We started off towards 689 when a spotter plane saw our patrol. I’ll never forget his call sign. It was CAT KILLER 2-6. Anyway, he flew low and dropped a canister out with his radio frequency and his exact words were……”What in the hell are you doing?” We explained and he called off the Phantoms and we started up 689.

(Ed. Note: In telephone conversation and E-mails, William Pennock stated that he was carrying the radio that day and remembers the call sign of the FAC from the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company [aka Catkillers] as being Cat Killer 3-4. On the other hand, one of the 220th Squadron pilots, Dick Tobiason, flew as Cat-Killer 2-6 on the 17th, 18th and 27th of June, according to Tobiason and Gary Wilson, the 220th's unit historian, so the call-sign may have been Cat Killer 2-6 as Earl reports.)

O’Connor was walking point, followed by I think Maz (Francisco Mazariegos), then I think me, and behind me were Shep (James Shepard) and Doc (O-3's medic). I just know that us five were the first ones to top the hill. We came up on a spider trap and looking in we saw an ammo dump with mortar rounds. Cases of AK-47 rounds, RPG rounds, or B-40, whatever you like to call them. Just a lot of shit and that’s when we knew we were definitely in trouble.

Account of SGT Raymond Gray

At this point, CAP 1 & 2, who had been on separate patrols, had finished their patrols and were on their way home. They had come together and linked up approximately 1600. The Marines, hearing of their comrades’ peril, immediately took off at a run, ignoring the danger of another ambush in their haste to relieve their friends.

The late SGT Ray Gray told me in a telephone conversation shortly before he died;

"Tempers flared from the heat and tension and worry about our friends' fate. We got to the CAP 3 village (Ta Con) on the access road to KS. We gathered the Bru to go up the hill, and HQ called and said not to go up, because they were going to shoot up the hill with air and arty. From what I remember, it took them about 5 days to clear the hill.”

(Ed. Note: Acc. to LTCOL "Tony" Anthony and the other members of I & L companies of 3/26 who were involved, they had actually cleared the hill by the 27th.)

Ray then went on R & R to Hawaii, catching the last flight out of KS for about a week. He came back afterwards and resumed doing what he had been - patrolling, ambushing, LPs, civic action, etc. He had one more tight encounter.

“We got hit about last part of August, right before I left. Suddenly, every flare in our line went off, and the wire was full of gooks. I had the machine gun (a Browning .30 AC), and opened up. Everyone fired their "mad moment" and finally the enemy withdrew. They didn't leave a single body! The rush from a firefight is almost sexual."

(Ed. Note: Ray passed away in March 2005 from illnesses probably related to his exposure to Agent Orange, but was unable to get recognition from the VA for this condition. See: In Memoriam )

Assault on Hill 689 by India, Lima, and elements of H&S Companies, 3 / 26

Meantime, India 3/26, commanded by CPT M. E. Coulter, was returning to KSCB from a patrol, when it was ordered instead to Hill 689 to assist the CAP patrol. It was later joined by Lima 3/26, elements of which had been air-lifted in by chopper. Despite being well-equipped and manned line infantry companies with supporting arms capabilities, they incurred heavy casualties KIA and WIA from the well-entrenched enemy forces (later estimated at two reinforced NVA companies). These losses included two officers and a SNCO KIA at the hill fight, and other casualties at the unit HQ at KSCB from incoming mortar fire.

At the end of the fighting, CAP O-3 had suffered 4 KIA, and 3/26 had lost 14. In addition, one of the WIA, LCPL Charles M. Gattis died of wounds on July 5th, raising the toll to 19.

According to the 3/26 Command Chronology, the enemy had sustained an estimated 91 KIAs. (I do not have figures for their WIA or POWs, though some are listed in the accounts below.)

There are also first-hand reports of the action and related events in LCDR Ray W. Stubbe's "Battalion of Kings" (2nd ed. pp. 85-88).

Below are first-hand accounts of the action by participants of the assault forces from India and Lima 3/26.

