Chapter 17

New characters appearing in the remaining chapters:

Lieutenant Paribetra

Thai Army Ranger, Suenee's cousin from Amulets II, 5'-10" tall, 155 pounds, 27 years old, black hair, brown eyes

Phesila

Tweed's girlfriend / wife, Governor's daughter, 5'-6" tall, 120 pounds, 20 years old, 36C-23-35, long shiny black hair, brown eyes, stunningly beautiful

Monday was fairly easy, as there wasn't much going on. The CO arranged for Carson to get on a TSF flight on Tuesday that was going to Ban Bong (H-12) and they would then drop him off at Muang Et (H-11) before returning.

Wednesday, Carstairs informed us that he had learned that there were considerable troop movements going on within North Vietnam itself, but no one was sure of the reason. There were also reports of changes in the leadership there.

By Thursday afternoon we were all nervous. With the Teams and Carstairs both reporting little if any activity in the area, it had been too quiet. Both Desk Rider and Thai Army Headquarters here were as in the dark as we were. The NVA should have learned by now that their depot in the mountains had been discovered and someone should have missed the three mortar teams and their security elements. It just didn't seem right, and we all wanted to know what was happening.

Friday 10 March 1967, we found out. I was awakened just before 0600 by the noise of the generator running.

"What the hell is up," I wondered, as I got up and started to dress. "Who turned on the generator?" That was when the commercial power went out, and I was in the dark, again.

"There is trouble," Suenee said, as she got up and lit the small kerosene lamp that we had here since arriving but had used very little. I finished dressing and banged on the connecting door in the bathroom for Sawyer.

"Sawyer, something is up," I told him when I got an answer. "I'm going down to see what it is." I also pounded on the Captain's door on the way out. Phillips was in the hall way already with a flashlight.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Don't know yet. The generator woke me. I thought you were up early and started it."

"No, I was awake but reading when the lights went out," Phillips told me. We were downstairs by then and the lights in the dinning room, S-3/Operations and radio room were all on.

"Something is wrong," I told him. "I'll check the radio. You check with the guards, OK?" I told him.

"Sure," he answered, but retrieved his AK-47 from S-3 before going to check the guards, not willing to be out there with just a pistol.

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, Cowboy 3 Alpha, this is Tango 1 Bravo. Come in," I heard as I got the door to the radio room open. I hurried over to the set, which had been turned off when I went to bed.

"Tango 1 Bravo, this is Cowboy 3 Alpha, over."

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, this is Tango1 Bravo. Be advised that 'the merde has hit the ventilator' as Tango 4 Bravo is so fond of saying. We have at least four, I say again, four confirmed major attacks under way in just our area. They are in the vicinity of Hotel 13, 15, 16 and 19. There is armor in the mountain passes at Hotel 13 and 19. The other two are reported to be infantry attacks, over." The CO had come in while Carson had been reporting.

"Tango 1 Bravo, this is Cowboy 6. What is the status of the armor attacks, over?"

"Cowboy 6, this is Tango 1 Bravo. So far the local militia is holding them up using their own RPGs against them, but we don't expect to be able to stop them for long. Tango 1 Alpha has gone to Hotel 13 to assist in the defense. They are hoping to block the pass, over."

"Tango 1 Bravo, Cowboy 6. What do you know of the attack at Hotel 19, over?"

"Cowboy 6, 1 Bravo. We heard on the militia's radio that they were doing the same thing that we are, but didn't expect to be able to hold them there either, over."

"Tango 1 Bravo, Cowboy 6. We'll see what help we can send your way. Hang tight, over."

"Roger, six. Make it as soon as possible or we're really hurting. Tango 1 Bravo out." Sawyer had gotten most of this last from the doorway.

"I'm going to Thai Army Headquarters to see what I can get in the way of help," the CO told us. "Get ready to go up there Sawyer. Call me on the radio when you have transportation."

"Roger, sir. We'll get ready. Do you want Baker to go also?" Sawyer asked.

