Pacifica Military History Free Sample Chapters.pmd

Free Sample Chapters 197
Captain TOM EARLY
3/26—Communications Officer
It took a long time to get the helicopters from Phu Bai or wherever they
came from. Our request had to go up through the helicopter request net,
had to be confirmed, and then they had to send the helicopters.
Staff Sergeant RUSS ARMSTRONG
India Company, 3/26—1st Platoon Commander
I also heard that the skipper had put in a request for fixed-wing air
support, but, like the medevac, it got delayed.
Captain TOM EARLY
3/26—Communications Officer
There was an AO [aerial observer] up. The AOs were always on the
same frequencies. We knew what those frequencies were; we all had
them in our little notebooks. Any CP could come up and talk with him,
ask him any questions they wanted. The AO was an artillery officer
who could either help our FOs on the ground or call artillery fire himself.
He could also call naval gunfire if there was a ship on station, or he
could run fixed wing if there were fixed-wing aircraft in the area, or he
could assist the arty FO on the ground in spotting exactly where the
rounds should go into the enemy positions. So, we were in a position to
control air either from the ground position with the FAC or from the air
with the AO. It certainly was simpler for the AO because he was up
there and could observe more from that little bird dog airplane.
*
The AO was aboard a single-engine light “Bird Dog” observation plane.
He had arrived over the India Company position within about 30 minutes
of the initial exchange of gunfire. Circling over a wide area, he located
an NVA bunker and six NVA soldiers in fighting holes. He also reported
that one of the NVA soldiers had an automatic weapon. The AO requested
immediate air support. Typically, Marine jet fighter-bombers based at
Danang, on the coast, needed at least 30 minutes to take off and get on
station along the DMZ. They were thus due to arrive at about 1300,
about 70 minutes after the first shots were fired.
*