Pat Mclaughlin’s
Description of 1/18th A Company Fire Fight on Oct. 30, 1967
30 October 1967
Charlie Company had weapons to clean and resupplies of ammo and grenades
to secure. We hoarded extra of both as no one believed that this fight
was over. Alpha Company moved out on patrol south and southwest of the
NDP. Shortly after noon all hell broke loose with small arms, ours and
theirs, firing hard and fast. Delta Company was committed to the fight
and Dogface 6 called in artillery and tactical air support. The fight
lasted for several hours.
Back at the NDP Charlie Company guys spread out, filling in the
positions around the perimeter in case the enemy attempted to assault
the Dogface position during the battle.
The 165th NVA Regiment had come back, this time in battalion strength to
avenge the beating inflicted upon one of its companies the day before.
As they had done on the 29th, the NVA had utilized the irrigation
trenches and the fighting was intense and at close quarters. Division
after action reports describe 83 enemy soldiers killed. Dogface
casualties were 4 killed in action and 5 wounded. This battle is
referred to as “Srok Silamlite II.”
The brass throughout Division and above now all clearly understood that
the enemy had stuck around Loc Ninh in order to pick a fight with the
Big Red One. |