OPERATION MACARTHUR, THE BATTLES AT DAK TO - Corregidor

Frank Edward Stokes, A/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
Robert Thomas Szymanski, A/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
Ernest Ray Taylor, Jr., HHC/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
Nathaniel Thompson, A/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
Arthur Turner, Jr., A/4/503 KIA 11/20/67
Sergeant Arthur Turner was a squad leader in the 2nd
platoon of A/4/503rd Inf, 173rd Abn Bde. I first met him
in August 1967 when I was assigned to the 2nd platoon of
A Co. Sergeant Turner was easy to get to know and I
made friends with him. We were in the Battle of Ngok
Kom Leat on November 6, 1967 in Dak To. We were on
Hill 875 together in Dak To on November 20, 1967,when
Sergeant Turner was killed by a mortar round in the
early morning. Sergeant Arthur Turner was one of
the best Sergeants that I served under. (unsigned)
Lester Tyler, C/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
Thomas Joe Wade, B/4/503, KIA 11/20/67
Tom Wade and I were drafted in February 1967.
I met Tom at Ft. Polk, LA, in basic training. We
were sent to Ft. Gordan, GA for airborne infantry
A.I.T. We went to Ft. Benning, GA, for Jump School.
We were both sent to Viet Nam in August 1967. Tom
was assigned to B Co, 4 th Bn, 503 rd Inf and I
was assigned to A Co, 4 th Bn, 503 rd Inf. We
were both on Hill 875 in Dak To in November
1967. Tom was killed by a mortar round in the
early morning of November 20, 1967, while
trying to take Hill 875. My son, Melvin Wade
Thomas, who is a Texas State Trooper, is
named after Thomas Joe Wade. (Unsigned)
Earl Kennon Webb, HHC/4/503, KIA 11/20/67
Merrel P. Whittington, HHC/4/503, KIA 11/20/67
Lemuel Taylor Williams, HHC/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
John Roby Wolf,
HHC/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
John Wesley Wooten, C/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
Ronald Wayne Young, A/2/503, KIA 11/20/67
Note: It’s likely some of these men listed as KIA on
20 November 1967 were in fact killed in action on 19
November 1967.
D+27 (21 November 1967)
The 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) continued
Operation MACARTHUR. The 1-503d Inf continued
patrolling activities in AO CONDOR. At 1635 hours, B
Co engaged 1 NVA resulting in 2 US WIA. At 1335
hours, C Co found 2 dead NVA. They had been killed
by SA and had been dead 3 days. At 1102 hours, C Co
found 1 dead NVA. He had been dead 2 days.
The 2-503d Inf continued to extract WIA and KIA
from the battle area. The CP group was extracted from
FSB 16 and moved to FSB 12.
Saving a buddy at Dak To. (Web photo)
From 0605 hours and through the morning, all
companies of the 4-503d Inf received heavy mortar
rockets and small arms fire. Medical evacuation and
resupply aircraft were unable to land to pick up the
wounded and dead or to resupply elements. Air strikes
and artillery were called in on Hill 875 and the
surrounding hills from 0700 hours until 1050 hours. At
1050 hours, the 4 th Battalion prepared to begin the
assault on Hill 875 with Co A on the left, Co B in the
center and Co C on the right. The assault was delayed
until 1400 hours to call in more air strikes. Co C began
preparing a new LZ out of direct fire from Hill 875. The
LZ was completed at 1415 hours.
Elements of the 1-12 th Infantry and E-17 th Cavalry
continued as the Brigade Reaction Force. Mobile Strike
Force elements continued patrolling actions in AO
HAWK and AO FALCON.
(continued….)
2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / November 2012 – Issue 47
Page 50 of 125