26
May 67
Left
West Des Moines,
Iowa this morning and
arrived here in San
Francisco this
afternoon. While on lay
over in Omaha , I called
Mike Niemant’s
Mother and inquired
about Mike....still in
San Diego for boot camp.
Out of Omaha , I
caught a jet non-stop
for S.F. I checked into
a hotel and later that
evening met Edmond
Wright, who is from
Birmingham, Ala.
27
May 67
Today,
Ed and I toured San
Francisco. We visited
the zoo, the beach, rode
cable cars, trolley
cars, and took a cruise
around the bay. This
afternoon, I met
Craig Lowery in San
Francisco. He was with
me at Ft. Bragg,
and had just gotten back
from Viet Nam. He
was wounded over there,
so he must return to
Letterman Hospital for
re-evaluation of his
wounds. The three of us
went out for dinner this
evening and later went
out for a few beers
together.
We
met a guy named Pops,
who claimed to be a
blues singer with the Louis
Armstrong band. The
man could really
sing....no doubt about
that. I guess Craig will
stay with us tonight, so
we had better get to
sleep, since all of us
have to get up early
tomorrow morning.
28
May 67
Called
home this morning and
then caught a bus for
Oakland Army Base. Began
my processing and stayed
here for four nights.
1
June 67
Left
Oakland this morning and
traveled by bus to Travis
AFB. This evening at
1900 hours we boarded a
Continental jet for our
long trip to Viet Nam.
Before our arrival at Bien
Hoa, we stopped at Honolulu
and Clark AFB in the
Philippines.
3
June 67
Arrived
at Bien Hoa AFB this
morning at 0530. This
completed our 22 hour
flight. After filling
out a few forms, we were
transferred to the 90th
Replacement Battalion
located near Long Bien.
Our bus was escorted by
an armed jeep. It sure
is hard to believe that
I am over here, but
there isn’t any doubt
from what I see around
here.....a few rice
paddies, a trashy little
town, the civilians
dressed in their native
clothing, and explosions
in the background. A few
months ago I was
watching this typical
scene on television.
Now, I am a part of it.
It
looks funny to see the
people squatting instead
of sitting down. The
only source of
transportation I have
seen are bicycles,
motorcycles, lumbrettas,
and military vehicles.
Their exchange is called
piasters. Today we had
to exchange our green
backs and coins for
military payment
certificates, commonly
called MPC’s.
The
90th replacement center
is built up quite well.
The barracks are made of
wood with each
individual slab of wood
attached at a 45 degree
angle. The upper section
on each side of the
barrack is screened. War
Zone D is to our East.
This afternoon, Wright
and I noticed some WP
and heard small arms
fire.
4
June 67
This
morning we were sent to
the 173d reception
center. More papers to
fill out before going to
our unit. A lot of
artillery fire can be
heard from the
perimeter.......harassment
rounds. I have been
assigned to HHC 1/503.
This afternoon I was
issued my clothing and
TA50 equipment.
5
- 10 June 67
Attended
jungle school this week.
Our night operation
consisted of a hump to
the edge of a rubber
plantation, where we set
up a perimeter.
13
June 67
For
the last few days, I
have been working around
the aid station. Sgt
Watson put me in for
SP/5. This afternoon I
flew up North to Pleiku
aboard a C-130 which was
also carrying two OH13
helicopters
.
The view from the
aircraft window was very
picturesque. It looked
as if most of the land
below was of jungle
region. The "mud
hole" East of
Pleiku is the 173d
temporary base camp
while up North. I met
the Dr., Lt. Inuza,
and also saw Joe and
Robert again. They left
Bragg last February.
14
June 67
Joe
and I went across the
road this morning to
pick up Lt. Inuza’s
laundry. The buildings
were just shacks made
out of beer cans,
lumber, tin, and a
little of everything
else. Down the road was a
Montagnard hamlet. I
guess it is accepted for
all the little kids to
smoke, because they all
were today.
