Isaac Camacho: An American Hero

By Billy Waugh

This military biography recounts the incredible story of a Green Beret who survived capture and torture in Vietnam before escaping to freedom.

Raised in El Paso, Texas, Isaac Camacho enlisted in the U.S. Army as a young man and soon joined the ranks of an elite Special Forces Group. He served with distinction in the Vietnam War, training Civilian Irregular Defense Guard personnel at a camp near Cambodia’s Parrot’s Beak region. But in November of 1963, he was captured by the Viet Cong and subjected to nearly two years of excruciating torture.

Shackled, worked like an animal, and routinely interrogated, Camacho somehow managed to plan and execute a harrowing escape. On his long trek through enemy territory, he endured hellish jungle conditions and suffered from malaria, beriberi, and hepatitis. Yet he through it all he remained determined to live up to the Military Code of Conduct and to fight another day for his country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Mar 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781682616093

Billy Waugh

Billy Waugh is still involved in Special Operations around the world. He lives in Florida.

Book preview

ISAAC CAMACHO:

AN AMERICAN HERO

Billy Waugh, Special Forces SGM (R)

A PERMUTED PRESS BOOK

ISBN: 978-1-68261-608-6

ISBN (eBook): 978-1-68261-609-3

Isaac Camacho: An American Hero

© 2018 by Billy Waugh

All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author and publisher.

Permuted Press, LLC

New York • Nashville

permutedpress.com

Published in the United States of America

This is the non-fiction story of a US Army Special Forces Sergeant named Isaac Camacho a Prisoner of War (POW) who maintained his resolve and determination, even though caged and chained to a tree for 21 months in the jungles on the Cambodia/South Vietnam border; escaping and evading to freedom, once his chains were removed. This is the story of a man of undying faith—This is the story of an American Hero

It is important, when reading this book, to refer to the website isaaccamachoamericanhero.com when cued. Readers will view, Maps, Sketches, Photos, and Documents which will lead to better understand of the Sections and Chapters.

Enjoy—Billy Waugh

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1: THE FALL OF THE CIDG CAMP HIEP HOA, SVN

CHAPTER 2: POW MOVEMENT AFTER CAPTURE 150 KM TO WNW

CHAPTER 3: ARRIVAL AT THE POW CAMP:SHACKLED, CHAINED, AND CAGED

CHAPTER 4: RULES OF THE POW CAMP/INITIAL DAYS AS POWS

CHAPTER 5: INITIAL INTERROGATION BY THE COMMISSIONER

CHAPTER 6: INTO A ONE-MAN CAGE/ISOLATION/WORK DETAILS BEGIN

CHAPTER 7: WORK DETAILS AND INTERROGATIONS CONTINUE/WOOD CHOPPING DETAIL

CHAPTER 8: INTERROGATION/PUNISHMENT/WORK DETAILS

CHAPTER 9: DETAILS/THE SUN SPOT/FALCIPARUM MALARIA BOUT

CHAPTER 10: WORK DETAILS/SICKNESS/PUNISHMENT HOLE

CHAPTER 11: 1965 ARRIVES/ESCAPE PLANNING/NEW POWS INTO CAMP B—20

CHAPTER 12: ESCAPE PLAN MATERIALIZES/ESCAPE KIT READY

CHAPTER 13: ESCAPE/WALKING IN A CIRCLE/EVASION/PICKUP BY A VIET RED - CROSS AUTOMOBILE

CHAPTER 14: A DREAM COMES TRUE—LINK UP

CHAPTER 15: 3RD FIELD HOSPITAL, SAIGON, VIETNAM/OKINAWA/EL PASO, TX

CHAPTER 16: ARRIVAL AT MY TEXAS HOME/PLAUDITS/PROMOTION/PARADES/A MEMORABLE MEETING WITH THE U.S. ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF

CONCLUSION

PROLOGUE

SECTION I: Introduction

This book is about an exceptional American man named Isaac (Ike) Camacho, born to Maria and Pablo Camacho in a small house in Fabens, Texas, on 3 June 1937.

