HAVE BEEN PULLING CQ RUNNER AND GUARD DUTY. THE TRAINING IS LONG AND TIRING. TRAINED IN THE FIELD 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS. I SPEND LITTLE TIME WITH MY WIFE. WAS ISSUED AN M16, AND QUALIFIED EXPERT. THE M16 WAS TAKEN AWAY AND I WAS ISSUED A 45. THE 45 WAS TAKEN AWAY AND I WAS REISSUED AN OTHER M16 THAT HAS NOT BEEN SIGHTED IN. WE HAVE A NEW X.O. AND HE IS REQUIRING THAT ALL WEAPONS BE CLEANED TO PERFECTION. THE ONLY WAY WE PASS IS TO RUN SCALDING HOT WATER OVER EVERY PART OF THE WEAPON. HE HAD US UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT 2 NIGHTS IN A ROW CLEANING OUR WEAPONS. ALL OFFICERS AND ENLISTED ARE REQUIRED TO MEET HIS REQUIREMENTS OF NO DUST OR OIL TO BE FOUND ON A CLEAN WHITE CLOTH TOUCHING ANY PART OF THE WEAPON OR PATCH RUN THROUGH THE BARREL. MY WORK IS INVOLVED WITH THE GUNS ON THE HELICOPTERS. I STILL FEEL I HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF MAKING E5. FROM WHAT IS SAID I MAY NEED TO BE AN EXPERT WITH MY WEAPONS, I HOPE I DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE I HAVE TO PERSONALLY SHOOT SOMEONE. I GUESS I WILL FIND OUT IF I CAN IF I AM PUT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
IT IS NICE HERE IF YOU LIKE LIVING IN A BARN. WE LIVE IN PLYWOOD BUILDINGS MUCH LIKE A CHICKEN COOP. WE FILL ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF SANDBAGS. I WAS ISSUED A 45 AUTO AND TWO CLIPS OF AMMO.
IT IS HOT AND MUGGY. THEY SAID IT HIT 135 DEG. TODAY. THE MOSQUITOS ARE BAD.
THE WEATHER IS SOMETIMES SO HOT THAT YOU PANT JUST SITTING STILL. AT TIMES IT IS SO COLD THAT I WEAR INSULATED UNDERWEAR. IT HAS BEEN QUIET HERE. LAST NIGHT WE WERE HIT WITH 122MM ROCKETS. THEY LANDED ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM OUR COMPANY. I HAVE BEEN BORE SIGHTING ROCKET TUBES. WE NOW HAVE A FEW, AND SHOULD GET MORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE SUFFERED OUR FIRST 2 CASUALTIES TODAY, OTHERS WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL. OUR INFANTRY WAS IN THE FIELD WHEN SOMEONE CALLED IN 8 INCH ARTILLERY FROM OUR OWN BATTERY ON THEIR POSITION. A WEEK OR SO BACK THEY GOT FIVE V. C. OUTSIDE OUR PERIMETER. THEY BROUGHT THEM IN BY HELICOPTER AND DUMPED THEM ON OUR HILL. TWO WERE DEAD, ONE WAS ALMOST DEAD AND TWO WERE WOUNDED. THE TWO WHO WERE WOUNDED WERE WOMEN THAT WORKED AT OUR GATE. THEY CHECKED IN THE BASE VIETNAMESE WORKERS WHICH CAME IN THE MORNING, WORKED THROUGH THE DAY, AND LEFT EACH NIGHT. I PULL BUNKER GUARD ABOUT EVERY SIX DAYS. I NORMALLY MAN THE M60 MACHINE GUN WHEN I AM ON MY WATCH.
