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while preparing for the time of departure later that day. The remainder of the Company—the other two platoons ( 2n. and 3rd. ) reviewed their orders and prepared for the mission—their job was to secure the entire Hamlet by establishing a perimeter around it when we arrived on site. Each platoon and each squad within each platoon prepared for the patrol that afternoon— inspections were conducted and checks and double checks done. Weapons were fired to insure there were no malfunctioning weapons. While the platoon leaders prepared the platoons we depended upon small unit leadership which is paramount in these situations Fire team leaders, squad leaders —each Marine squad leader / fire team leader not only gets himself ready but he makes sure his fire team/squad is also ready. Our platoon sergeants hovered over their men like hawks insuring that the men, their gear and weapons were ready .
1900 Sept. 29, 1965 Our Company formed up and we moved out—slipping into the underbrush almost immediately —I had the map and had calculated our azimuths from point to point on the map. I was ‘on point’ because of the darkness and the dense undergrowth I had to depend on my compass for an accurate direction to the village. Capt. Tolleson was immediately behind me and I would confer with him from time to time to point out where we were on the map relative to our target. We moved slowly and quietly because of the undergrowth and the darkness—100+ - Marines —in column—moving quietly thru the heavy undergrowth of the mountains West of Qui Nhon—our time target was to be at
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