Into Philippines Fight
U.S. military advisers rushed into a firefight in the southern Philippines yesterday in an attempt to rescue a wounded Philippine soldier.
The Green Berets sped into the combat zone in a pickup truck after rebels ambushed an army patrol with grenades and small arms fire.
The clash, involving about 30 Philippine troops and guerrillas from the Abu Sayyaf rebel group, erupted as the Green Berets attended a town meeting about 2 miles away on the southern island of Basilan to discuss civilians' safety concerns.
Upon hearing that Lt. Lemuel Beduya, the platoon commander, had a serious head wound and was pinned down by enemy fire, along with another wounded soldier, the Green Berets piled into the truck and sped to the fighting. They were joined by government soldiers in another truck and an armored personnel carrier.
The initial rescue effort was blocked by heavy fire, but the two wounded Filipinos later were brought to safety by other Filipino soldiers.
"I thought my time had ... come," Beduya said later as his head wound was treated.
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