10-08-02
I was with 2nd Lt. Harry Fromme.  We went to Khe Sanh in December 67, spent Christmans at base then grunted our way up to 881 S.  On the way up the force we were relieving was on its way down and I remember speaking to Rev. Ray Stubbe that day.  One the men was in my squad was shot shortly after arriving 881 S.  He was standing on top of hill and was hit in the penis by a spent round.  His name Adrian Brittles, he was Kia on a later date 09-21-68, stepped on a bouncing betty.  That was the same day a Phantom was shot down and crashed about a mile from where we were.  1st Plt. was sent out an a patrol to 881 N. and we ran into an NVA OP and had a fire fight.  I believe it was the day Gary Joliet was wounded.  The next day we went up as a Company and 1st PLT went left around a tree line and then turned right and went on line to assault the hill.  Will heading up the hill, the NVA opened fire and we returned fire.  It was pure chaos.  A lot of Marines were wounded and killed.  Ron Ford was on my left he was hit by frgments from an RPG.  I bandaged him up and he headed for the rear.  The Marine to my right was wounded by another RPG.  I helped him with his wounds and he headed back behind the trees.  I remained in the area returning fire to the top of 881N. A chicom landed by me I threw it back, rounds were kicking dirt in my face, I saw some movement to the front unloaded a clip and saw them fall.  Then there was movement to my rear and it was Phillip Provanzano.  He had come up to tell me everyon else had fallin back and that the Phantoms were coming to drop some Napalm on the hill and I had better pull back because everyone else had pulled back.  I just said thanks guys for leaving me there all alone.  I got the hell out of there and back around to the trees and there were bodies, and wounded scattered around in a bomb crater.  We looked pretty beaten up.  Staff Sgt. Don Samuels was wounded and Richard Darling they were placed on a 46 and it was hit with 50 Cal rounds and went down and crashed in the valley.  The crewmen were rescued, I believe on had a broken arm or leg.  The chopper burned.  Another chopper came in and they were lifted out.   It was dark when we left the hill that morning and it was dark when we returned.  But sleep did not come easy we were hit with rounds all that night.