Memories of a 4/42 Artillery Forward Observer 1966-1967

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Memories of a 4/42 Artillery Forward Observer with A 1/22 Infantry 1966-1967

LT Richard Howett, Excecutive Officer Battery C 4/42 Artillery
Photo taken at a firebase along Highway 19, near the Cambodian border,
southeast of Duc Co, Vietnam, July 28, 1967

1/22 History Dec 66-Jun 67

I was assigned to C Battery, 4/42 in early December 1966 and joined A Company, 1/22 in the middle of the month as the artillery FO. I believe the FO I replaced was LT Lawson who was eventually KIA in May of 1967. Shortly after I joined the company it was returned to 4th Div base as there was a truce that year from just before Christmas until just after New Years day.

When the truce expired 1/22 began active operations again although I do not recall the exact AO. I do know that by the beginning of February 1/22 was assigned as the perimeter guard for the forward brigade base at what I remember as 3 Tango and what has been identified by others as 3 Church. A mission was planned to establish a fire base in the Nam Sathay river area near the Cambodian border on February 15. In the early morning hours of Feb 14, 3 Tango came under heavy mortar and/or rocket attack. In spite of that, the air assault planned for February 15 went off as scheduled.

A Company was the first in. As I recall there was some light resistance which ended quickly. A Company moved out into the jungle, B Company followed and moved out in the opposite direction and C Company came in to secure the perimeter of the fire base. We (A Company) established a night perimeter several kilometers from the fire base site. The next day, February 16, we resumed patrol. Shortly after lunch the point man reported coming upon a "well and recently used trail". At the same time we heard sounds coming from down the trail to our right. CPT Christopher Keuker sent one platoon up the trail to the left and the other two down to the right. He directed me to remain with the HQ RTO's and my FO team between the two platoons sent to the right while he proceeded with the lead platoon to investigate the sound which turned out to be a burning "hootch".

Just as CPT Keuker returned to my location between the two platoons and we were preparing to pick up our packs which we had dropped on out original side trail we came under intense small arms and machine gun fire. For the next six hours we fought against an enemy force of unknown size (later estimated to have been battalion strength). In that period of time we were gradually surrounded and suffered casualties in the neighborhood of 50%. C Company was sent to reinforce us while B Company returned to the fire base to secure the perimeter. C Company finally broke through to our position around dusk, having suffered 1 KIA (CPT McManus, the CO) and several wounded. At that the point the enemy broke off contact. The following day we evacuated our wounded and dead and on the 18th returned to the fire base.

A Company was assigned perimeter guard until the end of February until we refitted and replaced our losses. At the beginning of March the company resumed patrol and on March 3 fought a day long engagement with another enemy force of unknown size. As I recall this was somewhat of a running fight as we pursued a retreating enemy in an area that had been subjected to a B 52 strike sometime earlier. We had 1 KIA and several wounded in this action. Shortly thereafter we again returned to the fire base and were there during the mortar attack of March 10. (The mangled jeep pictured on the web site was hit that day.) As a result of the increasing mortar attacks on the fire base we again resumed patrol.

On the evening of March 13 we were encamped several kilometers from the fire base when we clearly heard mortars being fired in our vicinity. We at first thought them directed at us but it soon became apparent that the fire base was the target. The next morning we moved out attempting to locate the enemy mortar force but instead ran into another ambush. In this case one of our platoons was cut off from the other two. CPT Keuker directed me to establish a command post and a perimeter with the other two platoons while he attempted to establish contact with the missing platoon. When he did not return I assumed command of the Company.

As I recall the platoon leader of one of the remaining platoons was wounded and out of action and the other platoon leader was relatively new. He and I shared responsibility. I asked him to coordinate the perimeter while I handled the artillery support. We worked together to accurately direct air support. I do not recall his name - Lund or Lungren comes to mind. I did recommend him for a Silver Star for his actions that day although I do not know if he ever received that well deserved award. Once again, C Company was dispatched to reinforce us arriving after dark.

With C Company came CPT Ray Crawford who was assigned to replace the missing CPT Keuker. I asked CPT Crawford to allow me to continue in operational command until daylight as I was aware of the dispositions of our defensive perimeter and the location of all of our casualties and he graciously agreed to that arrangement. Once C Company arrived the enemy broke off contact. CPT Keuker was found the next day barely alive having sustained several wounds including one to the head. (He survived and lived until 2015.) At that point CPT Crawford became A Company CO and remained in that capacity through the remainder of my time as FO which was until the end of June 67 when I was reassigned as XO of C Battery. In this action A Company once again had a casualty rate of approximately 50%, mostly in the platoon that was isolated.

1/22 was pulled out of this fire base by the end of March and from that point untill the time I left as FO operated throughout the area surrounding Pleiku. A Company was involved in several other engagements which were minor in comparison with those of February 16 and March 14. Most of the operations I recall fell into the category of village search and seizure. The only specific AO I recall was at a fire base along Highway 19 near the Cambodian border and the Special Forces camp at Plei Me. I think we were there toward the end of June and remained there through July as I have a picture of me as Battery C XO at that location dated 29 July.

Rich Howett 6-21-2009

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