CIMMERIAN AFTER ACTION REPORT - OPERATION: HAWTHORNE
- MISSION COMPLETE: 17 APR 05 -

COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHY

This month we attended a a weekend-long, Vietnam-era re-enactment, hosted by the Airsoft Reenactors Group (ASR/G). The operation was a complete success! Thank you to the ASRG for some fantastic combat and for providing an outstanding AO!

This battle's forces consisted of US Army Infantry, supported by Special Forces LRRP teams, and North Vietnamese Army regulars with attached Viet-Cong units. The effort shown by all who attended to portray the 1966 period was truely remarkable. Thank you's to all of our friends (new and old) for coming out and making this a very memorable weekend. 

Any and all submittals for war stories and photos from this Operation are appreciated.

Letters to Home:
Dana, Roger E., PVT
US ARMY L.R.R.P.
Dak-to, Kontum Province, Vietnam

- DEPLOY TO AO
June 15 1966

Dear Grandma,

Well I am here in Dak-to, Kontum ProvinceVietnam. Got here yesterday,
they keep us very busy building the camp defenses so I will be adding to
this letter as the days go on. Were getting along ok, the camp is buzzing with word of an upcoming mission.

The guys that have been here for a while are helping us new guys get familiar with every thing. Its kinda scary we were told to not go anywhere without our rifles.VC are somewhere just out side the wire. Haven't seen em yet but they are there.

Gotta go grandma they need my help with some tents.

- Roger
***

- DAY 1
June 16 1966

Hi Grandma,

Today we went on patrol, and saw some action. I have a lot of brave soldiers on my LRRP squad. Sgt Best, Laura, Matt, Tony, Joe and Joe. Our job here is to help the local natives defend their homeland from thecommunists. Paul, Sgt Best always brings two of them along, Zulla and one other (can't remember all the names), to help us track down the enemy in the hills.

We were heading out to some grid coordinates somewhere in the jungle near the Dong Yap Dam. You gotta love these names. We had some firefights with the VC but we all made it back in one piece.
Its scary Grandma you can't see em you just hear there rifles firing at us. Not at all like what Grandpa described in World War II.

Take care,

-Roger
***

- DAY 1 - NIGHT PATROL
June 16 1966

Dear Grandma,

Tonight we were sent on Night patrol. You wouldn't believe how scared I was. We were sent out into the jungle to find a VC camp, gather Intel. Afterward we had to proceed to that Dong Yap Dam to blow it up.

We found the village, it was eerily quiet. I was more alert than ever in my life. We couldn't get close enough to get a good look so I sent Private Gilbert crawling out for a better look, while Tony, Matt and I watched the perimeter.

Tyler was halfway out when a VC came walking down the road to the camp! It was a very tense few minutes that felt like hours, as Ty laid there
in the tall grass. The enemy walk right by him, Ty could have reached out and grabbed him by the leg. I guess he thought better of it. Only when that VC reached the camp, we could then move out of there.

On the way to the dam, we did take some fire but, I was sure we were not seen at all. They were just shooting in our direction or just drunk and raisin hell.

When we reached the dam we got orders to demo it, one problem though, on the far side was a Machine gun nest guarding the only approach. We called for "blanket", that means smoke grandma, to get us accross without being seen.

I think a helocopter came in and dropped the smoke down for us, because it suddenly appeared. When the plume was big enough to conceal our movement, we moved out across the dam guns blazing. I never ran so fast. That gunner opened up on us, as that smoke appeared on the road. we could do nothing but continue our run to get him before he got us.

Well, we made it through, took out the gunner and formed a perimeter just in case. All of a sudden, we started taking fire from a small camp on the other edge of the pond. We didn't even know it was there!

I sent my demo guys Tony And Ty out to set the charges. They were gone for what seemed like hours, but really was only a few minutes. When they returned we took cover and blew the dam. BANG! ... BANG! ... BANG! We got out of there as fast as we could for "dust off". That's where a
chopper comes to pick you up.  It felt so good for all of us to on that metal floor once again.

When we got back to base it was under fire! Moments later we heard that the VC was inside the wire! It was crazy Grandma, there were explosions and bullets flying all around. I heard a call for illumination, to light up the sky.When it "POP"ed in the air, all I could see were VC and NVA all around helmets in the trees in front of me! They were fierce fighters Grandma. And I think they will not stop until they are dead.