PULLED KP TODAY. (NOT MY FAVORITE THING TO DO.) IT IS QUIET. WE WERE HIT WITH THREE 122MM ROCKETS ABOUT A WEEK AGO. THEY HIT SOMEWHERE OVER THE HILL FROM HERE. BOUGHT A YASHICA CAMERA AND AM TAKING LOTS OF PICTURES. OUR SISTER TROOP WHICH IS ABOUT THIRTY MILES NORTH OF US SET UP TWO AMBUSH SQUADS, AND ACCIDENTALLY HAD A 10 MINUET FIREFIGHT WITH EACH OTHER. I DIDN'T HEAR IF ANYONE WAS KILLED, BUT SOME WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL. I HEARD THAT OUR INFANTRY LET EVERYONE KNOW THEIR WORKING A.O. , EXCEPT FOR THE MARINES. THE MARINES SAW THE MOVEMENT AND THINKING IT WAS V. C. CUT LOOSE WITH 8 INCH ARTILLERY. WE HAD TWO KILLED, AND A HALF DOZEN WOUNDED. ONE OF THE GUYS I KNOW PRETTY WELL IS GETTING OUT BECAUSE IT BUSTED HIS EAR DRUM, AND HE IS NOW DEAF IN THAT EAR. ALSO SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE GOING BACK TO THE STATES. OUR SHIPS ARE IN NOW. I GOT THE POST CARDS WHICH I SEND WHEN WE STOPED AT HAWAII, WAKE ISLAND, THE PHILIPPINES, AND VET NAM. I NOW PULL GUARD DUTY ABOUT EVERY FOUR TO FIVE NIGHTS. ALSO WE NO LONGER GET THE DAY AFTER GUARD AS TIME OFF. IT IS A REGULAR WORK DAY.
RECENTLY THERE WAS A H-MODEL HELICOPTER WITH SIX OR EIGHT INFANTRY RAPPELLING DOWN A ROPE AS IT WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE AIR. I HEARD THAT THE ONLY SURVIVORS WERE THE PILOT AND COPILOT WHO WERE BLOWN CLEAR OF THE SHIP. BOTH WERE STILL STRAPPED IN THEIR SEATS. ONE WITH A BROKEN BACK, AND ONE WITH A BROKEN COLLAR BONE. I THINK THE INFANTRY WAS FROM "C" TROOP. ABOUT ONE WEEK AFTER GETTING IN COUNTRY WE HAD A COBRA PILOT KILLED. WE HAD TWO KILLED AND A HALF DOZEN WOUNDED BY OUR OWN 8 INCH GUNS. IN BASE CAMP IT IS SAFE. THE ONLY WAY YOU GET HURT HERE IS BY ACCIDENT. ONE OF THE CREWCHIEFS HAD THE BOTTOM OF HIS LEFT HAND INJURED BY TURNING A 40MM GRENADA LAUNCHER WHICH FIRED. I WORKED ON THE FLIGHT LINE UNTIL 10:30 PM LAST NIGHT. DISCIPLINE AND HARASSMENT ARE COMMON PLACE HERE ON BASE CAMP. I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD OUR LINE BE HIT, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT OUR FIRST SERGEANT, C. O. AND X. O. WOULD BECOME CASUALTIES FROM ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER. I NOW PULL GUARD DUTY EVERY SIX TO SEVEN DAYS. SOME TIMES IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT IS DARKER THAN WHAT WOULD SEEM POSSIBLE. AT THE BUNKERS WE SET UP CLAYMORES. WE HAVE PHOO GAS (KIND OF LIKE AN EXPLODING NAPALM) AND RIOT CONTROL GAS.
