we re on the outskirts of the village with elements of the first battalion ninth marine. it first appeared the marines were sniped at and a few houses were made to pay. shortly after, an officer told me he had orders to go in and level of streng of hamlets that voun the village. i wasn t looking for that story. but what i saw was absolutely shocking. the day s operation burned down 150 houses, wounded three women, killed one baby and netted these four prisoners who could not answer questions put to them in english. to a vietnamese peasant, it will