Pacifica Military History Free Sample Chapters.pmd

Free Sample Chapters 189
Lance Corporal CHUCK BENNETT
India Company, 3/26, 1st Platoon
We checked the ditch out because it would have been a good spot for an
ambush.
Staff Sergeant RUSS ARMSTRONG
India Company, 3/26—1st Platoon Commander
After putting out flankers to walk along the top of the ditch and more
flankers partway up the side to keep visual contact with the outer flankers,
the bulk of the patrol walked right into the ditch and proceeded along it.
It was easier to move in there than in the broken terrain on either side.
1st Lieutenant BOB STIMSON
India Company, 3/26—Executive Officer
Even though part of the company was able to use the drainage ditch,
progress remained slow because fire teams and squads had to advance
through the brush on either side to provide security for the rest of us.
The going for them was every bit as tough as it had been getting out to
the ditch.
Lance Corporal CHUCK BENNETT
India Company, 3/26, 1st Platoon
I was a flanker. It was very confined up above the ditch, so most of the
time I was up on the rim of the ditch, inside.
Staff Sergeant RUSS ARMSTRONG
India Company, 3/26—1st Platoon Commander
All of a sudden, at 1150, our flankers on the left began taking some
sporadic fire—burst, burst, burst, then nothing.
Lance Corporal CHUCK BENNETT
India Company, 3/26, 1st Platoon
There was shooting. It was a bunch of shots—several automatic weapons.
I hit the deck and started returning the fire.
Lance Corporal Gary Lindsay was the next guy to my left, about 20
feet away. I saw him go down. I knew he was hit, but I didn’t know how
bad. I was trying to get fire out to where they were shooting at us from.
They were dug in. They were only 75 to 80 feet from me. As soon as I
could, I hollered at Lindsay, but the guy never responded. I crawled
over there, firing a few bursts as I went. Lindsay was hit in the head. He
was already dead. He never knew what hit him.