From Wikipedia:
Since the summer of 1966, the North Vietnamese Army made repeated attempts to drive out the Marine forces from the heights of Mutter’s Ridge, which formed a portion of the southern boundary of the Demilitarized Zone. The Marines were charged with preventing enemy infiltration across the DMZ and Ben Hai River. Fighting on the ridge would continue for the next few years.
Mutter’s Ridge was the name given by U.S. Marines to the Núi Cây Tre (“Bamboo Mountain”) ridge, in Quảng Trị Province. The ridge was formed by Hills 461, 484, and 400 and overlooked the southern edge of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to the north and Route 9 to the south.
The ridge was contested between the Marines and the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) starting with Operation Prairie in August 1966 and was named for the radio callsign of the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines which secured the ridge in September/October 1966.
From 1966-1969 the Marines variously established and abandoned bases along the ridge to support operations against the PAVN, including Landing Zone Mack on Hill 484, Landing Zone Margo, and Landing Zone Sierra.
It is on this ridge that Larry Burrows shot his famous picture of a wounded black sergeant “reaching out” to a white comrade sitting in the mud.
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If you never heard of the Battle of Mutter’s Ridge it’s probably because not many have or didn’t hear about it. Although 24 Marines were killed and 58 wounded during my fight, they received little publicity. It happened at the time that Charles Manson killed those people and the news press thought that was more important to report than the Marines who had died in Vietnam at Mutters Ridge.
Because Mutter’s Ridge controlled a key infiltration route from North Vietnam into South Vietnam, it was contested ground from the first days of American involvement in the war. While ownership of the ridgeline, and especially of the peaks, changed hands several times during the Vietnam War, the 3rd Marine Division more or less retained control of the area. During the summer of 1969, that control was severely tested by the North Vietnamese Army’s 304th Division,
During the summer of 1969, the North Vietnamese Army made repeated attempts to drive out the Marine forces from the heights of Mutter’s Ridge, which formed a portion of the southern boundary of the Demilitarized Zone.
Echo Company had been sent into this area to seek and destroy any and all enemy forces that it would encounter. The operation was named Operation Idaho Canyon beginning in August, squad-sized patrols were sent out every day to locate enemy forces. There were brief exchanges of rifle fire. We knew they were there and they knew where we were at night.
On the night of August 9, the 3rd Platoon (that I was with) and the attached portion of the 81mm Mortar Platoon established a night defensive position near Hill 484. At midnight we were put on full alert. That the enemy was probing our defenses to find a way in. They would throw hand grenades and satchel charges at our perimeter. We were told not to fire back with our weapons and give our positions away. We took cover when the grenades were thrown. We threw our grenades at them hoping that would drive them away.
No one slept and everyone had their combat gear on. Early morning of August 10, at about 0300H, we could hear movement and orders in Vietnamese given out. A few minutes after that we received incoming artillery on our position. All we could do was get in our holes and hope that an artillery round won’t land in our holes. It seemed like forever that the artillery bombardment continued.
At approximately 0430H, the Vietnamese launched a ground assault against our perimeter using automatic rifle fire, rocket-propelled grenades, and satchel charges(a bag with dynamite inside) during their attack. The perimeter was breached several times and each time we drove them back. The Vietnamese company would withdraw but only to organize and attack again. This fighting back and forth lasted until about 0615H when the Vietnamese made their last attack and once again we held our perimeter and the NVA withdrew.
All communication with Headquarters had been lost for about an hour and the platoon commander was unable to call for artillery fire on our position. The Marine artillery was unable to provide supporting fire and was hesitant to fire on our position. Once the NVA had withdrawn the platoon commander was able to locate a radio and called in a fire mission on the departing NVA. The call for medical evacuation was received at Headquarters and helicopters were dispatched to pick up the Marines that were wounded and dead.
Arriving at our landing zone at 1015H, the helicopters received artillery fire. One landed, picked up a few wounded but took off. We helped and carried some of the wounded to the next ridge. Again the helicopters came in and the NVA commenced their artillery fire. The 58 wounded Marines were aboard. The decision was made to leave the 24 Marines that had been killed where they were. Headquarters did not want to lose any helicopters, pilots, and crew members. Those of us that remained were given orders to hump further up the ridge line and wait until dark.
