Back to the war. After two days of strap hanging we again found ourselves getting ready for another combat assault in the valley. Today four ships from the 119th would assist the 189th.

Sitting on the runway at Polei-Kleng we waited for the pilots to finish their briefing. Talking to some of the 189th crews we told them of a few of the adventures which we had been through during the past month. The operation was a two part lift.

All elements of the 1/22nd had come under opeerational control of the 1st Brigade. The first lift would involve Alpha and Charlie companies. We would lift them to LZ Cider. From there they would move overland into the areas which the B-52s had been pounding for several days. Once this was completed we would assault YA 806827. B/1/22,D/1/22, and Recon/1/22 would enter the areas which had seen some of the heaviest fight during ther past month.

Listening to the radio as the first ships approached the landing zone I remembered what happened at LZ Swinger. Being at the end of the formation was worse then being the first ship in. If the first ship steps in it, its quick and then its over. Sitting there waiting your turn to get shot at sucked. This was the 189th's show so we were stuck in the back row.

Entering the landing zone, it was a scene from the moon. The jungle was gone. Large craters were everywhere. The smell of gun powder and gas fumes hung in the air. Rotting leaves and burning wood added to the smell. Touching down the gray dirt blew into the air. Now the smell of death entered the ship. Then troops moved away from the ship and we pulled pitch.

The day continued as we moved sortie after sortie into the area. Scattered reports of ground fire alarmed most of the ships from the 189th. To those of us from the 119th it was just another day in the valley. By sun down we again had a foot hold at the base of the Cu Dom Mountain. No casualties were reported and damage to ships were minor.

Arriving back at Holloway some of the flight crews had already departed for An Khe. The ships which had worked the valley today would be returning tomorrow. I was starting to feel alone in a room full of people. Maybe the worst was over. Only tomorrow would tell.