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On July 19, 1966 the 2d Bn (ABN) 327th Inf, 101st Airborne Division
conducted air assaults northwest of Tuy Hoa in the vicinity of Trung
Luong Valley and encountered heavy resistance and casualties from
battles with the 66th, 95th and 18th Regiments of the North Vietnamese
Army 302d Division. B and C Companies of the 1st Bn (ABN) 8th Cav, 1st
Cav Division were inserted to reinforce the 2/327 Inf on June 20. B Co
1/8th Cav linked up with B Co 2/327 Inf in the morning on June 21 in
the vicinity of LZ Eagle. The two airborne battalions experienced
continuous attacks, including hand-to-hand combat, and inflicted heavy
losses on the two NVA attacking battalions. One wounded NVA company
commander was captured from the area in front of the rifle companies
and reported his unit had been annihilated and the other NVA units had
begun to withdraw on the evening of June 22d.
On June 22, Recon 1st Bn (ABN) 8th Cav (Chinese Bandits) were
extracted from reconnaissance operations being performed in Kontum
Province and airlifted to Tuy Hoa airport and placed under the
operational control of the 1st Bn 9th Cav, 1st Cav Division. At 0530,
23 June, the Chinese Bandits Recon Platoon and one Recon Platoon of
the 1/9th Cav were inserted into separate landing zones southwest of
LZ Eagle to regain contact with the one of the withdrawing NVA forces.
The sun was shining and the weather dry and combat engagement was
anticipated so the ranger patrol caps were stowed and helmets donned
as the Bandits approached and then exited the helicopters on the tree
lined hilltop LZ. Both landing zones were located adjacent to wide, ox
cart size, trails that led to the higher hilltops where several
hundred of the NVA 66th Regiment were believed to be occupying. The
Bandit LZ was located along the ridgeline approaching the expected
enemy position and the 1/9th Recon LZ was located further downhill in
a draw on the Bandit's left flank.
The Bandits moved along the ridgeline trail and at mid-morning, point
man PFC Raymond Carley observed a NVA size squad moving towards them
and away from the 1/9th Recon Platoon that was proceeding along the
lower trail towards the intersection of both trails. Carley and three
others moved into a position ahead in the vicinity of coordinates CQ
958626 where they were able to kill three of the fleeing NVA before
the remaining NVA, wearing khaki uniforms and some tan helmets,
retreated further uphill.
The Bandits continued up hill along the trail with Carley now opting
to carry the new AK47 that he had removed from one of the NVA and
having given his own M16 and ammunition to the medic assigned to
Recon. Anticipating a main NVA force to be occupying the intersection
of the trails being used by the Bandits and the 1/9th Recon Platoon,
the 25 man Chinese Bandit force advanced slowly along both sides of
the trail while listening to the voices and sounds of the NVA
preparing positions along the ridgeline ahead. Carley continued uphill
ahead of the other Bandits until he located the first enemy positions
and machinegun along the left side of the trail where the Bandits
began to move into combat positions amongst the small and sparsely
treed locations below the NVA. A second machinegun position was
located on the right side of the trail and moments later a third NVA
machinegun opened fire and the Bandits exchanged small arms fire
(rifle, machinegun, and grenades) for several minutes as they
attempted to advance and attack the NVA force.
During his second attempt to retrieve Carley, Spickler had located SGT
James Lester lying less than ten feet from where Carley had been
laying. Again acting without orders, Spickler returned to the area in
front of the enemy's position where he low crawled under fire and
dragged the much heavier Lester clear of direct enemy fire.
The Recon Platoon of the 1/9th Cav had quickly advanced along the wide
trail located in the draw and came alongside the left flank of the
Chinese Bandits, where both Recon Platoons unsuccessfully attempted a
coordinated attack in an effort to over run the NVA positions located
near the intersection of both trails.
The NVA withdrew further uphill allowing the two Recon Platoons to
carry their killed and wounded scouts along the side of the lower
trail that had been used by the Recon Platoon of the 1/9th Cav.
However, as darkness fell, another large NVA force resumed the attack
and pursued the wounded men of both Recon Platoons as they made their
way towards the LZ designated for extraction. Small firefights
occurred throughout the night resulting in further Bandits being
wounded. Approaching the LZ that was secured by other troops from the
3d Brigade, 1st Cav Division, in the early morning light, medivac
helicopters arrived and both Recon Platoons were airlifted to a field
medical station that had been located along Highway One. The bodies of
Chinese Bandits PFC Raymond Carley and Sergeants James Lester and
Honorio Ramirez and the other many wounded Bandits were left with the
medics, doctors and nurses. The remaining Chinese Bandits rejoined the
1st Bn (ABN) 8th Cav and commenced patrolling in the area SW of LZ
Eagle on June 26, 1966.