As the weather continued excellent, LZ Sally was taking shape as the brigade’s base. We were joined by the 23 Huey slicks and eight gunships of the 188th Assault Helicopter Company’s “Black Widows” which immediately became part of our team; it arrived with eleven months combat experience, having been organized at Fort Campbell in 1966 and deployed in 1967.

The week began with the 1/502 doing most of the fighting of the 2d Brigade. In three days, 8-10 Mar, the 1/502 took casualties of 8 KIA and 22 WIA and accounted for some 97 enemy KIA. From the brigade journal of March 9: “1-502. Co A conducted search and destroy operations in villages (coordinates)... Received AW, SA, RPG and mortar fire, incurred 2 WIA… At 1125 unit was engaged by enemy AW, MG, RPG, SA and sniper fire. Enemy occupied well concealed and protected positions. Attempt to advance met heavy fire from 6 MG, 30 SA, and one cal. 50” The 1/502 was supported by 14 Cav gunship sorties and 16 USAF airstrikes, in addition to artillery.

At noon on March 10 the 2d Brigade task force ended its opcon to the 1st Cavalry Division and returned to the full command of the 101st Airborne Division, whose command post had been opened at Camp Eagle (formerly the Cav’s LZ El Paso) just south of Hue. We began the 101’s Operation Carentan. The 1/501 was at LZ Sally, the 2/501 was at LZ Pinky to the south, and the 1/502 at FSB Nola, near the An Lo Bridge. From the brigade journal, some typical days:

11 March: B/2-501 made contact with a strong, well dug in enemy reinforced company. C/2-501 maneuvered to the enemy’s location, and also received intense SA and AW fire. Elements of 1-502, operating in the vicinity, closed into encircling positions to the north of the 2-501. 1 US KIA, 12 US WIA; 72 NVA KIA, 16 VC KIA, one detainee, 4 AK-47s, one 7.62 SMG, 1 M2 carbine, and 1 AK 44 rifle.

12 March: A/1-501 vic (3 km into the mountains up the Song Bo River SE of LZ Sally) found 48 cases of AK-47 ammo, 101 rounds of RPG-7, 228 B-40 rockets, 321 rounds of 60 mm mortar, 25 cases of TNT, 3 cases of dynamite, detonating cord, and electric and non-electric blasting caps. 4 US KIA, 8 US WIA: 5 NVA KIA. (A Co’s patrolling up the Song Bo river into the mountains uncovered this well-concealed storage site w/delivery sampans; after many visitors, A Co blew it up.)

14 March: D/1-501 attacked north into a village toward which the enemy had been observed moving during the night. After an artillery preparation, D Co entered the village edge, where resistance was encountered. B/1-501 entered the village from the north and assumed a blocking position. C/1-501 and D/2-501 were maneuvered into postions east and west of the objective area to block exits and maintain pressure on the enemy during the night. 1 US KIA and 20 US WIA; 15 NVA KIA, 1 VC WIA, 1 NVA PW, 1 AK-47, 1 MG, 1 gas mask, 1 pair binoculars, 3 grenades, 9700 lbs rice.

15 March: B/1-501, with 50 PF, attacked south into a village and found 1 NVA (KBA), 1 AK 47, and 2 M16 rifles. A/1-501 engaged 2 VC vic (coord) with SA and artillery; 1 VC KIA 1 VC PW. B/1-502 was engaged by AK-47 and LMG fire vic (coord). Arty and air strikes were placed on the position. The enemy, est a reinf con, returned fire on the attacking aicraft. A/1-501 moved into an overwatching/ambush position near the storage site it had found, and attacked, 12 NVA KIA, 2 VC KIA, 2 VC PW, 3 detainees, 2 AK-47s, 2 M16 rifles, 3 ChiCom grenades, 1 60 mm mortar round, 6500 lb rice.