Another early pre-flight had brought us up Rt. 14 to Polei-Kleng. As we landed on the air strip I could see a chaplin conducting a service out of the back of a 3/4 ton truck. I had forgotten it was Sunday.

The ships staged along the south side of the runway. This was where the troops of the C/3/8th had staged yesterday while waiting for us to complete the assault into LZ Swinger. The afternoon assault to what would become LZ Pause had come off with no problems. The pilots went to their briefing and the enlisted crews remained by their ships finishing duties which were not completed the night before.

We had been there for almost forty-five minutes before the first round exploded on the runway. The enemy had moved a 90mm recoiless rifle into place during the night. Instead of targeting the troops which were stationed around the air field they chose our helicopters as this morning's target. The crews scrambled down the side of the runway. Only a small depression in the ground served as our cover. As the shelling continued people started to dig in the soil to improve their cover. Bob Kilpatrick was the first to ask the question. "What Is That Smell?" Unknown to us this was where the soldiers from yesterday had relieved themselves while waiting for us. By this time Jeff Dana had unearthed toilet paper and worse. "Shut-Up and Dig! It Least It's A Hole!" is all Dana could reply.

The enemy gunners shifted their gun and with that short break we all bolted for the ship. Main rotor blades were turning and guys were grabbing gear. The Crocs were the first in the air and they had the enemy in their sights. The slicks appeared to be a flock of blackbirds which had just spotted a cat heading for them. We departed in any direction possible.

We would be briefed during this mad departure. We would spent the day moving people into LZ Mary and resupply LZ Swinger and Pause. The skies over the valley would be filled with every type aircraft today. CH-47s would be deliverying artillery pieces to the fire bases. More troops would be deployed and LZ Swinger would start to receive their daily rocket and mortar attacks. As the operation continued the attacks would be up graded to 105mm howitzer rounds falling upon them.

A few ships would be damaged because of small arms and we would have to pull wounded out of Swinger because of the mortar attacks. Dana and I would fly a good 12 hours this day but never fire a round. Two more young Americans would die this day.