"Operation OVERTAKE NIGHT Escort Ambushed"
15 January 1970

        I was the radio net control operator for Overtake. I was supposed to be the IC (In Charge) of jeep #3 but the assigned radio operator was ill, so they put me on the radios. There were three radios in the radio room, one for the two Overtake convoys, one for the Philco Ford motor pool, and one for Ben Hoa artillery (Ben Hoa Arty).

Sergeant Harris called in that they were hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) round. I believe it hit underneath the V100 and knocked out the electrical systems. I don't recall much damage to the vehicle.

SP/4 Jack (John) McKellog was the IC of Jeep #3 in that convoy. I am sure he had a bird's eye view of the ambush. I don't recall who else was assigned to that convoy escort. It was a time when we had a lot of replacements. Our radio room was located in the Provost Marshal Office at Long Binh Post.

I do recall that an MP officer from the 615th tried to call in a fire mission into Ben Hoa Arty that would have landed on our convoy. I am pretty sure it was at the Thu Duc intersection. I don't recall the name of our Duty Sergeant that night but he and I called the mission off because the rounds would have landed on or near our guys. There was only one RPG fired and no small arms fire.

SP/4 George Lahargoue, A Company, 720th MP Battalion, December 1968 to January 1970.