LZ Dog Ear
After Action Report - LZ Dog Ear
November 18, 1967
Nang Tri Province, Republic of South Vietnam
Unit(s)
2nd Platoon, Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion
Commanding Officer - 1st Lt. Jacob Williamson
Report Prepared By & Witnesses
1st Lt. Jacob Williamson (CO of 2nd Platoon, Hotel Company)
Sgt. David Tucker (Squad Leader of 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon)
Sgt. Allan Field (Squad Leader of 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon)
Sgt. Kenneth Knox (Squad Leader of 3rd Squad, 2nd Platoon)
Private First Class Martin Bean (2nd Squad)
Private Larry Brown (2nd Squad)
Mission Orders
Recon an abandoned French colonial church and bridge site. There appeared to be recent activity in the area so secondary objectives were to be on the lookout for enemy troops and/or displaced locals. Command wanted this bridge site for a possible forward operating post in our new AO.
Terrain
We were inserted in an open area of the jungle to the west of the bridge site. The LZ was in the shape of a dog’s ear and was large enough to insert three choppers at one time. There was an old trail or small road that split the jungle and lead from our landing zone to the church and bridge site. At the site there appeared to be an old rice paddy, three huts, the damaged church and the bridge with scattered vegetation.
After Action Report
My platoon inserted around 1125 hours at LZ Dog Ear. 1st Squad was inserted to the north of the trail while 2nd Squad and 3rd Squad were inserted to the south of the trail. My HQ section was behind 2nd Squad so I could be in the center of my platoon. The insertion went smooth with no enemy contact. Once the choppers took off and we could hear the surrounding jungle sounds we started towards the tree line. As we were moving towards the tree line two troops from 1st Squad saw a VC MG team moving into position behind a tree to their front. They opened fire with their M16’s with each one of them scoring hits on two of the three VC. The VC gunner was hit in the shoulder and appeared to be seriously wounded while the other VC was knocked down. The third VC kept running toward the nearest cover.
My platoon stopped at the sound of gunfire and waited for return fire but nothing happened. The only man that didn’t stop was our M60 gunner from 3rd Squad, Private First Class Tim Worth, and he started running to the tree line to take cover. The VC that was knocked down got back up firing his SKS towards 1st Squad hitting Lance Corp. Jerry Morris causing a severe stomach wound. While this was happening the third VC took cover behind a tree just inside the tree line and fired his SMG at Pvt. Vincent Wilson (1st Squad) who had knocked down one of the VC team but missed with all three rounds. Pfc. Kirk Griffin, 1st Squad’s M60 assistant, and Sgt. David Tucker, 1st Squad’s Leader, went prone to avoid the incoming fire. Private Carl Zalenski (1st Squad’s M60 gunner), who was standing next to Sgt. Tucker, turned and ran back towards the middle of the LZ.
My Platoon was still frozen by the sudden gunfire from 1st Squad’s location. Pvt. Zalenski (1st Squad) started yelling and waving for the helicopters to come back from the middle of the LZ. The VC with the SKS ran to cover behind the tree and joined the other VC and fired his rifle. His rounds hit Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad), who almost killed him earlier, in the helmet knocking him down. The other VC fired his SMG severely wounding Pfc. Henry Nixon (1st Squad) with a stomach wound. Private Jerome Black from 1st Squad turned and ran toward Pvt. Zalenski in the LZ to yell for help also. Corp. Lamont Brown, 1st Squad’s Thumper gunner, went prone from the new incoming fire.
My men started to compose themselves and decide to put the fight to the VC. Pvt. Zalenski and Pvt. Black from 1st Squad continued to scream for help in the middle of the LZ while Sgt. Tucker (1st Squad) ordered his squad to get to the tree line, which most had started to do anyway. Corp. Brown (1st Squad) decided to stay proned out to avoid the VC’s incoming fire while Sgt. Tucker stopped to check Lance Corp. Morris (1st Squad) who was wounded earlier. Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad), who took a bullet to the helmet, got back on his feet and fired his M16 at the VC with no effect.
2nd Squad headed to the tree line with no enemy contact and my RTO, Corp. Fred Ewing, and I followed them. My Platoon Sgt, Gunnery Sgt. Bruce Jackson, sprinted towards the two Marines yelling in the middle of the LZ. Our Corpsman, Hospitalman Dale Jacobs, took off running towards the cries for “Corpsman.”
3rd Squad made it to the tree line while Private Simon Walker and Private First Class Dexter Stewart ran to the next available cover just inside the tree line.
