LZ Insertion....What would you have done?

CPT Gary Jugenheimer — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 12:55:37 -0500

While a Platoon Leader in RVN, 3d Plt, D Co, 1/503 Inf, 173d Abn Bde, I was selected by my CO to develop the Air Load Plan for an upcoming insertion...this was to include three of our platoons as well as the HHC Mortar Section....I made up the plan and put myself in the second slick...the Plt Sgt was in the first slick with his RTO....I reviewed the plan with my CO and he approved....the LZ was prepped with our 105's and we had gunship runs prior to insertion....as the first slick landed, the CO called my RTO and requested status of the LZ...we were close to the first slick and I could observe pretty well from my outside seat...for some reason, the Plt Sgt's RTO did not respond to the CO's request and when my RTO got the call he asked me what to reply....I could not see any puffs of smoke or indication that we were receiving ground fire....and as the first slick landed, all was quiet....the LZ was cold as our slick went in and I reported cold LZ.......I still am bothered by this action...had we received incoming prior to my slick landing, I am not sure that I could determine the status of the LZ....from that point on, I was always in the first ship in......I am looking for your response as to my actions and what your recommendations would be.

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Jan 26 at 2016 1:51 PM

CW3 Jim Norris — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:51:18 -0500

Gary:
Your choices where good. Could you have been in the first slick.....sure, no assurance that the 2nd bird would not have been shot down in lieu of the first. I was involved in two incidences where the NVA waited on us all to get on the ground before engaging - they had mortars preregistered to the LZ and wanted us on that piece of ground. It became a bloody mess in the 30 minutes after the last Huey turned out bound. Must have been 200 rounds of HE came in on top of us or at least it seemed like that many - was was so far onto my belly I couldn't see but heard a bunch. We 'hollowed out" the center quick as we could and most of the latter incoming impacted inside our perimeter. After that we took to having the LZ broken up into 4 zones that "hollowed out" the center configuration and then cleared it with the last folks on the ground......worked like a charm on the second occurrence - lots of bang and noise and not many shrapnel victims. Got the OP into the middle before dark and proceeded with the S&D in the morning with 2 platoons. Wish we had done that on the first incident, would have saved 10-12 lives and a like number of wounded......as my gandpa used to say "if frogs had wings, they wouldn't bump their butts when they hit the ground".....live and learn, go with your gut and pray.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 4:32 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 16:32:59 -0500

Sir, your actions were good, and you should not let this bother you. It was common to wait until the CH-46's were unloading troops for the NVA/VC to open fire. All you can do is dismount as fast as possible and set up a perimeter.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Jan 27 at 2016 9:40 AM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 09:40:18 -0500

My response to your description of your actions is that they were right and appropriate. And, because your unit completed the assault as planned, successful.
My recommendation would be to remember that operation as the success it was. Don't second guess yourself, it won't change any thing except your own self esteem.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jan 28 at 2016 10:32 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 10:32:53 -0500

Don't see a thing you could have improved. My only criticism would be the CO asking for the SITREP so early. Your people in the lead bird were probably involved in dismounting and talking on the radio was appropriately the last thing in their mind. Had there been anything amiss, you can bet the pilots would have been letting everyone know. Any report under those circumstances was only good for a few moments, or as long as it took for someone waiting to pull a trigger or drop a mortar round. I admire your discipline in replying at all, probably the best response I would have given was a "stand by".

Response by Sgt William Coffee made Feb 23 at 2016 5:05 PM

Sgt William Coffee — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 17:05:10 -0500

Well, a. You should have had Scarface prep your zone. We excelled at that. B. Your position in the second plane was not only appropriate but with keeping the chain of command intact. Semper Fi.