More Sights and Sounds from the War in Vietnam

Scout Proves His Worth

FIRE BASE BASTOGNE - Cay Nguyen Xuan, Luc Luong 66 Scout for Co. A, 2d Bn., 501st Inf., 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), recently proved his value to his American comrades. Cay is a former North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldier, now a Scout for the Screaming Eagles.

"We came into a landing zone (LZ) under fire from one side " said Capt. Jon Zimmerman, company commander. "My men engaged the enemy on that side of the LZ."

Cay, knowing the tactics of his former cornrades went to the other side of the LZ and waited for the enemy's next move. When the enemy approached, Cay was waiting for them.

"Cay moved from position to position keeping the NVA soldiers pinned down," said Zimmerman. "Two of my men saw what he was doing and joined him. When Cay ran out of ammunition, he braved the enemy fire to get more."

Moving back to his position, Cay began firing his M-16 rifle and M-79 grenade launcher at the same time.

"He almost single-handedly, suppressed the enemy fire from that side of the LZ enabling the helicopters to come in and pick us up," added the captain.

For his actions, Cay received a Bronze Star with "V" for valor from Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Tarpley, division commander, in an awards ceremony at Fire Base Bastogne.

Screaming Eagle, Jun 71

Orderly Room, Eagle Beach. Eagle Beach was established on the South China Sea six miles east of Hue in May of 1969 for incountry Rest & Relaxation (R&R). Companies were sent to Eagle Beach to recuperate for two or three days after suffering major casualties due to contact with the Viet Cong or the North Vietnamese.

Lives Saved

FIRE BASE BASTOGNE - A platoon from Co. A, 2nd Bn., 501st Inf., 101st onto Airborne Division (Airmobile), while making a combat assault onto a landing zone (LZ) near Fire Base Veghel, came under enemy small arms fire.

Spec. 4 Robert Ivy was a member of this platoon. When the platoon leader was injured, Ivy assumed command of the platoon and exposed himself to enemy fire while organizing the platoon for an assault on the enemy.

His squad, along with the rest of the platoon, drove the enemy from the LZ, allowing the medevac helicopter to come in and evacuate the wounded.

Soon after contact was broken, the platoon was extracted from the area leaving five enemy killed in action near the LZ.

Screaming Eagle, Jun 71