Chereads / Life of a Soldier: A Vietnam War Story / Chapter 24 - Chapter 24, The Easter Offensive

Chapter 24 - Chapter 24, The Easter Offensive

the Chopper played California Dreamin as it flew over Khe Sanh, I watched waves of ARVN and other forces marching.

The NVA over the ridge were firing tanks, artillery and other things at us. It looked like something you would only see in movies but this was the real event, NVA were making a massive Offensive since the Tet Offensive and similar to Chinese offensive into North Korea since the Korean War.

I sat back chewing on some gum while the door gunner peppered the enemy below. Hearing the chain gun release it's rounds sounded like a loud humming bird.

"That building right there! get us on the roof and we'll secure it!" Gillan order the Pilot who moved towards a building as we prepare to touchdown we jumped off just as rockets were being fired at them.

Luckily the Chopper was able to disengage as we formed up and went into the building. Inside where plenty of Civilians and a couple of Soldiers.

"Whoa you guys Golf team?" One of them asked, "Yeah?" Paul answered.

"Holy shit you guys are legends what brings you guys here?" The Marine asked, "Saving your butts Sonny" Gillan answered.

Bucky broke open one of the windows taking a shot outside, below us we heard screaming and firing.

NVA were storming the building so Me, Scully, Marshall, and Kyle ran down the stairs. I took Marshall with me to clear out floors while ordering Scully and Kyle to sweep rooms.

I was lucky to be armed with an M16 rifle with a M203 Grenade Launcher attachment while Marshall was wielding a MAT-49 which is a French SMG he got from a deceased South Vietnamese Militia member during one of our Operations.

Firing off a grenade from my rifle out of a window to scare off some of the NVA. Marshall kicked open a door and fired off some rounds when I came to him, he already killed a few NVA.

Inside where some dead ARVN, we continue to sweep the floors til we nearly ran down to the main floor but a couple of Army stopped us.

"They got armor out there..." One of them said, I peaked and indeed they got a Type 59 Main Battle Tank with our names on it. The main gunner was firing a machine gun taking out any fellow troops outside.

"Alright smoke grenades and I'll set up charge" I said as we ran to the walls then popped some smoke.

Before the Gunner could warn the crew one of the Troops shot him dead allowing me to run up and throw my charge onto it.

Running back before blowing the tank apart. We manage to destroy a tank but their were still plenty.

In the Air it was chaotic our planes were dogfighting theirs, NVA Choppers were swooping in to deliver more troops or retrieve their wounded or dead.

Gillan, Scully, Paul, Kyle came out to us as Gillan began to talk orders. "Any direction where the Enemy is coming from?" Gillan asked.

"There's a bridge about three clicks from here Sir, they got Self Propelled Guns and some Tanks" "Sergeant I want you to some of these sapper boys and get rid of that bridge!" Gillan ordered me as I lead some the sappers.

While we moved we came across some pinned troops as one of them was using a radio. I approached him "Hand me that radio"

"You SOG?" He asked as I rolled my eyes "Just give me the radio" I demanded, taking the radio.

"Alamo! this is Golf 1 I am requesting fire on a building due north of us, 878 993 900" I said, "Copy that Golf 1 bringing the heat"

I watched as one of our Huey's flew in and begin raining bullets and rockets into the NVA infested building. "Take that fuckers..." I muttered.

After that I lead the group to the bridge as we had to go underneath it to avoid the tanks. The Sappers primed their explosives while I guarded them.

"Set sir!" One of them said, I lead them away from the bridge and into a safe area "Send" I ordered.

The bridge lit up and begin to collapse separating any reinforcements from the main group thus leaving the main NVA in the city.

Combat in a urban area was hell enough more hell then fighting VC in the jungle. Cause if their in the trees we can just burn the trees and forest but if their in buildings we either clean them out or level it.

Paul was letting out screams of rage as he fired his weapon. He looked like a mad man while Kyle was patching up a wounded Marine.

Gillan fired his rifle off a few times and Bucky took another shot saying on how he bagged another one. Reloading my weapon as I witness one of our soldiers had an M16 with some flamethrower attachment.

He was scorching the enemy from inside of a house. Despite the bullets and explosions I could still hear the screaming.

When the fighting was done we sat around as our forces cleansed the area from any stragglers. Wounded and dead were taken, I rubbed my eyes remembering the song on the Huey 'California Dreamin'

The Sky looked more red then grey but the song itself hits hard, I was homesick I'm sure we are all.

Just dreaming about being away from hardships and lots of tragedy, pouring some water on my head to cool myself off.

The war was getting more and more difficult facing NVA or VC it didn't matter if they hold a rifle to you, you take them out.

So it doesn't make no difference, NVA were soldiers while VC were just people with guns. Now I'm wondering what it'll be like to chat Vietnam was a civilian and not a soldier.

Perhaps once this is all over I'll find out.

"Alright boys let's get moving" Gillan says as we got up and followed him, I held my rifle firmly in my grip. The offensive was still going on and I'm starting not really to care who wins it anymore.