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The Battle of Ap Cho
Edited by Paul Jenkins
On the day in question we were forced by a nit-wit Battalion Commander into an open field with about two feet of water in it. It was an abandoned rice paddy. We were hot on the tail of a bunch of VC. We had overrun a couple of bunkers in the light jungle we were moving through. We had a prisoner, a VC Command Post flag, a couple of AK's and beau coup documents. The hair on my neck was standing up because I knew we were tailing a force larger than mine. I had about 120 men.
When we came to the clearing I could see an L shaped wood line at the other side, about 200 yards to our front. Any fool would know that the VC were holed up in that wood line. The Colonel insisted we cross the open and attack. I asked for an artillery prep along the wood line and it was denied. I asked for a gunship to screen my front and it was denied. Seems you had to be in contact before you could get any preparations. The BN Cmdr. was too timid to even ask BDE or Div for support because he stayed in hot water with them. S-3 told me he never asked.
He did throw in Alpha Company on my left as a reserve. Curt Chancey was the CO. He recently commented that he remembered the day and the gunship that picked up my KIA. Delta was to join me also but they never got to the paddy before we had to go.
Alpha Company watched as we fixed bayonets, lobbed a few M-79 grenade rounds across the paddy. They fell short of course. Then we moved on line into the open field.
We made it about 50 yards, just deep enough into it to get the whole company exposed when they opened up and began to cut us down. Only my eyeballs were out of the water. We were pinned down good and I was taking wounded all over the place. Curt and his boys were on the far left and helped lay down fire but could not get up alongside of us.
I begged Battalion for help. Within a few minutes two gunships showed up. They were Stingers! They flew that wood line at 50-100 feet vomiting hot steel on the VC. I remember one pilot saying he had taken 6-7 hits and was low on fuel. He had to get out of there. The other ship stayed on station for a bit but had to go too. They verified that the force we faced was very large and I started to get some artillery. The VC kept hosing us down though and we still could not move. Finally a "Smokey Bear" showed up and laid down a beautiful smoke screen. Now that I think of it. It was "Smokey" that took the hits and reported the size of the force. He was 25 feet off the ground. I think another showed up to help him. and Stinger 96 had refueled, re-armed and was returning. The wind was right and we were in a heavy fog. We moved around and got all of our wounded and KIA's. Alpha got hurt too.
With the gunships, smokeys, and two short shooters from Tan San Nhut, blasting the wood line, we were able to get a dust off. I remember putting so many men aboard that dust off that the pilot said he didn't think it would get off the ground. LT. Harris, my first platoon leader had to stand on the skids on one leg. The other leg had been damn near shot off. The dust off pilot made a run for it and that sucker made it into the sky. I was so grateful. I think we had 12 wounded on board without equipment. He said he would not come back in for the rest of the wounded, he would only make one attempt. I don't blame him.
Finally the jets came over and bombed the poop out of that wood line. The 20MM coming out of those cannons sounded like a million people vomiting at the same time. The napalm was gorgeous. One Stinger stayed over us as we made it back into the wood line behind us He said he'd fly cover for me as we withdrew. He stayed overhead making passes to my front and advising me.
We were carrying KIA Sgt Scheiber on a stick. Had a couple of slightly wounded limping along too. The pilot grieved for me, I know. He explained that he was prohibited from landing.
Not against the pilots, but against "policy". Policy that didn't make any sense to me at the time.
Stinger 96 must have had a change of heart and he did a brave, prohibited, wonderful thing.
He landed and loaded Sgt Scheiber, stick and all on board. I think he took a couple of wounded too. I offered him a souvenir or two. He got out of the chopper and we met. I could have hugged him and smacked him on both cheeks, but we just shook hands, lest my men think I was a pussy.
I gave him a nice VC flag with a little blood on it. I think I gave him an AK too. He got out of there and radioed me that he was dropping my KIA at our Battalion CP about 5 clicks behind us. He didn't take him to Dau Tieng or a base area. Wise move probably.
A Company, (Curt Chancey) got the privilege of going back into the L shaped wood line and cleaning up. I think he pulled 6-10 VC KIA out of there. I think he had some more casualties too. Curt recently wrote that he remembered the incident and us talking about it that night back at the CP. Especially he remembered the gunship landing.
Jim Dice, an RTO with the first platoon described the whole incident in a letter to me a couple of years ago, as he recalled it. Someone even snapped a picture of us going out into the paddy and you can see the men falling from the first burst of fire.
Eddie Runge, my RTO also recalls the moment. How could anyone forget, eh?
