Page 40 - Echo 127

area’ for the locals. This landing was not what we expected—we still maintained our security posture—having been briefed about guerrilla warfare and how civilians were used to mask the VC. We received one of what became many puzzling orders from ‘on high’ ——not to ‘chamber a round’ until fired upon! As all good Marines we followed those orders until we were in position and nightfall set in—then—like all good Marines we exercised good judgement and prepared for enemy contact by having our weapons ready for that contact! The villagers were shooed away and forced to the outside of our perimeter operation.
Our Company moved inland along with the rest of the Battalion—the Rifle companies fanned out and established a perimeter for the BN.
Each Company had it’s own zone to protect —starting at the beach and stretching 180 degrees in a semicircle the perimeter was formed with the four rifle companies of E, F G and H with one of those four held in reserve along with H& S Company and Weapons Company occupying the center area of the perimeter. Highway # 1 paralleled our Perimeter and provided access for our vehicles up and down the line—it was also heavily trafficked by the local Vietnamese.
40