213th RAT RACE

Subj.: incoming

Mike,

When I got to Phu Loi and was put in the 213, I was put in the last hooch on the West End across from the mess hall. There were holes in the wails about waist high where shrapnel had want through the wells. I was told that I had gotten a guy named Rodgere' bunk.

I was told that he was killed in the company area by friendly artillery. There was a new artillery company that had just came in to the country. They were put in Zeon to train before being put out in the field, They were a 155 outfit. There was some enemy action just outside of the Phu Loi wire and they ware called to fire a marking round, the round landed where it was supposed to and the command to tire was given.

One of the guns was off and it's round landed in the 213 area (a tent that was used for a reck room) wounding several of the members of the outfit. Before the 155 outfit could be stopped, many rounds had came into the company area. This was somewhere south of the mess hall. Rodgere was one of the first men to run to the area where the wounded ware. He was hit in the head and killed on the spot.

I was not there when this happened and cannot vouch for any of this as it was told to me. It would have taken place prior to Sep. 68. I was also told that the first sergeant lost both legs in the ordeal. You may have bean there when this happened. If not maybe someone else would know the details. I was told that Rodgere was a flight platoon member. It may be Roggere.

George French
BLACK CAT
1968-69