June Trip to Vietnam - June 18

The platoon conducted a Combat Assault on a hot landing zone with enemy soldiers to engage. Landing in the middle of a forest fire, the platoon spent many hours running from the path of the fire. While running from the fire, on May 24, 1969, Mike Dankert and I started our lifelong friendship. We had been without food and water for over 24 hours. Once at the bottom of the mountain we were ordered to climb the mountain next to it. Once on top, we received resupplies and set up our night defensive positions.

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Fire

Military Map 1969

While on FSB Debbie the platoon went on ambushes and patrolled the Rice Bowl area. We had several major firefights in this area and frequent contact with the enemy. On June 14, 1969, Bruce Tufts was killed while sitting in his position on a hilltop near FSB Debbie and off Highway 1. We had a major engagement with NVA forces on July 2nd. On July 5th, a track, from E Troop, hit a booby trap that blew the track apart, and caught on fire, killing two crew members on the track. Mike Dankert, Doc Windows, and a third soldier were detailed to remove the bodies.

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FSB Debbie 
July 2 
June 14
Track

Military Map 1969