Vietnam Jungle Battle at YA564510.

In this week of anniversaries, the History Junkie takes one more look back. A year to the day after the Battle at LZ X-ray, November 13, 1966, found Company A of the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, departing Hill 283 in the Central Highland jungle at 8:00 a.m.

Some three hours later, they engaged a significant enemy force near a creek bed. A heated exchange ensued with at least eight PAVN soldiers killed. Ten Americans were wounded, but none fatally.

Shortly after noon, “A” secured the site and began to clear off a landing zone to ferry out its casualties. The evacuation was complete by 3:00 p.m. Yet tragically, the PAVN used this lull in the action to amass an entire battalion and encircle the Americans.

Alpha hit the trail heading east. Albion, Indiana’s Terry Weber walked with the lead group, 3rd Platoon, under the command of 1st Lt. Terry O’Brien. Within minutes, PAVN regulars attacked them head on from the east while simultaneously striking the trailing party, 2nd Platoon, from the west. With 1st Platoon now receiving fire from the north, “A” found itself outnumbered and completely surrounded.

The enemy struck with mortars, small arms and then men. Human wave assaults attempted to overrun American positions. Although suffering heavy casualties, the “Golden Dragons” continued to hold tight and kill the enemy, often at only arm’s length. Soon the fighting deteriorated into hand-to-hand combat.

When 1st Lt. Bainbridge was wounded badly, Executive Officer, 1st Lt. Joseph Grant gathered a team and raced to his aid. Bainbridge begged Grant, “Let me die here with my men. Get somebody else out.” Grant wouldn’t hear of it, but was hit twice himself during the rescue.

Grant similarly came to the aid of Lt. O’Brien, hit in both legs. As the group gathered the wounded and headed for safety, multiple enemy mortar rounds scored a direct hit, killing the entire lot. Lt. Joseph Xavier Grant was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Terry Weber likewise disregarded his own condition to aid a fellow “Dragon.” “…When a comrade was wounded nearby, he (Weber) moved him to safety. As he returned to the battle area, he was shot and mortally wounded by sniper fire.” Weber earned the Bronze Star for Heroism.

In the end, Company C came to the rescue, routing the enemy. But the help proved too late for many.  Sixteen Alpha troopers including Joseph Grant, Terry O’Brien and twenty-year-old Terry Weber gave full measure at a map spec known only as YA564510.

One Response to “Vietnam Jungle Battle at YA564510”

1. Walt McDonald says:

   September 27, 2013 at 4:04 pm

   I still have nightmares of this day. This fight for our lives was mean and vicious. We fought for each other! We were a tight unit, having been together in Hawaii, training together before our deployment. Rest In Peace my fallen Brothers. I will remember you always. Golden Dragons!

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