I am retired . The mule died . One daughter graduated from college and another daughter has graduated with her teaching degree ,my son is in the delivery business. I put out a little art work now and then.
Other Comments:
I was never a rodeo cowboy, I was a range cowboy in charge of 500 head of mama cows and calves running on 750 thousand acres of forest service allotments.I use to work for a cattle association from May To Nov. After that I taught skiing in the winter months I was not a certified instructor but put in four years at instruction.I worked seasonal jobs ,you dont get rich in money but you do get rich in experiences.
Vietnam War/Tet Counteroffensive Campaign (1968)/Operation Scotland Trousdale North
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
January / 1968
Description
On 17 September 68, 1st Battalion 4th Marines was chopped to 9th Marines for Operation Scotland Trousdale North. At 0945H the Battalion was lifted to Landing Zone Canada at XD 947685, starting with Company B, A, 81mm mortar platoon (-), Bn CP, D and C. The zone was secure and no contact was made with the enemy.
On 18 September 68, Company A while moving to an objective, spotted two NVA fleeing the area. At 0945H, Company A took two NVA under fire, wounding one and capturing the other. The action took place at XD 947674 with no USMC casualties.
On 19 September 68 as the Battalion moved in a three pronged attack to the South, Company C found two FO positions in trees at XD 943674, and an excavation site which was believed to be a short sector of road at XD 938667. As Company C was in the process of setting in for their night defense, one Chieu Hoi approached the lines at XD 938665, carrying one SKS weapon.
Company B moving on the east flank discovered 30 bunkers at XD 953664. The area was well used and thought to be a Battalion size base camp. Four hundred pounds of rice was also found. As Company B proceeded, the lead elements fired at two NVA on a trail at XD 950667, apparently wounding one. A night position was established at XD 950668 and at 2100H, a strong probe was initiated by the NVA. Company B received RPG’s, small arms, and grenades. In addition to organic weapons, artillery missions were called in as well as an AC-47 dragon ship to neutralize the enemy’s attack. The action resulted in four USMC WIA with unknown results inflicted upon the enemy. A sweep of the area was made the following morning by an element of Company B. Numerous blood trails and indications that bodies had been dragged back from the perimeter were in evidence throughout the area.
Company A, plus the Bn CP and 81’s, observed three NVA at XD 944667 on a trail. The point element countered with small arms with negative results. However, two AK-47’s and 8 packs were found plus additional gear. At XD 94166, the point elements of Company A spotted one NVA on a trail. A volley of small arms was expended with negative results. An Aerial Observer (AO) was called with fixed wing flights run in suspected harboring sites. At 1600H, a patrol from Company A discovered a large weapons cache at XD 935660. Three hundred and twenty Mosin Nagent carbines plus a total of 244 81mm and 82mm mortar rounds, 300,000 AK-47 rounds, 200 pounds of TNT, 64 claymores, one light machine gun and two sub-machine guns and 128 cases of .50 caliber rounds were uncovered.
On 20 September, Company C found working tools at XD 944667. Company A discovered a small bunker complex at XD 940656. Another ammo cache at XD 934652 consisting of 150 anti-tank mines, 249 81mm mortar rounds, 40 claymore mines plus small arms and .50 caliber ammunition was located. A further search was made and at XD 932656 still another cache was uncovered, 12 RPG rounds, 192 81mm mortar rounds, 10 anti-tank mines, 549 82mm mortar rounds, 15,200 .50 caliber rounds and 300 75mm HE rounds were found in this area. At 2400H, Company B received one friendly artillery round within 30 meters of their position wounding two USMC.
On 21 September, H&S Company (-) found an NVA land telephone plus additional gear at XD 944666. Company A located a base camp and training center at XD 933654 with four AK-44’s, three SKS’s, 4, 000 cloth bandoleers, 82mm mortar rounds, 48 anti-tank mines, 400 leather slings and AK rounds in the area. Company C discovered two cans of .50 caliber ammo at XD 923652.
On 22 September, Company C found 27 large reinforced bunkers, 100 pounds of rice, and loose ammo to include 82mm mortar rounds at XD 921650. One hundred meters north Company C discovered seven living bunkers. At 1530H, Company C fired upon three NVA at XD 927651 with negative results.
Continuing our mission of search and destroy, Company D found 95-75mm recoilless rifle rounds at XD 933658 on 23 September. Company B discovered an ammo cache at XD 938654 including 63,000 AK-47 rounds, 184 anti-personnel mines, 126-122mm rocket warheads, 25,000 .50 caliber rounds and 782 gear. A further search uncovered more ammo and 782 gear at XD 926688. Company C while searching a bunker complex, took one NVA under fire at XD 921652 resulting in one NVA KIA and the recovery of one SKS weapon with no USMC casualties.