(Ed. Note: In the following accounts, the term Platoon Leader and Platoon Commander are used interchangeably. This reflects both a change in the official terminology at the time and two styles of leadership. Due to the high casualty rates among officers assigned to platoons, their title was changed from "Platoon Leader" to "Platoon Commander." This seemingly insignificant change reflected the concept that if officers "led from the front" in the ancient warrior tradition, they were more subject to being wounded or killed, thus fracturing the command structure, and jeopardizing the success of the mission. The idea was that the officer would "command" the troops as opposed to "leading" them. However, some officers had the "lead from the front" mind-set and personality, and found it difficult to assume the role of "commander.")

Account of LTCOL "Tony" Anthony (then serving as 2nd Platoon Leader, India Company, 3 / 26)

In an E-mail dtd. February 10, 2009 12:05:05 PM PST, LTCOL Anthony wrote:

"The following account is of my involvement with Hill Battle 689, located in the Khe Sanh area of Vietnam, on June 27, 1967. Everything is from memory as I have no written correspondence on which to rely for names etc. All rosters etc. were lost at some point in one of my many moves while making a career of the Marine Corps and at this point in my life, at 72, memory is not what it used to be." -- C. T. Anthony, LtCol USMC (Ret)

My name is LtCol. C.T. ("Tony") Anthony, USMC (Ret) and on June 27, 1967 I was a 2nd Lt. assigned as Platoon Leader for the 2nd Platoon, India, 3/26. I joined "I" 3/26 sometime in May while the Battalion was operating in the Phu Bai TAOR. The CO of the Company at that time was Capt. Mallard. I was assigned as Platoon Leader for the 2nd Platoon relieving 1st LT. Bob Stimson who I believe became the Company XO. Prior to joining 3/26, I had been a SSgt. Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Leader with Delta 1/26 from December 66 and after being commissioned on April 17, 1967 worked with the 15th Counter Intelligence Team in Dong Ha for approximately 30 days before joining 3/26.

For India Company, 3rd Battalion 26th Marines, events leading up to that battle began on the evening of June 26, 1967. The Company had been in the field and returned to the Base Camp and had been assigned a defensive sector for Khe Sanh Combat Base. This was standard operating procedure in that when not in the field, units would be assigned a sector of the Combat Base to defend. That evening of the 26th, the 1st platoon was assigned to send out a squad size security ambush. The squad moved to their ambush site and later that evening, the Combat Base received some incoming rockets and our artillery returned fire to suspected NVA rocket sites. At some point, we learned that the squad from 1st Platoon had taken incoming fire and had casualties to include one very seriously wounded and needed an emergency medevac to try and save his life. A helicopter attempted to make the medevac but was shot down. We later learned that the seriously wounded Marine died.

At first light, our Commanding Officer, Captain Coulter, informed me that the other two squads from 1st platoon and my platoon would be going out to the ambush site and from there would continue to look for sites from which the NVA rockets had ben fired. He and his Command Group would be with us. 2ndLt. Dale Allen was Platoon Leader for the 1st Platoon and had recently had a cyst removed from his upper back. He was on light duty and was not supposed to go back in the field until the wound had healed as infections were always a serious problem but he insisted on going with the platoon. He wanted to be with his Marines.

We departed the Base and while en route to the ambush site, I was told that our mission had changed and that we would be going to Hill 689 where Marines from the CAC Company in Khe Sanh Village had run into trouble and were taking heavy casualties. We changed our route of march and moved toward Hill 689.

Once we reached the base of the hill we encountered heavy elephant grass with its razor sharp edges and that, combined with it being very hot, made movement very difficult. We were in a column and in order to move through the grass the point man had to use a machete to cut through the razor like grass. My platoon was in the point, so because of the heat and heavy grass, we had to change the point man with great frequency.

We continued up the hill through jungle like terrain and although we couldn't see it, we could hear a plane circling above the Hill and the AO was giving Capt. Coulter updates on enemy activity on the hill as we moved up the objective.

Sometime after noon, we finally reached a point near the top of the hill where we were halted. No artillery or air support could be used as no one was sure of the status of the CAC Marines on the hill.

Still under cover of the jungle canopy, Capt. Coulter called Dale and I back to where he was located in the column. He issued us a quick frag order and assigned the right hand portion of the hill to my platoon and the left side of the hill to the 1st Platoon. There was a saddle separating the two parts of the Hill. He further indicated that he had received reports of numerous NVA troops on the hill.