You might ask why this is so important to me. This guy did more than perform a mercy mission. He may in fact have saved my whole career as a company commander. Consider that I had been in the command of the company for only a week or two. I was untested as a CO, a First Lieutenant, my first action as Charlie Company Commander. I had been a Platoon Leader for 6 months in Alpha Company though.
The men were not aware of all our radio communications and many believed that it was I who chose to go out into that killing field. The absence of preparatory support was also attributed to me and my lack of influence with Battalion.
We had our ass whipped and there is no worse feeling in the world. The way we were carrying Sgt Scheiber, a very well liked man, was disgraceful.... shameful.... The company began to fold. Morale was low, fear was high. I didn't know if I could hold it together.
That pilot landing removed any doubt from the company that I had any balls, influence, compassion, etc. It was the only positive thing that happened that day. Once our wounded and KIA's were cared for the men began to rally. We had been at the edge. Sgt. Scheiber being dragged and carried on that pole represented everything that went wrong that day.
They think I talked him down... Stinger. They thanked me. I became their Commander at last. They followed me into Ap Cho... What great men, all of them. What great pilots and crewmen. I really believe that Stinger 96 acting in violation of his standing orders, did more than act mercifully that day. He authenticated my position as CO, restored my own faith in myself, and a lot more. He may not even remember it, all though I doubt it. God bless him and all of you heroes from the sky!
Chuck Boyle
Mike Adkinson writes…….
I could not remember the incident. Now that I have seen this note from the grunt and the details that were involved with the incident that day - I know exactly what he is talking about. I did go in and do this KIA pickup that day. It was a situation that was very unusual. He was new and we all knew it. He was nervous and scared and unsure. And I think anyone else would have experienced the same emotions. I was not the one that told him that it was against the rules for a gunship to come in for pickup (although it was against the rules). I do recall that someone said that and he got mad. I was glad that he got mad because he seemed more strong and in command once he got mad. They moved back to another little opening in the woods and when all the other ships (C&C and Artillery FO) had left the area I called him and told him that we would come in to pick up his dead sergeant. He and his men had gone through hell for several hours and we watched them carry that KIA for several hundred yards and knew they needed something good to happen. Johnny Holman was the crew chief and he cleared out some ammo trays for the body and we all agreed that we were going to go in and get the guy. It was one of those times that the rules just didn't fit the situation
Mike Adkinson, Stinger 96
Chuck Boyle writes……
I can't believe that after all these years, just a little thought in my mind, that could have been only my imagination, developed into the truth. How you guys find each other and share the thoughts and emotions and experiences is indescribable. I am having a good day! Thanks to you and Gib and the others that you've talked with I can put something to bed in my mind. I wasn't hung up over the incident, you know, like those folks who are searching for some answers to "the why of it all." I was simply writing something about Vietnam for the newsletter that I do for my group, and the scene kept replaying in my mind. The"Stinger" call sign just wouldn't leave my head, so I asked Gib.Watching you guys search for me and reading the messages flying back and forth, and the many to me personally, has been very gratifying. Thanks to you all.To Mike Adkinson... You are one hell of a pilot! All of you were. From this grunt's point of view, I might have lost control of the company that day had you not found it within you to perform the act of mercy that you did. There were other battles and more casualties, but I had survived my baptism of fire as the CO of Charlie Company. A large part of that success is due to you.All that snuffy wants from his commander is to know that he'll do his best to take care of him. That you'll get him out and send him home if he gets killed. Getting that KIA out was crucial, considering how we were carrying him and the action we had just had. When you landed and took out Sergeant Scheiber, you redeemed me in the eyes of my men. Thank you!You describe the day so well. It has, over the last few weeks, become clearer and clearer to me. I can see you standing there. Nevertheless, I'd like to shake your hand again, maybe buy you a beer. I know my men would sure like to. I'm sure Sgt. Scheiber would too, if he could.We have a large organization, too. We have found over 1000 men who served in Charlie Company, 3rd Bn, 22nd Inf. during the war. More than two hundred of us meet every two years in reunion, as you guys do. We'll meet in Washington D.C. this July and visit the wall. It will be my first time. I will think of you mightily as I touch Sarge's name. Many of the men who were with us that day will be with me. I will tell them the story once again and they'll add to it I'm sure. We'll drink a toast that night to you and your crew and all the brave aviators who endangered themselves to help us. And to those who paid the ultimate price.I am the MC at our banquet so I guarantee the 22nd Infantry will toast you that night.
Chuck Boyle, Retired Major
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In
memory of
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William
H. Scheiber Jr
Panel: 35E Line: 50 |
