My Time on Hill 881S
| I was a wireman in H&S Co. 3/26. On Dec. 26,1967 myself and L/Cpl.
Harry E. Scroggins were attached to I Co. to go to hill 881S. We were to rotate with another wireteam after 30
days. Funny how things never really work out. At first it was no big deal, just keep the wire lines working
and I stood a couple of switchboard watches. Captain Dabney said the guy on the radio could watch the
switchboard too. Most of our time was spent helping dig the trenches deeper. All of that changed on Jan. 20, 1968. We started taking a lot of incoming. The bunker that we, L/Cpl Scroggins and I had wasn't very good, so we moved in with the radio relay guys next door. I remember watching 861 being over run and us not being able to go help them. That was such a helpless feeling, knowing they needed our help and there was nothing we could do except for the fire support. The watches in the trenches were hard on everyone. High alert from 2300 or midnight until sunup every night. Night and when it was really foggy were the worst times. That was when we could not see our enemy when he did approach our wire. Mostly we could only listen, way to dark to see anything. There was a sniper taking pot shots at us from the ridgeline south of us. I was on the south side of the hill. After the 106's took out the first 2 snipers, the 3rd one never did hit anyone, but was still a great concern. More than once I had the dirt kick up around my feet or a sand bag in front of me would start to leak. Scroggins and I were replaced by another wire team during the last part of March and transferred to Division Headquarters at Dong Ha where we spent the rest of our tours. We helped install and maintain a dial central and I became a cable splicer. What I will always remember is the bravery of every Marine and Corpsman on that hill. No matter how bad it was, if you yelled Corpsman up, one came. I am very proud to have served with all of you. You are truly the Warriors of 881S. Semper Fi Cpl. Earl W. Huse USMC |