As this was happening a second VC MG team with an officer came into view near where the first VC team was originally spotted. There could have been a tunnel opening in that area.
The 2nd VC MG team took cover behind a tree next to the other VC from the 1st team. The VC with the SMG opened fire on Sgt. Tucker from 1st Squad knocking him down. The other VC with the SKS fired at a 1st Squad Marine, Private Josh Brooks, who was taking cover behind a tree hitting the tree.
Pvt. Wilson, from 1st Squad, opened fire while standing next to Sgt. Tucker (1st Squad) hitting one of the VC in the right hip taking him out of the fight. Pvt. Brooks (1st Squad), who was covered in tree bark, returned fire at the VC that just shot at him hitting him in the right thigh taking him out of action while two more Marines from 1st Squad opened fire at the same time missing the VC. The new VC MG team wasn’t affected by the fire fight and continued to get set up.
2nd Squad reached the tree line safely but ended up grouped pretty close. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson continued his running and yelling at the two Marines in the middle of the LZ with no results. HN Dale Jacobs saw the 1st Squad Sgt go down and picked up his pace. Corp. Ewing and I continued to try and catch up with 2nd Squad.
Pvt. Walker and Pfc. Stewart of 3rd Squad made it inside the tree line found cover and waited. Sgt. Kenneth Knox from 3rd Squad ordered his M60 team to join Pvt. Walker and PFC Stewart inside the tree line but they were confused by what he was trying to tell them.
At this point the VC had the momentum and the 2nd MG team was all in place and the gun was being set up. One of the VC from that team with a bolt-action rifle shot at Pvt. Wilson from 1st Squad but missed. The VC officer fired his AK-47 at the closest Marine but missed also. The Marine shot back at the VC with the bolt action rifle but missed. Corp. Brown, from 1st Squad, joined the fight and stood up to fire a HE round from his M79 at the tree the VC were behind but his weapon discharged prematurely and the round entered the ground at his feet. Sgt. Tucker (1st Squad) told Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad) to grab Lance Corp. Morris (1st Squad) and head to the tree line. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson was almost to Pvt. Zalenski (1st Squad) and Pvt. Black (1st Squad) in the middle of the LZ while HN Dale Jacobs reached Sgt. Tucker (1st Squad) of and helped the two Marines carry their wounded comrade. Pvt. Brooks (1st Squad) and another Marine on the far right of 1st Squad opened fire on the VC gunner from the 2nd team. Only one of the Marines hit his target but it only knocked the VC down.
Private First Class Martin Bean, Private Andrew Simpson, and Private Larry Brown, from 2nd Squad, ran inside the tree line along the trail while the rest of 2nd Squad covered them. At this point Corp. Ewing and I joined 2nd Squad.
Pvt. Worth and Pvt. Walker (M60 team) from 3rd Squad finally figured out what Sgt. Knox wanted and took off towards the other Marines inside the jungle. Pvt. Walker made it pretty easy while Pvt. Worth was a little slower at carrying the squad‘s M60.
The VC gunner from the 2nd MG team got back up and finished setting up the machine gun. It was at this time that the VC armed with the bolt action rifle fired at Corp. Lamont Brown of 1st Squad killing him instantly. The VC officer fired a burst from his AK-47 towards Sgt. Tucker, HN Dale Jacobs, and Pvt. Wilson who were carrying the wounded Lance Corp. Jerry Morris. HN Dale Jacobs living up to Navy Corpsman tradition didn’t blink at the incoming fire and they all continued towards the tree line still carrying the wounded Marine. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson reached Pvt. Zalenski and Pvt. Black who had completely broken down in the middle of the LZ and realized they were too far gone for help so he decided to head towards the tree line to join the fight. Sgt. Tucker (1st Squad) and Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad) with HN Dale Jacobs hit the tree line carrying Lance Corp. Morris and the corpsman started to work on the wounded man even though they are very close to the VC MG team that was setting up. One of 1st Squad’s Marines at the tree line where the wounded Marine was brought fired at the VC MG team that was setting up missing him while the two remaining Marines from 1st Squad opened fire also knocking down the VC gunner again.
Pfc. Bean, Pvt. Simpson, and Pvt. Brown of 2nd Squad were able to reach cover inside the jungle while the rest of their squad stayed put and provided cover. I called for air support to hit the VC’s position but wasn’t able to get out on the radio. Meanwhile Pvt. Worth was able to reach his assistant gunner Pvt. Walker and the other two Marines from 3rd Squad inside the jungle while the rest of the squad provided cover.
