This date, Aug 7th, 1967

[ArtySgt]

On this date, Aug 7th, 1967 I was wounded when my unit and a unit of the 28th Inf. regt were attacked by elements of the 271st main force VC regt. and 101 NVA Regt. We had just landed a few hours earlier in what was the most pounding rain I'd ever seen till that time. Set up in a rice paddy which was suppose to be dry and starting digging in, sand bags were half filled with rice paddy mud and water. The sand bags would not stack no matter how hard we tryed so the BC said we'd wait till morning and dig in when things dryed out.
Bad News but what could we do ? Five minutes later all hell broke loose and we were fighting for our lives, mortars pounded us and were right on target, they walked the 82s back and forth over us, no cover. While this was going on the enemy infantry assualted the fire base and we were firing direct fire.
Fifteen minutes into the enemy assault only two guns were still capable of fire, the other four were knocked out by mortar and recoiless rifle fire.
A third wave assaulted and we were down to fight with sticks and entrenching tools. Finally we got some Def Con and air support from prop driven plains firing rockets. This broke the enemy attack and I was evacuation to the 93rd evac hospital where I remained for two weeks. My first taste of combat. Lots of other things happened but I just don't want to get into that now. I survived where many others didnot. Found out many years later that the 7th of Aug is Purple Heart day. Welcome home to every one.