They Marched Into Sunlight

by David Maraniss

  CIA had been given: Gibbons, The U.S. Government and the Vietnam War, Part IV: July 1965–January 1968, 851–60. Also Wells, The War Within, 184.

  a report about the international connections: The Peace Movement: Confusion, Coordination, and Communism, CIA report, October 1967; DeBenedetti, A CIA Analysis of the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, October 1967; U.S. Senate, 94th Congress, Final Report of the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Church Committee), 1976, vol. III, 152–54.

  it prepared a footnoted: The North Vietnamese Role in the War in South Viet-Nam, Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, October 1967, LBJ.

  “Dean, I want to know”: “Notes of the President’s Meeting with Secretary Rusk, Secretary McNamara, Walt Rostow, CIA Director Helms and George Christian, October 16, 1967,” Tom Johnson Notes, box 1, LBJ.

  Chapter 12: No Mission Too Difficult

  The fourteenth had been a miserable day: Ints. Clark Welch, January 28–Feb 8, 2002; Jim George, May 27, 2001, Ray Albin, January 29, 2001; Michael Arias, June 2, 2002; Gerald Thompson, May 26, 2001; Carl Woodard, May 27, 2001; Greg Landon, June 19, 2002; Mike Troyer, August 21, 2002; Bill Erwin, May 27, 2001.

  Erwin’s recon platoon and Kasik’s Bravo: Int. Bill Erwin, May 27, 2001; Report of Jim Kasik on Bravo Company, October 9–17, 1967, Kasik papers, May 1, 1989.

  George went along: Int. Jim George, May 27, 2001.

  Joe Costello, the grenadier: Int. Joe Costello, November 3, 2000.

  Kirkpatrick had put in for the vacation: Int. Fred Kirkpatrick, October 16, 2000. Kirkpatrick documents, unprocessed. Kirkpatrick, of Stow, Ohio, has done more than anyone else to reconnect enlisted men who served with 2/28 Delta in Vietnam in 1967. He has also organized reunions of the Black Lions in Las Vegas every October.

  When the sergeant finished: Ints. Clark Welch, January 28–February 7, 2002; Ray Albin, January 29, 2001; Clarence Barrow, October 15, 2000; John Durham, October 18, 2002; Durham family papers, unprocessed.

  Back at Lai Khe, Lieutenant Tom Grady: Int. Tom Grady, March 27, 2002.

  General Westmoreland took leave: “Schedule of Events for William C. Westmoreland, Sunday, October 15, 1967,” Westmoreland Papers, MHI; Senior Officer Oral History Program, General William C. Westmoreland, USA, Retired, interviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Martin L. Ganderson, USA, MHI; “Westmoreland in Vietnam, Pulverizing the Boulder,” Army magazine, February 1976.

  Steve Goodman, a Black Lions armorer: Int. Steve Goodman, November 20, 2000.

  Fergusson’s son Bob: Telex exchanges between Gen. Westmoreland and Gen. Furgusson, October 8–30, 1967, Westmoreland papers, MHI.

  Gavin’s visit was by far: Telexes from Gen. Wheeler to Gen. Westmoreland, October 6, 17, 1967; telex from Gen. Westmoreland to Lt. Gen. Brown, asst. to the chairman, October 11, 1967, Westmoreland papers, MHI. Biggs, Gavin, 135–70; Malcolm Muir, ed., The Human Tradition in the World War II Era (Scholarly Resources, Wilmington, Del., 2000), 191.

  the “cross-over” point: Transcript of Westmoreland press briefing in Saigon, June 29, 1967. In attendance were U.S correspondents John Apple, Joseph Fried, Sanders, Coffey, Tuckman, Erlandson, Stewart, Pisor, Randolph, Brannigan, Hughes, Martin, Kalb, Dillin, and Steinman, JUSPAO files, NARA.

  Hay was too slow: Senior Officer Oral History Program, Lieutenant General John Hay, USA Retired, interviewed by Lt. Col. James Thomas, October 4, 1980, MHI; Hay interview with military historian George L. MacGarrigle, April 29, 1980; telex from Gen. Westmoreland to Gen. Johnson, CSA, Washington, October 12, 1967; Record of COMUSMACV FONECON, Westmoreland and Weyand, February 22, 1968, Westmoreland papers, MHI; Int. Jim George, May 27, 2001.