Soon after Pfc. Bean, Pvt. Simpson, and Pvt. Brown (2nd Squad) found cover inside the jungle they spotted three VC with mixed weapons running just on the other side of the trail heading towards all the gunfire. The Marines opened fire on them with two of the Marines scoring hits on the group. The lead VC took a round to the stomach that obviously killed him instantly while the VC behind him took two hits that almost tore him in half also killing him instantly. The last VC stopped at the sudden shock of the incoming fire and fired back with his SMG hitting Pvt. Simpson, who had just killed the lead VC, in the groining putting him out of action. Pfc. Bean and Pvt. Brown ducked behind cover.
The lone VC that was running to the firefight decided to turn and run. Pfc. Bean and Pvt. Brown fired a couple of bursts from their M16’s at the fleeing VC with both men hitting him and knocking him down.
The VC gunner by 1st Squad got back up while his comrade with the bolt action rifle fired a round at Sgt. Tucker from 1st Squad hitting him in the right hip putting him out of action. The VC officer also fired a burst but missed. The assistant VC gunner from the 2nd team fired his AK-47 towards the two farthest Marines from 1st Squad hitting one of them and knocking him down. The Marine beside the one that was just knocked down fired back but missed his target.
Gunnery Sgt. Jackson ran towards the area where he saw Sgt. Tucker go down while HN Dale Jacobs started tending to Lance Corp. Morris and Sgt. Tucker. Pvt. Wilson and Pvt. Willis Johnson who were next to this group and were still able to fight did just that. Pvt. Johnson fired at the deadly accurate VC with the bolt action rifle hitting him in the left shin while Pvt. Wilson missed his target.
I ordered the men that were with me from 2nd Squad to head to 1st Squad’s position to give them support while Corp Ewing tried calling for air support again but nothing. Pfc. Bean and Pvt. Brown of 2nd Squad grabbed the wounded Pvt. Andrew Simpson and headed back to my position from inside the jungle.
Sgt. Knox from 3rd Squad took Pfc. Jimmy Getts and Corp. Donald Lucero and headed into the jungle towards the squad’s M60 team.
My men continued to hold on and never let up on the fight. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson made it to HN Dale Jacobs’ location where he was hard at work tending to wounded Marines. Pvt. Johnson (1st Squad) fired a burst towards the VC officer missing him. Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad) standing next to him fired at the MG gunner but missed also. Pvt. Brooks (1s Squad) got back up and him and the other Marine beside him ran to what was left of their squad. Private First Class Reggie Gray, with 2nd Squad‘s M60, Private Dennis Clark (Assistant Gunner), Private George Langhorn, and Sgt. Allan Field from 2nd Squad took over their position. The Marines from 2nd Squad with their wounded man had almost made it back to my position when I ordered Corp. Ewing to scratch the air support and told him to get a medi-vac to our location. He was able to get through but we were told there were no birds available because another operation in the area was in trouble also.
When Sgt. Knox, of 3rd Squad, reached his men inside the jungle he ordered them to head towards my old location but they were confused by where that was.
The VC we were facing were tough and determined and continued to fight. The VC officer fired his AK-47 again but missed his target. The VC gunner opened up with a burst from his machine gun with three rounds finding targets. Pvt. Willis Johnson of 1st Squad, who was providing cover for HN Dale Jacobs, went down hit in the right thigh while HN Dale Jacobs’ left leg disappeared killing him instantly. Pvt. Vincent Wilson who was also providing cover for HN Dale Jacobs was hit in the right hand and fell to the ground yelling in pain.
1st Squad was in deep trouble but they continued the fight. Gunnery Sgt. Bruce Jackson threw a grenade at the VC MG team but missed. One of the few remaining Marines from 1st Squad fired toward the VC gunner but missed also. Pvt. Brooks (1st Squad) decided to toss a grenade at the VC MG team but fumbled the grenade. Seeing the grenade falling at his feet he grabbed the wounded Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad) who was next to him and tried to roll away from the grenade. This action saved him from injury but Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad) took some shrapnel to the abdomen.
The VC officer fired and again missed his target. The VC gunner fired another burst from his machine gun. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson was hit in the face and killed instantly while Pvt. Wilson (1st Squad) who was just peppered by the grenade was hit again.
