Army Reporter information
for 23 ARTY GRP
From date 681016 to 681022
23 ARTY GRP was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Tay Ninh Province, III Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Tay Ninh
Description: The following is an edited version from the weekly Vietnam Communique column in the 4 Nov 1968 issue which covered the Oct 16-22 period.
A bird dog pilot attached to the 23rd Arty Grp combined a sharp eye with quick reactions in Tay Ninh Province this week as he reported 22 enemy killed and one truck destroyed. The action began when the pilot, CPT Johnnie Wilkenson was flying a routine aerial reconnaissance mission around Tay Ninh City. He spotted 45 to 50 enemy soldiers moving down the road. Observing that the enemy started running for cover at the sight of his aircraft, the captain quickly pulled clear to make them think that they had gone undetected. Once clear of the area, he called for artillery. The first rounds impacted about 300 yards in front of the enemy. Fifteen VC headed for a truck that was partially hidden in the woods. He directed the fire to the vehicle, a direct hit sending 15 enemy flying in all directions. When all artillery fire ceased, Wilkenson flew in to assess the damage. "I flew in at tree top level and counted 22 enemy bodies," he said. "Of the original 45 to 50 I had seen on the road, I observed only two who were able to escape."
Comments: CPT Wilkenson, Johnnie; pilot; ;
The source for this information was 6811AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023