"Shoot out in Thu Duc"
20 September 1968

        Shortly after 1200 hours and seven miles from Saigon near the city of Thu Duc, SP/4 George H. Ross and PFC Daniel M. Ferrara were on a combined patrol with their Canh Sat (Vietnamese National Police) and Quan Canh (Vietnamese MP) counterparts, when they received a radio alert through the Vietnamese Police radio net. They were informed that four US deserters were traveling in a hijacked Vietnamese taxi north from Saigon and were wanted for armed robbery, one was also a suspect in a murder during the Long Binh Stockade riot.

        They were proceeding south towards Saigon through the town of Thu Duc on Highway #316 when their Vietnamese counterparts spotted the hijacked taxi traveling past them north bound. The patrol driver, PFC Ferrara, initiated a pursuit with red light and siren but the cab wouldn’t pull over. He managed to pass them and cut the cab off onto the side of the roadway.

        Both MP’s exited their jeep and approached the taxi with their weapons at the ready. PFC Ferrara the drivers side armed with his M16, and SP/4 Ross the passengers side armed with his .45 service weapon. One of the GI’s exited the cab on the passengers side as PFC Ferrara looked into the rear window of the drivers side and observed another one of the GI’s bring up a carbine. Ferrara immediately shouted a warning to SP/4 Ross. Ross became involved in a struggle for a small .25 caliber Browning hand gun the passenger pulled on him. During the struggle the GI pulled the trigger but the chamber was empty and Ross was able to take cover in the roadside ditch. PFC Ferrara took cover at the corner of a nearby building. Their Vietnamese counterparts took cover behind the patrol jeep.

        The wanted GI’s opened fire on the combined patrol. The MP’s returned fire, PFC Ferrara with his M16 on full automatic and SP/4 Ross with his .45. The GI who pulled the hand gun on Ross was struck numerous times and fell dead in the roadside ditch. The remaining suspects in the cab yelled they wanted to surrender. Two of the three soldiers in the cab were wounded in the exchange of gunfire, the cab driver was unharmed. The Quan Canh, Hoa, was wounded and a young Vietnamese girl who was a bystander was also wounded. After securing the suspects, weapons and scene, the MP’s called on their jeep radio for medical assistance and back up but found their jeep radio antenna was damaged so it took some time for assistance to finally arrive.

The two wounded suspects, the Quan Canh and Vietnamese girl, recovered from their wounds. SP/4 Ross and PFC Ferrara were later awarded a plaque from the Vietnamese government acknowledging their valor in the apprehension of the suspects.         Both were also nominated for and later received the Soldiers Medal for heroism.         SP/4 Ross received his in a presentation at Long Binh Post and was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant.         PFC Ferrara was a shortimer at the time and received his award after his discharge from the Army.

G2286 SP/4 George H. Ross (left), PFC Daniel M. Ferrara (right), Quan Canh Hoa of the Vietnamese Military Police who was wounded during the 20 September 1968 shootout at Thu Duc. Click to enlarge