Called to Serve

Introduction

This book is based on a true story. I was a young man who led a James-Dean-like life style while growing up, brought on by the separation of my parents when I was 17 and still in high school. At the age of 21 I was drafted into the Army where I served for 20 years. While the early years bring a bit of humor, there are some follow-on experiences that will keep you wondering.

There are descriptions of the covert operations I was a part of that have never been made common knowledge to the public, from the insurrection and overthrow of the government in the jungles of the Belgian Congo, witness to the building of the Berlin Wall, and assistance provided to the Kennedy's upon their visit to that wall and the now famous "Ich been Ein Berliner" speech.

I will take you through my tour in Viet Nam during the most bloody of times in that conflict 1968-69, starting with the TET offensive and through six other battles in which I participated. Of particular note is the near death experiences graphically outlined, that will have you grabbing for your seat belts. One example involves a massive ground attack by the VC against our compound.

About midnight one night in June, the alert sirens blasted and gun fire erupted on one side of the perimeter. This was not one of the many practices that took place from day to day, but the real thing. I was a leader of one of the many Ready Reaction Teams. When the siren went off we had to grab our gear and head towards our pre-designated positions. As soon as I had the jeep fired up and radio going, I checked into the radio net: "Rover One, this is Rover 9er requesting permission to enter the net, over".

"Roger Niner, are you in position?”

"Negative Rover I'm on the way, what is that firing I’m hearing?”

"We are taking sapper fire on the south side of the perimeter. It might be a diversion so be alert. This could be more than just a drill".

When I pulled up to my team, already in position, I got out of the jeep and told them what was up. "Gentlemen we are taking fire on the other side of the perimeter so be alert. Lock and load your weapons and be prepared to fire on my command".

At my jeep radio I heard Rover One saying: "All towers pop your flares and let's see what's out there".

When those 50 flares went off it lit up the field of fire like it was daylight. I was standing by my jeep when the sky lit up. I almost shit my pants. There were a hundred or more Viet Cong on a dead run right towards our position.

"Rover this is 9er, we've got a large force coming right at us between towers eight and nine; maybe a hundred or more!”

"Roger that 9er. Towers take targets of opportunity and fire at will! Do not let them get to the fence!”

I told my guys to commence firing, as did the towers. All hell broke loose. I began lobbing M79 grenades out there and the VC were dropping like flies. Quite a few of them were getting close to the fence when I noticed my men getting up and making a hasty retreat. Thinking it was going to be just another drill, they had come with only a small amount of ammo.

"Rover this is 9er, my men have run out of ammo and are making a retreat and I need backup over here!”

"Roger 9er, stay put!”

"Tower eight this is Rover, when they get near the fence blow the Claymores!”

There was a dozen or so VC that made it close to the fence when towers eight and nine blew their Claymores. When they went off right in front of my position, they blew a huge gap right through the fence and a hand full of VC came right on in! With no time for anything else I rolled under the jeep and the VC ran right by me.

They were all carrying satchel charges in each hand and were running towards the ammo dump. Rolling from under the jeep I took up a sitting position against the rear tire of the jeep. All I had left were two, 30 round banana clips taped end-to-end which gave me 60 rounds. They were moving away fast so I put the M16 on fully automatic and cut loose. They eventually all went down. During the excitement of it all I had bitten into my lower lip.

The battle field was suddenly quiet and the stench of gun smoke filled the air. When the LT came screeching up in his jeep and saw the blood running down my chin and onto my neck, he immediately thought I had been shot. He began calling for Med Evac. "Dust off, Dust off, we have a man down, do you copy?”

"LT, I'm not hit! I just bit into my lip too hard that's all! I think I pissed my pants too". Tears as big as horse turds were streaming down my cheeks!

The whole thing lasted only about 45 minutes. When daylight came we began gathering up the dead and putting them along the ditch outside the gate. I never knew what happened to them after that. I was credited with nine kills, the guys with the satchel charges. I know there were more from the many M79 rounds I put out on the field of fire. We did not lose a man. I was the only casualty, a badly bitten lip. We discovered that the VC had tunneled up to the fence and somehow were able to turn the Claymores around, so when detonated they would blow backwards. Probably long in advance of their attack.

Remember the little sign on the top, "This Side toward the Enemy?”