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LZ 10 ALFA
Marcos Cadriel Jr.
Co. A 1st Bn 35th
Inf 25th Infantry Division
3rd Squad 3rd
Platoon (3rd Herd)
Pleiku Province (Central
Highlands) Vietnam
May 28th - May
29th, 1966
THIS IS MY STORY
I’ve read articles about the battle of
LZ10 ALFA, (May 28-29, 1966), taken from the 1/35th Infantry
Web Page, and other material, provided to me by a Fellow Veteran and
Friend that I’ve gotten to know recently over the Phone and Internet.
Articles written by my Company
Commander, Captain Anthony Bizantz, Platoon Leader Lt. Larry Connor,
Major TF Tyson, Richard Esgana and Jim McTaggart. Their Overview is
right on line. I believe it’s time for me to Tell My Story from my
Perspective and My Point of View. I have Hid this story within me for
43 Years.
Operation Paul Revere (Seek and Destroy
Mission), was Initiated on Early May, 1966. We had been out in the
field Running Patrols, looking for Enemy Activity which we found. We
found Freshly Blazed Trails, Punji Pits, Booby Traps, Concealed Foxholes
dug on the side of the Banks on Dry Riverbeds. The Enemy was out
there. Then A Co’s turn came around to be Palace Guards. (Guarding
Battalion). Guarding Battalion was easy duty. We had Hot Meals, not
like the C-Rations we had to eat out in the field 2-3 times a day, and
we were able to catch on much needed rest, which was to be short-lived.
Companies would rotate after a week or so in the field, then come in and
Guard Battalion. We still ran patrols on the outer boundaries of the
perimeter daily. We were the Battalion Reserve, Reaction Force at the
time.
May 28, 1966 (Afternoon)
Landing Zone (LZ) 10 ALFA
Word came down that B Co, 2nd
BN 35th Inf, had Engaged the Enemy at a Clearing in the
Jungle, named LZ 10 ALFA, and that help was needed to Secure the LZ;
Anti-aircraft Guns and other Weapons that had been Seized, and also to
Reinforce B Co, which had suffered casualties in fighting, North
Vietnamese Army Regulars that Day.
Huey UHI Helicopters were called to
Battalion Headquarters to pick up my Unit Co A 1st BN 35th
Inf and transfer us to LZ 10 ALFA in support of Co B. We loaded up and
were on our way to LZ 10 ALFA, a clearing in the Central Highlands,
close to the Cambodian Border, which is Seared in my Memory Forever.
Flying in at approximately 4:00pm, I remember looking down and noting
that the LZ was a little larger than most. It was the Monsoon Season,
and there were Water Puddles all over the place. When we landed, as we
headed out to the Edge of the Perimeter to the area we had been assigned
to, we passed our Fellow Soldiers from Co B and I detected a look of
Bewilderment and Sense of Loss on their faces. We also passed by the
Captured Anti-Aircraft Guns. Right there and then it struck me, this
was very serious. I was a member of the 3rd Platoon (3rd
Herd) and we were Assigned our Area of Defense. In my Defensive
Position there were 4 of us. Myself (Cadriel), Pilson, Cohen and
Wetzel. Being late, around 4:30pm, we had to make Hasty Defensive
Preparations. We couldn’t Dig Foxholes because of the water and it was
already getting dark. We only had time to gather Logs and Big Boulders
and Rocks to place in front of our Defensive Positions. We barely had
time to set up our claymores mines, Trip flares, clear our fields of
fire, and set up the LP (Listening Post), about 25 Meters to the front
of our position. It was a very dark night. Everything was alright
until around 1:00 Am in the Morning, when all Hell Broke Loose. The LP,
3 men, heard noises and were told to head back to our Perimeter, when
the Firefight began. As they were coming back to our positions, the NVA
started firing and our 3 men were caught in the middle. Some of us
Fired, then our 3 guys started yelling, “3rd Herd! 3rd
Herd!” A lot of Commotion was going on. We Ceased Fire until our 3
guys were back inside the perimeter. Once inside, we opened up at Full
Force. We could hear the Enemy talking to each other and their Officers
Yelling Commands. They were about 65 Ft in front of us. They had their
Machine Guns and Mortars Mounted on Wagons with Squeaky Wheels and were
pulling them across our front. I tried to fire my Claymore Mine but
nothing happened. I pulled in the Ignition Wire, and it came back
unplugged. They had stolen my Claymore Mine and others during the
night. Also, we had set up Trip Flares, but during the Fire Fight only
one went off. They were very sly in disarming and taking some of our
Trip Flares and Mines. My conclusion, they had observed us setting up
our Flares, Mines, and Trip Flares that evening and knew exactly where
our Defensive Positions were located. The battle went on all
throughout the morning hours, very heavy at times. They would hit us,
then retreat. We were able to keep the enemy at bay. We Inflicted
Heavy Casualties on the Enemy. Because during the Fight we heard Moans
and Screams from Wounded NVA Soldiers all through the night. Some
stopped their moans and cries and we knew they had died.
