Bill Lacer.pdf

1 April 1970: The SF Camp at Dak Seang came under siege by an estimated three (3) Regiments of the NVA. During the siege, the 189th AHC flew a total of 1381 sorties, resulting in an estimated 114 KIA.

1 April 1970: The 119th unit history states that laxity no longer persisted as the enemy, comprised of NVA main force units, swept down from the north and set siege to Dak Seang, Dak Pek, Dak To, and Kontum. An estimated force of three regiments had encircled Dak Seang. The 189th AHC did most of the support for the 2d ARVN Rangers, the MIKE Strike Force, and the CIDG; but concentrations of automatic 37mm and .51 cal fire brought ships down one after another. Air strike after air strike, the enemy continued to bring down helicopters. During the first 16 days of the siege, the Gators stood idle flying missions for the 4th Inf Div. As the situation increased at Dak Seang, almost being over run twice, the Gators were mustered to assist further actions against the enemy. The Crocs were at Pleiku in case further contact was encountered. Thus far there had been four (4) Hueys, one (1) F-100, two (2) C-47As, one (1) A10-2, and two (2) Gunships shot down from enemy fire. A few of the Gators were still supporting the 4th Inf Div around the Hard times area and some saw action.

1 April to 12 April 1970: SF SFC Wade, in his book “Assault on Dak Pek,” provided a second- hand account of the NVA attack on Dak Seang. What follows is an edited version of his account. Aircraft from the 52nd CAB did the majority of lifts and insertions described by SFC Wade. At first light, the NVA 28th Infantry augmented by artillery started a daylight attack on Dak Seang. The initial bombardment was with mortars and RRs which destroyed several buildings and part of the camp's commo. The first NVA assault was beaten back when they got to the wire. Luckily not all of the camp's commo was out. The C-detachment at Pleiku sent in reinforcements right away by airlifting a company from Plateau Gi outside the wire, but they got surrounded before they could move into the camp. This force spent the entire night pinned down and almost got overrun themselves. The reinforcements moved into the camp on the 2nd after the USAF napalmed a path for them. The NVA were not discouraged and made two (2) more daylight assaults that day. There were reports that the NVA were dug in about 30 meters from the perimeter wire. B-52s were used on suspected enemy base locations. The 4th Inf Div had built a FSB equipped with 155's on the large mountain near the camp. When they withdrew, the NVA occupied the site and were directing their fire support from it. After several napalm sorties on the site, the plan was to insert part of a SOG Hatchet force to secure an LZ to be used for a Mike Force. According to Wade's account, a Jolly Green Giant carried the Hatchet force troops and followed the last napalm strike. Just as it flared to land, it was hit by an RPG-7 and blew up killing all on board. //Editor's Note: The VHPA KIA and HELICOPTER databases do not show any losses that correlate to this account. Their only non-Army helicopter loss in early April was a Jolly Green Giant on the 15th in Kontum Province while attempting to rescue the crew of a downed Army Huey.// Wade's account states that emergency medeivaced and resupply missions were flown into Dak Seang and American wounded were replaced with members from other SF teams. A Mike Force was inserted some distance from the camp as a means of flanking the NVA, but the NVA sent a force to engage it. The NVA did not seem to be intimidated by the air support as they continued to send infantry and sappers against the camp even during the day. After a few days, the pressure on the camp lessened as the NVA seemed to turn their attention to the surrounded Mike Force. When Dak Pek was attacked on the 12th, Wade does not provide any more details about the action around Dak Seang. The source for this information was Assault on Dak Pek by Leigh Wade.

