299th Engineers - Defenders of Dak To
I'm trying to get those who were involved in this engagement to contribute their stories. To get this story started, I found an article in Vietnam Magazine that tells the overall story. I'll put the magazine pages I've scanned into a photo gallery so you can look through them. Hopefully you can read them this way.
Click on a cropped image in the photo gallery. That will display the full image. Then click on the right/left of the image to go to the next image. You can zoom in on a windows PC with the Ctrl and + keys.
If you can't read them at this resolution, you can bring up each page with the links below the photo gallery to get a much higher resolution image.
Click on a cropped image in the photo gallery. That will display the full image. Then click on the right/left of the image to go to the next image. You can zoom in on a windows PC with the Ctrl and + keys.
If you can't read them at this resolution, you can bring up each page with the links below the photo gallery to get a much higher resolution image.
Vietnam Magazine - Eight Week Siege of Dak To
-- each link brings up a high-resolution image of the page --
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9
-- each link brings up a high-resolution image of the page --
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9
The Photographer whose photos are in the story from Vietnam Magazine is Larry Burrows. Larry had a spread in Life Magazine, Sept. 19, 1966, where he talks about the ambush on the road to Ben Het, along with his photos of that action. As above, I'll put the two pages in a photo gallery, along with some stitched-together versions of two of the photos. There are also links to higher resolution versions of the images.
Life Magazine - A Case of Cowardice Under Fire - photos and text by Larry Burrows
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Page 74 Page75 Small Photo Big Photo
-- each link brings up a high-resolution image of the page --
Page 74 Page75 Small Photo Big Photo
(A story about this battle that I found on Facebook)
David Lamb
Arrived in Cam Ranh Bay in March 1969. The airstrip was attacked as we were getting off the plane. What a welcome.
They shipped me off to the North Central Highlands base at Dak to. Shortly after arriving we started getting shelled. That was the beginning of the Battle of Dak to. Our communication bunker took a direct hit with a delayed fuse rocket. We lost all of our Officers and NCO’s. What a mess: new in country; under attack day and night; and no leadership. We weren’t able to get any reinforcements or supplies. A handful of guys from the 299th Engineers 15th LE and a couple other companies held the base and the airstrip until help arrived. The US ARMY awarded us with the creation of the title “Dak to Defenders” and created a patch we proudly wore the rest of our time in country.
If you know any of the Dak to Defenders, welcome them home.
David Lamb
Arrived in Cam Ranh Bay in March 1969. The airstrip was attacked as we were getting off the plane. What a welcome.
They shipped me off to the North Central Highlands base at Dak to. Shortly after arriving we started getting shelled. That was the beginning of the Battle of Dak to. Our communication bunker took a direct hit with a delayed fuse rocket. We lost all of our Officers and NCO’s. What a mess: new in country; under attack day and night; and no leadership. We weren’t able to get any reinforcements or supplies. A handful of guys from the 299th Engineers 15th LE and a couple other companies held the base and the airstrip until help arrived. The US ARMY awarded us with the creation of the title “Dak to Defenders” and created a patch we proudly wore the rest of our time in country.
If you know any of the Dak to Defenders, welcome them home.
During the period of time that the 299th Engineers were at Dak To, they were responsible for keeping route 512 from Dak To west to Ben Het open.
I received a letter from Ron Shaw, detailing the fact that the 299th also built up the airfield and CIDG camp at Ben Het. I'll post his information here, along with links to the after-action reports he referenced in his letter.
I received a letter from Ron Shaw, detailing the fact that the 299th also built up the airfield and CIDG camp at Ben Het. I'll post his information here, along with links to the after-action reports he referenced in his letter.
Ernie,
I would like to add a post giving proof that C Company, 299th Engineers (C) built Ben Het base camp using after-action reports.
My unit isn't given proper credit. See below....
Sincerely,
Ron Shaw
-----Original Message-----
From: areshaw@aol.com
To: webmaster@299thcombatengineers.com <webmaster@299thcombatengineers.com>
Sent: Mon, Jan 30, 2023 10:18 am
Subject: Give credit to The 299th who built Ben Het Base camp in Vietnam
Ben Het was a significant base camp in the Vietnam war. It was used by the 173rd Airborne in the battle for hill 875 and other actions.
I was with C company in 1967 when we built the camp. I would like for our unit to lay claim to this piece of history. The Wikipedia page is incorrect and I'm working to get it corrected.
Here are excerpts from the after-action reports that prove we built it:
Proof C Co. 299th built Ben Het
The genesis of Ben Het base Camp, also known as Firebase 12:
From AD837835 Headquarters, 937th Engineer Group (Combat)
Operational Report - Lessons Learned (RCS CSFOR-65) for Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967:
On 26 - 27 August, B/299 and D/299 realigned with D/299 moving to Dak To Airfield and B/299 moving to Kontum. On 29 August, in preparation for the construction of an airfield west of Dak To, Co C, 299th Engr Bn (C) and the 15 Engr Co (LE) (-) moved from Pleiku to Old Dak To Airfield. These two units supported D/299 at Dak To and on Route 512.
