Into Cambodia - Keith Nolan [55]
Not long after, the ground began rumbling as though an earthquake was centered just a few miles away. They looked at each other.
“ B-Fifty-two?”
“ Gotta be, Harry!”
The border was being softened.
Lieutenant Forster, scared to death, wrote a short, happy letter to his mother that night, explaining that they were going into Cambodia. “They said to write letters today because there wouldn't be any mail service for about ten days…. Keep your eyes open, I might be on TV.” He signed off, “Pat–the expeditionary.”
May Day was D-Day, and Major Weeks was in good form. The sun burned through the morning mist and his blood pumped in unison with the artillery now thundering along the front. Weeks stood beside the road, a bush hat on his head and his CAR 15 Shorty hanging by its shoulder strap. When he saw familiar faces from A Company on the APCs rolling past, he flashed them what he called Major Weeks's peace sign–closed fist, middle finger erect–and laugh-bellowed, “Kill the motherfuckers!”
The grunts hollered back as they drove past, throwing the clenched fist of power and the two fingers of peace. The column started busting bush at first light on their way to the line of departure. It was a dreary, damp, and foggy dawn. Captain Kaldi of Charlie Company, who was leading the push, radioed Lieutenant Colonel Claybrook and Major Weeks, who were now overhead in a helicopter, “This is really eerie down here. It's just like one of those scenes that you see in a World War One movie.”
On 27 April 1970, Lt. Col. Corwin A. Mitchell, CO, 3-4 Cav, 25th Division, was summoned from FSB Wood to division headquarters in Cu Chi. Preinvasion security did not allow for much of a briefing, and he was simply asked to refuel his Loach and proceed north to FSB Bunard to familiarize himself with the deployment of 3-11 ACR and to determine how to move 3-4 Cav into the area. At FSB Bunard, Lieutenant Colonel Griffin of 3-11 ACR told him about the Cambodian plans. Mitchell was to bring two of his troops up from the Crescent to relieve Griffin's squadron for their attack into Cambodia and to clean up the mounds of uncrated howitzer ammunition they were leaving behind. On 28 April 1970, 3-4 Cav was replaced by the 10th ARVN Cav at FSB Wood and conducted a posthaste road march of some hundred miles to the FSB Bunard AO. Along with 1-11 ACR, which relieved 2-11 ACR at FSB Burkett, 3-4 Cav maintained the lines of communication and supply behind the invasion force.
Soon after taking command of the 25th Division on 2 April 1970, Major General Bautz made an inspection visit to 2-34 Armor. Impressed by the spit'n'polish appearance of the battalion commander, Bautz was taken aback when he visited the line companies: The troops looked “shabby” and the tanks he looked down into were in “terrible” condition. The battalion commander had compiled an impressive record in staff positions, but the hands-on technicalities of running a combat outfit seemed over his head. Bautz relayed through his ADC, Greene, that changes had to be made, and seeing no improvement he decided to relieve the lieutenant colonel. However, 2-34 Armor was then detached for the invasion and, not wanting to change riders in midstream, Bautz did not go through with the relief. Within two weeks, though, the battalion's difficulties in Cambodia were so great that Bautz helicoptered forward and fired the CO of 2-34 Armor in the field on 11 May 1970.
Since this officer was relieved in Cambodia, a pseudonym is used.
Since this officer was relieved in Cambodia, a pseudonym is used.
Chapter 10: TIMETABLES
Donn Albert Starry, smoking a cigar and wearing an olive-drab undershirt beneath his flak jacket, with a colonel's eagle pinned to the front of