PHU THU

2.30 AM

SUN 12 MARCH

My Darling Girls

What a 24 hours. PHU THU fell last night. The VC hit at 2.25 with a mortar attack followed by waves of assault troops over the walls with explosive charges. They reduced every building and every bunker to rubble. There were 4 advisors and 34 troops in the compound. We lost 3 advisors killed 30 PF killed 2 PF wounded 2 PF captured. Sgt Adams had a miraculous escape. He fired at one VC, killed him. The next one threw a satchel charge into his weapon pit - he launched it out behind him and shot the VC, as he did so the charge went off behind him knocking him unconscious and blowing him forward over the embankment and down into the edge of the minefield. When he woke up 30 minutes later the whole compound was on fire and there were VC everywhere, so he had enough sense to lie quietly and the VC didn't see him. We got in with reaction force at 4 and pushed the VC out. The whole place was razed to the ground practically. It was important that we reestablished the team here immediately so that the VC couldn't say they had driven the adviser's out so I am now the PHU THU adviser - only for about 7 days while they sort out who is coming in here permanently. I've got Capt Garcy and Sgt Alverado with me both good types. I'm living in the ruins of the main office we've built a barricade of bags of cement and unfilled sandbags all around us and we've got 2 radio a machine gun and a M79 and we're in good shape. We've also got 60 troops in and in ambush positions around the remains of the compound. The VC won't attack here again for a while as they achieved their objective and there is nothing here now worth attacking but it was important to keep a team here and also to boost the morale of the local people and troops and to calm them down as they were pretty shook up. I'm on radio watch now I had from 12 - 4 - by choice the others needed some sleep. Garcy was pretty nervous about coming out but now we've got a defensive position all organised and I've explained how we'd fight and where everybody would go and what their jobs are he's quite happy. Poor old Maj HEYDY who was killed last night was Greg Clements replacement - he'd been 6 days at PHU THU not here long enough to learn how to stay alive. Keep sending your mail to the ordinary address my darling. They bring it out by chopper. Don't worry about this PHU THU dead I really believe the VC won't attack again and I'm really safer here that I am running around with reaction force. Time is running by now my darling. I was sitting here on radio watch thinking about our wonderful holiday together. Just my lovely Neisi and those three little sweeties. I'm looking forward to it so very very much - and to being home with my lovely wife and the three loveliest little sweeties any man could wish for. I miss you and I love you so very very much my darling. Take care

Petie