Sharing Our Stories

Richard Green
Engineer
Norris Yard 

The Saga of Hill 950 - U.S. Third Marines - 26th Marine Regiment

Hill 950 had long been recognized as an important radio relay station as early as October of 1966.  Normally an assignment of boredom for the Marines, on the night of June 5-6 1967 the hill would turn into sheer terror. This is my attempt to document that valiant fight by members of the 26th Marine Regiment.

We Lived:

Members from Headquarters Company, 26th Marines, Security Platoon, commanded by Marine Sergeant Richard Baskins rotated onto the hill from Khe Sanh. Also on the hill was a squad from B/1/26 th. In addition, several Force Recon Marines to help reinforce the units, all of the Force Recon Marines were thought to be KIA.

We Fought:

Marines from Headquarters Platoon, 26 th Marines, a squad from B/1/26 and several individuals from Force Recon did battle against the NVA for the hilltop on Hill 950.

Overwhelming forces assaulted Hill 950 just after 0100 hours on the night of June 6th 1967. The battle continued until the next day. Marines Richard Green, David Buffalo, Richard del Castillo, Powell, Marine LCPL William Balzano, and Marine Stevenson survived, but all were wounded in the action. Marine Sgt. Baskin survived, and it is thought with no injuries.

Marine LCPL Charles Castillo was on watch on the western face of the hill when the attack began. As he was calling the alarm, a grenade exploded in front of him. 

Marine Castillo reports he was up on watch at 10:30 p.m. June 5, 1967. He thinks he was the only one awake, on the western side, but he said he was on the easy approach side, so he was on the East or southeast. Marine Sherrill’s bunker must have been on the Northern side where Richard ran to as the battle started. He saw rockets hitting Khe Sanh Combat Base, and screamed for Marine Baskin to awaken. Khe Sanh Combat base is to the South. Then a trip flare went off on the opposite side (North), so he ran to see what he thought would be rock apes (animals who frequently came near and set off trip flares and alarms), as the flares had been going off for weeks. He was told it was rock apes.

The trip flares on the east side of the hill were going off by this time followed by RPG's, small arms fire, and then grenades. Sgt. Baskins then told Marine Cpl. Wethy, on radio, to call for some artillery on the east side and make sure it was close enough to do some good.

Marine LCPL Richard Green reports the NVA came up opposite side of densely fogged-in Hill 950. AK47 rounds tore through his tent. He jumped in his gun position. The NVA were on the already on the communications bunker, and he opened up with his M60. They were eliminated.

Marine LCPL Balzano reports that as the alarm went off he and Marine Green jump into their M60 position. Marine Arnold was knocked silly by an RPG, and I put him down in the ammo area for our M60 and grenades. Marine Green then went around to the right side of the perimeter.

Marine LCPL Richard Green reports the NVA came up the opposite side of densely fogged-in Hill 950. AK47 rounds tore through his tent. He jumped in his gun position. The NVA were on the already on the communications bunker and he opened up with his M60. Those were eliminated.

Marine Powell came running back saying he had been shot. Marine Green could not see in the dark, so he started feeling on his body. Found bullet wounds but could not help him at this time. Marine Stevenson came up. He also was hit badly. Marine Green was dodging too many grenades at that time to help them.

With the Marines above now wounded, the Marines then tried to withdraw the wounded while one Marine covered this withdrawal. At this time Sgt. Baskins identified another threat, and continued to toss grenade after grenade. Marine Balzano's M60 had locked up, and he and Marine Arnold tore it down to get the gun back in action. By this time the NVA had blown up the Sniper/Recon bunker and shot two of the wounded Marines.

Marine LCPL Balzano reports a flare went off, and I could see the NVA charging up behind us. I then turned the M60 around to the rear. Never anticipating a line breach, we had not sandbagged the rear of the gun emplacement. I opened up and just kept firing. I had over 1000 rounds belted so I did not need to reload often. As more flares went off, I could see the NVA, what seemed like dancing, on some of the overrun bunkers. 

Four NVA soldiers were highlighted with a flare standing on one of the bunkers. Two of them were cut down by Marine Balzano with an M60. PFC Steven Arnold and LCPL Green Marine killed the others.

Not wanting them to concentrate fire on my gun, I threw grenade after grenade until I had no more. Marine Arnold came up with some more but they were still in canisters. We used bayonets to get them open. Marine Arnold would open and I would then toss them out.

I changed barrels as things seemed to come to a lull. I then saw Marine Green fly through the air during an explosion. I called to him and he said he was OK but wounded in the leg.

I later ran into Marine Castillo who informed me none of the M16s left were working.  That he and Marine Green were to try and find as many AK47s and ammo as possible.

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