A
couple of older women
were preparing
dinner....rice in a
dirty pot. With a purple
smile, they offered
me a bite----No Thanks!
15
June 67
This
afternoon caught a slick
out to Charlie
Company. I will be
the medic for weapon’s
platoon. I was welcomed
as a "FNG".
17
June 67
The
last few days around the
"golf course"
have been very
pleasant....if one can
say that about Viet Nam.
I got to know my group a
little better and now
feel more easy going
around them. I stayed in
a hooch occupied by Steve,
Ski, and Mac.
Ambushes have been going
out most every night,
but return with a
negative sit rep. There
are two Montagnard
hamlets on either side
of us and a rice paddy
at the bottom of the
hill.
Jim
Gage
and I have been hitting
it off together. Jim is
from St Louis. He has
one problem
though......and that
would be his girl friend
back home. I guess
because I’m the medic,
he seeks advise from me.
Not sure if I can really
be of any help to him.
Until
this morning, we have
been at this same
location. We are now
going farther North to
some place called Dak
To. We
trucked out by 2 1//2
ton trucks to the AFB in
Pleiku. Here we rejoined
the rest of the brigade.
As soon as we left the
"golf course",
Montagnard children
swarmed in like bees and
began digging up sumps
and other filled in
bunkers and holes.
We
flew to Dak To in
C-130s, unloaded, and
set up camp across the
road. After setting up a
hooch with Pauk, we
began digging our
bunker. A stream at the
bottom of the hill would
provide us our bathing
water. The hills in the
distance are of
unfamiliar beauty. This
beauty is the Central
Highlands of Viet
Nam.
18
June 67
Today,
Lieutenant Cecil
became our platoon
leader. At the creek
today, I got a
Montagnard bracelet from
a woman in trade for a
couple bars of soap.
19
June 67
Today,
I made my first
heliborne assault by
chinook to dead
man’s hill. An
ARVN camp with Special
Forces advisors was over
ran by NVA forces. We
are to assault, set up a
perimeter and defend the
line companies as they
advance up the hill to
police up the bodies for
removal.
An
hour before our
departure, artillery
pounded the area until
the advance party
arrived. Weapon platoon
boarded the chinook
which took us to the LZ.
With LBE, weapons, and
rucksacks, we unloaded
the chinook and secured
one side of the LZ near
the wood line. Many of
the trees along the wood
line bored shattered
scars where artillery
had struck.
As
the smoke from the woods
revealed itself, an air
strike was being
conducted from above.
Over and over again, the
planes came diving in
and dropped their deadly
load. The motivation of
myself and other troops
was for real. The gun
squad set up the mortar
while the rest of us
began digging in. All
the time, more equipment
was being brought in by
hooks. This included
everything from chain
saws and jeeps to
4.2
mm mortars and ammo.
Once we got our bunkers
dug and over head cover,
we began setting up our
hooches.
With
the line companies, who
passed by, were CIDG......Civilian
Irregular Defense Group.
Over the PRC 25
came reports of the
finding of Americans and
ARVN soldiers.
This evening the mortar
squads fired supporting
fire for the line
company. In the darkness
of the night we could
see the Willie Peter
explode.
20
June 67
The
bodies were removed by
choppers this morning.
Today has been quiet and
slow.
21
June 67
We
were extracted this
morning by chinook. and
returned to Dak To.
After our arrival, I
took a bath and set up
my hooch. In the
afternoon, we were
informed of a new
operation. One member of
a LRRP team had gotten
lost in the jungle and
the enemy was known to
be close by. Our
operation would be a
night heli-borne assault
on a deserted Montagnard
village. We are to find
this man and or make
contact with the enemy.
Once we packed our gear,
we headed for the
helipads.
It
was quite dark when I
boarded the slick. Four
of us were aboard...Sgt.
Weston, Ski, Logger,
and myself. After
takeoff, the ship headed
East and we could see
few lights below us of
villages. Before we
reached the LZ, our
chopper encountered
small arms fire from the
jungle.