We ran very low on Ammo several times
during the fight. I Volunteered to run bank and forth to the CP
(Command Post) for more ammo. But Adams, (3rd Herd member),
volunteered also and took over the task. I remember when the Enemy
would open fire, many of their rounds would be right above our heads,
making a very Distinct Cracking Sound. Also many Grenades were thrown
our way which weren’t as Deadly and Potent as ours. Also the Enemies
Mortar Rounds were landing behind our positions and not on top of us.
We threw many Hand Grenades at the Enemy that night. Our Overwhelming
Firepower is what kept them from Overrunning Our Positions and would
make them retreat. That didn’t deter them from making Assault after
Assault. It was estimated we were hit by a Battalion (800 or more) of
NVA Soldiers. A Co’s 81 MM mortars and other Heavy 4.2 Mortar Crews,
plus an Artillery Battery Fired Hundreds of Rounds in front of the 3rd
Platoon all night long. The 3rd Herd’s area of Defense was
the Hardest Hit that Night. Even though we Bore the Brunt of the Fight,
we only had 1 killed and 4 Wounded during the Night Fighting. We
wouldn’t have Survived without help from Artillery and Mortar Crews.
The fight ended around 4:30 am. Then morning came.
The Dawn of a New Day which was a relief,
so we thought. The morning fog was very heavy and we couldn’t see too
far into the woods. We sat there in our Positions, contemplating what
had occurred a few hours before. How Fortunate we were to be Alive.
Finally the fog lifted and the order came down for the 3rd
Herd to Saddle Up and do a Sweep Forward of our Position, because that’s
where the heavy fighting had Occurred, and to do a Body Count, which was
very important. As we started the sweep, we found a few Dead NVA, not
as many as we had anticipated. Sporadic fire broke out, the problem was
taken care of, and we proceeded forward 600-1000 meters. We came upon a
dry riverbed. Inside the Riverbed is where we found the NVA Bodies.
Many Bodies were scattered all along the
inside of the Dry Riverbed. They had pulled their Dead and Wounded back
to the river, so that we wouldn’t be able to find them, and lower our
moral. We searched the Bodies for Valuable Documents and found personal
items including Family Pictures in their wallets which even though they
were the enemy, was a little disturbing. I remember finding Syringes
and White Powder in small packages, wrapped in brown paper on every body
I searched. My conclusion, it was an Individual Drug Kit. Probably
used when they would attack American Troops in Human Waves. After
being out at the riverbed for awhile conducting a Body Count,
Confiscating Weapons, Equipment, Etc, a Firefight broke out at the LZ.
We were ordered to come back to defend the perimeter. We left most of
the Confiscated Equipment at the Riverbed and Proceeded back. Coming
back to the Perimeter, 5 of us on line about 60 feet in front of the
rest of the Platoon. Croft was about 30’ to my left, then myself and
Cohen next to each other, then Plt Leader Connor and Plt Sgt Williams
next to each other about 30’ to my right. I didn’t see anyone else to
Crofts left or anyone else to Lt Connor’s right. We were the only ones
way out in front. Upon Approaching the LZ, about 200 ft out, suddenly
we saw Soldiers in Formation Marching right in front of us, Platoon
Size. At first we thought they were our Soldiers, being that we were so
close to the perimeter. But then it dawned on us that they were North
Vietnamese Army Regulars. We started hollering, “NVA! NVA!” and
proceeded forward to Engage the Enemy. As we proceeded forward, the
Firefight Began. It was a large force. They had lured us right into
their Trap, and into their Fields of Fire. They had Riflemen, Snipers
in the trees and had set up 2 Machine Gun Emplacements. One right in
front of our Position (Cadriel and Cohen), approximately 65’ to our
Front, and one to the Front and Right of Connors position. When they
opened up with their Machine Guns Crisscrossing Fire in front of us,
Cohen and I were fortunate and took cover behind a Tree Stump
Approximately 3’ Across, that would be our Defensive Position for the
next 2 ½ to 3 Hours. We were Pinned Down. Croft to our left, Cohen and
I, and Lt Connor, SFC Williams to our right. At the initial start of
the Firefight we had some KIA’s and many Wounded. It is amazing now
that I recall, that most of the KIA’s and Wounded were behind us. Maybe
they figured us in front didn’t have a chance to survive, being so close
to their emplacements. The fighting ensued heavy at times Off and On,
for the longest 3 hours of my life. My Weapon was an M-16 and Cohen’s
weapon was an M-59 Grenade Launcher. When the Enemy Machine Gun would
Open Fire, we made sure to Fire Back. I also made sure to conserve my
Ammo. I carried around 300 rounds of Ammo plus my Grenades and White
Phosphorus Grenades. I remember when the Machine Guns would open fire,
some rounds would hit right in front of us Kicking up Dirt and small
Rocks and hitting our faces. At other times Cohen and I would lay Back
to Back behind that Tree Stump, My Life Saver.
