War Stories -cont'd

Delta, 3rd squad had successfully located the turret on the island that morning. Our captain had given clear instructions to Delta Force: destroy the turret.

For this objective, the combined might of both the 3rd and 4th squads would be utilized. 4th squad was inserted on the island first, and was set to take point to lead us back through the hell they traversed earlier in the day. You could see the anger is Sgt. Blackjack's eye's, vengence would be his. 20 seconds after insertion, we hit an enemy wall. We later realized that we were battling an elite squad of VC, better trained than intelligence reports had told us. It was a bloody battle for even the smallest inch of movement on that island. Both squads lost contact with each other, battling an enemy that seemingly attacked from every angle. The wall in front of us was not yielding, it was time for a new plan. I assembled a crack team to make a covert move up river, and attack our enemy from the backside. Myself, my medic Mark Janke, and rifleman Joe Schewe employed the services of a local boatman, and began our move upstream. Along the way, we pulled rifleman Erikk Cass from the water to join our assault. Corporal Josh Goodman bravely volunteered to continue the assault at our previous location in the face of certain defeat, assisted by our engineer Brian. Their orders were to continue the attack, and when we punched the hole, move through and blow the turret.

We inserted at the top of the island, and were pleased to meet no resistance. Stepping over VC corpses rotting in the brush, we made our way down the island. Our plan was working perfectly, the VC elite squad were seemingly unaware of our presense, many of them moving thier positions only to walk into our deliberate lane's of fire. Moving like a razor, we cut through the defense and secured the turret. VC body count was 5 dead, 1 surrendered. Taking the turret was the easy part, we still had to get our engineer to the turret and destroy it. The team with me set up a defensive perimeter around the turret, but we could hear them coming. Fire missions were radioed in, but battles were too intense in other area's to divert shell's or air support our way. We didn't get support in time. I can still hear the cries of my men as we were ripped apart......before the bullets found their own home in my chest.

We lost the turret, but were able to regroup with the last remnants of Delta to make a last attack on the location. It was a bloody assault, grenades ripping limbs off, gunfire coming from every dark place in the trees. Countless men lost their lives trying to destroy that turret.

As I lay there, my corpse being riddled by bullets from both sides, I could only think of the valor these men had shown in the face of a formidable opponent. With my last breath, I uttered, "this is awesome, I hope we don't have to wait another year to do this", and then died.

To the brave men of Delta, and the formidable opponenets of VC, I commend your action and valor on the battlefield.