We'll Let Them Shoot at Us
During my first tour in Vietnam I often flew at night with a good friend who flew Cobra helicopters. I flew the front seat as the copilot/gunner and he was the pilot in the back seat. Although Ted, my friend, was a very young pilot of only nineteen years of age, he had tremendous composure.
One of the nights we flew together we were sent out leading a team of two Cobras. Our assignment was to protect two lift helicopters while they extracted a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP). The LRRPs were on the run because a much larger enemy unit had discovered them and they had to run to survive. One team of Cobras and lift helicopters had already tried to extract the LRRPs but the lift helicopters got shot-up and had to return to base. It was a life or death situation for the LRRPs and everyone knew it.
As soon as the LRRPs found an open area where they could be picked up, our lift helicopters made an approach to try to get them. Their approach was under fire and before they could get the LRRPs they had to give it up. The lift helicopters were shot up and the LRRPs had to go back on the run because the Viet Cong had caught up with them and were firing on them at close range. We stayed overhead and tried to protect them with our weapons systems. We were shooting rockets, grenades and a 7.62-millimeter Gatling gun.
Our wing ship was low on fuel and out of ammunition so he was sent back to base. Another team of Cobras and lift helicopters arrived on station to attempt another pick-up. We had a few rounds left so Ted said we would make one more pass and fire what rockets we had left.
When we made our gun run without a wingman to cover us, they started firing at us. At that point Ted said, “We’ll let them shoot at us while the others extract the LRRPs.” One of the places that helicopters shouldn’t be is slow and low when people can see you and shoot at you. We were about four hundred feet above the ground and flying at about forty knots. It was not a comfortable place to be as the tracer rounds were flying past us. In the front seat I was shooting back with the 7.62-millimeter gun but there were more of them than there were of us. Ted radioed the other flight and told them that we would draw the fire so they could make an extraction.
Soon we ran out of 7.62 ammunition and then I started using the rest of the 40-millimeter grenades trying to suppress the Viet Cong fire. Tracers continued to zing past us as we stayed right overhead giving the Viet Cong a target to shoot at. It was a big deal to bring down a helicopter and especially a Cobra! They were happy to have us be a good target! I asked Ted if this really seemed like a good idea. He just chuckled and said to keep shooting! I did until I ran out of all ammunition! Luckily that happened at the same time the flight lead of the Cobras called and said they had successfully extracted the LRRPs and that we should get out of there. We were happy to do that. Everyone made it back and the mission had finally been successfully completed. The LRRPs were especially happy to be back on friendly ground after their “run for their lives” night!
Doing something for someone else is part of everything that is good about mankind. Over the entire history of mankind there have been those who have gone the extra mile for others. Parents sacrifice for their children. They give up things they want and need to ensure their family is taken care of. Military people have given their lives so others might live and enjoy freedom. Policemen and firemen have risked their lives to save others. Medical people spend countless hours caring for others, often risking their own health. Every person is indebted to others for their freedom, their lives, their health, and every good thing! The best-lived lives are the ones where serve other people. If we are not happy it is probably because we don’t feel like we are making things better for others!
One of the nights we flew together we were sent out leading a team of two Cobras. Our assignment was to protect two lift helicopters while they extracted a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP). The LRRPs were on the run because a much larger enemy unit had discovered them and they had to run to survive. One team of Cobras and lift helicopters had already tried to extract the LRRPs but the lift helicopters got shot-up and had to return to base. It was a life or death situation for the LRRPs and everyone knew it.
As soon as the LRRPs found an open area where they could be picked up, our lift helicopters made an approach to try to get them. Their approach was under fire and before they could get the LRRPs they had to give it up. The lift helicopters were shot up and the LRRPs had to go back on the run because the Viet Cong had caught up with them and were firing on them at close range. We stayed overhead and tried to protect them with our weapons systems. We were shooting rockets, grenades and a 7.62-millimeter Gatling gun.
Our wing ship was low on fuel and out of ammunition so he was sent back to base. Another team of Cobras and lift helicopters arrived on station to attempt another pick-up. We had a few rounds left so Ted said we would make one more pass and fire what rockets we had left.
When we made our gun run without a wingman to cover us, they started firing at us. At that point Ted said, “We’ll let them shoot at us while the others extract the LRRPs.” One of the places that helicopters shouldn’t be is slow and low when people can see you and shoot at you. We were about four hundred feet above the ground and flying at about forty knots. It was not a comfortable place to be as the tracer rounds were flying past us. In the front seat I was shooting back with the 7.62-millimeter gun but there were more of them than there were of us. Ted radioed the other flight and told them that we would draw the fire so they could make an extraction.
Soon we ran out of 7.62 ammunition and then I started using the rest of the 40-millimeter grenades trying to suppress the Viet Cong fire. Tracers continued to zing past us as we stayed right overhead giving the Viet Cong a target to shoot at. It was a big deal to bring down a helicopter and especially a Cobra! They were happy to have us be a good target! I asked Ted if this really seemed like a good idea. He just chuckled and said to keep shooting! I did until I ran out of all ammunition! Luckily that happened at the same time the flight lead of the Cobras called and said they had successfully extracted the LRRPs and that we should get out of there. We were happy to do that. Everyone made it back and the mission had finally been successfully completed. The LRRPs were especially happy to be back on friendly ground after their “run for their lives” night!
Doing something for someone else is part of everything that is good about mankind. Over the entire history of mankind there have been those who have gone the extra mile for others. Parents sacrifice for their children. They give up things they want and need to ensure their family is taken care of. Military people have given their lives so others might live and enjoy freedom. Policemen and firemen have risked their lives to save others. Medical people spend countless hours caring for others, often risking their own health. Every person is indebted to others for their freedom, their lives, their health, and every good thing! The best-lived lives are the ones where serve other people. If we are not happy it is probably because we don’t feel like we are making things better for others!
posted by Bruce | 3:30 PM
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