On one patrol (probably with Lt Carter because we always seemed to end up on patrol together!) we were doing our 'recon' thing.  Things had been pretty quiet when, suddenly, we came under small arms fire.  Things were getting intense and we couldn't withdraw from the firefight -- so we radioed for help.  We provided base camp our coordinates... as best we could determine. 

Sgt Wardlow, the team's Weapons Specialist, said that we were out of range of the camp's 'four deuce' -- the 4.2 mortar.  Since we had plenty of incentive, we were rather insistent that we could use some help!   We were told by base camp to maintain position; they were working on something.  After about fifteen or twenty minutes Sgt Wardlow radioed that he was in position and about to fire the 4.2 -- we were to provide fire control info.  We heard a faint dull "thump!" and heard the round explode -- behind us!  We radioed that this was NOT going to do; the round was short.   Wardlow replied that he was at max charge -- 45 sheets.   Ed:  For some information about the 4.2 mortar, see the 'Clearing a mortar' page.  Use your "Back" button to return here.   Another pause followed.   The radio crackled to life.  It was Wardlow asking us to let him know how THIS round is.  [Slightly louder "thump!" followed by that intermittent sucking sound]  The round landed a hundred yards ahead of us.   Yeah!!  "Fire for effect!!" was our next transmission.   SFC Wardlow, Weapons Specialist for A-103   >>>> Approximately late 1966/early 1967