Vietnam Combat Journal - Sgt. Vernon Cox, 3/D Co. 69/70

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FOREWORD
by Jerry Berry
Many Americans recall with pride the accomplishments of the fighting men of
World War II, who are often referred to as “The Greatest Generation”, but do not realize
that another generation of fighting men would emerge to continue the legacy of their
World War II predecessors and carry its tradition of valor and honor once again to the
battlefield in the continuing struggle to protect freedom in the world. Among this new
generation of fighting men were the “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne who also
fought, sacrificed and died for the cause of freedom while serving our country in the rice
paddies and jungles of South Vietnam.
In the bookcase at my home in Montana, I proudly display a "shadowbox"
containing various military ribbons, medals, badges and awards earned during my
military service in 1967-1968. Underneath these decorations is an engraved plate with
my name and service number, followed by the caption:
Paratrooper, Rifleman, PIO
Company A/HHC
3-506, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division,
Vietnam 1967-1968
'CURRAHEES'
Hundreds of men served with the famed 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry
(Currahees), either as infantry or support members during the Vietnam Era (1 April 1967
through 15 May 1971). Some of these soldiers served with the battalion at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, as well as various locations in the Republic of Vietnam-- Phan
Rang, Song Mao, Bao Loc, Phan Thiet, DaLat, Ban Me Thout, An Khe, Phu Bai, and
Camp Eagle, including Cambodia. The 3-506 would serve in Vietnam until May 15,
1971, when the Battalion colors were encased and the Battalion was inactivated. They
were professional soldiers... and proud to "stand alone". . . they called us "Currahees."
Each of those engraved words on that metal plate in my shadow box have
profound and everlasting meaning for me in so many ways. Utmost is the camaraderie
with soldiers whom I had the privilege to know and the honor to have served with in
combat during the 3-506 odyssey in Vietnam, as well as those who filled the ranks and
files of the battalion after I returned home in 1968. One of these soldiers is Vernon Dale
Cox, 3rd Platoon, Company D (Delta), who served first as a rifleman and then as an
Infantryman Direct Fire Crewman in his unit.
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An Illinois Soldier's Military Journal
The Combat Journal of Vernon Dale Cox
Fate delivered me into the arms of my loving parents, Eva Joe and Troy Elby Cox
in Bolivar, Tennessee on February 15, 1950. I grew up in Pekin, Illinois and graduated
from Pekin Community High School in June 1968. Soon after graduating high school, I
began attending Illinois Central Junior College and worked full time. Attending college
and working full time did not work out well for me, so I left college in October 1969 and
went to work for Caterpillar Tractor Company.
After leaving Illinois Central Junior College, I was classified 1-A (Available for
Military Service) by my local draft board, Selective Service Local Board No. 201 of
Pekin, Illinois. As the military draft numbers continued during the Vietnam conflict, my
name was eventually added to the list of draftees. I was inducted into the U. S. Army on
April 21, 1970.
This journal is the account of a personal experience and so personal that for four
decades I could not bring myself to write it--an experience which had a profound affect
on my life and how I have tried to live that life. This is my story of a year in Vietnam
with the renowned "Screaming Eagles" of the 101st Airborne Division--the 3rd Battalion
(Airborne), 506th Infantry "Currahees".
Vietnam
To appreciate the role of the American soldier and his contribution to the Vietnam
War, certain background information on the area of the world known as Indochina is vital
to Vernon's story.
The area of Southeast Asia known as Indochina was under the control of the
French colonies until the end of the Indochina War with France in 1954. As a result, the
countries of Indochina gained their independence and became neutral countries, yet
totally open to the looming threat of Communist aggression and influence from China.
The Geneva Accords of 1954 had divided the small country known as Vietnam into two
parts—a Communist North Vietnam and a non-Communist South Vietnam—but the
Communist leader of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, kept alive his goal of one day
reuniting the country of Vietnam under Communist rule. The small republic of South
Vietnam struggled to hold on to its freedom, but was constantly plagued by attacks from
Communist guerillas, known as Viet Cong (VC), and infiltration of their government by
Communist sympathizers.
United States involvement in Indochina began with passive involvement in the
form of economic aid. From 1955 through 1963, the countries of Indochina, especially
Cambodia and South Vietnam, received millions of dollars in aid from our country. Our
Nation's role in the Vietnam conflict started with economic aid to South Vietnam during
the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. Over the next ten years, United States
involvement in the Vietnam conflict was only in an advisory capacity to assist the South
Vietnamese Government in their struggle to stop the spread of Communism in their
country. By the end of 1964, there were about 23,000 military personnel in South
Vietnam serving as advisors. This passive involvement slowly evolved into active
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participation during the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lynden B. Johnson. In
March of 1965, President Johnson deployed a group of U. S. Marines to South Vietnam
as the first American troops to enter the war. It was evident that the Communist threat to
South Vietnam was growing and could not be halted without the aid of additional U. S.
ground combat troops.
The shadow of Communism had already darkened the neutrality of Laos.
Cambodia’s vain, yet colorful chief of state, Prince Norodom Sihanouk was proCommunist, despite his claim that his country remained neutral.
By 1965, North
Vietnam no longer denied their direct support of Communist guerillas operating in South
Vietnam. The United States realized that the Communist threat to South Vietnam could
not be halted without the involvement of ground combat troops. The desire to thwart
the spread of Communism in Indochina compelled our country to ultimately commit
combat troops to the effort in South Vietnam. In March 1965, the first American troops
set foot on Vietnamese soil. The United States also began bombing raids on North
Vietnam, and the decision of the American government in the years to follow would
bring our country more deeply into the Vietnam conflict.
Following the first group of Marines deployed to South Vietnam in March 1965
was the best of a new generation of "Screaming Eagles" of the 101st Airborne Division,
who also answered the call to serve their country in combat. In July 1965, the first
element of the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division was deployed to South
Vietnam to assist in halting the spread of Communism in southeast Asia. The conflict in
this small country, as well as the U. S. troop build-up, escalated within the next two
years (1966 and 1967).
At the beginning of 1967, there were approximately 385,000 troops serving in
South Vietnam, with assurance from President Johnson that more troops would be sent as
needed.
A fourth maneuver battalion of the 101st Airborne Infantry, the 3rd Battalion,
506th Infantry (Airborne), was deployed to Vietnam in October of 1967, in response to
the increased need for more troops to fight the guerrilla-type warfare being waged in
South Vietnam. By the end of 1968 there were 536,100; by the end of 1970 it rose to
334,600; and by the end of 1971 the number was 156,800. In January 1969, President
Richard Nixon was sworn in as President of the United States and would take our country
in a new direction concerning involvement in the Vietnam War.
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* * *
Military Service
All army recruits during the Vietnam war era, whether volunteers (enlisted) or
conscripts (drafted), were sent to one of many training camps in the U.S. depending on
their state of residence when inducted. Those from the northeastern, eastern and
southeastern states were sent primarily to Fort Dix, New Jersey, Fort Gordon or Fort
Benning, Georgia, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, or Fort Polk,
Louisiana. Those recruits living in the mid-section of the US most likely reported to Fort
Knox, Kentucky, or Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. If a recruit lived in the upper West or
Southwest, he was assigned to Fort Ord in California. For those living in the Northwest
and Alaska, their duty station became Fort Lewis, Washington. As a resident of Illinois, I
was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, located approximately 563 miles south of
Chicago. Fort Campbell is located in the border area between Kentucky and Tennessee,
and it was established a few years after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
Young men drafted or enlisted into the military were first sent to an induction
center, usually within their state for their physical examination to determine if they were
physically and mentally suitable for military service. If he-draftee passed his physical, he
was given the Oath of Allegiance (sworn in) in front of the flag of the United States.
From Civilian to Recruit
Upon receiving my "Uncle Sam" letter to report for my physical, I returned home
to make arrangements to enter military service. Early on the morning of April 21, 1970,
I reported at my Local Board 201 in Pekin. After reporting in and a roll call taken, I
along with other young male draftees and enlisting individuals, boarded a bus for our
Induction Center in Chicago, Illinois. My dad saw me off for the 171-mile, 3-hour bus
ride to Chicago. Our bus made several stops on the way, and we ended up at the
Induction Center about mid-morning.
After arriving at the Induction Center, we joined other young males arriving from
across the state for physical examinations. We reported in, and a roll call was again
made. After the roll call, we received physicals and then assembled in a large room,
where we were administered the Oath of Allegiance.
"I, Vernon Dale Cox, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will
bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the
President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me,
according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
An officer then said. "Congratulations men; you are now in the United States
Army. You will be escorted to the bus station where you will be transported to Fort
Campbell, Kentucky for your basic training. Good luck, men."
I was grouped with other draftees as we boarded a bus for the 390 mile, sevenand-half-hour trip south to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. We arrived at Fort Campbell
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Reception Station in the late evening. None of us had slept on the bus, and we were
hungry, as well as dog tired.
Gate entrance at Fort Campbell, Kentucky (circa 1966)
Recruit at Campbell
Reception Center - Fort Campbell, Kentucky
" First Eight Weeks"
Before commencing the required eight weeks of training, new recruits went
through a few days of processing after reporting to the Reception Station.
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Fort Campbell Reception Station
The reception station was the first stop at the basic training post. It was the same
all over the US for men inducted into military service. Time spent at the reception station
could be anywhere from a few days to a week or more. When recruits arrived at their
Reception Station, they most likely arrived in military buses that had picked them up
from the nearest airport, train station, or bus station. Recruits arrived in the early
morning, in the afternoon, or evening and were dead tired, hungry and a bundle of
nerves! Once they arrived at the Reception Center, the recruits were met by personnel
who were assigned to the reception station, most likely drill sergeants.
As soon as we arrived at the Reception Center, we were introduced to some of the
personnel and procedures and informed as to what we would be doing for the next several
days. We were lined up and moved to a mess hall to be fed. After chow, we proceeded
to a nearby supply building, where we were issued our bedding--a pillow, two sheets and
a blanket. After that point, we were shown how to properly make up a bunk. Nothing
we could do would be good enough or fast enough for our drill sergeants. The bunk areas
were large wooden barracks with big bays accommodating 30-40 soldiers per bay.
Our first few nights at the Reception Station were in similar large wooden
barracks prior to being assigned to our training company for the eight weeks of actual
basic training.
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Basic Combat Training Barracks at Fort Campbell
Among the very first items that a recruit received after he arrived at the Reception
Station was the standard government-issued letter to be sent home to parents.
Government-issued letter for new recruits to send home to parents.
My processing at the Reception Station began in earnest after just a couple hours
of sleep. We were awakened by a reception center cadre, who had us fall out of the
barracks and into a formation. We were given a brief introduction on how to form up,
how to move in an organized formation, and then marched off to the mess hall for
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breakfast. Afterwards, we were marched back to our barracks and given instructions
again on how to make bunks, etc.. From that moment on, every minute of the day would
be "hurry up and wait"--standing in long lines and waiting for something--and it was
raining.
During the week at the Reception Station, some of the things I had to do include:
getting my Army file started (lots of paperwork), getting my paycheck started and in
order, completing my life insurance paperwork, getting my first series of immunizations
(lots of shots), eye test, getting my ID card. After completing most of the paperwork, we
were moved to other facilities where we were given another physical examination, eye
test, aptitude tests, and a classification interview. We also attended orientation meetings,
and our military permanent file was created. The next step was a trip to the barber shop
to receive our G.I. hair cuts, then have our photographs taken, followed by receiving our
initial issue of military clothing (one large duffel bag full). Basic Combat Training, aka
"Boot Camp", was about to commence!
My experience with the immunizations (shots) wasn't pretty at all! All of us were
lined up on the second floor around a small room. The medics in their white coats came
in pushing wheeled carts with visible needles. To begin with, needles make me weak and
woozy. There were whispers of how many shots we would get, anywhere between 10-21!
The next thing I knew, the room turned pitch black and I went down on my hands and
knees. I couldn't see anything, but I could still hear. Somebody came up and asked me if I
was sick, I don't know how I answered, but I suddenly had an ammonia capsule being
waved in front of my nose that brought me to reality. I was able to get a couple of shots
without passing out again. After that ordeal, we went back downstairs and formed a line
again. When I got to the curtain and saw what was happening behind it, I went back
down on my hands and knees again. What I had seen was a guy sitting there with a
needle in his arm having his blood draw. More smelling salt quickly came my way, and I
was able to make it through that. The next day, they had us move to a large open field
and line up with medics at the front of the line. They were giving air shots (using airinjected immunizations), and a drill sergeant walked up and said, "Cox, I order you not to
pass out!" I told him that if I had to think about it then I probably would; but if I went to
the front of the line, I'd be alright. He said, "Get to the front of the line!" I got my shots
with no problem.
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Page from my BCT Classbook
Page from my BCT Classbook
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* * *
Basic Combat Training
Company D, 9th Training Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade
April 27, 1970 - June 26, 1970
BCT Classbook
Our WW II BCT barracks
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After spending a few days at the Reception Station, I was assigned to my basic
training company for the remainder of my stay at Fort Campbell. From this point on,
things would change drastically for me and my fellow recruits. My new home for the
next eight weeks was Company D, 9th Training Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade, or
simply referred to as D-9-2.
