|
21 Feb
|
S-1 continues to send thier passengers down here and I sent most of them back. Tried to ship the generators to Pleiku but no S.F. a/c and the hooks were all loaded
going back so tomorrow morning I will talk with the airfield commander and see if he can get a hook for me. Only got 4 passengers out today. 1856 hours
received
seven inbound rockets landing on different areas of the Dak To II complex. All clear was sounded at 1932 hours. As soon as the all clear was given the new
airfield commander called to see if all was O.K. This is the 1st time anyone from TOC has checked after a mortar or rocket attack so I guess we aren't
completely forgotten after all. From 21 Jan to 20 Feb we received incoming mortars 17 times and incoming rockets 2 times. Another noisy night at
DT as 4.2 mortars landed just outside the perimeter to our rear all night.
|
|
22 Feb
|
SSG Hess departed for Pk with generators. "Charlie" didn't seem to be interested in us last night. All was quiet throughout the night.
|
|
23 Feb
|
Pfc Scott returned this morning with glad tidings - MAIL!! His report on the generator school was good. He learned quite a bit about the 15 KW generator.
|
|
24 Feb
|
SSG Hess returned to site. All had been quiet during my absence and everything was well taken care of. VHF radios are receiving but not transmitting.
Sp4 Yonkus will check them before sending to Pk. During my absence the engrs tore out our fence on the north side and didn't leave much of a wall
beside the bunkers so looks like we will have to erect a new bunker as soon as materials can be found. Windy and dusty today.
|
|
25 Feb
|
Charles was quiet again last night. Another dusty, windy day at DT. Sometimes most of the runway and tower are IFR due to the dust. 1650 hours 9 incoming
rockets
vicinity of the river by Special Forces. All clear given at 1715.
|
|
26 Feb
|
All was quiet last night and we never had to hit the bunker again. Land line to switch board still not working. Has been out for three days now.
Morale was lifted this moring as Sp6 Berry, 85th E.O.D., brought our mail to us and most of us received some long overdue letters we had been waiting for.
Talked to the airfield commander today and he said he had a lighting set coming for the runway. He also said he would try and get us some help when we start
on the new bunker. At 1435 a UH1B came in with no hydraulics. The crash crew was standing by but not needed. One false alarm this evening.
One of the firebases was shooting on the S.E. perimeter and it sounded like incoming. Everyone went to the bunker until it was checked out.
|
|
27 Feb
|
Another quiet night last night. Hope we have more of them. Continue to get lots of passengers from 1st Bde and other units. Made arrangements with 1st
Bde today for beer and soda. In the future we will get 3 cases each of beer and soda on Wed. and Sat. Got the name and unit of some men casually
strolling down the runway and turned them in to the airfield commander. Hope it does some good. We will soon have runway distance markers at DT.
The 299th Engrs should have thenm ready by next week.
|
|
28 Feb
|
Another quiet night last night. Not even much outgoing artillery. Already this morning (0845) we have about 20 passengers. Received a call from Plt Sgt
and maybe the pay officer and commanding officer will be here this afternoon. Hope they do visit and bring out mail. Have L.L to DT switch again
after being out for 5 days. Sure saves a lot of running.
|
|
29 Feb
|
Quiet again last night. Major is enroute DT to pay and hope he brings the mail as we have not had mail for several days now. Major Marti, Lt. Dewitt
and SFC Welch visited DT with mail and pay and some repair parts. I believe the men enjoyed the mail more than pay. They arrived at lunch time so ate
with the FSA. The major informed me that I may be leaving DT soon for Long Binh and a new assignment. Will be kinda hard to leave a very good group
of men and DT site but the new job will be even a greater challenge and I will get much new experience. Have two men that are a little unhappy with the army
as they continue to do a very good job month after month and they cannot get promoted. Will drop Sp4 Barry from daily status but not site roster.
|
|
1 Mar
|
Another quiet night. Hope Charlie continues his good behavior. Several passengers laying around in the day room so had to ask them to wait outside.
