by Albracht, William; Wolf, Marvin; Galloway, Joseph L. (FRW)
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 di-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.
We would not have had cause and means to create this book were it not for Reginald Brockwell, who alone kept this story alive over the decades since 1969. Reg also reviewed our final draft, offering numerous suggestions and correcting a number of errors.
We are also indebted to each of the men and women quoted in this work, with whom we have spoken, or who wrote to us, or who shared written accounts of their recollections. In this respect, we are particularly indebted to Major Al Dykes, USAF (Ret.), who saved and shared hours of tape recordings of radio traffic over and around Firebase Kate. These became the basis for the Appendix in this book, and were also useful in helping us to create a timeline for the narrative.
Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Pries, USA Special Forces (Ret.), spent countless hours transcribing the taped conversations between myself and the Spooky/Shadow gunships.
Steve Sherman was enormously helpful in my first effort to put memories and fact on paper, aside from maintaining, at his own expense and energy, the world’s finest and most complete unofficial archive of Special Forces personnel and activities in Vietnam.
Rita Cann of the National Personnel Records Center provided numerous unit morning reports and many other useful records.
Pat Rolfe transcribed dozens of recordings, creating text from digital files both rapidly and accurately as she learned to love the language of war.
Nelson and Maryellen Koon welcomed Wolf into their home, gave him a wonderful meal, and provided a comfortable bed for an overnight stay.
Likewise, Rocco and Diana DeNote offered Wolf the hospitality of their home, as well as sharing several hard-to-find documents relating to events on Firebase Kate.
Ben and Janet Gay welcomed Wolf into their home, fed him, and later helped guide him back to more-populated parts of Virginia.
Al and Pat Dykes hosted Wolf’s stay in their off-the-beaten-path hometown.
Mike and Elizabeth Smith welcomed Wolf with a fabulous meal and warm hospitality.
A special thanks to Dean Fait of the Art Place in Rock Island, Illinois, who created computer-readable disks containing volumes of research and interview transcriptions. Dean enormously facilitated the distribution of research material, which greatly accelerated the flow of information to shorten the time required to complete the project.
While this book was still in its conceptual stage, our literary agent, Doug Grad, shared his industry-tested guidance about its nature, voice, scope, and authorship. He was also relentless in finding the right home for it, and fearlessly negotiated our contract with New American Library.
Our editor at New American Library, Brent Howard, offered sage counsel and marketing savvy, as well as innumerable other helpful acts as he turned a manuscript into a book.
We are indebted as well to the women in our lives: Mary Albracht offered encouragement, proofreading, and support and comfort while her husband relived the perilous events experienced on and around Kate, and the space to participate fully in the project. Tomi Wolf provided her father the vital support that freed him to work on this project, and encouragement when the complexities of completing a book seemed overwhelming. Sage advice and emotional encouragement were provided in unlimited doses by the Munchkin Queen.
While this book is therefore the product of the efforts of many people, we alone are responsible for any errors, mistakes, or misstatements.
Captain William Albracht, USAR (Ret.),
Moline, Illinois
Captain Marvin J. Wolf, USAR (Ret.),
Los Angeles, California
Index
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. To find the corresponding locations in the text of this digital version, please use the “search” function on your e-reader. Note that not all terms may be searchable.
A-1 Skyraider, 164
Abbott, CW2 James L., 204, 205, 276
Abrams, General Creighton, 192, 220
AC-47 Spooky gunship, xiii, 96, 163–70, 226, 232, 233, 237–38, 249, 254
transcript of recordings, 297–343
AC-119G Shadow, 120, 158, 166–68, 202, 224, 226, 232, 249, 254
AC-130H Spectre gunship, 207
Adam, Captain Klaus, 37–42, 74, 79, 156, 267–68, 282
Adam, Ursula Viera-Vazquez, 38–39
Aerial reconnaissance, 16–18
Afghanistan, 34
Agent Orange, 291
AH-1 Cobra, 103
A1H Skyraiders, 223–24, 227, 231
Ahearn, WO John, 174, 176–79, 249, 268–69
Alamo, the, 219
Albracht, Bob, 15, 46–48, 51, 57, 59–60, 62–63
Albracht, Captain William, xii–xiv, 273
basic training and, 51–53
birth of, 45
brother Bob and, 47–48
at Bu Prang, 62–63
Bu Prang attack and, 253–54
childhood of, 46
commissioned second lieutenant, 57
education of, 46–47, 59
enlistment of, 49
escape and evasion from Kate and, 231–40, 243–48
family of, 294
joins Mike Force, 263–64, 292
on Kate, 81, 85–92, 95–97, 99–105, 107–12, 119, 120, 135, 136, 138, 141–42, 144, 146–50, 155–58, 161, 167–70, 173–82, 185–96, 209–15, 219, 222–27, 229, 250–51
medals awarded to, 254, 256, 293, 295–96
media interview of, 254–55
at Officer Candidate School, 54–58
parachute training and, 57–58
Albracht, Captain William, (cont.)