Page from my BCT Classbook
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* * *
Basic Combat Training
US Army training for men during the Vietnam War consisted of eight weeks of
basic combat training, aka "boot camp", in which the recruit was taught the basics of
being an American soldier. During these grueling, seemingly endless weeks, the typical
recruit was reduced humbly to a "paltry pile of putty"--then carefully reshaped to fit the
mold of "America's finest fighting force". He would learn to respect authority, how to
properly stand at attention; and how to execute a sharp salute in the presence of officers.
Endless hours were spent in perfecting synchronized marching (drill) in parade
formation. Combat preparation included weapons training--M-14 rifle, hand grenade, as
well as hand-to-hand and bayonet fighting. He was required to be clean and neat at all
times, with boots shined to perfection and bed made up flawlessly. All phases of daily
life were constantly subject to repeated inspection. Any infractions were taken seriously,
and disciplinary action was meted out as necessary. He also became familiar with Crations, first aid, map and compass use (Land Navigation). If a recruit successfully
completed his training, he was graduated and moved on to the next phase of his combat
training--Advanced Individual Training (AIT). If a recruit did not graduate, he was
recycled back through the system.
Once at our company area, we got to meet our company cadre and drill sergeants
and become acquainted with the "ultimate in authority"! Drill sergeants were the primary
instructors responsible for most of the training. They accompanied us throughout the
training process, instructing and correcting us in everything from firing weapons to the
appropriate way to address a superior, and were also largely responsible for our overall
safety. All drill sergeants were recognizable by their distinctive headgear (campaign
hats), often called "Smokey Bear" hats, since they resembled the typical round park and
forest ranger hats.
My basic combat training commenced on Monday, April 27. The first two to
three weeks can only be described as "hell on earth" for most of us recruits. We were
aroused from our bunks from 4-5 a.m., moved outside to an area to do PT (Physical
Training), and then went back into the barracks to shower, shave and clean up our area.
Time is short in the military, and you were lucky to have fifteen minutes to shower, shave
and get dressed. Then we assembled outside in our platoon formations and marched to
chow. Afterward, we attended classes and/or weapons instructions.
Leisure time did not exist in basic training. Every waking moment belonged to
Uncle Sam. There were no such things as "liberty passes" either. No one stepped
outside the training area during the first few weeks. Homesickness was made to
disappear quickly if a raw recruit was to succeed. Sometimes in the evenings, we had
anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour before 'lights out', which was usually at 9:00
pm (2100 hours). This time was not totally ours though. The drill sergeants, especially
at the beginning of BCT, would tell us what to do--shine boots for fifteen minutes, then
would come back in to check what we did and proceed to tell us to do it over again.
Sometimes evenings were also used to reinforce tasks learned during the day. We
practiced how to set up a locker and foot locker. Everything had a "right-dress-right" to it.
In other words, make it perfect. I had found it had to believe that most other troopers
couldn't set up a nice looking footlocker. T-shirts and underwear had to be rolled up, and
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not many could do it without wrinkles. Luckily I had to fold clothes at home as a kid, so
my footlocker looked "textbook". Most of basic training consisted of running, shooting,
discipline, etc.
Saturdays were just like any other week day during BCT. After the first week, we
were allowed to attend church services on Sunday morning; but the afternoon was filled
with details, such as PT and miscellaneous tasks. If a recruit didn't go to church, most
companies would let him hang out around his bunk, or outside near the front of his
barrack. Our first week of basic training at Fort Campbell was designed to adjust us to
military life, and it began with mental and physical conditioning as we got introduced to
the basic techniques of combat for the first time.
Our second week consisted of Army drill and inspections, which quickly became
a routine part of our daily life. Training in general military subjects also rapidly
increased.
Page from my BCT Classbook
Weeks three, four and five concentrated on the use of the primary combat
weapon. We became thoroughly familiar with the M-14 rifle, the basic weapon of the
infantry soldier, even though the M-16 would eventually be our basic weapons in
Vietnam. Marksmanship training also intensified during the later part of this period.
After familiarizing ourselves with the M-14 rifle, learning how to clean it, take it
apart and reassemble it, we were off to the rifle range for basic marksmanship training.
The fourth week of training emphasized the rigors of living in the field during bivouacs
near the rifle ranges.
Our fifth week of basic training involved our proficiency with the rifle, and we
were tested during record fire. By the end of the fifth week, we had mastered the use of
our combat weapon.
Week six focused on "combat techniques", including camouflage, hand-to-hand
combat, grenade throwing, Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) training, as
well as night firing with intense Individual Tactical Training.
As we reached our seventh week of basic combat training, each of us began to
realize our capabilities as a fighting man; and we were introduced to realistic combat
training, beginning with the bayonet assault course, and followed by combat firing and
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the infiltration courses. We completed the week with testing on our physical
conditioning, which is more commonly known as PCPT testing. The Physical Combat
Proficiency Test was conducted to judge the level of physical fitness for each individual
trainee.
The eighth and concluding week of basic combat training finally arrived, but the
routine didn't get any easier. We still faced a lot of hard work. The final week ensued
with more proficiency tests. These final proficiency tests were tough, comprehensive
exams designed to rate each of us on everything we had learned during the previous
weeks. These tests included the grueling Physical Combat Proficiency Test, whose
results would show that a soldier was in vastly better condition than the raw recruit who
had entered the Army eight weeks before.
Vernon Cox's BCT Photo
On June 26, 1970--the final day of basic combat training--we soldiers (no longer
recruits) marched out smartly to our company's graduation parade. We proudly heard
congratulations on a job well done by our company commander and were deemed ready
for the next post--Advanced Individual Training (AIT), where our military careers would
begin in earnest. As a result of intense testing, each of us had been given an "MOS", the
US Army alpha-numeric codes to identify a soldier's Military Occupational Specialty.
Basically, an "MOS" is the specific occupation in which the GI would be henceforth
stringently schooled and trained to perform. I was assigned an MOS of 11H (Infantry
Direct Fire Crewman); and my new orders were to report to Headquarters, U.S. Army
Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana for Advanced Individual Training (AIT).
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BCT Graduation on June 26, 1970
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* * *
Advanced Individual Training - Fort Polk, Louisiana
"Second Eight Weeks"
June 29 to August 29, 19708
The United States Army Personnel Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana was established
as a base for the Louisiana Maneuvers in the 1940s. It served the 1st Armored Division in
the 1950s, and became a basic training post during the Vietnam War years of the 1960s
and '70s.The Center consisted of an Overseas Replacement Station, a ReturneeReassignment Station, and a Transfer Station.
If a soldier was assigned to one of the combat arms specialties (Infantry, Field
Artillery, Armor, Cavalry, and Air Defense Artillery), fate had sentenced him to a
"second eight" weeks of advanced training. For me, with an Infantry MOS, my next
"eight weeks" would be spent at Fort Polk, Louisiana for Advanced Individual Training
(AIT).
Advanced Individual Training (also referred to as Advanced Infantry Training)
during the Vietnam War consisted of further intense training in the specifics of a soldier's
chosen field. As such, AIT was different for each available Army career path, or
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). For example, if an individual graduating from
BCT and had an MOS 13A (Field Artillery Basic), he would be sent to Artillery School
at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. If an individual had been assigned the MOS 91A (Army medic),
he would be sent to the Army Medical Department School at Fort Sam Houston in San
Antonio, Texas. For those with the most common MOS of 11B (Infantryman), the
individuals could be sent to any number of Posts, i.e. Fort Gordon or Fort Benning,
Georgia; Fort Polk, Louisiana, or Fort Lewis, Washington. With an MOS 11H (Infantry
Direct Fire Crewman) I was headed for Fort Polk, Louisiana.
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AIT courses could last anywhere from 4 to 52 weeks, depending on the specific
MOS; however, eight weeks was the norm for infantry. Although many AIT schools
didn't center around combat the same way BCT did, soldiers were still continually tested
for physical fitness and weapons proficiency, and were often subject to the same duties,
strict daily schedule, and disciplinary rules as in BCT.
* * *
Headquarters, U.S. Army Training Center
Fort Polk, Louisiana
June 29 - September 25, 1970
After graduating from BCT and completing my first eight weeks of military
training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, I was assigned to Fort Polk for AIT. We were
bused straight to Fort Polk from Fort Campbell. With an MOS 11B or Infantry Direct
Fire Crewman, I would train alongside the 11B's soldiers.
The mission of the Infantry is to close with the enemy by means of fire and
maneuver in order to destroy or capture him, or to repel his assault with fire, close
combat, and counterattack. The mission of Advanced Infantry Training is to transform
soldiers into disciplined infantrymen that possess the Army values, fundamental combat
skills, physical fitness, character, confidence, commitment, and the "warrior ethos" to
become adaptive and flexible infantrymen, ready to accomplish the mission of the
infantry.
On June 29, 1970, I reported to the orderly room for Company E, 4th Training
Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade (E-4-3). In the coming eight weeks of AIT, I, as with
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other infantry soldiers, would take on a variety of roles in order to support a combat
operation.
Fort Polk Barracks (AIT)
Several things were quite different from basic combat training, however. We ran
in the morning before breakfast, then ran some more, including PT after breakfast. We
ran to and from almost every training area. Sleep was limited to only about 3-4 hours of
sleep each night; and after the first couple of weeks, we could get a weekend pass.
Training was intense. We all knew that we were going to Vietnam after training,
and we were constantly reminded by the training instructors of that fact every day. There
were four of us 11H troopers assigned to each infantry platoon. The training we received
was different from regular infantry in most instances, with those of us with 11H MOS it
was with the M40 106mm recoilless rifle (jeep mounted) and the M67 90mm recoilless
rifle.
Advanced Infantry Training included numerous subjects conducted in classrooms,
bleachers, as well as in the field. Field training included instruction on how to assault a
hill with fire teams. The first team would lay down fire, while the second team would
advance, drop to the ground, and lay down fire to allow the first team to advance. There
were classes on explosives, including the different types of mines and booby-traps--how
to set them, as well as dismantle them.
We had two weeks of bivouac training on famous Pearson Ridge at Fort Polk.
The experience was misery in its purest form--hot, humid, swampy. muddy--with lots of
snakes and hordes of mosquitoes. There was even a ten-mile speed march with full gear.
The 90mm recoilless rifle was split into three parts, each part being carried separately by
three soldiers. We were all beat each night because of war games we were conducting, as
well as the guard duty that was required.
We had an "attention getter" occur during the war game exercise. After being
warned that the "NVA aggressors" would try to steal the 90mm recoilless rifle if we fell
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asleep on guard duty, sure enough, somebody fell asleep! The next thing we knew, there
were grenade simulators going off and M-l6 blanks being fired to wake us up. We
looked around for our 90mm recoilless rifle that we had tied a trip wire to and attached
the other end to our ankles. The aggressors knew the tricks, had cut the trip wires and
had taken the recoilless rifle. We were so tired that none of us cared. However, the next
day we did get a good "butt chewing", from the captain. He stuck his finger in my chest
and screamed, "you're dead!" Believe me, that was an eye opener.
Looking back, I will never forget the first time I saw the M40 106mm recoilless
fire. I wasn't prepared for what was going to happen. Luckily, I didn't have to change my
underwear. Being the assistant gunner, I was told how to chamber a round and close the
breach. After doing that I gave the command "ready to fire" and tapped the gunner on
the shoulder. I had made sure not to stand behind the rifle's back blast, because it could
kill you. I was quite relaxed until the recoilless rifle fired, then came the noise and the
ball of fire from the back of the breach. The sand and dust instantly flying into my eyes
was shocking--"holy crap!"
We were told that when we got to Vietnam, we wouldn't see a recoilless rifle, and
that we would all be 11B infantry. AIT covered most of what we could expect to run
into in Vietnam and prepared us for it. We were given classes on various subjects, night
courses, all different weapons training for the M-16, .44 caliber pistol, the M-60 machine
gun, .50 caliber machine gun, the M-79 grenade launcher, claymore mine training, and
grenade training.
Infantry Soldiers by this time were using the M-16 rifle rather than the M-14,
which all recruits had received instruction on and trained with in Basic Training. This
new adaptation of weapons had to be mastered, as well as the art of land navigation using
the compass and a map.
Near the end of AIT, we were given classes on "escape and evasion" (E&E),
which included ways and means to escape if captured, instruction on how to survive on
your own, to find food utilizing the wildlife of the area, tips on how to avoid re-capture,
training on how to signal low flying aircraft for extraction, exercises on how to negotiate
river crossings, etc.
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At the conclusion, AIT cadre or special forces soldiers would involve soldiers in
mock war games to make training more realistic. During these simulated events, soldiers
were subjected to "enemy ambushes"; and captives would be taken to a mock Viet Cong
POW compound, placed in a hut, and guarded by actors dressed up as Viet Cong.
Around midnight, someone would come to their hut, give them a compass and crude
map, and give specific directions to a designated pickup point, along with the allotted
time they had to reach it. The captives were then moved to another hut where a tunnel
provided a means of escape from the POW compound. These intense, detailed war
games were the highlight for many soldiers attending AIT. Of course, if captives failed
to show up at their designated rendezvous location by the allocated timeframe, threats of
being "recycled" were often issued.
