Page:Airmobility 1961-1971.pdf/94
phosphorus artillery was brought in and caused a temporary lull in the enemy firing that enabled some of the friendly forces to retrieve their dead and wounded and regroup. Both A and B Companies had numerous wounded and killed in action, while C Company had taken a few casualties but was in good shape. Company D had hardly been hit. During the afternoon Colonel Moore asked for assistance. The only company immediately available was Company B, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry, which landed in the landing zone by 1800. By 1900, the organization of the perimeter was completed. Units were tied in for the night and defensive artillery and mortar fires were registered.
A major problem that had developed throughout the day was the care and evacuation of the wounded. The battalion surgeon, medical supplies, and four aid station personnel had arrived in 1400 hours and, under heavy fire, they treated the wounded in the command post area. Colonel Moore had decided to restrict medical evacuation helicopters from coming in too frequently because most of the afternoon the landing zone was under fire. He had kept one small area big enough to land two helicopters open as his supply and evacuation link to the rear and intended to defend it at all costs. A system was arranged whereby any helicopter coming in with troops and supplies would have a specific load of wounded keyed to its departure.
Concerning his helicopter support, Colonel Moore stated:
I have the highest admiration, praise and respect for the outstanding professionalism and courage of the UH-1D pilots and crews who ran a gantlet of enemy fire time after time to help us. They never refused to come in; they followed instructions beautifully; they were great. We in turn called them in when fire was the lightest and tried to have everything ready for each landing to keep them on the ground a minimum time. None were shot down and destroyed, although most of them took hits. Two aircraft were brought in which did not get out. One received enemy fire in the engine and had to land in an open area just off the northern portion of the LZ; the other clipped a few tree tops with the main rotor upon landing in the LZ and had to be left. Crews of both aircraft were immediately lifted out by other helicopters. Both downed helicopters were immediately secured by elements of Company D without orders per battalion SOP—they being the nearest troops. Both were slightly damaged only and were slung out two days later by CH-47 Chinooks. During the three day battle these were the only two downed helicopters.
By late afternoon it had become apparent that the battalion would need a night landing capability and Company A of the 229th Helicopter Battalion had anticipated the requirement. A pathfinder team arrived and cleared a fairly safe zone with engineer demoli[tion]