peramangkelder
Well-known Member
- Location
- Fleurieu Peninsula South Australia
We had just started coming out of a jungle and into a large clearing, which increased our vulnerability. There was elephant grass for acres in front of us. Our Lt. decided that we should go back a little deeper into the jungle and wait until dark before trying to get across this wide field of elephant grass.
We ate ‘c’ rats that evening and tried to get some sleep. We could hear artillery fire off into the distant. I tried to write a letter to home using what daylight was left. The next morning, I read it and decided to throw it away. Hell, I couldn’t even read it.
The Marine beside me fell fast asleep. I thought to myself, “I wished that I could do that.” I wanted some water, so I asked if anyone had some water to spare. The youngest man in our unit tossed me his bottle. I only took a few sips. Even water that was about 90 degrees tasted good. It was hot and humid. My clothes were soaked with sweat and I felt like a hog in the muck.
I decided to try to get some shuteye. I closed my eyes and like every other night that I was over there, I thought about me and my buddy out cruising the strip and checking out the ladies. Soon, I fell asleep.
Right after midnight, the Lt. decided it was time to make our way across the field of grass. I stumbled around getting my gear together and getting dressed. Soon, we were off. The Lt. had us set a wide line across the grass and to take big strides, but keep the line straight. Finally, we reached the other side.
I’m not sure why I wrote this. It’s what came to my mind at the moment.
You and I know that at any time something can trigger a memory. I can be reading a book, walking in a store, or just doing nothing and I will get a flashback.It lives in us and just won't go away.
You and I know that at any time something can trigger a memory. I can be reading a book, walking in a store, or just doing nothing and I will get a flashback.
I was watching the Veterans Day activities at Arlington on Wednesday and it brought back many memories. All of a sudden, I felt the need to talk to another veteran, so I called my friend from the Marines and now lives in Arkansas. We talked for a good hour.
Being in the Army's "navy" we hauled construction material to Mekong destinations(Vihn Long, Long Xuyen, Can Tho etc), even PX goods(Can Tho) via landing craft(LCU).<--actual craft I served on. We hauled ammo barges to....? up the Mekong on 65 ft. tugboats, all kinds of artillary and small arms ammo. We had PBR escorts towards in front and rear, and a fixed wing overhead dropping artillary on the shore lines to keep snipers off our tails. hauled jet fuel(JP4) up the Delta to Nam Can, to refuel the helicopter outposts, in a "Yankee" series coastal fuel tanker, the Y-100.we hauled cargo, food, pop, booze, oxygen tanks, cement blocks, pig food, chicken wire and ammunition of various kinds, small arms .38, .45, 7.62nato, 40mm and larger for the howitzers, the 155 which is a two piece type of ammo consisting of the shell and the powder case....
I never figured out how people remembered all theses names. I remember landing in Chu Lai and patrolling along the Mekong and into some of the deltas. I also know we were driven in an APC to Bien Hoa and of course Saigon and Da Nang, but not much more than that without really giving it more thought. I did keep a small journal when I remembered to write in it and there were times when I would start to make an entry and couldn’t spell the name, so I would just scribble it out.Being in the Army's "navy" we hauled construction material to Mekong destinations(Vihn Long, Long Xuyen, Can Tho etc), even PX goods(Can Tho) via landing craft(LCU).<--actual craft I served on. We hauled ammo barges to....? up the Mekong on 65 ft. tugboats, all kinds of artillary and small arms ammo. We had PBR escorts towards in front and rear, and a fixed wing overhead dropping artillary on the shore lines to keep snipers off our tails. hauled jet fuel(JP4) up the Delta to Nam Can, to refuel the helicopter outposts, in a "Yankee" series coastal fuel tanker, the Y-100.
To this day, I would like to hear Lt. Calley's version of what happened during the My Lai Massacre. Not that it would matter any to me, but I often wonder if what the government presented as evidence of his wrong doings, if it was all true. My reason is because as I read the stories surrounding this event, I learned that a lot of the evidence presented was strictly hearsay testimony and even testimony from witnesses that reported on what they heard. A lot of unanswered questions for me to be able to put it to rest.