"Yes, bring the portable. Phillips will have to watch the store while we're gone," the CO answered as he headed for the jeep.

In the mean time, I was receiving calls from the other Teams. Team 2 and 3 reported there were infantry attacks on their border villages, and Team 4 reported a mechanized infantry attack on Hotel 41 itself. Thai Army elements there were doing their best, but had already fallen back to defend the town.

"I don't think the CO is going to get a lot of help at Thai Army Headquarters. This is a major attack with that many places being hit. Try to raise the helicopter company for transportation, and then call Desk Rider and ask for help," Sawyer directed. "I'll organize things here and get us ready to go as soon as we have a ride. Is your ruck ready to go?"

"Yes," I answered, as I changed frequencies to that of the helicopter unit.

"Black Horse, Black Horse, this is Young Cowboy 3 Alpha, over."

"Young Cowboy 3 Alpha, this is Black Horse, over."

"Black Horse, this is Cowboy 3 Alpha. Is your your 3 or 3 Alpha there, over."

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, this is Horse 3, over."

"Horse 3, this is Cowboy 3 Alpha. We are in need of emergency transportation to our Hotel 11 site. There is an assault in progress near there, over."

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, Horse 3. Roger. The net is full of chatter on this at present. I can let you have one bird, but that is all. We are committed to the hilt and expect much of our normal business to be changed by the present circumstances. I'll get him up there ASAP, over."

"Roger, Horse 3. We appreciate the effort. This is Cowboy 3 Alpha, out." I immediately changed frequencies.

"Desk Rider, Desk Rider, this is Young Cowboy 3 Alpha, over."

"Young Cowboy 3 Alpha, this is Desk Rider 3, over."

"Rider 3, this is Cowboy 3 Alpha. Be advised that we have all Teams reporting multiple attacks in their areas. There are armor units advancing on Hotel 11 and 19; infantry assaults in Team's 1,2, and 3's areas and a mechanized infantry assault in progress at Hotel 41. Request immediate assistance, especially air. Local forces are hard pressed and some are already falling back. This is a major attack. I repeat this is a major attack, over."

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, Rider 3. We have had similar reports from areas to your north and also from along the Mekong. What are your plans, over?"

"Rider 3, Cowboy 3 Alpha. We will be going to Hotel 11 as soon as transportation arrives. We have been assured of transportation by Black Horse 3, over."

"Roger, Cowboy 3 Alpha. Will your station remain on the air, over?"

"Rider 3, Cowboy 3 Alpha. Yes, our station will remain on the air. Cowboy 3 will be in charge here, over."

"Roger, 3 Alpha. We have already advised Papa Bear of the problem. They are doing what they can, Desk Rider3, out." Suenee had brought breakfast in while I was talking to Desk Rider, and I ate it quickly before any more calls came in.

Sawyer had finished briefing Phillips by the time I got over to Operations after eating. By now it was after 0700 hrs and light out, so we could turn off most of the lights and reduce the load on the generator. I checked the fuel and switched to a full five-gallon can of gas, then went to fill the partly empty can and get another full can to keep there as well. Suenee had been there to watch me.

"Open the new can of gas first," I had instructed her, "after placing it next to the can being used. You can tell when to change it by lifting the can. When it feels light, you need to change it.

"With the new can in position, pull up on the lock on top of the insert and pull it out quickly and put it into the new can of gas. There is enough fuel in the line and the bowl to keep the generator running for the short time it takes to do this. Lock down the insert and then close the old can. Take it to be refilled then. One of the guards can do that and he can carry the full can back here, too," I told her.

"Yes, that looks easy enough," Suenee told me.

The CO was calling when I got back to the radio.

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, this is Cowboy 6, over."

"Cowboy 6, this is Cowboy 3 Alpha, over.

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, advise 6 Alpha that we will have a platoon of Thai Rangers to accompany us to Hotel 11. Do we have transportation, over?"

