Map depicting the Operation Tailwind insertion point near Chavane, Laos, Sept. 11,
1970
Map depicting the Operation Tailwind insertion point near Chavane, Laos, Sept. 11,
1970
Sgt. Rose was serving as a Special Forces medic with a company-sized exploitation force consisting
of Americans, Vietnamese and indigenous paramilitary Montagnard personnel that was inserted 70
kilometers inside enemy-controlled territory on Sept. 11, 1970.
Once on the ground, they moved deep into enemy territory. The company soon made contact with an enemy
squad, wounding two Americans and two Montagnards. One of the wounded was trapped outside the
company defensive perimeter. Rose, engaging the enemy, rushed to get the wounded Soldier. Rose
rendered expert medical treatment and stabilized the wounded Soldier, and carried the man through
the heavy gunfire back to the company defensive area.
When the enemy withdrew, the company continued deeper into enemy territory. The company engaged more
enemy forces, and took more casualties. Bravely and courageously, with no regard to his own safety,
Rose moved through the enemy fire to render lifesaving medical treatment to the mounting numbers
of wounded, personally engaging the enemy in order to get to the wounded men.
The fire becoming so intense, Rose had to crawl from position to position to treat the wounded. As
he moved, Rose gave words of encouragement and directed the fires of the inexperienced and terrified
Vietnamese and Montagnard troops. Over the next few days, the unit marched west and deeper into
the Laos jungle, defending against continuous attacks from squad to company-sized enemy elements.
Air Force gunships overhead provided close-air support to keep the enemy at bay.
Wounded in Action
Rose received the most severe of many wounds on the second day of the mission. Rose’s wounds
did not slow his eagerness or determination to save the wounded Soldiers.
During an assault by a company-sized element of North Vietnamese Army, one of the Montagnards
was wounded 40 to 50 meters outside the company area. Rose ran, crawled, and maneuvered
his way to this wounded man, shielding the Soldier with his own body, as he rendered
lifesaving medical treatment. Rose then dragged the wounded Soldier back to the company
with one hand while holding back and engaging the enemy with his weapon in the other
hand.
“I got a hole blown through my foot about the size of my thumb.”
Retired Capt. Gary M. Rose
Rose was returning to the company area with the wounded Soldier when a rocket propelled grenade
landed nearby, spraying Rose with shrapnel in his back, leg, and severely crippling his
foot. Using a stick as a crutch, as he would for the remainder of the mission, Rose continued
professionally treating the wounded while ignoring his own painful wounds.
Need for Medevac
The company had taken so many wounded that a medevac helicopter was called. The helicopter was
unable to land in the small opening where the company sought cover, and Rose, standing and
fully exposed to the withering enemy fire, attempted to pass the wounded up to the crew on
the hovering helicopter. So intense was the enemy fire, the medevac pilot aborted the mission,
and the severely damaged helicopter crashed a few miles away.
Using close air support, the company was able to break out of their defensive position. Rose
improvised litters for the wounded, which now numbered over half the company. Despite his
own painful and debilitating wounds, Rose never took time to eat, rest, or care for his own
wounds while treating his fellow Soldiers.
On the last night of the mission, the company was surrounded in their position. Rose worked tirelessly
to dig trenches for the wounded and treat their injuries. The NVA bombarded the company all
night with rockets, grenades and mortars. All night, Rose exposed himself to the enemy fire,
courageously moving from position to position, encouraging the Soldiers and treating the
numerous wounded.
On the last day of the mission, after destroying an enemy base camp, the company was notified
by the forward air controller that over 500 NVA were moving on their position. The company
was ordered to a helicopter extraction point as Air Force assets cleared their path, guiding
the company to the next landing zone. Setting a perimeter around the LZ while each platoon
was loaded up, the enemy assaulted them from 360 degrees.
"Your job [as a combat medic] is to maintain the person’s life, to keep them out of shock
... You’ve got to talk to the person. You’ve got to convince them that they’re going
to be fine ... even in the chaos of battle."
Retired Capt. Gary M. Rose
Time to Evacuate
The NVA, close on the heels of the company at the landing zone, caused even more casualties among
the allied personnel. Rose moved under intense enemy fire of the assaulting NVA, completely
exposing himself, to retrieve the allied dead and wounded and return them to the company
defensive perimeter. In great pain, Rose continued to retrieve and medically treat Soldier
after Soldier, under the withering enemy fire with no regard to his own safety.
With the arrival of the extraction helicopters, Rose returned to the outer defensive perimeter
to engage the enemy and repel the continued and determined enemy assault.
Rose boarded the final extraction helicopter while delivering accurate aimed fire on the enemy
as he hobbled up to the loading ramp. Numerous NVA soldiers were now overrunning the vacated
landing zone, an estimated 50 meters from the aircraft
Shortly after the helicopter lifted off, it was hit by enemy anti-aircraft rounds. At about 4,500
feet in the air, Rose heard the engine stop. Rose was alerted that a Marine door gunner on
the extraction helicopter had been shot with an enemy round through his neck. Rose rushed
to his aid, rendering lifesaving medical treatment that saved the Marine’s life before the
helicopter crashed, several kilometers away from the initial extraction point.
Rose was thrown from the helicopter before the point of impact.
With the Soldiers on board wounded from the crash, the helicopter was smoking and leaking fuel.
Still dazed and wounded from the crash, Rose crawled back into the downed helicopter to pull
his wounded and unconscious teammates from the wreckage, knowing it could explode at any
moment. Rose continued to professionally administer medical treatment to the injured personnel
until another helicopter arrived on the scene to extract the men.
On return to base, Rose, covered in blood and wounds, refused all treatment until the other wounded
men were attended to first.
Despite the many wounded, only three men died during the four days of almost constant contact
with a superior enemy force deep in enemy territory. Rose is credited with treating 60-70
wounded personnel and saving many lives. Rose’s unwavering devotion to duty, professionalism
and skill in his job as a medic, and extreme courage under heavy enemy fire, reflect great
credit on himself, the Special Forces, and the United States Army.
"I remember sitting on the tailgate and all of a sudden the helicopter went quiet ... We're
going to crash"
Retired Capt. Gary M. Rose
U.S. Army Sgt. Gary M. Rose is helped from a helicopter landing area after Operation
Tailwind, 1970. Photo courtesy of Ted Wicorek.
Capt. Eugene C. McCarley (center), commander of B-company, and other members
of Sgt. Gary M. Rose’s unit after Operation Tailwind, Sept. 14, 1970. Photo
courtesy of Gary M. Rose.
Moving the wounded and unconscious men a safe distance away from the smoldering wreckage, Rose
continued to professionally administer medical treatment to the injured personnel.
Another helicopter arrived on scene to extract the personnel. On return to base, Rose, covered
in blood and wounds, refused all treatment until the other wounded men were attended to first.
Despite the many wounded, only three men died during the four days of almost constant contact
with a superior enemy force deep in enemy territory. Rose’s unwavering devotion to duty,
professionalism and skill in his job as a medic, and extreme courage under heavy enemy fire,
reflect great credit on himself, the Special Forces, and the United States Army.