  Clark Welch’s Delta led the way: Ints. Clark Welch, January 28–February 7, 2002; Paul D. Scott, August 25, 2002; Clarence Barrow, October 15, 2000; Peter Miller, August 27, 2002; Greg Landon, Terry Warner, October 19, 2002; Doug Cron, October 19, 2002; 2/28 Daily Journal and Officer’s Log, October 16, 1967, NARA; Clark Welch letter to wife Lacy, October 24, 1967.

  He was not a martinet: Ints. Bill Erwin, May 27, 2001; Jim George, May 27, 2001; Clark Welch, January 28–February 7, 2002; Thomas F. Reese, March 8, 2001.

  Gerard Grosso, the S-3 air: Int. Gerard Grosso, December 13, 2002. Also Grosso letter to Jim Shelton, Spring 2002.

  here came the troops: Ints. Clark Welch, January 28–February 7, 2002; Clarence Barrow, October 18, 2002; Santiago Griego, October 17, 2002; Faustin Sena, October 17, 2002; Jim George, May 27, 2001; Bill Erwin, May 27, 2001; Jim Shelton, April 28, 2000; Report of Jim Kasik on Bravo Company, October 9–17, 1967, May 1, 1999, e-mail correspondence.

  In their bunkers the troops were apprehensive: Michael Arias letter to mother, October 16, 1967; ints. Carl Woodard, May 27, 2001; Peter Miller, August 27, 2002; Joe Costello, November 3, 2000; Ray Albin, January 29, 2001.

  Chapter 13: Michigan Men

  Curly Hendershot at age fifty-five: Ints. E. N. Brandt, April 12, 2001; Herbert Dow Doan, April 12, 2001; Sherlynn Hendershot, April 16, 2001; Bill Seward, April 27, 2001; Ray Rolf, May 1, 2001; transcript of oral interview of E. N. Brandt by James J. Bohning in Midland, Michigan, June 17, 1992, PSA.

  From the outside Dow appeared: Ints. Herbert Dow Doan, April 12, 2001; E. N. Brandt, April 12, 2001; transcript of oral interviews of Carl A. Gerstacker, July 21, 1988; E. N. Brandt, June 17, 1992; Herbert Dow Doan, July 29, 1988, by James J. Bohning and Arnold Thackray, PSA. Also Brandt, Growth Company.

  “the patriotic generation”: Ints. Donalda Doan, April 16, 2001; Herbert Dow Doan, April 12, 2001.

  Jonathan Star Stielstra was a transfer student: Ints. Jonathan Stielstra, August 20–21, 2001; Stielstra papers, unprocessed.

  The same undercover agent: Officer’s Report, Madison Police Department, Special Assignment, October 16, 1967; Daily Cardinal, October 17, 1967.

  Chapter 14: For Want of Rice

  This was his home territory: Ints. Nguyen Van Lam, January 31, February 5, 2002, at his home near the Ong Thanh stream in the Long Nguyen Secret Zone, Kyle Horst interpreter.

  A military doctor from Hanoi: Zumwalt, Bare Feet, Iron Will; also int. James Zumwalt, May 20, 2001.

  the logistical command flowed: Final Report on Rear Service Operations for the Nam Bo–Extreme South Central Region during the War of Resistance against the Americans, edited by Nguyen Viet Phuong and Tu Quu, published by General Protectorate for Rear Services, 1986, for internal distribution within armed forces; The History of Group 559, The Truong Son Troops and the Ho Chi Minh Trail, edited by S. Col. Phan Huu Dai, 1999, with translations by Robert DeStatte.

  In practice things were different: Ints. Vo Minh Triet, January 30, February 7, 2002; Nguyen Van Lam, January 31, February 5, 2002.

  Chapter 15: “The Trees Are Moving”

  The night before: Ints. Clark Welch, January 28–February 7, 2002; Clarence Barrow, October 15, 2000; also Clark Welch letters to wife Lacy, October 22–30, 1967.