"Roger, Cowboy 6, Transportation has been arranged, and our higher has been advised of the situation. They have promised all assistance possible, over."

"Roger, 3 Alpha. I'll meet you at the airfield shortly. Cowboy 6, out."

Sawyer was in Operations, and Sophie was trying to persuade him to wear an amulet on a bootlace when I came in. He had very reluctantly agreed and had just taken it from her. She appeared to be very happy with herself.

"The CO scrounged a platoon of Thai Rangers to go with us," I informed him.

"That's good," Sawyer said, "but I don't know how much good a platoon will be against tanks," He turned toward me while saying this and set the amulet on the desk. "Get your ruck and the portable radio," he continued, "and we'll head for the airfield. There isn't any way to know when that chopper will show up."

I retrieved my ruck and weapon from the bedroom and the portable radio and a spare battery from the radio room. I also got out the M-14 and loaded several magazines. I already had on an NVA ammo vest with AK-47 magazines in it. There was a very nice padded case with magazine pockets that had come with the M-14, and I placed it and the magazines in it and was ready to go. It was quite a load in addition to the pistol that all of us carried all of the time.

Outside, I saw that Sawyer had his shotgun as well as an AK-47 with him. The NVA doesn't have magazine carriers large enough for him to wear. He had magazines stuffed in his ruck along with extra shotgun shells. He was carrying a large belt that held shotgun shells and had a really large Bowie type knife attached to his LBE (Load Bearing Equipment).

"You ready?" he asked as I came out. Phillips had the 5/4 warmed up and we loaded our gear in the back, and kissed our wives before getting in. The Thai Army guards opened one steel gate to let us out of the compound and quickly closed it again. The gates had remained closed due to the emergency and would remain that way until it was over.

There was now a checkpoint set up on the road to the airfield, but they passed us easily. There were also jeeps armed with M-60s patrolling the airfield now. The airfield was very busy now, as there were T-28s and Thai Army helicopters taking off and landing all of the time. In fact several C-130s landed and discharged troops, while we waited for our helicopter. The CO arrived about 0845 with several truck loads of Thai Rangers. You can imagine my surprise when Suenee's cousin, Lieutenant Paribetra, got out of the first truck.

"Well, Sergeant Baker, we meet again," he said after we all exchanged salutes. "How is my cousin, your wife?"

"She's fine, sir. She's minding my radio while I'm away," I told him. The CO was surprised that we knew each other, but of course Sawyer wasn't.

The CH-47 arrived shortly after 0900 and we got everyone loaded on board, but had to leave our jeep at the airfield. I hoped that Tweed's radio was still OK, as it would be the only one we would have with enough range to reach the compound. Lieutenant Paribetra did arranged for someone to deliver our jeep back to the compound for us. I hoped that we weren't too late, as it was already three hours since the first call had come in.

The pilot this time was the same CWO 3 who we had flown with before. He might need that AK-47 he had gotten before on this trip. He must have poured the coal on as it was less than a-half hour before we were over Muang Et (H-11) and I was calling Carson on the radio.

"Tango 1 Bravo, this is Cowboy 3 Alpha, over."

"Cowboy 3 Alpha, this is Tango 1 Bravo, over."

"Tango 1 Bravo, we are over Hotel 11. What is your location, over?"

"Roger, 3 Alpha. We are just south of Hotel 13, over."

"Tango 1 Bravo, Cowboy 3 Alpha. Roger. We will be over your location shortly. Can you safely pop smoke, over?"

"Roger, 3 Alpha. When I hear your approach, I'll pop smoke. Land on the road. It has been fairly safe here so far, over." We headed north form Muang Et and followed the dirt road. It was only six kilometers to Xiang Khoun (H-13).

Carson popped green smoke and we verified that with him before landing. He was very surprised to see the Thai Rangers with us. The helicopter returned to Muang Et to wait for us. Tweed and Mr. now Major Bau joined us shortly after we arrived. Both were sweating and dirty from crawling and running near the front line of the battle.