I departed B Co, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines located in Hawaii in December of 1967. I was a young Marine Staff Sergeant who had learned well from Captain J. Vargas and S. Welch and was on my way to Vietnam, which I had volunteered for. A short stop in Jacksonville, NC to relocate my wife and three daughters, then off to Vietnam.

I arrived in Vietnam on the 16th of January 1968 just in time for the TET offensive. An overnight stay in Da Nang and then a short ride in a C-130 to Quang Tri to join B Co, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines under the very capable command of 1st Lt. George Norris. First Lt. Norris had already proved himself in combat as a Platoon Commander and now as Bravo's Company Commander. I'll never forget his words of introduction as he looked over my service record book. SSgt Gavel I'm giving you First Platoon with a 2d Lt. Keppen who has just joined the Company, I hold you responsible for the actions of that Platoon. I was later informed that the First Platoon was Lt. Norris Platoon before he became Company Commander.

My next stop was First Battalion Armory where the young corporal in charge greeted me with what can I do for you SSgt? My reply was to issue me a forty- five caliber pistol, as of course everyone knows is the TO weapon for all SNCO’s and Officers in the Marine Corps. The corporal looked at me and chuckled as he stated that the only Marines issued pistols in this Battalion was gunners and assistant gunners, as he handed me my M-l 6. The reason for this I was soon to discover.

I had a short stay at Quang Tri and then it was off to C-4 and platoon size ambushes at a place called Sea View and Ocean View which were for the most part uneventful. While at C-4 we joined another member to First Platoon his name was LCpl. Daniel Pierce who was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam with extensive combat time and the awards to prove it. LCpl. Pierce was promoted to Corporal shortly there after and given the first squad as we had few Marines with combat experience, this was soon to change.

After leaving C-4 in March, Bravo Company conducted continuous operations in and around the DMZ until on the 30th of April we came upon a small village on the south bank of the Bo Dieu River. Upon entering the village, it was noted that it was very clean with personnel gear still within the huts, but unoccupied. This was a sure sign of danger, warning and alert. After searching the village with negative results we began to set in our defensive positions, when the word was passed for all Platoon Commanders and Sergeants to report to the Company Command Post.

After arriving at Bravo Companies CP, 1st Lt. Norris issued the following order, short and to the point. Bravo Company was now under the operational control of 2d Battalion, 4th Marines who were in heavy contact with NVA forces on the east side of a small village named Dai Do. The Amtracs were enroute to our position to provide the Company with transportation across the river and our orders were then to sweep north to the village of Dai Do and tie in with 2d Battalion, 4th Marines. Second Platoon would provide cover fire if needed as we crossed the river. SSgt George Decker started setting his Platoon in as the Amtracs approached.

That was the order given by 1st Lt. Norris as he knew it. There was no mention that the small tree line on the north bank of the river was the village of An Lac, and that the ambush of the Navy supply boat came from this village the night before. If we had realized this and with Lt. Norris vast combat experience, we would have had prep fires placed on the village along with smoke to cover our crossing. As it was, our crossing was made with no fire support from anyone other then our own organic weapons.
 

As the First and Third Platoons along with the Company CP boarded on top of the Amtracs the fire from what I believe was Dai Do became more furious, as I heard Lt. Norris order "get these tracs across the river". As we traveled approximately half way across the river we started to take small arms fire from the village of An Lac, the closer we got to the north bank the heavier the fire was. As we hit the north bank the fire from small arms and RPG’s was very heavy as we fought our way off the bank of the river to within a hundred yards of An Lac. My Platoon was on the right flank closes to the west end of
the village. At this time Lt. Keepen received a message from the company radio operator that all of the officers in the company were KIA to include Lt. Norris and that Lt. Keppen was the only one left. Lt. Keppen stated to me at that time "Sergeant Gavel you have the platoon", I need to get to the company CP, with that he moved to the left flank of the company. As I observed the large amount of causalities we were taking to include two of the three Amtracs put out of action by RPG’s, I called for squad leaders up. I gave a quick order to fix bayonets as we would begin an assault in squad rushes. Cpl. Pierce at this time requested to move his squad to the Northeast end of An Lac to set up an ambush as I moved through with the rest of the platoon. A request that I honored (all this was done in seconds that seemed forever). After Cpl. Pierce started his movement, I started my assault with First Platoon, squad rushes and looking to my left I observed members of Third Platoon along with the Company Gunny tying in on my left flank. The last I saw of the Company Gunny (GySgt. Douchett) was him swinging his golf putter in front of him (his trademark). The CoGy went down during the assault with a non fatal head shot. We fought our way into the village taking heavy causalities, to include Cpl. Ward (KIA) I remember him last leading his squad through the first trench line and hand to hand with an NVA soldier, when he took a fatal head shot. We fought our way into the village approximately two hundred yards when I received a call from Lt. Keppen that we had to withdraw back to the west end to set up defenses for the night, which was rapidly approaching.

