Command and Control: MACV-SOG
Area of Operations: Cambodia
Codename: DANIEL BOONE
Date:
[REDACTED]/[REDACTED]/1967
Launch Site: [REDACTED]
Insertion aircraft: US piloted UH-1 Iroquois, [REDACTED] Battalion
Lead ship: 1-0 (US team leader), 1-1 (Assistant team leader) and 0-1 (Vietnamese Team Leader)
Second ship: 1-2 (3rd American), 0-2 (Interpreter) and 0-3 (Point Man).
Third ship: Backup.
Mission: Bright Light-rescue of downed US aircrews and US POW
Chapter 1: Across the Fence
_
The Cambodian jungle, beautiful and majestic. Filled to the brim with all sorts of natural wonders. The squawking of rare jungle birds fills the jungle with their melodic cries as it intermingles with the hooting of monkeys swinging from vine to vine. Trees as tall as a ten-story building reach up into the skies, its branches and leaves blocking the sun's rays shading the ground below it.
But this verdant green jungle paradise hides a secret. Deep in the jungles there is a war, a secret war, being waged.
Suddenly the peaceful jungle was invaded by a cacophony of sound. The sound of whirling helicopter blades fills the air as 3 UH-1 Huey helicopters fly past. The birds silenced, the monkeys cease, and the jungle pause. The war has come.
The year is 1967, the war in Vietnam is in full swing and while Cambodia is officially neutral to the conflict the reality is the opposite. The ruling monarchy of Cambodia had feared that the US intervention in the conflict would lead to his overthrowing and had a struck a deal with the communist forces of North Vietnam, allowing them to operate secretly within their borders in what is known as the Ho Chi Minh trail; a vast network of camouflaged roads and trails stretching from North Vietnam into "neutral" Cambodia, Laos and straight into South Vietnam.
But now the tide has turned, the monarch now fears that he had made a deal with the Devil as communist forces began to obtain more and more power within his own country and the risk of Cambodia being dragged into the Vietnam War becomes closer and closer each passing day. Seeking to maintain his power the prince contacted the US diplomat, Chester Bowles and made a proposition; in exchange for restoring bilateral ties with the US, he will turn a blind eye towards any US force entering Cambodia to attack retreating communist troops provided that no Cambodians were hurt.
Whether the prince knew it or not the US had long been operating inside the country. Clandestine warriors have been sent into Cambodia the country for years now; gathering intelligence, performing sabotage and even assassinations and kidnappings of communist forces operating within the country.
These clandestine warriors were called MACV-SOG. Also known as the Military Assistance Command-Studies and Observation Group or simply SOG. This highly classified multi-service special operations force is tasked with performing covert missions into North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Inserted either via land, air or by sea (usually in the form of small teams called Spike Teams) they are tasked with performing intelligence gathering missions, interdiction as well as Bright Light missions to rescue downed US airmen as well as POWs.
Corporal Alan "Skids" Purse stared down on the rushing jungle canopy below as they flew over it. His mouth was bent into a frown. He rode on the second 'ship' with the Vietnamese troopers or Yards as they were called and was the only American on it except the aircrew while the 1-0, 1-1 and 0-1 rode on the lead ship. He's not bothered by it of course. Each Vietnamese on-board the ship was as experienced as their American counterpart and after serving alongside them for so long he has learned to respect them as his fellow brothers-in-arms and in turn, so have they.
What bothered him however was their mission. It was a Bright Light, but not to rescue some down aviator but one of their own.
Nearly two days ago another Spike Team was sent into the jungle to conduct a recon mission. The team, consisting of 3 Americans and 9 Vietnamese, had landed on their LZ and the helicopters left soon after receiving the "Team OK" signal. After that they failed to contact the command aircraft at the allotted time. When the very next day came and they still failed to contact command that's when the Bright Light came out.
Alan knew the men of that team. They were battle-hardened, experienced and tough as nails. What the hell could have happened to them?
A pit of doubt filled his heart. He glances over to the CAR-15 laying on his thighs. They've brought with them extra ammo and grenades, a couple chopped down M79 grenade launchers and even a couple M72 LAWs as well. Alan himself carried 4 grenades, a couple mini-grenades and about 32 twenty-round magazines for his CAR-15. Nearly everyone in the chopper carried extra ammo and grenades.
They brought with them a lot of firepower, but would it be enough?
Alan continued to glance around the chopper. The Yards were either making small talk amongst one another or staring down into the jungle below like he was just moments ago. Every one of them were just as experienced as their American counterparts. Each man wore and used the same equipment as their American counterparts, sans identifying markers like patches and dog tags of course. Except for one man.
The 0-3, a short statured Vietnamese sergeant named Bao, was their point man. Unlike everyone else he wore the uniform of an NVA soldier and was armed with a Chinese AK. The only thing that denoted him as being part of their ST was the cravat that he wore on his head. Even then it wasn't unheard of for NVA soldiers to don such things as the cloth soaked up sweat better than any NVA pith helmet could.
