DAK TO MEMORIES
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From John Lenti 8/17/2009

Ernie:  Do you have any info on 173rd. "Gun Slingers" helicopter unit that resupplied me on 6 Aug.?


I was the SA to the 8th VN Abn Bn. that was airlifted into Dak Seang SF air strip after landing at Dak To in C-130s from Saigon.  We took Chinooks to the SF camp and immediately moved into jungle into contact with NVA vic coord:YB 855408 ( moving west toward Hill 1258)..  We had the "Gun Slingers" resupply ammo since we wound up surrounded that night by the better part of the 196th Regiment.  Surprised you don’t have it as part of your chronology.  The action is in Wiki.

john
------------------------------------------------------

Ernie Camacho:
Sorry, John, I don't have any specific information on the 173rd.  I know that they were at Dak To, operating out of the NE corner of the airfield.  I worked with the Gun Slingers but didn't get to know any of them.
 
Ernie
----------------------------------------------------------

John Lenti:
Ernie: Thanks for rapid response; I’ve posted the Hill 1258 action on the wiki site for Dak To.  Thanks again for response.  

One more fact for the record, Bill Carpenter and I are classmates, USMA ’60 and a good fried since we entered WestPoint in July, 1956. Bill was a great soldier and now lives in Montana.  Hope to see him at our 50th Reunion at USMA next year.  Bill deserved the M of H for his call; received the DSC.

Glad to fill in some of the blanks.
john
---------------------------------------------------------------

Ernie Camacho:
John,

I found a Wiki article.  I assume it's the one you referred to since it contains your recounting of the Hill 1258 engagement:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dak_To

I remember telling someone at the time, during the big Hill 875 battle, that it wouldn't be until years later before I'd learn what it was that was happening in the hills around us.  I was right.  It wasn't until books were written about the battle that I learned what was happening.  All I knew was that there was lots of traffic in and out of Dak To, with lots of Dust Off's going to the Med Evac pad.

It is folks like you, who have been writing down what you experienced, that I thank for giving me the details that were missing while I was there.

Thanks,

Ernie Camacho
---------------------------------------------------------

postscript: as of 2021 the Wikipedia article on Dak To no longer has the Hill 1258 story.
​
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  • Home
  • Battles
    • Operation Hawthorne
    • Battle Of The Slopes
    • November Action Hills 823, 875
    • Defenders of Dak To 1969
    • Special Forces Camps >
      • Ben Het
      • Dak Seang
      • Dak Pek
    • Fire Bases
  • Photos
    • AirfieldPhoto
    • Airfield Landmarks & Map
    • 125 ATC >
      • List-1 >
        • Arrival, June 1967
        • Airfield Attack 671115
        • ATC facilities
        • ATC Team Members >
          • ATC Roster
          • Bartlett
          • Camacho
          • Saveski
          • Scott
          • Short
          • Other Team Members
          • Christmas 1967
        • Runway
        • Runway Ramp
        • Road
        • Shooting Range
      • List-2 >
        • Aircraft
        • Vehicles
        • Weapons
        • Soldiers
        • EOD - Explosive Ordinance Demolition
        • Fuel Fire
        • A1E Skyraider Emergency landing
        • Rope Extraction
      • List-3 >
        • Air Strikes, Artillary
        • Arc Light Bombing Run
        • Around The Field
        • Local Folks
        • Outside Dak To Area >
          • Nearby Countryside
          • Trip to Pleiku
          • Holloway Airfield, Pleiku
          • Around The Country
          • Vung Tao USO show
          • Qui Nhon
    • 4th ID-HQ
    • 4th ID - Norm Spaulding >
      • Norm Spaulding
      • 2nd_Indochina_War
      • Dec. 1967
      • Jan. 1968
      • Mar. 1968
      • Apr. 1968
      • May 1968
      • June 1968
      • July 1968
      • Sept. 1968
    • Casper Aviation - Tony Bolivar
    • 4th ID - Chris Ross >
      • SwampFox
    • Misc Photos
  • Documents
    • Ivy Leaf - 4th Inf. newsletter >
      • Nov. 19, 1967
      • Nov. 26, 1967
      • Dec. 17, 1967
      • Dec. 24, 1967
      • More Issues
    • Pacific Stars and Stripes >
      • Nov. 11, 1967
      • Nov. 15, 1967
      • Nov. 16, 1967
      • Nov. 22, 1967
      • Nov. 24, 1967
      • Nov. 25, 1967
      • Nov. 26, 1967
      • Nov. 29, 1967
    • News Items
    • Leaflets
    • ATC reports >
      • 30 November 1967
      • 18 December 1967
      • 29 February 1968
      • 18 March 1968
      • Definitions of terms
  • Audio
  • Stories
  • links
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Site Map