I went back to my platoon and called the squad leaders together and issued them a frag order. Because this was the first time during my time in Vietnam in which we were going to be able to assault an objective using normal Marine tactics, I had the Marines drop their packs and fix bayonets with instructions to assault as they had been taught, walk up the hill firing from the hip even if not receiving any fire and when near the crest, continue firing and double time over the crest and set in a hasty defense. Looking back at that day now, I think that the dropping of the packs and allowing the 2nd platoon Marines to assault as they had been taught in ITR were both very helpful in our eventual success in accomplishing our assigned mission.

We moved out of our covered positions and using the V formation with two squads on line and one bringing up the rear we started advancing up the hill. At the same time Dale moved his platoon to our left and started moving up the hill on that side.

As 2nd Platoon moved up the hill we didn't initially receive any resistance but nearer the top, spider holes started opening and soon we were taking heavy fire and Marines began getting wounded. The Marines of 2nd Platoon never stopped but responded with heavy return fire and continued their advance until they had taken our portion of the objective.

During the assault, lots of stuff was happening with several being wounded and one later became a KIA. I recall an instance where a spider hole opened and a grenade was thrown out wounding my radio operator and slightly wounding me. I directed the nearest Marine to throw a grenade into the hole which eliminated that threat. At that time I had LCpl Peavey become my radio operator. All these actions were taking place as we tried to secure our portion of the hill. To say it was confusing would be putting it mildly!

The wounded Marine who later died was, I believe, LCpl Alejandro R. Godinez. He wasn't killed immediately but died while being treated. He had been shot in the leg and the bullet had hit the artery and the bleeding couldn't be stopped. I saw the Corpsman treating him and tried to encourage him but he appeared to pass out as I talked to him.

While consolidating our position and attempting to redistribute ammo, get casualty reports etc., I learned over the radio that the 1st platoon had run into serious trouble and was pinned down with several casualties and unable to advance to secure their portion of the Hill. I then got one of my machine gun teams to move to the left flank of our position where they could support the 1st platoon by fire. This was done but 1st platoon still remained pinned down. About that same time, I learned that Lima Company was coming in by choppers and would be landing to our front and would be advancing from the other direction to secure 1st platoon's portion of the Hill. As soon as they landed, they too started taking heavy fire. During all of this time, there was a lot of confusion and firing going on but the Marines of 2nd platoon performed superbly under the leadership of outstanding NCOs.

Lima Company eventually took the other portion of Hill 689 but suffered several casualties to include the Company Commander being killed and one of the platoon leaders being seriously wounded. 1st platoon took heavy casualties including the death of my friend, Dale Allen. Dale had not been in country very long and this was probably his first real fire fight. Of course, that probably could have been said about many Marines who were there that day.

Once Lima Company had secured their portion of the objective, medevacs were made with the most serious going out first and for some of us who had suffered slighter wounds, flown back to the Aid Station at the Combat Base, treated and then returned to the Hill.

Upon my return to the Hill I noted that more units from the Battalion to include the Battalion Command Group had arrived on the Hill. That evening, Mike Company, as I recall, moved through our lines and assumed defensive positions. Also that evening, a General from 3rd Marine Division, I believe it was the Assistant Division Commander, flew out to the Hill and complimented the Marines on an outstanding job. Of course, because of the many casualties, not many of us were thinking about it as being an outstanding job. All we could think about was those who had been killed or wounded and wondered who of the wounded who been lifted out would make it. That was one of the strange anomalies of that War in that most times you didn't have time to dwell on the casualties as they were medevaced out so quickly, you didn't know who lived or who died. We always wanted to believe that most of them had survived. But in retrospect, yes it had been an outstanding job on the part of the Marines who fought that day, many of whom fought their last battle. They fought as Marines have always fought with mission accomplishment in mind and for each other as brother Marines. They have the right to be proud of what they did that day.

The next day, as I remember, we mopped up the area and found several NVA bodies but also found one living wounded who was brought back to me. He smelled horribly and was high on self medicated pain meds and had to be carried. When he saw me, he spit in my face. We then turned him over to the Company who in turn turned him over to the Battalion S-2. We then stayed in the field operating until returning to the Combat Base around the 4th of July. After June 27, no significant contact was made that I can recall.

