'WARRIORS' ROB NIGHT FROM VC FROM THE SOUTHERN CROSS FOR AUGUST 1, 1968.

Electronic of article provided by Leslie Hines

LZ BRONCO — The 11th Inf. Bde. "Jungle Warriors" are not satisfied with leaving the night to the Viet Cong.

The men of the 3rd Bn., 1st Inf., decided the best time to catch the enemy is at night, when his guard is down.

Intelligence sources had indicated that the village of Van Truong, four miles north of Duc Pho, was being used as a "safe haven" for enemy snipers and demolitions men working along Highway 1.

Just Before Sunset

Following the principle that had proven itself in their fast, hard-hitting daytime assaults, 2LT Henry Hill of Anoka, Minn., loaded his Co. B platoon aboard the choppers for the combat assault just before sunset.

The men formed a cordon east of the village as "Shark" gunships from the 174th Avn. Co. and the battalion's command and control helicopter cut off escape routes on the remaining three sides.

Hunt For Enemy

"As we set up our positions we were joined by the Vietnamese who had served as intelligence sources for the operation, and by two teams from the 59th Scout Dog Plat.," said Hill.

"Together we moved towards the village, hunting for camouflaged spider holes and tunnels."

As the platoon moved into the village from the east, the Viet Cong hiding there fled toward the west. Nine enemy were killed by the waiting gunships and nine suspects were detained.

An original copy of this document was donated to the Americal Division Veterans Association (ADVA) by LTC Paul Parham who served as Information Officer for the Americal Division.