Unknown Station: Spooky, hold on here a minute.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, we’re ready whenever you are.
Spooky 41 Internal: OK, let’s let these guys start moving, we don’t want . . .
Chicken Hawk: . . . moving out . . .
Spooky 41: All right, we’re up here ready when you get your men in position out of the way we’re going to roll in and give you a hand.
Chicken Hawk: OK buddy, ahh, we’ll keep our heads down, but don’t fire to the November, the November, OK?
Spooky 41: Roger, we understand, ahh, we won’t be firing to the November. You want us to stay to the east in that valley down there in the draw down there, right?
Chicken Hawk: (Whispering.) Roger.
Chicken Hawk: Hey, ahh, we’re down at the bottom now and our people are moving out real fine, no trouble so far, WHOA . . . operator, no sweat.
Spooky 41: Take it easy down there Hawk.
Chicken Hawk: No trouble so far, no trouble so far. (Whispering.) OK, ahh, I’ll keep you posted.
Spooky 41: OK, Hawk.
Spooky 41: . . . moving north . . . November . . . moving north . . .
Unknown Station: Roger, roger, understand, we’ll stay to the Sierra, we’ll be working the . . .
Spooky 41 Internal: I’d like to get that light out as soon as possible . . . radio . . . drop our flares.
Chicken Hawk: (Whispering, breathing hard.) Hello, Hawk to control, we’re moving pretty good.
Kangaroo Control: Roger that, let me know when you come across that first bald hill and starting down this way, over.
Chicken Hawk: . . . ahh, correction, OK, buddy, we’re by Ambush Hill, Ambush Hill, we’re going up on the left side, the left side.
Kangaroo Control: Roger that, when you come across that hill and start down into this next wood line you’ll be coming into me, over.
Chicken Hawk: (Whispering.) Roger, roger on that.
Spooky 41: Chicken Hawk, Spooky 41.
Chicken Hawk: Spooky 41, ahh, hey buddy, what’s happening?
Spooky 41: Just want to keep in contact with you down here, ahh, I’m seeing if we can drop our flares, my friend.
Spooky 41: Chicken Hawk, Spooky 41, do you read me?
Chicken Hawk: (Whispering.) Hey buddy, give me about One Zero minutes.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, Chicken Hawk.
Kangaroo Control: Spooky 41, this is Kangaroo, ahh, over.
Spooky 41: Roger, Kangaroo Control, Spooky 41, read you Five By.
Kangaroo: Roger, this is Kangaroo, ahh, appreciate it if no flares are dropped on until you, ahh, get an all clear from me. I got, ahh, four different elements out there . . . en route . . . get these people in and I’m controlling from here, ahh, when they’re clear and linked up and on their way to mission, then we’ll let it go from there, but let me do it from here and not on the ground, over.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, I’ll coordinate with you, ahh, Kangaroo Control.
Kangaroo: Fine, I’ll be finished with this element here about 500 meters to the November Whisky, 500 meters to the November Whisky . . . runs east west . . . and grab any Viking, any Viking is the next call sign you’ll pick up with . . . any Viking . . .
Spooky 41: That’s a roger, that’s a roger . . . got 500 November Whisky from the element that he’s picking up now . . .
Kangaroo: That’s affirmative, that’s affirmative . . . on your push.
Spooky 41: Roger . . . on this push . . .
Chicken Hawk: Lima Salines, Lima Salines, ahh, this is Chicken Hawk, Chicken Hawk, over.
Lima Salines: This is Lima Salines, over.
Chicken Hawk: (Whispering.) We got . . . on top of the hill and we’ll be coming down the hill into your location.
Shadow 48: Spooky 41, Shadow 48.
Spooky 41: Roger, Shadow 48, go.
Shadow 48: We’re going to be coming in over the . . . we’re at 8 point 5 . . .
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, Spooky 41 is at Five Five now.
Lima Salines: Chicken Hawk, this is Lima, roger that. My people have been notified of this type movement . . . over.
Chicken Hawk: (Whispering.) OK, buddy, right now pushing to top of the hill by the blown out wooded area.
Lima Salines: . . . I am NOT, I repeat, I am NOT at the location that was given to me, over.
Spooky 41: Zero Two, Spooky 41.
Spad 02: Spooky 41, Zero Two.
Spooky 41: Zero Two . . . contact with Carbon Outlaw, they want to know the name of the ground commander that was controlling the air strike, do you know who it was?
