MY STORY
MY STORY of Hill 1062
VIETNAM
BY KERNAA WILLIAMS SR
Vietnam and looking back at that horrendous night June 4, 1968 atop the mountainous apex summit of hill 1062. And remembering God’s divine hedge of protection, participating in Operation Mameluke Thrust, (Job 1:9-10 AMP) – Then Satan answered the Lord. Does Job (reverently) fear God for nothing? 10. Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land). Lamentations 3:22 AMP – It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His (tender) compassions fail not.
Unit
Serving with Bravo company 1st Battalion 7th marines’ boots on the ground 1968 the bloodiest year of the Vietnam war, known historically as of the “Vietnamese Tet offensive”.
Hill 1062
A note from the virtual wall
In May of June 1968 the 7th marines were conducting operation Mameluke thrust in the S.W. area of Danang Vietnam. The 1st battalion 7th marines, after action report contains the following entry: “D + 16 4 June… night positions was established with company L on objective 1 and 1/7 command group, company B & A on hill 1062. At 2035H [8:35 pm]. Company B’s perimeter received numerous frag & concussion grenades and a heavy volume of small arm’s fire. Company “B” returned fire on the enemy and a sporadic fire fight continued for almost 45 minutes. Friendly casualties were 6 KIA, 21 WIA (Evac) and 2 WIA (minor). A search of the area revealed 7 enemy KIA in green utilities. The enemy was identified as part of the T-3 Sapper Battalion.
Bloody battle on Hill 1062
Marines climbing up to the mountainous Apex Summit of hill 1062. The heat was brutal, in Vietnamese slang – Boo -Coo hot, a sweltering type of environmental climate. That had to be endured with (combat gear). Hill 1062 demonstrated to the Marines who endured it, a type of crucible – physical, mental, emotional, strength, fortitude, determination to endure, which is a quality trait of all united states marines. Marine’s are taught endurance. Hill 1062 was a crucible, that Marines do not quit.
Definitions.net describe a crucible-as an exceedingly difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process. After the marines reached the Apex Summit of hill 1062, I could feel in my spirit, we were being watched. And little did we know that stealthily camouflaged death angels – NVA Sappers were patiently waiting above and behind the trees, positioned to set in operation an immediate ambush. Sappers were Viet Cong or NVA commandoes usually armed with AK-47 ‘s explosives, as grenades, canvas satchel bag charges with explosives. Some had a Kamikaze mindset.
Hill 1062 Ambush
As the Marines were positioning ourselves for night security purposes. My “B” company squad – leader told me to dig in defensively for the night. Then within moments the sound of loud explosions, what sounded like fragmentation grenades, satchel charges, and the death cracking sounds of AK-47’s & M-16’s permeated the atmosphere. The situation became extremely hostile. As Marines fought back, tracer rounds were flying to and from designated targets. As the chaos continue a few feet away, “B company’s gunnery sergeant (Gy Sgt) called out to my squad leader to send help in a frantic voice. My squad leader nestled in a fox-hole with several other Marines in the midst of the chaos about 12 ft. from myself to the right of my position, he gave me a command to go and help the gunny, my response as the battle continued to my squad leader was to give me another rifle, because my M-16 fires 3 shots and jams. Squad leader’s response you must go, you could still hear the gunny yelling frantically for help. As the sounds of AK-47’s and M-16’s was cracking away, I moved out in support of the Gunny to my right he immediately came into view with another Marine they were both taking cover behind a rock, I noticed a NVA Sapper firing away at both of them. Upon eye contact the Gunny yelled out my name Williams he is in front of you to the left. As I moved forward towards the enemy position low crawling within moments, I heard a loud cracking explosion that rip through the left side of my body. My weapon was knock away from my hands, then I was faced down on my left side as I looked up around dusk to dawn, the NVA Sapper was standing over me point-blank range, firing about 7-8 rounds burst at my head, the rounds came so close they kicked sand in my eyes, as the hot shell casing were hot on my neck. I held my breath as though I was dead, even though I got a slight glimpse of the enemy soldier’s appearance as my left ear was to the ground, I can hear the fleeing of running away of enemy soldiers. While the Marines stayed postured in their defensive positions. I bled most of the night, until the back-up units arrived, Doc Gaughan “B” Co. Corpsman, came to my rescue, with words of encouragement, and medical assistance. In preparation for Evac-helicopters. During the morning arrival of Evac-helicopters they began to hoist the body of dead Marines, first as they did so, snipers began to open and firing on the dead bodies being hoisted into the helicopters. I witness a miraculous miracle when they hoisted me up the snipers firing ceased, when they placed me in the hoovering helicopters above the tree lines, they thought I was dead after placing me on top of dead bodies of my comrades, I yell out I am still alive.
I thank God for His divine hedge of protection and this is my story of hill 1062.
PSALM 91
Security of the One Who Trusts in the Lord.
1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].
2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!”
3For He will save you from the trap of the fowler,
And from the deadly pestilence.
4He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions,
And under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.
5You will not be afraid of the terror of night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.
7A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But danger will not come near you.
8You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes
And witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High].
9Because you have made the Lord, [who is] my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.
11For He will command His angels in regard to you,
To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
12They will lift you up in their hands,
So that you do not [even] strike your foot against a stone.
13You will tread upon the lion and cobra;
The young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14“Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him;
I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never].
15He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble.
I will rescue him and honor him.
16With a long life I will satisfy him
And I will let him see My salvation.”
Amplified® Bible
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