The Battle for Plei Doch

The Battle of Plei Doch
This major battle took place May 26, 1967.The battle lasted for about 4 hours. My Company, "B" Company, had just finished climbing a huge mountain on the Cambodian boarder. Our sister Company "C" was climbing up the same mountain behind us was attempting to link up with us @ the top of the mountain. "C" company had been taking a break, sprawled on the ground before tackling the last part of the ridge, when the enemy opened up on them with everything. Captain Powers ("C" Company Commander) rose to see what was happening and he was killed instantly with a bullet between the eyes. The enemy made eight separate charges sideways across the hill, and "C" Company kept driving them off and attacking uphill at still more North Vietnamese who were blocking their chance of linking up with us, "B" Company, on the crest. A "C" Company lieutenant, Clay Johnson, was killed leading the attack uphill that began to break the enemy resistance, and was being put in for the Distinguished Service Cross.. The First Sargent had taken over, leading the rush that broke through to join up with us "B" Company, which was fighting its way downhill toward them. He had been wounded through both hands, and was also in for the Distinguished Service Cross. Ten of our brave Dragoons had been killed that day. Although Cpt. Powers had died with the first rounds, he had saved his company because, even resting beside a trail in sloping rain forest, he kept them spread out in a big diamond formation. When the unexpected attack came, they were ready, simply because of the way they had been placed, and were able to maneuver instead of being trapped in single file on the trail. After the battle was over I still remember moping up. I personally saw this Specialist 4th Class boy, whom had carried a 12 Gauge pump shotgun, lying dead with a huge pile of shotgun empty casings underneath him and a pile of dead North Vietnamese Regulars directly to his front. He had just killed all of them with his 00 Buck Shot Rounds. I have emailed everyone possible in an attempt to identify his name. I have finally discovered his name, Richard Edward Wilkins, from Mountlake Terrace, Wa. I have also discover his Cousin Paul Beals from Ester Alaska and his brother Dan Wilkins from Wa. Through emails I have also discovered that Richard had been presented with the Silver Star Posthumous for his action that day. I told Paul that I was glad that the Military gave him such a high Award.

10 Good Men Lost Their Lives in this Battle

NAME RANK UNIT Date of KIA Hometown State Line #
Dodd, Lawrence Rudin SP4 C/3/8 5/26/1967 Aromas CA 20E/113
Fitzgerald, Terence Patrick SP4 C/3/8 5/26/1967 San Francisco CA 20E/114
Gaines, Phillip Ray PFC C/3/8 5/26/1967 East St Louis IL 20E/115
Johnson, Clayton Winslow 1LT C/3/8 5/26/1967 Evanston IL 20E/117
Mesarosh, Donald Earl SP4 C/3/8 5/26/1967 Louisville KY 20E/120
Morales, Ramon J. PFC C/3/8 5/26/1967 Alton IL 20E/121
Powers, James Conrad CPT C/3/8 5/26/1967 Dubuque IA 20E/123
Roell, Michael Conrad PFC C/3/8 5/26/1967 Hillsdale NJ 20E/123
Wilkins, Richard Edward SP4 C/3/8 5/26/1967 Mountlake Terr WA 20E/125
Wooldridge, Paul M. Jr. PFC C/3/8 5/26/1967 Metropolis IL 20E/127