I'M ON DETAIL. IT IS WARM BUT THERE IS A NICE BREEZE. I HAVE WORKED AT ROCK CRUSHER, A SEA BEE CAMP WITH A STONE QUARRY AND ASPHALT PLANT. A CREWCHIEF FOR THE HELICOPTER, AND MYSELF FOR THE ARMAMENT ARE HERE AT A TEMPORARY REFUEL AND REARM LANDING ZONE JUST OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER. THE CREWCHIEF & I WENT OUT LAST SATURDAY, AND RETURNED TUESDAY. THERE IS LITTLE MORE FOR ME TO DO THAN MONITOR A RADIO, WHEN I AM AT ROCK CRUSHER, HOWEVER WHEN I RETURN THERE IS MUCH WORK BUILT UP TO DO. I HAVE LITTLE ITCHY BUMPS ALL OVER ME FROM SLEEPING OUT THERE. THERE ARE BUGS ALL OVER, AND THEY MUST BE HUNGRY AT NIGHT. THE COCK ROACHES, MOSQUITOES, AND FLIES I RECOGNIZE, BUT SOME OF THE BUGS I DO NOT RECOGNIZE. I TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS TO CATCH A SIX INCH LONG LIZARD IN OUR CASH OF ROCKETS. I HAVE NOT SEEN RATS HERE , BUT I HAVE SEEN THERE SIGNS, SUCH AS CRACKERS CHEWED ON. WE HAVE PLENTY OF C-RATIONS HERE AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO ALL TASTE THE SAME.
ITS HOT, OFTEN OVER 100 DEG. IN THE SHADE. WORK SEAMS TO MAKE IT EVEN HOTTER SINCE THERE IS NO SHADE. I AM UNSURE IF WE ARE THE LEAN MEAN "ONE - O - FIRST" SCREAMEN EAGLES, OR THE "ONE - O - WORST" PUKIN BUZZARDS. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE BETTER THE OUTFIT IS THE LESS YOU ARE GIVEN TO WORK WITH. PERSONALLY I WOULD RATHER BE IN SOME SOFT OUTFIT WITH ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME. I AM TAKING LOTS OF PICTURES.
MY WORK IS LONG AND TIRING. I HAVE PULLED A LOT OF GUARD DUTY LATELY. CAMP EAGLE IS SECURE, WE ONLY WERE HIT WITH 6 ROCKETS LAST WEEK. ROCKETS HAVE NEVER HIT CLOSE TO OUR COMPANY AREA. WE DID HAVE GRENADES GO OFF IN THE COMPANY AREA. ON GUARD DUTY I CAN WATCH THEM FIRE ROCKETS AT US FROM A MOUNTAIN ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. OUR TWIN 40MM FIRED AT THEM. WEATHER IS HOT (ABOUT 110 DEG.) OCCASIONALLY IT GETS COOL AT ABOUT 80 DEG. THE 9TH INFANTRY (OLD RELIABLE) IS IN THE SOUTH AT BEAR CAT BETWEEN SAIGON AND VAUN TAU. THEY COVER THE DELTA TO CAMBODIA. JIM THORPE IS STATIONED THERE IN THE 335TH ATTACK HELICOPTER CO.
BEEN QUIET LATELY. LAST WEEK WE HAD BEEN HIT THE HARDEST SINCE I GOT HERE. THEY SAY WE WERE HIT WITH 35 TO 38 81MM MORTARS, AND 15 TO 18 RPG'S. WHEN IT WAS GOING ON IT SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS A ENDLESS BARRAGE. WE ALL WENT OUT TO OUR TRENCH SECONDARY LINES ABOUT 12:30 AM AFTER IT STARTED. WE WERE THERE UNTIL ABOUT 3:30 AM. THE LIGHTING WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE FLARES MADE IT ALMOST AS BRIGHT AS DAY. WE WATCHED THE COBRAS FIRE MINI GUNS, 40MM, AND ROCKETS. THEN LATER THE AIR FORCE C130 STARTED FIRING MINI GUNS OUT OF IT'S SIDE. WE COULD HERE PERIMETER FIRING OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE CLOSE TO "A" TROOP. THEY SAID THAT A SMALL PROBING FORCE TRIED TO GET THROUGH THE LINES, BUT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD MOST OF THE FIRING WAS AT SHADOWS, AND BUSHES. POSSIBLY SOME GUYS JUST SHOT TO BE SHOOTING.