Some of the officers didn't like it but I don't like their mess either. Today Dak To tower was called upon to perform an unusual task for the controllers
or a facility such as ours. We picked up a wounded troop from the LOC pad that had been shot during an engagement with Charlie. A med-evac vehicle was on the
scene but would not take the man to the hospital because he was not from a particular unit.
|
|
2 Mar
|
Charlie still at his best as we had another quiet night. Began messing with headquarters Btry 6/29th Artillery today and the chow is excellent. Hope
they stay here for awhile. We will completely divorce ourselves from the FSA to include rides. We no longer get a sundry pack from FSA so I will make other
arrangement if possible. Had mail today so everybody is happier except the chief. We now have a wind sock at DT constructed by SP5 White. Sent
SP4 Barry's personnel gear to Plt Hdq so it looks like he may not be coming back. If not he will be missed by all.
|
|
3 Mar
|
SP4 Martin returned from R&R all smiles so he must have enjoyed himself and we are glad to have him back. 1900 hours - received 43 rounds of 82mm and
75 howitzer landing from LOC to TOC area. After the all clear was given the airfield commander and I were checking the runway and one more incoming
round landed about 100 meters to our north. Expect more incoming before morning so we will sleep with clothes on and flak vests close by.
(Short and Scott in tower)
|
|
4 Mar
|
Our expectations were correct as Charlie doesn't want us to get any rest tonight. 0130 hours more incoming. 7 rounds to the west of us. All clear at 0220.
Very little sleep because of incoming and outgoing both. Defcon in closer than usual. I was out with the airfield commander again at 0630 hours checking
and policing the r/w this morning and at 0652 hours charlie again ran us off of the r/w. Received 4 rounds just north of the west revetments. After the
all clear we continued police of the r/w. One small hole in the r/w but will not close the field to large a/c. Supposed to have C-130's today as 2
companies are being airlifted out. Sp4 Yonkus and 2 men from E.O.D. arrived back at DT this morning with a morale booster MAIL. Q.M. Laundry lost all
of the laundry we turned in on 2 March so until it is found or replaced some of us are a little short of clothes. 1025 hours back to the bunker as
charlie was sending rockets our way. All landed by the river. All clear given at 1110 hours. 1205 hours more rockets landing just outside the fence
on south perimeter. All clear sounded 1225 hours. 1650 hours we once again received incoming mortars. Sp5 White and Sp4 Martin in the tower. All clear
at 1720 hours. Pfc Saveskie joined us today. We welcome his arrival at DT. Charlie also greeted Pfc Saveskie upon his arrival. It's my night for a
shower; hope charlie will let me get one. 1900 hours more incoming. Charlie won't cooperate so guess I go dirty one more day. All clear at 1945 hours.
|
|
5 Mar
|
All was quiet after 1945 hours last night so we managed to get a little rest. Sp4 Martin departed for Bien Hoa for E5 promotion board. We all send our
best luck with him. At 1250 hours the vehicle POL point caught fire. Sp4 Yonkus and Sp4 Camacho lend a hand on the fire truck. Sp4 Bartlett delivered
foam with the 3/4 when needed. FSA thought the men did an outstanding job so they were rewarded with a free case of beer from FSA X.O.
|
|
6 Mar
|
Quiet night last night for a change. Charlie is back on his good behavior for a little while at least. The new NCOIC of Mobile Team II (SSG Dalton)
arrived this morning and got a warm welcome and also brought mail. 1255 hours two Sky Raiders made emergency landing at DT. One had been hit and both
were low on fuel. The crash crew consisting of Sp4 Jones, Sp4 Yonkus, and Sp4 Boyd responded in an outstanding manner and should be commended. The
aircraft landed without incident. Tower was manned by Sp5 Ennis and Sp4 Bartlett who also did a very good job. The pilots inspected the damaged a/c,
refueled and departed for PK.
|
|
7 Mar
|
All was quiet again last night and the new NCOIC got a good night's sleep. Policed the r/w and picked up much frag from our own artillery. Getting a little
warmer here. Was 95deg. yesterday. Continue to show SSG Dalton around DT. FSA Q.M. Laundry continues to lose and misplace our laundry. This is almost a
weekly occurance so until the laundry can be relied upon I do not expect the men to have name tags, U.S. Army Etc, on their fatigue jackets as we have no
place to have them made and I don't feel the men should have to constantly purchase items lost by the service.
|
|
8 Mar
|
0300 hours several enemy soldiers made their way inside of the perimeter and shot B-40 rockets and threw satchel charges in the 62d maintenance area and
on top of one perimeter bunker wounding 4 men. One charlie was killed and
several wounded. We hear that where Charlie broached the perimeter, the guards had been drinking. We were in the bunkeer until 0400 hours. Turned the
site over to SSG Dalton this morning and I will sit back and assist him. Sp4 Bartlett returned to site this morning with that old morale booster MAIL
and other goodies such as beer and soda and an FM radio. C-130's coming in today for a change. 100pct alert tonight so we will have interior guards
at the site tonight.
