The next event happened at around twelve O’clock. Mid-days there were excruciatingly hot and it was unusual to see any VC patrols on the move at that point. They would relax in the shade and conserve their energy. However, that wasn’t the case for the two guys that tried crawling up to their fort. One of the sharp shooters spotted them and reported to Gates. Gates stayed there, with his binoculars, and watched them as they crawled closer to the camp. He would have let them come all the way, but then he noticed that they spotted some of the claymores that they had set up. He ordered the sharp shooter to take them out. McLaughlin ordered another urgent radio call.
The next incident happened several hours later, at just about twilight. It was a larger 8-man patrol this time. Anderson let them get within a hundred yards and then scared them away with a sporadic display of gunfire. He purposely didn’t allow the VCs to get hit and made it look like it wasn’t a controlled defense. Another message was sent.
Two hours later, McLaughlin ordered all the Sergeants and Corporals, besides Gates and Anderson, who were out on guard, and prepped them for the next couple of days. “Without a question there’s going to be a major battle right here. We have the upper hand as of now, but in order to keep that, I am demanding of everyone here to show their courage and composure. It is essential that we remain in complete control of ourselves. There will be no gunfire without permission. There will be no mistakes. We have set up an ambush and it looks like that the VCs fell for it. Radio messages must be relayed to the letter and clear communication is essential. Is that understood.”
“Yes, sir!” They responded in unison.
“You are dismissed then,” McLaughlin rose to his feet.
Anderson burst into the room, “Sir!” he said. There was a look on his face that said all. There was a silence that held in the room.
Go To Page: 1 2