1 April to 12 April 1970: SF SFC Wade, in his book “Assault on Dak Pek,” provided a second- hand account of the NVA attack on Dak Seang. What follows is an edited version of his account. Aircraft from the 52nd CAB did the majority of lifts and insertions described by SFC Wade. At first light, the NVA 28th Infantry augmented by artillery started a daylight attack on Dak Seang. The initial bombardment was with mortars and RRs which destroyed several buildings and part of the camp's commo. The first NVA assault was beaten back when they got to the wire. Luckily not all of the camp's commo was out. The C-detachment at Pleiku sent in reinforcements right away by airlifting a company from Plateau Gi outside the wire, but they got surrounded before they could move into the camp. This force spent the entire night pinned down and almost got overrun themselves. The reinforcements moved into the camp on the 2nd after the USAF napalmed a path for them. The NVA were not discouraged and made two (2) more daylight assaults that day. There were reports that the NVA were dug in about 30 meters from the perimeter wire. B-52s were used on suspected enemy base locations. The 4th Inf Div had built a FSB equipped with 155's on the large mountain near the camp. When they withdrew, the NVA occupied the site and were directing their fire support from it. After several napalm sorties on the site, the plan was to insert part of a SOG Hatchet force to secure an LZ to be used for a Mike Force. According to Wade's account, a Jolly Green Giant carried the Hatchet force troops and followed the last napalm strike. Just as it flared to land, it was hit by an RPG-7 and blew up killing all on board. //Editor's Note: The VHPA KIA and HELICOPTER databases do not show any losses that correlate to this account. Their only non-Army helicopter loss in early April was a Jolly Green Giant on the 15th in Kontum Province while attempting to rescue the crew of a downed Army Huey.// Wade's account states that emergency medevac and resupply missions were flown into Dak Seang and American wounded were replaced with members from other SF teams. A Mike Force was inserted some distance from the camp as a means of flanking the NVA, but the NVA sent a force to engage it. The NVA did not seem to be intimidated by the air support as they continued to send infantry and sappers against the camp even during the day. After a few days, the pressure on the camp lessened as the NVA seemed to turn their attention to the surrounded Mike Force. When Dak Pek was attacked on the 12th, Wade does not provide any more details about the action around Dak Seang. The source for this information was Assault on Dak Pek by Leigh Wade.

2 April to 2 May 1970: The 189th AHC primarily supported the 4th Inf Div with some support being provided II ARVN Corps and CORDS. Major support was provided to the 24th Special Tactical Zone during the battle of Dak Seang and Dak Pek.

3 April 1970: These men distinguished themselves by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as pilots and crew-members on GHOSTRIDER aircraft during insertions three (3) kilometers SE of the besieged Dak Seang SF Camp. Approaching the LZ, the ships came under a barrage of enemy automatic weapons, rocket, hand grenade and small arms fire. Undaunted, they continued their approach and landed, allowing the troops on the aircraft to join the battle. Again and again they landed in the area with badly needed reinforcements taking intense enemy fire. Due to their high regard for the mission, the lives of the ground troops and complete disregard for their own safety, the area was secured. The following were awarded the Air Medal with “V” Device, (First Award) SP5 Gilbert R Gonzalez, SP4 David B Pickens, SP4 Luis E Rivera (Second Award) WO Patrick C Buchan, WO Brian D Cope, WO Ward W Dunning, and WO James H Riovo SP4 Richard W Matthes, PFC Albert D Sena, (Third Award) SP4 Phillip H Kelley, SP4 Stephen J Sawyer, (Forth Award) Richard C Pryze, for heroism.

4 April 1970: Serving aboard GHOSTRIDER aircraft as medeivaced helicopters just three (3) miles SE of Dak Seang, the allied forces were completely surrounded and had been under continuous attack throughout the night. The GHOSTRIDERS were assigned the reinforcement mission. Each time they flew into the area, their ships were subject to enemy fire, but their highly accurate effective fire made the mission more successful. In the midst of enemy fire, these men displayed great courage in aiding the wounded men aboard their aircraft. The following were awarded the Air Medal with “V” Device (First Award) SP4 Kenneth L Howard, SP4 Edward J Icovitti, SP4 Gordon S Roberts, PFC Earl R Phillips, SP4 David G Heckendorn, SP4 Johnny W Smith, SP5 James E Gault, SP5 Larry D McGaha, (Second Award) SP4 Robert W Gray, SP4 Luis E Rivera, SP5 Gilbert R Gonzalez, PFC Albert D Sena, SP4 Hohn L Harris for heroism.