parents of, 46, 56
planning escape from Kate, 214–15, 220, 223–27, 229–30
with Secret Service, 293–94
solo reconnaissance by, 243–44
training Royal Thai Army and, 15, 60
transcript of recordings by, 297–43
weapons carried by, 85–86, 147
Albracht, Don, 46
Albracht, Germaine, 46
Albracht, Leander, 46, 56
Albracht, Mary Beth, 46
Albracht, Nancy, 46
Alvarez, SP4 Rafael, Jr., 276
Ambush Hill, 30, 86, 87, 95–96, 100–2, 136, 214, 224, 230–33, 235–38
AN/GRC-46 radios, 65–66
An Khe, 50, 124
An Lac, 29, 112, 269
AN/PRC 25 radios, 96
Anderson, Colonel, 31, 36
Antiwar protests, 3
Arbizo, Staff Sergeant Santiago, 29, 69, 79, 89
Arc Light Mission Golf 476, 177, 178
Army of the Republic of [South] Vietnam (ARVN), 2–6, 14, 80, 123–26
First Airborne Division, 19, 126
23rd Infantry Division, xiii, 19, 20, 126, 158, 190–92, 200
Special Forces, 28
Artillery, history of, 23–25
Artillery forward observers (FOs), 62
“Artilleryman’s Vision, The” (Whitman), 84
ARVN (see Army of the Republic of [South] Vietnam)
Australian Special Air Service, 14
Ayres, B. Drummond, Jr., 259
B-52 bomber, 175, 177, 178, 237
B-40 rocket, 117
Bahnar people, 15
Balaklava, 22
Ballistics, discipline of, 25, 68
Baltzly, Ed, 55, 58, 60
Ban Don (Trang Phuoc), 28, 29, 69, 79
Báo Dai, 12, 124
Barham, Captain Lucian “Luke,” 29–30,
41, 69–70, 78, 80, 86, 89, 90, 120, 269–70
Barnes, SP4 Francis “Butch,” 156, 270
Barthman, SP4 Peter, 275
Battle for LZ Kate, The (Brockwell), 273–74
Battlefield communications, 24
Beckwith, Colonel Charles, 124
Beehive rounds, 119, 143, 157
Beers, Ethelinda, 208
Ben Het, 26, 29, 116–17, 261
Berlin blockade, 163
Binh Dinh province, 16
Binh Thuan province, 16
Black, Carol Marks, 134, 135, 270–72
Black, CWO Nolan, 133–35, 142–44, 146–50, 249, 270–72
Black, Laura Kristina, 134, 135, 271–72
Blake, SP4 Robert E., 276
Bledshaw, SP4 Johnny D., 276
Bomb damage assessments, 109, 179, 267
Bore sighting, 113
Bowers, Colonel Francis, 34, 191–92, 210
Bowie, Jim, 219
Brockwell, First Lieutenant Reginald, 32, 34–37, 153–54, 188–89, 191, 192, 272–74, 289–90, 294
Brydon, Major William J. “Bill,” 196, 214, 233, 274
Bu Prang Special Forces Camp, xi, 9, 15–16, 19, 20, 28, 32–37, 62–63, 79, 81, 89–91, 96, 101, 112, 114, 125, 126, 143, 145, 146, 158, 173, 176, 178, 189–91, 196, 201, 202, 233, 248–49, 253, 259, 261, 285, 286
Bu Prang town, 10, 12, 18
Buddha’s Child (Wolf), 3n
Bundros, SP5 Gregory, 276
Buon Ma Thuot (BMT), 10, 18–20, 34, 62, 80, 115, 125, 126, 145, 158, 174, 178, 201, 220
C rations, 68, 69
C-4 explosives, 89
C-47 “Gooney Bird,” 162–64
C-119 Flying Boxcars, 163–64
Ca Mau Peninsula, 177, 178
Caldwell, Sergeant Mike, 187, 193, 275
Cam Ranh Bay, 108, 284
Cambodia, xi, xii, 2, 9, 10, 14, 17–19, 36, 68, 79, 86, 89, 90, 101, 178, 188–89, 200
Camp La Rolland, Cambodia, 188–89
Canada, Sergeant Clyde, 143, 150, 249
Cannon, development of, 24
Cardigan, Earl of, 22
Central Highlands, 1, 10, 12, 62, 66, 132, 200
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 12, 13, 18, 60
CH-47 Chinook, 26, 113–14, 186