AIT Graduation
Following the rigorous eight weeks at Fort Polk and with little fan fare, I received
new orders after graduation on Saturday, August 29, 1970. I was in the best shape of my
life at age 20 and was a lean, mean fighting machine, as the saying went those days. I, as
many from my AIT class, received our 14-day leave with orders to report to San
Francisco, California on September 15 to begin final preparations for deployment to
Vietnam. One of many things I would always remember from AIT was what our DI told
us, "You will need to be the best you can, or you will come home in a rubber bag!"
Orders for my assignment to the USARV (United States Army, Vietnam) came on
August 29,1970. At that point, I had been in the Army exactly four months and nine
days!
24
Tigerland - Fort Polk
25
26
27
* * *
VIETNAM!
28
Map of Vietnam
In 1970 there were two major US Army troop replacement battalions operating in
South Vietnam--the 22nd Replacement at Cam Ranh Bay and the 90th Replacement at
Long Binh near Bien Hoa. Located at the southernmost tip of Khanh Hoa province, II
Corps, Cam Ranh Bay was a large seaport, as well as the location of a major US military
airbase.
Most American soldiers being deployed to South Vietnam during that phase of the
war would be flown from the states on a chartered civilian airliner, such as the "Flying
Tiger" Airlines. Myself, along with other soldiers being deployed for combat in
Vietnam, boarded a flight on September 16, 1970, destined for Bien Hoa. Flights
regularly left from San Francisco International Airport, located 13 miles (21 km) south of
downtown San Francisco, near Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo
County.
29
Our flight to South Vietnam would take approximately eighteen hours, with
normally only one stopover for refueling in Alaska. The stop in Anchorage, Alaska
would normally allow passengers to deplane and spend a short break in the airport lounge
while our aircraft was serviced; however, due to some aircraft instrument problems, our
commercial aircraft had to be replaced before continuing our journey. We were stranded
there for 24 hours, while another aircraft was brought in to carry us to Vietnam.
From Alaska, the remainder of the flight would be quite lengthy. This final leg of
our trip to South Vietnam was uneventful, yet provided sufficient time for serious
reflections. My memory of the flight over was one of quite somber thoughts. There
wasn't much talking going on once we left he USA. I believe most of us on board--surely
I was-- were wondering what lay ahead of us. With an 11H and 11B MOS, our thoughts
caused us to wonder whether or not we would return to our homeland alive or in a body
bag.
After changing planes in Alaska, our journey continued on to the US Air Force
Base at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. As the plane descended through the clouds over
South Vietnam, everyone on board looked out their windows for a brief glimpse of the
war-torn country that would determine their destiny for the next few months. When the
plane finally touched down onto the runway at Bien Hoa, the pilot came over the
intercom to say, "Welcome to Vietnam, gentlemen!"
30
* * *
Bien Hoa, South Vietnam
My first perception of Vietnam was the strange odor permeating my sense of
smell once the cabin door was opened. The interior of the plane was immediately filled
with a wave of humid, sulfur-laden air, as it swept through the cabin. Our aircraft came
to a stop in the middle of the airfield, and a portable staircase was pushed up to the cabin
door. I remember the door opening and distinctly recall the smell and the heat as we
began to unload. When we walked out onto the tarmac, I remember seeing a line of
coffins being loaded on to a nearby plane, it was a sobering effect. I was thinking to
myself that this was the start of our 365 days of undying heat and the pungent smell of
war.
After deplaning at Ben Hoa Air Force Base, we moved to a nearby open air
terminal, where we were briefly assembled and afterwards moved to several waiting Air
Force buses that transported us to Long Binh Army Post and the 90th Replacement
Battalion. On our way to Long Binh our bus hit a deuce-and-a-half truck head on, killing
the driver of the vehicle. Between the plane switch in Alaska and our bus incident, my
31
Vietnam experience wasn't starting out very well. All troops assigned to units operating
in part of II, III and IV Corps Tactical Zones went to the 90th Replacement Center for
processing in or out of country
When I arrived in Vietnam, I had no idea where I would eventually be stationed in
country, or with which infantry unit, until the second day at the reception center. During
the in-country processing at the 90th Reception Center, I received orders for one of the
101st Airborne Division's famous WW II airborne battalions--the 3rd Battalion
(Airborne), 506th Infantry.
* * *
SERTS - Screaming Eagle Replacement Training School
For those assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, especially enlisted men in the
101st, the first stop after being assigned to the Division was the Screaming Eagle
Replacement Training School (SERTS) near Bien Hoa. SERTS was a week-long
orientation and Proficiency Training (P-training) course. At this period in my military
service, I knew very little about the 101st Airborne Division.
* * *
"Screaming Eagles"
During the escalation of the war in Vietnam, the U. S. Army Airborne Infantry
was comprised of two major divisions-the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd
Airborne Division. A separate smaller unit, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, served as a
troubleshooting force held in reserve for quelling potential hot spots in the Pacific theater.
(Figure 2) The 173rd was the first U. S. Army ground combat unit ordered to Vietnam in
May of 1965. Each airborne division was further divided into three brigades of jumpqualified infantry troops. The brigade was the major tactical command level to which
combat, combat support, and administrative support elements were attached/placed in
support to perform specific missions.
32
Within each of the three brigades of the 101st Airborne Division, there were three
battalions of airborne infantry. (Figure 3)
The three battalions of the 1st Brigade (Separate) were deployed to Vietnam in
July of 1965. A fourth maneuver airborne battalion, the 3-506, was deployed to Vietnam
in October of 1967 to become the fourth infantry battalion of 1st Brigade. Thus, the
Currahees of the 3-506 became known as the "Stand Alone Battalion". The six battalions
comprising the 2nd and 3rd Brigades, as well as the remainder of the 101st Airborne
Division command, administrative, and service elements, were ultimately deployed to
Vietnam in December of 1967.
33
SERT had two primary purposes: 1) to help acclimate newly arriving soldiers to
their present environment; and 2) the Proficiency Training Course ("P-training") that
included instruction in small unit tactics such as patrolling, ambushing, adjustment of
supporting fire, as well as land navigation, mines and booby traps, first aid, and physical
conditioning. All replacements being assigned to the 101st Airborne Division were
required to attend SERTS.
Lessons learned at SERTS had saved many lives. Besides providing a transition
period to adjust to a tropical combat zone, the school offered refresher instructions in
virtually every subject covered in Basic Combat Training -- with specific application to
the Division's area of operations. Training day and night was under the watchful eyes of
handpicked, combat-experienced NCOs, where the replacements became familiar with
virtually every weapon in the Army's Vietnam Arsenal--as well as those used by the
enemy. A realistic enemy village and jungle trail was used to acquaint new Eagles with
the mines and booby traps they would strive to avoid for the coming year. Reaction
courses, guard duty, classes in first aid and field sanitation, interspersed with unscheduled
mortar attacks, all served to prepare the Screaming Eagle replacements for their months
ahead in Vietnam. The last day of the course included a patrol outside the perimeter,
undoubtedly under the watchful eyes of the enemy.
Map created by fellow Currahee, Dan Lin (Co. C, 3-506th) 1969-70
34
On one of the last nights at SERTS, we were assigned to bunker guard duty, with
two-man teams to each bunker. My partner and I split up the guard duty; and when I
woke him up for his shift, he said that he was not pulling any guard duty. A skirmish
broke out between the two of us inside the dark bunker. We went outside to resolve the
issue. I left my M-l6 rifle inside the bunker; my teammate had his with him. Once
outside the bunker, he pointed his rifle at me and said, "I've killed one man, and I'm not
afraid to kill another. The only reason I'm in this army is because it was either army or
prison." There was about five feet between us while he had the M-l6 pointed at me, and I
knew he didn't have a round chambered. I didn't want him to get far enough away from
me to chamber a round. As he backed away, I moved toward him. When he reached for
the bolt to chamber a round, I hit him with an uppercut to the chin as hard as I could. He
went down like a "sack of potatoes" with the M-16 still in his hands. I took his rifle from
him and went into the bunker to retrieve my rifle. I then went down the bunker line,
found some troopers I went to AIT with, and told them what had happened.
The next morning I knew I was in trouble, but nobody said a word about it. That
was the last I heard of it, until a year later when I was processing out of country. I ran
into one of the guys from SERT, who remembered that night; and I asked him how he
remembered something like a year later. His response was, "You were so quiet, that
nobody really thought you were capable of doing something like that."
The 90th Replacement Center at Long Binh was located approximately 24 miles
(38 km) southeast of Saigon and approximately 4 miles (5.7 km) southeast of Bien Hoa.
Nearby Long Binh functioned as a U.S. Army base, logistics center, and major command
headquarters for United States Army Vietnam (USARV). Long Binh Post was a
sprawling logistics facility and the largest U.S. Army base in Vietnam, with a peak of
60,000 personnel in 1969. Among the numerous facilities and units at Long Binh was the
90th Replacement Battalion, a first stop for many newly arrived U.S. Army personnel--as
was the 22nd Replacement Battalion at Cam Ranh Bay--who were then permanently
assigned to other units in Vietnam. Long Binh also included the Long Binh Stockade
commonly referred to as LBJ--"Long Binh Jail"--a U.S. Army prison.
.
We were at SERTS training for approximately one week. By the time we
graduated from SERTS, we had gained more confidence, along with an improved
physical condition to accompany us forward. My new orders gave me an assignment to
Delta Company, 3-506.
After completing P-training at SERTS and receiving new orders, I finally learned
that my new home would be with the famed 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Battalion
(Airborne), 506th Infantry Battalion (3-506) stationed up north at Camp Eagle in I Corps
in Thua Thien province. Camp Eagle was the US Army base near Phu Bai and not far
from the city of Hue in central Vietnam. The base was named "Camp Eagle" when the
101st Airborne Division moved their headquarters there in March 1969. The 1st Brigade,
101st Airborne, which the 3-506th was part of, had been based at Camp Eagle since
December 1969. Camp Eagle was used to support the 101st Airborne's major operations
in I Corps.
Those of us replacements for 101st Airborne Division battalions, including the 3506, were bused back to the Bien Hoa Air Base, where we boarded a C-130 aircraft for
the flight (570 miles) north to Camp Eagle.
35
Letter Home - September 1970
Camp Eagle, Thua Thien, South Vietnam
* * *
36
"Currahees"
In late August 1970, the 3-506 Battalion deployed to Fire Support Base Brick
conducting combat operations in support of Operation Texas Star in Thua Thien
Province of I Corps. The Currahees were proud to be reunited with their parent unit-101st Airborne Division--once again. At the time the 3-506 was reunited with the 101st,
the division was completing the final days of Operation Texas Star, which had been a
five-month search and destroy operation in support of provincial pacification within the
Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces of I Corps.
Miss America-USO Show 1970
On August 22, some 12,000 Screaming Eagles and members of other commands
in northern Military Region I packed Eagle Entertainment Bowl at Camp Eagle for a
glimpse of Miss America 1970, Michigan's Pamela Anne Eldred - Miss America-USO
Show 1970.
September 1970
The 3-506 had spent the remainder of August at Fire Support Base Brick, OPCON
to the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. During the first few days of September, the
“Stand Alone” Battalion ran ambushes and conducted patrols in the last days of
37
Operation Texas Star, which terminated on September 5. Texas Star had been a fivemonth 101st Airborne Division search and destroy operation within the Quang Tri and
Thua Thien Provinces of I Corps in support of provincial pacification. Their primary
mission was to maintain pressure on enemy forces operating within the AO, to deny
regular and guerrilla forces access to the lowland population, to deny the enemy access to
the rice harvest, and to assist South Vietnamese Government officials in meeting their
pacification goals.
FSB Brick
On September 5, the 101st Division initiated a new operation within Thua Thien
Province to protect the populated lowlands of the province against enemy forces, and
assist South Vietnamese government officials in their pacification efforts. Operation
Jefferson Glen/Monsoon Plan 70 was conducted in the Elephant Valley of I Corps and
would be the last major combat operation for U. S. ground forces in South Vietnam.
Combat Assault from FSB Brick
38
Twelve days into this new operation, the Currahees combat assaulted into Fire
Support Base Pistol, which was seven miles southeast of Fire Support Base Brick. The
Currahee mission at FSB Pistol was to conduct search and destroy operations in the
surrounding area. The Currahees almost universally agreed that the overwhelming heat
of late summer made the daily treks through the dense jungle and mountainous terrain
almost unbearable.
Becoming a Currahee
September 25
We had boarded a C-130 at Bien Hoa in late afternoon of September 25 and flown
north to Camp Eagle. The realization of being in Vietnam and the realization that SERT
had given each of us moved us even closer to the fact that eventually we would be in
combat. It crossed our minds that our flight at night was intentional, so we wouldn't get
shot down; and who knows, but I was hoping we were flying over water.
I arrived at Phu Bai with some ten other "Cherries". From Phu Bai, we were
trucked the short distance to Camp Eagle, where we reported to our battalion Personnel
(S-1) and got further instructions--I was now a Currahee.
That night, we heard stories about a Sergeant Kneel, a dark skinned Oklahoma
Indian. It was said that he was on his third tour and had 21 confirmed kills. In my mind,
he was a living legend. The next morning at Delta Company, we new replacements
walked into the orderly room; and standing behind the company 1st Sergeant, was a darkskinned Indian-looking trooper. I could read the name Kneel on his fatigue shirt.
