As I called for the immediate pullback of our forward placed troops, I immediately noticed a large concentration of black clad, armed civilians massing around the chokepoint and were making a slow but determined approach towards the ammo dump clearing. As they got closer it was obvious that they were not merely civilians, but they were in fact the Viet Cong insurgents that had slowed our progress through the swamp earlier.
As some of the men went to the defensive positions at the base of the "middle finger" to prepare for the VC attack, I grabbed the attention of three other Rangers to acompany me at the left edge of the wood as the VC made they're approach down the road. Myself, Sgt. Fisher, Sgt. Gunn, and Cpl. Gunn prepared ourselves to lay a trap for the oncoming VC.
I layed out my extra mags and also a grenade and instructed the others to prepare as well. I wanted every man to be able to keep firing because I was sure there would be plenty of opportunities for making some well deserved VC kills. Sgt. Fisher watched our rear to make sure that Charlie didn't try and take us out from the wood. All four of us could hear the approaching VC as they moved on the opposite side of the bushes from our position. We also could make out the distinctive voice of their soviet advisor giving them orders to make a push on the far right and to be especially careful of their left which is where we lay in wait.
Well the soviet's vietnamese must not have been very good or Charlie must not have been able to filter out the russian accent because as they pushed on the far right, Sgt. Gunn and I were able to eliminate five of the VC gunmen as they pushed on the base of the "middle finger". It was truly a sight to see as Charlie continued to send man after man into the opening, only to be mowed down by our suppressive fire from our protected position.
The soviet advisor began to yell angrily with the VC and instucted them to use their heads and began to send or rather push the remaining VC into our position to try and root us out. Sgt. Gunn, Cpl. Gunn and I continued to put the heat on and in turn took turns reloading while Sgt. Fisher was engaging Charlie from the thicket to our rear.
Sadly to say, Sgt. Fisher was hit leaving our rear unprotected. I figured, FIDO(fuck It Drive On) we would go down shooting and take as many of them as we could with us. Charlie popped some smoke and then sent a huge number of there soldiers into the opening and ultimately eliminated us as well.
I have never felt so excited and also feel the sense of impending doom as I have during that last stand. That image of the four of us will remain part of my memory for ever.
-Lt Cutter
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