6 April 1970: CARETAKER 962 was parked in the 604th Maintenance area and was damaged on the left side by a satchel charge thrown by a VC that penetrated the fence line.

10 April 1970: CPT Karig (P) brought the aircraft to a hover and moved forward off the pol pad. He was forced to set the aircraft down between the pol pads because the aircraft was losing rpm’s. Operating rpm was considered acceptable at 6400, and he hovered left for about 30 feet and again he was forced to set the aircraft down. This time the ship was put down in a low spot, but the other crew members WO Hatton (AC), SP4 Smith (CE), and PFC Ament (G) were not cognizant of the aircraft’s position. CPT Karig then proceeded forward in a low hover along a path where the ground raised about one (1) foot. As he approached the psp runway, the rpm began to bleed off and the left skid struck the edge of the psp causing the aircraft to roll over. No crew members were injured.

15 April 1970: A GHOSTRIDER aircraft was on a sniffer mission at Dak Seang, WO Wilkinson (AC), PFC Lee (CE) and Sp4 Holt (G), as they departed the dirt strip at the camp, spider holes started to open up and they began seeing NVA coming out of holes and heading toward the CIDG Camp at Dak Seang. As the GHOSTRIDER left the AO they were called back to FSB Ben Het. Shortly after arrival they were called back to Dak Seang to extract some Australian soldiers that were wounded. They requested a blivet of water and some whiskey. The water and whiskey was delivered but the wounded Aussie refused to leave. The aircraft did not receive any enemy fire going in or out of the LZ.

16 April 1970: SP4 Ralph E Reed was flying back from Kontum when an armor piercing round went through his machine gun mount and into his groin, bouncing off his back plate and back through his body lodging in his front armor plate.

18 April 1970: Kameron (Kim) Brooks GHOSTRIDER 25 recalls an adventure he had on his way back from Qui Nhon. It’s not too smart but worth reading. (Enclosure 7)

25 April 1970: The battle on Hill 833 near Dak Seang was a major battle. AVENGER 158 was supporting the troops on the ground when they came under heavy enemy ground fire. All crew members including WO Pierce (AC), CPT Mc Kibben (P), SP4 Smith (CE)), and PFC Adkins (G) were placing effective fire on the enemy positions when the aircraft lost power and crashed in the dense jungle killing all on board and destroying the aircraft. A GHOSTRIDER slick was on approach with troops on board and the citation given to the gunner for valor reads, in part, “While on final approach, PFC Lee's aircraft was riddled by a hail of enemy fire. With the intense volume of suppressive fire from PFC Lee, the pilots were able to continue the approach. Because two (2) aircraft had been shot down in the LZ by heavy automatic weapons fire, the small area was almost inaccessible. PFC Lee was forced to hang out of the aircraft in order to keep the approach into the hostile area until the mission was completed.” It was his third (3) day as a gunner.

27 April 1970: GHOSTRIDER 282 was flying with WO Dowd (IP) at the controls when the 90 -degree gear box and tail rotor failed and separated from the aircraft. Part of the assembly struck an indigenous female on the ground and she was injured (extent of injuries was unknown). The aircraft landed without further damage and no injury to the crew and passengers. Suspect components were submitted for tear-down and inspection.

28 April 1970: GHOSTRIDER 865 piloted by WO Brooks (AC) was on approach and started to lose power so the crew started throwing supplies off aircraft causing center of gravity variations that caused the main rotor blades to strike a tree and was charged as incident damage.

Motor vehicle shortages have become a problem. Recent messages from the 1st Logistic Command indicated that assistance should be rendered in the month of May on ¼ ton and 2 1/2 ton vehicles. The 189th received none, zip, Eada.

3 May to 29 May 1970: The 189th AHC provided support to the 4th Inf Div for massive operations into Cambodia during this period. Not all operations are recorded but many were fought. During the remainder of the quarter, general support was given to the 5th SFG, II Corps and the 52nd CAB.

6 May 1970: The 189th CO Maj Morgan, flying as Mission Commander, directed the initial insertion of three (3) Battalions of US Infantry into Cambodia. The operation was a highly successful one consisting of one hundred plus aircraft.