The
door gunner in the huey
behind us opened up with
his M-60. A steady
stream of tracers headed
into the jungle below.
Our door gunner made an
unsuccessful attempt to
fire. His gun jammed
after a few rounds.
Flares lit up the LZ
below.
After
touch down, we unloaded
and the mortar men began
digging a pit for the
81mm. Near the pit was a
cave-like bunker with
some pottery inside. The
insects were bad that
night, so I sprayed the
grass on the side of
bunker before Pauk
and I set up a poncho.
22
June 67
This
morning we were hit by
60mm mortar and small
arms fire. Apparently,
the enemy was trying to
knock out our mortar.
After the first round
hit, they began to walk
the rounds into us. Our
machine gunner cut them
short when he began
pouring lead toward the
hill where they were.
While
the machine gunner
concentrated on the
enemy position, Schnepp
began counter mortar
fire and the rifle
platoons to our front
were engaged with the
enemy in the jungle just
below our logger sight.
One of the first enemy
mortar rounds hit near
our platoon Sgt., which
ignited a smoke grenade
on his pistol belt and
wounded him with
shrapnel. He was hit in
his back, both legs and
arms, and both hands.
After being wounded, he
made it most of the way
to a depression in the
ground and Dates
pulled him in. The M-16s
and enemy small arms
were loud and the fire
fight continued and I
became frightened. I
remember seeing the
company commander on his
feet and yelling for
more fire power from his
men. As scared as I was,
I crawled outside the
cave like bunker and
over to my aid kit,
which was attached to my
rucksack. I didn’t
feel like staying in one
spot too long, so I just
grabbed a couple of
dressings and bandages
out of the rucksack and
ran toward the yellow
smoke, which was still
coming from the wounded
man’s pistol belt.
In
the mean time, Dates
removed the smoke
grenade and belt from
the wounded Sgt. and
threw it out of the
hole. Once I got in the
hole, and saw what had
happened, I realized
that I didn’t have
nearly enough dressings
that it would take to
cover his wounds. I
noticed that his left
arm was badly wounded,
so I began applying the
battle dressings. After
I finished using all of
the supplies I had at
hand, I ran back to my
rucksack , grabbed it,
and returned to the
wounded Sgt.
The
hole where he lay was
small and it was hard to
work on him, seeing all
of his torn flesh and
getting the dressings
applied. I wondered if
we should move him
outside the depression,
but about the time I
mentioned this to Dates,
more small arms started
in again and this
answered my question.
Gunships
had arrived by now and
began firing their
rockets into the thick
jungle where the enemy
was thought to be.
Overhead, the Bird
dog circled , flying
back and forth over the
suspected enemy
position. Eventually, he
fired WP into the jungle
and then left the area.
Minutes later, his big
brothers showed up. They
savagely attacked the
land below with napalm,
rockets, 40mm, and other
arsenal. This show of
power enhanced our
spirits and the guys
would cheer and yell
every time the jets
struck the enemy
position. Actually, the
air strike was a thing
of beauty............a
well rehearsed show of
American fire power. I
can’t imagine what
something like that
would cost the American
tax payer.
Our
wounded were evacuated.
Sgt. Weston
suffered a crush
knee. Pyle,
another medic, got hit
in the cheek by
shrapnel, and a few
others received very
minor wounds and were
not dusted off. After
the battle, OPs
were sent down in the
jungle that afternoon.
They reported hearing
voices and before long
we could see movement,
so the hand grenades
flew, our rifle platoons
cut loose, and our
mortars dropped rounds.
Another air strike was
called in and the jets
again struck the area
that the bird dog marked
for them as the target.
