Sharing Our Stories

Richard Green
Engineer
Norris Yard 

Page 3 : The Saga of Hill 950 - U.S. Third Marines - 26th Marine Regiment

The 105mm artillery support from Khe Sanh had come into play early in the fight but by 0230 hours there was no response from the hill. At 0330 hours, a Marine Recon team in the area took over the artillery fire assisted by a gun ship. The reports from Khe Sanh to the higher command at Dong Ha indicated the hill may have fallen. The Marines at Khe Sanh plan a full assault the next day at first light with 120 Marines from D Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines.

As the fog cleared for a moment, the choppers were under fire from grenades being tossed by the NVA. The Marine survivors are now setting off flares trying to let the Marines know there are still some alive. Because of the thick fog, the Marines now try and take back the communications bunker.

Marine LCPL Balzano reports:  I could see there was an NVA gunner on the commo bunker. Grenades would not work as the just rolled down the opposite side. I used an M79 against a tree hoping it would kill the gunner. I hit the tree but the gun position kept firing. I then thought I would wait until he was down and then take aim. I came up to take aim and realized he was not down. Something struck me in the head and knocked me over. I touched myself to see I was still alive. I then realized if not for the helmet liner the bullet would have entered the top left side of my head and come out the right side of my jaw. I had only received a minor head injury.

As they made their way they found a few more wounded Marines. One assisted in the assault by pitching grenades. After recapturing the communications bunker they found more wounded Marines. One of the wounded made contact with the base.

Marine Castillo’s helmet had been shot off early in the battle. There he was in his red hair, helmetless. He shot a guy out of a tree who had been firing down on them for five hours. Got him between the eyes. The last thing Castillo did was run after a NVA with a knife out off the hill and Marine Baskin tackled him to stop him. Then Marine Castillo just walked around and collected NVA hats. At this point it dawned on him that he was going to live.

After the fog lifted, the Marine assault force then swept the area clean of any enemy soldiers that were left.

Marines Baskins and Castillo were both awarded Sliver Stars. Marine Buffalo was awarded the Bronze Star.

Marine John Burke was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Marine Richard Castillo reports Marine Green saved his life twice.

First time: Five NVA circled Marine Stevenson's bunker. It was bright, maybe the flares, moon, the explosions, don't know why I could see so well. Remember being really, really ticked off. The front three and I saw one another at the exact same moment. We even fired at the same time. I watched their tracers in slow motion, going every which way. One in particular I thought I was going to eat. It went buy my ear. The NVA were hit. The two behind did a 180, heading for the radio bunker. Marine Powell went down centerfield hit by a ChiCom. A couple of more grenades landed not more than 10 feet from us. I jumped on top of him, not in a fit of bravery. I just wanted to die close to someone. The next thing I remember is your voice. Marine Green had crawled into the south-facing bunker. Am I glad you spoke to me instead of crawling in. With concussion, shock, fear, or all of them I had a bayonet in my hand. I was ready to use it on the first person that breached the doorway or myself. Time was so compressed. Seemed like minutes, but it was probably more like 3 hours. I remember thinking. OK, I need to crawl out and die with Green. For the moment you had saved my life, not to mention my dignity. Had messed myself pretty good when the grenade went off. Still wasn't aware that I had been hit.

Second time: For some stupid reason, I yelled at them. I told them to give us their weapons or today they would die. Oh, they gave us the weapons! I remember several bursts from the machine gunner. I was about to say something else and I heard your voice again. I don't remember the words. It could have been something nice like, "Don't think it's working." Probably you yelled at me to shut up. A grenade comes over the top. You would have taken it too. The shock had worn off, and I was in a heap of pain. I had shrapnel in the leg and neck. Thought you, Balzano, Stevenson, Baskin, and me were all that was left. Marine Castillo also reports that Marine Baskin held the Marines together and that Marine Green and Balzano held the line and prevented the NVA from overrunning the entire Hill 950. Marine John Burke had charged down the hill at the NVA alone, with grenades, prior to Marines Castillo and Baskin charge up the hill in the morning, and was cut down.

WIA = Marine Green, Marine Buffalo, Marine Richard Castillo, Marine Powell, Marine Stevenson, Marine William Balzano (Other names are not known at this time).

Receiving on the spot combat promotions to Corporal:  Marine Richard Green and Marine William Balzano.