none. As I gradually came back to reality i didn’t fully comprehend what had just happened. I was relieved but other emotions just swirled. I still remember blood just running in rivulets across the ground.
I eventually went for a walk with Rick Fortune and viewed at least 28 enemy bodies outside the perimeter, many of them just blown apart. We thought we heard an AK-47 near the Aid Station at one point and, indeed, found spent AK shells on the ground. I assume that the shooter was on the roof of the Aid Station. Was he the one who was shot?
I later found out that Rick Fortune went out without his “steel pot” to identify him as American. The Sgt Major (whose name I can’t recall but would like to know) told me that he had Rick in his sights but recognized him at the last minute and didn’t shoot.
We didn’t lose any GIs at the base and I subsequently learned that all survived. I’m especially pleased to know that. I eventually got a Bronze Star with a V, which was certainly a novelty at my next assignment in the Out-Patient Clinic at Fort Gordon, GA.
And that’s my story. I haven’t been able to find my name anywhere in the records but occasionally will look. I was the only doctor on FSB David on that infamous day. I left the Army in the fall of 1971, specialized in Urology and am now retired after practicing in Lancaster, PA for over 30 years.
Jon G Walker, MD
Glad to hear from you Doctor! Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your part in that terrible night! Welcome Home!
Thank you for taking the time to post Dr. Walker. 48 years ago and it seems as if were yesterday sometimes.
We would love to see you at the Reunion in May.
Welcome Home
Dr. Walker,
A wonderful addition to the story “gathering” here. The BN Command Sergeant Major was CSM Bell. Joel was the most seriously wounded, I believe, and if I recall correctly after nearly 48 years, we put him on the Chinook.
I was the Echo Company CO at the time and now live in Carlisle, PA. Maybe we could get together for lunch sometime.
Mike Crutcher
CSM Bell…that’s right. I really liked and related to him. As an MD in a infantry outfit I always felt out of place. He would go out of his way to talk to me!
Mike, I would like to get together for lunch. I’m available every day but Wednesday.
Doc a Walker,
Mike Crutcher here; I was the Echo Company CO at that time, with the Recon Platoon, our Weapons Platoon (the ~8 x .50 calls and the two miniguns), and our mortar “battalion.” Our CSM was Command Sergeant Major Bell, one of the best of the best of NCOs.
I want to write an article on the fight at FSB David because I think it was unique in that we had no external artillery support and no air support. So, I would like your permission to use what you have written here and any other recollections you might have.
By the way, I live in Carlisle, so perhaps we could get together for lunch sometime.
Finally, I want to thank you and your medics for the superb work they did that night. The most seriously wounded was Joel, with a punctured lung and many other injuries. He lives in Virginia and had to drop out of the reunion at Myrtle Beach. I was there for two days, but my wife became ill and we had to head home early, but I will tell you that the Echo Company guys—every last one of them—are first rate. I’d go back to war with any of them at any time, although we all probably would need a lot of Tylenol to get through it now!
Mike
Mike,
Good to hear from you. Of course you can use what I have written about THAT night. My only other recollections of FSB David are non-combat related. Sick call, a Medcap visit to a local tribe who showed up one day (I gave one of the older women a shot of penicillin for an eye infection then promptly pulled out the needle and accidentally stuck it in my finger) and the primitive living conditions we endured even though the location was beautiful.
I would enjoy getting together for lunch. My cell is (717) 940-1107.
P.S. I was frequently called “Docca Wokka”.
Doc Walker, i was the 3rd Platoon Leader of Mongoose Bravo. We pulled security for you on that MEDCAP. The local Cambodians were beautiful people and most grateful two you. In return they gave us a “concert” on their metal instruments. I have some photos from that mission.
By the way, Bravo Company was on the first lift from Bu Gia Map into LZ David. I have several photos of those first days. I would be happy to share them.
Paul,
Thanks for your comment, we would love to include your pictures on the website, Please upload them to echorecon.com and our webmaster will get them on.
Welcome Home Brother
Mother
Doc a Walker,
I was the Echo Company CO at that time, with the Recon Platoon, our Weapons Platoon (the ~8 x .50 calls and the two miniguns), and our mortar “battalion.” Our CSM was Command Sergeant Major Bell, one of the best of the best of NCOs.
I want to write an article on the fight at FSB David because I think it was unique in that we had no external artillery support and no air support. So, I would like your permission to use what you have written here and any other recollections you might have.
By the way, I live in Carlisle, so perhaps we could get together for lunch sometime.
Finally, I want to thank you and your medics for the superb work they did that night. The most seriously wounded was Joel, with a punctured lung and many other injuries. He lives in Virginia and had to drop out of the reunion at Myrtle Beach. I was there for two days, but my wife became ill and we had to head home early, but I will tell you that the Echo Company guys—every last one of them—are first rate. I’d go back to war with any of them at any time, although we all probably would need a lot of Tylenol to get through it now!
