Another deer stand read.

This is a damn fine book about a forgotten battle in Viet Nam. Battle never had a name, although it certainly should have, and many of the medals and awards were give 40 years post facto.

This is the combined story of the rescue mission by Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry commanded by a native Texan, Captain John Poindexter (who became very successful in later private life in Texas), along with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Calvary, 1st Cavalry Division (a straight legged infantry division) who moved to rescue Company C (Charlie), 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division who had unknowing penetrated into the heart of a bunker complex of the HQ of the 272nd NVA. The battle was joined on March 26, 1970 and the 90 men of Charlie Company were cut off with no way out, either by ground or air, and running out of ammo, out numbered by at least 6 or 8 to one.

As it turned out, purely by accident, Alpha troop 1/11 with it's armor and the attached Alpha Company of 2/8 were in the process of establishing their NDP (night defensive perimeter) about 4 kilometers away through very tough jungle terrain.

Radio communication 1330, March 26, 1970:

quote:

"Stone Mountain Two-Niner, this is Racer Two-Nine." by Capt. Hobson, CO Charlie Company

"Go ahead, Racer Two-Nine."Lt. Col. Mike Conrad, CO 2/8 in Helicopter

"I'm getting down to the last of my smokes (grenades used to mark positions). Ammo's down to a few magazines per man. No more machine-gun ammo. About 20 percent casualties now. If we don't get some more ammo soon we're going to be SOL. Over."

"This is Stone Mountain Two-Nine. Roger. We've got some more air on the way. Hope they can execute a kick-out for you (they couldn't due to heavy NVA fire), so get ready to mark your position again."

A few moments later:

"Stone Mountain Two-Nine, this is Writer Two-Nine, over." (this was Capt. Poindexter calling in to offer help, the only available)

The heroics of men on all sides was amazing.

A damn fine read. 4 plus out of 5 stars.

Another interesting passage:

Just after the passages above:

quote:

Then, literally out of the blue, came a radio call......General Casey himself, the assistant division commander, was inbound piloting a Huey, loaded to the gills with machine-gun bullets, rifle ammo, and water. Casey would no longer ask his pilots to do what he wouldn't be willing to do himself, so he called for his own personal helicopter to be fueled and loaded. It was unusual for a senior officer to take such a risky gamble, but on top of this, Casey was barely qualified to fly the mission......He had taken a short, six-week "crash course" in the basics at Fort Rucker, Al, earned his pilot's wings, then joined the division.

Casey made the battle sight, hovered and dropped the life saving ammo and water out while taking extremely heavy fire from the NVA (they were in middle of bunkered complex). His aide on the Huey was seriously wounded. There is little doubt that without that drop, the men of Charlie Company would have been over run. Casey did not receive any recognition for his actions that day, which many feel he should have.

Unfortunately he died when his helicopter crashed into a VN mountain side about 3 months later. He was not the pilot.

His son, George W. Casey, Jr., rose to become a 4 star General and was among those in command of the Iraq war. He served as Commanding General Multi-National Force-Iraq from 6/04 to 2/07.

Gatogordo, I will certainly look for this book. Reading in the deer stand...yep I do that also....Victor

Sounds like a great book.

I read in the deer blind these days.Guess what
;I fall asleep also. There was a time when these actions were unacceptable but now I don't care. Being out there is aLL THAT MATTERS.

Gato,

A fine read to be sure. I picked up Blackhorse Riders prior to A trip to Mexico and couldn't put it down.

Thanks for the review.

Chris