Statement
Of
Warrant Officer James P. VAN DUZEE, USA
[This text is transcribed from the original witness
statement from the MOH recommendation. Paragraph breaks have been added
for readability and editorial remarks are enclosed in square bracketed
italics. Van Duzee’s service number has been deleted to protect his
privacy.…Editor]
On 19 August 1967, at approximately
1615, we received a “Mayday” call shortly after departing Ky Ha. We went
straight to the area that was described as being one mile north of the
Quang Ngai River along the beach.
When we arrived, we could see four
people on the beach under mortar fire. About thirty meters from the four
persons on the beach, we could observe approximately thirty-five V.C. with
weapons firing at them. The mortar fire stopped, and about fifteen V.C.
ran out towards the people on the beach.
It was at this time that a Marine
gunship made a very low pass, driving the V.C. back into the tree line.
At this point we began to cover the Marine ship. [It is not clear if
Van Duzee’s aircraft was a Huey slick or a gunship. Pless was unaware of
Van Duzee’s supporting fire at this early stage of the action].
The Marine ship, after making the first pass, did hovering turns, firing
rockets into the retreating V.C., and went up and down the tree line
strafing the V.C. at tree top level. We could observe the V.C. firing
back, but with no apparent effect. The Marine ship then landed next to
the four persons on the beach and remained there for from five to ten
minutes. We circled overhead suppressing the tree line while the gunner
and crew chief scrambled from the Marine ship to help aid the four wounded
on the ground. While exposed to enemy fire, the crew helped the people
aboard and then departed.
In my opinion this undoubtedly was the most heroic
action I have witnessed in my eight months in country. The Marine ship's
crew did their utmost to save four Americans while under fire from the
enemy nearly all of the time. I highly recommend that this crew be
properly rewarded for their unselfish act of heroism.
J. P. VAN DUZEE
