Southern Cross information
for 196 BDE 23 INF
2/1 INF 23 INF
F/17 CAV

For date 700619


196 BDE 23 INF was a US Army unit
2/1 INF 23 INF was a US Army unit
F/17 CAV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Tin Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, FSB HAWK HILL
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "CHARGES COLLECT 22 NVA" by PFC Richard Campbell 196th INF BDE IO. LZ HAWK HILL - Soldiers of the 196th Infantry Brigade recently used infantry-armor tactics to perfection in a firefight 11 miles northwest of Tam Ky. The "Chargers" talk force killed 17 NVA, detained five more and confiscated eight weapons. Company B 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, was sweeping along a river while the armored vehicles of F Troop, 17th Cavalry, blocked to either side. Shortly after the movement began, the Americans spotted a force of 20 to 30 NVA near the river. "They saw us coming and tried to get away before we got any closer," related SGT Larry Carr, Boone, lowa. However, the retreating enemy suddenly found themselves within 50 meters of F Troop's blocking position. The cavalrymen opened up with automatic weapons fire. By the time the skirmish was over F Troop had killed eight enemy, detained five and confiscated four weapons. Eight fully loaded magazines and 10 Chinese Communist grenades were also found. "It's amazing just how well our plan worked," remarked PFC James Brendel, Albers, Ill., riflemen with Company B. "We got them out of the vegetation along the river, and the tracks picked them right up." As the task force continued to move, a track from F Troop crashed through a hedgerow, almost running over a hidden NVA. Rifle fire cut down the enemy as he tried to escape. Still moving along the river, a platoon from Company B spotted four NVA. "I opened up as soon as I sighted them," recalled PFC Frank Ratliff, Eden, N.C., pointman. "However, my weapon jammed after I fired the first shot." Private Ratliff dropped to his knees to fix his M-16. The remainder of the platoon fired over his head, dropping three enemy. "I'm glad the other guys picked up the slack," said Private Ratcliff, "because I was useless." The remaining NVA ran from the village. 1LT Leland Klein, Des Plaine, Ill., spotted one enemy headed toward the river bank. LT Klein ordered two men to flush the lone NVA From his hiding place. The two infantrymen abandoned the thick vegetation alongside the river and moved through chest-high water. "After walking about 300 meters in the river," said SP4 Gary Guerra, Fresno, Calif., "We saw a group of bushes shaking." Then they saw the silhouette of the partially concealed NVA. Specialist Guerra sprayed the bushes with M-16 fire, and the shaking stopped. The hidden NVA was badly wounded. "It was a long and tiring day," reflected SP4 Michael Fritts, SpringField, Ill. "The guys were really beat, but we all felt like we had accomplished something."

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