This story relates the non-fiction facts:

Concerning Ike Camacho’s capture, after being butt-stroked in the head by COSVN troops at a Special Forces Camp named Hiep Hoa, in South Vietnam, on 24 November 1963.

Being marched by his Viet Cong captors, approximately 150 kilometers (KM) through the Plain of Reeds into Cambodia, back into SVN; then to the Cambodian zone north of Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mountain) of Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam.

This story relates the twenty months of horrific treatment by his Viet Cong captors during which, as a prisoner of war (POW), Ike Camacho was caged, chained, continuously butt-stroked, and at times placed into a ‘black hole’ for ‘misconduct.’

Ike Camacho was interrogated by his COSVN captors, by Cubans, and by a French journalist. He was worked like an animal, but did -always and continuously—during his 20+ months of internment -concentrate and direct his thoughts to one central idea—ESCAPE. Isaac was determined to escape.

This story relates Ike Camacho’s actions as a POW, in which he assumed the role of an uneducated US Military Sergeant -pretending (to his COSVN captors) to be a menial supply sergeant with the US Army at Camp Hiep Hoa, South Vietnam on capture. Actually Ike Camacho was a US Army Special Forces weapons specialist; a Green Beret who had completed one tour of duty in Vietnam (1962) before volunteering to return to Vietnam for a second tour of duty with a Special Forces A-Team (July 1963). There he taught and led indigenous personnel in combat against the Viet Cong and COSVN forces in the south of Vietnam.

During his POW internment, Ike Camacho was successful in creating this non-threatening persona. This persona creation was accepted by cadre and the guards of the COSVN POW Camp, despite Ike Camacho’s constant careful planning for his chance of escape—certain it would come someday soon in the future.

Ike Camacho—as the senior US Army Special Forces man captured at Hiep Hoa, SVN, did not forget the Military Code of Conduct, for he attempted to keep the morale of the other US POWs as high as possible. He never as in—NEVER—forgot specific words of this Code of Conduct shown here: If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

This story describes the jungle illnesses, which befell Ike Camacho. He suffered falciparum and vivax malaria, beriberi, as well as infectious hepatitis during his months as a chained POW, becoming skeletal, and near death as his bodily functions slowly began to shut down.

This story briefly describes a few of Isaac Camacho’s ‘visits’ with God, as he felt certain that God was with him, every minute of every hour of each day. Isaac was certain He would pass advice as to when and how to escape—which He did.

This is the story of a true American—an heroic Mexican/Indian hero from Texas who managed to escape his cage in a driving monsoon rain within 25 feet of a Viet Cong guard.

Isaac Camacho slithered through his cage bars in such a manner that even the Viet Cong Commander could not determine how he escaped. Detailed is the description of his evasion of the searching Viet Cong and COSVN guards, who carefully combed the jungle for Isaac Camacho following his escape.

It is my pleasure to write this book, working closely with my friend, Isaac Camacho, so as to place this book before the people of Texas, the US Army Special Forces, the US Military, and the people of the United States of America. I feel very proud to know Isaac Camacho, and to have worked in Special Forces with him prior to his capture by the enemy, and then again, after his escape.

This man, Isaac Camacho, is a true American hero. His acts of determination, vigilance, and resolve, chronicled in this book are the very guiding principles, which our young US military men and women of today should follow in preparation for the possibility of capture by the enemy—in present and future wars.

When reading this book, one may follow the descriptions, sketches, maps, and photos on the website created especially for this purpose. This website consists of four sections and sixteen chapters, just as the book is written. The reader may refer to various ‘actions’ shown on the pages as the chapters unfold. These drawings and sketches will be in the military color scheme, while the photos (many taken by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong) are in the black-and-white color of the era.

The URL of this website is: isaaccamachoamericanhero.com; I feel when you finish this book you will close your eyes, and realize, as does Isaac Camacho, even today, just how wonderful this USA is. You will understand how very fine the men and women who serve truly are. Isaac Camacho is the quintessence of a fine, brave, and wonderful American. I am very, very proud to call Isaac my amigo, and am equally proud to have written this book.

