DS556.57 7th (12/9/65) - After Action Report, Battle of ... - Fort Benning

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fire was the lightest and tried to have everything ready for each landing
to keep them on the ground a iniLmn time. Aono were shot down
and destroyed although most of theutook hits. Tw .airoraft wore brought
in which did not get put . Une roceiv od ene y fire in the engine and
had to lmd in an open area just off the northern portion of the LL;
the other clipped a few tree tops with the riain rutor on landing in the
LZ ant. had to be loft. Crews of both aircraft wore irmiedittoly lifted
out by other helicopters. Both downed helicopters wore iramodiateLy'
secured by elements of Company D without orders per battalion SUP -
they being the nearest troops. both wore slightly damaged only and
were slung out two days later by CH-.47 Chinooks. During the three
day battle, these wore the only two downed holiooptors. BY 1530 hours,
it had become apFparent that we would need a night lanuding ccpability
that I needed a pathfinder team to assist' Liocn the ground. I callod
the i Company, 229th lift company oommnder with a request for pathfinders
anci was gratified t learn that he had.anticipated the requiremont.
They arrived shortlythereafter a-.id with engineer demolitionists
cloared the J Z into a ofairW safe two-chopper landing arec and set up
lights to be turned on if necessary for night landings. sdthough under
eei. V observation and firo it was loss vulnerable than the southern
portion of X-±UJ whore we were still cleaning out enemy riflemen.
(2) by darkt, at 1915 hours, ta resupply of amo, rations,:
water and medical supplies had been brought in Dexd.rane, morphino
EUd bandages were the medical supplies most needed and water was at a
premium. ,,t approximately 1850 hours, i radioed my o-3 and told him n
to prOparo to conIe in ls soon as possible using twoM--its Lmd to
bring in tho artillery liaison officer, tF0, two radio ,perators and
more Pater and small ars armno. They landed at 2128 hours. The d i+
and smoke which' hung im (Ls hrNr 9*.c.nnTf-mri-nine over U hoarlpent Fire ,"'
tlolrVo4 thir arrival and mado tho landing vory, dfi.ofiult but once a.-ain,.
the 229th pilots porfrmed- with groat courage and professienalism.
IV.49'Vfl-$,b iI L IIff OF 4LNUVtbaSR:
. by darkness, 1915 hours, we had evacuated all our wouanlded
-nd collected our dead in r OP ara.. L no and wator was boing distributod;
the landing zone atea was. in the final stages of ixoe.wati(on
for night landings; mrtx and artillery fires were being registered
close around the perimeter; a small light proof working area had been
constructed out of ponohos for the mldios; and the chain of omad.
had been reorgaized. I talked with nny of the ten and could soe that
the Lrae.' was high. We knew wweVere. facing a tough enemy but we also
knew the onemy with a greatly superior foroe had 'failed to got through
us tl-mt afternoon. We were in excellent shape as we completed tying tn
our perimeter. The cut-off platoon of B Company was in goud morale and
was holding its Iosition.
3. &uring the night the ene made several light probes
forward of &. and b CGompany, and of C Company near Where it tied in
with .' Compmay, Artllery. harassing am( interdiction fires were brought
down on the lower. f ingers, end. draws of. the mountain, around the
southerzn and western edgos of the perimeter; and up on the slopes whore
four or five e~tci lights wore observed. We roecivedi six or 'seven
rounds of highz ox 'losive fLre, either ortar or rockets.
0. The surrounded platoon of b Company on a finger of the mountain
300 meters northwest of the batalion perimeter was protected by
close-in artillery fires all: night. The enex 4 could be heard £dl dround
the platoon. artillery fire was brought in on those areas and. the shouts
and screams told of good results. The platoon began and ended the night
with 8 IA, 12 WL j and 7 men not wounded, It was disposed in two separate
locations within their sratl perimoter.- The platoon leader, platoon
sergeant and weapons squad leadr were among the KL.. The nunn who ended
up on the radio w4s . Sergeant £o5 squad leader. ho could not get to
the, ranking man (a tatf Uergoaat rifle squad leader), since any ntve.ho
.an a noo.,
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