This is one of the most important documents we have received .  This PARTIAL document was submitted by John Monkewicz.  Read it carefully and jot down the types and numbers of rounds that were fired at LZ Russell by other units, on Feb. 25, 1969. If you add them up, it’s astonishing!   

I took the liberty of itemizing each specific as well as applying bold type to all things that relate to LZ Russell.  I did not change any word within the document, or re-arrange the order in which it was composed. 

Please refer to the item number if you submit discussion about this document.  Any discussions will be linked to this document.

 Please contact Doc Mullens, or Ken Heins if you wish to have a copy of the original document.

See original document below.

(1)                   …second to “B” 1/12.  At this time reinforcing fires were requested from the 12th Marines. 

(2)                   At 0406H word was received that “H” 3/12 at FSB Russell was taking incoming.  Counter mortar plan “Camel” with “L” 4/12 and “I” 3/12 was put in to effect.  Reinforcing fires were requested for Russell from 12th Marines. 

(3)                   At 0417H “H” 3/12 at Russell reported that the NVA were all over the FSB.  At this time all communications were lost with “H” Battery. 

(4)                   In support of Neville “H” 3/12 had fired 170 rounds HE and 150 illumination rounds, “B” 1/12 fired 200 rounds HE and 5th 155 guns fired 11 illumination rounds. 

(5)                   In support of Russell “L” 4/12 fired 224 HE and 79 illumination rounds, “I” 3/12 fired 217 rounds HE, 2nd Prov fired 239 rounds HE and “B” fired 34 rounds HE. 

(6)                   At FSB Neville the NVA penetrated into the gun 6 pit.  “G” Battery fought back and recoverd the gun pit that the enemy had occupied.  17 NVA were killed by “G” Battery.  A total of 34 dead NVA were found on the FSB. 

(7)                   At FSB Russell the NVA penetrated into three gun pits and damaged two howitzers.  “H” Battery re-captured the gun pits from the NVA.  A total of 25 NVA were found dead inside the perimeter.  The attacks on both FSB’s were obviously launched to capture or destroy the guns at those positions. 

(8)                   Only through heroic efforts were the positions defended and the NVA finally repulsed. 

(9)                   The casualties suffered by “G” 3/12 at FSB Neville were 3 KIA, 5 WIA, and “H” at FSB Russell suffered 8 KIA and 25 WIA. 

(10)                   At 0425H received word that “I” 4/12 at the Rockpile was receiving incoming.  2nd Prov at VCB was given clearance to fire counter mortar plan “Rat“ for the Rockpile.  At 1110H the rockpile took rockets from the northwest.  “L” 4/12, 2nd Prov and “I” 3/12 all fired counter rocket fire.  “L” expended the 169 rounds, “I” expended 101 rounds and 2nd Prov 32 rounds.  At 1455H “L” 3/4 had 8 NVA at grid XD 973615.  “L” 4/12 fired 24 rounds HE, fuse quick and delay with unknown results.  At 1504H an AO, Colorado I, had 4 NVA at grid 946624.  “I” 3/12 fired 48 rounds. 

(11)                At 1535H the AO again had NVA at XD 946630.  “G” and 8” and “F” 3/12 fired.  8” expended 30 rounds of firecracker and “H” fired 30 rounds of HE, fuse VT.  There were no confirms on this mission. 

(12)                At 1405H “G” 3/12 fired counter mortar plan “Mongoose”, 175 guns fired 30 rounds of reinforcing fire. 

(13)                ”W” 3/12 arrived at FSB Russell at 1845H. 

(14)                At 1635 the Rockpile again had active rockets.  “I” 3/12 fired 54 rounds at grid XD 970612. 

(15)                “H” 3/12 at 2000H reported taking more incoming.  Counter mortar plan “Camel” was shot by “I” 3/12 and “L” 4/12.  A total of 92 rounds were fired.

(16)                On the 26th February at 0900H FSB Neville reported incoming mortars.  Counter mortar plan “Mongoose” was fired…

END OF DOCUMENT

Skip’s Comments

It has been brought to my attention that some feel blame may be placed upon who ever reported that the NVA were “all over the hill”, shortly before we lost radio communications (as shown in item 3).  This statement was entirely accurate.  There were NVA all over our hill.  It was entirely correct to report that information and there is nothing indicating the reporter can be blamed for the subsequent loss of radio contact.

This theory presumes battlefield commanders were left with no choice but to completely annihilate LZ Russell in order to prevent the NVA from taking control our guns.  In this spirit, they supposedly ordered direct fire of heavy artillery upon LZ Russell.  That certain bunkers were obviously destroyed by much larger explosives than the attacking NVA force could muster seemed to prove that our own heavy artillery did, in fact, fire upon us.

If you look at item 5, however, you see it begins with “In support of Russell…”, when describing what action was taken by heavy artillery.  That is not the same as “In an attempt to destroy Russell..”. 

In addition, the number and size of the rounds that were fired in that support mission were enormous… certainly enough to turn everything on that hill to ashes.  If the intent were to annihilate the hill, then why didn’t that happen?  If only 10% of the rounds fired hit their (supposed) target, no one would have lived.  This means that either the heavy artillery were the worst shots in the history of warfare, or they were, in fact, firing support.  Certainly, a few of our bunkers were hit by those rounds.  Considering the number of rounds fired and that heavy artillery were very busy that night supporting all the LZ’s that were being hit, it is not unreasonable to assume that a few rounds could land directly upon LZ Russell by mistake. Thus, I contend that there is no fault in this, but the fault lay in humanity's inability to avoid waging war to settle their differences.

Please feel free to submit your comments to Skip and he will post them here for you.  Be sure to remind him where you want these comments posted.

Original Document:

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