From the After-Action Report AD0390643 BATTLE FOR DAK TO HQ, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 25 OCT-1 DEC 1967:
9. (C) Concept of Operation:
In the latter part of October as the indications of strong enemy interest in the DAK TO area increased, the decision was made to replace the mechanized infantry battalion which at the time had the mission of securing the DAK TO airfield, the adjacent FSA, and engineer work parties that were upgrading route 512 from TAN CANH to the proposed site of the BEN HET CIDG camp with the 3d Battalion 12th Infantry. As enemy activity increased, the 1st Brigade, with two battalions, moved from western PLEIKU into DAK TO while the mechanized battalion and an armored cavalry squadron, because of their mobility, assumed the 1st Brigade's mission of screening the border area in western PLEIKU Province.
Ben Het base camp was built by Company C, 299th Engineer Battalion From 22 Oct 1967 to 03 Feb 1968:
From the After-Action Report AD0390643 BATTLE FOR DAK TO HQ, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 25 OCT-1 DEC 1967:
Section e. Engineer Support.
(d) Company C had moved to BEN HET on 22 October (YB873257) with the mission of constructing a C-7A airfield with the provision that it could be expanded rapidly to handle C-130's. The company was also tasked to clear the site for the proposed BEN HET CIDG camp. The company also provided direct support to the elements of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and to elements of the 173d Airborne Brigade located at BEN HET.
From the After-Action Report AD0392589 ORLL HQ I FIELD FORCE VIETNAM Period Ending 30 Apr 1968:
(c) Ben Het (YB865251). The 299th Engr-Bn (C) completed construction of this Type II C-7A airfield on 31 Jan 68. Engineer equipment assistance is currently being furnished for bunker and camp construction.
From http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/History05Bunting.htm
Company C returned from Ben Het to the Pleiku base camp on 3 Feb 1968 and undertook projects in that area.
AD0390643 after action report is available on the internet, as are the other reports. It is 30MB, too big to email.
Sincerely,
Ron Shaw
I would like to add a post giving proof that C Company, 299th Engineers (C) built Ben Het base camp using after-action reports.
My unit isn't given proper credit. See below....
Sincerely,
Ron Shaw
-----Original Message-----
From: areshaw@aol.com
To: webmaster@299thcombatengineers.com <webmaster@299thcombatengineers.com>
Sent: Mon, Jan 30, 2023 10:18 am
Subject: Give credit to The 299th who built Ben Het Base camp in Vietnam
Ben Het was a significant base camp in the Vietnam war. It was used by the 173rd Airborne in the battle for hill 875 and other actions.
I was with C company in 1967 when we built the camp. I would like for our unit to lay claim to this piece of history. The Wikipedia page is incorrect and I'm working to get it corrected.
Here are excerpts from the after-action reports that prove we built it:
Proof C Co. 299th built Ben Het
The genesis of Ben Het base Camp, also known as Firebase 12:
From AD837835 Headquarters, 937th Engineer Group (Combat)
Operational Report - Lessons Learned (RCS CSFOR-65) for Quarterly Period Ending 31 October 1967:
On 26 - 27 August, B/299 and D/299 realigned with D/299 moving to Dak To Airfield and B/299 moving to Kontum. On 29 August, in preparation for the construction of an airfield west of Dak To, Co C, 299th Engr Bn (C) and the 15 Engr Co (LE) (-) moved from Pleiku to Old Dak To Airfield. These two units supported D/299 at Dak To and on Route 512.
From the After-Action Report AD0390643 BATTLE FOR DAK TO HQ, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 25 OCT-1 DEC 1967:
9. (C) Concept of Operation:
In the latter part of October as the indications of strong enemy interest in the DAK TO area increased, the decision was made to replace the mechanized infantry battalion which at the time had the mission of securing the DAK TO airfield, the adjacent FSA, and engineer work parties that were upgrading route 512 from TAN CANH to the proposed site of the BEN HET CIDG camp with the 3d Battalion 12th Infantry. As enemy activity increased, the 1st Brigade, with two battalions, moved from western PLEIKU into DAK TO while the mechanized battalion and an armored cavalry squadron, because of their mobility, assumed the 1st Brigade's mission of screening the border area in western PLEIKU Province.
Ben Het base camp was built by Company C, 299th Engineer Battalion From 22 Oct 1967 to 03 Feb 1968:
From the After-Action Report AD0390643 BATTLE FOR DAK TO HQ, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 25 OCT-1 DEC 1967:
Section e. Engineer Support.
(d) Company C had moved to BEN HET on 22 October (YB873257) with the mission of constructing a C-7A airfield with the provision that it could be expanded rapidly to handle C-130's. The company was also tasked to clear the site for the proposed BEN HET CIDG camp. The company also provided direct support to the elements of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and to elements of the 173d Airborne Brigade located at BEN HET.