TRAGEDY HAS STRUCK "B" TROOP. BRASS AT CHU LIE WANTED SOME PRISONERS, SO MAJ. DOLIN DROPPED OUR INFANTRY INTO V.C. BUNKER COMPLEX. 8 CASUALTIES. TROOPS INSTANTLY PINNED DOWN. AN OTHER PLATOON WAS DROPPED IN FOR SUPPORT. THEN A WHOLE COMPANY WAS DROPPED IN FOR SUPPORT. OUR INFANTRY WAS WITHIN 10 METERS OF V.C. BUNKERS. THEY WERE UNABLE TO MEDIVAC OUT WOUNDED BECAUSE OF HEAVY V.C. AUTOMATIC FIRE. PIN DOWN 8 HR. BEFORE REMOVING DEAD AND WOUNDED. "B" TROOP HAD 4 KIA'S AND 7 WIA'S. THE MEDIC SUPPORTING OUR INFANTRY WAS KILLED. (NOTE THE DAY HE WAS KILLED WAS THE DAY HE WAS SCHEDULED TO GO ON R&D TO MEET HIS WIFE IN HAWAII. BECAUSE HE HAD TO STAY HE NEVER SAW HIS SON. MANY OF THE INFANTRY THAT WERE LEFT, BLAMED DOLAN FOR SENDING THEM IN WHEN IT WAS NOT NECESSARY, OR THEIR JOB. (THEY ARE FOR SECURING AN AREA WHEN A CHOPPER GOES DOWN. ALSO IT WAS SAID THAT DOLAN WAS ADVISED BY A KIT CARSON SCOUT NOT TO GO IN. MANY DO NOT LIKE THIS WAR, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE BIGGEST SHARE BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE HERE. MOST WANT IT TO END, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE V.C. TAKING OVER. MANY HAVE DEVELOPED A GREAT HATE FOR THE V.C. AND IT SEEMS TO INFLUENCE THERE FEELINGS TOWARD THE REST OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH MANY SOLDIERS ARE FIGHTING IN VENGEANCE OR AS A MATER OF SURVIVAL RATHER THAN FOR A CAUSE. (TO FREE THE VIETNAMESE) I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE SOLDIERS HERE ARE NOT SURE OF WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING, BUT THEY HAVE A STRONG SENSE THAT THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT. I NORMALLY HAVE MY HELMET, RIFLE, & ABOUT 5 TO 6 HUNDRED ROUNDS CLOSE AT HAND. CAMP EAGLE IS THE STRONGEST POSITION NORTH OF DA NANG AND LARGE ENOUGH TO HAVE 3 OR 4 COBRA UNITS, LOTS OF ARTILLERY, AIRBORNE INFANTRY, TANKS, ARMORED JEEPS, HALF TRACKS, AND 4 MAN BUNKERS SPACED ABOUT 75 METERS APART ALL AROUND THE PERIMETER. LZ ANN IS SMALL AND WITH LITTLE DEFENSE. MOST INTENSE FIGHTING OVER HERE IS FAST AND FURIOUS, BUT INFREQUENT. GENERALLY ALL THAT HAPPENS IS OCTAGONAL MOTORS AND ROCKETS. THE 101 ST. IS A HIGHLY TRAINED FIGHTING UNIT. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE BEST KILL RECORD IN VIET NAM. THE AIRBORNE RANGER IS THE BEST SOLDIER, BUT IT SEEMS THEY ARE ALSO THE MOST INHUMANE . IT IS SAID THAT SOME HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO TAKE V.C. BODIES, SLIT THERE THROATS, AND LEAVE A CALLING CARD IN THE SLIT. THEY HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM GOING INTO ANY VIETNAMESE TOWNS BECAUSE SOME VIETNAMESE PEOPLE WERE KILLED DURING A BAR BINGE EPISODE. "B" TROOP IS ONLY ATTACHED TO THE 101 ST. TO LEND FIRE SUPPORT FOR THE INFANTRY. MY JOB IS TO KEEP THE WEAPONS FIRING. ALL THE REST OF THE ARMORS ARE AT CHU LIE. I AM LEFT AT CAMP EAGLE AT THIS TIME. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY MORE ABOUT SGT. GRIEVER. HE IS NOT BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL. IT IS SO HOT HERE THAT YOU CAN SIT IN THE SHADE AND WATCH PERSPIRATION COME OUT AND SET UP ON YOUR SKIN.
