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Seige at Quan Loi

I was stationed at Phouc Vinh for a few months before they asked for volunteers to reinforce the troops at Quan Loi.... very near An Loc in the "fishhook" region of the country..

On my 2nd night there, the VC overran us. It was hand-to-hand combat in some areas of the base. Being the "new guy" there, I stayed near my hooch and let the enemy come to me. Longest night of my life.

The body count in the morning as I recall was over 300 VC killed along with many Americans. I can go into detail but this event is well documented on the internet. I spent nearly 2 years in Vietnam and was also in one of the first units to invade the "City" in Cambodia.

I am also featured in the National Geographic special "Inside the Vietnam War".

Artistic rendering of a battle scene: three soldiers hunkered down against an orange sky.

LAST STAND by Phillip W. Jones, CAT V, 1967-68, Courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Biographical Details

Primary Location During Vietnam: Quan Loi, Vietnam Vietnam location marker

Story Subject: Military Service

Military Branch: U.S. Army

Dates of Service: 1968 - 1971

Unit: 1st Cavalry

Specialty: 63G20

Story Themes: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1st Cav, 1st Cavalry, Army, Blaine, Combat, Death and Loss, Fear, First Cav, First Cavalry, Gary Zenzen, Phouc Vinh, Quan Loi, Read, Viet Cong

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