Mike Sampson's Reflections on the events of 7 Jun 68 & the 1st Platoon of Alpha Co.
In a recent letter to the family of Phil McDonald, Mike reflects the following on the event of the 7 Jun 68.
Members of 1st Platoon of Alpha Company prior to 7 Jun 68.
On the morning of June 7, 1968, our platoon Lt. told us we were going on a three-day ambush about 6 clicks awayfrom the rest of our company. Our Captain decided to send a platoon instead of a squad. I remember we were mad
as hell because we knew you should never send an element of your company that far away without company support.
We left our company early and humped (walked) most of the day. We were near the area our ambush was to set up.
Our platoon had just walked down a steep mountain and started up the next when our point man (leading the platoon)
William Sapp was shot in both legs. Our Lt. ordered us to turn around and go back up the mountain we had come down
to set up a medivac helicopter for Sapp. When we tried to go back up the mountain the rear of our platoon was taking
enemy fire. The enemy let us pass by them until they had us boxed in. Then we started to receive mortars at our location.
Soon after the mortars, I was shot by an AK-47 rifle in my right knee. I put my field dressing on my wound and was told to
go to command post. The mortars were getting real heavy and our platoon sergeant told our Lt. we had to get the hell out
of there. The Lt. saw a creek bed on his map. His plan was to travel down the creek to the bottom of the mountain.
When we started to move my right knee buckled and gave out on me. I remember "Doc" giving me a shot of morphine.
We made it to the creek and were still receiving alot of small arms fire. I remember the Lt. telling everyone that gunships,
(helicopters with M-60 machine guns) would fire on both sides of the ridge and for us to run down the creek while the
enemy heads were down. We had about six wounded and I don't remember who helped me down the creek bed. I
remember getting more morphine because the pain was horrible. I do not remember who helped me down the mountain, but
I remember it was two people helping me.
This is, I believe, when Phil McDonald gave his platoon covering fire with the M-60 machine gun. He lost his life to save
Golden Dragons. I believe the M-60 machine gun was our squad's machine gunner, Smiddy. Smiddy had been seriously
wounded. I remember seeing two people carrying him down the mountain and I remember in Pleiku hospital after my
surgery seeing Smiddy next to me with all kinds of IVs and tubes in him. When we reached the bottom of the mountain
it was almost totally dark. I remember our Lt. telling our company commander we had to be extracted right now. I believe
our battalion commander wanted us to wait until morning. We held cigarette lighters so the choppers could land at our
location. I can truthfully say if it hadn't been for Phil's actions many more Golden Dragons and I would not be here
to tell you what happened on that chaotic day. I do not know if anyone who was wounded that day died later.
Michael Sampson... September 8, 2000
ALPHA CO
4th DIVISION
VIETNAM