An American soldier casts a sideward glance at a fallen comrade, a look that reveals more than words can say. Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, June 4th, 1967. The soldiers push on after heavy contact with a North Vietnamese force, six miles east of the Cambodian border in War Zone C. The men are members of C Company, Second Battalion, Sixteenth Infantry, Second Brigade, First Infantry Division. ======== (At USARV Headquarters, anyone who screwed up/didn't do their job was automatically assigned to the 108th Artillery Group at Dong Ha, because that was as far north as you could be sent. Dong Ha was about two hours north of Phu Bai. BT) “Welcome to Phu-Bai,” he grunted. “The front lines are about a hundred yards in that direction. Dig your foxholes from that clump of trees around to the dry stream bed over there.” Squinting into the sun, he gestured with a big knuckled forefinger. “My rules of engagement are simple; anything that moves outside the barbed wire after dark gets shot. Any questions?” ======="Major Curry. This Came In Today From Saigon" https://humanevents.com/2011/02/15/major-curry-this-came-in-today-from-saigon/
Mr. Townsend:
ReplyDeleteI was at Dong Ha.
When I arrived in Viet Nam, I was assigned to the Phu Lam Signal Battalion in Saigon.
I was embarrassed to be a soldier living in such luxurious comfort when real soldiers were risking their lives living in the mud.
So, when a fellow soldier got orders to go up North (to where?), I requested permission to trade places with him, and the battalion sergeant major reluctantly agreed.
As it turned out, the new assignment was to the 178th Maintenance Company at Dong Ha.
There were times when it was very spooky.
That's where I got my nickname, "Saigon", because the other guys were jealous that I'd been in Saigon, and they would never get to see that city.
The nickname was intended as an insult, but I thought it sounded kind of cool, so I've been using it ever since.
Later, I volunteered for the 101st Airborne Division, and left Dong Ha to go to Camp Eagle, near Phu Bai and Hue.
Thank You.
John Robert Mallernee
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Gulfport, Mississippi 39507
Interesting.
ReplyDelete"Camp Eagle, near Phu Bai and Hue"
What year/years was this?
Also, one of my friends, the smooth talking one below, got sent to the 108th, but later showed back up in Long Binh/Saigon in a jeep which he had "requisitioned" to come back! Lord only knows what happened to him.
Tet '68 Bien Hoa/Long Binh, RVN
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=19&highlight=tet
"Later, we topped that by taking a jeep and approaching the main gate of Long Binh at midnight. The MPs thought we were crazy as all we had were two rifles, a revolver, one helmet and no flak jackets, but my ever resourceful, smooth, talking friend, convinced them that we were on General Westmoreland's personal orders to get to Saigon immediately. Finally, one MP shook his head, and waved us through! All went well until we got to the Saigon bridge where we drew fire as we went over the top. Even then, we had to get out and wake up the ARVN guard at the other end so he could remove the barricade!"
Mr. Townsend:
ReplyDeleteI landed at Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Viet Nam on 12 December 1969 and returned with the 101st Airborne Division from Da Nang on 21 February 1972.
(Actually, I'm uncertain of the date I returned, as my records indicate 21 February 1972, but I think it was much earlier.)
It would have been in the Spring and Summer of 1970 that I was at Dong Ha.
I was at Camp Evans, located between Hue and Quang Tri, and as a new replacement, had just completed my in-country "P" training for the 101st Airborne, when we came under rocket attack on 04 July 1970.
The rest of my time in Viet Nam was either at Camp Eagle (between Phu Bai and Hue) or at Da Nang, although I did very briefly visit Cam Ranh Bay, Nha Trang, LZ English (near Bong Xon), and Chu Lai, as well as a return trip to Saigon to catch a flight to Israel, by way of Bangkok, Thailand.
Thank you.
John Robert Mallernee
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Gulfport, Mississippi 39507
John:
ReplyDeleteYou know you could call me Brock and make me feel much better about all this! :)
(Actually, I'm uncertain of the date I returned, as my records indicate 21 February 1972, but I think it was much earlier.)
Fortunately, you missed both the '68 TET Offensive and the '72 Easter Offensive. Where did you go on your R&Rs?
Brock,
ReplyDeleteThis in my opinion, what ever that is worth, one of the best editions you have put forth. It is so heart warming to be able to visit here and find personal experiences being related in such a manner.
For far too long our Vets from that war were shoved aside or to the rear by the very people who sent them; the American public.
I lost several close friends over there, fighting Communism..I am sure they are turning over in their graves at the condition this country finds itself in today.
I salute you not only as a veteran yourself but, for all your efforts directed towards remembrance of all the other Vets. Y'all have my respect.
T Warren
Brock:
ReplyDeleteWhen the Easter Offensive of 1972 began, I was in Da Nang, so maybe my records are correct, and my memory is faulty.
I had an R&R in Japan and an R&R in Australia.
Because I volunteered twice to stay in Viet Nam, I had a special thirty day leave home for Christmas, and another special thirty day leave to visit Israel.
"T Warren"?
In the late 'Fifties, Tommy Warren was in my class at Spring Lake School in Spring Lake, North Carolina.
He was the best baseball player of anyone.
I wonder if "T Warren" is the same guy?
Thank you.
John Robert Mallernee
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Gulfport, Mississippi 39507
I also went to Australia, then Okinawa (Hated it) and a couple of times to Bangkok. As a civilian, Bangkok a couple of times, the PI on TDY for school a couple of times and Phnom Penh and Laos. Also took cobalt at the Makati Medical Center after Med Evac and had a great time there. (Manila). I extended 6 and 3 so I would be let out 5 months early at 31. Then flew back to Saigon with a .45 cal. derringer in my hip pocket on Pan Am!
ReplyDeleteI'll ask T. Don't think so, but one of his daughters lives around Fort Bragg where I also went to basic.
The answer.
ReplyDelete========
Oh Yeah I know exactly where Spring Lake is Shanna and me partied there a time or two lol.....I have a distant cousin named Tommy who as far as I know always lived in NC *where exactly I dont believe I ever knew) I met him one time probably about 45 to 48 years ago, at the warren family reunion, like most warrens, he was tall, lanky and yes, one hell of a baseball player.(Baseball , horse shoes, and pitching washers are all mandatory at warren family reunions. The Tommy Warren related to me would be I guess about 67 to possibly 70 years of age now............ he .had a smile as big as TX. and a great accent. that's about all remember But I guess that's quite a bit to remember about someone I met once....whether it is the same Tommy warren I haven't a clue
T
Brock:
ReplyDeleteI'm sixty-five years old, so Tommy would be the same age I am, as we were in the same class.
Yes, he was tall, lanky, with a blond crew cut, or at least, that's how he looked back then, when we were kids.
I had my Basic Training at Fort Lewis, Washington and my A.I.T. at the Southeastern Signal School in Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Thank you.
John Robert Mallernee
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Gulfport, Mississippi 39507
I'll let him know, and thanks.
ReplyDeleteMr. Mallernee Sir,
ReplyDeleteIt would seem that perhaps we are talking about the same Tommy Warren. However I cant be sure, as I only met him once.
He was tall, lanky, Blond, as half the Warren family seem to be; the other half of us are dark headed. I remember he was one hell of a baseball player. I will be in the company of two of my uncles over the weekend. One of them is likely to be able to answer the question far better than I. As I said I only met him once, and that was a very long time ago.
I will be happy to advise you as to what I learn.
Best regards
T warren