I am sure that everyone remembers the events of Sep 3 1970 a little differently, but here is how I remember that day and please let me know how this differs from your recollection:
31 Aug 70--We waited until 1300 to be extracted--stood in knee-deep water for an hour--moved to unknown LZ and from there by Chinook to LZ Sun (I don't remember that one, but that is what I have in my diary). We moved to the woodline and set up NDP. Reports are that there is a lot of enemy activity in this AO.
01 Sep 70--We moved to LZ Sun about 0730 to get logged. At about 1500 we CA'ed to foot of mountain and from there we humped about 300 meters up slope to set up NDP. My rucksack seemed heavier than ever! I got stung by a wasp under my left eye and it is extremely swollen. I also have a boil on my elbow.
02 Sep 70--We moved out early in the morning moving up and down steep hills. We stopped about 1430 to set up NDP. Cat I went on patrol down the hillside, but found nothing. We are still working company size.
03 Sep 70--With Cat pointing, we moved a few hundred meters. Jim (Johnson) and I were on OP (Don't remember that term, but that is what I have in my diary) when Range ambush killed one VC. We saw signs of much activity as we moved on up and had light contact from a hilltop. Several hooches were found, but VC had vacated. It was thought that the enemy might return during the night, so we set up NDP near the hooches and dug in. This was the only time during my tour that I recall digging in. Robert Clonch and I were in a foxhole together and I don't think either of us slept at all that night. I have never experienced it being so dark before--we were under triple-canopy jungle and it was also cloudy. I remember that we couldn't see anything--just black. During the night a member of Range platoon (I found out later that his name was Craig Waterman, who was nicknamed "Water Buffalo) was trying to locate the guard position for his turn on guard duty. Because of the complete darkness he got disoriented and wandered down the hill and outside our perimeter. I don't remember if he tripped a flare or if was just the noise of his movement, but one of the other guard positions responded by opening up with the M-60. I think several grenades were also thrown, don't remember if claymore mines were detonated. I remember that after it was realized what had happened, we could hear him moaning down the hill from us. There was talk of going down to get him, but also concern that the VC might have him and going down would cause further losses. It seems like it was several hours that we could hear him moaning as a result of his wounds, but nothing could be done.
04 Sep 70--After enduring that terrifying night, It was morning of Sep 4th when we found out that he had died from his wounds. Range platoon went out in search of a LZ so that the body could be extracted and we could get logged. While out, Range had contact. We remained in our foxholes all morning, then moved along slowly to the LZ and set up NDP about dusk.
05 Sep 70--Just before we were ready to move out, Range was hit right outside our perimeter. Later after the contact, Cat pointed to NDP and Cat I went on patrol.
I have remembered and thought about this incident many times over the last fifty years. I have wondered what his family was told and what they knew about it. I have thought about how terrifying it must have been for "Water Buffalo" when he realized what was happening. For me, and I am sure for all that were there, this was one of the most grievous events of our tour.
