SP/4 Franklin was assistant team
leader for reconnaissance team Tracer-5 on operation near
Polei Kleng. Our mission was to act as point element
for Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th
Infantry, as we moved to Hill 783 to make assessments of
B-52 strikes there. We moved out and maintained
distance of approximately three hundred meters between
ourselves and the company. At approximately 1100
hours, we came upon the first of the bomb craters, and were
informed by radio that we were entering an enemy bunker
complex. E found no sign of the enemy, but proceeded
cautiously in a zigzag reconnaissance fashion on the same
azimuth. Minutes later, as the team started up a ridge
line, we spotted approximately twelve enemy to our right
flank. The enemy force began an assault on the team
from a distance of approximately one hundred meters.
SP/4 Franklin opened fire with his M-16 and the other team
members followed his lead, unleashing all our fire power and
eliminating seven of the enemy. As the remainder of
the enemy force fled, Sp/4 Franklin spotted scattered enemy
soldiers on a ridge line about one hundred meters away.
The enemy were firing on the company to our rear.
Despite the knowledge that they would be compromising their
position, the team elected to throw smoke and direct gunship
fire on the enemy, silencing their guns. The company
radioed the team, notifying them that they were dropping
back about three hundred meters because of heavy enemy fire,
and leaving a distance of approximately six hundred meters
between the team and the company. After holding their
position for about three hours, the team began to make their
way back to the company’s location. The team had moved
approximately two hundred meters, when Sp/4 Franklin
detected some enemy bunkers. After a closer
investigation, the team was aware that they were in the
midst of a huge enemy bunker complex. (apparently, the
enemy allowed the team to proceed through the complex
earlier in hopes of engaging the larger company size force
to their rear) SP/4 Franklin detected an enemy soldier
in a bunker and eliminated him. Another enemy was
spotted trying to escape and he was eliminated. A
tunnel opening was discovered and a grenade dropped inside.
Immediately, the team began receiving heavy enemy fire.
We moved quickly for about fifty meters and then resumed our
normal pace. As the team approached the first bomb
crater, they were taken under fire by enemy small arms and
automatic weapons. SP/4 Franklin doubled up and rolled
into a foxhole. I turned to give a verbal command to
the remainder of the team, but couldn’t make visual contact
and followed SP/4 Franklin into the foxhole. He was
unhurt and was only taking cover. We called the
company, and they replied that they would be sending a
platoon to assist. The enemy had us in a crossfire,
using small arms, automatic weapons and B-40 rockets, two of
which exploded approximately fifteen meters from our
position. Despite the heavy fire, SP/4 Franklin hurled
two grenades into the machinegun bunker, silencing it and
the small arms fire simultaneously. Two enemy were
detected trying to escape through the bamboo and were
eliminated. We crawled to a machinegun bunker and
found three dead NVA. We held that position for a few
short minutes and then again began to receive sniper fire.
We were able to eliminate one of the soldiers, but the other
kept us pinned down. Finally, we were able to
eliminate him. We began moving again to the company’s
location, and again received sniper fire. Sp/4 Franklin was
severely wounded in the knee before we could eliminate the
enemy by directing gunship fire on the position. Ten
minutes later, the platoon radioed that they were taking
heavy casualties and were turning back. We had to make
it back on our own. I carried Sp/4 Franklin until we
were both exhausted. After a rest, Sp/4 Franklin
volunteered to crawl behind me, and we moved in that manner
for approximately one hundred meters. Suddenly,
several enemy in a bunker close to the trail began hurling
grenades at our position. I was blinded for a few
moments and when I regained my sight, I saw SP/4 Franklin
crawl up to the bunker, an explosion go off the his body
fall back about five meters. SP/4 Franklin’s arm has
been severed and he was bleeding to death. I wanted to
give him first aid, but there was nothing I could do to stop
his bleeding. After spending a few moments with him, I
moved to the company, but when I returned with a volunteer
patrol, there was nothing more that could be done.
SP/4 Franklin gave his life so that I
could live. The enemy didn’t even see him crawling
behind me and were most likely just aiming their grenades at
me, but he used his last grenade, saving my life. His
courage and devotion to duty, while up against enormous
odds, reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the
United States Army.
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