Tribute: One man’s heroics, selflessness, sacrifice brought to light by fellow Marines
After his death, Jim Latta, Jim Dougherty’s friend and a fellow Marine, was inspired to tell the story of the humble man who was nothing short of a hero. After discussing Dougherty’s combat heroics with the sergeant’s Bravo Company veterans, Latta and those men who served with Dougherty penned a fitting tribute – and brought to light Dougherty’s courage, selflessness and sacrifice.
These are their words:
“Jim’s platoon had been at top strength (unusual in Vietnam) with 49 men at the beginning of Operation Swift; and at its conclusion had but 16 remaining, many of whom (like Jim) were walking wounded. All but one officer of Bravo Company and most senior NCOs were casualties. Seven Navy Crosses and three Medals of Honor were awarded to Operation Swift 5th Regiment veterans, most posthumously. Young Marine Sergeant Rodney Davis threw himself on an enemy hand
grenade to save the lives of other Marines. Corpsman, Jerry Stroud, resisting the urge to retreat, and although shot in the hand, killed enemy soldiers at point blank range with his 45 caliber pistol to protect the wounded. A Navy Chaplain (Father Vincent Cappodanno) sacrificed his life to save injured Marines. Marine casualties were staggering, but when it ended the NVA 2nd division was shattered and retreated from the Que Son Valley and into their mountain sanctuaries in Laos to regroup and reequip.”
“The war went on, albeit at a slower pace for the Marines who survived Operation Swift. The patrols, firefights, ambushes and booby traps continued to be a daily and deadly part of Jim’s routine. As Platoon Sergeant, Jim was responsible for the welfare and discipline of his platoon as it rebuilt with replacements from the states and wounded Marines returning from in-country hospitals. His men deeply respected and admired this combat vet on his 2nd tour. During this time, and unbeknownst to US intelligence, the North Vietnamese were surreptitiously f looding their mountain strongholds with weapons and men for a planned surprise “final offensive” to coincide with the Tet holiday beginning January 30th 1968.”
In early December of 1967 Bravo Company received orders to advance to a mountainous area north of Da Nang and south of Hue City near the village of Phu Loc. The US command was shifting more forces north to support two Marine regiments that were surrounded by NVA forces at Khe Sanh and to cope with the increased infiltration of NVA through Laos and across the DMZ.
A few miles north of Phu Loc was a multiple span
bridge, which was the only access across Troui River. South of the bridge was an old railroad station where Marine units would bivouac before and after their patrols in the Troui Valley. The Troui Bridge proved to be a highly strategic position, and because of that was always guarded by a Marine rif le company. Smaller bridges between Phu Loc and Phu Bai (the big Marine base north of Troui) were guarded by squads of Marines but none had the significance of the Troui Bridge.
“December throug h March is Monsoon season and daily torrential rains and continuous drizzle turn everything into a grey, cold, muddy, miserable mess. Nevertheless, the Marines continued to aggressively run company sized operations into the surrounding mist covered mountains. The physical and mental deprivations endured by Jim and his men as they frequently spent weeks at a time in the “bush” (Marine lingo for jungle) are beyond comprehension for all but those who have endured it. Returning to the Phu Loc firebase at the end of a patrol (and to the luxuries of a
tent, hot chow, an outhouse and perhaps even a shower) was not the relief one would imagine, for daily NVA mortar and rocket attacks tormented Phu Loc Marines. In one such attack a mortar shell landed among Marines eating chow and killed ½ dozen men. It was soon to get worse, much worse.”
At the beginning of the Tet holiday, on January 30, the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong launched a massive nationwide offensive as many South Vietnamese military were on leave during this “declared” truce for the holiday. The nearby CAP (Combined Action Program) units at Troui and Phu Loc Village came under attack, as did the district headquarters.
