I believe War Stories can teach valuable lessons both tactical and psychological. How did you earn your CIB?

2016-08-18T23:06:05-04:00

Response by SFC George Smith made Aug 18 at 2016 11:07 PM

2016-08-18T23:07:24-04:00

Good learning Experience... Pt provides Insight into what has and has not worked and learn lessons who have been there...

Response by LTC Tom Jones made Aug 18 at 2016 11:09 PM

2016-08-18T23:09:01-04:00

I had been "in country" about two weeks when, as XO of the MACCORDS Camp Conversion Team at A-502, I was detailed to advise a CIDG platoon patrolling the base of the Dong Bo Mountain which overlooked the coastal city of Nha Trang. The operation consisted of an Special Forces (SF) Sergeant with radio, two Montagnard body guards and about 40 CIDG mercenaries under the indigenous leadership of an RVN SF Lieutenant known as an "LLDB," Vietnamese for, I understand, "Eye of the Tiger."

We convoyed by deuce and a half out to our Assembly Area just before dusk and crossed the LD in queue just after dark but under a full moon. We crossed a fallow rice paddy and, unfathomably, drew up on an elevated railroad berm and commenced to follow the tracks in a file formation with open ground on either side of us for some 200 meters and the Dong Bo looming over us. Being the new guy on my first operation, I asked the NCO if this was normal. "Well, L-T," he said, "the LLDB is in charge. You are just here to advise."

At that, I worked my way forward in the formation and, through our interpreter, advised my counterpart that we were providing one very unfortunate silhouette. "No sweat," he assured me. He would "fix" this. He then proceeded in the exact same fashion for another 30 to 40 meters when--following a quick "WTF" comment to my American RTO--I grabbed the LLDB (or Little Lop-sided Dumb B****** in this case) by the shoulder and spun him around to let him know we were indeed getting off that berm when we, at that exact moment, experienced a flood of green tracers bouncing up and down the track. The next thing I know, I'm on the ground with a Montagnard body guard spread eagle on my back. We called in some illumination, dropped a few rounds and redirected our route of march. When I asked the Sergeant later why I had had a Montagnard on my back, he explained, "You are the most important person out here 'L-T.' You are the guy that calls in the Arty, Spooky, the Medevac. If a round comes in low, he's there to take it for you."

I learned some valuable lessons that night not the least of which had to do with respect and humility.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Aug 19 at 2016 9:21 AM

2016-08-19T09:21:42-04:00

Didn't earn a CIB got a CAB (Combat Heavy Engineer), but the lessons I learned listening to my Dad and his buddies recount their adventures on the front porch growing up were invaluable throughout my years of service in both peace ops and war.
Things like machine gun placement, locating sniper positions, patrolling, minefield detection, combat bridging, room and uniform inspections, air support, and Leadership.
One thing I also learned was humility and the value of " Our, We, Us and The Guys" verses I, Me and My. That whole crew was well decorated and they always credited the grace of God and their Soldiers for their success.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Aug 19 at 2016 10:35 AM

2016-08-19T10:35:36-04:00

Thirty days in combat with an airborne Infantry company with the 1st Cav in RVN late in 1966. In those days we did two sorts of combat assaults, insertions and assaults to contact. Insertions were when we were sent somewhere and then went looking for trouble, assaults to contact were when someone had already found the trouble and we were sent to deal with it. There were days when we did both kinds. There were some days when when both kinds were "hot." I made my first CA the morning after I joined the platoon in the field. Went to trading bullets back and forth about 200 meters of the LZ. Got medevaced the first time about 45 days later. When I got back to the company area the First Sergeant told me to add a CIB to my jungle shirt before I went back to the woods. And that was that.

Response by PO3 Steven Stinnett made Aug 19 at 2016 10:59 AM

2016-08-19T10:59:45-04:00

I didn't, I was in the Navy, however my father did, he landed at Normandy on the third day and was wounded at the 'Battle of the Bulge', 27th EVAC HOSP 5 FEB 45, he was in the 17th ARMD INF BN.

Response by SGT Jimmy Carpenter made Aug 19 at 2016 4:51 PM

2016-08-19T16:51:53-04:00

Tikrit, Iraq 03-04

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Aug 19 at 2016 6:39 PM

2016-08-19T18:39:03-04:00

fire fight in vc valley while resupplying special forces.

Response by SSG David Bennett made Aug 27 at 2016 5:58 PM

2016-08-27T17:58:57-04:00

I didn't earn mine. I received a cab even though I was attached to a line company holding a 19D MOS during deployment. They could've kept the damn thing cause I surely didn't want one. Had a job to do and we did it. Just so happened to involve enemy contact. I personally can't stand idiots looking for another medal or ribbon or badge to have across the water during wartime. Those guys get people killed. It's a different story in garrison. I know people's gonna get mad about this statement but suck it up buttercup. If your mad it's because you are one of those people

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2016 8:13 PM

2016-09-07T20:13:24-04:00

I was a young 22 yr old SGT E-5, as a Squad leader(an E-6 position) when we entered Kirkuk Airfield and began to clear it of both civilians and enemy. My squad was assigned the mission of securing what is now the Main Gate. I was standing in the middle of the road in my best Gen George S Patton imitation when we received accurate but sparratic small arms fire. All my guys did the right thing and started identifying enemy positions and returning fire. I stayed in the kneeling position in the middle of the road with rounds buzzing right by my head and ricochetting off the road all around me as I looked around for what the hell was making that sound before my junior team leader yelled at me and snapped me awake. I then called it in returned fire and secured the damn opening in our perimeter.Kirkuk, Iraq April 2003. That was the easy one, the rest were worse, much worse. Airborne!