My Unintentional External Retrograde From Hill 881S

While serving with "A" Company 3rd Shore Party Battalion I was assigned to India Company 3/26 on Hill 881S as part of a Helicopter Support Team. (H.S.T.). My duties were to locate supplies delivered by helicopter to the hill.  I also had to guide the helicopters in for a pick up of our wounded or persons leaving the hill for various reasons and retrograde of other items no longer needed on the hill.

After the supplies were delivered and located I was to gather the nets so they could be returned to the supply area at Dong Ha for use again.  The only time I could gather the nets was when night came. Charlie could not see me moving around.  I was very quiet.  Placing the pile of nets in an area that was secure was very important.  When the net retrograde was scheduled I only had 8 to 10 seconds before Charlie fired his first mortars.  If everything went correctly I could be back inside the trenches within a minute. Naturally, one day things didn't!

The slings used for hook up were about 5 feet long.  I had 2 slings hooked together.  This gave me 10 feet in either direction to move if the chopper came in off course.  As the supergaggle came about this job was much more demanding.  I had to be out side the trenches, near the load to be hooked up, at least half a day sometime.  I was waiting and waiting when I heard the jets bomb the valleys and set up smoke screens so Charlie didn't know where the birds were headed.  It was our turn that day.  As the supplies started to be delivered I had to be aware of the bird that was going to pick up these nets.  My heart is just pounding as I see the chopper coming toward me.  I am ready, sling in hand, and my back toward the enemy.  The chopper is coming in too fast.  As I move around to complete the hook up I could see the bullets hitting the under side of the chopper.  I gave the crew chief the thumbs up as soon as my hook up was completed.  I made one mistake.  The sling is now between my legs as the chopper is beginning to rise.  I tried to get out but my left foot was caught in the nets!

What could I do?  I hung on the best I could and tried to signal the crew chief that the chopper had more then the load of nets.  As we proceeded off the hill the chopper made a circle and dropped me and the nets off at the beginning site. It was so intense hanging up side down and watching Charlie, in the valley, take pot shots at me.

Later that day Capt. Dabney told me I earned some jump wings for that adventure.

At the time, I was told by others that the Marine hanging from the load of nets had been landed at the Khe Sanh Combat Base, four miles away and 1500 feet below us.  I had no reason to question the report, because the screening smoke made it impossible for me to see.

I saw LCpl. Assum almost daily both before and after the incident.  Typical of a man who did not "blow his own horn", I do not recall him telling me at the time that it was he who had taken the ride.  I guess he considered it "all in a day's work", but then, for a Marine who stood with his back to the enemy and guided helicopters into hot zones almost daily for several months, it probably was!

After things calmed down a bit, and replacements were coming in, I was told my services were no longer needed and to report to my company at Khe Sanh.  I remember walking around the western LZ of Hill 881S with no flat jacket or helmet on.  It was a weird feeling doing that.  Supplies were all over that zone and Capt. Dabney told me what a great job I had done and wished me luck.  Back to Khe Sanh I went . We left Khe Sanh by convoy a few days later and headed for Quang Tri.  The day I got to Quang Tri I went searching for the men of India Company to let them know I was okay and made it out of Khe Sanh.  I did take a few pictures of Jody Hawkins and me and Gary Lockier.  I don't think I will ever forget the day I went on that visit.  That was the last time I was with those me