Cong
Ground Attack a Failure -
Support Base Pike Kills 85 Foe
CU CHI - An estimated
force of 200 to 300 Viet Cong recently launched an intensive ground attack on
Fire Support Base Pike, 10 kms west of Tan Son Nhut Air Base.
The Viet Cong hung on grimly for an hour and a half before
retreating.
Leaving 85 Dead Behind
The battle began at approximately 1:30 am with a barrage of
mortars, recoilless rifle rounds, rocket-propelled grenades, and 122mm rockets.
Approximately eighty per cent of the more than 200 rounds fell on the southwest
portion of the perimeter which was guarded by one company of the 4th Bn, 9th Inf
“Manchus”.
The infantry, however, was well dug in, preventing the rounds from
claiming any lives inside the perimeter.
After 10 minutes of steady bombardment, the VC moved in for the
kill - or so they thought. The main ground attack came from the southwest
with a small supporting attack from the southeast. Listening posts from
one company bore the brunt of the assault.
Showing no heed for personal security, the men of the listening
posts refused to give ground. Surrounded on three sides, they unleashed
such devastating fire power that not one Viet Cong broke through. This
enabled batteries of the 1st Bn, 8th Arty and the 6th Bn, 77th Arty to fire.
Two tactical craft were on station for a nearby battle. The
airstrikes were diverted by Manchu CO LTC Richard Simpson and directed to the
new battle area.
A flareship illuminated the battlefield as the high-performance
jets brought their wrath to bear on the enemy. Anti-aircraft machine guns
tried in vain to fend off the swift jets.
Gunships from the 116th Assault Helicopter Co sounded the final
notes of the fight as they peppered the battle area with their miniguns and
rockets.
When asked about the battle, Simpson stated that the valor and
courage shown by the men in the listening posts was the key factor in the
decisive win.
The final toll at Fire Support Base Pike was 85 communists killed
by the infantry, artillery, and tactical airstrikes.