At 1000, the Company prepared to move out, to be replaced by Delta Company. The CP group and the two rifle platoons at the compound moved by a loose column down to the ferry landing, where Charlie 1 was waiting. After crossing the river, the column was reformed and moved up through Phu Loc (6) and on down the road to the Alamo, a barren rise which was hollowed out on top, to be used as a company patrol base. En route, we passed Delta.
As we moved into the Alamo, we spotted a dead tree branch, festooned with C-ration cans stuck in a hole in the middle of the hill. Beneath the tree was a box of radio batteries with a tag that read “Merry Christmas from Delta Company to Charlie Company.”
The Company set in and patrols went out to the west and north. Despite our pleas, the Skipper ordered us to catch the afternoon convoy back to An Hoa. We would rejoin the company on the 26th.
The ride in was uneventful, and we retired to the BOQ area. Several of the guys from 2/5 and 3/5 were there and we exchanged notes preparatory to moving out the next day. We learned that 2/5 was in the Arizona and 3/5 was operating back in the mountains of Base Area 112, along with 1/3 and 3/3, all as part of Operation Taylor Common.
At 1800, the cease fire ended with a literal bang as every artillery unit at An Hoa resumed firing.
I wrote a short letter home and hit the rack. The vacation was over. Time to go to work.
1 comment:
I'm just now getting caught up on your posts - got a little busy with Christmas :)
Thanks again for sharing these. I'm enjoying every one.
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