Same here. Never was much for names of villages or towns. I do however remember most of the fire bases I spent time at. Go figure.I never figured out how people remembered all theses names. I remember landing in Chu Lai and patrolling along the Mekong and into some of the deltas. I also know we were driven in an APC to Bien Hoa and of course Saigon and Da Nang, but not much more than that without really giving it more thought. I did keep a small journal when I remembered to write in it and there were times when I would start to make an entry and couldn’t spell the name, so I would just scribble it out.
It’s all about staying alive. It’s surprising to me how nervous you are while looking for the bad guys and then how all of that nervousness goes away when the shooting starts. Now, it becomes an issue of “I want to go home alive and in one piece.”
My Lai is a well known engagement. Lt. Calley made a mess of things. I think President Nixon pardoned him.
Thanks for the videos.
So, you guys got the "incoming" at Bình Thủy, and operated out of Nha Be? That's like 8 miles down the river from where I was stationed.We were moored to a small aluminum pier at binh thuy for the night. It was to late in the day after making a cargo run farther up the river. Tomorrow we would proceed on down to nha be our main port.
That’s a really good story. I remember all that darn elephant grass. I sometimes hear the Hueys in my sleep and will suddenly wake up.We had just started coming out of a jungle and into a large clearing, which increased our vulnerability. There was elephant grass for acres in front of us. Our Lt. decided that we should go back a little deeper into the jungle and wait until dark before trying to get across this wide field of elephant grass.
We ate ‘c’ rats that evening and tried to get some sleep. We could hear artillery fire off into the distant. I tried to write a letter to home using what daylight was left. The next morning, I read it and decided to throw it away. Hell, I couldn’t even read it.
The Marine beside me fell fast asleep. I thought to myself, “I wished that I could do that.” I wanted some water, so I asked if anyone had some water to spare. The youngest man in our unit tossed me his bottle. I only took a few sips. Even water that was about 90 degrees tasted good. It was hot and humid. My clothes were soaked with sweat and I felt like a hog in the muck.
I decided to try to get some shuteye. I closed my eyes and like every other night that I was over there, I thought about me and my buddy out cruising the strip and checking out the ladies. Soon, I fell asleep.
Right after midnight, the Lt. decided it was time to make our way across the field of grass. I stumbled around getting my gear together and getting dressed. Soon, we were off. The Lt. had us set a wide line across the grass and to take big strides, but keep the line straight. Finally, we reached the other side.
I’m not sure why I wrote this. It’s what came to my mind at the moment.
Not sure many understand how dangerous elephant grass was. Nasty stuff.We had just started coming out of a jungle and into a large clearing, which increased our vulnerability. There was elephant grass for acres in front of us. Our Lt. decided that we should go back a little deeper into the jungle and wait until dark before trying to get across this wide field of elephant grass.
We ate ‘c’ rats that evening and tried to get some sleep. We could hear artillery fire off into the distant. I tried to write a letter to home using what daylight was left. The next morning, I read it and decided to throw it away. Hell, I couldn’t even read it.
The Marine beside me fell fast asleep. I thought to myself, “I wished that I could do that.” I wanted some water, so I asked if anyone had some water to spare. The youngest man in our unit tossed me his bottle. I only took a few sips. Even water that was about 90 degrees tasted good. It was hot and humid. My clothes were soaked with sweat and I felt like a hog in the muck.
I decided to try to get some shuteye. I closed my eyes and like every other night that I was over there, I thought about me and my buddy out cruising the strip and checking out the ladies. Soon, I fell asleep.
Right after midnight, the Lt. decided it was time to make our way across the field of grass. I stumbled around getting my gear together and getting dressed. Soon, we were off. The Lt. had us set a wide line across the grass and to take big strides, but keep the line straight. Finally, we reached the other side.
I’m not sure why I wrote this. It’s what came to my mind at the moment.
On one patrol, we had almost came out of a small field of elephant grass when one of the fellows in our patrol simply fell over. No one knew what happened. We couldn't revive him, so me and a couple of other Marines carried him out of the grass and down by a small creek where we could hide alongside the bank. We didn't want to leave him and there was no way were going to leave him, so we called for a medevac to come and get him while we waited. It only took maybe 15 minutes until the chopper arrived and lifted him into the chopper and off they went and so did we, as we continued on.Not sure many understand how dangerous elephant grass was. Nasty stuff.
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