We were just lucky this time because we outnumbered them. But they will be back again with more for sure.

Well, gotta try and get some sleep. "Sleep," but you really don't sleep here.
You just try and close your eyes for a while.

-Roger
***

- DAY 2
June 17 1966

Dear Grandma,

Today was another lucky day for me. This morning I was ordered to carry the M60 it's a heavy machine gun. It is so much heavier than my issued M16.

Out of our 6 man LRRP unit there were only three of us left, Joe, Joe and me. (yep two Joe's)
We were ordered to move out to the VC camp to see if they were around. As we arrived we got orders to head out to the dam area again. When we reached our grid coordinates we got orders to move back to the VC camp! I just couldn't not figure out who was running things, where?

Halfway back, we were now told to go back to the firebase and get a stretcher to carry an injured pilot! Don't you know it! Once "the brass" had us running around in circles, we found ourselves now cut off by VC and in a fight! We tried to go around but encountered more VC. We were pinned down for a while. Joe was killed Grandma.

So we decided that we were not going to make it back to camp. We radioed in to to say we would try and take out some of the enemy instead to help clear a path for the infantry. By the time we fought to reach now the perimeter our guys were cut off from getting into camp from the other side.

Joe Lin and I came up the hill just under a VC machine gun nest. We took em out and made a run for base under the cover fire of the second GI squad who had also fought to make it back.

A lot of guys died today Grandma, but a lot of us made it out of there too. Everyday I am learning how to stay alive. Joe Lin seems to know a lot about this place, I think I will learn a lot from him.

Got to go now Grandma.

With love,

- Roger
***


********************************* Archive CRW 04/21/05 ************************

OPERATION FEATURES (DAY & NIGHT):
MULTIPLE SCENARIOS
AUTHENTIC PROPS
MILITARY VEHICLES
SPECIAL EFFECTS
NIGHT CHALLENGE COURSE    

LATEST INTEL:
1. Expected NVA and VC activity during hours of darkness is high... HQ recommends the use of tracer units.
2. Low-cap magazines are designated for use at this Op.
3. Night Challenge Course team sign-ups are now being taken. Click here for rules and details
4. Map for the AO can be found here

AO:ASRG- EAST (Madera, CA)
Specific directions to the AO and important directives will be provided to you before the Op.

LOADOUT:
This is an historical Vietnam re-enactment. Period "impression" for your uniform is highly encouraged.We expect all operators to conform their uniform as specified by the Airsoft Re-enactor's Group and Cimmerian SOP.
See http://airsoftreenactorsgroup.com/Hawthorne/OpHAWTHORNE.html for more details. 

US ARMY ( FULL ) - OD BDUs. with a Vietnam-era helmet w/ Mitchell cover or OD boonie (designated load-out for Cimmerians)
US LRRP ( FULL ) - Tiger Stripes or ERDL with boonie hat
- Colt series or M14 AEG is encouraged

NVA - Khaki blouse and trousers with OD "Pith" helmet

VC - Black pajama combination with Coolie hat

- AK series AEG is encouraged

NOTE: Use of full-facemasks on the field are prohibited as a specific rule for this Operation only. Only ANSI-rated goggles or shooting glasses are allowed to be used due to the level of the Vietnam re-enactment "impression" for this operation.

As with all Cimmerian Operations, we also highly recommend the use of mouth gards to supplement your personal safety. They are cheap ... dental bills are not!

FRAG ORDERS:
Once your attendance confirmation has been processed, you will be provided with further detailed information on the OP, scenerio, precise location, and required load-out on an "as available" basis.

REGISTRATION:
All registrations for Cimmerian Ops are handled through the Automated Registration System (ARS).

If interested, submit your contact information into the ARS and sign the mandatory waiver. Once you have received an approval email, you will not have to supply this info again. From then on, you only need to use the confimation link provided in each Operation page. An automated confirmation will then be emailed to you.   

1. If you are a NEW PARTICIPANT and have not operated with the Cimmerians before, please go to the ENLISTMENT STATION , and follow the instructions listed. A Cimmerian representative will then be in contact with you.

2. If you are a CIMMERIAN or if you regularly operate with us as a Player in Good Standing and have not yet used the ARS, you must first go here and follow the ARS link on that page, to input your contact information.