The 0600hrs pre-flights have become our morning routine. As each days passes the skies are a little darker as the monsoon season approaches. This what I would consider the beginning of fall back home. The monsoon season is winter.

The briefing today is short. The move from LZ Pause to LZ Brace must be completed before anything else. This was one of things which always bothered me. Why do we set up one base and then pull out to establish another. I guess I will never understand the army.

As the first of the CH-47s start to move the 105mm artillery pieces out the fun beginning. Mortars start falling on Pause. One our ships have spotted the tubes and returns fire. The Crocs come on station and blast the enemy location. Two sorties are pulled by our slicks without any trouble. The CH-47 returns and again we receive in-coming. This time the Crocs get a secondary explosion. And then a third. The entire jungle below us starts to explode. They must have hit some type of ammo dump. The Cider and Head hunter aircraft are now on station and artillery from LZ Swinger is being called in.

The 7/17th has also had a busy morning. They have sighted two trucks and several bunkers near the Plei-Trap road. Once they complete their runs it is also determined that an enemy anti-aircrft gun has also been destoyed. Artillery and air strikes are called in just to make sure.

After lunch we are pulled to airlift recon platoon from Task Force Alpha's location back to FSB 20. They need to be reorganized and reinforced. Arriving at Hill 467 we are informed that they have been receiving sniper fire for most of the morning. The move is completed with little problem and then we are sent back to resuppling the bases.

The Brigade has set up a shower tent near resupply. The enemy is not the only danger in the valley. Infections and jungle rot has become a big problem. Some of the worse cases are being taken to Polei-Kleng. Showers and clean dressing will help the healing process. Two of our ships are now playing taxi as we haul the walking wounded back and forth. Some of these cases are so bad that a few of these guys can hardly walk. Their pant legs have been cut open so the air can help the healing. Large sores and cuts cover their legs.

Light contact was encountered today. Elements of Task Force Alpha moved today with artillery from both FSb 20 and LZ Swinger. The recon by fire from these unit were completed with unknown results.

Four more Americans would die today. One, a Master Sgt. was killed as he exited a LOH. He had not cleared the rotor blades when he stood up. The enemy is not the only ones who claim lives in this place. Because of the move into Brace and other problems we are not released until late. Once again we find ourselves returning home in the darkness.