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Donald Warren Tinney, Jr. - NOTES FROM THE VIRTUAL WALL

At 0700 02 Apr 1970 F Company, 75th Infantry, was alerted to provide a Ranger
team to investigate enemy activity in the Renegade Woods (XT3032). At 0800, a
13-man Ranger element, led by 1LT Philip J Norton, boarded two D/3-4 Cav UH-1H
helicopters. The insertion was accomplished at 0835 hours. Following standard
operating procedures for Ranger insertions there was no preparation of the landing
zone.

The Rangers deployed from the helicopters and began moving west toward known
enemy structures. At approximately 0840 hours a light machine gun (LMG) opened
fire on the lead men at a range of ten to 15 meters. Although the LMG was
destroyed with hand grenades, killing its crew, the team began taking fire from all
directions. 1LT Norton decided they should withdrew to the east and attempt to
maneuver around the enemy. Suppressive fires were requested from the supporting
helicopters and a reaction force was requested.

The Rangers split into two elements, Team 39 under 1LT Norton moving eastward
while Team 38 under SFC Floyd provided covering fire. The supporting helicopters -
one AH-1G, one OH-6A, and the two insertion UH-1Hs - also were divided, with the
two UH-1Hs (CENTAUR 23 AND 24) dispatched to Cu Chi to bring out a reaction
force.

The situation on the ground deteriorated rapidly. Team 38 had set up in a large
bomb crater which provided the only cover in the area, but a combination of small
arms and RPG fire killed SFC Floyd and SGT Michael Thomas and wounded SP4
Donald Tinney. Team 39 also began receiving heavy fire from small arms and two
or possibly three LMGs and withdrew to the crater. 1LT Norton had dragged SP4
Tinney to safety within the crater before requesting a reaction force, gunship
support, and MEDEVAC for the three men struck by the RPG. The on-scene Cobra
expended the rest of its rockets and minigun ammunition in laying suppressive fire
and the OH-6A expended 600 M-60 rounds before jettisoning extra ammunition in
preparation for a MEDEVAC attempt. The UH-1H helicopters reversed course and
returned on station.

By about 0920 hours the team had expended most of their ammunition and were
taking small arms fire from all directions. The AH-1G and OH-6A had expended
their ammunition and were making dry gun runs in an attempt to suppress the
enemy fire. At 0922 hours CENTAUR 23 landed ten to 15 feet from the lip of the
crater, and 1LT Norton gave his men the order to board. The UH-1H crew
maintained suppressive fires while the eleven surviving Rangers boarded, and after
30 seconds on the ground the overloaded UH-1H lifted off with maximum torque
and severe vertical vibration. SFC Floyd and SGT Thomas could not be recovered.
All the helicopters were running low on fuel and departed for Cu Chi, arriving there
about 1000 hours. CENTAUR 23 stopped enroute near Trang Bang to administer
initial first aid to SP4 Tinney and to redistribute the passengers, some of whom
were literally hanging on, before landing at the 12th Evacuation Hospital.

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