|
|
9 Mar
|
All was quiet last night. Have an assistant airfield commander Lt Harvey and he will be picked up each morning by NCOIC of Mobile Team II for a check of
the airfield. Lt Harvey will take care of the outside work and Capt Rosengoath will be stuck with his Radio. Started work on new shower point.
|
|
10 Mar
|
Another quiet night. Hope Charles continues with the good behavior. Sp4 Martin returned from B.H. and promotion board. We hope he is a Sp5 soon.
Sp6 Robinson, 34 E.O.D., came up with Martin and advised us that Sp4 Yonkus cut his foot and required medical treatment so he will not return for
another day or so. Completed new shower. Sp4 Allen will depart DT today for DEROS. His presence will be greatly missed as he was an outstanding generator
repairman. SSG Hess departed for Pk. 10 KW went down at 3 o'clock this morning. I will attempt to repair it. Lesson learned is, there are too many
people who cannot tell the difference between gasoline and Diesel Fuel. 0915 hours two received -------foe emergency landing from C-47. Plane had one engine
out. A/C could not m---- to DT so he attempted landing at fire base 12 during which one wheel gear collapsed. No more information on a/c. Fire crew
responded to --- emergency in an outstanding manner. Repaired 10 KW. had trouble with FM radio --- Sp5 White did a very good job in keeping us on the air.
We need a good full --- radio repairman on DT.
|
|
12 Mar
|
FM #2 is inop am sending it to Pk for repair. Have started to get b---- to put around office, trucks, and beacon. Have coordinated w/S4 to have
bul--- dig out new bunker also got a loan of wrecker, a 2 1/2, to move 12x12 to our s--- We are building this bunker to Sp5 White's battle plans. When it is
completed will be known as Fortress DT. 10 KW burns 3 quarts oil per 10 hours of operation. Within a short time I will have to turn it into F/M for engine rebuild.
Con---- improvement on site S-4 let us down this is the fourth day they have done thi---
|
|
13 Mar
|
Quiet last night. SSG Hess returned to site with mail and supplies. -- 1130 hours DT received a call for gunship assistance as the convoy was ambushed
and in heavy contact just south of Kontum. continued to build revetments. -- failed to get us a bulldozer again. Sp4 Bartlett stayed with medics overnight.
-- 1714 hours four incoming 122 mm rockets landed vicinity TOC. SSG Hess and Maj. Marti were visiting with airfield commander. Not a very pleasant form of
en---ment for the Major. The major brought radios and also SSG Rasdon from KT vi--- the site and was quite impressed with the site improvements since he had
las---
|
|
14 Mar
|
Re-sandbagged twr, continued to work on revetments. At 1145 hours Sp4 --- returned to site. Picked up more beams for new bunker. Removed old shower ---
policed area.
|
|
15 Mar
|
Another quiet night. Continued to acquire material for the new bunker -- and cut the tops out of barrels to go around the generator shed and office.
|
|
16 Mar
|
Quiet again last night. 0720 hours Charlie held formation this mor--- Everyone gathered at their bunkers as we once again received incoming rocket ---
Sp4 Camacho in the tower. Sp5 White was checking the r/w when the rounds st--- coming in. there was a C-130 on the ramp and he didn't stay long.
Morale was boosted this morning as the headhunters brought our MAIL. Airfield command-- a detailed list of what it would take to move this site as they are
thinking of tightening up the perimeter again. Plt Hdqs advised. Sp4 Yonkus and Pfc S--- returned with our new 3/4 ton and two new men (Pfc Gardner
and Pfc Silver). We really welcome their arrival as we are rather short handed. had a little rain this evening so we shouldn't have any dust for a
few hours.
|
|
17 Mar
|
Quiet again last night. Everyone wearing green today; even us non---- Future projects can not be determined until Bdg hqs decides what to do with ---
Lessons Learned - make sure your men know the difference between diesel fuel --
Site Accomplishments - Moving generators into new generator shed, rewiring -- building new shower, placing another row of 55 gallon drums around fire
truck, 3/4 ton, placing row of drums around office, and general improvement of site.
|