Supporting the Grunts

One morning shortly after leaving Marble Mountain with our sister ship 2 Cobra gunships "snakes" join us. I don't remember the mission designation but it appeared as though we were headed southwest and would be available for infantry support. About 5 or 10 kilometers from Marble Mountain we received an urgent call from a marine patrol who were in direct contact/receiving fire from about 7 to 9 vc.

As we flew to the area at about 2500 feet we could see from quite a distance a small patrol of marines (maybe a squad of 12 men) somewhat on-line but slightly scattered over a broad open plain. They had marked their location with a green smoke grenade and the radio operator was frantically trying to get our assistance in suppressing the enemy's fire.

One of the Cobra gunships contacted our helicopter pilot, who seemed to be senior officer on station, and requested authority to engage the vc. In just a matter of seconds, once we were sure of the marines exact location, permission was granted for the gunships to make their strafing run.

We had a ring side seat (at 2500 feet) and watched both ships make their firing runs. It appeared as though they were using their mini-guns (versus cannons or rockets) as we watched 100's of bullets create dust puffs across the area where the vc were located. The entire action was over in seconds and the grunt radio operator called us to thank us and said they would begin searching the bodies for papers or equipment.

I can remember saying to myself I have never seen 9 men die so quickly....in a matter of seconds...