Part II: The next morning we went out in two groups. The first group went in search of the knoll. There had been so much change here with increased vegetation and population. Even the electrical infrastructure was astonishing , for down a dirt road, out in the boondocks, were two wires no larger than 10 gauge, strung up (sort of) on bamboo poles no higher than 10 feet, sometimes less. In the adjoining homes there was no running water, bathrooms, etc, but a television was operating.
 The second group of eight included a former NVA officer, Col Tiep, and together we journeyed into "Antenna Valley". This is the name that the Marines gave to the valley across a mountain range (west) from the Que Son Valley where the views were spectacular. We came down in to the valley, found the right road, went as far as we could and began walking. This trek was on some good trails until we had to traverse some higher rice paddies. We came upon a rudimentary canal system that required our walking on a 4 inch wide, 2 foot high, side of the canal. Not much farther on we encountered some terraced rice paddies that I felt may have been the scene of a battle during Operation Essex on 8Nov1967. Even if it may not have been the exact location, it was so similar that it evoked a strong recollection of the trouble that we walked into that day. Eventually we found the location close to the action of the 12th and 13th of May 1967. This was the scene of the first heavy action that John and I witnessed, it was also where my best friend from boot camp, John Love was killed.  The following day we felt as if the Marines had landed and were victorious when we found the place we sought as Col.Tiep led us to the knoll. The weather was conducive for the memories in store for us. Although there was a slight rain, it was so hot that we needed to drink 32 ounces of water every two hours.
As we progressed along Highway 534, Col Tiep decided to take us to the NVA BN CP. It was behind an old thatched roof house and the old mamma son who lived there had been there back in 1967. She shook our hands as we invaded her back yard. From there he led us to where "the enemy" was. Throughout his time leading and accompanying us, Col. Tiep was very gracious and appeared to be very moved by our quest. We approached the knoll from the rice paddy in front of it. The first landmark we spotted was the rock from where, as they say, "all became clear". We went to the top, fanned out and tried to determine just where each of us was all those years ago. Because of heavy ground cover, we could not get to the exact spots where 2nd platoon had been. We were within a 10 meter radius of the location where Father Capodanno and Corpsman Leal were killed. Otto Lehrack who has authored articles in Leatherneck Magazine, has been able to confirm through research that the battles in the Que Son Valley in 1967 were among the bloodiest of the war. More Marines died there that year than at any other time or place in the war, more than at Khe Sanh, more than at Hue or the Rockpile. |
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Before revisiting this crucial area, we had often asked certain questions such as, "Why was 2nd platoon so decimated that day?" Upon returning and seeing the battlefield as it was, from hearing information from Col. Tiep as well as recalling our personal experiences, we realized that 2nd platoon had walked into a classic L shaped ambush. It was actually an upside down L with 2nd platoon trapped in the inside corner of the L. We had been hit from two sides at once. As we stood and relived those hours, the four of us who had been there-JD Murray, our company CO, John Lobur, Fred Tancke, and myself- placed the small wooden crosses made by Kevin Kelly (M Co, 3rd platoon) and a Father Capodanno prayer card inside a baggie. It began to rain harder as the four of us knelt in a small circle. We placed the baggie on the ground and held hands as John offered a heartfelt prayer. As the prayer continued, it rained even harder until we were all soaked. John prayed for the fallen, the innocent villagers, the survivors and those that still carry scars of that battle today. As JD read the
names of those members of Mike Co 3/5 that perished that day, the rain subsided. At that moment, my emotions got the best of me. All of a sudden many of the actions of that day seemed very real all over again! We lingered a little longer until we moved on at about 1130 hours.