–Billy Waugh

Assistance and Guidance in Reading this Book

The protagonist of this non-fiction writing is Isaac (NMI) Camacho, a fine Texas man, born on 3 June 1937, in Fabens, Texas. Isaac Camacho is 1/4 Apache-Mescalero and 3/4 Mexican. His family consist of fine Catholics, and true Americans to the maximum of their being. The Camacho-Family’s aim has always been: pay reverence to God; be polite, always; listen to instructions—work hard; and, tell the truth regardless of the consequences. Isaac Camacho’s Mother, Mary Camacho, insisted that her children -always be proud of family, your city of El Paso, TX, as well as the United States of America. The Camacho family, parents and children, were and are—proud Texans and Americans.

This book begins with four introductory sections and is followed by an Abbreviations and Acronyms section in the back of the book. These sections are included to assist readers who are not aware of:

Prologue/Introduction of pertinent facts about this book.

History and location of the country of Vietnam. History briefly covers the period from 1941—1963, at which time our hero was captured as a prisoner of war (POW) on 24 November 1963. Please read the maps and the words to understand what, when and where these actions occurred.

History of the US Army Special Forces, from inception in 1952 to 1963, the year Isaac Camacho was captured at Camp Hiep Hoa, SVN.

Brief history of Isaac Camacho himself, from his junior year of high school at Thomas Jefferson High School, El Paso, Texas (1954); graduation from that school in May 1955, entry into the US Army in June 1955, then through the first six years of his military career at which time (1961) he joined the United States Army Special Forces, at times called the Green Berets.

Rear of Book: Abbreviations, ACRONYMS and military terms

The author uses all of these within the chapters. Please refer to this section to gain information.

Readers will notice a ‘W-S’ notation indicating the reader should move to the book website to view a section or chapter sketch, photo, map or document, which will guide and assist the reader in understanding what has been written, e.g., (W-S Sketch #1, Chapter 1) directs the reader to Sketch #1, Chapter 1—to view a photo, sketch, map or document of the word descriptions being read.

The website (as mentioned) is isaaccamachoamericanhero.com.

Note: If the sketch has the speaker symbol on the right side, there is sound accompanying the sketch. The sound is intended to add reality to the sketch, usually continuing for one to two minutes. The reader needs only to left-click on this symbol for the sound to be played.

This book is written in the first person, as Isaac Camacho related this experience to the author. The words and sentences that are in italics indicate his thoughts. Voice communications from others or in cases where Camacho "speaks to himself," will be shown with quotations marks.

Our hero’s name is Isaac Camacho, but often, during the reading of the book, you will find that the other POW’s call him Isaac, Ike, or Camacho. The COSVN Guards, as well as the interpreter Mr. Phong (Mr. P.) and the Commissioner himself—refer to him as Gmascho always, as this is the Vietnamese way of phonetically saying the spelling Camacho. Whichever name is used, this is our hero, Isaac Camacho.

The enemy is called, Viet Cong, or shortened to VC, as well as Charlie. You will see the word COSVN (Central Office South Vietnam) used often, as the POW camp was located in the COSVN area of War Zone C. Also the enemy were the NVA (North Vietnamese), the PAVN (People’s Army Vietnam), and NLF (National Liberation Front).

These names—readers, are interchangeable, as these were all the enemy.

Use of Military Times

Military times will be shown in this book. Most world nations use the same time system as US military times. The abbreviation hrs is usually placed or said behind the time, e.g., 2400 hrs is Midnight.

This is simple, so remember:

0100 hrs = 1AM 0900 hrs = 9AM 1700 hrs = 5PM

0200 hrs = 2AM 1000 hrs = 10AM 1800 hrs = 6PM

0300 hrs = 3AM 1100 hrs = 11AM 1900 hrs = 7PM

0400 hrs = 4AM 1200 hrs = 12 Noon 2000 hrs = 8PM

0500 hrs = 5AM 1300 hrs = 1PM 2100 hrs = 9PM

0600 hrs = 6AM 1400 hrs = 2PM 2200 hrs = 10PM

0700 hrs = 7AM 1500 hrs = 3PM 2300 hrs = 11PM

0800 hrs = 8AM 1600 hrs = 4PM 2400 hrs = Midnight

0001 hrs = 1201AM

SECTION II: Brief History of US Involvement in Vietnam Post World War II

The information in this section is included to allow the reader a better understanding of:

Locations of (then a part of Indochina), specifically Vietnam.