On the night of 26 June, Lima Company was in the field on a search and destroy operation; I believe, south of Rt. 9. By the morning of the 27th we had been in the field for more than a week and were looking forward to our return to the base for a hot meal and showers. On the morning of 27 June we were to rendezvous with a truck convoy on Rt. 9 for transportation back to the Khe Sanh combat base. During the early morning hours of the 27th the base had been pounded by a persistent NVA mortar attack.

Immediately upon our arrival back at Khe Sanh we received orders to have the troops report to the LZ and officers and staff NCO’s to report to the Battalion S3 to receive a briefing and operation order. During the briefing, we were informed that a Combined Action Unit had been ambushed on hill 689 and that four Marines were MIA. The CAP unit believed they knew where the mortars came from that hit the base that morning. Also, India Company, who was in the immediate area to the north of 689, was attempting to reach the crest of the hill but was taking very heavy fire from the NVA unit dug in on the crest. We were told that India Company was taking heavy casualties. The OP order had Lima Company land by helicopter on the opposite side of 689 and assault from the south in order to relieve the pressure on India Company. Artillery and/or air strikes were out of the question due to the fact that we did not know the location of the four missing Marines.

My platoon was assigned as the assault platoon. Upon arrival it was determined, due to the steepness of the hillside, that there was no suitable landing area. We were forced to jump from the helicopters while they hovered above the elephant grass growing on the slopes of 689. Not knowing how deep the elephant grass was made the jump a problem. We were only several feet above the top of the grass but did not know if the grass was four feet high or one foot high...needless to say the landing drove a few knees into a few stomachs. While in the air I made a mental note of the terrain...Also, we had been on that very same hill just a week or so earlier. There was a high point to the left as one faced the ridge...I wanted to use it to set up a base of fire with one squad plus machine guns and assault with the remaining two squads. I was, instead, ordered by the CO to make a frontal assault immediately with all three squads. It took few minutes to cross a gully and maneuver the platoon into position to assault. While doing that I changed the frequency on my radio and called the India Company Commander. I asked if he had a 3.5 rocket launcher handy...He answered “affirmative.” I asked him to fire a white phosphorous round at the NVA strong point. In just a few seconds when the round went off I asked if it was a good hit. The answer again was in the affirmative. I requested that India Company cease fire and immediately began the assault.

It seemed, at the time, that the actual assault took only a few minutes. As we reached the top of the ridge and made our way to the far side, the silence became deafening. I immediately began to establish a defensive perimeter. As we crossed the ridge we found two of the missing Marines on the crest...they were both KIA.

I began to follow a wire up the ridge...soon I was face to face with a Chinese Claymore mine. I turned and traced the wire the other way. It soon disappeared into a spider hole. I fired two rounds from my 12 gauge into the hole and pulled the cover off only to find a dead NVA soldier with the trigger to the claymore in his hands. Within a short time the Company Command group arrived on the hill. Soon after a Marine fired a pistol into a hole in the ground believing that the green at the bottom was a NVA uniform. The hole exploded with a roar...the Marine who fired the shots was very seriously wounded. I believe the Claymore was supposed to be the signal, however, when the hole exploded it was mistaken to be the signal and the NVA came out of their spider holes and began firing which soon, due to the close proximity, in many cases, turned into hand-to-hand combat. Within seconds I was informed that my Company Commander (Captain Bynum) was wounded. I began to make my way to Captain Bynum but was wounded myself within the first fifty meters. Again, within just a short span, the top of the hill fell silent again. A search of the area soon found the remaining two MIA Marines. Again, they were both KIA. In fact, the NVA who shot me in the back from his spider hole, and was soon thereafter killed, had two M-16s in his hole with him. I believe they must have belonged to the CAP Marines. It was dark before we were finally evacuated to Khe Sanh. Captain Bynum died soon after arrival there...I was evacuated to Danang and then to the Hospital Ship USS Sanctuary where I remained for more than two months.

Also...The missing KIA mentioned was Lima Company’s artillery forward observer. The two Marines...PFC Brent and Williams were members of my platoon killed during the assault and subsequent hand to hand combat. Finally, I do not believe that the photograph representing Captain Bynum is, in fact, Captain Bynum. I could be wrong...but it does not look anything like what I remember Captain Bynum looking like.

I hope this sheds some light on the assault of hill 689.

