Contact at Nui Ba Mountains — Death of PFC Makowski
Summary
On October 21, 1971, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry made contact with enemy forces in the Nui Ba Mountains, Binh Tuy Province. PFC William Makowski was killed in action. His squad leader Doug Hilts and RTO Jean "Dizzy" Blais were wounded. A dog handler named Escue was also wounded. The following day the unit conducted a follow-through sweep of an enemy bunker complex in the same area, then returned to Firebase Jefferies where a ceremony was held for PFC Makowski. Howard McGrew's calendar records contact on both October 21 and October 22, and "Back to Jeffries" on October 23, providing independent date corroboration.
Sequence of Events
Bill's squad — under Squad Leader Doug Hilts, also serving as Point Man, with RTO Jean "Dizzy" Blais — conducted the final security patrol around Range Platoon's Night Defense Perimeter at approximately 6 p.m. Fresh cuttings had been found in the jungle that day, a sign that an enemy force was operating nearby. The squad moved cautiously.
The enemy opened fire with AK-47s and an RPG; a claymore mine was also detonated. After the ambush opened, Bill stayed up and returned fire with his M-60 Machine Gun. He was hit in the neck by shrapnel, severing his jugular vein. Hilts (shrapnel through his helmet, causing a concussion) and Blais (shrapnel in his face) dragged Bill behind two fallen trees and carried him approximately 70 yards back to the perimeter, where the platoon medic treated him. The bleeding could not be stopped. Bill died among his platoon mates.
The medevac helicopter at Firebase Jefferies refused to fly due to the ongoing firefight. Battalion commander Col. Tom Blagg flew his own helicopter to extract Bill's body. A ceremony was held at Firebase Jefferies the following day — Bill's helmet atop an M-16 rifle with fixed bayonet, his muddy jungle boots in front, final Roll Call, and Taps — before the unit conducted the follow-through sweep of the bunker complex on October 22.
Context and Notes
Cause of death: Shrapnel (claymore/RPG detonation), severing the jugular vein. DoD DCAS lists cause as "small arms fire" — a general hostile-action category that encompasses all weapon types in the engagement.
FSB naming: A fire support base was named FSB Makowski in his honor. Confirmed by Kutter's 2021 commemoration speech: "We named a Firebase for Bill, Firebase Makowski, for that reason in his honor."
Firebase Jefferies: The battalion base at the time of this operation was Firebase Jefferies, likely named after WO1 Gabriel Jefferies (KIA April 24, 1971 in the FSB Fontaine crash).
Dog handler casualty: Escue's first name has not been confirmed. His presence indicates a scout dog team was integrated into Range Platoon's operation.
PFC William Makowski was killed in contact on October 21, 1971 in the Nui Ba Mountains. If you were with Range Platoon at that time, or knew Makowski, we want to hear from you.
Share what you know →A dog handler named Escue was wounded in this engagement. We do not have his first name or further information. If you can identify him, please contact us.
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