Fire in the Rain by Tuan Cao-Dac

Author:Tuan Cao-Dac
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hellgate Press
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

DAO, SAIGON APRIL 14, 1975

Located in Tân Sơn Nhứt airport, the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) Saigon was organized by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pacific Command, and the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), and was activated on January 28, 1973, to replace the MACV, which had disbanded sixty days after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. The functions of the DAO were unambiguous, at least on paper. Its basic function was to manage American military affairs in Vietnam after the ceasefire. Its additional tasks included monitoring ceasefire violations and gathering and generating intelligence information on which high level decisions could be based.

On the morning of April 14, 1975, five days after the start of the battle at Xuân Lộc, a secret encrypted radio conversation was taking place between an officer in the DAO in Tân Sơn Nhứt airport and an American official from an unknown location.

“Yesterday, Trà decided to withdraw his troops from Xuân Lộc and redirect them to advance directly to Saigon.”

“Is this information reliable?”

“Yes, our agent has first-hand information. The withdrawal plan was actually drawn up three days ago.”

“Does the ARVN know?”

“Not yet.”

“We can’t let the Commies take over Saigon that soon.”

“Why?”

“The evacuation has not been completed. We were counting on Xuân Lộc to delay their advance. We didn’t expect Xuân Lộc to inflict such great damage on the Commies that they would now decide to abandon it.”

“How do we stop them?”

“The 18th division has to withdraw from Xuân Lộc to Saigon to establish a line of defense before the Commies arrive there.”

“Sooner or later they will have to consider that option.”

“They will be mauled by the four NVA divisions once they get out of Xuân Lộc.”

“Not if they plan carefully.”

“We have to send a message to Hanoi. It’s time for us to use the CBX-11. How many CBX-11s do we have?”

“We have six in stock, but we can have more shipped to us within a day or two. Do you want to use all six?”

“No, let’s take one step at a time. Drop one first and see if they listen to us. If not, we can use all and more if necessary. Let the ARVN know about it so that they can initiate the request. It’s their war.”

“What if they want to use all six at once? I am sure their Generals are thrilled about this.”

“Tell them you don’t have enough fuses.”

“When do you want to use it?”

“Wait, let’s start with the Daisy Cutters first. If that doesn’t slow them down, we’ll use the CBX-11.”

“OK, when do you want to use the Daisy Cutters?”

“As soon as possible, today even.”

“OK. We’ll proceed with it.”

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