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As we stopped for a breather I recognized a familiar face passing
by. It was an Artillery Lieutenant who I came in country with, and
spent 3 days with in Quang Tri. He didn't recognize me right away.
After all, I was sporting two weeks of beard and I had lost a good
25 pounds from an already small frame. Add to that the sweat and
blood and dirt from that hill and even my mother would not have
recognized me.
"Crudelle," I hollered, "Is that you?" (It was Gary Crudelle).
"Rees" he replied in kind. "Well I'll be damned. How the hell are
you?"
We began dragging along together as we moved along the creek bed.
Noticing the blood on the back of my torn shirt he asked "You
Okay?"
"Oh yeah; just some scrapes," I replied.
"Did you see those guys from 1-11 take that hill? They are some
bad dudes" Crudelle offered proudly. (It was obvious he didn't
realize that I was with the 1-11 and not a unit in his 1-61).
"Yeah," I agreed, "They are really something."
It wasn't much consolation at the time, but I did feel a lot of
pride in our accomplishments. We did a great job up there. It cost
us, but we did all we were supposed to, and more. We saved a whole
unit and removed their wounded.
We didn't get our turkey dinner that day (it was waiting for us
the following day at Charlie-two) but it really didn't matter
anymore. We got a life-long lesson in the meaning of Thanksgiving.
We lost friends and brothers on a hill that didn't mean a damn
thing to us. We won a battle, even with the odds and numbers
stacked against us; and it was tough. We overran two hills and
sent the NVA packing. But, of course, they'd be back!
The official field report read: Two friendly KIA, seven friendly
wounded; 27 NVA KIA!
But now we were leaving again. Leaving that ridge that cost many
casualties on both sides; where the Marines before us suffered so
many casualties. Leaving so that the NVA could reclaim it as
theirs before the sun would set that evening- that Thanksgiving
evening!
It was a powerful challenge that day; a great battle and a great
victory. All who were there, those with the 1-61 who were wounded
and pinned down all day; and all those "bad dudes" from the 1-11
who bailed them out; will forever remember that battle for "Turkey
Ridge".
DM Rees
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