We had all our packs and gear blown up. We kept our helmets, and flack jackets. The orders were that we were going back for the dead Marines. Alpha Company had sent in a platoon to provide security. We went back in the cover of darkness not knowing what to expect or if the enemy would be waiting for us. Would we be able to locate all the bodies? Would we encounter the enemy there recovering their own? A million questions went through our minds. Every nerve is on edge. We had survived one night. Would we survive another one? Needless to say, we carried the dead Marines all night. The bodies were wrapped in ponchos and had been out in the sun all day. The smell of blood, feces, and decomposing bodies was overwhelming. Most of the bodies were in bad shape to just look at much less carry them all night.
August 11, at 1015H, we stopped and constructed a landing zone. A radio call was made and helicopters were sent for the pickup. My friends and I boarded the helicopters with the dead Marines. Those six of us that survived our platoon of 45 Marines were, Brooks Mayti, Rocco Laurie, Steve Brenesien, Fred Diaz, Gregory Germany, and myself. We had been without sleep for 2 days. In such life-threatening situations, the body is capable of survival because of the adrenaline the body produces. It takes some time for that feeling to go away. It’s like taking a drug.
The saddest part about the dead Marines is that in the darkness we miscounted. A Marine was left behind. The dead Marine was one of my good friends PFC Charles Alton Poe. He always joked about being related to Edgar A. Poe and he would start quoting The Raven. A Recon Team was sent to locate the body. He was found three days later on August 13. I had taken his picture on the afternoon of August 9 and asked him what he was thinking about. He answered I have a bad feeling. Here’s the address of my wife in CA. Just in case I don’t make it out of here. Several months after being discharged I contacted his wife but never told her what actually happened to Charles. I know he was in a closed casket and that must have been hard for her. It was hard for me. I regret not telling her about him and never sending that one last picture of him. I still remember him after all these years.
Having been to Vietnam is something I will never forget and do not regret much. I regret not being able to save some Marines. But I’m satisfied that there were those that I did. I was sent to do something for my country and to attempt to save another country where its citizens were being slaughtered and butchered for no reason. I do regret that we were given a job to do but hindered by those in DC.
I know that I’m able to travel anywhere in this country and if I find myself in trouble I can call any of my Marine friends and they will come help me. Such is the brotherhood that exists among Marines. A brotherhood forged in combat with sweat, blood, and tears. A brotherhood that exists until we are no more. We lived together, we cried for our friends that died, we shared our lives, our hopes and dreams, we shared everything, we shared about our families back home, some of them gave their lives, and we bled and shed our blood together. Some of us still continue to share things after all these years. No better brotherhood exists.
With everything that happened while I was over there, I know and believe that God was with me and protected me. I never gave up on Him knowing that He wouldn’t give up on me. That He had a plan for me to return home and be here today. Perhaps I haven’t done much in several years. But thinking back on where I was and have been, seen, and done, I think I have experienced more in one year than some people do in a lifetime. This is a chapter of my life that I haven’t shared much with other people. There was too much sweat, blood, and tears, and a part of me died in Vietnam. A lot of things are best left unsaid.
Semper Fi
Antonio Gonsales
The battle portion of this article was featured on: https://pfcdonaldelliott.com/muttersridge.html
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mutters ridge, how can I forget the combat our unit endured in March 1969. M 3/4. I was meta-vac on March 13. Ak47 gun shot wound and shrapnel wounds face and neck from chi- com. Several Marines came home in a bag that day. ..I’m 74 now and I’m so glad I made it home from that deadly ridge. Thai you Lord !
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My friend Sgt. Howard McGuiness fought on Mutter’s Ridge during his second tour. This was after his time at Khe Sahn. He was wounded in the arm.
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It never ceases to amaze me how supportive combat veterans were and are of each other. Not greater brotherhood exists anywhere this side of heaven!
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I served with the Australians in 3 CAV Reg. RAAC. Saw action and destroyed a V.C. mine with our APC M113A1 on the 18th August 1971 at 3.30p.m. Strange how these things don’t ever seem to age in one’s mind. Welcome Home Bro.