2nd Squad’s M60 team of Pfc. Gray and Pvt. Clark opened fire on the VC MG team but missed their target while Sgt. Field (2nd Squad) and Pvt. Langhorn (2nd Squad) also fired and missed. Pfc. Bean and Pvt. Brown of 2nd Squad with their wounded man reached my position. Seeing almost all of 1st Squad being wiped out by the VC machine gun as well as Gunnery Sgt. Jackson and HN Dale Jacobs I ordered Corp. Ewing to get some artillery fire on the MG team. Still no results from our calls for support.
The M60 team and two other Marines from 3rd Squad ran through the jungle towards the trail.
For some reason the VC decided to stop their deadly fire. The lone Marine from 1st Squad opened fire on the VC MG team but missed. Pfc. Reggie Gray and Pvt. Dennis Clark (2nd Squad’s M60 team) also opened fire with their M60 hitting the VC officer in the left chest and he hit the ground hard while the VC assistant gunner’s right arm is severed and he fell to the ground dead. Sgt. Allan Field from 2nd Squad fired his M16 at the MG team also hitting the VC gunner in the left chest wounding him. At the same time Pfc. Gray (2nd Squad) fired the squad’s M60 hitting the VC gunner once in the right shoulder killing the gunner.
The group of Marines from 3rd Squad continued to head towards the trail through the jungle. At this time I ordered the remainder of my men to gather our casualties and told Corp. Ewing to scratch support and that we need to get our wounded out of there. He called for a medi-vac again but can’t get through.
2nd Squad started taking some of the wounded to the LZ while 3rd Squad headed to my position.
The enemy fire had stopped and I ordered my men to gather the rest of our wounded and dead in the LZ and get ready for evac. A few of my men did search the immediate area and found two dead VC and some blood trails. We held the LZ but we were unable to carry out our mission and took heavy casualties.
US casualties 4 KIA and 5 WIA. Enemy casualties 2 confirmed KIA, estimated 5 WIA, estimated 2 KIA (additional). No enemy weapons or supplies captured.
Medals, Awards & Citations
Gunnery Sgt. Bruce Jackson (KIA 11/18/1967)
Gunnery Sgt. Bruce Jackson (Monroe, LA), Platoon Sgt. of 2nd Platoon, Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for actions that occurred on 11/18/1967 at LZ Dog Ear in Nang Tri Provice, Republic of Vietnam. While under heavy enemy fire Gunnery Sgt. Bruce Jackson braved risk of injury and or death by exposing himself to enemy fire while running across an open landing zone to rally some fellow Marines that had broken under direct enemy fire. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson again braved enemy fire as he rushed to assist his platoon's 1st Squad as they were taking heavy casualties. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson fought beside his men until he was struck in the face by enemy bullets. Gunnery Sgt. Jackson's actions helped keep his men together under heavy enemy fire.
Other Awards Received - Purple Heart
Hospitalman Dale Jacobs (KIA 11/18/1967)
Hospitalman Dale Jacobs (Valley Center, KS), Corpsman of 2nd Platoon, Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for actions that occurred on 11/18/1967 at LZ Dog Ear in Nang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam. Hospitalman Dale Jacobs risked injury and/or death as a group of Marines in his platoon came under heavy enemy fire. Upon hearing shouts for a corpsman HN Jacbos rushed across an open landing zone towards enemy fire to render aid to wounded Marines. While working on a Marine that was being carried by fellow Marines to cover HN Jacobs continued to work even as enemy bullets snapped around his head. HN Jacobs continued to work on the wounded Marine and other Marines that were being wounded around him while under constant enemy fire. HN Jacobs lived up to the fine tradition of a Navy Corpsman up until the time of his death when he was struck by enemy machine gun fire and killed instantly. Hospitalman Dale Jacobs work saved several wounded Marines lives.
Other Awards Received - Purple Heart
Lance Corporal Jerry Morris (KIA 11/18/1967)
Lance Corporal Jerry Morris (Los Angeles, CA), 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines was awarded the Purple Heart after succumbing to wounds suffered by enemy gunfire on 11/18/1967 at LZ Dog Ear in Nang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam.
Corporal Lamont Brown (KIA 11/18/1967)
Corporal Lamont Brown (Baltimore, MD), 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines was awarded the Purple Heart after being killed in action by enemy gunfire on 11/18/1967 at LZ Dog Ear in Nang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam.
Private Vincent Wilson (WIA 11/18/1967)
Private Vincent Wilson - WIA, Nov. 18, 1967, Nang Tri Province (LZ Dog Ear). Right hand wound, shrapnel wounds to abdomen. Hole in helmet. Awarded - Purple Heart.
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