1LT Rodriquez, the Recon Platoon Leader, E/3-39th, won the Bronze Star during
the action; so did SGT Jay T. Crowe, a squad leader in the Recon Platoon:
"When his platoon came under heavy rocket and automatic weapons fire,
Sergeant Crowe courageously advanced about 50 meters in front of the lead
element.  From this forward position, he sighted the enemy rocket emplacement
and silenced it with three rounds from an antitank weapon, enabling the rest
of the platoon to move against the other enemy positions."

1LT Thompson, platoon leader in B/3-39th, won the Silver Star:  "As his lead
element was searching from house to house in a suspected enemy area, it
suddenly came under intense fire from an enemy automatic weapons position.
Although heavy fire pinned his men to the ground, Lieutenant Thompson
courageously remained exposed to the barrage.  While maneuvering his squads
on a flanking movement, Lieutenant Thompson was struck by an enemy bullet.
Disregarding his painful injury, Lieutenant Thompson continued to assault the
Viet Cong positions until the enemy broke contact and fled."

PSG Rose, acting platoon leader in B/3-39th, won the Silver Star for
"mann[ing] an M-60 machine gun to enable the safe evacuation of friendly
casualties."

PSG Thornburgh, platoon sergeant in B/3-39th, also won the Silver Star for
"expos[ing] himself to heavy fire in order to reach the casualty's position
and evacuated him to safety."

SP4 Danny R. Andrews of B/3-39th won the Silver Star for "direct[ing] his
squad in a flanking movement against the insurgent bunkers. . . . Specialist
Andrews courageously fired on the enemy with his M72 [M79?], thereby
destroying many of the enemy fortifications."

The 3-39th reported 4 US KIA, 1 Vietnamese Scout KIA, and 29 US WIA.  The
attached company, B/6-31st, reported 2 US KIA and 9 US WIAs.  The four US
KIAs from the 3-39th were from Company A:  PSG Paul E. Jackson, SGT Howard E.
Querry, PFC Robert M. Jacobs, and PFC David M. Powell.

CPT Stuart, CO, A/3-39th, earned the Silver Star:  "[O]ne of his platoons was
crossing a narrow bridge when it came under rocket and automatic weapons fire
from three sides.  Captain Stuart courageously led the remainder of his
company across the bridge and relieved the encircled platoon, successfully
disengaging it while inflicting heavy casualties on the Viet Cong force."

2LT Hall, FO, A/3-39th, won the Bronze Star:  "When his unit came under heavy
hostile mortar and automatic weapons fire from well-fortified enemy
bunkers,Lieutenant Hall . . . took up an exposed position to adjust
devastating artillery fire on the enemy positions."

PSG Klump was platoon sergeant for the lead platoon of A/3-39th; he was
awarded the Silver Star:  "His platoon's first squad had just crossed a small
bridge when it became pinned down by intense enemy fire. . . . Sergeant Klump
rushed to the river's edge and fired M-72 rockets at the insurgent positions.
 He later rallied his second squad and charged across the bridge to help the
first squad rout[e] the enemy."

SP4 Carroll G. Wescott, a squad leader in A/3-39th, was in the lead platoon
that was ambushed after crossing the Rach Bo De Bridge; he was awarded the
Bronze Star for "direct[ing] the fire of his men and personally [throwing]
hand grenades into the insurgent fortifications[.]"

PFC Jacobs, a grenadier in A/3-39th, was one of those killed; his Bronze Star
citations gives the impression that he was in the lead platoon:  "Private
Jacobs advanced under heavy enemy fire in order to relieve pressure on a
beleagured squad. . . . Private Jacobs exposed himself and eliminated two
automatic weapons emplacements with M-79 fire.  In the process, he was
mortally wounded by shrapnel from a rocket round."

PFC Powell, a radioman in A/3-39th, was also killed; according to his Bronze
Star citation, he was in the lead platoon:  "Private Powell unhesitatingly
exposed himself to enemy aim in order to call for and adjust artillery and
gunship fire . . . While directing fire against the enemy, Private Powell was
mortally wounded."

PSG Regan of A/3-39th was awarded the Bronze Star:  "Two platoons had become
pinned down by intense hostile fire on the other side of a narrow bridge.
Sergeant Regan immediately organized his platoon to flank the company and
take up positions north of the canal.  In the process, Sergeant Regan
repeatedly exposed himself in order to position his men and bring devastating
fire to bear on the insurgents' positions."

SSG John T. McLean, a squad leader in A/3-39th, was also awarded the Bronze
Star:  "When the lead elements of his unit became engaged with a hostile
force on the other side of a narrow canal, Sergeant McLean directed his men
in providing suppressive fire on the insurgent positions.  During an assault
across the waterway, Sergeant McLean rushed forward past the beleaguered
friendly element and directed heavy fire on the enemy force."

SGT Querry, a squad leader in A/3-39th, was killed; he was posthumously
awarded the Bronze Star:  "The lead platoon of his company became pinned down
by intense fire upon crossing the Rach Bo De Bridge. . . . Sergeant Querry
quickly rallied his men and led them across the brigde.  Although wounded in
the process, Sergeant Querry pressed on and reached his destination.  While
leading the assault . . . Sergeant Querry was mortally wounded."

SGT James A. McGill, a squad leader in A/3-39th, won the Army Commendation
Medal:  "After coming under intense hostile fire, Sergeant McGill received
word that several of his comrades lay wounded on the other side of a small
river.  Sergeant McGill exposed himself to enemy fire to swim the river and
aid the wounded men."

SP4 Walter Mello, an assistant machine gunner in A/3-39th, won the Army
Commendation Medal for "repeatedly expos[ing] himself to the hostile fire to
supply ammunition to the machine gunner.  Although he was wounded while doing
so, he refused evacuation and continued his efforts until the enemy positions
had been overrun."

SP4 Franklin G. Williams, a radioman in A/3-39th, won the Army Commendation
Medal:  "Upon hearing movement in some nearby nipa palm, Specialist Williams
went to investigate and found an enemy soldier hiding in the dense
vegetation.  TheViet Cong fired at him, but Specialist Williams fired at the
same time, killing the enemy and capturing his weapon."

PFC Willie Brooks, a rifleman in A/3-39th, won the Bronze Star:  "During a
heated engagement with an enemy force along a river, a sampan carrying two
wounded soldiers broke away and began drifting downstream.  Despite the
intense volume of enemy fire and the swiftness of the current, Private Brooks
immediately jumped into the river and swam to the vessel. . . . Private
Brooks brought the sampan to safety and saved the lives of the two wounded
men."

PFC Willie C. Davis, a machine gunner in A/3-39th, won the Bronze Star:
"When another element of his company became pinned down by intense enemy fire
on the other side of a bridge, Private Davis courageously advanced to within
five meters of a machine gun position and provided a base of fire that
enabled the rest of his platoon to gain fire superiority over the enemy
force.  In the process, he received a serious head wound."

PFC Douglas C. Sanderlin, a radioman in A/3-39th, won the Army Commendation
Medal for "accurately throw[ing] hand grenades into a fortified Viet Cong
bunker."
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