THINGS ARE QUIET HERE AND AT CHU LIE. I BELIEVE THE TROOP IS COMING BACK AROUND THE FIRST OF JULY. I GOT A SET OF CAMOUFLAGE FATIGUES NOW, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A RUSSIAN SKS RIFLE. I GET EXTRA STUFF, BOOTS, PONCHO LINERS, FATIGUES ECT. FROM THE GUYS GOING HOME. THE DON'T CARE TO TAKE ANYTHING WITH THEM. I ALSO CAN OCCASIONALLY GET SOMETHING FROM THE DUMP AND DX IT. SOMETIMES I GO OUT FOR CHOPPER RIDES. FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND MY WORK HAS BEEN LIGHT. ON BUNKER GUARD LAST MONDAY TWO OF THE GUYS ON MY BUNKER SMOKED POT FROM 6 PM. TO 2 AM. THE OTHER ONE WHO DID NOT SMOKE AND MYSELF STAYED UP ALL NIGHT. WE WERE AFRAID THAT THE TWO POT HEADS COULD GET US KILLED.
NOTHING NEW. CHARLIE THROWS A COUPLE OF ROCKETS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF CAMP EAGLE ABOUT EVERY TWO OR THREE WEEKS. I AM GETTING READY TO GO TO CHU LIE. MOST OF OUR TROOP WENT DOWN TWO MONTHS AGO. THE REST OF US LESS ABOUT TEN MEN ARE NOW GOING DOWN. ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO OUR MAINTENANCE OFFICER, MAINTENANCE SERGEANT, AND ONE OF THE MAINTENANCE MEN WERE KILLED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH. THE CHOPPER WAS FOUND IN THE OCEAN IN FIVE PIECES. IT WAS SAID THAT IT WENT DOWN FROM EITHER MECHANICAL OR PILOT ERROR. FOR SOME REASON EVERYONE'S LETTERS ARE TAKING LONGER TO GET HERE LATELY.
I AM NOW SLEEPING ON A COT IN A TENT BESIDE A LOUD AND NOISY MARINE AIR WING AT CHU LIE. WE HAVE A GREAT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AT THE MARINE MAG UNIT. A TOP SERGEANT LEADS GROUP DISCUSSIONS HERE. LAST SUNDAY WE ALL WENT TO THE BEACH AND HAD A PARTY WITH STEAKS, POP, SWIMMING, SINGING, AND TESTIMONIES. I HAVE BEEN WORKING LOADING SHIPS AND BUILDING ROCKETS ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY AT A PLACE CALLED TAM KY. I DID NOT SEE ANY THING ABOUT THE TRIP TO THE MOON, I GUESS I HAD MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO. OUR SERVICE NUMBER CHANGED TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER WITH AN "E" PREFIX. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY ONE GOING HOME EARLY DUE TO THE TROOP WITHDRAW. I DO NOT PULL GUARD DUTY HERE AT CHU LIE. WHEN I PULL GUARD DUTY, I SLEEP LIGHT AND DON'T WORRY. I STAY ALERT WHEN I AM ON. IF THE OTHER TWO ARE ON POT THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE TWO WHO ARE NOT. THEY THINK THEY ARE ALERT, BUT THAT IS NOT SO.