Major US Presidential-policy decisions, which affected United States actions concerning Vietnam—post WWII to 1963.

This timeline will assist those readers who may not be familiar with the history of Indochina after World War II (post 1946).

Step-by-step details concerning United States policy directions, covering three US Presidential administrations—as the USG moved inexorably toward total commitment and war in Vietnam.

Maps included to assist in understanding of this paper are:

(W-S Map # 1—Vietnam timeline actions)

(W-S Map # 2—SE Asia pictorial history)

(W-S Map # 3—Brief timeline map of SE Asia with Camp Hiep Hoa, SVN History to 1963)

Highlights will be shown in a timeline scheme below¹.

¹information has been gathered from various sources, including (1) The History Place™ (2) Spark Notes from Barnes and Noble, as well as—(3) Professional Soldiers ®—Special Forces History.

Date: Significant Activity/Policy Decisions

1945-52—Japanese surrender unconditionally. Ho Chi Minh’s guerrillas occupy Hanoi, proclaiming a provisional government there.

Ho Chi Minh declares himself as President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam DRV—seeks recognition from/by the US, but is ignored by US President Truman (due to proximity of Vietnam to China).

President Truman authorized $15M aid to French for use in Indochina War.

China begins sending military advisors and modern weapons to the Viet Minh; most captured from the Chinese Nationalists by the Mao Zedong Communist Forces in 1949.

US establishes a military assistance advisory group (MAAG) in Saigon to aid the French army.

North Vietnamese general Vo Nguyen Giap begins a Viet Minh main attack v. the French near the Chinese border.

1953—Dwight D. Eisenhower is elected as the 34th President of the USA.

1953—French establish a defensive do or die position at an isolated jungle valley/village named Dien Bien Phu (see map position).

May 1954—10,000 French soldiers surrender to Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu—France withdraws from Vietnam.

July 1954—Geneva Accords divide Vietnam at the 17 parallel into North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

Sep 1954—Ho Chi Minh formally takes control of North Vietnam.

Jan 1955—US aid arrives to assist the government of South Vietnam.

Oct 1955—Bao Dai is ousted from power as South Vietnam’s Prime Minister. Ngo Dinh Diem named the first president of the Republic of Vietnam (also called South Vietnam or SVN).

Jun 1957—An MTT of the 1st SFG (A)—trains 58 Vietnamese in the area of Nha Trang, SVN. The Vietnamese trainees would become the nucleus for the LLDB (Vietnamese Special Forces).

Mar 1959—Ho Chi Minh declares a people’s war to unite all of Vietnam under his leadership. The declaration made by Ho Chi Minh was likened to a declaration of war v. the Republic of Vietnam.

May 1959—North Vietnamese establish the Central Office of South Vietnam (COSVN), to oversee the war in the south of Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh (HCM) Trail under construction.

Jul 1959—Two US advisors KIA by Viet Minh

1959-60—The Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists) increase activities in South Vietnam AO by conducting attacks, ambushes, and assassinations of South Vietnamese government officials.

Mar 1961—MTTs sent from the 1st SFG (A) to conduct training actions in the Da Nang, SVN area.

May 1961—President Kennedy sends 400 US Army SF Special Advisors to train South Vietnamese in methods of counter-insurgency warfare.

1961—Role of the US Army Special Forces in South Vietnam increases, as the Civilian Irregular Defense Groups (CIDG) are trained for anticipated and forthcoming major combat v. the Viet Minh, VC, COSVN and NVA troops.

Oct 1961—President Kennedy vows to South Vietnam President Diem to help Vietnam preserve its independence.

Oct 1961—President Kennedy orders additional US military advisors and US helicopter units to South Vietnam to prevent a communist takeover.

