An My Vietnam.

The New Year of 1968 had seen an increase in enemy activity throughout Vietnam and a massive enemy offensive loomed. Additional personnel were added to defensive positions and the whole of Phu Loi base bristled in readiness.

On February 1st 1968 during the Tet Offensive elements of 273rd. and Dong Nai Regiments of the North Vietnamese Army along with local Viet Cong units established themselves in the village of An My which was located outside of Phu Loi’s defensive positions near the north end of the runway and just 1 mile from the north gate.

Using An My as a staging and supply point the 273rd. advancing from the north, proceeded to attack the Reno Sector of Phu Loi’s perimeter with RPG’s (Rocket Propelled Grenades) machine gun and small arms fire.

Company C of the 1st Battalion 28th Infantry and a platoon from B Troop, 1st Squadron 4th Cavalry left Phu Loi on a reconnaissance-in-force mission of An My. As they approached the village Viet Cong security forces attacked them with Claymore mines RPG’s and small arms fire. Heavy resistance was encountered by the Americans and they were forced to remain in place.

From an airborne observation post the acting battalion commander directed the ground forces and ordered gunships from D Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry and Company A, 1st Aviation Battalion to attack the enemy. The battle raged until 1800 hours when the 1st Infantry Division’s General Eschenburg ordered them to break contact and return to Phu Loi.

Preparations were now made to engage the enemy with artillery, before this could occur permission had to be obtained from the Vietnamese Binh Duong Province Commander General Thuan.

Permission granted a psychological operations helicopter flew for an hour over An MY telling the residents to evacuate the village. After the villagers evacuation artillery fire and helicopter gunships attacked An My and the enemy was forced to withdraw.

The following day two companies of the 1/28th infantry advanced on the remaining enemy forces with infantry and armoured cavalry meeting heavy resistance. Tactical air and artillery strikes were again utilized and the remnants of the attacking force withdrew under the veil of darkness.

During the two day battle for An My a total of 372 enemy were killed, the US losses were 18 killed and 49 wounded.

 

Some weeks later the 520th Battalion through its civil affairs programme made arrangements through the Chau Thanh District advisor in Phu Cong to renovate An My school that had been destroyed during the Tet Offensive. The removal of debris and the repairing of the remaining structures along with the erection of new structures kept the Battalion busy for several months.

On completion of the building and the reopening of the school the Battalion distributed 600 sets of shorts, blouses and shirts to An My pupils. One year after the battle, prior to the upcoming 1969 Tet holiday, the Battalion gave school supplies to the students.

 

In December of 1969 my company is invited to visit An My School for which I think, must have been the first graduating class since the school was rebuilt.



We enlisted men arrived in the back of a deuce and a half (2 ½ ton) truck to see the officers had already arrived in their jeeps and staff car. For some strange reason known only by themselves in officers in our Company wore red hats. This was fine by us enlisted soldiers, it made them easier to avoid. As is usual for officers they are standing around shooting the breeze, in this case to the accompaniment of some village children.



The teaching staff are there too greet us, they don’t look particularly happy to see us, probably because their loved ones were away fighting us. They are wearing an ao-dai which is the traditional dress of Vietnamese women. The ao-dai consisted of a brightly colored silk top worn over loose fitting silk trousers.

 

We are invited into the class room in which there would be up to 50 children sitting four at a time on a long wooden table.



I am curious as to where the hat came from in this picture.

 

The date on the blackboard is Saturday December 20th 1969 below which is a writing exercise.



Clapping her hands in time this young student leads her class mates in a song for the visitors.

 

At last it is break time for the excited youngsters and they troop off, boys first, to the treat the Americans have laid on for them.



Followed up (in the natural course of things) by the girls.

 

The teachers line up the children for probably the first and only time they would enjoy the delights of cake and Kool-Aid! The Vietnamese school official on the right has worn a tie for the occasion. On the left can be see an American in civilian clothes, a most unusual sight.



The sign proclaims that it is “The Local Elementary School of An My.”







The teachers serve their pupils cake and Kool-Aid.

 

More please teacher! The G.I. with the rifle in the background is having his picture taken with a child wearing the mystery hat.

 

What a story she must have had to tell when she got home!

 

These children were village children that did not attend the school but were attracted by the Americans appearance. I presume that An My School must have been a private school as these children did not attend.

 

At the conclusion of the festivities the children were released to play with the soldiers before returning to class. The empty Styrofoam cups were placed inside of each other and the children vied with one another to knock the tower of cups down.

 

I even got to hold a couple of the little darlings!

 

Good photos, David. Thanks for sharing them.

 

Great story David - wonder if the school is still there today?

 

Before returning to class the children attended an awards ceromony.
The banner loosely translated reads “Awards Ceremony.” I would imagine that it was a ceremony to mark the end of the school year.



As the children line up the remains of the old school can be seen in the background.



A mixture of American and Vietnamese dignitaries attends the awards ceremony. Plenty of “Red Hats” to be seen!

 

Recess over the young pupils returned to their classrooms to find text books given to them by the Americans.



Fruit was given too. It must have seemed like riches galore for these youngsters. You will note that the G.I. is armed; we always had security in some form or another, even when visiting a school!

 

Behind the school a pensive David reflects on the days activities.
To my right are located the battle damaged remains of An My High School as pictured below.

 

Absolutely fascinating! Good thing you had a camera on hand, thanks for posting.

 

Its an aspect of veitnam you never hear about...
My maternal grandfather was a Sergeant in the Marines ("Bud" Wheeler, not sure what company) I'm not sure where he was or what he did but I wish I would have asked him more about his expereiences when we were in touch.