 Dau Tieng Convoy Ambush |
The road to Dau Tieng was very narrow, poorly maintained and in parts the jungle encroached on it making it an ideal location to ambush the small resupply convoys.
The area came under the operational control of the 25th Infantry Division based at Tay Ninh and Cu Chi.
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 Route Map
 25th |
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The C Company, 720th MP Battalion escorts participating in the convoy were, SP/4's Jack Parsons, Arthur T. Sheedy, Alan Zampieri, Roy G. Hayner, and (others yet identified).
The truckers from the transportation units were members of the, 379th Transportation Company, 7th Transportation Battalion (Truck), 48th Transportation Group, and B Company, 25th Supply Transportation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division.
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A serial of trucks and the two MP gun jeeps from C Company, part of the Tay Ninh Convoy, left the Cu Chi Base Camp on Highway QL-1 at Trang Bang, and proceeded northeast from Highway-1 onto Highway LTL-19 towards the Dau Tieng Base Camp (Tay Ninh Provence).
In the vicinity of the Ben Cui (Michelin) Rubber Plantation, Grid Coordinates XT4345, the convoy was ambushed by a Viet Cong Main Force group estimated to be battalion sized.
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The enemy force occupied positions from fifteen to a hundred and fifty meters from the road, covering a twelve hundred meter killing zone. They immediately targeted the convoy with Rocket Propelled Grenades and automatic weapons fire disabling two trucks and the convoy commanders jeep.
All the MP's and truckers dismounted their vehicles, took up defensive positions near the disabled vehicles, and began returning fire on the enemy positions.
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During the ensuing fire fight several truckers were seriously wounded, the convoy commander, 1LT James R. Hammersla and four others were killed in action. US helicopter gunships from the 25th Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division Artillery and Infantry, responded breaking the back of the enemy ambush.
The convoy also had a 40mm Tracked Duster escort named "King Cobra."
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Approximately 2,285 rounds of artillery fire was used against the enemy positions during the battle.
Fifty-two enemy bodies were left on the field when the fire fight finally ended hours later.
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Due to the quick thinking and actions of 1LT Hammersla who disregarded his wounds and constantly exposed himself to enemy fire wile directing his troops and radioing in the enemy positions from his disabled jeep, the bulk of the convoy was able to avoid the kill zone.
1LT Hammersla would later be posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism.
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 1LT Hammersla |
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720th
18th Bde. 
