Comanche Home     History Main     Reunions     Guest Book     Stories     Search

1965     1966     1967     1968     1969     1970     1971     1972

January 1968     February 1968     March 1968     May 1968     June 1968
     July 1968     August 1968     September 1968     October 1968     November 1968     December 1968

Summary  April 1968

Operation Pegasus, the 1st Cavalry Division relief of the Marines at Khe Sanh, kicks off at the beginning of the month. C Company is airlifted north from the southern Quang Tri Province and stages through LZ Stud to help occupy LZ Tom, the 2nd Brigade base. During the two weeks of Operation Pegasus C Company will, along with D Company, complete the assault and occupation of the French Fort 3½ kilometers southeast of the Marine base at Khe Sanh and will conduct search and clear operations in the area, capturing large amounts of weapons, ammunition and explosives. When Operation Pegasus ends on 15 April 68 the Second Brigade is placed under the operational control of the 3rd Marine Division and takes part in Operation Scotland II while the rest of the 1st Cavalry Division attacks the A Shau Valley. C Company clears and occupies ground in the 11 kilometers between Khe Sanh Combat Base and the Laotian Border and provides security for LZ Snapper, the 2/5 Cav base. Near the end of the month C and D Companies occupy a Night Defensive Position (NDP)  together on Hill 663 (the Co Nual) and repulse an attack by a large NVA force.  (Written by Ken Burington)

Map of the overall Area of Operations (AO) for Operation Pegasus.  Click to see larger version.  The map  is quite large - have patience while it downloads. Map courtesy Shelby Stanton, Anatomy of a Division.

April 1 - 3

On April 1^st, C 2/5 Cav is working on the north side of the  Song Thac Ma, the boundary river between Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces.  The next day, the company moves to an open field two and one half kilometers southwest of the  Hai Lang District Headquarters for provisioning.  At 8:26 AM on April 3^rd, C 2/5 Cav is airlifted from extreme southern Quang Tri  Province to LZ Stud, a big logistics base in the north of the province built for Operation Pegasus by Navy Seabees and units of the 8^th Engineer Battalion, 1^st Cavalry Division.  Immediately after landing, the company CA'd to LZ Tom. 

PFC George Harvey Gilliam of 2^nd Platoon was killed by fragments from an incoming 122mm rocket at LZ Tom (coordinates XD 900345, Map 6342-2) in Quang Tri Province.  Comanche was hit by the rocket fire about an hour after the company had CA'd onto the hilltop and were clearing brush and elephant grass and digging in.  (Source: Ken Burington)

Return to Top of Page

April 1 - 3

This is actual footage of Charlie Company.  It was shot by Ken Burington on an 8mm movie camera.  There is no sound.  While the quality of the original video is better than expected, it will be of poor quality if you view it over a dial-up connection.  Click here to watch the video.  You will need the free RealPlayer plug in.   

Here is the sequence of shots:

• April 1 - C 2/5 mortar crew during an actual fire mission near the Song Ma (the river that is the boundary between Thua Thien Province and Quang Tri Province, on Highway Nine.

• April 3 - 6 - (Location of LZ Tom and LZ Stud)

  • LZ Stud, including a shot of Major General Tolson, then the Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).  It is assumed that the Lieutenant Colonel he is talking to is the 2/5 Cav commander.  Anyone know for sure?

  • LZ Stud.  Takeoff on the combat assault to LZ Tom.

  • From the air, shots of Highway 9 and the Quang Tri River

  • LZ Tom at XD900345, Map 6342-2.  This was to become the 2nd Brigade base, but it was secured by C 2/5 Cav.  There is also a shot of a huge Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter that was used to lift very heavy loads.

  • LZ Tom - a Chinook helicopter with a 105 mm howitzer slung underneath.

  • LZ Tom - 2nd Platoon clearing elephant grass.

  • LZ Tom - a Chinook helicopter landing a quad .50 machine gun.  Note the soldier jumping clear as the sling is released.

  • LZ Tom - cutting trees for building bunkers.

• April 7 (Location of French Fort and Khe Sanh)

  • Combat assault to the Old French Fort.  Find this at coordinates XD858387 on Map 6342-3

  • Aerial shot of the Khe Sanh combat base, XD845418

  • Marine helicopter in flight

  • Ground view the French Fort

Return to Top of Page

April 7

SGT Dan Meddling of Tennessee is standing next to a captured enemy .51 caliber machine gun at the Old French Fort (see map above).  Trooper far left is unidentified.

Click on Photo to See Larger Version Courtesy Ken Burington

Return to Top of Page

April 18

Though busy with other combat duties, this letter of condolence was written by the company commander, 1LT Burt Humphrey, to the family of PFC James Bateman who was KIA on March 9.

Click on Letter to See Larger Version Courtesy Jennifer Story

Comanche Home     History Main     Reunions     Guest Book     Stories     Search

1965     1966     1967     1968     1969     1970     1971     1972

January 1968     February 1968     March 1968     May 1968     June 1968
     July 1968     August 1968     September 1968     October 1968     November 1968     December 1968

Updated October 04, 2006