After
the air strike, the
First platoon went down
into the jungle on a
clearing patrol. Since
the medic from the 1st
platoon was wounded
during the fire fight
this morning, I went
down into the jungle
valley with them. The
squads split up and
began a search of the
area, but Sit Rep
was negative. Just then,
a burst from a machine
gun hit a soldier a few
feet away from me. This
was not the result of
enemy activity. Our
machine gunner
accidentally shot the
man next to him through
the elbow. As Sgt
Watson applied
pressure to the brachial
artery, I applied the
dressing to the wound
and wrapped with an ace
bandage. A poncho was
used to carry the
casualty back to the
perimeter by another
squad. Later that day,
the rest of us returned
to our perimeter.
The
weapon platoon in the
mean time had reinforced
the bunker. This evening
I had a man come to me
with a grenade fragment
in his back. Although I
probed around for it, I
could not locate the
fragment, so I bandaged
the wound and he will be
evacuated tomorrow.
23
June 67
Needless
to say, I didn’t sleep
very well, for fear that
we would get hit again
during the night. We
will move out this
afternoon. This morning,
another guy was injured
when he dislocated his
knee. He knew exactly
what needed to be done,
since this has occurred
in the past. He wanted
me to give a firm jerk,
which I did, and his
knee was reset. He too
will be extracted today.
After
setting our bunker on
fire, we moved out. The
hills were very steep. I
couldn’t help but
think about all of the
protesters back home who
spoke out so strongly to
express their
disapproval against the
war. One wonders if it
is worth the effort we
are going through. It
isn’t much fun
climbing these steep
hills in the rain with a
rucksack, ammo, weapon,
hand grenades, steel
pot, mortar rounds, and
two aid kits. Yet, my
load is somewhat light
compared to those
soldiers who also carry
PRC 25s or mortar tubes
and base plates. All of
this equipment is
clinging to your side or
riding on your back.
Every
time we sat down on the
trail today, leeches
would get on us and
began sucking. Today, we
climbed up the side of a
water fall and later on
the trail we encountered
punji sticks. Every
place along the trail
the enemy had placed
these slender, double
pointed pieces of bamboo
sticking upright out of
the ground. They are
hard to see because they
look just like dried
bamboo leafs. Before the
day was over, two of our
men had sat down on
them. Fitch got
one in his hip and
another soldier suffered
a leg wound. We learned
to sweep the area with
our feet before sitting
down.
24
June 67
Heard
B52 air strikes last
night..................wicked.
25
June 67
Same
old story.........hump
all day putting up with
the rain, mud, leeches,
and every thing else
that this bamboo jungle
has to offer. Then we
dig in for the night and
set up our hooches. This
afternoon though, we
reached an LZ and were
extracted by chinook.
Out of that wood line we
ran and up into the back
end of the chinook. Near
the LZ were thatch roof
huts and banana trees.
We were taken to a fire
support base where we
will spend the night.
Today,
we found out that A
Company, 2nd Battalion
got hit hard on the 22nd
of June. Somehow, word
got around that we got
wiped out. Tomorrow we
will leave here and head
for the hill again.
26
June 67
We
left this morning and
began our hump.
Artillery pounded the
area to our front. Old
Charlie really had
his chance today to hit
us when we crossed that
rice paddy. Brothers
tried taking a short cut
over the dike and went
up to his waist in the
mud. I don’t know why,
but plans were changed
and we were extracted
and flew back to Dak To
in chinooks.
27
June 67
Left
Dak To this morning by
trucks and were let out
about five miles down
the road. From there we
followed the road, which
eventually led right
into a Montagnard
village. It was really a
very pretty village. A
bamboo fence surrounded
the village and each
bamboo was sharpened to
a point. Interwoven in
the fence were bamboo
strips that stuck out
like hundreds of punji
sticks. We passed
through the village and
went down a hill where
we met some women on the
trail carrying water in
cylinders made from
bamboo. The water ran
down from the hills
inside sections of split
bamboo, which formed a
water channel.
We
crossed over a stream
today on a bamboo
bridge...........very
crude, but it worked.
Set up in a deserted
Montagnard hamlet.
Leeches were thick. For
dinner, we picked
grapefruits off a tree
and ate them.