  Men were moving faster: Ints. Frank McMeel, March 12, 2000; Mike Troyer, August 21, 2002; Ernest Buentiempo, June 9, 2002; Michael Arias, June 2, 2002; Joe Costello, November 3, 2000.

  early evening in Washington: White House Daily Diary, October 16, 1967; “Memorandum for the President, Subject: Notes for Use in Talking with Reporters,” from Gordon Ackley, October 13, 1967, LBJ.

  At the same approximate time: CIA reports on Hanoi broadcasts and Moscow Tass International Service, NARA, CIA box 39.

  The Black Lions began gathering: Daily Staff Journal, Duty Officer’s Log, 2d Bn, 28th Inf, 1st Inf Div., 17 October 67, NARA; Department of the Army, Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, Combat After Action Interview Report, Battle of Ong Thanh, 2-28 Infantry, 17 October 1967, CMH files.

  The morning opened: Int. Joe Costello, November 3, 2000; 28th Infantry Regiment, Vietnam Unit History, Koch recollections.

  Alpha came out: Ints. Jim George, May 27, 2001; Michael Arias, June 2, 2002; Ernest Buentiempo, June 9, 2002; correspondence with Thomas
V. Mullen, April 10, 2002; 2LT Peter J. Edwards interview with SP4 Williams, 17th Military History Detachment, October 24, 1967, CMH; Sgt. Donald W. Pipkin interview with Capt. Cash, Military Historian, October 24, 1967, CMH.

  Private Costello was positioned: Int. Joe Costello, November 3, 2000; Pvt. Joseph P. Costello Interview with Major William E. Daniel, 17th Military History Detachment, October 20, 1967, CMH.

  a walking skeleton: Int. Thomas Hinger, March 12, 2000; SP4 Thomas M. Hinger interview with Capt. Cash, October 21, 1967, CMH.

  Welch’s Delta started moving: Daily Staff Journal, Duty Officer’s Log, 2d Bn., 28th Inf., 1st Infantry Division, 17 October 67, NARA; ints. Clark Welch, January 28–February 8, 2002; Peter Miller, August 27, 2002; Paul D. Scott, August 25, 2002; Clarence Barrow, October 16, 2000; 2LT David H. Stroup interview with Capt. Cash, October 21, 1967, CMH.

  Delta’s second was led: Ints. Dwayne Byrd, October 16, 2000; Mike Troyer, August 21, 2002; Doug Cron, October 19, 2002; Faustin Sena, October 18, 2002; Fred Kirkpatrick, October 16, 2000, October 18, 2002.

  “I got off the M-60”: Jack Schroder letter to wife Eleanor, October 10, 1967.

  His little sister, Diane: Int. Diane Sikorski Kramer, July 28, 2001.

  On the right file Greg Landon: Int. Greg Landon, June 19, 2002; Landon letters to parents, October 10–15, 1967.

  What are we doing this for?: Ints. Clark Welch, January 28–February 8, 2002.

  With every step southward: Ints. Jim George, May 27, 2002; Michael Arias, June 2, 2002; Ernest Buentiempo, June 9, 2002; Tom Hinger, March 12, 2000; Combat After Action Report, Battle of Ong Thanh, 2-28 Infantry, October 17, 1967, CMH.

  another F-100 overhead: Notes and papers of John Cash investigation of Battle of Ong Thanh, CMH; Contemporary Historical Evaluation of Combat Operations Report, Ambush at XT 686575, Department of the Air Force, December 29, 1967, CMH.

  From his position with Delta: Ints. Clark Welch, January 28–February 8, 2002; Peter Miller, August 27, 2002; Michael Arias, March 11, 2001; Tom Hinger, March 12, 2000; Combat After Action Report, Battle of Ong Thanh, 2-28 Infantry, 17 October 1967, CMH; Daily Journal, 2-28, 1st Infantry Division, October 17, 1967, NARA.

  Chapter 16: Ambush

  The fresh tracks along the trail: Ints. Vo Minh Triet, January 30–31, 2002; Nguyen Van Lam, February 5, 2002.

