Ground Attack on Cu Chi Base Camp 26 Feb 1969
Below is a brief summary of this event from a VHPA War Story Article by Gary Roush, Pilot for 242 ASHC Muleskinners.
Those remembering that night: Moose Marcinkowski
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At 260400 Cu Chi Base Camp vic XT6515 received Small arms, RPG and mortar fire on the Northwest portion of the bunker line. Fire was returned with Small arms, automatic weapons, Dusters, Light Fire Teams, Artillery & Spooky.
At 0430, the Base Camp began receiving 122mm, 107mm, rockets and 75mm Recoiless Rifle fire. At 0445, heavy small arms fire was received in the western sector, and the enemy penetrated the perimeter in the southeast sector destroying 9 CH- 47s and damaging 2.
By 0630 fighting had subsided to occasional sniper fire. Results of the contact were 31 NVA KIA( body count), 8 prisoners, 36 RPG-2 Recoilless Rifles, 1 9mm pistol, 3 AK-47 rifles, 28 hand grenades, 175 sapper charges, 16 rds of RPG-2 ammo, 250 rds of small arms ammo, 1 Bangalore torpedo, 10 lbs of TNT, 1 pr of wire cutters, 1 walkie talkie, and 1 lb of documents evacuated. US casualties 13 US KIA, 28 US WIA."
Garrett "Moose" Marcinkowski: I remember that night. It was very confusing but my recollection was we set up a troop perimeter in the drainage ditch between us and squadron. My biggest worry was we were going to shoot a friendly. Thank goodness the sappers had to get through squadron first. I do remember the glow of burning Chinooks and the POL in the night sky.
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