28
June 67
Woke
up this morning with
small flea like insects
just biting the hell out
of me. They were
miserable throughout the
night. This afternoon we
were extracted by hueys
and flew to Dead
Man’s Hill, which
is now a fire support
base. Saw two guys I
was with in basic
training, AIT, and jump
school....................Doring
and Lichter.
Departed the FSB this
afternoon and followed a
trail leading up the
hill. Along the trail
were a few CIDG
skeletons and a skull.
Farther up we found
the body of a Special
Forces advisor.
29
June 67
B-52
strikes could be heard
last night in the
distance along with the
artillery . This morning
we came upon a NVA
base camp, which
included several bunkers
with over head cover,
cooking huts, pots, a
canteen, and bamboo
baskets. The bunkers
were very well
constructed, probably
strong enough to
withstand bombs and
artillery.
This
afternoon, the trail
that we were following
led into another NVA
base camp. Once again,
the camp was deserted.
This base camp as well
as the other one we
found appears to be only
a few days old. The
bunkers have two
entrances, smooth walls,
and square corners.
Looking into one of the
bunkers, I noticed a
dark object which turned
out to be a gook
rucksack complete with a
ground cloth, shirt,
pants, writing paper,
I.D. card, pictures, and
an American envelope.
Leading out of the base
camp were steps that
were cut into the side
of the hill. Also,
outside of the enemy
base camp were some
huts, apparently used as
out posts. We reached
our logger sight and dug
in and cleared a LZ.
30
June 67
We
will stay here today and
leave tomorrow. Got paid
today and received hot
chow and ice cream.
4
July 67
Arrived
back at the fire support
base. Today is the 4th
of July. wonder what
kind of fire works we
will have tonight? At
least we had hot chow
and cold beer this
evening. Last night the
fire support base got
mortared.
6
July 67
Made
a heliborne assault on
an area that lies six
miles from the Cambodia
border. Another LZ
was cleared by the other
men while I sutured up Foster’s
finger. Tonight I gave
another soldier an
injection of Benadryl
for an allergic
reaction. Foster is
having a lot of pain
with that finger, so I
gave him some Darvon and
Zactrin to take. The
common saying here is, drive
on with darvon.
7
July 67
The
stream was opened up to
us, so we went swimming
this afternoon. Our
swimming suits consisted
of combat boots and pure
nakedness. It feels
great being clean again.
8
July 67
Moved
our hooches up on the
hill this morning and
went swimming again this
afternoon. Got a package
from Georgia, but many
items were missing. It
appeared that someone
else helped themselves
or the box got ripped
opened.
Foster
received a penicillin
shot for his finger to
safe guard against
infection in this
climate and another guy
apparently has
gonorrhea. He also got a
loading dose of
penicillin.
9
July 67
Intelligence
reports a NVA regiment
nearby, so we were
ordered to leave our
camp and head for the
hills to set up a
blocking position. 2nd
and 3rd Battalion will
push. While crossing the
same stream we had swam
in earlier, Gage and
Bracy fell off the
log. We are now set up
with bunkers completed
and hooches up.
12
July 67
While
attempting to re-supply
us with food, a huey
lost momentum and came
down in the elephant
grass, its rotor
striking a bush.
Security was quickly
posted around the
chopper and our 81 mike
mike set up. A few
minutes later, another
chopper was in the air
above our position
providing security.
Because of the down
chopper situation, we
ate chow and began to
set up our hooches. All
the time we spent
digging bunkers, the
rain poured down on us.
Later this evening, a
chinook towed the down
huey away.
An
LZ was cut for choppers
to bring in more
supplies and mail.
Received letters from my
wife and from Donald
and Linda. Gave
Banks 3 1/2 cc’s
of procaine penicillin
and 2 cc’s of
streptomycin. Some of
these guys will do
anything for a good
laugh. Mac chased
a cricket around the
B-52 bomb crater, and
after catching it, he
and a couple other guys
made a meal out of the
critter.
13
July 67
Moved
out at 0800 hours this
morning for two
clicks North. Passed
through another NVA
base camp today.