Semper Fi

Frank McCarthy

Maj. USMC Ret.

(Ed. Note: CPT Bynum's picture on In Memoriam was verified by at least one of his men. It is possible that MAJ McCarthy's memory of him is as he was in Vietnam, whereas the picture shown on the In Memoriam page looks like one taken at OCS. I submit that most of us changed considerably after a short time in country.

Account of LCPL Michael J. Padula, 2nd Platoon, I Company 3/26

(Submitted to LTCOL "Tony" Anthony, edited by F. J. Taylor)

I really don’t remember the night that preceded our patrol to 689. I didn’t know where we were going or why.

I do remember seeing gooks running on top of a hill. However, I didn’t realize it was the hill we were about to assault. As such, I had no fear or apprehensions. My lack of knowledge created a false impression so that I was unfazed by the coming assault.

2nd platoon was in the lead as we started up the hill. It was Molina, Heller, you, then me. I remember clearly shrapnel blowing through the canopy the closer we got to the top. Molina had difficulty in pulling the pin on the smoke grenade which would mark our position.

You gave the order to fix bayonets. The clasp on my bayonet was pretty much rusted shut. I had to open it with my teeth. Once I placed the bayonet on my rifle I totally grasped the situation.

As we crested the hill, 2nd platoon turned right and the 1st turned left. Almost immediately, Heller & Molina were wounded by a hand grenade thrown from a spider hole. You spotted the hole and told Corky Dill and myself to eliminate the gook. I covered Dill who I believe shot through the top of closed spider hole, then rolled a grenade into the hole. If we had any other casualties at this time, I do not remember.

It appeared that we were being attacked from our immediate front and right flank. You ordered one squad forward and one to right. I and the rest of my squad stayed adjacent to you and the radio. It is probably at that time I learned that Lima Company was coming to join the fight.

Within minutes one of the men sent to front position came running back. He was wounded in the arm and advised you that all the other Marines were either dead or wounded.

You then ordered me and a 3 man machine gun section to that position. I believe the gunners name was Ellis or Ellison. If I remember correctly he had crooked teeth. I used to call him Snaggle Tooth. We got into position and just waited.

In short order I remember men coming through the high elephant grass. They were waving at us. Initially we thought it was Lima Company. As they got closer, we realized it was an assault. It seemed like a million, but it was probably closer to 20 or 30.

For some odd reason I remember being in the sitting position and shooting at the gooks. I was sweating so profusely that my glasses slipped off my head. I kept firing at figures not men. I changed magazines several times. During one of the changes my rifle jammed. I cleared my weapon and resumed firing. However, I was in an extreme panic state while un-jamming my rifle.

All of a sudden, it was quiet. We waited for a second assault that never came.

I crawled to of one of the Marines who had initially been sent to the position. He was wounded in the foot and ankle. Before I could do anything the Marine yelled that there was another gook running back towards the elephant grass. From the kneeling position I shot and hit the gook in the back just below his head with a tracer.

I was stunned. I remember that my mouth and eyes were wide open. I looked at the wounded Marine, who just shrugged his shoulders. This incident seemed to have taken place in slow motion. Ellis’ accuracy was the main reason for our success.

Almost immediately after this I was joined by Dill, a big Mohawk Indian named Brooks from upstate NY. I don’t remember the 3rd man.

For some unknown reason we counter-attacked. We captured a machine gun from a position, which had been knocked out by Snaggle Tooth. We kept firing at the gooks; however I honestly don’t believe we hit any of them.

We then observed Sgt Burton signal us to come back. While doing so we came upon a wounded gook. I placed my weapon on automatic and shot him from his crotch to the head, Dill did the same.

After returning to our position believe Frenchy (Marcel DeSaulnier) & I observed the 1st platoon in action on the opposite ridge.

I remember being hungry and shared pound cake with someone. I told this Marine that I felt bad that killing someone didn’t bother me. He told that is B.S. for the movies. To this day, it still doesn’t bother me.

As we were getting reorganized I remember you on the radio. The Medivac pilot was questioning you why the number of casualties had increased since the initial alert. You told him to come over and find out.

I don’t remember how many choppers came in. I don’t remember placing anyone on the choppers. I do remember all the dead begin collected in one area. I don’t know when they were removed, nor did I help place them on a chopper.

