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April 6, 1968, No one who was there will forget this day. First platoon was doing a routine S and
D sweep towards a village. McArthur was point and I was his slack man with Berrigan, A team
leader, behind me. We were walking down a path heading towards the village when all hell broke
loose. We were caught in the open and the only cover was the village.
The next thing I remember, I was on top of some bunkers and Quash was to my left with his
M-60, and his ammo bearer, Wilson. Quash started dropping grenades into the bunkers closest to
us while we gave him cover.
We did not know where the others were. We decided to ease into a canal to our right rear and
try to link up with the rest of the platoon. I lead out as we walked bent over using the bank as
cover. We quickly came to a depression in the side of the bank. In the depression we found most
of the 1st squad.
There was the squad leader Sgt Bowden, Berrigan, McArthur,Twitty, and the medic. The medic,
I wish I knew his name, was working on Bowden who had a throat wound. Doc, had done
everything he could do for Bowden and gave the word he needed to be medivac out.
Twitty and I went over the bank behind us into a rice field. The rice plants were about 3 feet
high and offer good concealment. When we reached down to grab Bowden the gooks opened up
on us. Although, we tried several time to get Bowden over the bank we failed. A single man
could make it over the bank but not a group of men. Twitty went for help and the rest of us
stayed with Bowden.
Twitty located the platoon CP and the advance party from the company. Twitty gave his report
and was sent back to the canal with the company FO who would call in artillery to give us
covering fire when we attempted to pull Bowden out of the canal.
Before we could get Bowden out he died. Doc did everything he could to bring the sgt. back,
including mouth to mouth. The moment life left his body I had eye contact with him. He looked
me straight in the eye as he said, "Thank you".
Combat account by: Floyd Turnley
D sweep towards a village. McArthur was point and I was his slack man with Berrigan, A team
leader, behind me. We were walking down a path heading towards the village when all hell broke
loose. We were caught in the open and the only cover was the village.
The next thing I remember, I was on top of some bunkers and Quash was to my left with his
M-60, and his ammo bearer, Wilson. Quash started dropping grenades into the bunkers closest to
us while we gave him cover.
We did not know where the others were. We decided to ease into a canal to our right rear and
try to link up with the rest of the platoon. I lead out as we walked bent over using the bank as
cover. We quickly came to a depression in the side of the bank. In the depression we found most
of the 1st squad.
There was the squad leader Sgt Bowden, Berrigan, McArthur,Twitty, and the medic. The medic,
I wish I knew his name, was working on Bowden who had a throat wound. Doc, had done
everything he could do for Bowden and gave the word he needed to be medivac out.
Twitty and I went over the bank behind us into a rice field. The rice plants were about 3 feet
high and offer good concealment. When we reached down to grab Bowden the gooks opened up
on us. Although, we tried several time to get Bowden over the bank we failed. A single man
could make it over the bank but not a group of men. Twitty went for help and the rest of us
stayed with Bowden.
Twitty located the platoon CP and the advance party from the company. Twitty gave his report
and was sent back to the canal with the company FO who would call in artillery to give us
covering fire when we attempted to pull Bowden out of the canal.
Before we could get Bowden out he died. Doc did everything he could to bring the sgt. back,
including mouth to mouth. The moment life left his body I had eye contact with him. He looked
me straight in the eye as he said, "Thank you".
Combat account by: Floyd Turnley