CHAPTER SIXTEENThe cease-fire came and went without incident. The Stars and Stripes newspapers reported, however, that the Communists had numerous violations throughout the country.
In Alpha Company’s AO, the grunts had a feeling that the enemy was well aware that a witch-hunt was underway and remained out of sight. The sensation continued for the entire week after Christmas.
On New Year’s Day, 1971, the company received word that Delta Company was engaged in heavy fighting and needed help. Alpha was the closest unit, and helicopters were already en route to pick up the reinforcements.
Delta Company had been working in a banana plantation for most of the past week, and that morning a patrol member tripped a vicious booby trap while going up a hill. The buried 105mm artillery round explo