Intelligence still
reporting a regiment of
NVA some where in these
hills. We received
word that B Company made
contact with the Gooks.
My
tendon still gives me
trouble and today it has
been really painful. We
have been receiving much
rain for the last
week..........this is
the Monsoon season. Small
crabs can be seen on the
jungle floor around the
creeks. While the rest
of the men were busy
cutting another LZ, I
was kept busy treating bamboo
cuts and "jungle
rot". This wet
weather is causing sores
on many of the
soldier’s legs. And
now the boils on Bank’s
arm and hip are getting
worst. I removed a core
from one and applied
dressings to both of
them. He will need more
penicillin injections.
The
chopper refuses to land
on the LZ, so that means
we won’t get any hot
chow.
14
July 67
Dates
needs
more v-cillin and Sgt
Dunford, I believe,
has a case of gonorrhea.
We were suppose to move
out at 0800 hours, but
five gooks were sighted
by the lead platoon. A
clearing patrol reported
firing at one of the
enemy, but no sign of
him. We are now
stationed along the
trail and artillery is
dropping around our
present position.
We
have pulled back to our
bunkers. Calloway
just had an epilepsy
seizure. At first, we
thought he was bitten by
a snake. After he
recovered from it, he
began vomiting. The area
is too dense to get a
chopper in, so he is
just going to have to
make the best of it for
the time being.
We
are in the process of
moving up this trail,
which proves to be very
steep. Calloway
must stop every now and
then for a breather. The
rest of us are doing
quite well as we push up
the steep hill. We are
fortunate not to have
any rain today.
Through
the clearing is a very
picturesque view across
the valley. This area is
very dense with over
growth, but from where
we are, I can look over
the clouds and see the
ridge lines of the
mountains in the
distance.
Worn
out is to say the least
about today’s hump.
The last few hundred
meters brought smoke!
A clearing has been cut
so the chopper can drop
food and water into us.
Too dense to cut a full
LZ. The guys really
scatter when that
chopper is hovering
above. We can’t tell
if that door gunner is
going to hit the DZ or
one of us with a case of
C rations or elephant
rubbers, as we
fondly refer to the
water tubes. Many water
bags break when they hit
the ground or get hung
up in the trees.
I
have learned to carry
the small essential
medical items in my
pockets, so that I
won’t have to get in
my demo bag while on the
trail. I keep my main
medical bag attached to
the rucksack and my battle
bag, an old
demolition bag full of
dressings, bandages, and
IV fluids remains slung
around my neck when the
rucksack is dropped off
during a fire fight.
15
July 67
Left
our hill top position
this morning around 0900
for our journey to the
next logger site. Large
birds can be heard
flying overhead making a
loud
"swishing"
noise. We never see the
birds, only hear them.
Only in an environment
like Viet Nam can one
see and hear so many
strange things. It is
amazing the variety of
insect life found in the
jungle. And then there
is the "F--k
You" lizards. That
is exactly what their
call sounds like during
the night.
We
have come upon another
enemy base camp. Many
cooking hooches are
spotted along the trail.
The enemy has a way of
dispersing the smoke
from a fire when cooking
meals in these hooches.
Out of vines and bamboo,
the gooks have made
clothes lines and
chairs. I noticed
something that looked
like a litter along the
trail, and it too is
made from bamboo. We are
now sitting on another
hill top. C’s and
water have been dropped
into us. Tonight, on radio
guard, Lema
reported hearing
movement to their front.
16
July 67
Another
Sunday in Viet Nam. The
days and weeks have
really been flying by.
One of our claymore
mines was stolen
last night.
On
the trail again. Each
man has six meals and
water. A NVA hat and
tennis shoe type combat
boot have been sighted
along the trail.
Whenever there appears
to be anything unusual
along the trail, word is
relayed back from the
point warning us about
the situation. We must
be on constant guard for
booby traps and
claymores. A
booby trap can be
anything from an old C
ration can placed along
the trail to a 105 round
concealed in the trees.