I would fire on Automatic and Cohen his
Grenade Launcher, to let the Enemy know that we were there and to keep
them from overtaking our positions. About an hour into the fight they
opened up once again with Machine Gun Fire, and that’s when Cohen was
Hit. I recall him telling me, “Cadriel! I’m hit! I’m hit!” we were so
close to each other, it’s a miracle I wasn’t hit also. After he was hit
I started firing his Grenade Launcher plus my M-16 when they would open
up. I knew exactly where the Machine Gun Placement was and I would fire
the Grenade Launcher at trees right on top of their position, hoping
some fragments would fall on top of them. I used up all of Cohens’ Ammo
and also his and my Hand Grenades. When they would start firing after
Cohen was hit I would place my body on top of his to protect him from
further harm. This happened many times while we were Pinned Down.
During this time also, a Grenade was Tossed at our Position and it Blew
Up on the Right Side of my Head by my Right Ear. It tore a 1” Gash on
my Helmet Liner, and made a 3” curl on my Steel Pot. I was very
fortunate not to have had my Head Blown Off. My Right Ear Rang and
Buzzed for about 2 weeks. I also remember Praying to God to get us out
of this mess, and Cohen, even though wounded asked me what I was doing.
I told him I was Praying and for him to Pray also. Then the order came
from Lt Connor to get ready to Charge The Machine Guns. Cohen and SFC
Williams were already wounded so that left Croft, myself and Lt Connor
out in front of everyone else. I passed the word on to Croft. Then Lt
Connor gave the order to Move Out. I was looking at him to make sure we
moved out at the same time. We were halfway up, my eyes fixed on him
when a Bullet Grazed his Forehead and he made a 360 Degree turn and hit
the ground. That’s when I started Hollering for everyone to stay down
because there were other troops to our rear, getting ready to move out
also. We stayed there for about another hour, still fighting till the
Second Platoon came to our rescue and took out their Machine Guns and we
were able to Overtake The Enemy.
I truly believe we would have been
overrun or would have had many more casualties, had it not been for the
five of us being up in front at the Initial Detection of the Enemy. PFC
Cohen was Wounded about 1 hour into the Fight, SFC Williams about 1 ½
hours into the Fight and Lt Connors about 2 hours into the Firefight.
That left myself (Cadriel) and Croft to Fend Off the Enemy for the
remainder of the Firefight, and survived being pinned down for about 3
hours. After the firing ended, we were finally able to take our
Wounded to the LZ and load them on Med E Vac Choppers. Cohen was still
alive when we put him on the Chopper. That was the last time I would
see him alive. God had to have been watching over me that day. A lot
of things happened on that day. I remember seeing an A.I.E. Prop
Airplane, piloted by South Vietnamese Pilot drop Napalm on our Troops at
the end of the LZ. Also a Huey Helicopter on fire barely making it to
the LZ. The crew made it out ok. The only thing that disturbed me were
the two guys riding shotgun, left their M60 Machine Guns on the
Chopper. They had time to get them off before the Chopper burned up. I
guess they panicked. Also the prettiest sight in the world, having Air
Force Jets dropping their Ordinance right on top of the Enemy, right in
front of our positions.
The next few days, our job was to Bury
the Enemy Dead. Being the Monsoon Season, Hot, Wet and Humid, the
bodies were already decomposing. There are many Dead NVA Soldiers
buried on the outskirts of LZ 10 ALFA. That was a gruesome task to
handle and the stench was overwhelming for me The Battle of LZ 10 ALFA,
and what occurred on May 28-29, 1966, is Embedded in my Mind Forever.
On the Evening of the 28th of
May, my Defensive Position consisted of Myself (Cadriel), Pilson, Cohen,
and Wetzel. On the evening of the 29th of May, Pilson, Cohen
and Wetzel had been Killed In Action. Other KIA’s from (3rd
Herd) 3rd Platoon were Campbell, Roundtree, Barry and
Swinford. Also Killed In Action at 10 ALFA was Billy Ray Patrick, a
close friend of mine from another platoon. The sad thing about Patrick
was he should have been back at Base Camp getting ready to go home on a
Hardship Discharge. He should have been back 3 days prior of the date
he was Killed In Action. The 3rd Herd had a total of 10
KIA’s, and a large number of Wounded. Some came stateside, while others
returned to duty later on. Total Enemy Dead Awarded 250+ and many
Weapons and Equipment Confiscated. We left LZ 10 ALFA about 10 days
later.
MY OVERVIEW
To
me it was ironic, that being Attacked That Night by so many NVA on the
28th and the Firefight on the 29th, we didn’t
suffer more Casualties than we did. It goes to show that support from
Mortar, Artillery Crews and Air Force, worked in our favor. Also Huey’s
bringing in ammo and taking out the wounded. We couldn’t have achieved
what we accomplished without their support. There are still many bits
and pieces missing from this story. I just cannot recall all of them.
So ends my story on the Battle of LZ 10 ALFA, May 28-29, 1966.
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