Last Light Mission - 13 Apr 1970
Vol 5 - No 15 - 13 April 1970
Evening Air Reconnaissance Stops Enemy Near Cu Chi Wire
By SP4 JOE O'ROURKE
CU CHI - A light scout team from Delta Troop, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, was working a routine last light mission around the perimeter.
Suddenly, Warrant Officer Gary Center, Bountiful, Utah, the light observation helicopter pilot, spotted the group of enemy only a few hundred meters from the base camp perimeter. He swung his aircraft around in a tight, rapid turn and headed directly for the group.
The aircraft was met with a hail of automatic weapons fire. Center gave the order to open fire as soon as he was in position to avoid firing into the base camp. The enemy group scattered leaving pots of rice, still cooking, and supplies lying haphazardly in the area. As they fled they continued to engage the helicopter with small arms fire.
Machinegun fire from the helicopter killed three of the enemy and wounded a fourth as they ran for cover in nearby tunnels. Center called on the Cobra team to fire a rocket barrage into the tunnels. Then he landed his ship and his crew gathered the equipment abandoned by the enemy.
The captured equipment included two pistols, one rifle, four pounds of rice, clothing, medical supplies and assorted other supplies.