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DonCHall
, December 04, 2007
(view all comments by DonCHall)
A debacle masquerading as a war story
It is better to be a hero than the wife of a coward.
By— Valencia (1936)
From Linderer's EYES BEHIND THE LINES book, page 11- "My first full day back with F Company was occupied with replacing the weapon and all the gear and equipment I had lost November 20. I had to start from scratch replacing my LBE [load-bearing equipment] and my rucksack and pack frame."
From Gary Linderer's book: From Gary Linderer's book: Page 10 - "The fact that we had killed over two hundred NVA, including the executive officer of the NVA 5th Regiment did not lesson his grief."
From Gary Linderer's book EYES BEHIND THE LINES. "For some reason, when people read something in print, they have a tendency to believe it; tell them the same story face to face, and they think you’re making it up. Yes, these books helped to give us the credibility that we could never have achieved on our own.”
Inside all of Gary A. Linderer’s books he has the following: “Gary A. Linderer is the publisher of ‘Behind the Lines,’ a magazine that specializes in U.S. military special operations. In Vietnam, he earned two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star with V devise (for Valor), the Army Commendation Medal with V devise, and two Purple Hearts. His first two books were selected by the Military Book Club.”
National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63132-5100 OFFICIAL LIST OF AWARDS The Official Military Records of GARY A. LINDERER (SSN removed) show that he is authorized the following awards and decorations for his service in the US Army: SILVER STAR BRONZE STAR MEDAL W/FIRST OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND "V" ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
W/FIRST OAK LEAF CLUSTER AIR MEDAL
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL NATIONAL DEFENSE
SERVICE MEDAL VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL W/4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN RIBBON W/DEVICE (1960) REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS W/PALM UNIT CITATION BADGE SHARPSHOOTER
BADGE W/RIFLE & MACHINE GUN BARS EXPERT BADGE W/AUTO RIFLE BAR
////////NOTHING FOLLOWS/////////////
R. L. HINDMAN,
Director
From the United States National Archives: DA 1594 DAILY STAFF JOURNAL OR DUTY OFFICER'S LOG. These are the contemporaneous, unbiased, official radio reports from units in the field using the US Army "SALUTE" reporting system. SIZE of the enemy, ACTIVITY of the enemy, LOCATION, UNIT, TIME, and ESTIMATED of strength.
G-2 & G-3 Section 101st Abn. Div. Camp Eagle YD808162 20 Nov. 1968 Item No 11 - 0945 hours (C) G2 recd msg [message] fr [from] 2d Bde [Brigade] stating: At 0530H vic [vicinity] YC829901 2/501 LRRP Tm #24 fnd [found] fresh footprints made by sandels [sandals]. Heading 340° NW from loc [location]. More to follow.
Item No 14 - 1000H (C) G2 recd msg fr 1st Bde Stating: At 2400 to 0400 vic An Nong 1 YD918093 & An Nong 3 YD933106 in Loc Bon village, info came from village chief to A Co. that 30 VC last night came through above locations. Primary purpose was collect money, but would accept rice instead. They came from the south and returned south.
Item No 17 - 1200H (C) G2 recd msg 2d Bde stating: At 1130 H vic YC829900 LRP TM #24 ambushed est [estimated] enemy squad [squad] (reinf) [reinforced] moving E on trail at YC 829900. Appartently [Apparently] rice carrying detail, for only two were VC were armed. En appeared to have been heading towards hill # 512 at YC8490. Res: 9 VC KIA, 2x 45 pistols CIA. Note: 8 VC were killed outright, one was captured but was seriously wounded. This VC later died after attempt to evac [evacuate] him was made. No friendly cas [casualties].
Item No 18 - 1220H (C) G2 recd msg fr 2/17 stating: At 1124H vic YC8490 LRP Tm #24 amb 9 VC, 5 women & 4 men. LRP Tm believes VC were porters. Res: 5 female KIA BC, 4 VC male KIA BC, 2 x US 45 Cal pistols. VC were moving towards Hill 513 YC8490. Neg [Negative] US cas.
Item No 33 - 1620H (C) G3 recd mes fr 2/17 Cav stating: 2/17 (C) reports LRRPs in RZ Brenda are in heavy contact, 9 cas. Request 1 Co RRF. 1st Bde will supply the company - A/2/502. Insertion controlled by credit 4.
Item No 36 - 1645 H (C) recd msg fr 2d Bde, at 1620H, vic YC839880, LRP Tm 24 made contact w/unk [unknown] size force. Res: 2 US KHA, 8 WIA. A complete report will be turned in tonight.
Item No 48 - 2043H (C) G3 recd msg fr 2/17 Cav, LRP medevac completed 1830H, C/ARP ext fr contact site 1920H, shuttle to Brick has not been closed.
Item No 51 - 2130 H (C) G2 recd msg fr 2/17, total 3 KHA, 21 WHA (8 serious, 13 minor), all cas fr LRP Co except 8 WIA fr ARP. One Kit CASON was WHA (minor) not included in 21 WHA.
Item 52 - DELAYED ENTRY (2025H) G3 recd msg fr Div Atry, [artillery] ... A/2/319 fired 64 HE [High Explosive] and 2 WP. B/2/11 fired 40 sh [silhouette] Illum Illumination].
SUMMARY: A LRP tm of F/58 Inf [Infantry] ambushed ten en [enemy] moving N on trail vic [vicinity] YC839887. The res [results] were eight enemy KIA and two wpns [weapons] capt [captured]. In subsequent encounter w/a [with a] reinforced enemy squad, the team killed one addtional en [enemy] in the same area.
G-2 & G-3 101st Abn. Div CAMP EAGLE DATE 23 Nov. 1968 page 5 of 7. Item No 35 - 1429 hours (C) G-2 recd msg fr 2d Bde stating: At 1325H vic YC83888 D/2/501 1st plt [platoon] at 1240H fnd 8 bodies: 7 x VC, 1 NVA, 4 pairs of PJ, 20 lbs of rice, 1 kettle, equipment left by LRPS: 1 x WP grenade [grenades], 1 x bottle of whole blood, LRP rations, poncho liner, 6 x US rucksacks, 1 x sewing kit and 5x claymore. Note: The 8 x VC were previously reported.
Not at all like the war tales written by PFC Linderer.
Don Hall
Author of 'I SERVED'
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