Army Reporter information
for 3/11 ACR
For date 680330
3/11 ACR was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Bien Hoa Province, III Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Duc Hoa
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Action Supplied to VC By XO On Supply Run" dated 30 Mar 1968.
MAJ Glenn O. Ryburn started out to supply his men with ammunition and parts and ended up supplying the VC with action. Ryburn, XO for the 3/11th ACR, was flying from Tan Son Nhut to the squadron CP near here in an OH-23 helicopter when he became suspicious of some grass huts beneath him. He told his pilot, WO Eldon Nygaard, to fly lower in order to get a better view of the shacks. Automatic fire suddenly cracked just below the aircraft. "Fire from that hootch," Ryburn shouted over the intercom, pointing to the hut. The pilot rolled the helicopter away from the firing and circled the dwelling. As they came in from a different direction, Ryburn shouted over the intercom, pointing to the hut. The pilot rolled the helicopter away from the firing and circled the dwelling. As they came in from a different direction, Ryburn readied his automatic rifle. Two VC with assault rifles appeared in the doorway. The major fired and the enemy pitched backward into the hut before they could fire. Nygaard called out, "They've got a bunker in there." They circled again and this time passed by the hut just four feet above the ground and spotted a reinforced concrete bunker with several firing ports. Ryburn radioed the squadron commander, LTC Neal Creighton, and reported what he had found. The commander sent tanks and ACAVs into the area and the major guided the assault. The ACAVs saturated the area with .50 cal. machinegun fire. The concrete bunker erupted into a huge fireball. As the troopers were completing their final search, Ryburn spotted three VC trying to escape. He and his pilot went after them and the major fired into the enemy position until all movement ceased. MAJ Ryburn's trip had cost the VC six killed, plus small arms, high explosives, a concrete bunker and a grass hootch.
Comments: MAJ Ryburn, Glenn O.; XO 3/11th ACR; ;
WO Nygaard, Eldon; pilot; ;
The source for this information was 6803AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023