The uniform and AK had proven itself quite the useful asset. Often time when the point man made contact the enemy hesitated firing at what looked like their own man only to get blasted by a wall of lead.
The NVA uniform however made Alan nervous, not because wearing it violated the Geneva Convention. They've long went past that line a long time ago. No, what bothered him was that the uniform reminded him of a nasty rumor. That the NVA had started using hunter-killer sapper teams to hunt down SOG operators infiltrating Cambodia and Laos. Some of those rumors even suggested that these guys have been successful in killing SOG operators.
Sergeant Bao noticed the American's troubled gaze and raised a brow. He curtly nodded at the American and, in his language, he asked the what the problem was. Alan to his credit had learnt a bit of Vietnamese. Not enough to be fluent in it but just enough to speak simple sentences and understand the gist of things.
The American shook his head. "No trouble," said Alan in Vietnamese "just nervous". Sergeant Bao nodded in understanding. Everybody was on edge. They have no idea what happened to their missing ST and they could very well be flying straight into a trap.
Alan glanced back down on to the jungle below. Somewhere down there was their missing Spike Team…or what's left of it at least. They've been briefed before the mission that the AO they were heading into had a regiment size force operating there. In fact, this was the very reason why the ST was sent there in the first place. To recon and find out more about this regiment and its true strength.
"Well, we'll find out soon enough." Thought Alan grimly. "We should have brought more guys though. Maybe a Hatchet Force or Slam Company. God knows how many of those damn commies are down there and we'd be able to cover more ground."
Of course, if they could they would. But his team was the only one active and in full strength. The rest were either recuperating their losses, on leave or already on missions on some other AO.
Alan lifted his glove to reveal a Seiko brand watch hiding under it. Originally the SOG teams had requested Rolex watches but it seems that Command had other ideas. Despite the initial grumbling of being cheapened out by Command the teams had grown to love their Japanese watches. They were reliable, waterproof and well made. It was even self-winding and had a luminescent clock face. It was a bit too bright though but that's why it was under the glove in the first place.
Checking the time, he realized that they had only 10 minutes before they arrive at their LZ. Whatever doubts he had mulling about in his head quickly dissipated. It was time to earn their pay.
After covering the watch back up again Alan signaled to the Yards to make a last-minute equipment check. Alan checked over his pouches and his most valuable piece of equipment; the PRC-25 manpack radio or as they like to call it the Prick. It was their only line of communications to the outside world as well as their only method of requesting fire support.
As the 1-2 or radio operator he was responsible for maintaining as well as operating the Prick. That made him a prime target for any NVA sniper wanting to cut the only lifeline between the SOGs and their air support.
Soon enough the choppers reach their destination. Two of the helicopters, the lead and second ship, descended on to the LZ while the third ship with its empty passenger seats hover above the LZ, ready to pick up the team if things go awry.
All the while the door gunners on each helicopter eyed the tree line warily. Their M-60 machine guns lock loaded and ready to unleash hell on any hostiles that dare to make themselves visible.
Alan felt himself tense-up as he held his CAR-15 at the ready. It wasn't his first rodeo and previous missions had thought him that complacency kills, and you should always keep your head on a swivel.
He looks around and notices that the Yards were tensing up as well, their weapons at the ready and their bodies ready to jump out of the chopper as soon as the bird lands. "Good," thought Alan, "Everyone is on their A-game."
When the choppers finally landed the men quickly exited out of their ships with practiced cadence. When the last man on the chopper finally jumps out the aviators quickly brought their ships back into altitude. They have no intention of overstaying their welcome. The longer they were there the higher the chance of them being detected.
As soon as he left the chopper Alan quickly activated his radio and removed the handset out of its pouch. He switched the frequency over to the chopper's radio and gave them the Team OK.
"Red Bird, this is Cardinal-6. Insertion OK. We are entering the jungle now, over"
"Cardinal-6, this is Red Bird. Roger that. Give our regards to Charlie, over"
"Will do, Red Bird. Cardinal-6 out."
Placing the handset back into its place he turned off the radio and tucked the flexible "short" antennae under his arm and into his belt. It was an old trick he had learned from another SOG team radio operator a few years back as a way of concealing the fact that he was a radio man from the enemy
After making sure all was in the right place he quickly made his way to the rest of the team. Upon sighting the young corporal their 1-0, Staff Sergeant Henschel, nodded and gave Alan his order.
"Alright, switch over to the Covey's frequency. Let's go find us our missing spike team."
Well, this is my very first fiction so tell me what you think and give me your constructive criticism. English isn't my first language so keep that in mind I guess. Reason for writing this fic was due to how there seem to be rather few fics doing anything with that Vietnam War soldier that appeared (and died) in that episode where Osmond tells Saito how the "Staff of Destruction" came to be.
P.S: Decided to update this chapter as I wasn't satisfied with its current state. Sorry for the wait, currently busy with private matters at the moment but next chapter will come.