Mike
I was there. I was with S -2 , Rode in with the 2/ 47th Mech and was free lancing and sent whatever or whoever needed the services of interrogator and my Scout. I was also at the city. Just a couple days before that we did A half ass Charlie Alpha on the small village I believe just to the south of us and then walk in and get med/dent.
Good to hear from you David! Welcome Home!
I was D Co 2-6 platoon leader when the assault on David began.
The first shot fired on David on 14 June came from an M16. A trip went off and a guard on a bunker in my sector took a shot when he thought he saw movement in our wire. There was no return fire, but I was convinced we were in for trouble, but a 30 minute visual search produced no results and everyone wanted to pack it up. Mortar and trip flares thrown simply created eerie glows in the fog. Then a guy standing next to me said; “2-6 what is that” and pointed about 30 feet out. I was sighting down his arm when a burst of AK-47 fire erupted. The sapper was inside our wire and he decided to drill me a new “innie” but the rounds skimmed off the berm and grazed the top of my head. Then all hell broke loose with red and green tracers piercing the darkness. I jumped on the horn to the mortar guys and requested they begin their preplanned fires in the ravine and walk them up the ridge. Then I called Bill Vowell and gave him a sit-rep when a chi-com frag rolled up next to me with the fuse sparkling. It went off right in my face with a flash of light and pop. The pain was tremendous. I tried to get up and run but couldn’t see or hear. My legs had multiple shrapnel wounds and collapsed, so I attempted to crawl but my right elbow was pulverized and simply flapped around, so I slithered like a snake until I found some sand bags for a little cover. It was of little use as I got hit several more times by either B-40 or mortar shrapnel. While I didn’t know it at the time, I took three pieces of shrapnel to my heart (two of which are still there) and one piece got pumped into the brachial artery of my arm. Additionally my right lung was punctured, my liver was lacerated, kidney cut up, and my eyes were perforated. But I made it somehow and have led a relatively normal life with just one eye. The Army decided they didn’t require my services any longer and retired me at 100% disability.
So there you have the true story of how the battle for FSB David started. Those who fought did so heroically and professionally. Welcome home brothers.
Joel! Lt. Chase, thanks for your comment. I was glad to get to the part about a “relatively normal life”. Welcome home!
Joel was the most seriously wounded of all the men on FSB David that night. After the fighting died out, I stayed with him, I think until they put him on the hook that brought in ammo resupply. While he was with Delta 2-6 that night, I think he had been transferred to Echo the day or two prior and had not yet made the switch. So very glad he made it. Welcome home, again, Joel!
Joel, I was there that night, Illumination rounds were going up, there were at least three lumps inside the wire. There were like five of us in pretty close proximity to each other. The guy on the far right said I shot the lump on the right or left I can’t remember for sure. The person to my far left I think must have been, said something about bring over the big eye, (the spotlight) he then said something about shoot it again, I want to make sure it is there in the morning. Three of us were standing looking out over the berm. A guy to my right, an arms length away, me and what I think must have been you. They started with the AK, first round hit the guy on my left, looked like through the side and fleshy part of his neck. Rounds went splat, splat, splat right in front of me and the guy on my right (who I think must have been you, got hit and went down. I for all this time thought you got hit through the side of the mouth. I remember the blood looking black under the illumination. I backed away and went to the artillery battery (C 2/th).
Thanks for posting, David! Glad to hear from someone else who was there that night. Welcome Home!
David Rhoades….I was one of the people on the berm with you. I was to be on radio watch in the tactical center when the trip flare went off and went to the berm with a couple guys. This is the first time, after reading your comments and others that actually validates what I remember happening. I was hit with several pieces of shrapnel and took a bullet thru my upper thigh. I crawled over to one of the mortar pits and applied pressure to my wrist area where the main artery was cut. It seems like it took forever before the firing stopped and I was carried to the triage area. I was originally with C – 2/19 artillery but a month earlier took an assignment carrying radio for the infantry.
Welcome home Larry! Thanks for adding to the conversation and glad you made it out of there in one piece!
Hey Larry yea we were there that night on David that’s for sure won’t soon forget good to here and hope you’re doing good Ronnie Mays Charlie Battery 2nd 19th artillery 105’s gun #1
I was there that night, Sp 4 Dennis Al Pavluk D 1/5 with the M79.
Shot off about a hundred he’s and 30-40 wp’s all I had.
Used my 45 the rest of the long- long night.
Can’t remember much, long time ago.
Helped bury the step-ons in the morning .
Hey Al, good to hear from you. I know Delta had a hell of a night! Glad you made it home all right.
