A Minnesota PBS Initiative
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".
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