File:Nvasapperweapons.jpg

Summary[edit]

NVA sapper weapons captured during the fight for Firebase Mary-Ann, 1971. US Army Photo

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I served with Delta Company 1/46th and worked out of Fire Support Base Mary Ann from September 1970 to April 1971. This picture is mislabeled. It WAS taken on FSB Mary Ann, but it's from early February and NOT March 28, 1971 when the sapper attack occurred. In February, Charlie Company 1/46 seized a huge arms cache (about 200 weapons, as I recall) in the bush and those weapons were brought to Mary Ann, before being taken to the rear. Delta Company was up on "the hill" providing perimeter security at the time. The Colonel and other big shots came out from the rear and are shown here taking pictures of the weapons. Some have speculated that the attack on Mary Ann was retaliation for this arms seizure.

Here's the 'reality check.' The estimate was that 50 sappers came through the barbed wire perimeter for the attack on Mary Ann. There were 12 enemy dead left on Mary Ann. Does anyone think that 50 people coming in and 38 leaving the firebase could leave THAT many weapons behind? Combat soldiers do not readily abandon their weapons.