Back to The Nam - Healing Journeys back to Vietnam for Veterans and Family

10 October, 1968
Back in the " World"...how far it was. Gene thought of his wife and baby. Stan had visions of his beautiful wife Carmine. Mike had become a father for the second time the previous day and didn't even know it yet. Mike Evans was walking, watching, half dreaming of a large, juicy , best-in-the-world Georgia Peach, when the VC ambush opened up, making Mike Evans the first KIA for the day. Baynes was thinking of home in Texas.

In a matter of mere minutes, not even a speck in the sphere of time-three of those men would Posthumously be awarded the DSC, and one would not return home from this day.

In the flash of an eye, 1st platoon A Co, 2/12th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, would step into history. 5 men would die and 1 would be listed as MIA. Out of sight from the patrolling American squad, a local VC unit opened fire on the flank security, immediately killing PFC Mike Evans, and severely wounding Sp. Gene Handrahand. The squad under squad leader Baynes McSwain immediately returned fire.

Gene lay wounded near the enemy position asking for help throughout the intense fire fight. SP 4 Stan Denisowski, from Utica NY, a close friend of Genes, without thought of his own safety, firing his weapon at the enemy position raced to extract Gene from under the enemy's devastating fire. See DSC citation. Stan too was killed in a hail of enemy fire from the hidden VC position. Meanwhile Gene called out for help.

Sergeant McSwain, the fine leader he was (shake and bake school) attacked the enemy position trying to rescue his friend and team mate Gene, who at this point was being used as 'human bait' to draw the Americans into their 'kill zone'. See DSC citation. Baynes too was killed, in the prime of his life trying unselfishly to save the life of his friend.

Having laid down a devastating fire on the enemy position, PFC Mike Randall, the squad M 60 gunner, raced toward the enemy position firing the M 60. As he closed in on the enemy he was wounded and had his machine gun disabled by enemy fire. Returning to the squad he grabbed another weapon and again advanced on the enemy trying to get to Gene and his friends. Unknown to anyone a hidden position opened up on Mike as he got in with the enemy ..Before he died Mike was shot 4 times and bayoneted twice. See DSC citation. Mike died next to his buddies. In 3 days Mike would have reached what we called the 'milestone' in Vietnam..3 months. It was normal if you made it 3 months, you finished your tour and went home. Mike was 3 days short . What a difference a day makes!

In April of 2009, Mike's Wife Patty Randall, returned with my self and 2 other Vets to try and locate the pot where Mike and the others had died that day in 1968.

On 23 April went to the Trang Bang area to visit with a friend of mine, a Buddhist Monk who befriended me and my squad during a 'bad' time earlier in 1968. (Trang Bang is famous for the photo of the little girl running down the road naked after a VN Air Force plane dropped napalm. This is the area where my squad was ambushed that day in October, 1968. He had an inkling of the fight that day but really knew nothing of it, so he sent us to The Central Committee for the government in the area to ask for their help in finding the location. I had some maps that a good friend sent to me, so we weren't totally blind.

My good friend Vu, a VN guide talked to the people at the committee and soon arranged for a guide to take us to the area the next day. We went on the 24th of April and were introduced to Mr Hai, the son of a VC soldier killed by the Americans in 1970 and also the nephew of a VC MIA. His warmth and helpfulness went above and beyond considering what happened to his family by my comrades.. This is what it is like all over VN..NO animosity ..
He took us to the area we were searching for as he had relatives in the area He was very sympathetic to Patty, as he was married and also had 2 children.

He took us to the area but before arriving, we stopped to meet a gentleman, who was the VC Commander for that entire region and had just retired from public service as a sort of Commissioner for the area..He remembered the battle well, and took us to the ville where the ambush occurred so many years previous. He didn't know where all the Americans died but he did show us one spit exactly where one of the Americans perished that day. It was simply amazing after all these years we were standing where I had walked many times previously carrying a rifle trying to kill the men who now old, and aching stood before me as friends.

That day I found out so much, about that day that I had not known before.. There is another chapter coming to this story, that I am hopeful I will soon be able to write, and at the same time shed a burden bothering me and many others for so many years..

While all this happened 41 years ago, I was in Valley Forge Hospital in PA, not knowing that most of my squad was wiped out, and wouldn't know for another 35 years ..I have made in excess of 25 trips to Vietnam since 1996, and every trip I learn something new.

You men and women that are contemplating going back to Vietnam, take this from me ..I guarantee you will come back a better person with less weight from the War on your shoulders and mind.. Look for the next chapter coming soon I sincerely hope.