What follows is a post from last year' trip that I wrote April 7, 2016 regarding
the fighting at Nhi Ha in May'68. Note the reference to the ambiguity
surrounding Allan Barnes. In realty, during retrieval of our dead, Allan
ended up with my platoon's (2nd) KIA's instead of his own (3rd). In
retrospect, I had to have handled his body multiple times. But, due to
the condition, features weren't obvious. Because his status was changed
from MIA to KIA in September, months after the battle, it was assumed
that his remains had been found on or near the battlefield. All the
time, though, his body was in a morgue in Da Nang. Here is my April 7
post from last year:
"Nhi Ha is one of those places that is
embedded in the soul of those who fought that ugly 14-day battle in May
'68. Yesterday, once again, I stood on the ground that back then shook
& roared with battle. From the battle's monument, I look to the
sand dunes, from which NVA artillery batteries hammered us day and
night. Another glance reveals Jones Creek, the banks of which provided
life-saving cover to my squad May 6. Also obvious is the spot where we
dug in and assaulted Nhi Ha until it was finally "taken". In reality,
the enemy pulled back and waited for us to make the next move. I'm
standing where many of my company perished and Bill Baird was captured.
And, all the time, an enemy officer, Mr. Ba, is by my side. My comrades
at Nhi Ha will certainly remember the bomb-damaged building where the
captured NVA weapons were kept. In 2011, I found that building, which
was being repaired and enhanced. Yesterday I (through Nhung) conversed
with the occupant. Showing him photos from May '68, he verified that it
is, indeed, the same building. I stood at my approximate bunker
position, from which repeated NVA night attacks were countered. At the
May 6 battle site, incense was lit in memory of Lt. William Kimball,
whose razor I recovered from Col. Tha just a few days ago. It was
sobering and chilling to realize that I was standing near where Kimball
fell and, shortly thereafter, the razor taken from his shirt pocket by
the enemy. That razor today has taken on even more meaning to me. I am
honored to be the soldier who will be returning it to Mrs. Kimball. More
incense was ignited in memory of all 196th soldiers who perished at Nhi
Ha. Allan Barnes' fate is somewhat clouded by the fact that we did not
recover his body with the others on May 8. Bill Baird's body wasn't
recovered, either, but in reality he had been captured and spent 5 1/2
years as a POW in Hanoi. It is reported that Barnes was last seen alive,
though wounded, during that nightmare May 6 battle. His body was
recovered September 22 along Jones Creek, somewhat north of the actual
battle site. How he ended up there is a mystery that I feel will be
solved with some effort. Yes, we could have missed his body on the May 8
KIA recovery. But, his remains were recovered away from the actual
battle area. The answer exists. It will take a focused effort and that
most likely must occur at Nhi Ha. That battle forever haunts those who
fought it. "Nightmare Battle of Nhi Ha" was the title of the article in
"Vietnam Magazine". It was...and is.
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