17
July 67
Last
night one of our
Claymores was set off,
but the movement was
attributed to that of monkeys.
This morning we found a
bottle of injectable
serum and bandages
on a trail near our log
stat. Last night
when the OP reported
movement, Lema 6
radioed back and told
him to blow the hell out
of whatever was in front
if he had to withdraw.
18
July 67
No
doubt that this trail
has been used a lot by
the enemy. Many of the
hills have stairs cut
into them with bamboo
reinforcing the steps.
Larger streams have
bamboo bridges crossing
them complete with side
rails, which are long,
thin bamboo that run
parallel with the steps.
This
afternoon, a grave
was found along the
trial. Erickson and
Gilgen were elected
to dig it up and
promptly went to work.
The body was wrapped up
tightly in a poncho. A
split bamboo fence
marked the grave and at
the head was a tree with
Vietnamese writing
carved into the bark. Most
likely, the body was of
an enemy officer. He was
kicked back into the
grave and a 173d patch
was laid upon his body.
Arrived
at FSB this afternoon
around 1430. We set up,
had hot chow, mail, and
got clean fatigues, new
boots and other
supplies.
19
July 67
Received
word that we would make
a heliborne assault
tomorrow. Erickson
got his new jungle
hammock, so he gave his
other one to me.
20
July 67
Two
men were killed this
morning at 0300 by
artillery rounds which
fell short and hit
inside our perimeter.
The rounds were fired
from another fire
support base. B-52 ‘s
will hit a suspected
regimental position this
morning, followed by an
air strike and artillery
fire. Our planned
assault won’t be made
until tomorrow morning.
21
July 67
Our
heliborne assault
today was by chinook.
After we landed, we
moved through the area
and are now set up on
this hill. A B-52 crater
provides a clearing for
a beautiful view across
the valley. A six foot tunnel
was discovered today
along with a so called sniper
position. Our
location is four miles
from Cambodia.
22
- 30 July 67
We
have been conducting a
search and destroy
operation for the last
nine days.
31
July 67
Extracted
by chinook and flew back
to Dak To, where we got
cold beer, hot A
rations, mail, clean
fatigues, and paid.
Received seventeen
letters today.
1
August 67
General
Harold K. Johnson
made a visit today. We
medics exchanged our
45’s for M-16 rifles.
This afternoon, we moved
down the road to a FSB
and set up. Became
acquainted with Yen
and Oak, who are
Montagnard soldiers.
2
August 67
Bought
Georgia some
Vietnamese silk pajamas
and also got Janey
a Montagnard bracelet.
4
August 67
Yesterday,
we trucked back to Dak
To. Today we made a
heliborne assault by
Chinook near Dak Pek.
This Special Forces camp
and surrounding villages
have been getting
shelled frequently. We
got the Montagnards to
help us dig bunkers and
fill sand bags in
exchange for cigarettes
and candy.
8
August 67
Left
FSB on foot and headed
for those scary hills
again. Passing through
one of the hamlets, we
noticed punji stakes all
around the bamboo fence.
10
August 67
Located
a large NVA bunker
complex today. Air
strikes hit the area,
but failed to do much
damage. We are located
on Hill 1250. The
bunkers located on top
of this hill have bamboo
floors and furniture.
Farther up the trail, a
grave was found. A
Company began to dig it
up. This grave, too, had
a fence around it.
Charlie
Company was lead element
until we reached the top
of this one hill. Then A
Company passed by and no
sooner got around us
when one of their men
hit a Chicom grenade
booby trap.
16
August 67
One
of the Sgt who was out
on a patrol today got a
leech in his right eye.
Had no choice but to
bandage it and send him
in by helicopter.
19
August 67
Stanzak
returned
to Charlie Company
today, so I packed up
and caught a slick back
to Dak Pek. The doctor
had a hooch set up and I
moved right in.
