Excerpts from Viet Nam Diary - AO: I-Corps; Quang Tri Province, Leatherneck Square {bounded by Thôn Húóng Than-Cam Lô-Dong Hà-Gio Linh} ... [diary entry] ... Friday 25 October 1968: Today is Saint Crispins day ... Celebration of English victory over the flower of French knighthood at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Were on the advance again, but were paying for every inch. Were into the DMZ buffer zone and were making ready to cross the river {Sóng Ben Hài}. When HHC [Headquarters & Headquarters Company -- dont know why we have to say it twice], 1/61st., operating in hedgerows and bamboo thickets encountered a maze of enemy fortifications and then became pinned down in the intense firefight, a platoon from Bravo Company charged up the steep hill to provide relief. Enemy mortar fire greatly diminished after that assault. Air strikes and support fire from the USS New Jersey were of great help. SGT Jim Wright, a big 21-year old from Alpha Company, 1/61st., was killed by one of those sniper gooks. The gook also was killed. With our blood we are changing the color of the land. 1/77th. also suffered casualties in their APCs, tanks and howitzers. In the firefight, CPL Denny Tripp, age 22, from HHC, 1/77th. Armor, either stepped on a mine or got hit by a grenade [See the fine tribute by his buddy , Dennis Gittinger at virtualwall.org/dt/TrippDR01a.htm]. Alpha Company, 1/61st., lost its 20-year old company clerk, CPL Jim Soriano, who was later promoted to SGT. 20-year old PFC Thomas Ray, Jr from the Recon experts in HHC, 1/61st., was killed by AK-47 fire as he assaulted a fortified enemy position. He was promoted to SP4 posthumously. His Recon commander and platoon leader, 2LT David Merrell also was killed as that unit was wreaking havoc on the enemy to relieve the leading company that was pinned down by enemy fire. From Bravo Company, 1/61st., PFC Tom Casey also was killed. He was 20 but looked 16. The 1/77th. tanks finally outflanked the enemy (though three tanks were lost to mines), driving them into the open as they panicked. Then, it was open season and a shooting spree for us. We have killed hundreds of the enemy this day, but were low on ammo. King Henry V may not be leading us but his words do still echo here: This day is called the feast of Crispin: He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall see this day and live old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say To-morrow is Saint Crispins: Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say These wounds I had on Crispins day. Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But hell remember with advantages What feats he did that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in their mouths as household words, Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly rememberd. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall neer go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be rememberd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he neer so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispins day.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:24:36 +0000
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