2RHPZ
04-19-2005, 09:28 AM
Dong Xoai: Seabees Earn a Special Place in Combat History
by Shively, L A
Mortars blasted through the U.S. Army Special Forces camp in Dong Xoai, where Seabee Team 1104 was stationed, just before midnight on June 9. Chief Equipmentman Johnny Ray McCuIIy, Team 1104 assistant officerin-charge, had just finished rounds of the compound with a Cambodian Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) guard. He'd stepped into the Ranger barracks and was drinking coffee with Sgt. 1st Class James Taylor, Special Forces senior medic, when explosions rocked the camp.
Bellowing for everyone to take defensive positions, McCuIIy grabbed his weapon and ran toward the northwest berm where Steelworker 2nd Class William Hoover, Utilitiesman Plumber 2nd Class Lawrence Eyman and Shields were returning fire on advancing Viet Cong. Hoover and Shields were already injured. Heavy mortar, machine gun fire and grenades pummeled the compound. At a lull in the barrage, Shields scurried to a burning shed, retrieving more ammunition.
At approximately 0245, an intense onslaught of mortars and recoilless rifle rounds, grenades, small arms fire and flame throwers hammered the defenders while several hundred Viet Cong, in human waves pouring over the berm, overwhelmed them. Shields, Eyman, Taylor, Staff Sgt. Harold Crowe and Pfc. Michael Hand withdrew, hurtling through a gauntlet of razor wire and enemy rounds, to the district compound on the other side of camp. Shields and Taylor carried Capt. William Stokes, the Special Forces detachment commander who was seriously wounded, while Crowe carried the weapons.
...more... (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3738/is_200408/ai_n9418792)
by Shively, L A
Mortars blasted through the U.S. Army Special Forces camp in Dong Xoai, where Seabee Team 1104 was stationed, just before midnight on June 9. Chief Equipmentman Johnny Ray McCuIIy, Team 1104 assistant officerin-charge, had just finished rounds of the compound with a Cambodian Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) guard. He'd stepped into the Ranger barracks and was drinking coffee with Sgt. 1st Class James Taylor, Special Forces senior medic, when explosions rocked the camp.
Bellowing for everyone to take defensive positions, McCuIIy grabbed his weapon and ran toward the northwest berm where Steelworker 2nd Class William Hoover, Utilitiesman Plumber 2nd Class Lawrence Eyman and Shields were returning fire on advancing Viet Cong. Hoover and Shields were already injured. Heavy mortar, machine gun fire and grenades pummeled the compound. At a lull in the barrage, Shields scurried to a burning shed, retrieving more ammunition.
At approximately 0245, an intense onslaught of mortars and recoilless rifle rounds, grenades, small arms fire and flame throwers hammered the defenders while several hundred Viet Cong, in human waves pouring over the berm, overwhelmed them. Shields, Eyman, Taylor, Staff Sgt. Harold Crowe and Pfc. Michael Hand withdrew, hurtling through a gauntlet of razor wire and enemy rounds, to the district compound on the other side of camp. Shields and Taylor carried Capt. William Stokes, the Special Forces detachment commander who was seriously wounded, while Crowe carried the weapons.
...more... (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3738/is_200408/ai_n9418792)