PS: I have that Stars and Stripes clipping.
Talk about timing and luck. I arrived the morning after! Had 2 troops there ready to pump propane gas into bunker complexes. Not sure if they ever did? One was Fuzzy O’Donnell, the son of Kenneth O’Donnell, JFK’s Chief of Staff. When I arrived Fuzzy was wearing OD boxer shorts and combat boots. His jungle fatigues had caught fire in the firefight. Fortunately, he wasn’t wearing them. Fuzzy was one of the early investors in EarthLink, which he sold for $100M 20 years later.
Jim, thanks for commenting. What unit were you with?
184 th Chemical, 1st Cav. Somebody at Division thought that propane could be pumped into the tunnels by the chemical platoon and blown that way. Fuzzy and another troop were sent to FSB David for that mission.
Echo Recon & Mortars: here is something I found today in an after action report that was published in early 1971 by the 1st Cavalry Division. The entire AAR can be found at this site: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/514580.pdf
It most definitely does not reflect the intensity of the fighting that night and how close things got at times, but it does provide some time frame, and the number of U.S. casualties cited is a good bit closer to the 34 that I remember. I clearly remember that first “Hook” coming with ammo and evac’ing our seriously wounded.
————–
14 June: D Co, E Recon 1-5 Cav and HHC Ist Bde 0250 hours at FSB DAVID (YU345533) had a trip flare go off 50 meters from east side of FSB and observed individuals in wire. Engaged with organics and received small arms, B-40, 82mm mortars and Chicom grenades with ground probe from unknown size enemy force from the east and north. Friendly further engaged with organics and artillery receiving small arms and B-40 fire. Ground ‘probe ceased at 0445 hours. FSB continued receiving small arms
and B-40 fire from north and east and west. At 0700 hours the contact was broken resulting in 29 US WIA (04 serious). Check of FSB area revealed
28 NVA KIA, 04 B-40 rocket launchers, 01 German luger, 08 AK47s and 01
AK Mark 2 captured.
Thanks Mike, it was a hell of a fight & glad to hear what you remember from then.
It was a hell of a night,
I directed the mortar fire for our base.
I was at the 1st Recon reunion over at Mother’s place in Muncie.
Roomed at a motel with Dave Martin, then of Flint MI.
Been following your site (for sore eyes) for years. Well done.
It was a hell of a night…………………..(and thanks for the article)
Be well guys.
Hey Nick,
Thanks for the comment. Good to hear from you!
Bird
Nick, Mike Crutcher here, I was the CO of Echo at the time. The report I got from the 1SGT in the morning was that you guys, the mortar crews, put out about 1540 rounds of HE and 641 rounds of illumination that night. I believe that you guys on the mortars made a HUGE difference in the outcome of the fight. We had no air support because of the fog over the fire support base, and we were beyond the range fan of any other FSBs. So, with the 105mm battery, you guys were the backbone of the defense, and, if I recall correctly, you did not put one round inside the berm, which was one hell of an accomplishment when firing with very few charges on the rounds. It was a job very well done that I think helped save the fire support base, as the enemy had broken through on the (I think) the south end of FSB David. I took a small reaction force and took back several bunkers, but your mortar fire kept large numbers of the enemy from getting inside the fire support base. Had more gotten in, it would have been a very bad night for us, as Kevin Corcoran once intimated to me. Kevin was the Assistant Operations Officer for Air at the time.
Thanks again for a job well done.
Mike Crutcher
Thanks Mike
That 1SGT was Stanley Shelton and I just got back from meeting with his wife and family. I looked him up on the Internet and found out that he died in 2007. I visited his grave at Arlington Cemetery and tried to get to Frank Szczebak’s but couldn’t because Obama was there (Memorial Day weekend). I live in Hyattsville, Md and Top Sergeant Shelton, ironically, lived in he town next to me, a 6 minute walk. We did our best and we were very lucky that night. Here is the link to his obituary. Nick
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=stanley-d-shelton&pid=98099459
Charlie Beasley
jjbeasley@charter.net
Jan 22, 2022
Joel K. Chase
to Jon G. Walker and Joel K. Chase
Hey guys I just read what you had to say about the morning of June 14, 1970.
On June 7, 1970 my five man ranger team walked off LZ David into the surrounding jungle at midnight. We were there to confirm reports that there was a buildup of elite NVA forces around your fire base. I remember that I was really sweating as we crossed that open area to the nearby jungle.
For the next five days we found trails with heavy recent use and observed several company size units of hard core NVA in the immediate area. I think that it was June 12 when we walked out of the jungle onto Fire Base David in the middle of the day.My team leader on that mission was Staff Sergeant Farrow. I believe that his exact words to Commander
Wow! Never knew this. Thanks for commenting. So you got me now…what did Sgt. Farrow say?