Aug 1962—US Army SF construct a CIDG camp at Khe Sanh to monitor the Ho Chi Minh Trail near the border of Laos.

1963—US Army Special Forces A-Teams, TDY from the 1st SFG (A) Okinawa and the 5th SFG (A) Fort Bragg, NC, dispatched to various locations of South Vietnam to train and support CIDG Program in an attempt to interdict infiltration of troops from North Vietnam.

Jul 1963 — Detachment A-21, 5th SFG (A) arrives at Hiep Hoa, SVN to train, and then operate with CIDG forces assigned to this camp.

SECTION III - Brief History of the US Army Special Forces

In June 1952—June 20 to be specific, the 10th Special Forces Group (Abn) was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, under the command of the US Army Psychological Warfare Center.

Locations of Special Forces Units:

The 10th SFG (A), as a unit, was transferred to Bad Tolz, Germany, at the end of 1953, at which time the 77th SFG (A) was formed at Fort Bragg, NC.

Colonel Aaron Bank was the first commander of the 10th SFG (A). Colonel Bank had served with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII. The good Colonel, who died recently, is now known as "The Father of Special Forces," as he and other men of vision conceived ideas including:

Using small groups of especially well-trained, noncommissioned officers with linguistic ability.

Infantry tactics/weapons, communications, demolitions, intelligence, and medical skills could, when led by a ‘crack’ 03 (Army Captain) and Executive Officer (02 1st LT) conduct a ground guerrilla war, supporting a battalion-sized partisan force v. an oppressive enemy in the very homeland of the enemy, if provided the proper backing and resupply. All of the skilled men mentioned were to possess intelligence- analysis adroitness as these teams of men would:

Be infiltrated into a potential guerrilla-warfare area by land, sea or air to organize, train, and exploit the indigenous in guerrilla warfare v. an enemy of the United States.

Set up/manage an area of operations (AO), as the teams would train and then exploit their indigenous forces—SF team members would also*:

Gather information about the enemy, in the AO—passing info—via timely CW commo—or other means to higher HQ.

Conduct ground search and rescue of downed US or Allied pilots, in the GAO, guide any pilot or other VIP through the escape and evasion (E&E) network out of the enemy AO, and back to friendly territory.

Train agents—personnel within the AO—to conduct sabotage and subversion v. the oppressing enemy.

Conduct operational actions v. the enemy as directed by the SFOB.

Employ the excellent Special Forces medical personnel.

Tend to, heal, and treat the local guerrillas and their families to treat combat wounds as well as illnesses as these Special Forces medical personnel also train local indigenous men and women using their keen medical skills.

Request supply and resupply via the CW communications net to support activities in the G-AO.

Report all information and plans to the SOFB during the conduct of such activities.

*Lofty expectations, which have proven to be attainable over the years of Special Forces’ deployments and actions in various combat AOs about the world.

The 1st Special Forces Gp. (Abn)

1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1SFG (A) was activated at Camp Drake, Japan, in June 1957, then relocated immediately to the island of Okinawa south of Japan in the western Pacific.

The 1st SFG (A) would have as their AO—Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippine Islands, Malaysia, Thailand, South Vietnam, as well as other locations in the Far East called the Pacific Rim, should the need arise.

Special Forces A-Teams as well as individuals from the Teams of the 1st SFG (A) were often selected to perform MTTs in various nations about the western Pacific. These MTTs performed with great success.

The Special Forces Teams/Detachments: (1963 Era)

The Special Forces Detachment—A or A-Team

The A-Team was a self-contained* unit whose members were specialized in the following missions and military occupational specialties:

*Self-contained in that each individual SF Team was commanded by an Army Captain (CPT) with an XO as 2nd in command (Early days a 1LT was the A-Team XO). The A-Team Sergeant and NCOs were to possess abilities (as shown below) with combined skills affording each A-Team the expertise to organize, train, exploit/keep alive and well, a G-Force of battalion size or larger within the sphere of enemy influence.

The Special Forces (SF) Teams created were manned as shown: Former and Present-day MOS(es) shown.

