[Andy]

Our base camp at Tay Ninh got the nickname ?Rocket City? and for good reason. During the beginning of Tet, the less known May Offensive and less known September Offensive we had an instant replay. At night Charles set up 107mm, or 122mm rocket launchers on the flat roof of the Tay Ninh City School and opened fire. That was just one of several locations were the rockets, and mortars came from, however on all three occasions there was no counter fire on the school. Our Division notified the ARVN?s who had their own camp on the other side of the city and were asked to deal with the problem.

After ?hard fighting? the ARVN?s always got to the school 3 or 4 hours later after all the rockets were fired and the launchers were removed. We?d also take long range fire from the Black Virgin Mountain, which was very special juju to the Cow Die religion. Jets dropping ordinance on the hill was a no-no, and arty could not be used until after Tet. But even then we had to get Division permission which took a while.

Lt was always in a free fire zone, you had it hard John. We had free fire zones too. Except that it was very difficult to fine a bar in such a place, I always preferred those areas. If it moves shoot it, if it don?t move burn it, if it won?t burn blow it up. That?s my idea of a war.

Stay healthy,
Andy