At 0245 hours on 24 August, 1968, Bridge number 26, located on Highway 19 between the Mang Yang Pass and An Khe, came under a heavy ground attack from the South by an estimated reinforced enemy platoon. Small Arms, Automatic Weapons, Grenade Launchers and B40 Rockets were used in the attack.
The initial volley of rocket fire hit the command bunker, killing Platoon Leader 1LT Daniel Abernathy and PFC Al Gutierrez and Sergeant Thomas Herkins.
Artillery was called into the area at 0253 hours. The enemy had overrun the western end of the bridge within 5 minutes of the initial attack and rocket volley. Fighting, included hand to hand combat, took place between elements of the Scout Platoon and the enemy Company on the bridge. The remaining element of the Scout Platoon fell back, carrying the wounded to Bridge number 25 for medical evacuation.
A counter attack by the Scout Platoon retook bridge 26, which was secured at 0330 hours.
The attack resulted in the three 50th Infantry men being killed and 6 others wounded out of a total of 11 men who manned the bridge 26 positions that night. 10 unexploded satchel charges were found on the bridge. Although no enemy bodies were found, large pools of blood and heavy blood trails were found on and near the bridge.
The initial volley of rocket fire hit the command bunker, killing Platoon Leader 1LT Daniel Abernathy and PFC Al Gutierrez and Sergeant Thomas Herkins.
Artillery was called into the area at 0253 hours. The enemy had overrun the western end of the bridge within 5 minutes of the initial attack and rocket volley. Fighting, included hand to hand combat, took place between elements of the Scout Platoon and the enemy Company on the bridge. The remaining element of the Scout Platoon fell back, carrying the wounded to Bridge number 25 for medical evacuation.
A counter attack by the Scout Platoon retook bridge 26, which was secured at 0330 hours.
The attack resulted in the three 50th Infantry men being killed and 6 others wounded out of a total of 11 men who manned the bridge 26 positions that night. 10 unexploded satchel charges were found on the bridge. Although no enemy bodies were found, large pools of blood and heavy blood trails were found on and near the bridge.
At 0245 hours on 24 August, 1968, Bridge number 26, located on Highway 19 between the Mang Yang Pass and An Khe, came under a heavy ground attack from the South by an estimated reinforced enemy platoon. Small Arms, Automatic Weapons, Grenade Launchers and B40 Rockets were used in the attack.
The initial volley of rocket fire hit the command bunker, killing Platoon Leader 1LT Daniel Abernathy and PFC Al Gutierrez and Sergeant Thomas Herkins.
Artillery was called into the area at 0253 hours. The enemy had overrun the western end of the bridge within 5 minutes of the initial attack and rocket volley. Fighting, included hand to hand combat, took place between elements of the Scout Platoon and the enemy Company on the bridge. The remaining element of the Scout Platoon fell back, carrying the wounded to Bridge number 25 for medical evacuation.
A counter attack by the Scout Platoon retook bridge 26, which was secured at 0330 hours.
The attack resulted in the three 50th Infantry men being killed and 6 others wounded out of a total of 11 men who manned the bridge 26 positions that night. 10 unexploded satchel charges were found on the bridge. Although no enemy bodies were found, large pools of blood and heavy blood trails were found on and near the bridge.
The initial volley of rocket fire hit the command bunker, killing Platoon Leader 1LT Daniel Abernathy and PFC Al Gutierrez and Sergeant Thomas Herkins.
Artillery was called into the area at 0253 hours. The enemy had overrun the western end of the bridge within 5 minutes of the initial attack and rocket volley. Fighting, included hand to hand combat, took place between elements of the Scout Platoon and the enemy Company on the bridge. The remaining element of the Scout Platoon fell back, carrying the wounded to Bridge number 25 for medical evacuation.
A counter attack by the Scout Platoon retook bridge 26, which was secured at 0330 hours.
The attack resulted in the three 50th Infantry men being killed and 6 others wounded out of a total of 11 men who manned the bridge 26 positions that night. 10 unexploded satchel charges were found on the bridge. Although no enemy bodies were found, large pools of blood and heavy blood trails were found on and near the bridge.
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