Southern Cross information
for 196 BDE 23 INF
2/1 INF 23 INF

For date 700703


196 BDE 23 INF was a US Army unit
2/1 INF 23 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Tin Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, LZ HAWK HILL
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "2nd, 1st weeds out VC garden patch" by PFC Richard Campbell 196th INF BDE IO. LZ HAWK HILL - A reconnaissance platoon recently crashed a Viet Cong garden party, nine miles northwest of Tam Ky, in the ensuing struggle, the 196th Infantry Brigade soldiers killed seven enemy and captured two weapons. Echo Recon, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, was cutting its way through thick vegetation. SP4 Larry Hardin, Steger, Ill., the pointman, heard voices. He dropped his pack and crawled forward to investigate. "The voices were coming from the other side of a hedgerow," said Specialist Hardin. "I couldn't see them because the bushes were too thick, so I motioned for our Kit Carson Scout to join me." The two laid low in the brush for ten minutes, listening to voices no more than ten yards away, then they rejoined the others in their unit. The scout, a former NVA who had rallied to the "Chargers" told the recon platoon leader that the people were definitely Viet Cong who were farming in order to provide food for an enemy force. It was time to move in. The recon unit crashed through the hedgerow and came face to face with 15 enemy. "I dropped two before they even knew what hit them," added Specialist Hardin, "and we killed five more as they scattered." The garden, a supply point for an NVA battalion, was more than 100 yards square. It was divided into several sections, in which rice, potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes were grown. A search of the area following the contact uncovered a large bunker at one end of the garden that was used to secure the garden during the day and night. The fleeing Viet Cong had left behind one SKS rifle, one AK-47 rifle, 10 pounds of rice and three packs containing personal gear. Before leaving the area, the men destroyed the bunker. Shortly before encountering the VC, the soldiers had come upon a deserted, battalion-sized bunker complex. "The complex looked abandoned for a couple months," reported SSG Lindsay Jenkins, Auburn, Ala. "It had good access to water and was only about 200 yards from the garden we uncovered. Six bunkers were connected by deep trenches, and there were three-man fighting positions surrounding the entire area. Empty shells, some cooking utensils and old clothing were also found."

The source for this information was 7007_324_scr supplied by Les Hines 12/23/2000


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Last updated 12/23/2000

Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023