Another Personal View of The Battle of Ap Bau Bang
as told by then SSG Ralph Bosalet (CSM Ret, Member of 2/2d Inf
SSG Bosalet was in a foxhole directly in front of my vehical, A-29 and witness to what happened. His Letter, which follows, is just one more piece of the overall story of what took place at Ap Bau Bang. (Bill Baty):
Bill:
This is what I remember:
On Nov 11, 1965 A Co, 1/2 pulled in from road security and established a perimeter defense, with a section from the 33rd Artillery Bn and A Troop, 1/4th Cav, less their tanks. I was Plt Ldr and Plt Sgt of the 3rd Plt of A Co and was tasked for a LP/ambush patrol.
The patrol consisted of a 10 man rifle squad, 1 man MG crew and a medic.
As you said in your narrative, you were awakened by gun fire from the east of the perimeter. That was the Lp/ambush patrol, Sgt Shanklin, the squad leader, had called the CO Cp and reported movement to their front (east). He described a guy in a white robe and a lot of foot traffic. Then he initiated the ambush, which alerted the perimeter to the incoming VC attack. Everyone in the perimeter owes a well done to that squad. Two survivors crawled into the perimeter at daylight. In answer to SP4 Gonzales's observation about the rifleman from the first platoon not firing, he was ordered not to. The 2 men who survived the ambush were trying to make it back into the perimeter from the east.
I personally believe that Sgt Shanklin's unit made the VC Attack prematurly and were not in position for a surprise attack.
This is what I remember inside the perimeter:
My third platoon and the second platooon were responsible for the north portion of the perimeter. The first platoon had the east portion. Behind and between the first and second platoon was the section from the 33rd Arty. To my west flank and behind was your PC pointing in the general direction of NNW. When the VC Started their attack, they laid down a heavy volume of rifle fire with a concentration of recoiless riofle fire and RPG's directed at your PC's. The 2 rifle platoons facing north returned fire with the same intensity that we were receiving. To the point that we were close to expending our basic load. They called for more ammo so SP Riggs and my radio operator and I went to the CO Cp where the CO basic loads were located in a 2 1/2 ton truck. We made several trips for ammo, opened the crates and walked down the line dispensing the ammo to my platoon and the second platoon. I have not in any of the summaries read about the fog that had settled over the area. We could hear the jets overhead but they had no visibility to the ground. They were instructed to stay out of the area so that the artillery from Lai Khe could give us the badly needed fire support. I called the CO and got permission to call in artillery fire. The Artillery unit was very patient with me because I dropped in increments of 25, for the last adjustments I asked Sgt Wheeler, (Sqd Ldr), if it was close enough and he said, "25 more would be nice", so I did, and I asked again and he said, "1 more time", and from over in the second platoon I heard, "don't do it Sarge!", so instead I called for a fire for effect. The berm and the woods behind where the VC's were entrenched took a serious beating. To the artillery in Lai Khe, thank you for a timely job well done.
Rather than being redundant, let me say now, that the incoming fire was heavy, continious and lasted until the jets started their straffing run. In addition to re-supplying the troops with ammo, we heard your call and assisted you by moving a soldier on the outside of the track and a huge soldier inside the track with both eyes blown out and calling for help. We escorted him and another soldier to the dust off area, which was occupied with VC. The artillery unit and we 3 did a job on them. The artillery stayed and secured the LZ and loaded the wounded. We returned to the PC where we borrowed your 50 Cal and gave it to Sgt Duenos with tripod and ammo. He immediately put it into action knocking out the VC RR crew and 2 other crews tht tried to man it. You would have been proud of him. We tried to extract the remaining dead soldier from beneath the 4.2 mortar tube, it proved to be impossible but I tried hard and was finally mugged by Riggs and another soldier and dragged out. I really wanted to send him home. I thanked them both later because the track exploded a few minutes later. My Platoon inside the perimeter was secure so Riggs and I continued to help the wounded including you and escorted all of you to the LZ.
The attached sketch is how I remember the battlefield in my corner of the world.
Note: Te berm had foxholes that had been occupied by the VC when they attacked the french unit that RON'd in the same place years ago as witnessed by the French burned out PC's around our position. Remember! There's a lesson to be learned in there somewhere.
By the way, how did you associate my name with the 50 Caliber? (Who squealed)
Sincerely, Ralph Bosalet
Sketch submitted by CSM(Ret) Ralph Bosalet<./center>
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