I took the location of the battle from the book Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. He flew with the 1st Cav during their initial deployment in Vietnam. His tour was August 1965 to May of 1966. A pretty good book. This battle took place before the Ia Drang battles, and was during the period when the 1st Cav was figuring out what worked and what they should have left at Fort Benning. The game was run by Chris Edmondson Rules: Home made Players: American Forces: Mike Hicks, Wayne Goodman, and Rob Weir Viet Cong & NVA: Scott Jackson, Baxter Key, and Dave Claiday. 29 Dec 01 (5 Oct 1965) VC Battle Report This is a glorious day in our war of liberation against the yankee war dogs. On this day we had our first major encounter with the new flying division. We have found that the Americans are weak and innefective with out their artillery and heliocopters. We were able, with the help of 24 of our brothers from the north, to trap and destroy an American platoon with insignificant losses to ourselves. We killed or captured 41 of them while only 4 escaped. We salute the fearless leader of this patrol who was undefeatable in hand to hand combat. For his actions of barbarisim against the peace loving people of the Peoples Liberation Army, we have placed a *10,000 piaster reward for the capture or confirmed death of Capt. Mike Hicks. His men that we captured speak of him as a tyranical despot of the worst kind. They say he slaughters his men needlesly and acts with total disregard for their health and well being, destroying the morale of his men.The prisoners are on thier way to the north where they will be cared for and given humane treatment. We are confident of total victory and look forward to our next battle with the Americans. --signed Bac Tr Ke (Baxter Key) Commander Peoples Liberation Army. American Army Report At approximately 0945 hrs (local) Forces of the 1/9 Cav (Airmobile) Air Assaulted into an area NW of Plei Djerang in the Khontum Province of the Republic of South Viet Nam. The Landing was made with negligable enemy contact and a forward operating base was established. Communications were established with higher command. Platoon size elements were sent out on patrols in an effort to establish enemey prescence in the area. 1st Platoon Alpha Company 1/9 departed on an approximate bearing of 077 magnetic and had proceded 2 kilometers down a trail when they encountered a sizeable force of both Viet Cong irregulars and an recon element on the 32nd NVA regiment. The first shots were fired from an enemy mortar with no negligable effect, except to pin the lead squad. The enemy took advantage of this delay to effect a closing movement. Forces led by Sha Ka (commander local VC) were able to close with the left flank and lead elements of 1/A/1/9. The command element of 1/A/1/9 was able to direct fire from the supporting 105mm battery and destroy an estimated 70 VC. It was at this time that the right Flank element under command of SSgt Robert Weir came into immediate contact with elements of VC and the recon Company of the 32nd NVA Regmt. They were drawn into a firefight with approximately 100 VC and 60 NVA. SSgt Weir was ast seen in heavy contact with NVA and is presumed KIA. Eye witness accounts and recommenddation for Bronze Star Medal with V device. SFC Wayne Goodman leading the far left element was overwhelmed by an estimated VC company led by Vet Da Vid. There were heavy casulties SFC Goodman was last seen being overwhelmed by VC in hand to hand combat. Cite eyewitness account of recommendation for Silver Star Medal. Capt Mike Hicks Leading the Patrol was engaged in hand to hand combat on several occasions and was able to defend himself and gain time for the lead elements to regroup. Cite eye witness accounts in recommendation for DSC. It was at this time that the enemy forces overwhelmed the patrol and they were forced to withdraw. The enemy units were almost able to manuver around the rear of the patrol and cut them off. Capt Hicks and 4 other members of the patrol were able to extricate themselves and make their way back to the patrol bases established by 1/9. Estimated enemy casulties 150 US loses 41 Killed or Captured 4 WIA. --Ltc Col Gary Owen Infantry Commanding Back to Dispatch January 2002 Table of Contents Back to Dispatch List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by HMGS Mid-South This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com