Chinese Bandit Parachute Jumps and Patrolling at Pleiku, S. Vietnam
Chinese Bandit 13
December 1965 by RANGER Jerry Conners, Chinese Bandit 13
After the Battle of Ia Drang where the Chinese Bandits would be
awarded their first Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary
Heroism, the entire Chinese Bandit Recon Platoon was relocated to Lake
Pleiku where patrolling was conducted on the margin of the tea
plantations and in support of other Jumping Mustang search and destroy
missions in the Kontum area while operating with the 1st Bn 9th Cav.
Aerial and ground reconnaissance efforts had confirmed that the NVA
were withdrawing towards Cambodia and only small enemy units were
believed to be operating in the area; however the local American and
South Vietnamese units remained concerned that another large NVA
attack would occur during Christmas or New Years Day. Our patrolling
confirmed that no large NVA units were mobilizing in or near the
area.
A parachute proficiency jump was scheduled for December 29, 1965 and
the Chinese Bandits and portions of the Jumping Mustang 1st Bn (ABN)
8th Cav performed parachute jumps from UH-1's on the drop zone located
above the lake during a visit to our unit by General Westmoreland.
Some of us had the opportunity to make more than one jump in the late
afternoon. Several jumpmasters were used and most of the NCOs
competed for the duty with RANGER Lawson obtaining the honor for the
Chinese Bandits. This and other parachute activities are described
briefly in Colonel Ken Mertel's book.
We continued to patrol in the Pleiku area in preparation for the
planned assault into Cambodia that was tentatively scheduled for
January. We rotated the assignments of each Chinese Bandit to provide
them the opportunity to perform different patrolling assignments and
roles. Tyler displayed the strongest interest in performing the lead
point position and an aptitude for tracking and detecting signs of
enemy activity. Both reconnaissance and combat patrolling exercises
were performed where Frank Spickler was responsible for the support
team that included Hatcher and Carley with his M-60 machinegun. We
were able to practice all of our immediate action drills and continue
to improve our skills, especially in navigating long distances.
On the morning of December 30, we boarded two UH-1 helicopters where I
was accompanied by the assault team in the lead helicopter and the
trail aircraft transported Spickler's support team. Our short flight
would take us away from the tea plantations to a small village located
west of Lake Pleiku where we were to be inserted on a two ship landing
zone that offered no cover or concealment. The village was located
about one kilometer from a South Vietnamese armored unit and had a
civilian population of about 200 persons and enemy contact was not
expected.
As we approached the landing zone, the Chinese Bandits positioned
themselves on the struts with our patrol caps stowed and weapons
readied. When the helicopter flared and settled to a running three
feet hover, we jumped, ran and dropped to the ground about 30 meters
from the departing helicopters. As the Chinese Bandits support team
exited from the second helicopter and my assault team began to make
zigzag runs towards the short fence that surrounded the village, we
began receiving small arms fire from an unknown position within the
village. I yelled for Frank to position the machine gun to the south
near the street that divided the village in two parts and "Don't let
anyone get through!" A second later two bullets struck the ground
near me and I detected those firing from a position near the fence and
north of where we had landed. As I aimed to return fire, two rifle
carrying khaki clad men darted away from the fence line and towards
the center of the village.
We continued our charged without firing towards the cover and
concealment that was available beyond the fence. Some Chinese Bandits
went through and others vaulted and dove over the fence. The fence
was intended to secure small livestock and broke easily when I charged
through it. Frank's support team ran the '100 yard dash' along my
assault teams left flank and I heard him yell that he was in
position. From the time we had begun to receive fire until both teams
were in position less than fifteen seconds had lapsed. I did not
check on the condition of the Chinese Bandits but pressed the attack
while yelling to Frank that we were heading north and repeated again
"Don't let them get through." As the assault team moved forward, I
glanced back towards the landing zone and observed that no Chinese
Bandits were down, as Tyler, and the two Halls began to maneuver I
yelled to them to determine if they had been wounded and each man
yelled back "No!" Without asking, Frank yelled from a distance that
his men were 'OK'.
We moved cautiously expecting contact but reached the north end of the
village without finding anyone armed. Underground tunnels were
located near each hut, which were constructed on stilts. Most men,
women and children of the village moved to the safety of the
underground bunkers as we approached but a few did not. Frank had not
observed anyone crossing the street and I concluded that the enemy was
hiding either on the side we had just searched or had crossed to the
other side before Frank and his men had reached his observation and
gun position.
The helicopters that had inserted us earlier had departed as planned
and Stevens had been radioing situation reports as we were attacking.
Two gunships and one command and control helicopter being flown by
Colonel Mertel arrived overhead as we completed our search of the area
east of the street being observed by Frank Spickler. Col. Mertel
directed me to depart the village and move by foot to another landing
zone for extraction while the gunships remained on station to provide
supporting fires.
We did not return to the village and I did not question the decision
to withdraw. The Jumping Mustang Daily Journal records that only four
rounds were fired at the Chinese Bandits and that report is based
solely on my report during the debriefing that occurred that evening
in the Battalion Commander's CP.
RANGER Jerry Conners
Master Parachutist, Special Forces Weapons Expert, 101st RECONDO, Army
Aviator, AMOC
Chinese Bandit 13
Chinese Bandit Recon LRRP Team 1st Bn (ABN) 8th Cav 1965-66
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