  Private first class Breeden: Ints. Ernest Buentiempo, June 9, 2002; Michael Arias, March 11, 2001; Combat After Action Report, October 17, 1967, CMH; José B. Valdez Interview with Major Daniel, 17th Military History Detachment, October 18, 1967, CMH.

  The opening fusillade echoed back: The narrative of the battle, drawn from primary documents and interviews, is the author’s attempt to convey the chaos of the firefight while giving it some measure of coherence. It was accomplished by piecing together the accounts provided by dozens of participants in interviews conducted by Capt. Cash and military historians in the days after the battle, supplemented first by contemporaneous letters and tape recordings, next by the official military logs, journals, investigations, and after action reports, and finally by author interviews with dozens of participants decades later.

  Transcripts of interviews conducted by military historians in October 1967 included those of the following battle participants: Clarence Barrow, Jimmy Cheatwood, William Coleman, Joe Costello, Peter Edwards, Jim George, Paul Giannico, Tom Hinger, Robert Jensen, Willie Johnson, James Jones, Carl Kiser, Larry Lowe, Paul Malone, George Newman, Raymond Phillips, Donald Pipkin, Paul D. Scott, John Sloan, George Smith, Roy Stephens, David Stroup, Thomas Suttle, Mike Troyer, José Valdez, Thomas Wagner, James White, Clark Welch, and Carl Woodard, CMH.

  In addition, battle participants interviewed by the author included: Tom Hinger, Clark Welch, Jim George, Joe Costello, Tom Grady, Frank McMeel, Michael Gormley, Dwayne Byrd, Clarence Barrow, Ray Albin, James Shelton, Gary Malone, Jim Gilliam, David Laub, Michael Arias, Faustin Sena, Santiago Griego, Bill Erwin, Carl Woodard, John Fowler, Ernest Buentiempo, Greg Landon, Dave Berry, Mike Troyer, Paul D. Scott, Peter Miller, Thomas V. Mullen (written communications), Mike Taylor, Doug Cron, Doug Tallent, Terry Warner, Bill McGath, Thomas Colburn, Mark Smith, Gerard Grosso, Vo Minh Triet, and Nguyen Van Lam. These accounts were bolstered by contemporaneous letters and tapes from Clark Welch, Greg Landon, Jim George, Mike Taylor, Michael Arias, Ray Albin, and Mike Troyer.

  Also helpful were MacGarrigle, Taking the Offensive, 349–61; Shelton, The Beast Was Out There; and various uncatalogued papers provided by Jim Shelton and Fred Kirkpatrick.

  Chapter 17: Holleder’s Run

  one of a small band of Black Lions: Ints. Joe Costello, November 3, 2000; Clarence Barrow, October 18, 2002; Bill McGath, October 19, 2002; Randy Brown, October 19, 2002; Doug Cron, October 19, 2002.

  Costello got on the radio: Int. Joe Costello, November 3, 2000; Joe Costello Interview with Major Daniel, 17th Military History Detachment, October 20, 1967; William Coleman interview with Capt. Cash, October 21, 1967; “Memorandum for Commanding General,” from William S. Coleman, October 21, 1967, CMH.

  For the Black Lions who had remained: Ints. Ray Albin, January 29, 2001; Terry Warner, October 19, 2002; Doug Tallent, October 19, 2002.

  The key point for Albin’s platoon: Ints. Ray Albin, January 29, 2001; Terry Warner, October 19, 2002; Clark Welch, January 28–February 8, 2002; John F. Sloan Interview with Military Historian Capt. Cash, October 22, 1967, CMH.

  The relationship between the brigade: Int. Gerard Grosso, December 13, 2002; John F. Sloan Interview, CMH; transcript of statement of 1st Lt. Lester T. Scott in Cash papers, October 1967, CMH.

  situation grew bleaker: 28th Infantry Regiment, Vietnam Unit histories, recollections of Koch and Watson, www.28thinfantry.org; Int. Ray Albin, January 31, 2002.

