OPERATION MACARTHUR, THE BATTLES AT DAK TO - Corregidor

The NVA continued to probe during the night. SGT
Williams from “D” Company and others in his foxhole
heard movement to their front so they threw a couple of
frag grenades. They heard hollering and then the NVA
started yelling, “Chieu Hoi”. The “Sky Soldiers”
responded by throwing a couple more grenades. They
didn’t fire their weapons for fear of revealing their
positions. The next morning they found numerous NVA
bodies to the front of their position. (Note: They
estimated 25-50 although some felt that this was the
result of the second bomb which landed just outside of
the perimeter). One of the bodies was within 10 meters
of their position with a sack of grenades beside him.
The three companies’ laager site for the night was three
quarters of the way up Hill 875.
At 1045H, 19 Nov, B-4-503d Inf was helilifited from
an LZ to FSB 12, closing at 1123H. B-4-503d Inf was
alerted at FSB 12 that the 2-503d Inf was in hard
fighting and that they were going in to reinforce them.
B-4-503d Inf was then helilifted from FSB 12 to FSB 16
closing at 1731H.
The paratroopers of B-4-503d Airborne Infantry were
eager to move out and relieve their comrades in the
surrounded 2-503d Inf, but it was too close to dark, so
the company laagered for the night on the eastern end of
FSB 16 and cleaned their weapons preparing for the next
day’s battle. Since the Sky Soldiers knew they were
going into a heavy fire fight they all drew and packed
extra ammunition. Riflemen carried 600 rds or more,
machine gunners carried upwards of 2000 rds,
grenadiers 50 rds HE and usually about the same amount
of shotgun rounds. Every one carried from 5 – 10 M-26
frag grenades and two smoke grenades. Since the
paratroopers wanted to travel light and fast they only
carried one meal of C-rations, one canteen of water (they
would cross several streams), and a poncho for carrying
their dead and wounded to the LZ. Each platoon carried
20 rds of 60mm mortar ammo except the weapons
platoon which carried 70 rds and two 60mm mortars.
Flamethrowers, 90mm RR, LAW’s and 81mm mortars
would be brought in later by helicopter.
Michael Edward Adams, C/2/503, KIA 11/19/67
Bruce Martin Benzing, A/2/503, KIA 11/19/67*
Roy James Blackwell, Jr.,
C/2/503, KIA 11/19/67
Do we weep for the heroes
who died for us;
Who living were true and
tried for us;
And dying sleep side by side
for us;
The martyr band that
hallowed our land;
Who shed their blood in a
tide for us?
- Fr. Abram Ryan -
Arnold M. Huskins
Mario Alvarez Cisneros, C/2/503, KIA 11/19/67
Gary Robert Cooper, 173d Eng. Co., KIA 11/19/67
Jack Lee Croxdale, II,
C/2/503, KIA 11/19’67
Benjamin David De Herrera, C/2/503, KIA 11/19/67
Michael Le Roy Ellis,
A/2/503, KIA 11/19/67
Greater love hath no
man than this, that a man
lay down his life for his
friends. John 15:13 KJV
Specialist Four Elis
distinguished himself by
exceptionally valorous
actions on 19 November
1967. On this day, on a
search and destroy mission,
contact was made with a
well-fortified enemy force.
With the initial burst of
enemy fire Specialist Ellis ran forward and engaged the
enemy despite the intense enemy fire. Specialist Ellis
continuously moved from position to position to place
accurate fire against the enemy positions….
* Brigade & After Action Report lists KIA date as 11/20/67
(continued….)
2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / November 2012 – Issue 47
Page 42 of 125