Echo Two-Seven Tooter

A first hand account
Here is an email from Chico Zamora giving an account of Operation Meade River. Zamora was a Squad Leader in 1st Plt. E/2/7 at the time.

There was an area near hill 55 called Dodge City. It was called Doge City because the enemy controlled the entire area and flew their flag there.
Meade River was a small river that ran through the city. It was decided that we would pull an operation in Dodge City to take controll of the city and destroy the enemy hence OPERATION Meade River.

The plan of the operation was to box in the city with friendly troops North, South, East and West. Troops on the east and west side of the box would remain stationary while the troops on the North and South side of the box would move toward each other flushing the enemy. This was supposed to be a Marine OP but we were told that the Army, Royal Korean Marines, and ARVN's assisted on this operation.

Echo Co was initially assigned to guard the Col. We kicked off the operation from some desolate road North of Hill 55 at about 7am and immediatly made contact with the enemy. They were waiting for us. They set up a pretty effective ambush and slowed us down. The contact lasted about 15 or 20 minuets. We probalbly moved aboout 1/2 a click from the road we started from. At about 4 or 5pm that same day we were ordered to dig in right where we stood. That nite we were on 100%  alert and the enemy probed our lines all nite long.

The next morning Echo Co was reassigned from guarding the Col. to the west side of the box which meant that we were the hunters and we would be initating contact and flushing out the enemy. We moved out about 8am and came upon the river at its fork. Echo CO Cpt Nelson sent 1st Plt down river and find a place to cross. 1st squad and 2nd squad went in oposite directions. We found a place to cross about 300 yards from the Batallion. It took us a while to find the crossing and the Cpt knew that the Col was pissed that it took us so long, and we were behind in meeting our objectives. Echo Co dug in parrallel to the river in order with weapons Plt between 1st and 2nd squad. That nite we took in a lot of small arms fire as the enemy was trying to get out of the box. That nite ECHO Co 1st Plt  took one casulty, Cpl Breslin (shot in the Jaw).

The next morning Cpt Nelson was visibaly pissed and ordered weapons plt to saddle up and told Lt Menagh (1st Plt Co) that he was crossing the river "here" and that 1st squad 1st Plt was to follow weapons. The Capt pulled out his .45 and lead the crossing, he went down the bank cross the river and up the bank with weapons following. It seems that the enemy waited for the last man from weapons to reach the top of the bank because they were all trapped. The enemy closed the ambush and opened up on weapons and the CO. My squad was on the other bank waiting for weapons to cross so when the enemy opened up we didn't cross but rather took cover in the trenches. We saw and heard all type of weapons being fired at Weapoms plt, 50's, 60's, RPG, SKS, AKS. You could see the dirt churning as the bullets hit trees dirt and anything in the way pf those 50"s making that sicking thud shredding anything it hit. My squad was closest to the river and my radio man gave me the receiver and a guy we call sailor (he was a corpsman) was hollering for me to get across the river and help them. The Co Gunny broke in and told me to take my squad across the river and assist. I told my squad what was up I told them I was taking point and for them to follow. As I reached the top of the bank my radioman (he was in the river) hollered at me and said the LT was on the horn and wanted to talk to me asap. Lt Menagh ordered me not to cross the rivrer. I felt like someone shot warm blood back into my body, my heart moved from my throat back to my chest. I ordered my squad to turn around and get back across the river. As I got on the bank of the river right behind me was the CO. The left side of his head was covered in blood and LT Menagh consoled him and had some of the Plt prepare to MEDIVAC him. We heard on our radios the Col telling all the Plt Com not to crosss the river because he was calling in air strikes. Lt Menagh told him we still had dead and wounded troops across the river. The Col was adament about the air strike and warned Lt Menagh not to cross that river. Lt Menagh said to us and the other P Leaders "Bull shit!. We brought those Marines over here and by God we are taking them home". The Lt asked for 5 volunteers and advised of what the Col had ordered. He got 5 volunteers right away - Jesus Vakera aka Pineapple, Reid, Chico Alfaro, Mike Todd, and Davis. The plan was we would form a bucket bragade between both banks throuogh the river the Lt would recover bodies and drop them in the river to the brigade, then we would pass the bodies to the troops on the other side for medicvac. The Lt made his run and the enemy opened up on him like a shooting gallery. The Lt would find someone and drag that person to the bank of the river if they were too heavy for him he tied then with a rope and gave us the end of the rope. It was truely a merical they could not hit him.

The Marines on the safe side of the river opened up on the oposite side to provide the LT with cover fire. The Lt brought back dead and wounded. I can't tell you how many the Lt broought back but I can tell you we didnt have a weapons PLT for the remainder of the operation.

The Col heard all that firing and found out he (Lt Mengh) had crossed the river and he went biserk (anyone who has a radio heard the Col s tirade-squad leaders and up). The Col said he was going to Court Marshall LT Menagh for disbeying a direct order, insubordination, and on and on. You could visulize the Cols face and that veins sticking our to his neck. The other Lts of Echo Co thought that was not fair, and the troops also voiced three conserns, and so they put LT Menagh up for the Medal Of Honor. Well, Marine politics being the way they are kinda exonerated the LT. The Court Marshall was cancelled by the Medal Of Honor nomination and vice versa. That nite we dug in on the safe side of the river, F16's BBQed the other side of the river. A Marine batallion (can't remember which one ) pushed across through us. We finally crossed the river toward the burms that was our objective. All that day we fought for a ville while we sustained casualties from booby traps and a sniper.

Bravo (Weapons Platoon) crossed first with Company Commander Captain Andrew Nelson leading the way. 1st Platoon followed but was ordered back when the ambush started. The CO got shot somewhere in the head but he survived. ALL OF BRAVO WAS SHOT OR WOUNDED. Lt. Philip Menagh 1st Platoon Commander was simultaneously put up for a Court Martial and the Medal of Honor (would make a good movie).
The above is a brief synopsis of the events. It's a real interesting story. I was there with 1st Platoon (squad leader).

SEMPER FI!
CHICO

Here is another account. You get a pretty good description of what happened from them.
After 1st platoon walked across the river and were ambushed in a 30 cal machine gun crossfire, Lt Mengh came down from where ever he was at and told us all we are ordered to pull back. With wounded and dead across the river. Nobody listened. In fact we rebelled and he went with our wishes and stayed with us and went across the river. Sgt. Ball and my gun team what was left of it positioned ourselves on some high ground to see if we could supply cover fire for 1st platoon still in deep shit. We saw steam coming up from behind a dike in front of us a ways away. We figured it was the barrel of one of the crossfire machine guns. We called up Seymour (rockets) and he took it out.

Semper Fi, Kell

Note:

1st Lt. Philip Menagh took command after Captain Andrew Nelson was wounded after saving the lives of the wounded.