While moving back I thought we had launched a hell of an assault and at that point An Lac belonged to Bravo Company. But I also understood the wisdom of consolidating the company for the night. As we set in for the night I put two listening posts inside the west end of the village and we redistributed ammo. Lt. Keppen approached me after the company was set in and stated that First Platoon at first light would sweep threw An Lac supported by George Deckers Platoon on my left flank, as First Platoon knew the area. I remember mentioning to Lt. Keppen that we had broke their back and they would be gone by morning.

The first night was uneventful except for minor probes, I remember another officer checking our lines that night, I believe it was Lt. Col. Weise, but I was not introduced just asked about the Platoon, ammo and water. At first light we moved out to sweep the village leaving a portion of the Company in position to protect the rear area. The sweep was as expected the NVA (what was left) had pulled out during the night. As we approached the east end of An Lac we became aware of fire from our rear security and returned immediately. The rear elements of Bravo Company were taken under fire by NVA forces that had managed to get in close under the cover of the high grass. Our rear element beat off the attack but sustained heavy causalities.

After a short consolidation phase Bravo Company, total strength I did not know but First Platoon was down to eleven Marines with no corpsman which included myself and one squad leader, Cpl. Pierce. We boarded Amtracs again for a frontal assault on Dai Do. As we came to within two hundred yards of Dai Do we were taken under heavy fire. We moved off the tracs and using the cover of grave mounds started advancing till the fire and causalities were so intense the assault slowed and then stopped. Causalities were high to include Cpl. Pierce who's aggressiveness put him at my right front and down hard. Several Marines to include myself tried in vain to reach him and others, and each in turn were hit as he moved forward. I was in radio contact with SSgt. Decker on my right flank and he to could not move or shift any fire support.

Bravo Company remained in that position for a long time till the otters held at An Lac were released to give support. At this time causalities within Bravo Company were so heavy that Lt. Col. Weise rendered the Company out of action due to heavy losses. We were withdrawn back to An Lac as a security force, as what I believe was Golf Company moved into our positions and continued the attack the next day. Not sure as this part is still hazy to me. Bravo Company spent the next few days as security for the Battalion CP and patrol/evacuation forces.

It should be noted that the actions at An Lac and Dai Do by Bravo Company and the members of the Amtrac Platoon were well above and beyond the call of duty. The actions of four members of Bravo Company are still clear in my mind, 2d Lt. Thomas Keppen, Cpl. Daniel Pierce, Cpl. Allen Ward and Bravos Company Corpsman (A Mexican American) I've tried I just can't recall his name who came to my platoons aid during the assault on An Lac. Even though I made recommendations for awards (in writing), not one received recognition.

The numerous acts of heroism displayed by members of Bravo Company and the Amtrac Platoon during both of these assaults were something I WILL NEVER FORGET. I will always be proud of the training I received as a Marine which enabled me to take immediate action and I'll always consider myself a Staff Sergeant of Marines even after being retired as a Master Sergeant after twenty two years.

Every day I hash over in my mind the assault into An Lac that I had ordered, and the price we had to pay and I come to the same conclusions, if we had not done so I'm convinced that Bravo Company would have paid a higher price.

Although no one was recognized for their actions at An Lac and Dai Do, the only Officer Bravo Company had after the river crossing, that same Officer, 2dLt Thomas Keppen (he was also my friend and Brother) was awarded the Silver Star for risking his life to save a fellow Marine on the 7th of July 68. Lt. Keppen died of his wounds, but his courage and leadership shall always be alive in my mind.
 

Cpl. Daniel Pierce survived his wounds and was medically retired and resides in Stone Lake, WT.

Semper Fi,
MSgt. John D. Gavel, USMC (Ret)
 

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