A- Detachment/A-Team

Captain—Team Leader 31542(SF lnf) (Now 18Alpha)

1LT-XO of the Team 31542 (SF lnf) (Now WO 180Alpha)

11 F.4S * MSG—Team Sergeant (Now 18Zulu)

11F.4S * SFC—Intelligence SGT (Now 18Foxtrot)

111.4S * SFC—Light Weapons Man (Now 18Bravo)

112.4S * SFC—Heavy Weapons Man (Now 18Bravo)

91B.4S * SFC—Senior Medical Specialist (Now 18Delta)

91B.3S * SSG—Medical Specialist (Now 18Delta)

05B.4S * SFC—Senior Commo Specialist (Now 18Echo)

05B.3S * SSG—Commo Specialist (Now 18Echo)

12B.4S * SFC—Senior Engineer Specialist (Now 18Charlie)

12B.3S * SSG—Engineer Specialist (Demo) (Now 18Charlie)

*MOS’ as of the year 1963 (W-S Sketch # 1, Section III)

B-Detachment/B-Team

The Bravo Detachment consisted of Special Forces personnel whose mission was to operate within or near to the area of operations (AO) to provide operational guidance, support, as well as manning (if necessary) for two (2) or more A-Teams. The Bravo Team was to be centrally located in or adjacent to the A-Team(s) AO, A US SF MAJ commanded.

C-Detachment/C-Team

The C-Detachment consisted of Special Forces personnel, along with other specialists, either in the area of operations (AO) or as near to the AO as practical, with duties to provide operational guidance, support, and manning—for two (2) or more Bravo-Detachments. A US SF LTC commanded.

SFOB

The Special Forces Operational Base normally would be located outside the AO*—manned by Special Forces personnel, as well as other specialists.

The Commander of the SFOB was normally the Commander of the Special Forces Operational Area, a Colonel (06) by rank.

*The SFOB during the war in Vietnam was located in the area of Nha Trang, SVN, with the mission of counter-insurgency actions.

History of the US Army Special Forces Action in the Country of Vietnam.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s Special Forces Mobile Training Teams (MTTs), which consisted usually of an A-Team, or modified A-Teams, were busy conducting training missions about the world.

MTTs traveled to various countries, e.g., Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, and other nations, training selected indigenous NCOs and officers in the fundamentals of Basic Airborne Training, Basic Ranger Training, as well as other military subjects.

The initial training mission from the 1st SFG (A) to The Republic of Vietnam (known then as The Republic of South Vietnam) took place in 1957. This initial SF Team trained up Vietnamese military cadre for the LLDB (Vietnamese Special Forces). This training was conducted near Nha Trang, SVN. (W-S Maps #1 and 2, Section III).

Commitment of the 1st SFG (A) to training missions in Vietnam increased as the men of all Special Forces units were fine instructors, who led by example in all phases of these military training Mobile Training Teams (MTTs).

Types of training included, but not limited to:

Training of the initial LLDB Vietnamese Special Forces units.

Training of the Vietnamese Ranger units.*

Training of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG).

*SFC Isaac Camacho, along with the author of this book, were team members on a modified A-Detachment in 1962—training the indigenous 10th Special Ranger Battalion in an area known as Than Khan, which later became Dak To, SVN. This area was located at Geo: N 14° 391 20.2 E 107° 47’ 08.6 along the Dak Poko River.

Training CIDG—Civilian Irregular Defense Group personnel coincided in some instances, with the Special Forces Team building a base camp at the same time, while training newly recruited personnel who were simultaneously undergoing basic military training in skills pertinent to the AO.

This was handled as follows: Team arrived at the designated area in South Vietnam, and infiltrated into an AO—previously selected by the powers of Special Forces/MACV, close to the border of Laos or Cambodia or in the case of upper I Corps near the 17th Parallel (North Vietnam border). The two (2) engineers of the SF team, along with hired help from locals started the construction of the intended SF camp.

