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The villagers were, for the most part, friendly but we were warned to keep our distance—the troops had been told the stories of VC using women, children and old folks to plant explosives, gather intelligence, etc.
Company orders were received and we were ordered to secure the high ground surrounding Qui Nhon—to prevent the possibility of mortar attacks raining down on this critical supply Base from the hills surrounding it. Capt. Tolleson called the platoon leaders together and gave us our assigned ‘sector’ to secure. We would be choppered in ( hill # 586 ) dropped off and clear a suitable area to defend the position. 7@ We were to dig in , lay wire around our positions and patrol the region we were assigned day and night. We were to set up ambushes on likely enemy pathways and listening posts in and around our positions at night. Each platoon was operating independently while staying in contact with Company HQ. We established artillery target zones by calling in our positions and identifying
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