From the After-Action Report AD0392589 ORLL HQ I FIELD FORCE VIETNAM Period Ending 30 Apr 1968:
(c) Ben Het (YB865251). The 299th Engr-Bn (C) completed construction of this Type II C-7A airfield on 31 Jan 68. Engineer equipment assistance is currently being furnished for bunker and camp construction.
From http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/History05Bunting.htm
Company C returned from Ben Het to the Pleiku base camp on 3 Feb 1968 and undertook projects in that area.
AD0390643 after action report is available on the internet, as are the other reports. It is 30MB, too big to email.
Sincerely,
Ron Shaw
Here are the reports that Ron used in his description, above. Click the high-lighted text to bring up the .pdf report in a separate browser tab.
AD0390643 - battle for Dak To, After-action report, 25 oct - 1 dec 1967 (414 page .pdf)
AD837835 - 937th Engineer Group (Combat), Lessons learned, for quarter ending 31 Oct. 1967 (22 page .pdf)
AD0392589 - HQ, I field force vietnam, after action report period ending 30 april, 1968 (105 page .pdf)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Het_Camp - Wikipedia entry for Ben Het
AD0390643 - battle for Dak To, After-action report, 25 oct - 1 dec 1967 (414 page .pdf)
AD837835 - 937th Engineer Group (Combat), Lessons learned, for quarter ending 31 Oct. 1967 (22 page .pdf)
AD0392589 - HQ, I field force vietnam, after action report period ending 30 april, 1968 (105 page .pdf)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Het_Camp - Wikipedia entry for Ben Het
Christopher Upham wrote a novel that tries to describe what the war was like. The setting for this novel is the Defenders of Dak To battle in 1969.
DakToum - a novel by Christopher Upham
This is a fictional account of the "Defenders of Dak To" battle at the Dak To airfield in 1969. Upham uses the account of the battle - greatly fictionalized - as a way of describing the lives of soldiers in war, through the eyes of one soldier. Available on Amazon
DakToum - a novel by Christopher Upham
This is a fictional account of the "Defenders of Dak To" battle at the Dak To airfield in 1969. Upham uses the account of the battle - greatly fictionalized - as a way of describing the lives of soldiers in war, through the eyes of one soldier. Available on Amazon
Another view of this action: Thomas Bleming posted this on Facebook - Central Highlands Veterans page.
Thomas Bleming
May 31, 2021
·
On this Memorial Day of 1969, in the central highlands of South Vietnam, a heavily armed convoy consisting of one hundred two and a half ton transport trucks and dozens of armed gun trucks slowly heads out of Kon Tum for Dak To, the besieged U.S. army forward operating base which has been under fire from the North Vietnamese Army since May 6th.
The convoy is carrying much needed small arms ammunition, 50 caliber HMG ammo, concertina wire, claymore mines, artillery shells for Dak To's 105mm and 175mm cannons, 40mm duster ammunition, 81mm and 102mm mortar shells, aerial flares, C-rations, and medical supplies. Numerous helicopter gunships fly over the miles long convoy, providing air cover. The massive air support slowly opens up a corridor on the highway as miniguns and rockets are fired at anything moving on the sides of the long and winding road that leads onto Dak To.
Several times the convoy is halted because of enemy fire and after many tenuous hours the convoy reaches embattled Dak To where they are met by the battle weary defender's. Within minutes of arrival the convoy starts to get its precious cargo unloaded. Dak To's artillery batteries come alive, firing round after round at the mountain range which is located to the west of the base. The non-stop artillery bombardment pounds North Vietnamese positions for the next twelve hours.
Larry Greenwood
Was in that convoy. Got shot up in places.
Thomas Bleming
I can still remember when I saw the first trucks that were approaching the southern perimeter of Dak To's runway.
Thomas Bleming
May 31, 2021
·
On this Memorial Day of 1969, in the central highlands of South Vietnam, a heavily armed convoy consisting of one hundred two and a half ton transport trucks and dozens of armed gun trucks slowly heads out of Kon Tum for Dak To, the besieged U.S. army forward operating base which has been under fire from the North Vietnamese Army since May 6th.
The convoy is carrying much needed small arms ammunition, 50 caliber HMG ammo, concertina wire, claymore mines, artillery shells for Dak To's 105mm and 175mm cannons, 40mm duster ammunition, 81mm and 102mm mortar shells, aerial flares, C-rations, and medical supplies. Numerous helicopter gunships fly over the miles long convoy, providing air cover. The massive air support slowly opens up a corridor on the highway as miniguns and rockets are fired at anything moving on the sides of the long and winding road that leads onto Dak To.
Several times the convoy is halted because of enemy fire and after many tenuous hours the convoy reaches embattled Dak To where they are met by the battle weary defender's. Within minutes of arrival the convoy starts to get its precious cargo unloaded. Dak To's artillery batteries come alive, firing round after round at the mountain range which is located to the west of the base. The non-stop artillery bombardment pounds North Vietnamese positions for the next twelve hours.
Larry Greenwood
Was in that convoy. Got shot up in places.
Thomas Bleming
I can still remember when I saw the first trucks that were approaching the southern perimeter of Dak To's runway.