My first 48 Hours of War
As a Navy man you seldom view a war as a Marine or Solider might, but having been in a similar engagement in Viet Nam as the ground combatant I wanted to share this with you on this Memorial Day. Hopefully it will give you some perspective to draw upon.
It was June 1966 and I had just arrived in Viet Nam. Hell, I was twenty years old and knew just about everything there was to know and in fact I was invincible. This was my third year in the Navy and I had just finished a survival training course in the Philippines with the Negrito Tribesman and was ready for whatever this godforsaken land could hurl at me.
It was nearly 10pm before I got all the in-processing completed in Saigon and I was about to take a primitive style cab through the countryside to my new base in Nha Be, some 20 miles south. This all seemed a bit strange since this is a war zone and I am watching flares being dropped by planes and tracer flying through the air but I was sure that everything would be ok, after all I had my rifle and side arm and I am sure nothing would happen.
Some forty minutes later I arrive at what appears to be some sort of base. I assume the drivers has brought me to the right spot but the guards at the entrance are all Vietnamese and with my limited vocabulary, I attempted to see if this is a friendly compound or has my cab drive turned me over to the enemy. Now I am 6’2” and a little over 200 pounds and the three guards on the gate may have a collective weight of 220 pounds, so I may be intimidating to them. We try to have a dialog but all they do is keep waving me to go on and speak some gibberish that I can’t make heads or tails out of. So I precede not having the slightest idea of where I am or what lies ahead. I might add that it is raining and rather cool for this area. Since my ride to the new base was in what could be best described as a motorized rickshaw, I was actually soaked and that was adding to my discomfort.
I saw a sign that said Duty Officer and a warmth of relief filled my body since I now knew that I was at least in the right camp. I proceeded inside and talked with the night duty officer that was a new ensign fresh from the academy. He had only been their two days and was not sure of what was going on. He said that the Captain had advised him that I was arriving today and had asked that he be sure to let me know that I was to attend a briefing at 0600 tomorrow. It was now very late and I asked him where I was to be bunked and he gave me directions.
As I surveyed my new surroundings I started to grasp the idea that the living conditions may be less than that found in your upscale flop house. I arrived at my new quarters that was a tent that had accommodations for 40 lovingly and 20 comfortably. I was happy to see that it was set up for 20.
Again, it was near midnight and the tent was half full of sleeping people. I didn’t have a flashlight, so I flicked out the Zippo and walked the tent looking for an open space. The only open space was next to the entrance and the rain was pelting this bunk with the force of a car wash. I tried my best to rearrange the tent flaps to avoid the shower and was somewhat successful, however, the mattress was already soaked, and so it had to go. I didn’t have a blanket so I figured this was going to be a cold night. I made one more pass through the tent in hopes of find a better place to park myself but the only thing I found was what I thought was a cat. It turned out to be a rat and I almost pulled out my side arm and shot it until it dawned on me that I could end up in a fire fight in my own tent had I made such a foolish move. So I retired to my wet bunk, with the rat still on the prowl and tried to get some sleep on my first night, in country.
It is now day 2 and the rain is still falling as I prepare for my first briefing at 0600. I am tired, cold and have had very little sleep. I meet the Captain prior to the meeting and was pleased that we have someone with his background as a commanding officer. At the briefing he first discusses the intelligence that has come in form the previous day and the outgoing patrols leave. With the remaining Newbie’s he tells us of the plans for this base. Seal Team 1 will be making Nha Ba its base of operation for the Mekong delta and Rivron6 will operate in conjunction with their efforts. Our main goal will be the gathering of intelligence and keeping open the two main shipping channels to Saigon. We were going to commence what was called operation Game Warden.
Now for a twenty year old kid, this was a pure adrenalin rush. We had names like Game Warden, Intelligence briefings, calling in air support, rules of engagement, search and seizure procedures and all the other terms that just seemed to add to the excitement. Never did I consider that on any of the missions that I was asked to conduct, that it could be the last day of my life. I learned as time went on that there was a lot to be afraid of and that I was not invincible.
I had many days after those first few days that taught me why I love my country and why I don’t take anything for granted anymore. Those first 48 hours were the best and it only became harder and more stressful after that. Our combatants today face the worst everyday and are fighting an enemy that doesn’t play by any rules. They have a total disregard for life and freedom, as we know it and are willing to die to make sure that we are converted to their way.
We as Americans have to have the resolve and belief that our prior generations had when we say we will not allow any terrorist to diminish our way of life. There is no time more important than the present to unite and become one voice against the evil in this world that would like to see our way of life destroyed. I believe all Americans need to search their souls and ask if they believe we can turn our backs to a force that wants to destroy us. Or do we stand and fight and defeat the enemy now!
God Bless this Country and Have a Great Memorial Day!