Vietnam, In Black & White
Licking Old Wounds
by
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Mia
Story - A
An “MIA” War Story, off the record. One night the first week I hit Nam I had orders for Cam Rahn Bay, then I was moved up to Ouin Nhon where the headquarters of the 523rd combat engineers were stationed. The first night was quiet. The second night I was on guard duty with a M14 locked and loaded, ready to open up on anything that moved. Up On four (4) utility poles with sand bags, my first thought was fear. I looked down at the Huts and naked children in the village. Then I spotted these liqhts moving close to our perimeter on the pier. I did’nt know what to do, so I opened up with my M14, liqhts went everywhere. The next day I was busted from private to private. Keeping it simple, we moved to Vunq Tau, South.
Mia
Story - B
After making a move to Vung Tau, South Vietnam, our Sgt. Major (Tops) gave me orders to go up river (The Saigon River) to bring back a table saw that was in Bong Son, called The Mekong Delta. On the way up we incountered small arms fire. But we continued on up river, now it was dark and we could hear enemy gun fire getting closer. With two (2) 50’s and (1) 60 Cal. On each side of the Mike Boat (Boat for moving equipment for our troops), watching and cutting down the tree lines on the river with the 50 Cal. I think the enemy got the message we were sending. Moving on, we ran up on a few sandpans, (small fishing boats) but no problem, a lesson well learned from Oui Nhon as a rookie. It was getting dark and we had to stop, full of fear but brave we could hear the enemy getting closer, we had good whiskey & smokes (cigeretts) Sarge said, “Lite E’m if you got E’m…
Mia
Story - C
MIA, (Missing in Action). After spending the night at a village unbeknown to us, but friendly. Back on track, with a Navy See Bee’s unit, no saw. Here I go again, I jumped on a Jeep heading For Tan An, no saw. Still packing my M14 & 10 clips, grenades I hopped a jeep to who knows where rice paddy in Nam. It gets bad, now I’m on guard duty in the rice paddies with a M16 with a infrared scope for night vision, claymore mines set on the perimeter, this getting to feel like the beginning of the story? But it is true for all veterans who were there can relate to my experience in Vietnam. The next day after making it through the night, I tried to sleep, then in our tent I think we are getting hit, the enemy trying to cross the rice paddy, a jet fly over tree top level throwing his sound and blowing our tents we took cover running to our bunkers in mud up to our waist shaking with fear but saved, Amen. I made it for the next month, then I get these orders that my squard of the 523rd is coming up river to Tay Ninh. The next day I hitch a ride on a two ton truck heading for Tay Ninh, moving back south living under a bridge waiting for part of our group of divers and troops.
Mia
Story – D
Missing under a bridge after sleeping with ticks and other bugs that bite, trying to keep quite, watching the fire fight all night. I cased out the tracers from the other troops of the 25th infantry. The next day I heard one of our guys call out, Jones, Jones we thought you were dead or they had you missing in action (MIA) or somewhere dead. We were with the 84th BN. Of The 18th & 20th Engr. Brigade. Man that was a mouth full to take in, but for anyone who has any military, so much for that. Top’s and the C.O. decided for me to stay up river. We were hit hard that same night, but I had one thing they did not have, “Experience”.
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About the Book
First, I would like to dedicate this book to all Americans and other countries that were there as peace keepers and to their loved ones who lost their brave family members. This is the hard part, we will see and read things we want like in this book about this war. This is only a short edition of my memoir . . .
Second, this is a story about how we learn the lessons of war. Excerpts, and chapters in this book does not deal with politics. Being young during the Vietnam War made us all become men after a few night battles. We must support our troops at any war . . .
Third, the battles, the enemy, the way the time changes as the years go by. All of this has an effect on us, we learn about race, color, and living together as one. The most I have learned is that people in third world countries who did not have new technology have also learned. This book will show us how we take life for granted, Amen . . .
And last, my book shows you how to fight with what you have in a battle zone, trying to get the proud pilots, the ground troops, and the engineers who are in every unit, coordinating convoys with live ammo and supplies, with intelligent radio communications during all operations of war . . . R/J
About the Author
After going to basic training at
I survived with the Combat Engineers from
Keeping it simple, the army was good to me, after that, I worked as an alarm technician in L.A. Ca . . .
I attended college for one year, worked for the city, state and federal government. The United States Postal Service as a clerk and letter carrier for ten years . . .
Moreover, meeting people and working with all walks of life will make you take risks and make you try things that other people would not take in life. That’s what so good about