Post by lt13demi on Jun 15, 2009 21:53:35 GMT -5
Mes amis,
We had one heck of a time at the O'Bryan ranch at Zephyr (Brownwood) texas. I would really like to see the personal comments of those that were there posted here instead of an "official" looking AAR. ( But if you feel like posting an official AAR, go to it). Something like the typical grunt's take on things. Both French and VM! I bet there was a particular incident that sticks out in your mind.
I will share one of mine.
I was leading the patrol of 3 Legionnaires plus myself, assigned as "code name Isabelle", to the river to determine the fate of an riverine dinassaut force which had been ambushed by a reported battalion size force of Viet Minh. We had left the forward operation base at a deserted native village where an old Japanese airfield had been secured by a groupe ( code name Gabrielle) for additional airdrops and landings of supplies and a combat medical team.
We proceeded into a thicket of thorny brush E of the LZ and then turned due south and paralled an old road approx. 125 meters into the brush from that road. We would advance , stop , listen and observe as we headed south to the river. Approx. 20 minutes into our patrol our patience, stealth, and observation paid off. We observed a large party of Viet Minh actually traveling north on the old road. It was speculated this force would try to flank Section Gabrielle and overrun the airfield. Gabrielle was quickly radioed and made aware of their impending attack. In the meantime, the Viet Minh patrol did the unexpected! They turned to the east and advanced right in the direction of our patrol! The four members Section Isabelle ( Two armed with US M-1 Carbines, and two armed with MAS 36 bolt rifles), quickly deployed on a skirmish line with 10 m between each team member.
At approx. 70 m from our skirmish line, the Viet patrol turned due north and exposed their whole right flank to us! They were maybe at a 1-3 meter intervals between each other (way too close). Here we opened up on their exposed flank, delivering a withering small arms fire. They tried to counter-attack thru our ambush with auto weapons and grenades. But we held our ground and continued to fire. Eventually we began to turn their flank with a left wheel action. By this time the force had either all been killed or dissappeard into the brush. We had no time to obtain an accurate body count as we had to continue on our mission to the river. Approx. 15 minutes after this action we heard an intense firefight coming from the direction of the old landing field.
This was just a portion of the action that occured this past weekend. I certainly hope others give us their personal stories. I learned later there were many French casualties t the airfield.
Lt. Renault
Commandant
III/13eme DBLE
CEFEO
We had one heck of a time at the O'Bryan ranch at Zephyr (Brownwood) texas. I would really like to see the personal comments of those that were there posted here instead of an "official" looking AAR. ( But if you feel like posting an official AAR, go to it). Something like the typical grunt's take on things. Both French and VM! I bet there was a particular incident that sticks out in your mind.
I will share one of mine.
I was leading the patrol of 3 Legionnaires plus myself, assigned as "code name Isabelle", to the river to determine the fate of an riverine dinassaut force which had been ambushed by a reported battalion size force of Viet Minh. We had left the forward operation base at a deserted native village where an old Japanese airfield had been secured by a groupe ( code name Gabrielle) for additional airdrops and landings of supplies and a combat medical team.
We proceeded into a thicket of thorny brush E of the LZ and then turned due south and paralled an old road approx. 125 meters into the brush from that road. We would advance , stop , listen and observe as we headed south to the river. Approx. 20 minutes into our patrol our patience, stealth, and observation paid off. We observed a large party of Viet Minh actually traveling north on the old road. It was speculated this force would try to flank Section Gabrielle and overrun the airfield. Gabrielle was quickly radioed and made aware of their impending attack. In the meantime, the Viet Minh patrol did the unexpected! They turned to the east and advanced right in the direction of our patrol! The four members Section Isabelle ( Two armed with US M-1 Carbines, and two armed with MAS 36 bolt rifles), quickly deployed on a skirmish line with 10 m between each team member.
At approx. 70 m from our skirmish line, the Viet patrol turned due north and exposed their whole right flank to us! They were maybe at a 1-3 meter intervals between each other (way too close). Here we opened up on their exposed flank, delivering a withering small arms fire. They tried to counter-attack thru our ambush with auto weapons and grenades. But we held our ground and continued to fire. Eventually we began to turn their flank with a left wheel action. By this time the force had either all been killed or dissappeard into the brush. We had no time to obtain an accurate body count as we had to continue on our mission to the river. Approx. 15 minutes after this action we heard an intense firefight coming from the direction of the old landing field.
This was just a portion of the action that occured this past weekend. I certainly hope others give us their personal stories. I learned later there were many French casualties t the airfield.
Lt. Renault
Commandant
III/13eme DBLE
CEFEO
