Operation Fondulac: the killing of Team 5

Discovered an interesting paper quite by chance.  It concerns Project Sigma's recon missions into Warzone C in October of '66, and the loss of most of Recon Team 5.   Generally the teams actually had names for in-house use, my father's being RT Homer as at the time they were using "classic authors", but in most AARs are listed only by number.  Anyways, what is VERY interesting about this paper is that it contains info that came from a captured VC AAR document about how this VC unit (U-80 artillery) was able to track and destroy this recon team.  It was a bit of luck as well as good procedure on the VC part, and quite fascinating to read their actual procedures.  I only wish my dad was still around to discuss this operation as all I have now are his notes on his patrol in the AAR omnibus for this operation, but no inclusions.

https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/publications/LWP-118-Walks-in-the-Midst-of-Trouble-Allied-Patrols-in-War-Zone-C-October-1966_0.pdf

One thing I can add about the conclusion written in the original B-56 AAR on the operation.  I believe that the determination of "overconfidence" of the Americans on the team was not just due to the VN debrief but due to the knowledge of the men on the patrol.  My father said that they both worked well together because they had the same brashness and might have been more aggressive than most.  They were Sigma's first recon KIAs, the unit only having had 3 WIAs previously (one of which lives about 10 miles from me).

On a personal note, Sgt Walt Miller is mentioned by name in the paper.  He retired as a CSM and lives out in Palmer, Alaska.  He and my father were good friends and I've visited them up there (great fishing!).  Walt's brother Frank was also in SOG and was awarded the MOH after a particularly nasty mission In Laos in 1970, retiring also as a CSM.  He wrote a book about his experiences which has that typical dashing flair.  I believe he died in 2000 or so.

I will take a look tonight at the omnibus and see what notes pops has.

Oh man, that's very cool Darby. Thanks for sharing.

And I heard there's good fishing up there Alaska way.

Good insightful information. Just an idea for B6 - how about having a thread for pdfs like this in the books part of the Intel section?

wow Darby ! , this looks excellent . I will read this .

Found the notes:
My dad's team was the one that was extracted due to the coughing Cambodians. His note says "2nd patrol with this team as 0-1, previous as radio. One man kept coughing, syrup did not help. On RTB, all tested for TB."

Great stuff Darby. Thanks for posting it. Yes, it sure would have been good if you could have discussed it with your dad. But you found his notes.

Tom