TWO DAYS AND ONE NIGHT IN HELL

Since there are several lengthly notes about these days the descriptions have been moved below our friends names.

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SHERWOOD REYNOLDS SGT - E5 - Army - Regular 9th Infantry Division 21 year old Single DOB Oct 25, 1946 PRINCE FREDERICK, MARYLAND Length of service 2 years. IN country on Oct 05, 1967 (133 days) KIA on Feb 26, 1968 Outside CanTho, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE METHODIST

ROSCOE EDWARD BRYANT SP4 - E4 - Army - Regular 9th Infantry Division 20 year old Single DOB Aug 21, 1947 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND Length of service 1 year. In country on Aug 01, 1967 (228 days) KIA on Feb 27, 1968 outside CanTho, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE BAPTIST

DOUGLAS JOHN BURDICK PFC - E3 - Army - Draftee 9th Infantry Division 20 year old Single DOB Jul 24, 1947 DETROIT, MICHIGAN In country on Jan 09, 1968 (47 days) KIA on Feb 27, 1968 Outside CanTho, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE EPISCOPAL, ANGLICAN

FERNANDO MENDOZA QUINTERO SFC - E6 - Army - Regular 9th Infantry Division 37 year old Married DOB Mar 17, 1930 GLOBE, ARIZONA Length of service 20 years. In country on Oct 07, 1967 (131 days) KIA on Feb 27, 1968 Outside CanTho, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE ROMAN CATHOLIC

RODNEY ALLEN ROAT PFC - E3 - Army - Reserve 9th Infantry Division 20 year old Married DOB Nov 02, 1947 FLINT, MICHIGAN Length of service 1 year. In country on Feb 08, 1968 (19 days!) KIA on Feb 27, 1968 Outside CanTho, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE PROTESTANT

GEORGE EDGAR SPECK PFC - E3 - Army - Draftee 9th Infantry Division 21 year old Single DOB Jan 14, 1947 RAVENNA, OHIO In country on Feb 08, 1968 (19 days!) KIA on Feb 27, 1968 Outside CanTho, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS METHODIST

JOSE RAFAEL TAVAREZ SGT - E-4? - Army - Draftee 9th Infantry Division 21 year old Single DOB Oct 27, 1946 NEW YORK, NEW YORK Length of service 1 year. In country on May 04, 1967 (298 days) KIA on Feb 27, 1968 Outside CanTho, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE ROMAN CATHOLIC

From Pat Reyes. Tavarez was KIA while trying to get back to the NDP (night defensive position) after being sent out on a LP (listening post). He and who he was with went out too far and the dinks got between them and the NDP. They caught them crossing a monkey bridge.

From Henry Rolen    I was with the first group that went into Can Tho. We went in 9 choppers and all were pretty well shot up. Only 3 were able to fly out of there and only one was able to fly again after it landed. I believe the 3rd platoon went in first because we were going to the aid of Bravo company. I believe we lost the rest of the platoon that night. If I remember correctly, three of us got wounded that morning (me, my RTO and a Lt.). The rest of the company came later. They landed us dead center in their base camp and bravo was on the other side of the camp. It seems to me it took a long time to get choppers in to get us out. I remember crossing the canal on a rope after I was wounded.

From: John C Adame Subject: Feb-26&27 I recall getting on a ARVN chopper and heading for a hot LZ. You could look down and see what was going on below us. Guess the ARVN pilot did not want to land with all that action happening. We were dropped off where we were picked up. We set up positions and then the shit hit the fan. When I made it back to the treeline I could could hear Carrillo tell someone not to shoot, "who ever it, is is making to much noise to be a VC"-thanks John. I remember getting back and hearing that Sgt. Q was dead-man what a bummer. Menudo was never the same after that.

Over the years the person that I remember the most that night is John "Light My Fire" Adame(I guess you were really into the Doors, John) We were hit hard twice that night. I think most or all of the claymores that were set up had their wires cut. Actually, this may have been a good thing because as I recall the dike was only about a foot high and might not have offered much protection from the blast. Several positions in the paddy were overrun and those still alive pulled back to the treeline. The sky was lit up with tracers (coming at us, though). It was a very long night. Airstrikes and artillary were called in to drive Charlie back. We were trying to find out who was where and John couldn`t be found. We thought he must have gotten it out in the rice paddy where Roat and the rest got it. I think it was almost daylight when we found him. STILL ALIVE! He stayed out to call in the artillary and airstrikes right on his position. He came crawling back and acted as if it was nothing. I`ve always been thankful to him because he certainly prevented more of our positions from being overrun and more casualties. When I asked John about it he continued to say "it was nothing". Well John, it was SOMETHING. Thanks for being there. Doc McClain

I was second platoon along with Jenks, Porter, Kaytis, Romeo, and i think Sgt Reyes.My memory fails me so that I cannot remember one operation from another. I remember being in CanTo and I think that was where Sgt. Romeo received silver star for contacting the downed chopper with ammo resupply. I was experienced machinegunner, so was put on end of the L formation that night.That was one bad night. Jon Kio

Tavarez was in my platoon for a long while I knew him well, when he got killed I asked the men of the Recon platoon how it happened and I was told the usual that he another had been sent out, too far, on a listening post by the new platoon sergeant.  At some point during the night the gooks came out in force, I was told that the gooks were so brazen that they actually had flashlights searching for our solders in the brush and grass.  The gooks hollered at each other as they progressed with their search, if you dared to shot at the one with flash light there were two others walking on his flank with pulled pins on their hand grenades and immediately you were rained on with grenades.  The other man with Tavarez, the one no one can remember his name, immediately broke and ran to the rear and made it.  Tavarez was not so lucky he was discovered by the enemy and killed. ! I was not there so I'm not an eyewitness but I was told this by reliable men that were there and witnessed the account.                                                                                Sgt. David Lopez

This had to be the worst experience of my short tour(April 7th being a close second). I`ll try not to repeat much of what I`ve said elsewhere about these days. We followed Bravo Co outside CanTho. They landed in a hot LZ, loosing many to 50 caliber, RPG`s & small arms. We landed about a few hundred yards away from Bravo. I don`t think we recieved much fire in the LZ. We had to cross a large canal by rope to get to the side where Bravo was(picture on Jim Toneys page). After crossing and going over the first dike our guys started getting hit. Rolen and his RTO were some of the first. I don`t remember many of the details. Hope others will. We finally linked up with what was left of Bravo. We set up for the night along the treeline from the canal out into the adjacent ricepaddy. I think I was in a position about half way into the paddy. I`ve been told we were hit twice that night. I remember all of a sudden in the middle of the night the shit hit the fan. Tracers everywhere, explosions and all kinds of noise. Rodney Roat was lying beside me. I saw the bullets hit him. I knew I was gone too. We pulled back. I don`t think I was ever so glad to see daylight. And still alive! Still alive! Ron McClain

GOING BACK TO CAN THO If the above wasn`t bad enough, a few days later we had to return to the site of this battle to find a lost starlight scope. Everyone was on edge. A CBS reporter went with us. The first time we recieved fire he quickly left. We completed the mission and only took a couple of casualties (wounded) if I remember correctly.