Spad: No, I don’t think, should be able to get that, ahh . . . It was Chicken Hawk that was . . . the air strike.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, understand. It was Chicken Hawk.
MULTIPLE TRANSMISSIONS.
Chicken Hawk: . . . firebase . . . OK?
Spooky 41: OK, Chicken Hawk, we’re going to have to drop light before we can . . . Break, Break, Kangaroo Control, Spooky 41.
Chicken Hawk: OK.
MULTIPLE TRANSMISSIONS.
Spooky 41: Chicken Hawk, hold on, hold on, stand by one, let me contact Kangaroo Control down here.
Spooky 41: Kangaroo Control, Spooky 41.
Kangaroo: Spooky 41, this is Kangaroo Control . . . negative at this time I’ll give you the word from here when we want you to . . .
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, Kangaroo Control. Break, break, Chicken Hawk, hold on my friend, ahh, got to get the complete clearance from Kangaroo Control and then we’ll hit it.
Spooky 41: Chicken Hawk, Spooky 41, you copy?
Chicken Hawk: . . . (Loud breathing) . . .
Kangaroo: Roger, Spooky 41, could you call, ahh, Lima Salines and see if the linkup is complete and also have him relay to me . . . his location . . . over.
Spooky 41: . . . OK . . . location again?
Kangaroo: Roger . . . his element . . . location . . . and . . . with Chicken Hawk, over.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger. Break, Lima Salines, Lima Salines from Spooky 41.
Lima: Spooky 41, this is Lima Salines. Be advised, we still haven’t linked up here, we’ll give you a call when we do, over.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger. We’d like to know ASAP as soon as you link up so we can get started up here.
Lima: Roger that buddy, I’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger. Break Kangaroo, Spooky 41, did you copy?
Kangaroo: This is Kangaroo . . .
Chicken Hawk: . . . Lima, this is Chicken Hawk, this is Chicken Hawk.
Lima Salines: Over.
Chicken Hawk: OK, buddy, we’re coming into you now. Look, I’m getting them into a single file, it’s a long one, but you’re only gonna have one entrance into your perimeter, only one entrance into your perimeter, only one people coming in one line, I’m trying to . . . hope it don’t get screwed up by the time it gets down to you, you roger?
Lima Salines: Roger that, come on in. I’ll let my people know.
Chicken Hawk: Roger, roger. OK, we’re moving in now . . . they might be hitting your perimeter now, it’ll be a big long line, but don’t worry buddy (whispering) we only got one line coming in.
Spooky 41: Kangaroo Control, you copy Lima Salines?
Kangaroo: Negative, I can’t read them . . .
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, Lima Salines, you have to link up on rebounding tone and, ahh, Chicken Hawk they’re just about ready to let us know as soon as they got the linkup.
Lima Salines: Roger, I’ll be standing by.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, I’ll let you know.
Lima Salines: It’s not complete yet, over.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, keep us posted, my friend.
Lima Salines: Roger, will do.
Unknown Station: . . . can you hear Chicken Hawk . . .
Spooky 41: Haven’t heard from him in a little while, I’ve been monitoring.
Spooky 41: Break, Chicken Hawk, Spooky 41.
Chicken Hawk: . .
. OK.
Spooky 41: Chicken Hawk, Chicken Hawk, Spooky 41, over.
Chicken Hawk: . . . Spooky 41, this the Hawk here, ahh, I’d like to contact Lima Salines, over.
Spooky 41: Lima Salines, this is Spooky 41, Chicken Hawk is trying to contact you.
Lima Salines: Roger, roger, Chicken Hawk, this is Lima Salines, over.
Chicken Hawk: OK, buddy, listen, here’s what we’re gonna do, we got in the wrong path here a little bit, ahh, wrong path a little bit, so, ahh . . . pulling back up to the wood line, back up to the wood line, instead of this jungle, I am going to be at the November end, November end, and when I get up there and get my people there, could you send us a small party of two or three people out to the wood line and walk to the November and you can link up with us and lead us back to your perimeter, over.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, is this Chicken Hawk, calling Spooky 41.
Chicken Hawk: Roger, roger, Chicken Hawk calling Spooky 41, Chicken Hawk calling Spooky 41.
Spooky 41: Roger, Chicken Hawk, calm down, my friend, Spooky 41, go ahead.
Chicken Hawk: OK, buddy, somebody’s firing on us up there.
Spooky 41 Internal: OK, ask him if he’s firing at us and we’re clear to fire back at them.
