New pictures of Fire Base David
Not sure which company or companies were there, someone who can tell us
let us know, please e-mail fredr@15thcombatengineers.org
This is the RFPF Compound that was on the main road next to the ferry. FSB David was set up right next to it. Our perimeter was about fifty yards from their outside perimeter. It made us all nervous that they might start dropping fire power on us if the VC attacked. I was standing next to the ferry in front of the RFPF compound when the ground fire came in from the other side of the Chet Say Canal. I had water splashing in front of me and then dirt kicking up to the left of me from AK 47 bullets. I couldn't figure out what was happening for a few seconds until all hell broke loose. They really started to pour the firepower in on us. Of all things, I was without my rifle. I ran like hell back to the CP and got the platoon to go to the perimeter opposite the canal. It was completely unmanned. The VC could have come over that berm and had the whole camp under their guns. I remember Bright only had his pistol. I asked him where his M-79 was and he said he had left it back at his gear. He asked me what to do and I told him to go get it. He said "that's a good idea" and took of running low. He was back in a minute with it. Apparently he had been pounding sand bags with a short board when the first rounds came in. He later told me that one of the first rounds went through the tip of the board and knocked it out of his hand. It sounded a little far out at the time, but someone said they saw it happen, and the board had a hole in it, so I guess it happened. Do you remember any of this? I remember the infantry was on the berm facing the canal and they were pouring out the lead. The Navy PBR's showed up and put their cannon on the far shore. Charlie either got his ass kicked or crawled back into his hole. The next day the rains started and then came the night with the mortars. What a mess!