THINGS ARE BUSY. I GO TO TAM KY ABOUT EVERY DAY NOW. RETURN ABOUT 5 TO 8 PM. I THEN GO FOR OUR GROUP DISCUSSION AND FELLOWSHIP, THEN A QUICK SHOWER AND ITS 10 TO 11 PM. NEW COMPANY POLICY MADE ME REMOVE MY MUSTACHE. OUR INFANTRY WAS SENT OUT TO GO THROUGH A BUNKER COMPLEX, AND ALTHOUGH NO ONE OF OUR INFANTRY WAS KILLED THIS TIME, OUR INFANTRY PLATOON SERGEANT HAD ALMOST HIS WHOLE SIDE BLOWN AWAY. WE HAD SEVEN BAD WOUNDED OF WHICH SOME LOST EXTREMITIES. THEY WERE TRYING TO BLOW UP A BUNKER WITH C-4 AND TNT WHEN A V.C. THREW A GRENADE AND RAN OUT THE BACK DOOR. THE GRENADE SET OFF THE EXPLOSIVES PREMATURELY AND THERE WAS FLESH FLYING EVERYWHERE. LAST EVENING DURING A DISCUSSION MEETING A FRIEND OF MINE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS HIS SAVIOR. WE ARE NOW DOWN TO ONE LOH HELICOPTER. TWO WERE SHOT DOWN YESTERDAY, ONE WAS BLOWN UP, AND ONE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO OUR TROOP AREA.
DUE TO A ORANGE ALERT WE ARE UP AT 2:30 AM AND ARE READY TO GO OUT TO THE SECOND DEFENSE LINES IF NEEDED. NOTHING EVER HAPPENS, BUT WE ARE UP ANY WAY. THE LAST MONTHS WORK AT TAM KY HAS BEEN HARD WITH LONG DAYS. I REALLY ENJOYED THE BIBLE DISCUSSIONS AND STUDIES AT TAM KEY. I MET A LOT OF GREAT GUYS. WE ARE TRYING TO START A GROUP DISCUSSION IN OUR TROOP AREA USING "TEN BASIC STEPS TOWARD CHRISTIAN MATURITY". THE MARINE TOP SERGEANT GAVE ME THE CAMPUS CRUSADES TEACHER MANUAL. I ENJOY SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH MY FRIENDS.
THE WAR SEEMS TO BE SLOWED DOWN AT THE PRESENT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ROCKETS SINCE WE GOT BACK FROM CHU LIE. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PREVIOUSLY LOST A TOTAL OF 26 LOH HELICOPTERS WE HAVE NOT LOST ANY HELICOPTERS SINCE WE GOT BACK. WE STARTED A GROUP DISCUSSION EVERY WENDS AT 8:00 PM. LATELY IN THE EVENINGS THE GUYS IN MY HOOCH HAVE BEEN SINGING HYMNS AND COURSES WITH ME. ONE OF THE GUYS SAID HE BEING A CATHOLIC WAS NOT USED TO THE SINGING, BUT HE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. ONE SAID HE FELT A LITTLE STRANGE BECAUSE HE HAD NOT BEEN IN CHURCH FOR FOUR YEARS. SOME TIMES WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO TALK TO ME OUR DISCUSSION GOES AS LATE AS 1:00 AM. I AM NOW TROOP BARBER AND AFTER I GET OFF THE FLIGHT LINE I CUT HAIR UNTIL 9:00 PM. IN THE EM CLUB, FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK. I HAVE LITTLE DANGER WHEN I RIDE ON THE HELICOPTERS. GENERALLY THEY FLY IN SECURE AREAS. COMPANY POLICY CHANGED AGAIN AND MUSTACHES ARE ALLOWED AGAIN. I CAME IN THE SERVICE JAN. 23, 1968 AND GET OUT JAN. 22, 1971. I CAME IN COUNTRY MARCH 25, 1969 AND LEAVE MARCH 24, 1970. WHEN WE WERE AT CHU LIE WE WERE SUPPORTING THE AMERICAL DIV.