Spooky 41: OK, Chicken Hawk, is this man firing at us or at you, my friend?
Chicken Hawk: OK, buddy, he’s firing at me, he’s firing at me, what other aircraft is up there?
Spooky 41: OK, all aircraft, attention all aircraft, cease fire, cease fire, you’re firing on Chicken Hawk’s position.
Shadow 48: Shadow 48, we are not firing.
Spooky 41: Spooky 41 is not firing, Chicken Hawk, are you sure you took any fire from above?
Chicken Hawk: OK, buddy . . . down in this hole and it looked like it was firing on my people from above. I’m gonna get a real close look and I’ll let you know, OK?
Spooky 41: OK, Chicken Hawk, just take it easy, my friend, now.
Lima Salines: . . . Hawk to his November . . .
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, Break, Hawk, Spooky 41, Lima Salines is calling and wants you to move to your November, move to your November.
Spooky 41: Chicken Hawk, Chicken Hawk, Spooky 41, did you copy?
Spooky 41: Contact with Lima Salines.
Kangaroo Control: Roger, OK, push . . . down here . . . relay and . . . hear Lima Salines, over.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, I’ll relay anything you need.
Lima Salines: Hawk, this is Lima Salines, over.
Spad 02: . . . handle this thing. We’d like to RTB now . . . Shadow . . . so that we can get back out here early in the morning.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, Spooky 41, as soon as they can give us clearance to pop flares and stuff we can keep it under control.
Spad 02: . . . we’re just kind of spinning our wheels right now staying out of the way and if we can go back right now we can get an early start in the morning.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, Zero Two, thanks much for your assistance, go ahead and get some good sleep.
MULTIPLE TRANSMISSIONS.
Kangaroo: Zero Two, Zero Two, this is Kangaroo, over.
Spad 02: Roger . . .
Spooky 41: Kangaroo Control, Spooky 41.
Kangaroo: Spooky 41, Kangaroo Control, over.
Spooky 41: OK, Control . . . bit quieter now, how ’bout giving me a rundown and see if we can pinpoint the exact area where you’re gonna want us to go in and fire if we can so we can get started as soon after we drop light as possible.
Kangaroo: Wait one.
Chicken Hawk: This is Chicken Hawk, this is Chicken Hawk, any body want me?
Spooky 41: Ahh, Chicken Hawk, this is Spooky 41, I’m talking to Kangaroo Control, how’s things going with you, my friend?
Chicken Hawk: Ohh, ahh, a little bit rugged, my friend. This . . . I’ll tell you right now is hell. (Breathing hard.) I’ll tell you. But, ahh . . .
30 November 1969, at Bu Prang
Spooky 41: Got you Lima Charlie now.
Spooky 41: The boys over at Spooky got a little something they want to send to you there and, ahh, we’re working it up right now and probably try to get it to you in a few days.
Chicken Hawk: Ahh, jeez, can’t imagine what that would be. Ahh, I’ll tell you, I’ve really tried . . . I’ve really wanted to get up there so damn bad and see all you guys . . . but, ahh, I don’t know, things got pretty hot here all of a sudden the past few days.
Spooky 41: Roger, I know what you mean. We been not only hearing it on the radio, ahh, when we’re over here, but we been reading about it in the paper. We keep up on you all pretty close.
Chicken Hawk: I can imagine, this kinda like your second home for you guys, isn’t it?
Spooky 41: Roger that. I don’t think I want to live there, but it still like a second home.
MULTIPLE TRANSMISSIONS.
Chicken Hawk: . . . you know, tell the boys back there that, ahh, we’re having some . . . here . . . we’re having so damn much trouble here, everybody’s trying to get in the act, it’s supposed to be a big victory for you know who and you know who’s actually doing it too.
Spooky 41: Roger that, I know what you’re talking about, over.
Chicken Hawk: Consequently they get into it and they . . .
MULTIPLE TRANSMISSIONS.
Unknown Station: Spooky 41 . . . forty-three decimal seven.
MULTIPLE TRANSMISSIONS.
Chicken Hawk: . . . For instance the other night one of soldiers wanted to know . . . (static) and we were in . . . (static) it was one of the biggest damn hassles . . . I think it was a Shadow and if I was him I woulda just turned around and went home.
Unknown Station: Spooky 41, Roger.
Chicken Hawk: Three or four people trying to talk and war game at the same time.