Sergeant Kneel looked us over and said, "Top, I will take that one in my platoon." He had
pointed directly at me. I didn't know what to think, and I never did find out why I was
hand-picked.
We learned that the only significant enemy contact during the month of
September occurred on September 25, the day I arrived at Camp Eagle. Our battalion
reconnaissance platoon of Echo Company was waiting at a resupply LZ for extraction
back to FSB Pistol. The weather had delayed the airlift by several hours. As the LRRP
Team waited for their slicks to arrive, an unknown-size enemy force maneuvered onto the
high ground north of their location and attacked. The ensuing firefight claimed the lives
of Sergeant Robert Blane Wirks and Sergeant David Daryl Wooten. Three other team
members were wounded.
Sergeant Robert Blane Wirks, a 20-year-old native of East Palestine, Ohio, was a
rifleman in 1Lt. Mark Bastey’s Reconnaissance Platoon (LRRP), Echo Company. He
had been in country 143 days when he was killed by enemy small arms fire. He had
arrived in Vietnam on May 5, 1970. After completing his SERTS in-country training
down at Long Binh, he was assigned to the 3-506.
During the afternoon of September 25, Sergeant Wirks and his Recon Team had
set up around a resupply LZ after conducting their patrolling and surveillance mission to
await extraction back to FSB Pistol. As the Recon Team waited for their helicopter
lift, an unknown-size enemy force suddenly opened fire on the Team with B-40 rocket
grenades, automatic weapons, and small arms fire. Gunship and tactical air strikes
provided cover, preventing the LRRP team from being overrun.
39
Sergeant David Daryl Wooten, a 23-year-old native of Coral Gables, Florida, was
an Operations and Intelligence Specialist in 1Lt. Bastey’s Reconnaissance Platoon. He
had been in country 91 days when he was killed in action.
I was assigned to the 3rd platoon in Delta Company, and Sgt. Kneel was my
platoon Sergeant. Sergeant Paul from Farley, Iowa was my squad leader. My first
assignment was as an assistant M-60 machinegunner for John Cannon from Strawberry,
Arkansas. As the assistant machinegunner, I was required to carry 500 rounds of M-60
ammunition, as well as all my other field gear.
The first week with 3rd platoon was spent on stand down at Camp Eagle. The
first operation for my platoon was patrolling around firebase Birmingham. Our Delta
Company was assigned firebase duty first; and after being on the firebase for three days,
we were ready to go out into the field, or jungle. The night before departing the fire base,
we had a "mad minute", where everyone fired up all of their old ammunition. At our
fighting position, upper command called and wanted us to fire off the old 55 gallon drum
of fugass along our perimeter. There were two claymore--mines behind each of the 55gallon drums, with willy-peter--white phosphorus grenades to ignite the gas. Fugass or
Foo Gas was a mixture of explosives and napalm usually set in a fifty-gallon drum. The
drum was somewhat dug into the side of the hill with three layers of sand bags on top to
direct the ball of fire forward. Squad leader Paul hit the claymore clacker and nothing
happened. All he said was “damn”! He hit it again and all hell broke loose that time.
Fire went everywhere, with rocks and sand falling on top of our fighting position.
Sergeant Paul had ducked down and didn't really see what happened; but I did. I quickly
yelled, “It's coming back in on us!” He turned and pushed me about ten feet as hard as he
could back into the bunker. When we realized everything was okay, we started laughing.
New ammo was reloaded, and then we were ready to head off the firebase the next
morning.
As a "Cherrie", I got a lot of help from team members on the proper way to pack
my ruck sack. It was a three-day resupply, so it only weighed about 80 pounds fully
loaded. On my first combat assault, I had a door seat. I was watching the Cobra
gunships prep the LZ ahead of us, when all of a sudden, the M-60 doorgunner
immediately behind me opened up to my direct right. Not expecting this, I didn't know
what was happening. I guess this was normal practice. Paul Thier told me later that he
was watching my knuckles turn white , as I gripped the post when the door gunner
opened up.
In the following days, we had a few hot miserable days of humping. We could
hear the other two platoons of Delta Company making brief contact from time to time.
Then the monsoons began and the rain and cold became miserable. On one occasion, we
had set up our night defensive perimeter in a large field of elephant grass; because of this
configuration, we only had one entrance and exit to the NDP. This meant that our guard
duty was only one hour.
I had perimeter guard duty from 1-2 a.m; and by 1:45 a.m., the rain had soaked
me thoroughly. As I sat on my steel pot feeling miserable, I thought to myself, “ain't no
gooks out there”. I had an M-16 laying across my lap; and when the ball of fire went off,
all I could think of was the fugass. I jumped straight up and tore down the hooch that
John Cannon and I had built. He thought a dud 122mm rocket round had landed on top
of him. I didn't know what to do in that instant. Sergeant Paul and Lt. Butts quickly
40
aroused and asked, “Did you throw a frag?” I said “no”. Then they asked, “What did
you do?” I said, “Jumped on the hooch!” Come to find out, a trip flare had been released
by wind blowing the elephant grass. It was hard to believe that all through AIT I had
never seen a trip flare go off at night to see how bright they actually were.
October 1970
On October 4, our battalion forward tactical operation center (TOC) moved by air
from FSB Pistol back to Camp Eagle at Phu Bai Combat Base for refresher training and
to assume the role of Division ready reaction force. By the middle of the month, our
battalion was on the move again. This time, the we traveled by truck convoy to FSB
Birmingham, where we spent the remainder of October. Inclement weather greatly
restricted air travel by helicopter, which in turn significantly reduced search and destroy
operations and enemy contact within our area of operation (AO).
We were the good guys and followed the Geneva Convention. We did not set
booby traps, so we called them mechanical ambushes, or early warning devices. There
were MA's set out every night at dusk to protect our NDP. The night of October 14, 1970,
I was standing next to Sergeant Kneel when an MA blew. I'll never forget him saying, “I
knew the little bastards were out there; I could smell them!” He looked right at me and
said, “Grab a bandoleer; you and I are going to check it out.” That was the ultimate
pucker factor for me. Here I was with a bandoleer and my M-16, starting to low crawl
into the jungle beside Sergeant Kneel. I didn't know what to expect as we crawled into
the jungle. When we finally got close enough, we figured that a limb had fallen on to the
trip wire and set it off.
41
The ground started shaking like we were in the middle of an earthquake. It took a
few seconds to realize that it was actually a B-52 strike way too close to us. Our FO got
on the radio screaming "Shut them off! Shut them off!" The only thing that protected us
from the shrapnel was a slight berm. I will always remember all the dirt and dust being
thrown into the air that day. We later were told that B-52s were supposed to have a 10
click clearance from any friendlies.
42
Letter Home - October 23, 1970
43
November 1970
By November 1, we had moved again, relocating by air and overland to FSB
Arsenal to immediately commence search and destroy operations in the surrounding area.
Because of continuing bad weather conditions, enemy contact was expected to be light.
Despite the scarcity of the enemy within the AO, our Delta Company still sustained
casualties on November 2, when an unknown-sized enemy force opened fire on the
Command Post of 2nd Platoon, Delta Company. The acting platoon leader, Sergeant
Allen D. Hunter, was wounded in the incident; and the Platoon Medic, Pfc. Jerome M.
Rouse, was killed.
Private First Class Jerome Michael Rouse, a 19-year-old native of Coleman,
Wisconsin, was a medic in 1Lt. Richard Craig’s 2nd Platoon, Delta Company. He had
been in country 118 days when he was killed by enemy small arms fire. Medic Rouse
arrived in Vietnam on July 7, 1970. After completing his SERTS in-country training, he
was assigned as medic to 2nd Platoon, Delta Company.
At the time of Medic Rouse’s death, our battalion was involved in an operation
that had multiple missions within Thua Thien Province. The primary goal was to locate
and destroy enemy forces, staging areas, and forward cache sites. On November 1, our
battalion was attached to the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division and was
conducting operations in the area surrounding Fire Support Base Arsenal.
FSB Arsenal
SSG Allen Hunter, Platoon Leader, 2nd Platoon, Delta Company, recalls, “For
three days, Delta Company was on standby at FSB Birmingham waiting for the weather
to break so that we could move to our new AO off FSB Arsenal. Our area of operation
was all socked in by low clouds, and most aircraft were grounded due to the daily fog
and low ceiling conditions.”
First Lieutenant Craig’s 2nd Platoon was the last to be picked up on FSB
Birmingham. He and his platoon headquarters section had gone ahead leaving SSG
Hunter and the rest of 2nd Platoon to be the last lift out. “Most of my company had
moved by air to FSB Arsenal,” says SSG Hunter. “My group of 27 men were the last lift
44
to follow Delta Company and the rest of 2nd Platoon into FSB Arsenal. This was to be a
company-size operation. On our way into FSB Arsenal, our helicopter lift commander
received orders to divert to the location of one of our sister battalion’s platoons, drop us
off, and extract them while there was a break in the weather, which was starting to
deteriorate fast.”
FSB Birmingham was located along a branch of the Perfume River, 12 km SSW
of Hue along Route 547, and 11 km W of FSB Arsenal. The FSB was named for PSG
Edward A. Birmingham of Company C, 1-327th Airborne Infantry, who had drowned on
October 2, 1967 while trying to rescue a man under fire.
After being quickly inserted into the other platoon’s location, there had been no
opportunity for SSG Hunter to get information from the departing platoon leader
concerning their location and the enemy situation in the area. SSG Hunter radioed his
platoon leader, 1Lt. Craig, informing him of the current situation. His immediate plan
was to hold tight at their current location, since it was already the middle of the afternoon
and there was already a defensive perimeter established by the departing platoon. The
inclement weather was also a factor, as fog and low clouds had begun to close in on their
position. SSG Hunter planned to spend the night in place, then move out early the next
morning and eventually rejoin the rest of his platoon.
During the night, SSG Hunter’s men heard movement below their position. They
strongly suspected that the NVA had observed the helicopters taking out troopers earlier
in the day and were probing to see if anyone was left on the PZ.
Early the next morning, SSG Hunter’s OP came in and reported movement below
their position. The platoon leader quickly moved his men to higher ground. With no area
maps and not knowing exactly where they were, SSG Hunter moved the men out in the
direction that he guessed the rest of his company was located. Due to the foggy
45
conditions, steep ground, and heavy underbrush, SSG Hunter knew that it would be most
difficult to move in a straight line; so he emphasized the procedure of having his point
man move forward 25-meters, break radio squelch twice, then move another 25-meters
and break squelch once.
This process went on for several hours until they reached a river. Due to the
monsoon rains, the river was swollen. Its depth and fast current prevented them from
crossing. SSG Hunter radioed his platoon leader, 1Lt. Craig, who instructed him to look
for the enemy on his side of the river until conditions would allow him and his men to
cross the river or be picked up by helicopter to rejoin the rest of the platoon.
SSG Hunter and his men left the swollen river, making their way some 500
meters before coming upon a small clearing. Medic Rouse had joined SSG Hunter, and
the two were discussing their situation when they heard several clicking sounds.
Suddenly, an NVA soldier stepped out from his spider hole inside the nearby underbrush
and opened fire with his AK-47 on the two soldiers. SSG Hunter reached for his M-16;
but before he could bring his rifle up to return fire, AK-47 fire hit his right arm and
shoulder. As the impact from the enemy’s bullets slammed into him, he glanced over in
the direction of his medic, Rouse. SSG Hunter attempted to reach his M-16 to defend
himself, but his right arm was useless. He scrambled to reach for his radio to summon
help; but as he did, the enemy fired at him again. Even though severely wounded, SSG
Hunter was able to reach his platoon leader and called in artillery support. By this time,
Medic Rouse was dead. Within minutes, artillery rounds were exploding in close
proximity of the besieged 1st platoon troopers. Cobra gunships soon arrived over their
position; and SSG Hunter, as well as Medic Rouse, were extracted from the field.
SP4 Roy Greenfield, 2nd Platoon, Delta Company recalls, “I was back in the rear
base camp the day Doc Rouse was shot and killed. I remember the day well. A group of
us from the company were waiting for a slick to take us back to the field, when word
reached us that Doc Rouse had been killed. Our 2nd Platoon had seen our share of
enemy contact during the previous weeks and months.”
A funny event occurred one night as we were getting ready to call in our marking
rounds for our night defensive position (NDP). Probably 600 yards away, we spotted a
couple of wild elephants, and we decided to use them for our target. We never did get
real close to them with our marking round, but it was hilarious to watch them running in
circles.
46
Another not too hilarious an incident occurred late one day while we were setting
up our NDP. Somehow we found some chatter on one of the channels of the PRC-25
radio. It was in Vietnamese, so we had our Kit Carson Scouts over to listen and translate
for us. Suddenly, our Kit Carson Scouts' eyes got real big; and they said, "We have to
move now! The NVA are getting ready to call in mortars on our position!" The next few
minutes were intense; however, nothing happened.
