Southern Cross information
for 196 BDE 23 INF
1/46 INF 23 INF
For date 700619
196 BDE 23 INF was a US Army unit
1/46 INF 23 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Tin Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Tam Ky
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "EVENING ATTACK CLOSES SCHOOL" by 196th INF BDE IO.
LZ PROFESSIONAL - A daring maneuver by a small 196th Infantry Brigade patrol brought an NVA sapper class to an abrupt end 11 miles southwest of Tam Ky. The soldiers crawled 200 yards over open ground and totally surprised the enemy, killing 11 and capturing several weapons. The patrol, from the reconnaissance platoon, 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, was operating in a rugged highland forest near this firebase. "We had just moved into our night defensive position," recalled machine gunner SP4 John E. Henderson, Andersonville, Tenn., "When I heard faint Vietnamese voices filtering through the trees." The patrol members grabbed their weapons and cautiously closed in on the source of the suspicious noises. "The voices got louder and louder," said SP4 Daniel C. Bomgren, medic, St. Paul, Minn., "until we came to a rice paddy. We saw the NVA gathered under some trees on the other side." An important decision had to be made. The preoccupied enemy presented a perfect opportunity for a surprise attack, but the "Professionals" would have to cross a large space of open ground to get within hand grenade range. "We low-crawled about 200 yards across the paddy until we were close enough to lob grenades on them" said point man SP4 David Placenci, Auborn, Ind. "After flanking their position, I threw a hand grenade to signal the others to open up." The ensuing barrage of friendly fire dropped nine of the enemy in their tracks, the others crawled and staggered into the dense undergrowth, completely stunned by the unexpected visit. The tiny force seized two AK-47 rifles, then pulled back because of limited visibility. The following morning, the Professionals swept the contact area which revealed two more enemy dead, three individual weapons, one 9mm pistol, 22 Chinese Communist grenades, a complete booby trap kit, and an elaborate sapper training site, complete with barbed wire and an accuracy range for throwing satchel charges into simulated bunkers. After the weapons and equipment were extracted by helicopter, the men found time to laugh about the incident. Quipped SP4 Richard Beasley, Mechanicsville, Va., "That instructor better concentrate on defense rather than attacking for awhile."
The source for this information was 7006_322_scr supplied by Les Hines 12/17/2000
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Last updated
12/24/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023