Chapter Six
Gunfire, incessant, deadly, and accurate, raked over them from an unseen enemy deeply entrenched in the jungle on the opposite side of the river. The metallic clatter of the Chinese-made Chicon 56 assault rifle, used by the North Vietnamese Army—NVA—was distinctive amid the cacophony of noise. Chapman Bouttell and the rest of his unit were in no doubt they were under attack by a far superior force of well-trained, disciplined enemy soldiers from the north.
The ‘whump!’, ‘whump!’ of mortar rounds exploding in their midst was deafening. They were taken completely by surprise. It was not supposed to be this way. The area was supposed to be clear of enemy troops. It was supposed to be a cold zone. They were not supposed to walk into a well-planned, well-executed ambush. They were
