Over the Hill and Through the Woods To FSB Coral...

On the 14th of May I joined A Btry at FSB Coral. CPT Hugh Marlow was the Battery Commander. The area was a total mess. Someone must have fought a war there.  I struck up a friendship with one of the Aussies, LT Gerry McCormack (Scroll to APR, 1968 at this link). That friendship has spanned over thirty years now. During the period from 15 May until we abandoned the base we were mortared, probed, and shot at several times.  The NVA had zeroed in on our pride and joy... the Outhouse...totally destroyed. During the rest of the time our perimeter was not breeched. The Australians and New Zealanders really distinguished themselves during this operation. I don't want to get in gory details but there were a bunch of dead NVA buried at FSB Coral and FSB Balmoral (Look under "Battle Honors"). This was the Australian Armour's first engagement in Viet Nam. It would prove to be one their biggest and most momentous. Not to be outdone the 3rd Cavalry Regiment distinguished itself also.

When we abandoned FSB Coral we headed to Di An, home of the 1st Infantry Division and spent one or two nights there.  I remember heading towards Nui Dat and we stopped overnight at Bear Cat. That was the home of the 9th Infantry Division and the Queens Cobra (Thailand). As soon as we got there I think the monsoon season hit... RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. During the night I was listening to Robert Kennedy's speech and then heard the shots that killed him. That was a shock. Later, that night Bear Cat's perimeter was attacked and the Thais beat them back and captured a Chinese Advisor. This wasn't the last time I would see Bear Cat. It seems that we were getting closer to Nui Dat. But we had to make one more stop along the way.