Boots on the Ground: The history of Project Delta by Carpenter Stephen

Author:Carpenter, Stephen [Carpenter, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2010-03-02T22:00:00+00:00

“In January 1968, Project Delta was working the tri-border area out of Plei Djereng. A couple recon teams were already on the ground and Doc Simpson and I were scheduled to infiltrate that night. Everything had gone well on our recon flight. We managed to select the primary, secondary and alternate landing zones. All three were on the western side of our AO, close to the Cambodian border and close together. We had already discussed the possibility of a ladder extraction if there were any problems. The team was ready and just before last light we took off for our primary LZ. On final approach, flying tree top level, the pilot pulled up right on the LZ and just before the skid touched ground, muzzle flashes and NVA started coming from the wood lines (thank God none of us jumped out). As we hastily departed, door gunners returned fire and we could hear the clunk of bullets striking the chopper body. When we landed at the FOB and inspected the chopper for damage it was discovered that one of the incoming rounds had almost cut through the rear rotary blade cable. Fortunate for us it didn’t let go until we got home. Needless to say I don’t think there was a happy face amongst us when we were told that a decision to infiltrate the same area, different LZ was on for the next night.

“The following night we departed as scheduled and everything was going fine, until the chopper was hovering over the LZ. The point man jumped (requiring the five of us to follow) and while the chopper was leaving we heard shots, people yelling and dogs barking. We took off like a bat out of hell for cover and it was only a miracle that we ran to a place in the tree line where there were no enemy. Throwing caution to the wind we ran as fast as we could, through brush and trees hoping all the noise they were making would cover up all the noise we were making.

“We followed a small brook for a while and spread our special recipe seasoning (garlic, onion, salt and pepper) in strategic places behind us as we traveled (didn’t last long). That night, all night, we heard people with dogs looking for us. We determined the dogs were not trained trackers or they would have found us by now, unfortunately even mutts get lucky sometimes. With first light came overcast skies (which stayed with us for the entire time out) and the sounds of people and dogs moving above and below us. This continued for three days, keeping us in check. We were under a triple canopy and the closest place we could be extracted was back from whence we came, so we moved straight up the mountain stopping at the military crest. On the second day we were out of water (it was hot, humid, and the continuous trek up the mountain took most of our water, the

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