  Lieutenant Erwin’s scout platoon: Int. Bill Erwin, May 27, 2001; 2d Lt. William D. Erwin interview with Major Daniel, 17th Military History Detachment, November 19, 1967.

  When Holleder arrived in Vietnam: Portrait of Maj. Donald Holleder drawn from interviews with James Shelton, March 14, 2000; Bill Crites, January 23, 2001; Pete Vann, January 25, 2001; Edwin J. Messinger, February 20, 2001; papers of Col. Earl (Red) Blaik, papers of Donald Holleder, U.S. Army Military Academy; also Blaik, The Red Blaik Story, 336–57; Donald Walter Holleder obituary, Assembly, Fall 1969, by classmate Maj. Perry M. Smith; Sports Illustrated, December 5, 1955.

  Doc Hinger was far behind: Int. Tom Hinger, March 12, 2000; Narrative Account, Death of Major Donald W. Holleder, October 25, 1967, CMH.

  actions of Vo Minh Triet’s regiment: The 9th Division history, translated by Foreign Broadcast Information Service, October 1995; Vuong Thu Vu, “The Victories in Binh Long and the First Fresh Lessons,” November 29, 1967, Hanoi Domestic Service, CIA Files, NARA; ints. Nguyen Van Lam, February 5, 2002; Vo Minh Triet, January 30–31, 2002.

  Grady was in Lai Khe: Int. Tom Grady, March 27, 2002; Grady letter to Capt. George, October 24, 1967.

  Back toward the jungle: Ints. Tom Grady, March 27, 2002; Bill Erwin, May 27, 2001; Mark Smith, October 19, 2002; Ray Albin, January 29, 2001; Tom Hinger, March 12, 2000;, Steve Goodman, November 20, 2000; George Burrows, March 15, 2001; Thomas F. Reese, Clarence Barrow, October 18, 2002, March 8, 2001; Jim Kasik, report to Jim Shelton, May 1, 1989.

  It was easier to find the fallen: Coleman, “Memorandum”; MacGarrigle oral history interview with Col. Paul B. Malone III, CMH; Major Larry E. Lowe Interview with Major William E. Daniel, 17th Military History Detachment, October 28, 1967, CMH; Int. Joe Costello, November 2, 2000; correspondence of Thomas V. Mullen, Shelton papers; Col. George E. Newman Interview with Military Historian Capt. Cash, October 22, 1967; George E. Newman letter to Mike Dinkins, January 11, 1989.

  At Lai Khe late that night: Ints. Jim Shelton, March 14, 2000; November 4, 2001.

  The camp was full of dazed men: Ints. Michael Arias, March 11, 2001; Tom Grady, March 27, 2002; Ray Albin, January 31, 2001; George Burrows, March 15, 2001; Tom Hinger, March 12,
2000.

  Chapter 18: “The News Is All Bad”

  Johnson had just left a meeting: White House Daily Diary, October 17, 1967. (“The President walked w/ Prime Minister Lee—through the center door to his office—en route to the West Lobby to say goodbye and to escort the Prime Minister to his car.”)

  As historian Henry Graff: “How Johnson Makes Foreign Policy,” NYT Magazine, July 4, 1965; also Graff, The Tuesday Cabinet, 5, 17.

  Johnson mentioned that he was impressed: “Notes of the President’s meeting with Secretary McNamara, Secretary Rusk, General Wheeler, CIA Director Helms, Walt Rostow, George Christian, in the Mansion,” October 17, 1967. Meeting began 1:40. Tom Johnson Notes, box 1, LBJ.

  his entire five-minute report: “Front Line Report,” 6:55 A.M., WTOP Radio, October 17, 1967, republished in The Pentagon Papers, vol. 4, 209–10.

  “NVN is paying heavily”: JCSM-555-67, October 17, 1967, “Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense. Subject: Increased Pressures on North Vietnam,” Pentagon Pagers, vol. 4, 210–11.

  The second October 17 memo: “Memorandum for the President, October 17, 1967. Subject: Vietnam—October 1967.” McG. B., LBJ; transcript of news conference #1013-A, “At the White House with George Christian,” 11:05 A.M. EDT, October 17, 1967, LBJ.