101 Vietnam Veterans
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Ambush

After years of fighting the Chinese, Japanese, French, and finally, the Americans, the Vietnamese had established a trail and tunnel system throughout the country of South Vietnam that was complex, deep, and well used.  One day in June of 1968, we came upon such a trail.  It snaked through the jungle for several miles and in some places was more than seven feet deep and four feet wide.

We set up an ambush over looking such a ravine and waited.  The way an ambush was set up was that the first thing an enemy solider would hit would be a well-concealed trip flare wire, which would alarm us of his presence.  After tripping the flare, he was faced with two claymore mines.  Claymores are electronically controlled devices designed to blast in one direction and totally destroy everything in that direction for several yards.
 

Then there was us, maybe twelve men armed to the teeth with all the weapons of the day and plenty of ammo, lying in silence.  In a flash, our wait was over and the trip flare popped and both claymores exploded.  At times like this, you shoot first and ask questions later.  We were giving it all we had for a while, when the order came down to cease firing.

In the ravine directly in front of us, we heard some rustling, this soldier was smart enough to have run toward us rather than away from us where he surely would have been killed.  A shot rang out then a metallic click and a voice, cursing in his native tongue, the North Vietnamese soldier was alone and his weapon had jammed.  He was in a tight spot and he knew it.
 

We started firing, and again the order to cease firing came down.  All combat soldiers know what it’s like to experience a jammed weapon in a firefight.  We heard another single shot, click and more cursing in Vietnamese.  After a few moments of laughter from both sides, the young North Vietnamese soldier slipped away.  We all cheered him for his heroics.  I personally had a great deal of respect for these courageous fighters and never made the mistake of underestimated their bravery under fire.

TJ McGinley
Tiger Force
1/327/101
VN. ’68-69
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  • About Us
    • Board of Governors >
      • Elected and Appointed Officials
      • Past Presidents
      • Want to Run for Office?
      • Voting Ballot
    • Constitution and Bylaws
    • Memberships
    • Founding Fathers
    • Brief History
    • Eulogy to a Paratrooper
    • Thua Thien Province Base Camps/Firebases
    • General Order #1
    • The Challenge Coin
    • Army Donation 2010
    • YOUR WAR STORIES
    • John Gertsch
    • BATTLE OF PHOUC YEN
    • November 28, 1971
    • Our First Patrol
    • Award to a hero
    • Mountain Tales
    • Duty in the Sky
    • Ambush
    • These Colors Didn't run
    • POPCORN!
    • BATTLE OF AP DONG LAM
    • Monkey Man!
    • "MadMonk" >
      • Letter Home
    • My Bestest Buddy
    • The Chat
    • The Day it Snowed
    • Just Last Night
    • C-Ration Cook Book
    • The Truth of it all
    • Almost got Blown up
    • A SHAU VALLEY
    • 40 Years Ago This Week!
    • Comradery
    • Operation Lamar Plain
    • The Iconic Huey
    • THE DEATH OF LIEUTENANT PERSHING
    • FNG's Prelude to Our First Patrol
    • Sgt Flaherty Unsent Letters 1
    • Sgt Flaherty Unsent Letters 2
    • Sgt Flaherty Unsent Letters 3
    • A Personal Memoir
    • Poems and Tributes >
      • I am the Flag
      • The Airborne Creed
      • Paratroopers Theme Song
      • Why please
      • Reciprocity
      • Burnin' the shit
      • Aquarius
      • LZ Jane
      • I am a Soldier
      • It's been some time
      • Dedication by Dwight Lane
      • Taps
      • The Old Unit
      • AMERICAN SOLDIERMAN
      • REMEMBRANCE DAY
      • A Grateful Nation
      • Airborne History
      • LESLIE TOWNES HOPE
      • Pow / Mia
      • The Wall
      • The Wall
      • Escape
      • Killed in Action
      • Another Year
      • Women of Valor >
        • Sitting in the Dark >
          • Dear Larry
      • A Tribute to Veterans
  • Policy Letters
  • History
    • Airborne History
    • Going Back to Fort Benning
    • Branch Anniversary Dates
    • Order of Battle 65-72
    • Unit History 67-72
    • Unit Awards
    • Battle Campaigns 65-72
    • How to Fold the Flag
    • Memorial Dedication
    • 101 Dedication
    • Proper Flag Display
    • Distinctive Unit Insignia
    • Video Tribute
    • VIET CONG TERROR DOCTRINE
    • Unit Citation Pamphlet
    • Pocket guide to Vietnam
    • Awards
  • Historical Photo Gallery
  • Useful and Important Veterans Links
  • Contact Us
  • Memorial Dedication
  • A Veteran
  • Vietnam Service Medal
  • Fallen Eagles
  • Special Notice Items
  • UPCOMING REUNION 2025
  • Past Reunions
    • Reunion 2024
    • Reunion 2023
    • REUNION 2022
    • 2019 Reunion
    • 2018 Reunion
    • 2017 Reunion
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    • 2015 Reunion
    • 2014 Reunion
    • 2013 Reunion
    • 2012 Reunion
    • 2011 Reunion
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    • 2004 Reunion
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    • 2002 Reunion
  • NEWSLETTERS
    • Januray 2025
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    • January 2024
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    • APRIL 2023
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    • 2021 NEWSLETTERS
    • 2020 Newsletter
    • SPRING 2022
    • 2019 Newsletters
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    • 2017 Newsletters
    • 2016 Newsletters
  • Update Honorary Air Assault Badge
  • Chaplains Corner