The CIDG Camp at Hiep Hoa, SVN, where Isaac Camacho and three other SF Team members were captured, was operational when Detachment A-21 arrived from Fort Bragg, NC, in July 1963. The Team A-21 recognized that the Hiep Hoa camp had many defensive weaknesses requiring immediate construction to fortify positions. No appreciable amount of sandbags existed; barbed wire was inadequate, with little tangle-foot wire existing. The Team leader ordered gear and equipment to correct the existing deficiencies, reportedly—to no avail.

Although A-21 did not construct a new SF camp, the following describes the manner in which a SF camp was constructed while new trainees underwent basic military training.

Training and Constructing

Camp construction, such as the camp at Hiep Hoa, SVN—would be fortified with concertina or razor barbed wire. Claymore mines, and trip-flares were placed within the barbed-wire patterns. Tanglefoot wire, not more than 9-inches above the ground, was laid. Wire was designed to channel the movement of enemy attack formations into the friendly automatic weapons fire. LMG positions at the corner-bunkers of the camp, were sandbagged, affording protection for the personnel manning these automatic weapons. LMG Ammo was cased, adjacent to these weapons, handy to the 24/7/360 guard forces manning these weapons and positions.

The corner bunker LMG fire afforded an interlocking band of protective fire (termed the Final Protective Line [FPL] Fire). This knee-high FPL fire was intended defeat concentrated attacks against the camp.

The camp’s High-angled fire weapons (mortars, and in some cases artillery pieces) delivered fire into areas in the FPL which could not be covered by flat-trajectory weapons. Concentrations were plotted, and registered. Gunners of these high-angled fire pieces fired their FPLs often, in practice of FPL Fire, and to advertise to the enemy near and far, that any attack would be costly to enemy forces.

Wooded areas of trees outside the camp area, out to 1 KM (if possible) were cleared 360° around the camp. These jungle areas had to be chopped and leveled to afford clear fields of fire.

Bunkers with overhead protection for the troops within were necessary to protect against incoming enemy fire. In low-lying areas, near the Mekong Delta, such as was the case with Hiep Hoa, SVN, digging bunkers was impossible due to the water table being less than two feet below the ground. The requirement for protection, in this case, meant that sand-bagged bunkers must be constructed above the ground.

Construction of a protective, decent SF camp usually took three months or more to complete.

At the same time that the SF Team engineers (12Bs) were overseeing the camp construction, the (then) light weapons and the heavy weapons SF NCOs, along with the Team Sergeant, would commence the training of newly recruited Vietnamese, or Montagnard men, hired to become paid infantry soldiers.

The young trainees were called Strikers. The manner of employment was that these SF-trained men would strike the enemy within the assigned AO to ensure that the enemy did not infiltrate or operate within the area of responsibility designated for this Team.

The Special Forces Intel Sergeant, usually an SFC (E-7) with an MOS of 113.4S, duties included: Organizing intelligence network, not only inside the SF camp being constructed, but in the complete area of responsibility of the SF A-Team. This net included overt and covert information-gathering techniques, and was on-going from the very minute the team was inserted into the AO. All information gathered was disseminated to the A-Team and adjacent US Forces immediately, with information being transmitted to higher command ASAP according to Special Forces SOPs. The Intel Sergeant kept the SF Team Leader informed at all times, of the complete SF Team Intel Plan, and new information which was forthcoming via his net. The Team Leader, via the Commo system, passed info ASAP to higher command.

The two Special Forces medics were always busy. There were no licensed doctors assigned to the SF team(s). These medics (called Bacsi in Vietnamese) were excellent medical men. Each of the two medics per A-Team was trained at medical schools for more than one year; they were medically able to perform debridement of gunshot wounds (GSW) or other wounds; pull teeth with their handy-dandy tooth extraction kits, deliver babies, if necessary, as well as recognize ailments or maladies of the strikers and their families who lived near the SF camp being constructed. These Special Forces medical men conducted their medical ‘practice’ throughout the AO, as in Camp Hiep Hoa and in the local villages near the camp, having soldiers, and their families as patients.

The two 05 Bravo communicators were responsible for the ‘standing up’ of external and internal communications systems. During the period covered in this book, all outgoing communications—to higher commands—were completed by CW (Continuous Wave) generally referred to as Morse Code. The SF Commo men set up