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2006-05-31 Home Front: Politix

Dixie Chicks Whines? No. Big and Rich & the 173rd? Yes.

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Posted by Oldspook 2006-05-31 17:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Initially, 30 vs 1200.

One of the most under-noticed heroic actions in the whole of the Vietnam war.

From an eyewitness account (one of the company commanders):

The adjustment the enemy made, as a result of our effective artillery, was to move closer to us in order to avoid the devastating fires. Their reaction clearly demonstrated that we were up against a highly trained and disciplined force. I reported to Colonel Tyler that I believed we were surrounded and, while we would hold the position, we were going to need help. Colonel Tyler provided encouragement and said he was working on it. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, came the sounds of three bugles. My operations sergeant, Staff Sergeant Ernest J. Sundborg, turned to me and asked if I had heard them. I said I didn't, but I had. My mind just didn't want to accept it. After what seemed a lifetime, I realized we had to move fast to overcome a major assault. I called for more artillery and again reported that we needed help if we were to hold. My platoons reacted quickly, almost without direction, repositioning machine guns and troopers to meet the blunt of the attack. Leaders seemed to appear everywhere knowing what was about to happen. I tried to be everywhere. We were ready for the worst. The enemy came at us shoulder-to-shoulder. It was unreal, like something out of films from the civil war. They made it about halfway up the hill when we finally broke them and they backed down off the hill slowly. They made a second attempt, seemingly more desperate than the first, but it met with the same fate. This time they were in retreat, but it wasn't over yet.

. . .

My eyes began to blur, we had paid a dear price. Reaching for the radio, I readied for my toughest report. When Colonel Tyler came on the net it took everything I had to report I estimated our two companies had more than forty dead, approximately seventy wounded, and were missing up to another twenty. For the second time I experienced a long pause on the radio followed by a pained "out".

. . .

(Press conference afterwards) We got a lot of questions on "being ambushed" and "fallen into a Viet Cong trap." General Williamson took those head-on as nonsense. Tucker reported, "They began charging in human waves with bugles blaring." I reported, "We killed about 90 Viet Cong as we busted through one of their encirclements. To another question I responded "When we finally fought our way to the top of the hill, we counted 111 Viet Cong bodies lying there." SSgt Wear offered,"I don't know what VC unit was there, but I know the other side knows we were there and won't want to tangle with the 173d again for a long time." The most quotable quote was offered by Sgt. Bryant, "I figure the Viet Cong would have been able to hold roll call the next morning in a telephone booth." I laughed for the first time in days.

You can get the full account here:

http://www.skysoldier.org/php/skysoldier/OperationHump.php

Posted by Oldspook 2006-05-31 18:44|| 2006-05-31 18:44|| Front Page Top

#2 thanks OS.

Posted by RD 2006-05-31 21:01|| 2006-05-31 21:01|| Front Page Top

#3 Hey OS.
B/3/503 173rd Abn Bde (Sep). 1968-1971 RVN.
11B4P.

Airborne!

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2006-05-31 21:22|| 2006-05-31 21:22|| Front Page Top

#4 I bought that CD about a month ago, Kristoferson does the intro. "the 8th of November" - It's a good song. Another good pro-mil country act is Montgomery/Gentry, I think they've done more USO concerts in the M.E. than anyone else besides Charlie Daniels.

In other news the Dixie Chicks cd supposedly debuted today at no.1 on the charts, though I don't personally know anyone who bought it or plans on buying it.

Posted by Broadhead6 2006-05-31 22:00|| 2006-05-31 22:00|| Front Page Top

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