March 2, 1970 Monday - We only moved about 50 meters today. So far today it has been quiet but still on edge waiting for anything to happen. Got a chance to write some letters today. Our sergeant is having back pain and I'm sure carrying a  heavy pack through thick jungle isn't going to help it any. Heard we are supposed to leave Tay Ninh the 15th of the month. I think just about any place would be better than this.

March 3, 1970 Tuesday - Managed to get caught up on my letter writing yesterday and this morning. We moved out 150 meters and found the trotter (trail) that we had tried to find for the last 3 days. Range platoon has the primary ambush positions with automatic ambushes set up on either side of our location. Cat and Skull platoons also have automatic ambushes set up. We think the claymore mines the enemy stole from the Range platoon automatic ambush were all used when they blew them on us. It was kind of ironic that they were used against Range platoon. Cat's automatic just went off and they went on patrol to check it out. Negative findings at the ambush site, don't know what set it off. Maybe a bird or other small animal.

March 4, 1970 Wednesday - Saddled  up and moved out looking for a field to get logged in. Skull pointed out and we went through some old bunkers, so we went real slow and fragged a few of them. The best way to check out the bunkers is to have some men provide security while someone approaches the bunker close enough to throw in a hand grenade. This should disable any enemy soldiers who might be hiding in the bunker and if there are any booby traps it should blow them up or destroy them. We were able to get a heading toward a field from a plane that was flying overhead. Found the field and had it secured by 1200 hours. We had to wait all afternoon before the log birds came with our supplies. Didn't leave the log site until 1930, which was very late. It was almost dark before we were able to start setting up our night defensive position and get our claymore mines and trip flares around the perimeter. It wasn't very long and a trip flare went off, and then another trip flare. We blew the claymore mines near the trip flares and Cat fired some small arms at an enemy soldier they saw running down the trotter. Too dark now, have to check it out tomorrow.

March 5, 1970 Thursday - Cat went out on patrol and didn't find anything on the trotter. We moved out with Cat pointing. When we stopped for a break, 3 enemy soldiers crawled up to the rear of the left file. Some of the guys in Skull spotted them and fired at them, but missed them completely. Pushed out 750 meters and set in for chow. Skull was sent out on patrol and found more bunkers. They were checking it out when a claymore was blown on them and started receiving small arms fire. It sounded real bad but only two guys were wounded. They pulled back 150 meters and we went out to reinforce them. Called in airstrikes and the jets dropped napalm  with in about 150 meters from us. It was close enough to feel the earth shake. Set up our night location 100 meters away. Everyone is really on edge again.

VIETNAM DIARY

SKYTROOPERS HOMEPAGE