Battle Account by
Sgt. Donald L. Schaffer USMC Ret
When: 2 February 1968, 0200 Hrs
Where: Cam Lo, Republic of South Viet
Nam
I have had either vague or
inaccurate recollections of what occurred this night until August 1998. I had
vividly remembered that we were over run at Doc Kinh and everyone except me was
killed. While cooking dinner on the grill for my family, one night, I received
a phone call from Bill Lefevre. Bill was a Corporal with Papa 5 at Doc Kinh.
After talking, Bill reminded me that
he was on his way to try and be with his cousin who was seriously wounded in
December '67. His condition had worsened to the point where they couldn't
transport him out of country. Bill was a grubby marine out of the bush, hopping
helicopters and C-130's trying to get to a Saigon hospital. Bill did make it in
time to be with his cousin, Sgt. Clifford E. Bryan, for about three days until
he died of his wounds. Sgt. Bryan was with the Ist Cavalry20 Division,
Airmobile, and died on January 25th. 1968, which was after his rotation date.
Bill also told me about a CAP Internet Site. I started surfing the CAP Site and found an
E-Mail address for Jerry Goller, Jerry was a Corporal with Papa 5 and was with
me on 2 February 1968. After corresponding with Jerry for about 3 weeks, he
provided me with the information I needed to remember what actually happened.
Jerry reminded that we had destroyed the Papa 5 compound and left Doc Kinh.
This is how I now remember the
battle at Cam Lo on 2 February 1968. My thanks to Bill and Jerry for bringing
this all back to me. I have not felt completely comfortable about my vivid
recollections of this night for over 30 years. I now am confidant that my
current memories are much more accurate.
While serving with Combined Action
Platoon, Papa 5, of the Fourth Combined Action Group of the Third Marine
Division we came under heavy rocket and mortar fire at approximately 0200 Hrs.
There we approximately 30 Marines inside the compound. This force was made up
of:
- Members of Papa 5
Had evacuated their post at Doc Kinh
when enemy troop strength in the area began to increase for the TET Offensive
- One Marine Corps infantry squad
Had come into the compound just
before dark
- A handful of Marine Corps Engineers
Had been ambushed on Highway 9
earlier that day
- Members of CAP Headquarters
The only Marines stationed at Cam Lo
When the incoming started I grabbed
my M-16 and headed for what appeared to be a weak spot on the perimeter. I took
up a position and fired several boxes of ammunition, hundreds or possibly
thousands of rounds. I was shot twice in the right shoulder (flesh wounds only,
no bone damage). The enemy began to over-run our position and were inside the
compound. Jerry managed to find a working radio and, after advising his fellow
Marines, called in an artillery strike directly on our compound. This succeeded
in forcing the enemy out of the compound.
I then resumed firing my M-16 until
it was either hit by enemy fire and blew-up or misfired and blew-up in my hand.
My right hand was broken in 22 places and has had many reconstructive
surgeries, the most recent in February of 1990.
After my M-16 was destroyed I saw an
Infantry Machine-Gunner about 10 meters away who had a severe head wound and
was unable to fire his weapon. I started towards him to assist and was hit in the
right leg (doctors took an AK-47 round out of my leg) three times, shattering
the bones. I crawled on my elbows and knees to the M-60 machine Gun and began
firing it left-handed.
The enemy was over-running the
compound a second time. At this point I heard in-coming artillery fire and a
round exploded directly behind me. Even though wearing a Flak Jacket my back
was broken in 3 places and I received 57 shrapnel wounds. The sounds of the
in-coming were confusing to me for years. It wasn't until I learned from Bill
that our artillery was called in a total of three times that night that I
realized why I was confused by the sound. It was the distinctive sound of a
U.S. Marine Artillery Air Burst that caused the injuries to my back. I still
have a great deal of shrapnel in my back and last had infected shrapnel
surgically removed in May of 1996.
During the second siege I received a
bayonet injury to my lower back, the bayonet entered just below my Flak Jacket
and exited my stomach. I had major internal injuries and extensive abdominal
surgery as a result.
The next thing I remember I was
being carried into the Communications Bunker. After dawn I remember laying
outside on the ground among other sreaming Marines, begging to be evacuated.
I still have vivid memories of a
Navy Corpsman surgically removing my spleen that was ruptured prior to me being
evacuated. He told me "I think this is your spleen and I think you can
live without it, but you're bleeding to death so I'm taking it out". This
was done in the field without any anesthetic and I assisted by retracting the
incision.
The sounds and smells are still in
my memory. One of the things I remember most vividly is the stinking mud. It
has not rained for some time. The mud was sticky and red, it was from all the
blood spilled on the ground that night by hundreds of dead or wounded men. I
also remember the screaming, both in english and vietnameese, of the wounded
and dying men.
It was about 0800 Hrs before the
area was secured and the wounded could be evacuated. Several Marines died,
waiting to be evacuated. In addition to Bill, Jerry and me, there is one other
survivor of CAP Papa 5, Tom Morton. Tom was also at Cam Lo on 2 February 1968.
I have not been able to make contact with Tom yet, Bill has been in contact
with him for a couple years off and on, and both have been trying to locate
Jerry & I for 30 years. Bill and I finally had our personal
"Reunion" in March of 2000, there was a lot of emotion and memories
shared. We decided we won't wait 32 years to see each other again and we both
want to get together with Jerry & Tom.
I was subsequently medically retired
from the Marine Corps 19 May 1970.
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