Spooky 41: Yeah, I know, that’s not the thing that bugs us so much, what bugs us is the highers we got up here wanting to know that they get all these coordinates and all these, ahh, clearance numbers and all this other stuff and, ahh, we know that you guys are wanting us to fire soon and we’re having to sit up here and wait for them to give us clearance.
Chicken Hawk: Hey, yeah, I didn’t know that . . .
Spooky 41: Yeah, we have to call back to Carbon Outlaw and he goes back to the big boss to ask and everything and they check it out and plot it out and drink a cup of coffee and finally get his clearance sometimes.
Chicken Hawk: Oh, that’s how it works. How come you . . .
Spooky 41 Internal: (Unintelligible.) . . . Roger. Carbon Outlaw . . . 41, OK.
Spooky 41: Hey Hawk, you’re gonna have to stand by a minute.
Main Tripod: Spooky 41, Main Tripod.
Spooky 41: Roger, old buddy, we’re going to have to di-di out of the area here in about 6 minutes. I just wanted to give you a call and see how things were going.
Main Tripod: OK, roger, you planning on coming back tonight?
Spooky 41: Don’t know yet, we’re gonna go back and regenerate. We may come back.
Tripod: OK, roger. Right now everything seems to be cooled down.
Spooky 41: OK, mighty fine. And, ahh, look, if we don’t get back, ahh, as I told Chicken Hawk a while ago, I want to tell all you boys that all the Spookies have enjoyed working with you all, and hope this thing quiets down for you over here. Sorry we can’t come over and see you after tonight, but that’s the way things go and make sure you tell old Chicken Hawk and 43 and Reeling 28 and all the other boys that we work with, ahh, that we’ll be thinking about you fellahs.
Main Tripod: OK, roger, thanks a lot, most of them are right here, the Hawk and 43 are sitting right on this post and listening . . . from you.
Spooky 41: OK, mighty good, like I say, old Spook sure hates to leave you fellows but that’s the way it happens sometimes.
Main Tripod: Sure hate to see you go, man.
Spooky 41: OK, we’re going to stay over here about 5 minutes, so if you need me, give me a call and then we’re going to d
i-di out of the area.
Main Tripod: OK, roger, we’ll see you later.
Spooky 41: Roger that.
Main Tripod: This is Main Tripod, Hawk say again.
Main Tripod: Hear you real good, but you can’t seem to hear him . . . He says its been pleasure working with you and hope’s to see you prior to going back to the States.
Spooky 41: Roger that. Tell him if he gets over around channel 75 in the next 20 days, he’ll probably get to see me.
Main Tripod: OK, roger, I think he heard that. Break, did you get that, Hawk?
Spooky 41: OK . . . this is 41.
Main Tripod: . . . if stuff breaks around here, he’ll be up to see you.
Spooky 41: OK, that’s good and, ahh, tell him to look around for Alabama Spooky and he’ll find me somewhere.
Main Tripod: Roger that. Did you monitor that, Hawk?
Main Tripod: OK, Spooky told me to tell you they’ll up there your way so take it easy and good luck. And he wanted to make sure you knew he’d kinda like to see you . . .
Spooky 41: OK, mighty fine, you tell him, ahh, my initials are Mike Alpha Delta Junior.
Main Tripod: OK.
Spooky 41: Roger, buddy, we’re fixing to di-di out of the area. You all take it easy and, ahh, tell everybody to keep their head down, tell Hawk to tell old Beak that he makes sure he keeps his nose down.
Main Tripod: Tripod, roger, will do, from all the officers here, so long.
Spooky 41: Roger, roger, old buddy, you all take it easy.
Pilot: Let’s go home, sir.
Spooky 41 Internal: Roger.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are forever indebted to Ken Moffett, who laid the foundation for this book in his capacity as the Veterans Affairs representative in the office of Congressman Bobby Schilling of Illinois. Himself a Vietnam veteran, Ken recognized the heroism of the brave men who fought at Firebase Kate, and was determined that the American people know the truth about this battle.
Ken selflessly gave of his time and effort to locate and recover government documents, newspaper stories, after-action reports, maps, and photographs. He diligently sought out the defenders of Kate as well as those who flew in the skies above. Most wanted to tell their story, but a few chose to not relive the nightmare. Once these contacts were made, he became the central point of contact as well as the repository of all research and information. Without Ken Moffett, there would have been no book and the story would have been lost to history.
Abandoned in Hell _The Fight for Vietnam's Firebase Kate Page 32