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I was there that day. They brought my 81mm mortar squad from 1/3/3 in on the first medevac copter to replace the chewed up 81 squad you mentioned. We fired our 81 out into the jungle hoping to hit something just spraying rounds in the direction we were told the NVA attacked from. I remember two more CH47s coming in and we helped load some more wounded. (we were told only wounded, no dead ) I was helping with this one Marine laying there with his right arm sticking up without a hand. it had been taken off as clean as a butcher would have done. His eyes were glazed over and face full of small shrapnel holes. I told this guy helping me that this one looked like he’s dead and he yelled at me and said “he’s not dead, he’s my buddy !!” I said ,shit lets get him on board then. (or something like that)
After the copters left the NVA would drop a 82 mm mortar round on us about every 10 or 15 mins. Someone would hear their mortar and yell incoming and everyone would get down. Sometimes someone would get wounded and sometimes not. By then they were moving the new wounded up the ridge to the hill next over.
I heard them yell “incoming” and leaned again the hill next to the 81 pit and the round landed close to me slamming me deeper into the hill. It was like getting sucker punched by a giant as the shrapnel hit me from my feet to my head. I never lost consciousnesses as Doc patched me up. Two guys carried me between them to the top of the next hill with frequent breaks and helped load me on the copter when it came in.
The next 5 months I was in Bethesda Naval Hospital.
I ran into a marine while in the hospital who was on that hill and he told me about them carrying the dead marines out. He said at night they could see NVA campfires all over the hills around them.
Welcome home!!
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Hoorah to the brotherhood and the fallen will never be forgotten. I was one of the lucky ones
God Bless
Ron N. Sgt 1st Recon
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God Bless he and those that endured that battle. 31 years in the Corps and I would not trade a day.
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Excellent recounting of the skill, dedication, and courage of all Marines in RVN and also all the other military services. Their dedication to the National Objectives is applauded. The Nation treated them badly but regained its wits later and now continues to revere those veterans. Semper Fi.
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Written from the heart… and read that way, too.
Jamie Thompson, C Co, 5/7, 1st Air Cav 1970-71
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RIP, Lest we forget.
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Semper Fi, Antonio. Thank you and your brothers for your sacrifices and service. You are not forgotten.
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The photo of the wounded Marine reaching out to his fellow Marine is one of several Pulitzer Prize photos of the Vietnam War.
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Thanks for sharing. I want go into details, but I can relate. I’m an army helicopter pilot. Iv been able to meet the family of one of my pilots that was killed on the ground after exiting his downed helicopter. Welcome home my brother
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after 54 years still reading. Well said.
D Trp 3/5 Cavalry….scouts out
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Helluva story! Welcome home Brother!
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Too young for Vietnam but fortunately by the time I got to the Corps there were still Marines who had fought there. We lost a few in Beirut, Gunny Charles Ray and Captain Mike Haskell among them. Semper Fi.
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Great story and well-written article. You Marines went through hell many times over up North. Things weren’t easy for us Army guys down south either, but there was a particularly gruesome quality to your battles. A Marine friend told that rainy weather in the mountains made it hard to get effective air support. Semper Fi, guys!
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Truer Words Were Never Spoken
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I fought my way up Mutters Ridge four or five times while with Mike 3/9. Lost people each time, then left it to the NVA to move into our old holes
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Thank you for your account, Don Baldwin 11B40, Vietnam 1970 23rd Infantry Division
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I’ve posted a tale on this website & share these stories with my Vietnam buddies. We were USAF officers living in air-conditioned quarters. Flying in F-4’s & being shot at is inherently dangerous, but we never suffered the conditions of our ground brothers. We loved the Close Air Support mission when we could break a troops-in-contact and get our brothers safely away from the enemy. The situations our ground brothers contended with were beyond imaginable and us Air Force guys remained in awe of their guts and tenacity. This story is another one which gets my heart aching for our ground troops. Bubba Craighead
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I agree wholeheartedly. Similarly to your situation, but even safer, I was in a PsyOps battalion in DaNang and never had combat experience. Once I went on a special mission to a Montagnard village close to the DMZ, driving up RTE 1 thru Hue. Even then we did not experience any fire. I too can’t imagine what the ground troops went thru and have always felt a bit of guilt not to have shared that experience but, at once, grateful I didn’t.
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What about Operation Hastings? 60mm mortars were surrounded by General Giaps elite division for 36 hours and used as bait and therefore we had more enemies killed than anytime during the war Lima 3/5,and were evacuated to Hill 362 where approximately 50 Marines died
Sent from my iPhone
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