Chapter 2: "We Stand Alone"
DAO Compound
Tan Son Nhut Airfield, South Vietnam
29th April 1975 / 0245 HRS
When Roy Campbell finally opened his eyes, hell was what greeted him.
The smell of cordite and charred flesh made him gag. More than half of his A-Team were either seriously wounded or were just moments away from dying. Corrugated metal hissed and burned as the young captain looked for survivors. Hearing movement behind him, Roy drew his Colt .45 automatic and dropped to one knee. He was greeted with the welcome sight of Master Sergeant Everett Walker helping another wounded soldier to his feet. Roy ran towards Everett to assist him.
"Ev, what's happening outside? Has the perimeter been breached?"
"Yes, to both questions Roy. Let's grab our gear and head for the main building. We can get a sit-rep from the Marines stationed there. Hope the REMFs have an evac plan in place 'cause I don't think the NVA is here for beer 'n brats. Let's move!"
As they half-carried, half-dragged the wounded soldier Roy picked up their rucksacks and weapons. The all-too familiar sound of an AK-47 pop-pop-popping in the distance was not a good sign. Not at all.
When we get to the main building, Roy thought to himself, there's going to be a reckoning. He shifted the weight of his rucksack, slung his M16A1 assault rifle, and headed outside into harm's way.
"RPG! RPG!"
The fin-stabilized rocket propelled grenade zoomed by the marine's head by a meter or two and slammed into a parked deuce-and a-half truck. A split-second later, the truck was reduced to so much slag when the 85mm warhead exploded. The shock wave flattened everything in its path, including the guards. Figures dressed in black pajamas and armed with AK-47 assault rifles charged forward towards the DAO compound. Pvt. Miguel Diaz clicked on his PRT-4/ PRR-9 helmet mounted radio.
"Barbarians at the gate! Barbarians at the gate!" Pvt. Diaz picked up his M14 rifle, sighted on a tan-uniformed officer, and squeezed the trigger. He was rewarded with the sight of the officer's head snapping back then the body collapsing onto the road. Bullets whizzed by the marine as he returned fire. Twenty enemy dead lay on the road but the mob kept surging forward. Diaz ducked behind a concrete barrier, reloaded his rifle, and made a sign of the cross. Madre de Dios! If he lived through today, he was going back to attending Sunday morning mass. Maybe even start taking communion again too. The marine was about to poke his head out again when he saw the egg-shaped RGD-5 grenade bounce off the top of the barrier and land next to him. There wasn't time to think.
Just to act.
The marine got to his feet and threw himself into a sand pit a few meters away. He hugged the ground, desperately praying for a miracle. The WHUMP! of the explosion lit up the night and Diaz saw the positions of his attackers. He pulled a M26 frag grenade off his web gear and returned the favor. The second WHUMP! was more welcome to his ears since it also brought the cries of the wounded and dying with it. He heard more men approaching his position but didn't fire when Captain Campbell and MSgt. Everett Walker came into view. Pvt. Diaz waved them over, covering their approach with his rifle.
"Pvt. Diaz, you must lead a charmed life. Since you're just gold-bricking around, why don't you join our outfit for a few minutes 'til we get to the main building. That radio of yours still working?" Roy handed the marine a Cohiba from his pocket.
"Aye, aye Sir! Want me to call ahead and request backup?"
"Damn right, I do private. Tell them to bring up some heavy weapons too. A tripod-mounted .50 Cal machine gun, ammo, and any LAW rockets pronto. Also, we need a medic for this man."
Roy Campbell looked out towards the night punctuated by muzzle flashes and explosions. If they didn't hold out to be extracted then Vietnam just might be his final resting place…
TO BE CONTINUED….