20
August 67
Received
word that we might be
going back to Dak To
tomorrow. Not too much
to be done around here
except eat, sleep and
write a few letters. I
gave a few shots today
and wrapped a few sores,
but like I said, not
very much has been
taking place. This is
much better duty then
humping the hills.
21
August 67
We
tore down our hooches
and filled in the
bunkers. The gooks are
gathering around and
can’t wait to dig up
our trash. Every now and
then they get too close
and have to be ran off.
The chinooks are moving
out the artillery , so
we should be leaving
before long.
Just
arrived back to Dak To
aid station by chinook.
Met Wethers and
his monkey, Clyde.
22
August 67
Helped
out in the aid station
this morning and gave
shots to the company
soldiers. That monkey
got into my bag of
raisins.
"........" left
today for Tokyo, Japan.
23
August 67
I,
like the others, don’t
think very much of Sgt.
Smith. Things are
getting to be too much
like stateside with him
around. Speaking of the
states, I just heard
some stateside
sounds...........they
sound great! God! I
can’t wait to get back
home to Georgia.
Sometimes I don’t mind
this place, but at other
times, it is the most
rotten place to be on
Earth.
24
August 67
Today,
the line companies made
heliborne assaults. The Dr,
Lt Inuza, Mescan, Robert,
and myself came out here
to fire support base
#3. The ride out
here in 2 1/2 ton trucks
was quite pleasant. We
pasted through Dak To,
which turned out to be a
fair size village. I
always thought that
little village outside
of the gate was Dak To.
All along the road, we
would past by little
kids standing out in
front of their homes and
they all had their
little hands out for
food and candy. We set
up our hooches and dug
two bunkers.
25
August 67
All
we accomplished today
was the digging of a
deep sump and putting
three layers of sandbags
around both tents for
added protection.
30
August 67
This
morning we pulled MEDCAP
at the village church
school. The school and
church is ran by four
Nuns and a Priest. The
Nuns are refugees from Hanoi,
and the priest is
French. Today’s sick
call consisted of the
young and old. One
little girl had a large
carbuncle on her neck,
in which we made an
I&D. One young child
was thought to have
malaria and we treated
it with dapsone and
quinine. I gave
penicillin shots to a
few of the babies and
one pregnant woman.
After
medcap, the Priest and
Sisters invited us in
for some beer. Before we
left, they asked us if
we would like to have
lunch tomorrow
afternoon. I noticed one
little boy had on a
Batman shirt. Along with
our medcap unit, we have
an interpreter, Willie
Coy, and 5 to 6
recon men who provide
security.
In
the afternoon, Doc,
Joe Mescan, Willie,
myself, and the recon
men went to another
village which is to our
East. As we entered the
village, many of the
Montagnards were
standing in a large
group. Evidently, today
was "care
package" day.
They were dividing up
the several large
bundles of clothes and
rice. After the Dr and Willie
talked to the Priest, we
drove down a narrow
trail which led to most
of the houses and thatch
roof huts.
The
Dr and Willie took off
in one direction to
speak to the village
chief and the recon team
went another way. A few
meters away, I noticed a
Montagnard man working
on his porch, so I
walked down there to
observe. An older lady
came out and sat down,
and then a younger girl
brought me out a small
stool so I could also be
seated; however, I
remained standing. After
I gave them each a tropical
candy bar, I left,
rounded the corner, and
started down the trail
only to be met by an old
lady who was crying and
screaming. I didn’t
know what was wrong, but
a few of the villagers
began laughing at her,
so I continued down the
trail where I found the
recon men standing
around watching the
people trying on their
"new"
clothes. I guest our
presence there disturbed
the old lady, but I
found out later that she
was like that all of the
time.
Those
people were really going
to town with the bundle
of clothes. It was
actually funny watching
them dress themselves in
old American clothing.
Some didn’t even know
how to wear certain
articles of clothing,
and others were dressing
in this hot climate in
Winter clothes. One
Montagnard had on what
appeared to be women’s
Winter parka. When the
women go around