SGT RICHARD H. ALLEN
At about 1800 hours, 6 Feb we started receiving incoming artillery
rounds. I was at the new camp eating dinner and at 1830 hours I went
back to the old camp by jeep accompanied by SP4 Johnson. The artillery
kept up until dark.
I lay down about 2300 hours, to be wakened at 0015 hours by Johnson
telling me that the other camp was being hit. SGT Ashley was on the
radio (PRC-25). From our position there was nothing that we could really
do.
CPT Willoughby had called for artillery support and air support almost
immediately. It seemed that there was no real way to stop tanks. I was
[sic] 0130 hours before we got any help from Khe Sanh; then all we received
was illumination rounds. We did have a FAC flying around overhead. Also
at 0130 hours one aircraft arrived, "Spooky". He started dropping
flares, but would not come down to fire his guns.
Until this time we could not get the Laotians to give us a hand, but
now they dropped in illumination rounds with their 81's. Tanks were
starting to come towards our camp and were firing their guns at us.
The Laotian officers still did not want to be disturbed. Ashley, Johnson
and myself were the only ones trying to get anything done. We couldn't
get any Laotians to go with us to help defend the camp. SGT Ashley finally
started controlling the flareship, as to where drop [sic] the flares.
From our positions we saw two tanks, one on the north end and one
on the south end firing at everything in between. We could see several
trip flares going off around the camp. Funny bombs were dropped at the
Eastern slope of the helicopter pad.
The night started out nice and clear, but early in the A.M. The visibility
became somewhat limited. At 0330 hours B 52's arrived making bombing
run's [sic] on Co [illegible]. The new camp had received some H.E. rounds
from Khe Sanh, but they seemed to be hitting the camp and were discontinued.
Around 0400 hours we (Ashley, Johnson and myself) lost contact with
CPT Willoughby. Then two skyhawks came in and we called strafing runs
and B.T.V. At this time there was only sporadic firing coming from the
camp.
Just prior to dawn, the people from Lang Vei Village #1 tried to get
into camp. We had to persuade the Laotian Col to keep the villagers
out. We also got the word from FAC that NVA were sited headed towards
the old camp and village.
At around 0645 hours we heard from McMurry. We informed him that we
were on our way. We then tried to muster up 100 Laotians to go with
us. It took almost an hour. We then started out of the camp on the highway
where we were met by about 20 CIDG. They were happy to see us (Americans).
We persuaded them to go to the other camp to pick up the survivors and
retake the camp if necessary. Just before entering the camp we called
in strafing runs by the two skyhawks overhead. We then ventured up the
hill. We found a few seriously [sic] wounded CIDG (or MSF). We entered
through the 101 company area and counted two CIDG and several NVA bodies.
There were satchel charges laying [sic] all around. There I dropped
my carbine and picked up a BAR and some grenades. We got to the hill
at the end of 101 Company. There we picked up enemy machinegun fire.
I was on the right flank, Johnson on the left, Ashley in the middle.
Before we could advance the indigenous retreated. We went down the hill
to regroup. I had to run all the way back to the other camp to get some
of them back. Some of them disappeared and I brought back six by pointing
my BAR at them. When I returned I found SSG Tiroch and MSG Craig down
at our location. MSG Craig was wounded in the hip and had lost his hearing.
On the first run we tried to pinpoint the NVA positions. I counted about
nine NVA alive.
Craig and Tiroch joined us this time and again we assaulted the hill.
This time we were met by 81mm and 60mm Rounds [sic] hitting around us.
I was again in my position about 25 ft from the first bunker. The enemy
was throwing grenades and the indigenous withdrew forcing us to leave
the hill. This time several wounded CIDG came out of the camp. I gave
morphine to the ones for which it was necessary and bandaged as many
as possible. When the strafing and bombing runs were finished we tried
again. We had to force the exhausted and wounded Craig to stay behind.
By this time we had lost half of our indigenous (they split). On our
third run Johnson and Tiroch grabbed a 60mm mortar and tried to return
the enemy fire. We didn't seem to be getting anywhere. The aircraft
were making bombing runs at the opposite end of camp. On our fourth
try Johnson knocked out the first bunker with a 57 recoilless rifle,
but still could not advance. On our fifth run up we had three choppers
overhead to try to pick up the wounded. We were not receiving any fire;
we got up to the first NVA position and there Ashley was hit on the
right side of his chest and the round went through the radio on his
back. At this time all the indigenous split.
At this time I attended to Ashley's wound and administered artificial
respiration. At this time the choppers left and I had to get Ashley
down the Hill, with Tiroch covering me. At the wire I forced about six
indigenous to assist me to get him to get him [sic] on the jeep. From
there Johnson gave Ashley artificial respiration until we got to the
old camp. After we got there I got bandages, but before I could get
them on Ashley, we were hit by an artillery round. This round knocked
out Johnson, therefore making it necessary for me to administer artificial
respiration to him.
Then CPT Willoughby managed to break out and was retrieved by the
jeep driven by Quy (LLDB). By then Ashley was dead, we could not get
any other reinforcements. Our aircraft then had ten minutes flying time
left and no exact news of choppers. The Laotians had moved to the front
of the camp and were going to leave us there.
Our air support tried to discourage them. At about 1630 hours choppers
came accompanied by a jet. We extracted six wounded USASF on the first
aircraft, the rest on the second.
/s/ Richard H. Allen
/t/ RICHARD H. ALLEN
SGT, [Service Number]