In Memory of Jack Lanzer October 6, 1948 - August 22, 2012
Hidden Enemy
July 2, 1969
by Jack Lanzer, Dusty Rhoades, and Glyn Haynie
July 2, 1969
by Jack Lanzer, Dusty Rhoades, and Glyn Haynie
FSB Debbie view of Rice Bowl
It wasn't long after the helicopters dropped the first platoon into the fight that things went sideways. Dusty Rhoades and Jack Lanzer, following close behind Haynie, broke through the hedgerow at a different point and suddenly stopped dead.
Dusty spun around to face the dense foliage, and Haynie heard him yell—urgent, sharp—but couldn't make out the words over the chaos. As Haynie moved toward him, Dusty swung his M-60 up and squeezed off a single round.
Then: "Gun's jammed!" His voice cut through the noise. "Enemy soldier—in the hedgerow!"
Lanzer didn't hesitate. He yanked a grenade from his rucksack strap and pulled the pin in one fluid motion. Backpedaling like a quarterback dropping into the pocket, he let the spoon fly and hurled the grenade into the wall of green.
Both men hit the dirt.
Seeing Lanzer throw, Haynie dropped flat and covered his head with his arms. The blast came a heartbeat later—a concussive wave that shook the earth beneath them and rattled teeth.
Dusty was up first. He moved to the hedgerow and confirmed the kill—the enemy soldier who'd been hiding there was gone.
They pushed forward, back into the fight.
Dusty spun around to face the dense foliage, and Haynie heard him yell—urgent, sharp—but couldn't make out the words over the chaos. As Haynie moved toward him, Dusty swung his M-60 up and squeezed off a single round.
Then: "Gun's jammed!" His voice cut through the noise. "Enemy soldier—in the hedgerow!"
Lanzer didn't hesitate. He yanked a grenade from his rucksack strap and pulled the pin in one fluid motion. Backpedaling like a quarterback dropping into the pocket, he let the spoon fly and hurled the grenade into the wall of green.
Both men hit the dirt.
Seeing Lanzer throw, Haynie dropped flat and covered his head with his arms. The blast came a heartbeat later—a concussive wave that shook the earth beneath them and rattled teeth.
Dusty was up first. He moved to the hedgerow and confirmed the kill—the enemy soldier who'd been hiding there was gone.
They pushed forward, back into the fight.