SP4 FRANKLIN H. DOOMS
When the attack started I was in the 4.2 bunker. Artillery started
coming in and LT Wilkins and myself were told to shoot alumination.
I was setting time on them while LT Wilkins fired them. A few minutes
later someone said there were tanks in the wire. Soon after that SFC
Craig and SP4 Phillips came to my bunker and were bleeding from the
head wounds. SSG Tiroch came to the bunker and suggested we fire some
H.E. just outside the wire to detain any ground troops that might be
with the tanks. SGT Fragos came to me asking for LAWs and I gave him
seven.
Next I saw a tank stop at my generators and fire. At that time I saw
a tank coming up by the Mess Hall. Lt Wilkins fired a LAW at it. But
it didn't stop coming. It passed us and went into 103 company. I saw
it blow bunkers with men in them.
Next SSG Brooks and SSG Tiroch came with a .50 cal. Machinegun and
placed fire on the tank. At that time VT started coming in and I left
my bunker for the TOC.
When I got to the TOC there was a tank sitting outside. Shortly after
I entered the TOC the door was blown down and we were tarpped. The enemy
started throwing hand grenades down at us. Later they threw down gas
and incendiary grenades. I had no gas mask so used my first aid packet
over my nose and mouth. At that time all the LLDB went out to give up.
That left eight Americans. Someone speaking English asked if anyone
was down there and if we had weapons and ammo. We answered yea dna more
grenades came down.
By this time we had many wounded, I gave CPT Willoughby some morphine
and tied a first aid packet around SSG Brook's head. Then we played
dead and hoped for help in the morning. Just before daylight another
charge went of [sic] and blew the side of the TOC.
After daylight the reaction force came up on the radio and said they
were trying to get to us. They tried all morning but had to withdraw
each time because of heavy enemy fire. Around 1500 hours on the 7th,
we knew no help could get to us so CPT Willoughby called in air support
and we made a run for it.
A jeep met us at the camp gate and took us to the old camp. Later
that afternoon we were picked up by choppers and taken to Khe Sanh Combat
Base. From there we were taken by C-130 to Co C, Danang.
/s/ Franklin H. Dooms
/t/ FRANKLIN H. DOOMS
SP4, [Service Number]