The Trash Haulers by Richard Herman Read Free Book Online

not my concern. The message I just received orders me to find out why the necessary logistics are not reaching our gallant soldiers fighting and dying at Khe Sanh – and to correct it.” A satisfied look spread across his face. “As this is your area of responsibility, please explain.”
    Tran sensed the danger. “I am fully aware of the problem.” He stepped to the large-scale map on the back wall of the bunker and pointed to a town inside South Vietnam. “As the Colonel knows,” he said, using the standard politically correct jargon, “this Binh Tram is the logistical base for our gallant soldiers fighting the Americans at Khe Sanh.”
    “I’m not a fool.” Dinh snapped. He pushed Tran aside and used his fingers to span off the distance from their location to Khe Sanh. “Thirty-five kilometres,” he announced. He made no attempt to conceal the contempt in his voice.
    “As the bird flies,” Tran replied. “However, it is over seventy kilometres by trails that only porters can use. The situation on the ground is much more complicated than on the Truong Son Strategic Supply Route.” He used the official North Vietnamese name for the Ho Chi Minh trail. Tran pointed to a spot eight kilometres to the east of their headquarters and well inside South Vietnam. “This is the hamlet of A Xóc.”
    “And that is your bottleneck?” Dinh said, not really asking a question.
    “The hamlet is deserted. Unfortunately, the Americans have turned it into a Special Forces camp that blocks the ford crossing the Se Pang Hieng. The Se Pang Hieng is not a big river, but the crossing is very treacherous and it blocks the way south to Khe Sanh. The Americans know this and have reinforced the camp they call Se Pang with Bru, who pride themselves on killing Vietnamese.”
    “Attack and destroy it,” Dinh said.
    “General Dong is aware of the situation.”
    “And my orders are quite clear. Must I repeat myself?”
    “I only have one company of infantry available, less than one hundred men under Captain Lam. They are light infantry and to attack a fortified camp like Se Pang is a sacrifice of good men.”
    “You have other personnel. Use them.”
    Tran stared at Dinh, wondering if the man was a complete idiot. “Most of the cadre are drivers, porters, mechanics, guides, engineers, medics, cooks, and specialists. They not trained soldiers.”
    “You have your orders.”
    Tran carefully chose his words. “I’m sure the Colonel is aware that General Dong has ordered four attacks on Se Pang. Each time the Americans called in their forward air controllers and attack aircraft. The firepower is devastating.”
    “I am familiar with their tactics.”
    But not the destruction and havoc they cause , Tran thought. It was fall-back time. “May we step outside for a word?” he asked. Without waiting for a reply, he motioned for Kim-Ly to follow him. Dinh hesitated before following them outside.
    Tran walked down a side path until they were well clear of the command post. He scanned the area to be sure no one could overhear them. “Colonel Dinh, you need to hear from my closest advisor.” He motioned for Kim-Ly to join them. “My second in command, Lieutenant Colonel Du.”
    Dinh threw her a contemptuous glance. “Ah, your woman. And is she a lieutenant colonel because she shares your bed?”
    Kim-Ly lowered her head in submission and Tran stifled a reply. Dinh should have known that General Giap introduced them when she was a newly-promoted lieutenant colonel. Giap had warned Tran that Kim-Ly was well named. “She is truly a golden lion,” Giap had said, giving emphasis to her given name. Both understood that Giap intended for them to serve the communist party as one.
    “Colonel Dinh,” Kim-Ly said, her voice soft and non-threatening, “I am a mere woman and do not fully understand your responsibilities and cares. Please forgive me for what I am about to say. General Dong has sacrificed over five thousand of our frontline