November was rain and more rain! The monsoons had set in, and there was
nothing like rain twenty-one days in a row. There was nowhere anyone could go to get
dry. Everyday we had a different destination to reach; and our platoon leader believed in
moving our position quickly. One day, we came across about a twelve-foot-wide ditch of
stinking Vietnam mud. Sergeant Paul, who was the tallest man in our platoon, dropped
his ruck and went across the ditch, not knowing how deep it was. The depth was slightly
above Sgt. Paul's waist. He came back and loaded up his ruck, and we started to cross
one at a time. Lieutenant Quick was the shortest in the platoon, and the mud in the ditch
came up midway between his waist and chest. By the time it was my turn to cross, I
decided to move slightly to the left and create a new murky path to cross. As I took my
first step, my foot got tangled in a root; and I caught myself right before my head went
under the muck. I went up to my chest. Needless to say, we were all miserable from that
experience. I was worse off than others, because I had more stinking mud on me. It was
right after this, that I received my first mail from home; and believe me, that helped
improve my mood a lot!
Platoon Medic Fulton
With all of the rain and never being able to get dry, jungle rot and boils started to
take its toll on me and others in our platoon. My boils were the first ones that Doc Fulton
had seen from his training. He knew that there was supposed to be a core in them, so he
was using tweezers in the middle of the boil, as he reached down and probed for the core.
Another team member stuffed a towel in my mouth to keep me from screaming from the
pain. Finally, he quit and said, “You will be back to see me, when you can't walk.” A few
47
days later, I went back to talk to him about the situation. That time instead of using
tweezers, he squeezed the boil until the core came out. It was ugly.
On November 25, our battalion returned to Phu Bai Base Camp, moving by air
and vehicle for a another week of refresher training, for a Thanksgiving dinner, followed
by a move back to FSB Brick, where our battalion had first operated after rejoining the
101st in August. This was the start of a four-day stand down. Two days into our stand
down, I was sent to the hospital for treatment of the jungle rot on both legs. Medics
strapped both legs down to the table, took razor blades and trimmed the scabs off of the
jungle rot. After that, they scrubbed the open wounds with alcohol and then put a healing
salve on, followed by bandages to cove the wounds. The jungle rot seemed to heal pretty
quickly after that.
On the night of November 29, Tim Eaton from California had too much to drink
and hit a sign, breaking his arm. The arm was put into a plaster cast by medics, and he
refused to stay in the rear area. He came back into the field with a plastic bag on his arm
to protect it from the rain. His statement was, “I'm not staying back here where I could
get killed; I'm going to the field where I feel safer!
On November 30, we loaded aboard "slicks" and combat assaulted to the Firebase
Brick AO.
FSB Brick
Vernon at FSB Brick
Those LRPs
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Letter home - November 11, 1970, Pages 1 & 2
Letter home - November 11, 1970, Pages 4 & 5
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Letter home - November 11, 1970, Pages 5 & 6
Letter Home, November 28, 1970 Pages 1 & 2
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Letter Home, November 28, 1970 Pages 3 & 4
December 1970
As of December 1, our Battalion was on the move again. We departed Phu Bai
Combat Base and moved to Fire Support Base Brick to relieve the troopers of the 3-501.
Action would be light during the month, and we would spend the remainder of the year
conducting ambushes, patrolling, and searching for enemy caches, mortar sites, and
fighting positions.
Even though enemy contact during the month of December was light, our Delta
Company sustained two more deaths, as the rifle companies continued their patrols
seeking the enemy, his caches, mortar sites, and fighting positions. On December 16, our
battalion said farewell to LTC Martling and welcomed our eighth Battalion Commander,
LTC Othar J. Shalikashvili. LTC Shalikashvili would be the eighth and final
Commander of the 3-506.
Bn Cmdrs. (L-R): LTC John E. Marling & LTC Othar J. Shalikashvili
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An enemy booby trap took the life of SP4 Andrew Castro Guerrero of Delta
Company on December 17. Private First Class Andrew Castro Guerrero, a 19-year-old
native of Midland, Texas, was a rifleman in 1Lt. Larry Lucas’ 2nd Platoon, Delta
Company and had been in country 171 days when he was killed by enemy small arms
fire. He had arrived in Vietnam on June 19, 1970.
In the days leading up to his death, Pfc. Guerrero’s 2nd Platoon was acting on
information from intelligence reports that there were a number of hidden food and
weapon caches in their assigned AO. On December 16, our Delta Company made
contact with one NVA soldier believed to be guarding an enemy cache. The following
day, December 17, Pfc. Guerrero’s 2nd Platoon walked up on an unknown-size NVA
element in a concealed position. The enemy fired on the lead element, fatally wounding
Pfc. Guerrero. The Currahees returned fire, attacking the enemy forces and causing them
to retreat. While sweeping the contact area, another casualty occurred when an enemy
booby-trap was detonated. All attempts to save Pfc. Guerrero’s life failed, and he died
before he could be medevaced from the field.
One of several scout dogs supporting Delta Co.
After we hit a lot of the booby traps, we received several dog teams. The dog
teams were great; they saved us from more causalities and we were able to determine
what kind of booby traps we were dealing with. The other two platoons had guys killed
during this timeframe.
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Rambo Before There Was a Rambo
On December 21, our platoon was operating around Firebase Brick, when we
walked into an enemy booby-trapped ambush. Our Platoon Leader, Lt. Emerik, our
medic, Doc Robert Fulton, and two cherries each stepped on what I believe was later
determined to be buried 60mm mortar fuses. We also medevaced two other platoon
members who caught some shrapnel.
Later that afternoon, replacements were sent out to our location. Among them was
a new lieutenant, who climbed off the chopper with a funny-looking weapon that I had
never seen before. He later said it was a 9mm Swiss-made weapon, and it was definitely a
fine weapon too. We also received a ranger medic as a temporary replacement.
For 43 years, I never knew the name of this young lieutenant, until I was one day
surfing the internet and came across a posting asking if anyone remembered a Lt.
Clemens who carried a 9mm grease gun. So now I had a name--1Lt. Robert B. Clemens.
Right before dusk that evening, 1Lt. Clemens called us together to let us know
that our Delta Company Commander, Captain Worthy, was sending us back down into
the same valley that we had just come out of.
Lieutenant Clemens proceeded to tell us, "No one would get hurt." My thought
was...How do you know you weren't there." He then finished that sentence with
"Because I'm walking point!" My brain was working overtime--a lieutenant who planned
on walking point down a known booby trapped trail! Never in a million years did I expect
to find a lieutenant willing to walk point, especially with two squads that he was just
getting to know.
Lieutenant Clemens continued his briefing as to what to expect that next day. First
he said, "You guys that smoke, there will be no smoking tomorrow. We will be gone all
day and you aren't going to want much to eat, so just take a can of fruit for lunch." I was
the only one who didn't smoke in the platoon, so that didn't affect me.
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Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep that night. Before we knew it, the sun was
up; and we loaded up and started back down the trail. Sure enough, 1Lt. Clemens was
walking point; slack was Kit Carson Scout, Chung. Next in formation was the platoon
RTO, Gary Lang, from Chicago, and then myself. I happened to be in that position,
because my Squad Leader, Sgt. Paul Thier was on R&R. About halfway down the trail,
Lt. Clemens turned around and had Lang and myself trade places. I was then walking
third and right behind Chung.
For the first couple hours, things were quiet; and we had our can of fruit around
noon. We continued on down the trail and soon came to a "T" in the path. About three
guys behind me was Walter Strudel, who we nicknamed Tiny. Suddenly, he went down
on one knee and fired up three VC coming down the trail. As soon as the firing started,
Lt. Clements was up and running back where it started. The firefight didn't last long. I
think I may have put three magazines thru my M-16. Chung's M-16 fired one round and
the buffer spring broke, so he was screaming "Number 10, Number 10!" I blistered my
hand on the barrel of my M-16, because it had gotten so hot. Lieutenant Clemens was
yelling, "Cease fire!" When it got finally quiet, someone yells out, "Does anyone need a
medic?"
We were looking everyone over for signs of blood when someone yells, "We
need a medic back here." That ranger medic was very good at his job. Gary Alberta from
Michigan had taken a round through his left arm and side. The medic had Gary bandaged
up as best he could, and we now were waiting for the medivac to arrive. While waiting,
the trail was checked out, and a pair of Ho Chi Minh sandals were found on the trail still
facing the way the VC had been walking. We sent the sandals up in the medivac basket
with Gary, told him they were souvenirs for him, and that belong to the VC who had shot
him, Once the medivac medics examined Gary, they radioed back and told us that we
had missed something--his little toe had been shot off.
Finding a blood trail, Lt. Clements decide to track the wounded VC. This would
be difficult for some to do without specialized training. However, for the next three hours
Lt. Clements was able to follow the blood trail. Rumors were starting to fly that we may
not be able to get back to our NDP before nightfall. The blood trail was eventually lost,
and we made it back to our NDP before nightfall.
On December 27, I saw my first “dead gook”. He was lying in a beautiful,
crystal clear, fast moving stream all bloated up. This was the same stream that we took
our water from for drinking. I don't remember if I used water purification tablets or not.
Two days later, I saw my first napalm being dropped and ignited.
December 31, New Years Eve, we were in the boonies when there was a ceasefire order issued country wide. At approximately 10:00 p.m., Tim Eaton from California,
crawled back to me and said “Coxy, get up here! I hear something”. Tim wanted to throw
a frag (hand grenade), and I said, "We are on a cease fire; you can't. Get on the radio
and call the rear and let them know about the noise." The reply we received from the rear
was, "I can't tell you that it's ok to throw a frag without a definite target, but I'll tell you
another thing. I wouldn't let them get too close either.”
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Bob Hope USO Show Christmas 1970
Bob Hope celebrated an early Christmas with the Screaming Eagles of the 101st
Airborne on December 22, 1970. More than 19,000 troopers, representing commands
throughout northern Military Region 1, jammed into Eagle Entertainment Bowl at Camp
Eagle, headquarters of the famed Screaming Eagles, to get their "Christmas Hope".
Along with Bob Hope on the tour were Cincinnati Red's catcher Johnny Bench; singer
Lola Falana, Bobbi Martin and Gloria Loring; the Ding-A-Lings; the Golddiggers of
1971; Miss World - Jennifer Josephine Hosten and Les Brown and his Band of Renown.
Christmas in Vietnam
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56
Letter home - December 23, 1970
57
58
The last couple months had been hard on my company. Another Delta Company
Currahee was killed on December 28. Pfc. Robert D. Arnall became the last 3-506
Currahee killed in action for 1970.
Private First Class Robert D. Arnall, a 20-year-old native of Baxter Springs,
Kansas, was a rifleman in 1Lt. Larry Lucas’ 1st Platoon, Delta Company. He had been in
country 169 days when he was killed by enemy small arms fire. He arrived in Vietnam
on July 12, 1970. After completing his SERTS in-country training, he was assigned to
1st Platoon, Delta Company.
On the day of his death, Pfc. Arnall’s 1st Platoon, Delta Company remained in a
holding position during the daytime, followed by night ambush patrols. Late in the
afternoon of December 28, the platoon was on the move again for another night of
ambushes. Pfc. Arnall’s squad was the lead element, with Pfc. Arnall walking point. He
and his squad were following along a small, brushy creek bed and made a right turn to
cross a small creek. As the point element moved into an open area, enemy gunfire
erupted from a tree line across the small clearing in front of them. Pfc. Arnall was killed
in the initial barrage of enemy small arms fire.
SP4 Dale Whitson, 1st Platoon, Delta Company, recalls, “On this particular day, I
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remember there had been either sighting or contact already. We usually switched point
each time we went out, and I thought I was supposed to walk point that day; but Bob
Arnall told me that he would go ahead and walk point. We went out and started slowly
working up a hill. My squad was behind Bob’s. It was raining, and Bob’s squad was
crossing a small creek. Suddenly, there was a burst of automatic rifle fire! I heard the
call for the medic; and as he ran past me, I followed him. The medic and I ran across the
creek, and the medic went straight to Bob. The entire group was shaken up when the
medic pronounced Bob dead. PSG Clemens and I then moved forward to cover. I moved
to the side for a better field of fire. PSG Clemens then moved ahead of me and pulled
Bob back past me. Lt. Lucas then picked Bob up, placed him over his shoulder, and
carried him back to the safety of the group. I could see Bob’s helmet on the ground
above where he had fallen, and I wanted so badly to get his helmet. I couldn’t bear the
thought of the enemy wearing his helmet, but the risk to retrieve it just wasn’t worth it.
We then left the site and moved back to await the ‘dust-off’ chopper. We formed a
security circle around Bob. I guess everyone was in tears at that point; and we were all
trying to pull ourselves together, as everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.
Bob had killed an NVA a couple of days before, and he had given several of us a round
from the NVA’s AK-47. I wore that on a chain for years. We went out that day as a
tight-knit group who had all come in about the same time; we came back without one of
our own. The entire group respected Bob, and his death was a real blow to all of us. Up
until his death, we thought we were invincible; but we learned that day that we certainly
were not invincible.”
SP4 Dan Perriello, rifleman, 1st Platoon, Delta Company recalls, “Bob Arnall was
a member of my platoon. He was a kind, friendly person and always had a big grin on
his face. Bob was one who did his job well and never complained. I remember he had
lived in Oklahoma before moving to California. He had this girl in California who he was
madly in love with. He had this tape player and would tape his letters home to her. One
time, he had me say a few words to his girlfriend into the tape player. I could hardly
think of anything to say to her. I took a picture of Bob in the rear area just a few days
before he was killed. I was in the rear when they brought his body in and was asked to
identify him. It was a very sad thing to do.”
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Map showing Battalion Operation Areas in 1970
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* * *
VIETNAM!
1971 Currahee Operation Map of Vietnam
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January 1971
New Year 1971 was spent on Fire Support Base Brick, as our Battalion continued
in support to provide protection for the lowlands of Thua Thien Province. The weather
improved remarkably, and we gladly left behind the earlier wet, humid conditions.
Operation Jefferson Glen/Monsoon Plan 70 carried into the New Year, providing support
for South Vietnamese Government pacification programs. As the monsoon season began
to lose force, the average monthly rainfall over the coastal plain of Thua Thien Province
had decreased from 29.5 inches in November to only 4.5 inches in January. The
diminishing wet, humid weather was a welcomed event for us.
On January 8, our battalion moved to Fire Support Bases Tomahawk and Los
Banos in Phu Loc District of southeast Thua Thien Province. Our battalion mission at the
two bases was patrolling, conducting ambush operations, and interdiction. Security of
Highway QL-1 and the Hue-Da Nang Railroad were also added to the Battalion
responsibilities. During the remainder of January, our battalion experienced no
significant enemy contacts. The majority of enemy resistance was from booby-traps that
were usually buried along trails or in dry streambeds.
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Another funny incident occurred with my platoon in early January. Our platoon
leader, Lt. Quick was always moving our platoon as quickly as he could, so it was always
a standing joke with everyone. On January 8th, we were give our NDP goal for that night;
and our company commander had his doubts if we would be able to get there before
darkness, because of the wide river in front of us. When we got to the river, we came up
on "papa-san" in a sampan; and for one can of c-rations each, he ferried us one by one
across the river. When we notified our captain that we had reached our NDP location, he
didn't believe us. We assured him that it was definitely the designated position, and I'm
not sure if he ever knew how we made it across that river so fast.
Things were continuing to improve for us. On January 14, we were able to buy
coke for .25 cents a can....a real bargain! On January 15, I was able for the first time to
wash my hair in a stream.
On January 20, we received our new platoon leader, Lieutenant Gary Butts from
Ohio. When he arrived, we were in the rear on stand down, so we were all drinking pretty
heavily. Lieutenant Butts was a big man, about 6'6" and 240 pounds, and he had played
football for Ohio State. I had just enough beer in me not to care and walked up to the new
lieutenant, took the drink out of his hand, and said, "What are you drinking LT?" I took a
quick drink and spit it right back into his chest. It was hot and burned all the way down. I
was coughing and sputtering, while he was slapping me on the back. It was straight
bourbon! When we went in for our next stand down, he told me that he would buy me a
full bottle of bourbon if I would drink it.
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Letter Home January 2, 1971 - Pages 1 & 2
65
Letter Home - January 2, 1971
February 1971
As February began, we were still operating from Fire Support Bases Tomahawk
and Los Banos. On February 1, the 101st Airborne Division experienced a change of
command, as the Division said farewell to Major General J. J. Hennessey and welcomed
Major General T. M. Tarpley as the new Division Commander.
On February 3, we returned once again to Phu Bai for stand down and refresher
training. Each company of the Battalion was given the opportunity to spend a full day
and night of R & R at Eagle Beach. The brief respite from the usual routine would be
short-lived; five days later, we received a warning order to participate in Operation Lam
Son 719, the incursion of ARVN units into Laos.
On February 5th, we were on stand down and went to Eagle Beach. Late that
night in the EM club, we had already drank plenty of beer. Four of us were closing down
the place, when Pat Hodson from Alaska walked into the club making the fifth man. Pat's
favorite drink was Crown Royal and coke. He threw a $20 MPC note down on the
counter and told the Vietnamese bartender to set them up. A shot of Crown and coke was
25-cents, so that was 80 shots of crown and coke. The bartender counted out 80 plastic
cups and started pouring crown and coke. We were drinking them as fast as she could
pour them. Somebody else pulled out a $10 MPC note and said, “set'em up!” That's 120
shots of Crown and coke between the five of us. Now, the club was getting ready to
close, and we were not done yet; so we each ordered five cases of beer to go. The EM
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club manager had came in by then and said that we couldn't have five cases of beer to go.
About that time, our big burley Lieutenant Butts walked in and wanted to know what was
going on. We told him that we each wanted five cases of beer and the club manager
would not sell them to us. Lieutenant Butts reached across the bar and picked the
manager up with one hand by the shirt and said, “If my men want five cases of beer,
they'll get five cases of beer!” We negotiated down to one case of beer each; and needless
to say, that was the biggest hangover of my life.
Eagle Beach
On February 9th, we returned to our home base at Phu Bai, where our entire
battalion gathered. We were told that we were going to the DMZ and were issued new
field and flack jackets. The officer on the bullhorn also asked if there was anyone present
that was familiar with the 90mm recoilless rifle. Of course in the army, you never
volunteer for anything; so I waited until I was sure no one else had any recoilless rifle
training before I raised my hand. I was taken into the armory and issued a 90mm
recoilless, and they asked what else I needed. Because of the weight of the gun and its
rounds, I asked for an assistant gunner. I also asked why we needed a 90mm recoilless
and was told that they were afraid they were going to send tanks across the boarder, so I
was the tank killer.
Our “Bastard Battalion” was once again selected to “stand alone”. We moved to
the DMZ on February 8 to relieve ARVN units that were to participate in the incursion
into Laos. We swiftly deployed by CH-47 to Dong Ha Combat Base, then on to Fire
Support Bases C-1 and A-2. For the next few days, elements of the battalion assumed a
security and interdiction role.
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FSBs C-1 and A-2, the two northernmost Outposts along the DMZ in South Vietnam
Armored Personnel Carriers or APC
We were sent up to firebase Charlie 2, where they had reinforced concrete
bunkers. We had ARVNs in track vehicles (Armored Personnel Carriers or APCs) pulling
guard around the perimeter. Soon after arriving at our new location, one of the ARVN
soldiers stole a radio from one of our squads. I spoke with the ARVN leader and we soon
got the radio returned. After that, we were buddies; and one ARVN gave me a souvenir-a purple neckband that I wore. We were often invited to eat with them. Their evening
meal usually consisted of rice and fish. I wrote home in a letter describing exactly what I
was eating.
On February 10th, I was asked by several senior officers to fire the 90 mm
recoilless for them. I was glad to do so, because I wanted to make sure it would fire. We
picked out a small bush about 70 yards out for my target. As I was getting ready to aim, I
looked back over my shoulder to discovered they were standing behind me, which is a
“no no” because of the back blast.
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I never dreamed that I would spend my 21st birthday on the DMZ, looking into
North Vietnam and Laos to the west. From our location, we could see both of the
borders. A couple of days later, we were sent on a three-day mission into Laos looking
for a downed helicopter, which never found. We were pretty nervous during the mission,
because we were without radio contact several times.
After completing our mission at the DMZ, we returned again to Phu Loc District
on February 14 and resumed operations from Fire Support Bases Tomahawk and Los
Banos. For the remainder of the month, our battalion operated primarily from Fire
Support Base Tomahawk.
On February 14th, a day before my birthday, we redeployed to firebase
Tomahawk. Typhoon Hester hit I Corps with cold wind blowing at 50-55 mph. It was the
darkest night I had ever pulled guard duty, and I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
I put a bayonet on the end of the M-16 and just stuck it in front of me figuring that the
enemy would just walk into it, because I wouldn't be able to see or hear him coming my
way.
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During our stay at firebase Tomahawk, the soda kids would come to the wire and
sell soda to us. Two of the girls selling us cokes were sisters--Linda and Honey. Honey
was about thirteen-years-old and Linda was about 14. They loved to look at the pictures I
had from home. Honey looked at a picture of my 16-year-old brother and asked, “Where
is he?” I told her that he was at home. She then said, “Maybe someday he come Vietnam
and we get married”.
The remaining days of February, we operated primarily from Fire Support Base
Tomahawk, guarding the Hue to Da Nang Railroad and manning the SS Screaming
Eagle, which was a large barge used for censor monitoring and security of a remote
section of the railroad.
February Memories
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71
72
Letter Home - February 10, 1971
Letter Home - February 12, 1971
Letter Home - February 19, 1971
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Letter Home - February 20, 1971
March 1971
As part of the Vietnamization Program, the control of Fire Support Base Los
Banos was turned over to the ARVNs on March 1. This yielding of control reduced the
3-506 AO and increased the ARVN responsibility for conducting the war.
Our battalion also left Fire Support Base Tomahawk on March 11 and moved to
Fire Support Base Normandy northwest of Tomahawk to assume the mission of
patrolling, ambush operations, and interdictions. The month of March produced few
enemy engagements. Ambush operations and searches for enemy caches and infiltration
routes yielded little for us.
On March 6, we had another scout dog team come out to the field with us. The
dog team worked way ahead of the platoon, and we followed behind them.
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On March 11, I was given permission to purchase a two-week, round trip ticket
for a leave home to the U.S. This was something new that the Army had just started and
you had to buy a roundtrip commercial ticket for $500. The leave would begin March 21.
Our scout dog did his job well on March 15. The day had turned rainy, as we
made our way up the mountain side. The scout dog team had been working hard that
day. My squad was given the mission to check out a possible LZ to take resupply. We
found an LZ, everything checked out, and we returned to our platoon perimeter. The next
morning, we saddled up and started down the trail with the dog handler walking point.
Half way down the trail, the dog suddenly stopped and on alert. I watched the dog
handler get down on his hands and knees, as he began slowly pulling a trip wire through
his fingers. At the end of the trip wire was the pin from a grenade. Unknowing at the
time, we had tripped the booby-trap the day before, which it turned out to be a grenade in
a tin can mounted on the side of a tree. The grenade had failed to detonate, due to moss
growing on it, as well as the spoon being rusty.
Our resupply was delayed for several days, due to poor weather conditions, which
prevented the resupply helicopters from reaching our location. It is amazing what hunger
will do for someone. At the LZ, we found an old sump where GIs had taken their
resupply from a week earlier. I found a can of C-rations bread with holes popped in it.
There were maggots in the bread, but I simply pulled the maggots out in order to get a
little bite to eat. That's how hungry I was. To go along with being hungry, being thirsty
was just as bad. On another occasion, which took place during the dry season, and we
could not get a regular resupply During that time, we came across a puddle of green
slimy water. Several of us pushed the slime aside and let the water slide into our
canteens. Thank goodness we had our water trickle purification tablets.
Two weeks leave home in March 1971
On March 21, Gary Lang from Chicago and I caught a resupply chopper back to
the rear to get ready to go on our two-week leave home. The next day, we caught a flight
down south to Division Headquarters at Bien Hoa, were we were fitted with new
uniforms with the Screaming Eagle patch sewed on and the CIB pinned on.
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We remained at Bien Hoa until March 24, at which time we boarded our
commercial flight for the US. We made it to Chicago where Lang lived at about
midnight on the 25th. Gary and I had had no sleep since the night of the 22nd, because
we were so excited to be going home. Gary's mom and girlfriend, picked us up at the
airport and we stayed up all night talking. I had called a friend of my Mom to pick me up
in Peoria, because none of my family knew that I was coming home. The plane left
Chicago and landed in Peoria without my knowing. I was sound asleep the entire time.
When I hadn't gotten off of the plane, my Mom's friend approached the flight attendant
and asked if there was someone else who was supposed to get off. The flight attendant
came back to find me sleeping and had to shake me awake.
When I arrived at my parents house, I walked in and my Mom was standing
dusting the old black rotary dial phone. She looked up and was so speechless that she
dropped the phone.
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FSB Normandy
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Letter Home - March 6, 1971
April 1971
My two-weeks leave home came and went too soon. After several long flights, I
arrived back in Saigon on April 7. Two days later, I caught a flight north to Phu Bai; and
on April 10, hopped a resupply chopper back to the field to join my platoon.
On March 11, we were convoyed to firebase Birmingham; and from there, we
made a combat assault to firebase Normandy. For the next week, we had it pretty easy
and set up early each afternoon. We were near a clear, clean river, where we could swim
and clean up each day.
On April 22, our 3-506 received a warning order to prepare for inactivation. The
word reached our unit on April 25. This was great news for some of the guys that were
short; they would get to go home with the 3-506 colors. For the rest of us, it meant
reassignment.
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Bravo Company, 2-502nd Infantry
April 1971 with 2-502
The last Currahee killed in South Vietnam was First Lieutenant James Ronald
Firkus, 25, from Eagle Bend, Minnesota. The Company C Executive Officer was killed
as he walked the perimeter of the company Night Defensive Position making his rounds
to check on his men.
On April 29, all battalion tactical operations ceased in the Fire Support Base
Normandy AO, and the we moved by air to Camp Eagle north of Phu Bai Combat Base
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for inactivation. The battalion historic forty-two months of constant combat against the
enemies of South Vietnam were finally coming to an end.
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81
Letter Home - April 13, 1971
Letter Home - April 14, 1971
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Letter Home - April 14, 1971
May 1971
On May 1, I received orders to join Charlie Company 2-502nd. There were 10-12
of us being reassigned. When we walked into the orderly room, the First Sergeant was
sitting there with a black E6 platoon sergeant standing behind him. He looked us all over
and again pointed at me and said, "I'll take him in my platoon." I was the only one hand
picked once again. Three days later, May 3, we were combat assaulted to firebase Jack.
From there we were flown to Co Pong Mountain, which is at the edge of the A Shau
Valley. This was a huge operation; and to start with, we didn't know how bad it was
going to be. When they told us to board our helicopter, they told us only two to a bird
(helicopter). I asked why only two, because we always went 5 or 6 to a bird with the 3506. Their response was in case a bird got shot down, they only wanted to loose two
troopers, rather than five. As we were going in, I could see why the main unit head
assaulted the mountain three days earlier. I could see the downed birds that were there.
On the fourth day at FSB Jack, the enemy fired four mortar rounds at us. There
were four incoming rounds. the first round whistled by and went "thud", the second round
whistled by as well and went thud. I told the guy standing beside me, “I wish they would
raise that artillery a little bit.” because I thought it was friendly fire. When the third round
whistled in and exploded across the valley, I knew it was the bad guys. Right behind that
one was a fourth one that was live. Luckily no one was injured.
Stand Down for the 3-506
Beginning on May 1, 1971 the 3-506 prepared for inactivation by feverishly
turning in its equipment and reassigning personnel. Facilities that had housed the
vigorous, bustling combat battalion would soon become ghostly shells, with only the
memories of our brave inhabitants remaining.
When word reached the Currahees who had long since departed South Vietnam
that the 3-506 was being inactivated, their thoughts drifted back to the profound words of
Colonel Harry W. O. Kinnard, who wrote these words in the Division’s last daily bulletin
at the end of World War II--”To those of you left to read this last daily bulletin-do not
dwell on the disintegration of our great unit, but rather be proud that you are of the ‘old
guard’ of the greatest division ever to fight for our country. Carry with you the memory
of its greatness wherever you may go, being always assured of respect when you say, ‘I
served with the 101st.’” Surely, we Currahees wondered if history would remember the
men of the “Bastard Battalion”, as well as the sacrifices we all had made in the jungles
and rice paddies of Southeast Asia.
On May 15, the Battalion colors were honored by the Commanding General,
Major General Thomas N. Tarpley, in a Division-wide ceremony. Our Battalion
Commander, LTC Othar J. Shalikashvili stood proudly as Major General Tarpley praised
the 3-506, saying, “We are seeing the departure of one of the great airborne battalions of
all times. I chose not to look on this as an inactivation, but rather as a rest or sleep of the
battalion, until they are needed again.” LTC Shalikashvili then passed the colors to the
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Honor Guard of the Battalion, commanded by Captain Donald L. Porter, for their
encasement and deployment voyage to the United States and subsequent inactivation.
The Currahee legacy began in World War II in places such as Normandy,
Holland, and Bastogne and continued in a new generation of Currahees, who met their
“Rendezvous With Destiny” in the infamous Tet Offensive of 1968, Hill 474, and
Cambodia.
LTC Othar J. Shalikashvili
May 17, 1971, the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry, stood down today
after three and one-half years of proud service in Vietnam. The "Currahee" battalion
participated in 16 major combat operations during their South East Asian stay, including
last year's dramatic thrust into Cambodia which resulted in the destruction of NVA
sanctuaries and staging areas.
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On a very hot and humid May 9, we conducted another combat assault to firebase
Bastogne. In an attempt to conserve water, I got very sick. I learned that the 2-502 took
resupply every five days instead of every three as I was used to with my former
battalion. I normally carried six to eight canteens of water for a three-day resupply, but
knowing I had to pack for a five-day resupply, I packed up 15 canteens of water. At the
end of the first day out, I took a drink from a canteen, and it went "gurgle gurgle."
Somebody asked, “do you have water left?” I shared what water I did have left, and then
found out that they would collect all of the canteens and then send a squad over the side
down into the valley to a stream. On May 12, our company made a combat assault to
Firebase Vega.
On May 17, I went out on my first and only night ambush. We were to go out
500 meters; but we didn't make it that far, because we spotted three "gooks" some 300
meters further down in the valley. Two days earlier, we had received a new platoon
leader. He was "gung ho", until we saw the three enemy; and at that point, he didn't
know exactly what to do. He asked me what I thought, and I told him, “Let's not give our
position away, and let's call in cobras and artillery.” We decided to set up where we
were for the night abandon our ambush plans.
The weather had become extremely hot and humid, so on May 22, our company
had a mission into A Shau Valley canceled because of the extreme conditions. Again, on
May 26, command canceled our combat assault, because it was too “hot”. On the night
of the 28th, our artillery FO was told that he could call fire missions all night, which he
did; and around midnight they called and said, "You have put about a million dollars of
ordnances on that hillside, don't you think that's enough?” The next day, our battalion
commander was watching us from his loach (C&C chopper). He was so pleased that we
had taken the hill without firing a shot and sustaining without casualties, that he flew
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back to the rear and brought us out Dixie cups of ice cream with little wooden spoons.
Our mission on the hillside had been to retrieve three ARVN bodies, which had been up
there in the hot sun for 3-4 days; the smell was unforgettable.
Letter Home - May 9, 1971
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Letter Home - May 12, 1971
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Letter Home - May 23, 1971
Letter Home - May 27, 1971
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Letter Home - May 28, 1971 & Operation Lam Son 720 - May 30, 1971
Operation Lam Son 720 - May 30, 1971
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June 1971
On June 1, I had 107 days remaining in Vietnam. We are doing a lot of humping
and finding lots of enemy bunkers, some very fresh. On Saturday, June 5, we had orders
to move to FSB Veghel, and from there on to FSB Bastogne the following day.
FSB Veghel
FSB Veghel became a fire base on April 19 1968, when the 1-327th captured
the hill-top during Operation Delaware. The FSB was named after the Dutch town of
Veghel, one of the drop zones during the World War II operation Market Garden, which
was captured by the 501st Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in
September 1944. FSB Veghel had been abandoned and reopened multiple times since
1968. It had been open since February to support Operation Dewey Canyon II.
FSB Bastogne was southwest of Hue and due West of FSB Birmingham, along
the north side of Hwy 547 in Thua Thien Province, I Corps.
I caught a ride back to the rear on June 19 to get ready to go on R&R to Bangkok,
Thailand. I was told that you never forget your R&R adventure! Everyone who served
in Vietnam was permitted one R&R during their one-year tour of duty. Soldiers had to
complete 30 days in-country to be eligible. We had a choice of the following
destinations: Hawaii (if married); Sydney, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; Hong Kong;
Kuala Lampur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Singapore; Taipei, Taiwan, and Tokyo,
Japan.
Normally for an enlisted man, your first R&R was seven days. Once you put in
for R&R, you would be assigned to the next available slot. If you picked a popular
destination like Australia, you might have to wait longer. Your R&R could come at most
any time and during any phase of an operation. When you left on R&R, you came back
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to where you left off. Bangkok was the most common choice for single men, I would
say. This was true for two reasons: it was the cheapest place to go and there was rental
female companionship. You selected a girl from a bar, and she was yours (legal contract
and all) as a guide and companion during your visit. The contract was legally
enforceable, and the girls spoke English. As problems with her, you could go to the
police. (You were technically her employer.) If you had I never heard of any problems.
R&R
On June 19, I received my R&R leave for seven days in Bangkok, Thailand. I
also ran into my AIT buddy, Vince Lacey from East Peoria, Illinois. Vince was a
Mortarman in Echo Company. I found out that he had been made the snack bar manager
at Phu Bai. He took me into the snack bar, and served me the only steak I ever had in
Vietnam. It was free and delicious.
I was pulled out of the field, sent back to Phu Bai/Camp Eagle to turn in my
weapons and gear, shower, get some sleep, and then flown to Cam Ranh Bay. There, after
about a day, I changed into my khakis and boarded my "freedom bird"--a chartered
commercial airliner--with stewardesses and all, and was flown to my R&R destination.
We were not allowed to take military clothing, and my baggage was inspected. I changed
my MPCs and piasters for US dollars.
Once our flight had cleared customs, we were bused to the R&R center in
Bangkok. While there, a group of us attended about a two-hour series of lectures as to
what we could, or could not do. We also again exchanged our dollars for the local
currency.
We were required to rent civilian clothing from a local service (and leave a hefty
deposit, which you got back when you left.). We also were required to rent either a hotel
room or an approved transient apartment before being allowed to leave the R&R center.
After receiving a list of contact numbers, a bus dropped us off at our residence quarters,
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where we paid for our room in advance at check in. Then we were on our own until our
flight back. If we wished, we could book sightseeing trips or other activities via the R&R
center at nominal rates.
While on R&R, we did what everybody did, which was eat, drink, bowl and shop.
I was with a guy named Mac, who I had just met and who had been to Bangkok before.
We buddied up for the week. He knew all the ropes. First, he said we were going to stay
at the Rome Hotel, then he wanted two taxi drivers named Billy and Pepsi as our drivers.
They were busy with other GI's; but he insisted and we got our way. We flipped a coin to
see how much we would pay them for the week, and I believe we won the toss. They
were available 24/7 to take us wherever we wanted. One night, Mac told the drivers that
we wanted to go where the locals go; and they took us to a quiet little club with a
beautiful Thai singer. Mac fell in love. Billy or Pepsi interpreted for the night. Mac
wanted to go back again the next night. I told him to go, but I didn't want to go that early.
After some much-needed rest, I caught up with him again around midnight. when I
walked in, Mac looked at me and screamed “baby face!” I asked him what he meant by
baby face! He said, “The night before, a friend of his girlfriend looked at me and said
that your looked too young to be in Vietnam and that you were as baby face.” Mac also
told me that her family was very well off and that she wanted a take me home to meet her
mom and dad. I politely declined.
While on R&R, GIs were subject to the authority of the local civilian police, as
you would have been in a US city. If you got in serious trouble, the military would try to
recover custody of you if they could. You were required to have your ID card and your
orders on you at all times.
On my departure date, I dressed in my khakis, and a bus picked me up to go back
to the R&R center. From there I caught another commercial flight back to Vietnam.
Back in country, I got my jungle fatigues back and caught a flight back to Phu Bai. If
you missed your flight, you were considered AWOL. I returned to Camp Eagle and sat
on the helicopter pad all day before hitching a ride back to base camp.
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July 1971
By July 3, I was back to the field from R&R. A week later, we took resupply at
an LZ that we used when I was with the 3-506. Now I knew that I had been in country
too long.
On July 20, we found a river with cool, clear water, and I was able to brush my
teeth and clean up. Exactly one week later, we were combat assaulted to firebase
Normandy. The entire month of July was either hot and miserable, or rainy and
miserable.
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August 1971
On August 11th, I was made the acting squad leader. A week later, we had a big
inspection. During the inspection, one of the inspectors wanted to weigh a full rucksack.
My rucksack fully loaded with a five-day resupply weighed 102 pounds. On August
26th, I went before the E-5 board for an evaluation to become Sergeant Cox. I would
receive my E-5 stripes soon after leaving Vietnam.
On the 27th, I left for a three-day in-country China Beach R&R.
Vernon at China Beach in August 1971
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HE’S COMING HOME
In the near future, your Screaming Eagle will be home. Treat him well, but be
cautious-he’s seen and experienced much.
Show no alarm if he insists on carrying a weapon to the dinner table, sits down,
on his steel helmet when offered a chair or wakes you up in the middle of the night to
take your share of guard duty.
Smile pleasantly when he digs up your garden to fill sandbags for a backyard
bunker, wears ammunition belts criss-crossed across his torso and looks suspiciously at
the next door neighbor when he approaches your property.
Listen carefully if he lapses into Viet- names phrases. If he glares and says “Di
Di”, walk away—quietly and quickly. If he says “Xin Loi” understand that he couldn’t
care less about what you’re saying. If he says you’re “numbah one”, you know you’re in
his best graces.
Be alert when you speak to him on the telephone. Remove your ear at least two
inches from the receiver. He’s used to shouting. When he says “Over”, it’s your turn to
talk. When he says “Out”, the conversation has ended. When he loses patience and
shouts, “Are you working”, yell back, “Working, dammit!”
Keep in mind that beneath the tanned and rugged exterior, beats a heart of gold.
Treat him with kindness, under- standing and love. Soon he’ll be back to-normal,
adjusted once again to the
land of the big PX”. Above all, be especially watchful when he’s in the company of a
beautiful “round eye”. He’s not used to perfumes, soft skin and frilly fabrics.
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Last, but not least, send no more mail to the APO. Fill the refrigerator with beer, get the
“civvies” out of moth balls, and put out the word ... your Screaming Eagle is coming
home.
Author Unknown
* * *
Last Day in Vietnam
September 1971
On Tuesday, September 7, 1971, I left the field for the last time and returned to
Phu Bai to start out-processing to leave Vietnam. On Friday, September 10, I cleared
battalion and awaited a flight to Cam Ranh Bay. Events were occurring so rapidly that I
had no chance to say goodbyes to all my brothers. With a heavy heart and mixed
emotions, I arrived at Cam Ranh Bay to begin the final leg for my return to the US.
My departure from Vietnam on September 15, 1971 was quick and without delay.
I said farewell to Vietnam with a mixture of melancholy and jubilation. At the time, I
was overjoyed about going home, but also experienced deep sorrow over leaving my
fellow teammates, with no way of knowing their fate in my absence from them. When
we did board our flight at Cam Ranh Bay and were out over the South China Sea at
cruising altitude, everyone breathed a deep sigh of relief.
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My tour of duty had been eleven months and twenty-six days, all of which but a
week at SERT had been with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry
and Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 502md Infantry in combat in South
Vietnam. As a result of my trek through the war-torn landscape, I had been awarded ten
individual decorations--the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the
National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the most coveted of all-Combat Infantry Badge (CIB).
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
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As a proud member of the 3-506, I also received three unit citations--the Valorous
Unit Award--second only to the Presidential Unit Citation--awarded to the 3-506 for
extraordinary heroism during the 1968 TET Offensive at Phan Thiet; the Republic of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit
Citation. Additional decorations received during initial combat training included several
Marksmanship badges with rifle bars.
* * *
Home!
I departed Vietnam on September 15, 1971, with a brief stop at Guam to refuel,
and arrived at Seattle's SeaTac Airport in Washington state on the same day. From there,
I traveled the short distance to Fort Lewis, where we processed through the night and into
the next day. After being released, I then caught a flight from SeaTac nonstop to
Chicago, and then to Peoria.
After spending a wonderful 30-day leave, and with a little more than six months
remaining on my active military commitment, I said my goodbyes once again and
departed for Fort Benning, Georgia on December 9, 1970. I had a 30-day leave home
before reporting to my next Post at Fort Benning, Georgia.
I reported to Fort Benning following my 30-day leave, and met up with a buddy
from AIT, who also was reporting for reassignment. We were told that officially we
didn't have to report until the following Monday morning; and since it was mid-week, the
two of us decided to drive down to Daytona Beach, Florida for a few days. The beach
was a great way to unwind, along with a few drinks. When we reported back to Fort
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Benning, the two of us returning Vietnam veterans learned that we were getting a fourmonth early Christmas drop, so we could be home for the holidays. Things were looking
up!
We reported Monday morning for duty; and the first thing the 1st Sgt. asked was
"Can any of you type?" I raised my hand and became his personal clerk. Everyone was
supposed to go through a two-week training period playing war games, and the last
thing I wanted to do was sleep on the ground again. First Sgt says, "Keep your mouth
shut; I'm not going to send you to that training." With that, I found myself in front of a
modernistic electric IBM typewriter with a spinning ball. Since I was not trained as a
Army clerk, I found that most forms through I typed had to be done over.
Right before I was to ETS, there was a group of AIT troopers cycled through.
They all stood in line while I typed each one a meal card. A couple of hours later, one
trooper was back at my desk and was so nervous that he could hardly talk. He stuttered,
"Sgt. Cox, I lost my meal card." He was expecting me to chew his butt; but I said, "My
name is Vern; I get out of this Army in two days, and I will type you a new one." The
calmly expression on his face was priceless.
On December 13, 1971, I left active military service. I was up early, wanting to
get the show on the road, get my DD-214, my travel pay, and hit the road for home. With
my Army duty completed, I was anxious to be free to do what I wanted. Little did I
realize that there were many more like me who wanted the same thing. We were called
back one at a time, but I was still waiting for my name to be called when it was time for
lunch. Well, to make a long story short, I was one of the last ones to be called at about
4:30pm. So much for a early start home. I tried to drive straight through, but I had to
stop and rest, arrived home the next day around noon.
While at Fort Benning, I saw a Pontiac Lemans T-37. It was very sporty; and for
some reason, caught my eye. I decided that was the car I was going to buy that spring. I
walked into Emerson Pontiac in Pekin, Illinois and announced that I wanted to buy a
Lemans T-37. At that point, I find out that a T-37 was a one year only model and the are
very rare. At least I have good taste in cars. I did a lot of looking (shopping); and after
finding out that GM was dropping the convertible from their midsize line I bought a
beautiful '72 Cutlass with Hurst Dual Gate and a 350 cubic-inch Ram Air motor with
special fiberglass ram air hood. I still have it today; and my 26-year-old son, Elby Joe,
drove it to high school.
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After being released from the Army, I took a couple of months to relax and do
nothing. I had hired into Caterpillar before I was drafted, so I had a good job waiting for
me when I got home. My Army time counted towards my retirement, seniority, etc. I
started the four foundry apprenticeship in late 1975 at Caterpillar. At 25 years old, I was
an old timer in the apprentice coarse and also a "rebel". Because I didn't conform the
way management thought I should, a lot of my evaluations were lacking. With my
graduation from the apprentice course in early 1980, I had to interview with the plant
manager, Ron Diamond. He looked at my evaluations and announced to me, "I think a
lot of your problems are related to Viet Nam." I argued that Viet Nam had nothing to do
with my work record.
Cindy and Vernon's wedding photo
I met my wife, Cynthia Lou Feger, in 1978. She worked at Caterpillar and had
started the same apprenticeship that I was in. We were married in September 1979. Our
son, Elby Joe was born on April 19, 1988. He was married in August of 2015, and is the
lab supervisor of a small farmer-owned co-op, called Central Minnesota Ethanol Co-Op,
that produces ethanol.
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* * *
In Retrospect
As I look back on my tour of duty in Vietnam, I am very honored to have served
with the famed Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division. While no one wants to
go to war, my experience as a combat infantryman was an unforgettable life experience.
I served under some great infantry commanders, and with many brave soldiers. I
survived in difficult and treacherous conditions that I never thought I would ever
experience. Things that I shall always remember from my tour of duty in Vietnam
include:
I remember during the dry season in the bush that we went many days without a
shower--only washing water from a few small streams with ankle deep water.
I remember spending days carrying a heavy rucksack and struggling to climb
really high mountains, only to get to the top to go back down and up another one.
After making numerous combat air assaults, I remember enjoying the cool ride at
least until we learned we were heading on a hot LZ.
I remember my first ride in a chopper with no doors and with our legs hanging
outside, so we could get out quickly. When the pilot did a sharp turn, I thought I was
going to fall out. After that, I really enjoyed the rides.
I remember the wounded and the dead soldiers, both friendly and the enemy. My
experience as a platoon member with the 3-506 was a life-remembering experience. I
served under some very professional NCOs and officers and with many brave teammates.
It was really after my tour and years later, that I realized what a proud unit the 3-506 was.
Today I can stand tall and am proud to have been a part of it.
Fortunately, I returned home safely with a new appreciation of life and the minor
things (like unlimited water). Today my military experience has allowed me to fully
understand and appreciate the sacrifice that our brave men and women are making for
their country.
My military service, especially my tour of duty in Vietnam with the 3-506, gave
me a different perspective on life. As a result of my military training and combat
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experience in Vietnam, I strive to do the best job possible and be the best person I can be.
I leave these pages of historical fact to my children, grandchildren, and all future
descendants. It is for them to know my life path and decide whether or not I was worthy
in deed and accomplishment to walk before them. I will forever be a proud
CURRAHEE!
Four Leaf Clover
There's a story that I would like to tell that involves Jerry Harris from Canton,
Illinois. He worked with my dad at Caterpillar. When Jerry found out that I was going to
Vietnam, he picked a four leaf clover out of his yard and gave it to my dad to give to me.
He said, “This will bring Vernon home safely from Vietnam”. I carried that four leaf
clover in a wallet-sized picture holder inside of my ammo can. I have kept that four-leaf
clover all these years; and when I found out that Jerry was not doing well and was in a
nursing home in Canton, I decided to go find him. This was in February 2015, and Jerry
was in his early 90's. Canton is a small town of approximately 20,000, so I knew it
couldn't be that hard to find him. He was in the second nursing home I went to. When I
walked in, he and his wife did not know who I was. I told them I that was Troy Cox's
oldest son, Vernon, and that I had something to show him. I asked, “Do you know what I
have to show you?” He nonchantly and quietly said without even thinking “A four-leaf
clover.”
After 45 years, it still amazed me that he still remembered giving my dad that
four-leaf clover. The four-leaf clover was still 100% intact when I pulled it out to show it
to him; but it fell out of the package on to his hospital tray, causing one leaf to fall off.
At least he go to see the clover whole. I found out then, that Jerry had also carried a
clover with him in WW II. He was not wounded either. Less than two weeks later, I got a
phone call that Jerry Harris had passed away. So, I was very happy that I had made the
effort to find him and show him the clover.
The Soldiers Creed:
I am an American soldier, I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army values
I will always place the mission first
I will never except defeat
I will not quit
I will never leave a fallen comrade
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior
tasks and drills
I will always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself
I am an expert and a professional
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States in close
combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life
I am an American soldier.
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In Retrospect
by Jerry Berry
Pfc. Jerry Berry, paratrooper, rifleman
and Battalion PIO - Oct. 1967 to Oct. 1968
American involvement in the Vietnam War ended with the withdrawal of the last
American troops by President Richard M. Nixon in 1973. Two years later, the Republic
of South Vietnam collapsed and ultimately became unified with North Vietnam under
Communist control. Because of this historical outcome, many Americans believe that the
United States “lost” the war in Vietnam due to our government’s lack of understanding of
the nature of the war, as well as its lack of ability to apply proper strategies to fight it.
Nothing could be further from the truth. According to President Nixon, “No
event in American History is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was
misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Rarely have so many people been so
wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so
tragic.” There are those who believe that the Vietnam conflict was a senseless war and
that nothing was accomplished as a result of the 58,000 American soldiers who gave their
lives in South Vietnam, but the Vietnam War was the turning point for the spread of
Communism in the world. Without the commitment of the United States to stop the
expansion of Communism in Southeast Asia, this subservient ideology would have swept
all the way to the very doorstep of the free world.
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It has been almost fifty years since the 3-506 first set foot on Vietnamese soil, and
our surviving members continue to ask themselves why their fellow Americans did not
welcome them home as heroes, even though they believed it was their duty to respond to
the call for the defense of freedom in the world—a cause that our government deemed
worthy of preservation. As in previous wars involving the United States, our American
soldiers in Vietnam were honorable men who performed an extremely tough job to the
best of their ability and demonstrated a high sense of duty to their country, as well as the
mission at hand. They were simply doing what was asked of them during a difficult and
confusing time in history.
Historians and military scholars have written that there was no precedent in our
Nation’s history for the guerrilla-type war waged in South Vietnam. Our soldiers found
themselves facing a savage new kind of war in a hostile environment, a sweltering
climate, and a strange culture—fighting a ceaseless battle against the swift and deadly
guerrilla attacks of a determined, yet elusive enemy. Vietnam War soldiers passed
through the villages and hamlets of South Vietnam, knowing that the same citizens they
encountered in a friendly way by day, could very well be their enemies by night. They
learned quickly how to adjust to the horrors of war, yet managed to retain their human
emotions and patriotic loyalty to their country. Above all else, they displayed a profound
compassion for the people of South Vietnam, who suffered along with them.
Hardly a day goes by in the lives of our surviving 3-506 veterans without thoughts
of Vietnam and the many lives touched by the war. Just as their World War II
predecessors, whose surviving numbers are rapidly dwindling, the 3-506 Vietnam
veterans are also beginning to age. They are now in their late 60s, 70s, and 80s. Their
time is dwindling as well, but they have learned important lessons from their Vietnam
experience. They escaped death in the throes of war, yet still suffer the consequences of
rejection by the citizens of their own country and extreme guilt from the loss of friends
who died instead of them.
The stories of courage and dedication related within the pages of this journal
should help the reader understand the resentment of the veterans who were called to serve
their country and went unthanked for their noble sacrifice. All Americans should
rightfully share the burden they have so stoically carried alone for almost five decades.
Appreciation and concern for their service as patriotic citizens and dutiful soldiers should
replace disdain and blame.
This personal journal should be particularly poignant for those who personally
know the man honored here and witnessed his courage and sacrifice firsthand. As a
veteran, I can relate to the complexities of war and the tragedy left in its wake. I view my
Vietnam experience from different perspectives—as a young paratrooper fighting in the
war, as a combat photographer and reporter for my battalion documenting the war, and as
an author/historian for our proud unit. We all share a bond that cannot be comprehended
or adequately explained to others outside our unit. True comradeship is achieved when
each is ready and willing to give his life, as Vernon was willing to do for his fellow
teammates without hesitation or thought of personal peril. It is a bond that has withstood
the horrors of war, the loss of friends, and the painful memories of Vietnam.
Most patriotic Americans, I believe, share deep admiration and gratitude for what
our soldiers have done and continue to do to keep our country safe and a constant beacon
for freedom in an otherwise pacifist, cowering world. The Vietnam veterans have never
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fully received the credit and dignity they deserve for their accomplishments in the
Vietnam War. Perhaps this small window into our past has shed some revealing light on
the forgotten ones who served in the most ungrateful war in American History.
Currahee!…Vernon Cox! Your service and sacrifice is not forgotten.
Jerry Berry, 3-506
AIRBORNE!
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