HUE, 1968

I had left country about five weeks before Tet. Major Ed Halbert, my replacement and friend, wrote me about my counterpart, Ltc. Chi.

Ltc. Chi was the Regiment Commander 7th ARVN Cavalry Regt, my counterpart, and my good friend. The Cavalry HQ compound was about three clicks south of Hue.

As part of the plan for security of Hue, all armored vehicles were taken away from the 7th Cav. Regt. Headquarters and stationed at various corners through out Hue. I had fought this before I left.

As the city was overrun, Division called and ordered Ltc. Chi to "break through" to the Division HQ in the center of the city. Ltc. Chi protested that all his vehicles had been taken away and all he had were two M-113s, his command track, and the S-3 [Ops] track and to attempt to break into the city would be futile and suicide.

He was ordered "break through" to the Division HQ with what assets he had.

With his command track leading, followed by the S-3 track Ltc. Chi, obedient to his orders, moved out, knowing he was going to his death.

At the outskirts of the town, his track was hit by three RPG rounds and burst into flames. Ltc. Chi, engulfed in flames, jumped/fell from his track. He was machine-gunned and, still burning, rolled down a slight embankment coming to rest into a open field.

He lay there for 24 hours before being recovered. His last words were for the welfare of his children and his unit.

He died several hours later.

©Copyright August 2002 by Nicholas A. Andreacchio