Marcel (Frenchy) was very upset that his best friend Tony DiCesare had been killed. He was a nice guy from Jersey.

That night I and another Marine were in a hole. The elephant grass was thick and there was a fog or haze. Periodically during the night some Marines would throw a grenade. I remember neither one of us slept. It was a long night.

I don’t know if the next incident occurred immediately after the firefight or the next day. Santana captured a big Chinese adviser, who had been wounded. I couldn’t believe how big the guy was.

The next morning there was brass coming in from every place. Due to their presence we had to policy the area. This just annoyed the hell out of me.

Don’t remember how we got off the hill or when. Do remember when we got back to Khe Sanh there was a memorial service. My two closes buddies, Heller and Molina had been medivac’d out.

Account of Thomas F. Peavey, 2nd Platoon, I Company 3/26

Dear Tony,

I remember the night before a few of us were singing and that is when the rockets started coming in to the air strip. I don't know for sure where they landed but it sure woke everyone up.

The next day they sent 1st and 2nd plts out toward 689 and 3rd plt went up to 918 and started to search that ridge line. I remember we were looking up toward the hill where we were heading and we saw the NVA running across the saddle from the right to the left, and everyone was getting excited. I also remember that we had to keep shooting off pop flares so the jet air craft would not bomb us.

I remember we came to the edge of the jungle and you told everyone to fix bayonets and that this is where we earned our combat pay. Then you said follow me and took off in a run up the last 25 to 30 meters and we followed you and then we hit the top we got on line there were only 5 of us then as far as I know. You, your radioman (name escapes me), Mo, Cpl Williams and myself we started to sweep forward and that's when Mo, Cpl Williams and your radioman were wounded and then the rest of the plt came up behind us. Then that NVA tried to run down the opposite side of the hill and everyone was yelling kill the bastard and they did. Then you gave me the radio and told me to watch the tree line over to the right and you took off with the rest of the plt. Then you came back got me and we went back toward where the plt was and came across that small fighting hole in the tall grass and you told me to frag it and I did, but got knocked down by the blast but was ok and you ran up and pulled me back to my feet and asked if I was ok. That is about all I can tell you, except you should have gotten a Medal that day you was everywhere. Thank God we had you for a PLT Leader.

Thomas F. Peavey

Account of Teruo ("Skosh") Yorita, H & S Company, 3/26

(From a series of E-mails from the late Teruo Yorita [see In Memoriam] of I 3/26, to F. J. Taylor.)

"I was assigned to India Company as a Bn. Radio Operator (2533), from 3/26 H&S, humping those hills and in this particular action, we had to climb a steep hill (one step up, two steps sliding down type) to get to the CAC unit, in trouble. I think Lima was helo lifted, but can't be sure. All I know is that India took number of casualties, including 6 or 7 KIA. I believe Lima 6 (Ed. Note: the CO) was KIA, as well.

One of the KIA from India Company happened to be a Hispanic Marine named Alejandro Godinez from L.A.

Alex is one of the few Marines I remember well, as a friend and a comrade in arms. We had some mutual acquaintances in East LA and I got to know him fairly well, although you don't want to make friends with too many people, as the loss is more than painful, to say the least. However, in case of Alex, we talked about the Roosevelt High, his religious upbringing and school. I believe he was a member of the "White Knight" (?)

His death has affected me to this day, though mostly my memories of him were pleasant, as he still lives in my heart and mind, until the day I depart this world.

He died in my arms, despite my very best efforts to revive him with CPR (Mouth to Mouth) while Doc worked on heart massage. He lost a lot of blood from his wound and he just went into shock. Based on the wound, I do not think he would have made it, unless he received transfusion, immediately. Alex's last word was a cry for his mother, as he was dying. I guess its true, when you are about to pass from this world, you do cry out for the loved one.

What I do remember is that when one of our guys flushed out the "sniper" who was getting to many of our guys, and was immediately "blasted" by many M-16s. I am very ashamed to admit, I cheered, like during a Football games, when we finally got him. I guess I have to live with that memory, for rest of my life.

So much for my war story. Although difficult, I finally was able to face my "Demons" and am now fairly active in Veteran's activities, including Marine Corps Support Unit, here in Seattle, Wa. area."