Page 62 of Cry Havoc

“Well, I guess it worked,” Tom said.

“It did. After doing this job a moon or two, I’ve found that it’s advantageous to just concentrate on the physical things you must do rather than worry about what can get you killed.” The colonel paused. “Now, let’s sit down and you can tell me what happened out there today.”

The three men took seats in the small waiting room.

“We were targeted, sir,” Quinn began. “No doubt about it. Diverted into a channelized area. Front and rear blocked with a bus and a cement mixer. At least two recoilless rifles. SKSs and AKs. We were hit from the front and the rear but managed to break contact. That was when Captain Lam executed our prisoner and one of his own ARVN guards. Amiuh was hit driving the gun truck and getting us out of there. Saved our lives.”

“And Eldridge?”

“He’s fine, sir. A little shaken up. He already left for the embassy.”

“I’ll touch base with the ambassador. Eldridge is a foreign service officer who serves as the liaison between us, the Special Technical Directorate, and State. I think that was his first taste of combat.”

“Permission to speak freely, sir?” Tom asked.

Singlaub nodded.

“Someone set us up. There’s a mole somewhere in this outfit.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“We are losing too many people, too many teams being ambushed across the fence, specifically in Laos, but in Cambodia too, and now this. I’m going to work with the Agency on tracking down all of Captain Lam’s known associates. Just because he’s dead doesn’t mean the leak is plugged. The same network could have another, even several, assets at various headquarters in Saigon. In fact, there are probably multiple disassociated networks reporting to multiple countries—North Vietnam, China, the Soviets. What I can tell you is this, men, you will get all my efforts to track these networks down. Then we arrest them, turn them, or execute them.”

“Sir, this is a little outside my wheelhouse, but I’d like a list of everyoneat the embassy, at South Vietnamese HQ, and even MACV and MACV-SOG who knew we were coming in today.”

Singlaub leaned back in his chair.

“Petty Officer Reece, I appreciate the resolve, but you will be on a helo to Kontum soon and then be back at Phu Bai to continue missions.”

“I’d still like the list, sir.”

Singlaub nodded slowly, thoughtfully considering his options.

“I’ll be working with the Agency on this, and when we have a report or something more concrete, I’ll make sure you see it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“In the meantime, if you need anything, you reach out to my office. Stay at House Ten,” he said, referring to the MACV-SOG safe house in Saigon. “My XO will be in contact about travel to Amiuh’s village. We’ll make arrangements and get it worked out for you.”

“Good copy, sir.”

“And, in case you get into trouble.” Singlaub produced two cards just slightly larger than business cards and handed them to the two SOG operators. Their photos were in the upper-right-hand corners. The card read:

Republic of Vietnam

Saigon

The bearer whose photo appears on this card is assigned to a special mission force of this command. All military and civilian agencies are requested to assist in the accomplishment of assigned mission. The bearer is authorized to wear military or civilian clothing, carry a concealed weapon, perform duties after curfew, and enter out of bounds areas.

It was signed by Colonel John K. “Jack” Singlaub.

The opposite side was the same copy in Vietnamese.

“You never know,” Tom said.

“We work hand in hand with the Agency here. CIA wants a debrief on Captain Lam. Nick Serrano is taking lead. We worked together in Korea. He’s a pro. You can hit House Ten first or I can drop you at the Agency annex. It’s not far from SOG HQ.”