Vitenam Tourney Action Report

[majog]

As the morning mist starts to clear the action on Hwy 55 heats up. With Cpt Weatherholt in the lead column the 247th Mech Inf encounters a deadly NVA ambush from the Dragons bite taking out an APC. But the Tiger has quick reflexes and several companies from the 247th Mech quickly unload returning fire. The sound of RPG and AK's fill the air along with the smell of cordite and enemy screams. With the help of heuy cover fire the 247th secure the Hwy with a klick of Ap Tran Vinh 2.

Meanwhile just E of the the HWY units of the 1/9th Inf (A&B companies) are trying to secure a small hill with LOS on the road. They encounter heavy dug in dragons and rocket launchers gallor. With the help of a skyraider the ground pounding tigers start up the hill only to have a full platoon of B company wiped out by Dragon fire. They consider calling in more air support but help is already on the way as more 1/9th units fast rope into the edge of the light jungle and cover fire takes our NVA mortar platoons. With numerous cobra and gunship runs the Dragon retreats up the hill with hopes of regrouping and trying to make it to their bunkers.

If that action is not enough for you on an un-named small patch of jungle SE of the Song river the ever valient Col Grillo leads his men to take a NVA Hq only to find he is surrounded on 3 sides. He calls in reenforcements but the only units close is a Ma Duce from HQ company 1/9th. Without regaurd to their own safety they land in a hot LZ right in the heart of the Dragons breathe. Fire arrupts from all around but the Heuy has luck on their side and evac unscathed. The Ma Duce team is not as lucky as they take heavy casualties. Meanwhile other 1/9th Infanty push into the jungle but 250 mtrs may as well be miles away.

To further add to the caos Dragon wounded and disrupted units force NVA civilians to act as human shields as they try to escape E of the jungle. THis is just what the US air support was waiting for and with the deadly aim only the eye of the Tiger can have, cobras take out the NVA units leaving the civilian unhurt. WIth the help of other heuy's providing cover fire they circle the Ma Duce team and provide what cover fire they can. Miraculously it works. An RPG team dies and the rocket explode from 30cal MG rounds raining down upon them.

What did we walk into Col Grillo thinks as he pulls his 45 from the holster. With all this radio chatter it is another Ia Drang Valley fiasco. If only his buddy Mel were here with they new Air Mobile Cav units to help out. Oh well CPT Weatherholt is a good man and Maj Applequist was due back from R&R yesterday so should be on the next fight in with fresh units and more ammo. God I love the smell of Napalm in the morning..... time for some F4's to clear out this jungle.:smg: