Part of a book I started writing in 1986 but never finished
During one of my first Search and Destroy missions I did one of the dumbest things I ever did in Vietnam. I walked on a ready made trail. (One of the things you learned in "the states" was that you never walk on a trail).
I was the Pointman of a group of about ten men, a squad, and had stopped to converse with a few of the guys behind me. I could feel "Charlie" near-by. We decided that we would walk ahead further, but with caution. After we broke up our conversation, I walked only a few feet and then all hell broke loose. There were bullets all around me. Bullets were coming from Automatic fire in front of me. They were up on a a hill and I couldn't see them.
I was finally able to get behind an ant-hill and throw a grenade and return small arms fire. The rest of my squad joined in the shooting. We pulled back and rejoined the rest of our company and called in an air-strike (Jet plans drop bombs so close you can see the color of the pilot's eyes.)
After the air-strike some officer came around and asked for the account of the battle. Everyone took credit but me. I was too shook-up. Most of the guys received medals. I was just happy to be alive. But after that, I never walked on trails and no one was ever close to me. I was determined to not die and to not let anyone else near me as I walked point.
I was stationed about 40 miles South of Saigon. The weather during the first three months was "hot" and "dry". Usually 90+ every day. The last nine months it rained everyday.
The food we ate consisted mostly of C-rations from the Korean War. We all had our favorites.
When we went out on a mission, about 6 weeks out of 8 weeks, the Army usually brought in one hot meal for us everyday. The other two meals consisted of C-rations and water. Along with your meal you got one or two pops or beer.
You always took malaria bills every so often and you had terrible runs after you took the pills. The bathroom consisted of you digging a hole and using whatever toilet paper you could accumulate.
You usually slept with your boots on for weeks at a time and didn't usually change clothes for almost two months. I didn't notice the odor. Guess the rained helped.
The Black Virgin Mountain
It's January 9, 1967 and I arrive in Vietnam. We board a truck with enclosed steel bars. I guess it must be dangerous here.
We arrive at DaNang, a large military base, and I wait for orders to join a unit of the 1st Infantry Division. The next day the VC mortar the base and I'm finally seeing the terror of war.
After a few days I leave for my assignment at LaiKhe, home of the 2/28 "Black Lions". I think its funny to see such young men going out to do battle. I expected much older and mature men.
My first assignment was out in the middle of nowhere. There was a huge mountain in front of us called the "Black Virgin Mountain". The VC were at the top of the mountain. Many, many airstrikes were made at the top of the mountain. Some many in fact that you thought those were trails.( later on we found that the VC had an underground city in that mountain).
After that encounter, I went on my first ambush patrol. An ambush patrol consists of about ten men going out late at night, about 700-800 meters away from the main body, and setting up for a possible ambush. The idea is for the squad to give early warning for the rest of the main body. As you can imagine, this can be a very dangerous mission. My first ambush did not produce any results. However, I didn't sleep much. At night you begin to think you are hearing sounds that are not there or else they are further away then you think. In the rain it is very difficult to distinguish the sounds and the distance. To this day I still don't sleep very well.
1st Battle
One of the greatest honors a combat Infantryman can get is the award of the "combat infantry badge". You must be in combat.
After about two months in country, my platoon was on a routine search and destroy mission. I was the 4th man in the column. And THEN AN EXPLOSION!!!
A large Chinese Claymore mine exploded ( Our squad was on a well worn trail - a very dangerous tactic!).
The pointman is killed, the second man looses his legs, the third man is seriously wounded and rolls into me and knocks me down.
There IS FIRE EVERYWHERE. Our machine gunner, Willie Willis, is killed. I help to get the wounded out to the LZ.
Some soldier comes up to me. He has a broken jaw. A bullet has passed through his jaw. He wants my help. I wrap something around his jaw and he leaves. (I didn't know the soldiers name - Sometime in 1994 I meet Chris Ronnau again).
On trying to return to help, I get lost. I'm now behind the enemy. They are in trenches. But I have no weapon. I'm powerless to do anything. I find my way back and the company pulls back and air-strikes are called in . Some VC's are killed. I kick a dead VC who is holding onto a mortar tube - half of his body is missin. They have to drag me away.
River Crossing - Operation Billings
I've now been in country about six months and I'm a combat veteran. A great point-man who is almost without fear.(This changes after you get closer to leaving).
We load up into Choppers and set out for another mission. The first company is ambushed and trapped by the enemy. They fight there way to safety. My Company "C" can't go in. It is deemed too dangerous. We set up a few thousand meters away in an isolated spot. We are one company isolated from the world. It's very scary.
Throughout the night I shoot out grenades from my M-79. Its a great weapon that can up root huge trees. However, you need to have the round go 7 meters and then it explodes on impact. In the jungle there is not much of an opening. I become very good at shooting through very small openings.
In front of our position is a very large river; not very deep. Our ambush squad on the other side of the river (about 1/4 mile out) trips an ambush and pulls back. I guess no dead were found. However, it's now about 2 AM, the moon is out, and all that shooting has given our position away. The Company Commander wants the squad to go back out.. The squad leader refuses to go out again to a possible certain death.
Well so guess who they want to take the squad out? I'm only a Spec 4 - not a Squad Leader.... But I enjoy the thrill and take the squad out.
Crossing the water at 2AM I'm sure the V.C. are waiting for us on the other side. I'm almost scared..
We get on the other side, and set up. I take out a Claymore mine out a few yards and spot an ox-cart trail. I know we are in BIG Trouble!!!!
I hurry back to my squad. I want to shoot out some grenades but my squad won't let me.
However, I do decide to call in a "Fire Mission" and have some artillery out in front of us. IT probably keeps us all alive. The night finally ends.
Later on we find a main supply route from Cambodia to Saigon. It was something else. A huge road in the middle of the jungle. Those little bastards cut little slots into the trees and burn oil in the slots to light the trail and also make themselves invisible from the air.
The Battle of Ong Thanh
It's now October 1967 and I'm no longer with "C" company. In August I'm "asked" to join "D" company and help some new recruits. They are all "RA's" or better known as "Royal Assholes".
In the Army you are either a US (you got drafted) or you are a RA (you joined). I guess they guys are an experiment. They were sent together as a group from Fort Lewis, Washington. Some of my best friends came from this outfit
Just before October 1967 I put in for another R & R (rest and relaxation) to Japan along with my great friend Ronney Reece. Ronney never had an R &R and since I had one early in June (you usually only get one R & R a year), I expect Ronney to get the R & R and I stay out in the field.
To my great surprise I got another R & R. However, Ronney does not get an R & R. He even loaned me $10. Not sure what the $10 was for. maybe a few drinks for him. (I remember the $10 as a symbolic gesture to assure Ronney that everything would be fine and that I would return the $10 when I got back from Japan).
It's now October 14, 1967, the night before I leave for R & R. Gary Lincoln, a great guy from Ohio and one of my good friend, and I talk all night. I don't remember anything we talked about but Lincoln seems at peace that night...
Early on the morning of October 15, 1967, I leave the field for Japan. Five days later in Japan on October 20, 1967, I read with horror how my company is involved in a huge battle.
Many of my friends died that day (Gary Lincoln, Jack Schroder, Ronney Reece, Kenneth Wilson, Emil Megiveron, Ricahrd Jones, Pasqualle Tizzio, Stanley Gilbert, and Willie C. Johnson Jr.)
I later visited some of the guys. Platoon Sgt Willie C. Johnson, one of the truly great Black men of all-times and my friend from charlie company who had transferred to Alpha company, is dying of numerous gun shot wounds. He tells me "I'm glad you weren't their Kirk".
At the airport, my good friend Crosby meets me. He has tears in his eyes. HE HEARD I WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE
Almost two weeks have passed since the battle of Ong Thanh. The men that remain seemed changed forever; they are CRUSHED.
The following day we leave for a new mission. We arrive at LOC NINH just days after one of the GREATEST BATTLES OF THE VIETNAM WAR. Over 1000 VC's are killed; only 10 American lives are lost. Huge trenches are dug to bury the VC's. The VC bodies are in pieces.
They attacked in human-waves. Our artillery guns are lowered (huge guns like you see on battle ships at sea). and they shot cannisters that contains thousands of darts. The darts split the trees in two; VC bodies into many pieces.
The next night I lead my squad out on an ambush. The "Pointman" is new so I stay close to him. The "Chief" is next to me at all times. We set-up about 700-800 meters from the main camp. Later than night I hear movement in front of me. I wait and get ready to spring the ambush. However, only the CHIEF and I are awake. I try to get my machine gunner off his machine-gun, to no avail.
The sounds are getting closer. I decide to call in a "fire-mission". The first round appears to be very close. I think the new pointman has us in the wrong position. I stop the fire-mission for fear of killiing us all.
I can now hear the VC talking. However, I can't spring the ambush; all our men might die since they won't be prepared. I sit and wait. The VC go in the other direction.
The next morning the ARMY pulls out one company of Infantry and One battery of Artillery. This was the same "trick" used last week to get Charlie to attack.
I now have 77 DAYS left in country and expect the worse.
To my right is the Special Forces/ Civilian Irrregular Defense group compound. My bunker is the lead front bunker. The enemy attacked from this position. I prepare to do battle that night. I get all the ammuniation I can get. I have a 50-Caliber machine gun, my M16 rifle, 20 Claymore mines out in front of the bunker, 40-50 gernade lauchers, 100 or more grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammo.
I won't go easy
Around midnight I am telling the new guys war stories about mortar rounds. You can tell the different types by the sounds they make.
JUST THEN, I hear the familar sounds of mortar fire.
I yell "INCOMING"
Within seconds we are hit with mortar fire. Within minutes the sky overhead is lit up with "light" from over planes that are dropping lights for us to see.
We wait for the great battle. Minutes seem like years. Charlie dosen't show.
Black Man In My Bed
While in Vietnam over the months I had gotten a choice bed and spot in the tent. I was on the corner in a very nice bed.
My Black friend, Wilbert Peters, next to me always wanted my bed. So after I left for home I "willed" him my bed. He was very happy.
Another friend of mine (Harry J. Marino), who still had about two months in-country, made me promise to write him when I got home. After a few months at home I wrote him.
He told me that one month after I left Vietnam that their was a mortar attack. A direct hit was made on the bed where I had slept.
The BLACK MAN in my bed died that day
I NEVER WROTE BACK
Webster: Fred Kirkpatrick
