"Ground Pounder to Pilot with the 219th"

"Ground Pounder to Pilot with the 219th"
Submitted by - 1LT Eugene Kobes, Headhunter 26
Editor's Note: Many 219th personnel had prior tours in Vietnam. These prior experiences are important to know because they also helped shape how these individuals contributed to the success of the 219th's overall mission.

"Before my assignment to the 219th RAC in early 1969 I had a previous ground assignment as a platoon leader with the 3rd Bn 8th Inf, 1st Bde, 4th ID supported by the 219th RAC.  It was always a comforting feeling in practically any engagement that some birddog was overhead to direct supporting fire whether it be artillery or TAC air. 

In this particular case in early 1967  from recollection occurred when our company C was attacked by a North Vietnamese Regiment.  We lost Charlie Barrett’s whole platoon with the exception of one man that was patrolling in the direction of the attack.  Two other platoons were patrolling off our respective flanks.  My platoon at company base was hit next and caught in the crossfire between the enemy and our Company B that had moved up to support the engagement.  The combat was very intense lasting a good share of an afternoon.  Rockets, artillery, close air support, machine gun fire, grenades, you name it, were in play.  Over four thousand rounds of artillery were fired in our support.  Other statistics of the battle are recorded in the book, “War of Innocents” by Charlie Flood who incidentally was in the thick of the battle.  My prayer for the circumstance occurred after the battle.  It was a prayer of thanksgiving, thanking God that I was able to lead men through the chaos and confusion of battle when thought, planning and sense seemed to be brushed aside for instinctive action.  It is my belief one does not know how he will act in those conditions until you actually experience it.  Than to be able operate, to make decisions and act on them must be God given for I do not believe it is anything you could possibly train for. 

During the course of the battle I could not recall how many times I rose up to fire my weapon or to shout commands.  Once to execute the claymores and the word came back we just did.  I do not know how many times I shouted at my machine gunner to hold down his rate of fire or he would burn up his barrel.  Well he burned up both barrels and went forward to pick up an enemy machine gun to continue the battle.  I do remember just getting down in my foxhole when the back of my not to deep foxhole was stitched with machine gun fire.  In fact the antenna of my radio was shot off about two inches from the base.  I do remember getting up a little to look behind me to make sure I was not in the line of fire by B Company machine guns.  It was one of these times I saw the 500 lbs bombs tumbling through the air.  You see the TAC air and gun ships were brought in from behind us as opposed to parallel with my front because  the artillery was not lifted.  Enemy pressure was so great the Battalion was concerned both companies would be overrun so all supporting fires were continuous.  Enemy mortars and rocket were coming in volume and now we are also throwing hand grenades back and forth.  The intensity was unimaginable.  I do not remember if nor when I screamed to my unit to fix bayonets or whether they just instinctively just did it.  The din of battle is still etched in my mind. 

I believe the body count later that day was over 358 enemy along with a pile of enemy weapons. Many were just meters away from our positions.  Later, a platoon of tanks from the 4th moved in.  Can I tell you how comforting this was?

Incidentally, at the morning planning meeting of Company officers before the battle my platoon was scheduled to patrol the area of where the attack took place.  Charlie wanted to switch with me because his platoon was scheduled to be company lead in our company movement the following day.  He wanted to have firsthand knowledge of the terrain.  I suggested we both patrol the area, each with two squads, leaving two squads behind for company security.  Well, Charlie wanted his whole platoon with him so the decision for the switch was made.

An unusual circumstance that occurred over the course of the battle as well was that my platoon did not suffer anyone killed in action while facing a far superior force in numbers whereas B Company positioned behind my platoon did.  There was a memorial service for the fallen the next day.  I helped the chaplain hand out small hymn books in the calm breeze as I seemed to feel the whisper of God, He cares.  From what I remember, my prayer that day was for all the families and loved ones of those we lost.

The other unusual fact from my ground duty over the course of a year was that my platoon did not incur anyone killed in any action while I was with them in the field.  At one point I was detailed to Division but volunteered to return to my unit after another major battle and the loss of two more officers, one of which was the company commander. The platoon leader that had my platoon was severely wounded.

My second tour started with the 183 RAC in Phan Thiet.  It was an interesting three or four months before I was ranked out of my position as platoon Commander and moved to 219th 2nd Platoon in Kontum early 69.  But in those four months I had much excitement.  On one occasion I was attacking a VC tax point on Hwy 1.  Well the wood line was full of VC as well and my aircraft and I got shot up pretty well.  You see until then I could not get any fire support.  My aircraft was still flyable and I was not seriously wounded but my excited call went out.  Catbird 7 this is Seahorse 26, I have just taken fire, now can I get some type of support!!  Roger, you have pair phantoms that we have diverted to your area.  After I put them in as well as direct a Cav Troop from Task Force South I came back to Phan Thiet and landed.  I checked into the dispensary soon thereafter.

There were a number of 219th stories out of Kontum.  The short side of one is my returning to Kontum late after a mission in darkness (Kontum was an unlit airfield) and the portable GCA was inoperable.  Anyway I had a partial engine failure over Kontum city and my only one ever Mayday in my flying career call went out. “Mayday, mayday partial engine failure.”  I had full power on and was losing altitude. The tower operator asked me if he should shoot a flare.  Yes, yes I excitedly called back, do it now.  Well as if by answered prayer the flare lighted the area for me to locate the field.  I just made it to the end of the runway and landed.  Can I tell you that in two tours in Viet Nam one as an Infantry platoon leader and one flying reconnaissance, God was looking after me.

On another occasion, I, well my Marine observer adjusted main gun fire from the New Jersey.  I felt good about the target area.  It was where I was shot up.  Incidentally, my flight pattern in adjusting fire gave a wide berth.  You can see the rounds from the main guns in the air and the impact is special. On low level flying I guess after forty years it is safe to divulge. I was covering a convoy on Hwy 1 low level crisscrossing the hwy at varying intervals.   Well,  I did not catch the rise in the road as I was skimming tree tops when all of a sudden the command track is just meters in front of me as I initiate a climb.  Not soon enough however, as I hear a ping.  I am very quiet and perhaps praying as well, until the commander comes on the radio.  Seahorse 26, are you alright? I am asking because you took about three feet off my 125 antenna.  I promised to replace it I radioed back.  A post flight check revealed a slight nick in my propeller.

In the 219th, I am now flying over areas I trudged about.  Biggest battle for me there was in Dak Siang.  Enemy artillery was adjusting on our artillery base which I was using.  Enemy mortars were going off below me where I just got mirrored by some of our LRRPS.  Enemy P76 armored vehicles were engaging our outer defenses and enemy masses were emerging from the border area.  I do not know who replaced me on station when low on fuel but Dempsey  and Ritz do not remember the that particular battle.  I met them at last reunion and found out things I am glad I did not know about at the time. After three or four months with the 219th I took command of HHC 52nd Cbt Av Bn. in Plieku.  Ah the memories."