“Sergeant Dougherty and a squad from 1st platoon fought their way into the CAP compound. Three of his men were killed and several wounded as Jim and his squad helped the CAP defenders fight off the attackers. Jim called in artillery on enemy formations killing a score or more, and his men killed another seven enemy with rifle fire as they attempted to outflank their position. But they were in a hopeless situation with
½ of the CAP squad KIA, so Jim made the difficult decision to abandon the CAP compound. They escaped through the wire at the back of the compound, and with the aid of a fleeing South Vietnamese policeman, evaded the NVA. One wounded Marine was hidden (at great risk) by a South Vietnamese family and survived the battle in the village and subsequent retaking by the Marines.”
Dougherty led his men to the East side of Phu Loc village and Highway 1, which were under NVA control, with the goal of advancing to the nearby sea and increasing chances for survival. They made their way through darkness, avoiding enemy forces, until they reached their objective and commandeered a small fishing boat. The men padded and sailed to Cau HaiLagoon, which emptied into the South China Sea.
“On February 2nd a navy patrol vessel observed a small Vietnamese fishing boat adrift and men frantically waving from the deck. Jim and his men were rescued and after two days of hot navy chow and clean sheets they were put ashore and airlifted back to Phu
Loc firebase with other supplies and casualty replacements.”
Four days later, as the VC and NVA made aggressive steps to destroy the vital Troui Bridge, which would cut off all ground resupply between Da Nang and the entire northern half of I Corps., the decision was made to attack the NVA force before the bridge could be taken.
“February 7th, Alpha and Bravo companies from 1/5 would attack from Highway 1 and advance west from Troui on the south side of the river while units from 2/5 (2nd battalion) attacked along the north shore of the river. This plan appeared flawed from the beginning as it meant advancing against prepared positions and at one point across open ground against a fortified village. A new company commander of Bravo Company compounded these anxieties. For some unexplainable reason no preparatory air or artillery strikes were ordered. The Marines advanced at the designated times, many convinced that death was imminent. Some Marines strung one dog tag on their boot lace and another around their neck to make body parts more identifiable. The night before, Jim had written a letter to his future brother-inlaw, Pete Tyler, telling Pete he felt a foreboding of death and saying his goodbyes to his family. Accentuating the potent of doom, Jim’s brand new platoon leader was killed prior to the attack and Jim assumed command of the platoon.”
Losses for Bravo Company were substantial, and impossible to forget, said Hugh Pankey. He tries to forget the horror of those days, and the body bags he helped fill. Those terror-filled days are what led him to a life of service to inmates in the Texas Correctional System.
According to Pankey: “Sergeant Dougherty was everywhere during the battle as he led his platoon in a desperate fight.”
From the Silver Star citation for Sergeant Dougherty for that day’s action: “Realizing the seriousness of the situation. Sergeant Dougherty unhesitantly moved forward to an advantageous position and began directing his men’s fire upon the hostile forces. Unable to pinpoint the exact location of the enemy weapons, he fearlessly maneuvered to a dangerously exposed area and attracted the hostile soldier’s attention and fire which enabled his men to deliver accurate suppressive fire upon enemy positions. Disregarding his own safety, he began deploying a 3.5 inch rocket team and was wounded by fragments from an exploding enemy rocket round. Ignoring his own painful injuries, he boldly led a determined assault upon the hostile emplacements and overran the enemy position. Immediately establishing a defensive perimeter, he continued to move about the hazardous area, directing his men’s fire and supervising the evacuation of casualties.”
Sergeant Dougherty was severely wounded by enemy RPG, and he nearly lost his leg. He received life-saving first aid and was evacuated. He was sent home, and awarded he fourth Purple Heart.
Reflection: As we, surviving Bravo Company Marines, compose this tribute to Jim Dougherty it occurs to us to question where our country will find its future Jim Doughertys. Where will those willing to defend family, community and country come from?
What is happening to the values and culture that created men like Jim Dougherty, a young man who faced and overcame his own fears and inspired his teenage troops to do likewise? For Jim Dougherty was the real deal, a true hero, a leader and a gentleman.