. >> joe ballardo was part of "operation pegasus" for khe sahn. he drove a duster, the m-42-a like that commanded by bruce geiger at the base. they have to reopen route 9 to get there. he had been in fierce ambushes along the way. >> you see all these marines who were trying to get through blown off the same type of truck in front of you laying on the road and every time they get up to run, they step on an anti-personnel mine and send them flying in the aiis and their arms and legs would be gone. and it would build and build and then -- excuse me. you get emotional when you think about it. >> "operation pegasus" was a massive how of forre. >> they came with more equipment than the whole 3rd marine -pdivision had. it was amazing the amount of military supplies, personnel and helicopters they had. >> they massed well to the east of khe sahn. meanwhile, conditions around the base remain stark. >> i took that shower on the last week of november '67 and the next time i ever saw bar of soap or washed any part of my body was the end of april in '68. >> w