I WENT TO QUI NHON AND VISITED KEN MONTAGUE ON A THREE DAY PASS, AND JUST GOT BACK. HE IS AIR FORCE STATIONED AT A KOREAN BASE. THIS SATURDAY I WILL GO TO BIEN HOA TO FLY TO HAWAII ON R&R. IT HAS STARTED TO RAIN AND IT IS MORE AND HARDER RAIN THAN I HAVE EVER PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED. IT IS ALL WE CAN DO JUST TO KEEP THE FLIGHT LINE FROM WASHING AWAY. I GUESS THAT CHARILY HAS GONE IN OUT OF THE RAIN TOO. ON THE BARBERING I CHARGE NOTHING, BUT DO ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS. SOME DON'T PAY ANYTHING AND SOME GIVE ME AS MUCH AS $1.15. IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS I HAVE MADE ABOUT $50.00.
EVERY THING IS RUNNING SMOOTH WITH NO ROCKETS FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS. THE WEATHER TODAY IS QUITE NICE. THE SUN IS OUT AND I AM ENJOYING THE SHADE OF A CONEX ON THE FLIGHT LINE. THREE COBRAS ARE FIRING TODAY, AND I AM WAITING TO LOAD THEM. THEY HAVEN'T FIRED FOR THE LAST TWO TO THREE WEEKS. THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN IN THE 60'S AND 70'S AND FEELS VERY COLD.
THE WEATHER IS RAINY, COLD AND WINDY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60'S. IT FEELS LIKE WHAT I REMEMBER TEMPERATURES WOULD FEEL LIKE IN THE 20'S BACK HOME. I AM STARTING TO LOOK FORWARD TO COMING HOME. I DON'T EXPECT THE V.C. TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL TET. I PLAN ON TAKING A LEAVE TO JAPAN.
I AM DOWN TO 98 DAYS. ALONG WITH BEING AN ARMOR, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A 3/4 TON TRUCK. THE RUMOR IS THAT WE WILL BE ATTACKED BY DEC. 20TH. ACCORDING TO GENE DIXON IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE TODAY. IT IS EVENING AND THE ONLY THING GOING OFF IS FRIENDLY 155MM FIRE. THEY FOUND A WEAPONS CACHE OF 3 TRUCK LOADS OF AMMO, RIFLES, AND RPG'S, JUST OUTSIDE OUR PERIMETER OFF OUR FLIGHT LINE. IT IS SAID THAT THERE IS NOW THREE REGIMENTS OF N.V.A. IN THIS AREA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT I DON'T FEEL THERE IS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
STILL DRIVING TRUCK. I WENT TO JAPAN AND STAYED AT CAMP ZAMA. IT MAY PICK UP AROUND TET, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION FROM CHARILY SINCE SEPTEMBER.
I AM EXTREMELY TIRED OF VIET NAM. TIME GOES MUCH SLOWER NOW AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T DECIDE TO STOP. OUR X.O. WAS SHOT DOWN IN A LOH TWO DAYS AGO AND HE IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION ON THE HOSPITAL SHIP RIGHT NOW. A FEW WEEKS AGO ONE PILOT DIED AFTER RECEIVING WOUNDS TO HIS LUNGS. WE ARE GETTING READY FOR TET.
I MADE COLONELS ORDERLY AT GUARD MOUNT TONIGHT, SO I GET TOMORROW OFF. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME IN A ROW.
TET WAS HARDLY ANYTHING TO TALK OF THIS YEAR. LAST NIGHT AN AMBUSH SHOT AND KILLED A V.C. ABOUT 350 TO 400 METERS OUTSIDE OUR PERIMETER. HE APPEARED TO BE ABOUT 16 YEARS OLD. HE WAS CARRYING A AK47 AND A BAG OF RICE. I PULLED TOWER GUARD LAST NIGHT. IT IS COLD AND I WORE INSULATED UNDERWEAR, AND WRAPPED UP IN A PONCHO AND PONCHO LINER.