Tales of Viet Nam
Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 11:28 pm
Some years ago I wrote some observations of my Viet Nam experience. I did this to pass them on to following generations of family. Here is one such brief extract.
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Previously in this commentary I mentioned in passing the beauty of the country. To expand.
Most days in VN followed a routine until broken up by conflict. Whether working in the foothills of the Annamite mountains or up in the Central Highlands, at about 3 to 4 P.M. we would head for and climb the highest hill/mountain in our map grid. We did this because we always wanted to camp for the night on the highest available terrain.
It has been a basic military principal for thousands of years "to hold the high ground." It is a great advantage. Should we be attacked at night we, the ARVN, would have that advantage. The enemy would have to struggle upwards while we were shooting at them. So we would climb to the top of the hill to make our camp. The troops would spread around the perimeter preparing their fighting positions. I and my Sgt would, like the ARVN officers, be more in the center of the camp.
First order of business was finding the two trees I wanted to use to string up my hammock. I would almost invariably use my knife to cut off thin branches sticking out of the tree trunks. [This is the knife given to me by my friends the ------- whom I have often mentioned.] Then tying the nylon hammock to the trees was a simple matter.
An observation: That hammock provided me with some of the best sleep of my life. Very comfortable indeed. There was only one instance, apart from combat, when I had a bad sleep. It was in the Central Highlands and I awoke to find that an army of communist ants was using my hammock, and me, as an expressway between the two trees.
So then the Sgt. and I would make a very small fire to heat up our rations. If we were carrying LRRP [Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol] rations which were lightweight because they were dehydrated, we had to add water, heat, stir and consume. No matter how much water and stirring there were always a few hard bits remaining. Had to avoid biting into them; like biting into a pebble. I assure you that eating rehydrated spaghetti is a culinary experience not to be missed.
After supper, making a quick weapons check and calling in on the radio to report our position for the night came my favorite moment of the day. I would light my pipe and, sitting or lying in the hammock, watch the sunset. This was often beautiful. The camp was becoming quiet, the air was still and one could be deceived into thinking that this was a land of peace.
Sometimes during the night we would become aware of a battle occurring miles away. Usually too far to even hear the gun fire. But we could easily see the lights of battle. The green tracer bullets of the NVA being answered by the red tracer bullets of our side. Often, parachute flares would be launched from a mortar and we would see the flares hovering in the sky like archangels illuminating the battle.
In the morning we awoke to a rising sun accompanied by its rising heat. A few minutes to brew up some coffee, savor another pipe, listen to the insects and birds come to life, pack away the hammok and other gear, then descend leaving the mountain top behind.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Previously in this commentary I mentioned in passing the beauty of the country. To expand.
Most days in VN followed a routine until broken up by conflict. Whether working in the foothills of the Annamite mountains or up in the Central Highlands, at about 3 to 4 P.M. we would head for and climb the highest hill/mountain in our map grid. We did this because we always wanted to camp for the night on the highest available terrain.
It has been a basic military principal for thousands of years "to hold the high ground." It is a great advantage. Should we be attacked at night we, the ARVN, would have that advantage. The enemy would have to struggle upwards while we were shooting at them. So we would climb to the top of the hill to make our camp. The troops would spread around the perimeter preparing their fighting positions. I and my Sgt would, like the ARVN officers, be more in the center of the camp.
First order of business was finding the two trees I wanted to use to string up my hammock. I would almost invariably use my knife to cut off thin branches sticking out of the tree trunks. [This is the knife given to me by my friends the ------- whom I have often mentioned.] Then tying the nylon hammock to the trees was a simple matter.
An observation: That hammock provided me with some of the best sleep of my life. Very comfortable indeed. There was only one instance, apart from combat, when I had a bad sleep. It was in the Central Highlands and I awoke to find that an army of communist ants was using my hammock, and me, as an expressway between the two trees.
So then the Sgt. and I would make a very small fire to heat up our rations. If we were carrying LRRP [Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol] rations which were lightweight because they were dehydrated, we had to add water, heat, stir and consume. No matter how much water and stirring there were always a few hard bits remaining. Had to avoid biting into them; like biting into a pebble. I assure you that eating rehydrated spaghetti is a culinary experience not to be missed.
After supper, making a quick weapons check and calling in on the radio to report our position for the night came my favorite moment of the day. I would light my pipe and, sitting or lying in the hammock, watch the sunset. This was often beautiful. The camp was becoming quiet, the air was still and one could be deceived into thinking that this was a land of peace.
Sometimes during the night we would become aware of a battle occurring miles away. Usually too far to even hear the gun fire. But we could easily see the lights of battle. The green tracer bullets of the NVA being answered by the red tracer bullets of our side. Often, parachute flares would be launched from a mortar and we would see the flares hovering in the sky like archangels illuminating the battle.
In the morning we awoke to a rising sun accompanied by its rising heat. A few minutes to brew up some coffee, savor another pipe, listen to the insects and birds come to life, pack away the hammok and other gear, then descend leaving the mountain top behind.
Those who served all have stories of our military experiences. I was Navy and served on a Destroyer in Vietnam, all vet stories are seen from different ways. Some saw combat some didn't, most of the time it was boring and routine, some things we'd like to forget other things we remember, good friends, good times.Thank you all for your service! ftd
